ACHO DENE KOE/FORT LIARD - Three students from Thomas Simpson School have proven that when it comes to graphic design they have skills.

Leanna Sanguez and Ariel Sanguez of Jean Marie River together with Nikita Larter of Fort Simpson competed in the graphic design category at the 12th annual Territorial Skills Competition in Yellowknife on April 20. Larter took first place in the category and will be advancing to the national level.

Nikita Larter of Fort Simpson has advanced from the territorial to the national level of the Skills Canada Competition in graphic design. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The win is a major achievement for both Larter and the school's Skills Canada graphic design club. Nathalie Lavoie, a visual arts teacher, started the club from scratch in 2007.

"We went from nothing to this in three years and that's something to be proud of," Lavoie said.

Since its inception members of the club have finished in either second or third place at the territorial competition. Larter, a new member, is the first to reach the top of the podium.

Graphic design is involved in the production of any product that combines graphics and text, ranging from magazines to packaging for a product, said Lavoie. Over the course of the year students in the club learn about the capabilities of three software programs including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.

As the competition draws closer students prepare for the challenges they will face and build the skills they'll need to use.

"It's extremely difficult because we don't know what they'll ask for," Lavoie said.

This year at the competition eight competitors were given two pages of instructions and graphics. The challenge was to design a label and packaging for a new line of candy called Pixels in five hours.

"I was excited because it seemed really fun," said Larter, 14, about the task.

Larter used bold red and blue colours to appeal to the target market of young boys and specific fonts to tie in the theme of technology. Larter put the finishing touches on her product with half an hour to spare.

"I was happy with it because it was fun and bright," she said about the final result.

Teammate Leanna Sanguez finished right on the wire.

"It was pretty challenging," Sanguez said. Although she's happy with her design, Sanguez said she could have used more time.

Larter will be competing in the nationals in Waterloo, Ont., from May 20 to 23. To prepare she will be focusing on conceptual ideas involving creativity and design skills as well as all of the necessary technical knowledge.

"I'm nervous. It's a big jump from what I know," Larter said. "I'll have to learn a lot of things but I'm looking forward to it."