First place: Carmen Cerra, Ames Tribune

About this entry: Carmen Cerra’s front pages perfectly mix bold, modern design with more traditional layouts to create designs that are everything but dull.

The Front pages of the Ames Tribune are a breath of fresh air. Modern, bold and dynamic above the fold, traditional and hierarchical below. The promos will carry the Front even when the main art might be more understated. This is a clear winner in this category. The June 23rd edition is a perfect example of a great front page, and Carmen Cerra deserves the Designer of the Year award.

Second place: Emely Delsanto, Taunton Gazette

Emily Delsanto creates great visual packages. The lead packages combining photos and text on the front page of the Sunday Gazette, tell local stories in a visually compelling manner.

Third place: Whitney Willard, The Daily Commercial

Whitney Willard’s redesign of the Daily Commercial is a huge step forward. It is clean and makes good use of typography. Overall much more attractive and easier to read.