November 13, 2025
ECU designer receives national honor
Attention to detail with a little flair has an East Carolina University’s College of Business (COB) designer in the national spotlight. COB Visual Arts Specialist Emily Leach received the University & College Designers Association (UCDA) Design Award of Excellence in Pasadena, California, at the 55th annual UCDA Design Awards.
“Our in-house creative team has worked hard to bring the College of Business story to life through purposeful, accessible and visually engaging design,” Leach said. “This recognition by UCDA affirms that impactful design can thrive within higher education when storytelling and strategy come together.”
Leach received the award in the category of Print: Portfolio/Body of Work, In-House – Small Team, honoring a portfolio of in-house design work. This year’s competition saw 773 entries from institutions across the U.S. and Canada, with judges selecting 195 winners, including 90 Awards of Excellence, 57 Silver Awards and 48 Gold Awards.
“We’re so proud of Emily for receiving this big-time national award,” said College of Business Dean Mike Harris. “She has a special talent for design, and her work has helped us raise the bar in how we tell stories in the College of Business.”
The COB’s winning portfolio showcases a year’s worth of publications, marketing materials, and visual storytelling initiatives that highlight the college’s programs, students, and partnerships across North Carolina and beyond. According to UCDA’s website, the design awards honor “the best of exceptional design and creative work as part of our mission to promote design excellence, support educational institutions, and drive the exchange of ideas and information relating to the unique role creatives play in education and the world.”
For more information visit the UCDA website.
Undergrad Programs Publication
This guide isn’t just informative—it’s an interactive, visually strategic tool that captures the attention of prospective students while delivering the College’s message with clarity and impact. The design follows ECU’s brand while still actively supporting the College of Business’s “We Build Leaders” purpose, making this a standout piece in both form and function.
Graduate Program Flyers
This flyer series promotes ECU’s Arthur School programs with consistent branding, clear messaging, and focused design across formats. Each flyer highlights program strengths—like flexibility, career prep, or unique formats—using bold visuals, concise content, and clear calls to action to make graduate education feel accessible, valuable, and aligned with student goals.
Office of Expert Services Wall
Designed to reflect the Office of Expert Services’ mission of regional transformation, this installation blends bold visual elements with clean functionality. Rounded shelves and vibrant painted arches create structure and focus, while dimensional lettering and acrylic holders present materials in a polished, cohesive way that invites engagement and boosts visibility.
Study Abroad Campaign
The Spring–Summer 2025 Study Abroad campaign uses bold destinations, clean layouts, and clear messaging to spark student interest. Eye-catching headlines and QR codes highlight cities like Paris, Lima, Seoul, and Beijing. Designed for versatility, materials like flyers, banners, screens, and social posts make study abroad feel exciting, accessible, and easy to explore.
Economic Impact Report
This double gate fold brochure highlights ECU College of Business’s $118M+ economic impact using bold visuals, infographics, and real student stories. The fold format creates a dramatic reveal, with key stats like “372% ROI” placed at the center for emphasis. Clean typography and modular sections ensure clarity and engagement, while a QR code invites deeper exploration.
Annual Report Publication
The Looking Glass is the annual impact report for ECU’s College of Business, highlighting achievements in student success, and regional transformation. The design combines clear visuals, compelling storytelling, and strategic layout to showcase the College’s impact, developed in collaboration with leadership, and communications, and strategy teams.