Each year, AAF Buffalo honors the legacy of Don Nichols, a beloved educator who founded and led the Graphic Design Program at Albright Art School and later at the University at Buffalo, shaping countless graphic designers through his passion and dedication.
For 2025, the competition theme was “Back to Life.” Participants were invited to resurrect or highlight something that no longer exists or is fading away, whether literally (like dinosaurs or floppy disks) or figuratively (such as originality, skinny jeans, or Facebook). Using any medium — design, photography, spoken word, poetry, video, and more — the call is to breathe life back into the extinct or fading. Boldness and originality were especially encouraged.
The competition was open to undergraduate students across Western New York enrolled in design, writing, communications, illustration, photography, fine arts, marketing, or business. Despite the high numbers of participants, students from Villa won first, second, and third places, plus all three of the honorable mention slots.
Congratulations to:
- First Place: Tanner DeMarco, “Error Sticker”
- Second Place: Olivia Ebers, “Whole Self-Driving Poster”
- Third Place: Janet Momon, “Tape Sticker”
- Honorable Mention: Nick Matheny, “Hearts Poster”
- Honorable Mention: Jayden Scott, “Fashion”
- Honorable Mention: Emery Clark, “Look Away”
Tanner Demarco, “Error Sticker”
Olivia Ebers, “Whole Self-Driving Poster”
Janet Momon, “Tape Sticker”
Nick Matheny, “Hearts Poster”
Jayden Scott, “Fashion”
Emery Clark, “Look Away”
