Bookmarks: 2018 Revealed, 2019 Design Challenge Opens

By Susan Fandel

You’ve heard about it. The Wufs have worn it. Now NC State University’s official tartan – “Pack Plaid” – is taking its place in Wilson College of Textiles history as the featured element of the official 2018 bookmark.

Fittingly, this year’s bookmark is designed by tartan creator and alumna Kathleen Kelly ‘14. Kelly won the College’s Pack Plaid competition held during her first semester of graduate school at the Wilson College of Textiles.  Her design is a sophisticated pattern in black, dark gray, red and white. The bookmark incoprorates the tartan along with the year and the words “NC State Pack Plaid”.

Since the first was produced in 1960, the Wilson College of Textiles’ woven bookmarks have become something of a collector’s item among Wilson College of Textiles alumni and friends as well as people throughout NC State and the UNC system. They are eagerly anticipated each year by those who normally receive them and gratefully accepted by College visitors from around the world. This year 4,000 bookmarks featuring the tartan will be distributed starting in May.

With 2018 in the books, it is time to focus on 2019’s bookmark which will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Textile Protection and Comfort Center (TPACC), located in the Wilson College of Textiles.

For nearly two and half decades, TPACC’s team of highly skilled professional and technical personnel have been conducting research to develop clothing that resists heat, flames and chemicals and offers improved performance and comfort. NC State researchers have pioneered many of the tests and developed the standards used to evaluate clothing for emergency workers, military uniforms and protective gear, and high-performance sportswear. TPACC’s broad base facility offers industry and government clients unique scientific abilities that permit assessments of comfort and protection from fabric swatch level all the way to full ensemble systems.

All Wilson College of Textiles students, faculty, staff and alumni are invited to submit a design for consideration. This year’s winner will receive a $50 prize. All designs must be submitted by April 30, 2018. The Bookmark Committee will review the submissions and select a winning entry. If your design is selected, please keep in mind that modifications may be necessary due to weaving specifications.

To be considered, the design should meet the following requirements:

• 2-4 color graphic file or simulation (jpg or tiff) – see color information below
• 50mm x 205 mm rectangle (approximately 1.75 in x 6.5 in finished woven dimensions)

Submissions should also feature:

• The year: “2019”
• Some visual element of TPACC 
• “25th Anniversary of TPACC”
• The Wilson College of Textiles logo or the words “Wilson College of Textiles” – Faculty and staff can access the acceptable logos on the intranet. 

Text should be consistent throughout your design: either all Arial or all Univers.

Color Information:

You may use 2 to 4 colors in your design from the three palettes below.

• You MUST use Pyroman Flame from the Expanded Color Palette
• Up to 3 additional colors from the Core, Accent Grays and Expanded Palettes

Core Palette

Accent Grays

Expanded Color Palette

When the bookmarks are distributed, they will be accompanied by a letter that introduces recipients to the designer. Good luck to all students, faculty, staff and alumni. We can’t wait to see your designs!