On May 24, more than 90 students received intensive critiques of their work during the third annual student portfolio review sponsored by the Department of Advertising Design and Graphic Arts (ADGA), New York City College of Technology (City Tech). Publishers, advertising executives, and media professionals reviewed the students’ creations in a continuous session that ended with awards to three seniors and congratulations to all who took part. Above, from left: student honorees Norali Zamora (second place), Rudra Melaram (first place), and Eva Hruzikova (honorable mention). Below: a video captures the feel of the one-on-one evaluations and the students’ responses to what were, for many of them, the first high-level appraisals of their portfolios by potential employers.

I had the privilege of serving as one of the evaluators, and I was deeply impressed by much of what I saw. ADGA clearly has become one of the metro area’s most significant incubators of graphic talent for broadcast, video, advertising, Web, and game design. Whether it fully appreciates the fact or not, New York City’s media community has a major human resource for employment in this career-oriented academic program. If you’re interested in seeing this year’s crop of ADGA portfolios for yourself, please let me know.