Typography students honor International Day of Peace, participate in poster contest

Troy University students put forth their efforts to bring awareness to the issue of peace for United Nations International Day of Peace by participating in a poster creation contest.  

Typography students in ART3325 put their creativity to the test by creating peace-themed posters in honor of Peace Week.  

The course is taught by Thiffany Belda, assistant professor of design, who gives this project to her typography students each year.  

“Typography concerns itself with communicating the message,” Belda said. “As designers, our work has the power to shape culture, influence behavior and inspire change. 

“We get to design, which is what we love to do, and we get to design for a reason, not just for a grade or assignment.  

The point is to talk about peace and to promote Peace Day, which is a small part of a bigger initiative to have a peaceful world.”  

The United Nations’ International Day of Peace project allowed students to utilize their graphic design abilities in order to emphasize this message to the community.  

“I like connecting assignments to real things happening on campus and in the world,” Belda said. “Students used their creativity to advocate for peace and showcase how design can be both beautiful and meaningful.  

“I’m so proud of them. It's really awe inspiring when I see them investing the time and putting themselves into the piece.”  

The posters are typically showcased in the International Day of Peace Walk held on Troy’s campus. Despite the Peace Walk not taking place this year, that didn’t stop Belda’s students from spreading the message of peace in our society.  

“I thought the project should still go on,” Belda said. “Even in the absence of the Peace March, I thought the International Peace Day should be honored. 

“If it changes one student and makes them think more about their neighbors close and far, I’m happy.  

Peace is a very precious and fragile thing that we take for granted, but if each of us think of ways we can be an agent of peace, I’d like to think that maybe then we’re collectively going to be a more peaceful people.  

It may be a bit of fairy dust but that is my hope.”  

Students created 11x17 inch posters inspired by the United Nations’ theme: “Act Now for a Peaceful World” for the poster contest. 

Belda, alongside Carrie Jaxon, director and curator of international arts center, voted on the top three winners of the contest. 

The top three winners included: first-place winner Mia Bell, second-place winner Emily Hussey and third Place winner Anna Stallworth.  

“When given this assignment, I sat down to think how in the world can I encapsulate peace in a design,” said first place winner Mia Bell, a sophomore graphic design major from Phenix City, Alabama. “I found the answer to that was to just include every individual to the best of my ability.” 

Bell shared what peace looks like to her and how our society can achieve peace in this dark world by shedding some light on the issue.  

“To me, peace is living in harmony with our neighbor and loving those around us for who they are, regardless of what they believe,” Bell said.  

Bell shared her appreciation for this experience and talked about the beauty of working on this project with her fellow peers.  

“I loved getting to work on this project and really enjoyed hearing my classmates reasoning behind their posters and admiring their work,” Bell said.  

All three winners were gifted with a participation certificate, art supplies and their posters being promoted on the International Arts Center’s Instagram page.  

Those interested in viewing the three winning posters of the United Nations’ International Day of Peace Poster Project can visit IAC’s Instagram page @iac_troyuniversity.