Best of CASE District VI Award
 

Institution: Missouri University of Science & Technology

Title of entry: Kummer Institute Annual Report Cover

About this entry: For the 2022-23 Kummer Institute annual report, we were challenged with how to use photography, art and special print treatments to best represent the institute, persuade readers to open the report, and create a visually captivating cover that stands out in a pile of mail. The content in the report focused on highlighting student support and success, so we chose a Missouri S&T doctoral student in physics to feature on the cover. Her story is one of many that shows the impact of the $300 million dollar gift made by June and Fred Kummer to Missouri S&T in 2020. Her field of research also provided the opportunity for the team — Michael Pierce, staff photographer, and Lindsay Stanford, graphic designer — to push creative boundaries in photography, art and special treatments.

After two months of research and test shoots, the final photo shoot produced inspiring imagery that was then combined with vector line work, typography and spot UV coating to create a push and pull feeling for readers. As the cover is slightly moved the spot UV coating catches the light and the vector line work becomes invisible. But when the cover is moved back, the coating is less noticeable, symbolizing how neural connections occur but can't be seen.