News CVPA: Dylan Kaplowitz Receives the 2023 Art & Civic Engagement Award

Branding solutions for the Cambodian Community of Fall River

The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) and the Leduc Center for Civic Engagement at UMass Dartmouth are delighted to announce Dylan Kaplowitz, a BFA student in the graphic design program, as the winner of the prestigious 2023 Art & Civic Engagement Award. The annual award, established in 2018 by Professor Pamela Karimi of CVPA, recognizes students who make significant contributions to the urban environments and communities of Fall River and New Bedford through their art projects. This year, Dylan's outstanding application stood out among several strong competitors.

During the Fall semester, Dylan collaborated with Professor Ziddi Msangi in the Community Engagement Design course. Dylan’s branding solution for the Cambodian Community of Fall River (CCFR) was selected by the organization's director, Sophia Hunt. The CCFR provides critical resources to recent Cambodian immigrants in Massachusetts, focusing on community services, translation services, and community outreach. Dylan's branding project included a comprehensive brand identity for the CCFR, including a logo, stationery design, and a brand guidelines book. His thoughtful approach to the project considered the multilingual audience and aimed to create an inviting image that appeals to both community members and donors.

“Dylan is incredibly energetic and caring and always seeks multiple perspectives to tell the stories of the audience of focus that he is in dialogue with," said Professor Msangi. “His approach resulted in well-crafted visual forms that demonstrate a dynamic application of the brand across several surfaces.” Sophia Hunt, the director of CCFR, was also impressed by the professionalism of the brand presentation and Dylan's initiative in finding the correct typeface and translation.

The CVPA and the Leduc Center extend their heartfelt congratulations to Dylan Kaplowitz and Professor Msangi for his hard work and dedication to improving our community.