Mokwon University’s Kim Heeji and Kim Yeryeong Sweep New York Muse Design Awards

Campaign work of Kim Hee-ji and Kim Ye-ryeong's 'Again, Spring Band'. Provided by Mokwon University

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] A student team from the Department of Visual Communication Design at Mokwon University swept the New York Muse Design Awards.

On the 11th, Mokwon University announced that Kim Hee-ji (4th year) and Kim Ye-ryeong (3rd year) from the department submitted the "Re Braille" campaign to six categories of the 2022 New York Muse Design Awards, winning the Grand Prix in four categories and Gold and Silver awards in two categories simultaneously.

The New York Muse Design Awards, established in 2015 by the International Awards Associate (IAA), cover fields such as architecture, interior design, product design, packaging, fashion, and advertising design.

This year, over 6,000 works were submitted to the awards.

"Re Braille" originated from the awareness of the problem that braille tactile plates left unattended during the COVID-19 pandemic and the antibacterial films applied as pandemic prevention measures obscured the braille, creating obstacles for visually impaired people.

To solve this, the Mokwon University student team visited Daejeon School for the Blind and, together with enrolled students, created a braille protective film that delivers hope to everyone in the pandemic blind spots.

Visually impaired students at Daejeon School for the Blind, who dream of becoming designers, drew pictures themselves, which professional designers along with Kim Hee-ji and Kim Ye-ryeong transformed into graphic art to produce the world's first braille art band.

Meanwhile, the Mokwon University student team also achieved recognition by winning the Bronze Grand Prize in the design category at the Busan International Advertising Festival and being selected for the New York Festival Shortlist with the same campaign.

The campaign was conducted as an industry-academic project between the Mokwon University Department of Visual Communication Design student team and the design company Dean (CEO Godin Gun, Class of 2006, Department of Visual Design).

Professor Lim Hyun-bin of Mokwon University said, "I am pleased that a work created through an industry-academic project involving seniors and juniors has been recognized globally," adding, "Above all, the participation of visually impaired students from Daejeon School for the Blind adds significance to the campaign."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.