https://www.madisonchampiondesign.com/portfolio daily 1.0 2026-03-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c47b0d485ede188a2536624/1762011748040-QLICSYC3PLDJKA9AXKDN/DayofDesign-2025-program.jpg portfolio - 2025 Day of Design American Graphic Design Award — Day of Design 2025 visual identity, Graphic Design USA, 2025 Runner-Up, CQ82 — Day of Design 2025 poster design, Creative Quarterly, 2025 — Auburn University’s College of Architecture, Design and Construction celebrated the 5th Day of Design—focused on fabrication—in September 2025. This year’s identity explored fabrication in all its forms across the college’s six disciplines: architecture, environmental design, graphic design, industrial design interior architecture and landscape architecture. While some fields in CADC fabricate physically, others practice forms of making rooted in assembly, craft, iteration and translation. The visual system sought to honor both the tangible and the intangible—where shaping material meets shaping ideas. Below is a sample of deliverables completed in the 2025 event’s identity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c47b0d485ede188a2536624/1677131061710-V57LLOGPNXIWPRE2O4YN/DayofDesign2021-speakerprogram-mockup.jpg portfolio CHALLENGE In fall 2021, Auburn’s College of Architecture, Design and Construction hosted the inaugural Day of Design—a large-scale celebration that combined the 75th anniversary of a CADC school, the 43rd annual Design Interaction speaker event and a school awards ceremony. The challenge was to design and coordinate a cohesive, multi-venue event from scratch, including branding, printed and digital invitations, promotional materials and day-of deliverables, all while ensuring a professional and engaging experience for attendees. APPROACH To signal the launch of a new college-wide event, the visual identity was intentionally designed to feel distinct from Auburn’s standard branding and to resonate with design-focused audience. In collaboration with colleague Courtney Windham, a continuous-line 3D form was developed to represent interaction between disciplines, becoming the central graphic element of the identity. Rotating the form produced a range of compositions that interact with the “Day of Design” title and scale across invitations, promotional graphics, programs, signage and more. A modular system ensured consistency across the numerous pieces required for the event. OUTCOME The inaugural Day of Design established a cohesive and professional experience for attendees, from public speaker sessions to the invitation-only awards ceremony. More than 20 print and digital deliverables were developed for the event—each with unique specifications, timelines and content requirements. The flexible visual system supported a wide range of applications, and the processes developed along the way provided a foundation for future iterations of the event. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c47b0d485ede188a2536624/1772929256464-9J18ZWY6SC1MCGU9M4N8/image-asset.jpeg portfolio CHALLENGE The CADC Office of Recruitment needed a clearer way to introduce prospective students to the College of Architecture, Design and Construction’s programs and opportunities. Previously, materials were assembled as large packets of individual handouts—flexible but time-consuming to prepare for seven undergraduate programs. The goal was to create a publication that could organize core information into a cohesive visual narrative while helping prospective students quickly understand disciplines that may not be universally familiar. APPROACH Working in close collaboration with CADC Recruitment, we developed the guidebook from the ground up—defining the messaging strategy, information hierarchy and overall structure before moving into design. Built within Auburn University’s brand guidelines, the visual system uses a grid-based layout, distinctive typography and large-scale photography to organize complex information while conveying the experiential nature of CADC programs. A set of recognizable icons helps quickly communicate the focus of each major, making programs easier to understand at a glance. To maintain flexibility, the guidebook includes a pocket that allows supplemental materials to be added as needed—transforming the publication into a flexible foundation rather than a static piece. OUTCOME The CADC Guidebook replaced a collection of loose recruitment materials with a structured, narrative-driven publication that provides prospective students with a clear starting point for understanding the college’s programs and opportunities. Presenting all majors within a single guide also exposed students to disciplines they may not have previously considered, sparking interest in new areas of study. Since its introduction in 2023, the guidebook has remained the foundation of the CADC Office of Recruitment’s materials, continuing to support outreach while allowing the team to adapt supplemental information as needed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c47b0d485ede188a2536624/1677305761815-2D59HAQXLEEU8EIVF0KA/APLACareerFair-2023-poster-mockup-collage.jpg portfolio CHALLENGE The annual Career + Internship Fair for the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture connects students in architecture, interior architecture, environmental design and landscape architecture with prospective employers, providing a crucial bridge to professional opportunities. The challenge was to design a cohesive, multi-deliverable system that could support a large-scale event while resonating with students and professionals in architecture disciplines. Posters required presenting dense information clearly, while floor plan materials needed to communicate the event’s layout legibly, both up close and at a distance. APPROACH A flexible, isometric visual identity was developed to engage architecture students and industry professionals while supporting a wide range of printed and digital deliverables. All event materials—including posters, maps, directional signage and handouts—were designed to be visually consistent, legible and scalable for different contexts. Dense information was organized using a clear hierarchy, with typography, an isometric grid and visual cues guiding viewers through schedules, table assignments and other event details. Map handouts and signage were crafted with extra attention to clarity, scale and readability from different distances. Alongside the development of the visual identity and materials, strategic decisions about deliverables, placement and timing were integrated into the design process, allowing the event’s visual system to develop holistically. OUTCOME The 2023 APLA Career + Internship Fair delivered a professional, cohesive experience for students and employers. The event system supported more than a dozen printed and digital deliverables while maintaining clarity across complex information. The design system balanced functionality, readability and visual engagement, and proved flexible enough to be reused for the following year’s event. