Illinois State University’s Graphic Communications Technology student team placed first in the 2021 Phoenix Challenge competition, held on May 1, 2021. The team was mentored by Adam Burke, assistant instructional professor in the Department of Technology. Adam has been leading Phoenix Challenge teams for the past nine years. This year’s team included Katie Chaltin, Meredith King, Sam Alonzo, Kalani Ferguson, Amaya Jungers, and Renee Mance.

The Phoenix Challenge is the gold standard for university-level student competition within the discipline. This rigorous competition requires a full academic, challenging teams across the US to work with a business to develop and manufacture innovative print marketing materials that require market analysis, materials planning and prototyping, graphic design, structural design, flexographic print production, and color management.

The 2021 team developed marketing materials for O-Nett Gaming Company, including a custom trading card box, pressure sensitive labeling, and store décor window clings. Thank you to the companies and organizations which supported the team throughout this year, including:  Anderson & Vreeland IncClearwater Paper CorporationFlexo ConceptsHarper Corporation of Americatesa Print & PaperQuantum Ink CompanyUPM Raflatac, and All Printing Resources, Inc.

The team will also present their marketing materials at the FTA Infoflex Conference. Congratulations to our Phoenix Challenge 2021 team!