The designs of the five finalists in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race T-shirt contest are as different as the race winner’s time will be from the last person to cross the finish line.
Some are artistic. Some are literal. Each is interesting.
The winning design will be featured on more than 50,000 T-shirts and will be unveiled and handed out Monday as the racers cross the finish line and enter Piedmont Park.
Here are the stories behind the five finalists:
Adam Houston
Occupation: Owner of Bridge Creative, a graphic design and marketing firm started in 1999.
College: Graduated from Georgia in 1998.
Residence: Cumming (grew up in Norcross)
Age: 35
Number of Peachtree races entered: Seven.
Number of Peachtree contests previously entered: Three, a two-time finalist in 2002 and 2007 and a finalist in 2008.
What was the goal of your design? I was trying to get something that was very colorful and that combined a lot of different parts of the Peachtree together: the miles, the 1970, the peach and the flags. There’s a lot of different elements that you can pick. I was trying to find a way to shoehorn them all in together and make it nice and bold.
What was your inspiration? The energy and color of the race. It’s very exciting.
How long did it take to design? A week.
What would it mean to win? It would be a big deal, honestly. I’ve been involved in the race for almost a decade. It would be a lot of fun to see everybody walking around with them, and they wear them for years.
Matt Ankerich
Occupation: Graphic designer at RockTenn.
College: Graduated from Art Institute of Atlanta in 1998 with a major in graphic design.
Residence: Buckhead
Age: 33
Number of Peachtrees entered: None.
Number of Peachtree contests previously entered: Two. I did one in high school that was lame. We didn’t have any computers. I still have it to keep me humble. I did one my last year at the Art Institute that made it to the finals. I’ve always wanted to design the Peachtree Road Race T-shirt. This was the first year in a few years that I felt like I had a good idea.
What was the goal of your design? To wear it obviously. I wanted to do a design that was different.
What was your inspiration? Just the patriotism of the Fourth of July, the aspect of the road race and to have a fun and colorful design that was different from ones before. The way I designed the peach was to reflect the original logo of the Peachtree Road Race.
How long did it take to design? Three months. I started sketching it in December. I’ve had the idea for a peach and incorporating the flag into that design. I did a few sketches in my free time. I finished it in February.
What would it mean to win? It would be an honor as a graphic designer who is from Atlanta to win. Accolades are always nice and a validation of what your dream is as a designer to influence culture and design in your city.
Jessica Ferguson
Occupation: A student at West Georgia scheduled to graduate in December.
Residence: Carrollton (from Kennesaw)
Age: 22
Number of Peachtrees entered: None.
Number of Peachtree contests previously entered: None.
What was the goal of your design? When I created it, I wasn’t trying to win. I wanted to create something that I’m proud of. My concentration of painting and drawing, I used those skills. I was trying to do something that was different. My teacher, when he gave us the assignment, we looked at past. They always included the peach or the skyline. My teacher told us we didn’t need peach.
What was your inspiration? I love to paint. Clint Samples, my teacher, said you should try to use stuff other than computer graphics. I started with a palette knife and used acrylic paint. I scanned each letter in with Photoshop and then made it digital. I wanted to do something different. I wanted to do something risky.
How long did it take to design? Three months. We would do a design and then critique them. We had eight or nine critiques.
What would it mean to win? It would mean a lot. Winning that is a huge accomplishment because 60,000 people will be wearing that. These T-shirts are considered trophies for the runners. It’s a really big honor to know that your design was chosen.
Barbie Klimaszewski
Occupation: Recently graduated from West Georgia as an art major with a concentration in interior design.
Residence: Newnan
Age: 47
Number of Peachtrees entered: 10
Number of Peachtree contests previously entered: None.
What was the goal of your design? I wanted it to look more realistic. I wanted to make something different.
What was your inspiration? I was trying to incorporate my design within the actual T-shirt. I took my bib number from last year and used that as a format for the shirt. The size and everything are the same. I scanned it and [used Photoshop] and changed it around.
How long did it take to design? Three months. It was part of a class project in digital media that started in January and finished in March.
What would it mean to win? I think because I am a runner it would be interesting to have my design on everyone’s shirt. I know that’s what you look for when you get to the end: “What do the shirts look like?” It would be exciting.
Alyssa Chitwood
Occupation: A student at West Georgia, majoring in art education.
Residence: Newnan
Age: 23
Number of Peachtrees entered: None.
Number of Peachtree contests previously entered: None.
What was the goal of your design? Bring light to the Fourth of July festivities on the day of the Peachtree Road Race. The fluidity of the lines has to do with the runners and the flow of running.
What was your inspiration? The runners and the Fourth of July and exploring different options for the shirt. Our teacher prompted us to not only think about designs that not only we would like, but other people would like. When I was coming up with my design I tried to focus it around things everybody likes and understands.
How long did it take to design? Two weeks.
What would it mean to win? It would mean a lot to me to win. I also have the design for the volunteer shirt. It would make me feel a lot better about my skills. Still being a student, competing against professionals, it would make me feel accomplished. I wouldn’t be a student, but a person who has a chance for competitions in the art world.