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c47b0d485ede188a2536624/1677362790448-NOHCBTHN688WPTUZ131I/Faust-invite-mockup2.jpg portfolio CHALLENGE The inaugural Bob & Sherry Faust Distinguished Lecture required a visual identity that honored the work of Robert L. Faust, Professor Emeritus of Architecture at Auburn University, while providing a flexible, long-term system for future events. The design needed to pay tribute to Faust’s hand-drawn, organic forms, allow for varied imagery and maintain consistency across printed and digital materials for at least five years. In spring 2023, the Auburn University School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture hosted the inaugural Bob & Sherry Faust Distinguished Lecture, a celebration of the life and legacy of Professor Emeritus Robert L. Faust. The second annual event, held in spring 2024, continued using the visual identity established in 2023, which was crafted to be durable and versatile enough to represent the series for up to five years. APPROACH Organic forms were drawn directly from Faust’s architectural sketches and images of his work and then layered into adaptable compositions for use across invitations, posters, programs and more. A greyscale palette was chosen to echo the monochromatic nature of the original drawings and to allow photography and other imagery to stand out. The system was designed to balance tribute and functionality, creating a flexible identity that could evolve with each year’s lecture while maintaining a consistent, recognizable look. OUTCOME The resulting identity system successfully honors Bob Faust’s legacy while providing a cohesive framework for event communications. The flexible approach has supported multiple years of lectures—and handoff to another designer. By drawing on the architect’s own forms, the system creates a visual connection between the lecture and Faust’s body of work while remaining functional and adaptable. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c47b0d485ede188a2536624/1730001762655-CYWPZ20Z54VXCTBDGD8F/DayofDesign-2023-slideshow-mockup1.jpg portfolio CHALLENGE The third annual Day of Design required a visual identity that felt distinctive and engaging presence for a design-focused audience while still maintaining enough alignment with Auburn University’s brand framework to move through approvals. APPROACH The identity was built on a navy background paired with a light yellow from Auburn’s secondary color palette to maintain brand alignment. A lavender accent was introduced as a subtle reference to the College of Architecture, Design and Construction, where graduates wear lavender tassels during commencement ceremonies. Typography combined the university’s approved sans serif with a condensed serif to create contrast and hierarchy. The visual language layered textures, warped grids and abstract glass-like forms to create depth and movement. Recurring “X” motifs—used to represent interaction and the exchange of ideas—and angled lines based on Auburn’s 3 pillars graphic element were incorporated throughout the compositions. OUTCOME The resulting identity balanced institutional constraints with expressive design, creating a visually dynamic system used across posts, digital assets and day-of materials. The layered forms, typography and textures created a distinct visual presence for the event remaining aligned with the university’s brand framework. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c47b0d485ede188a2536624/1730071235501-P10Z4N7EA1KCA36E3RU7/DayofDesign-2024-poster-mockup2.jpg portfolio CHALLENGE Day of Design 2024 required a visual identity that could engage students while reflecting emerging conversations around technology and artificial intelligence in design disciplines. APPROACH The identity drew inspiration from technological visual systems, incorporating circuit-like and pixel-based graphics, monospace typography and isometric grids. These elements created a visual language that referenced computing, networks and information exchange—concepts closely tied to collective intelligence and artificial intelligence. The resulting deliverables emphasized structure, repetition and modularity while maintaining clarity across print and digital applications. OUTCOME The resulting identity translated across posters, digital assets and event materials, creating a cohesive visual presence for the event. The technology-inspired system provided a distinct aesthetic while supporting the event’s focus on shared knowledge and collaboration. https://www.madisonchampiondesign.com/about daily 0.75 2026-01-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c47b0d485ede188a2536624/1548212809001-49BKJ53A5LNZZ8ICMDJU/madisonchampion.jpg about - Madison Champion is a designer and creative leader specializing in brand strategy, visual identity and narrative-driven design. She currently serve as Communications Manager and Lead Designer for Auburn University’s College of Architecture, Design and Construction (CADC). At CADC, Madison leads a multidisciplinary team of designers, specialists and writers, overseeing all aspects of communications, brand strategy, marketing, public relations and digital content. She develops cohesive visual identity systems, oversees the creation and implementation of visual assets and guides projects from concept to execution. She is passionate about approaching design with narrative and strategy in mind, optimizing processes and cultivating a supportive, collaborative environment for her team that encourages growth and curiosity in a sustainable way. Check out her résumé here. Photography courtesy of the lovely Megan Mullins. https://www.madisonchampiondesign.com/contact daily 0.75 2020-12-14