Graphic Communications Technology

Skills Gained

• Team building
• Public speaking
• Project management
• Flexography
• Travel/Networking
• Planning

Phoenix Challenge requires students to modify a businesses brand-identity and develop a line of packaging for that businesses products. In the past, ISU students have developed close relationships with local business and delivered the highest quality branded labels and packaging. The yearly competition is held at a different conference center across the US which students travel to in the spring! This is privileged opportunity for students to work in a real life scenario, gain access to resources, and create expanding connections in the industry.

Phoenix Challenge is a collegiate Flexographic Printing competition which many of our brightest students have participated in. The purpose is to showcase their skills as it relates to flexographic printing. Illinois State has won 5 times, most recently in 2019– in other years with many 2nd and 3rd place finishes.

Student Phoenix Book 2025

Skills Gained

• Communication and Outreach
• Sales, Marketing, and Customer Service
• Public Speaking
• Project Management/Time Management
• Networking (Local, National, and International)
• Community Building

TAGA is a student chapter of the international TAGA organization. Within TAGA students will work with RSO’s and local businesses to help create new branding or produce merch for their various needs. In these efforts we gain exposure to more production activities and raise money for our competition team to travel to the yearly conference. We pride ourselves on giving students a chance build on their resumes, engage in leadership roles, and expand upon different technologies which are not always used in the classroom. Competition projects are completed over the fall and early spring semester and are presented for competition at the annual TAGA conference. Competitions include: T-shirt Design/Production, Journal Design, Technical Writing, Package Design/Production, Journal Production, and Website Design.

Click below for more information on this years TAGA projects!

TAGA officers are elected every spring semester which creates many opportunities for students to develop their leadership skills in a friendly environment!