Undergraduate students from around the world submitted their artwork for the third annual poster competition hosted by the International Advertising Association and influential Japanese advertising company, Dentsu, Inc. Centered around the theme of “Sustainability,” the competition offered participants a chance to be exhibited at the 2011 Cannes International Festival of Creativity, present their work at the United Nations, and a variety of cash prizes.

Baruch’s own Lily Chen captured the regional award for North America with her poster, “Don’t Trash the Earth.” The junior marketing major learned about the competition from an email sent by one of her professors.

” I applied mainly because I wanted to make a difference and help contribute to society, while showcasing my talent. It is a win-win solution,” she says.

She wanted to create a design that would appeal to lots of people, while still  making a strong statement about the environment.

“I wanted to convey the idea that littering is equivalent to throwing the earth away, hence the earth and paper falling into the garbage can. Once something is in the trash, it will be disposed and gone. I wanted to show it in a simple way where everyone would understand and perhaps, have an emotional appeal enlisted in it.”

Lily now has her eyes set on this year’s competition. Using her city as an inspiration, she travels around New York, jotting down ideas in hopes of winning the grand prize.