World’s Best Designer
Fernando Baptista of National Geographic Magazine was selected by a panel of 42 judges as the World’s Best Designer for his Infographics portfolio in the Society for News Design’s 46th edition of the Creative Competition. Baptista was also awarded a gold medal for his portfolio in this year’s competition.
The judges said that this work was incredibly consistent and shows complete mastery of illustration, with a clear, cohesive style running through everything he creates. They said the amount of work produced in 2024 alone is impressive — it was clear that countless hours were spent on each piece. The execution was flawless – from infographics to typography – with strong flow, rhythm and composition throughout. They said each piece was a masterpiece in color, hierarchy and design and that it was hard to imagine a better-executed body of work done by a single person in a single year.
World’s Best Emerging Designer
The Society for News Design is excited to announce the Washington Post’s Emma Kumer as the World’s Best Emerging Designer for her individual social media portfolio in the Society for News Design’s 46th annual Creative Competition. Kumer is the first designer to be awarded the new emerging designer distinction.
The judges found the work fun, full of small surprises and strong interactions that guide the reader through the stories. They noted the stories’ adaptability for social platforms while maintaining visual authority and consistency. The layouts were praised for their simplicity, allowing illustrations to shine and stand out individually.