Student inspired by Imagine RIT designs festival poster

Amelia Hunkele remembers her first visit to RIT, when she was still in high school in Oak Park, Ill., and took a tour of campus during the annual Imagine RIT: Creativity and Innovation Festival.

She knew she wanted to do something with design and art, fused with technology somehow.

“Part of the reason I chose RIT was because of the amazing works I saw at Imagine,” she said. “Seeing the works of the new media design students inspired me to choose that program once I saw the kinds of things I could maybe one day make. I knew it was what I was exactly looking for.”

Hunkele, now in her second year as a new media design major, is this year’s winning artist for the Imagine RIT poster, which depicts a Rube Goldberg machine.

“I wanted it to represent some of the different activities and courses that people can take at RIT,” she said. “I’m very grateful that people chose my poster, and I appreciate the opportunity to have my work represent Imagine RIT because it is such an amazing and inspiring event.”

Her winning design, one of nearly 30 entered in the contest this year, was one of the top vote-getters to make the finals. RIT President Bill Sanders and his wife, Emily, selected the winner.

Visitors can receive a free copy of the poster during the festival on April 25, while supplies

Hunkele entered the competition as a final assignment in her 3D design course last semester, and estimates she spent about 40 hours working on it.

“There were a lot of times in the New Media Design Lab I spent working on it where I completely lost track of time,” she said.

Hunkele is taking advantage of the opportunities RIT has to offer. She’s in the Honors Program, participates in the New Media Club, No Voice Zone, and takes guitar lessons as a Performing Arts Scholar.

Ironically, Hunkele probably won’t make it to this year’s festival because she’s studying abroad at RIT Croatia in Zagreb this semester.

“It has been great because the classes are the same new media design classes I would’ve taken at the Rochester campus,” she said. “I have also been able to meet many new people and have had many new experiences here.”

About Imagine RIT

The festival is RIT’s largest annual event. Community members are welcomed to campus on April 25 to enjoy more than 300 exhibits of technology, art, design, robotics, performing arts, engineering, research, clubs, and more. The event is free and open to the public, with free parking on campus and at Monroe Community College, with free shuttle buses to and from RIT.