When Fort Kent native Heidi Carter designed the logo for the 2004 Biathlon World Cup, she didn’t need to look far for inspiration.

Organizers at the Maine Winter Sports Center wanted something that reflected the local culture, the fact that Fort Kent is a border community, and the fact that this is an American event. Carter’s design covered all the bases.

The cap, similar to hats worn by many cross-country skiers, is red, white and blue, “for the United States,” Carter says. The five dots symbolize the five targets in the biathlon. The star is inspired by the Acadian Star, which serves as an emblem for the St. John Valley. And the curve of the athlete’s arm (or, some say, the gun’s trigger) mimics the curve of the St. John River as it flows between Maine and Canada.

The rich symbolism of the logo, along with its striking lines, recently won Carter a prestigious American Graphic Design Award. In December, her work was published in American Graphic Design magazine, which is printed in book form each spring. Fewer than 10 percent of the 11,000 entrants are recognized for their work, and Carter is the only featured designer from Maine.

“I cried,” Carter, 30, said of hearing the news. “I was floored because this award is presented mostly to big firms.”

After a stint as art director for Blue Cross-Blue Shield in Portland, Carter returned to the Valley to raise a family with her husband, Jason. Though she is primarily a stay-at-home mom, she continued to do free-lance work for several clients in the Portland area.

“I love graphic design so much,” she said.

Though the award will certainly bolster her resume, Carter said the real honor is the community’s reaction. Whenever she goes out to eat or downtown, people stop her to comment on her design.

“I think it’s kind of neat for everybody to have somebody who grew up here [win this award],” she said. “Whenever I see people smile when they see what I’ve done – It’s so nice to see that people are proud and happy, and that’s the best reward of all.”