A logo design created by Pennsylvania College of Technology student Karleigh E. Hunter, of Yukon, Oklahoma, has been selected as the official visual identity for the International Visual Literacy Association 2026 Conference, set for Oct. 6-9 in Charleston, South Carolina.
The graphic design student’s concept was submitted alongside entries from designers, artists, educators, scholars, students and creative practitioners inspired by the conference theme, “Seeing Through Time: The Legacy of Images in Memory, Place, and Representation.”
The logo design project was assigned by Brian A. Flynn, who recently retired as assistant professor of graphic design, as part of his Introduction to Graphic Design course. Flynn then submitted each design to the competition for consideration.
“Karleigh did an excellent job researching visual literacy, the IVLA and Charleston and developed a concept that encompasses the overall theme of the upcoming IVLA conference,” Flynn said. “She is a talented artist and designer, and I look forward to following her progress over her four years at Penn College.”
In her design concept, Hunter explained that her logo uses visual storytelling to reflect the principles of visual literacy she has learned through her studies while also capturing the spirit of this year’s IVLA conference theme.
“I wanted the design to immediately feel connected to Charleston, while also embodying the conference theme through symbolism, color and composition,” she said.
Hunter drew from Charleston’s historic architecture and church culture, incorporating a stained-glass window motif and elements of St. Michael’s Church, the city’s oldest church.
The committee was drawn to the design’s use of stained glass and its reference to Charleston’s identity as “the Holy City.”
“Stained glass has historically been used to tell stories and preserve moments in time, acting as a passage through history and visual storytelling across generations,” she said. “I felt this connected naturally to the conference theme, ‘Seeing Through Time,’ and the ideas behind visual literacy and the way images can communicate meaning, culture and shared human experiences.”
Hunter is grateful for the opportunity to participate in the competition, calling it an “experience and a pleasant surprise.”
“Karleigh’s achievement is a great reflection of the quality of our students and the real-world focus of our program,” said Nicholas L. Stephenson, assistant professor of graphic design and co-department head. “Our students graduate prepared to take on the kinds of creative challenges they’ll encounter in the professional design industry.”
To learn more about Penn College’s graphic design & art programs, call 570-327-4521.
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