ECU’s core values displayed in winning LifeWTR label design
Inclusivity, respect and integrity inspired Noelle Story’s winning design for an art competition at East Carolina University.
Noelle Story’s design won the East Carolina University LifeWTR contest, sponsored by Minges Bottling Group. (Photos by Rhett Butler)
Story, a freshman art major from Kitty Hawk, was selected as the grand prize winner for her LifeWTR water bottle label design in a contest sponsored by Minges Bottling Group, a Pepsi-Cola company and ECU’s exclusive beverage provider.
“In this piece I wanted to illustrate inclusivity, respect and integrity by including a diverse range of individuals,” Story said in her contest statement of purpose. “I also included a heart they’ve created in the center to show that they are all united by love and have respect for one another.”
Centering on ECU’s core values, 37 designs were submitted in the fall for the “Art through the Eyes of a Pirate” competition, which Story heard about on Instagram. The submissions were narrowed to the top 15 finalists, whose design posters hung in the Student Art Gallery corridor on the second floor of the Main Campus Student Center in December and January.
On Tuesday, Landon Minges, vice president of operations for Minges Bottling Group, along with Amity Aldridge, director of marketing, and Sterling Whitley, chief strategic officer, presented Story with a $2,500 scholarship, a framed print of her artwork, a swag bag of merchandise and several cases of bottled water.
Minges said the idea for the LifeWTR art competition came about as a way to give back to the academic side of the university and work with the art department “to have someone design a label expressed through the eyes of a Pirate.” The company’s LifeWTR product is known for highlighting different artists and themes in its branding, Aldridge said.
Faculty members from the ECU School of Art and Design, staff members and Story’s father, Tim, also attended the presentation at the student center food court, where the design is wrapped around two columns. Other signage featuring the design is expected soon.
“It’s a really good feeling winning something like this and to be able to share something I’m proud of with others,” Story said. “My goal in life is to create things and share them with the world, so seeing my art around the columns in the student center (as well as knowing it may be on water bottles) made me feel like I’m already starting to accomplish some of that. The money of course is a nice bonus that will be extremely helpful.”
Story, whose intended concentration is graphic design, said she decided to attend ECU when she learned about its great art school. “I also knew it wasn’t too far from home, so it all worked out perfectly,” she said.
Posters of the top 15 designs for the contest were displayed on the second floor of the student center in December and January.