News and Media

Published: Dec 16, 2009

SAVANNAH, Ga.–Maryam Choudhury, a SCAD graduate illustration student, won a design contest sponsored by The New York Times and will have her illustration featured on the cover of the newspaper’s Arts section this weekend, Sunday, Dec. 20. The design will open The New York Times’ annual “Year in the Arts” retrospect, a wrap-up of the past year in theater, dance, music and architecture.

“This is my first published piece, so it’s really exciting,” said Choudhury, who goes by the name of Muddyum. “It was both fun and challenging at the same time, which is how I guess it’s going to be as a professional illustrator.”

The contest came about when SCAD illustration professor Julie Lieberman brought a group of illustration students to New York to visit a variety of publishing companies. While visiting the art director at The New York Times, Lieberman suggested a design competition for students. Working together, they announced the guidelines for a contest: “Culture 2009.”

“I am very proud of Muddyum and the professionalism that she portrayed,” said Professor Lieberman. “As a professor in the illustration department at SCAD, I am never worried that our students will meet any professional challenge and opportunity with flying colors.”

“Professor Lieberman’s quick thinking and enthusiastic approach at The New York Times resulted in some 30 SCAD students presenting sketches to the newspaper when the staff visited SCAD Savannah,” said Allan Drummond, chair of the illustration department. “We will certainly be building on this working relationship!"

Choudhury was inspired by a recent typography class she took at SCAD as well as the iconic New York Times crossword puzzle. Combining those two elements, she created a colorful crossword puzzle that conveys the year in culture. The work of the five runner-ups will be displayed on the NYTimes Web site.

“By far the puzzle was the best concept out of all the entries,” says Paul Jean, art director at The New York Times. Jean also stated what could only be music to the ears of any student: “I would consider her again.”