Recently in Commentary Category

ARTFUL COMMUNICATION: Gina Barnett

I first met Gina Barnett a few years ago when she came to our office at SpotCo to help the senior managers work on presentation skills. While the president of our company is a natural and gifted orator who's at his most comfortable--and funniest--in large groups of clients, some of the rest of us, well... not so much. And that would be, including and especially me. I could speak to a conference of a thousand strangers without raising my blood pressure, but somehow feared that I was a fraud in front of small groups of people who are buying what we create.

Enter Gina Barnett.… MORE

The Newsweek Redesign: Hit or Miss?

We all know what the process is like to get out a massive redesign. The meetings... The designs... Presentations... Focus groups... More designs... Launch. 
… MORE

Can't Touch This

You may have your fancy SPD medals, but I gotta tell you, I think I have something that's pretty hard to top. I have an original Paul Davis portrait of my own--literally.… MORE

***N*E*W*** ***R*E*L*E*A*S*E***

GK Investigates was worried that the US Censor Board would not allow us to release this clip.

But today approval was given, despite the nudity.


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GK Investigation > > > Clips finally released to SPD

***N*E*W*S*  *R*E*L*E*A*S*E***

After many months of negotiation, and many months of fine tuning the details, the undercover magazine industry investigation group known as GKI, or GK Investigation, is finally able to release numerous clips to the Society of Publication Design, SPD, for use on their blog.
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OK is not OK

By GREG POND

Photo editor: I have the pictures we shot for the Death of a Steel Town story.
Editor: How are they? Not too dark, right? I mean, not too depressing?
Photo Editor: They're great. A little dark, but dark in the right way. Really powerful.
Editor: We shot in color, right?
Photo editor: We shot it in color and black and white, but I think the black and white is stronger. I want you to see them.
Editor: I'll look at them, but I think I'll want color. I don't want to run dark pictures.
Photo editor: OK.
Editor: They're not too down, are they? I mean, not too depressing and dark?
Photo editor: We should look at them. Probably better to talk after we've seen them.
Editor: All right, but make sure they're not too dark and down. Make sure we have some smiles. We need smiles.
Photo editor: OK.
Editor: Smiles!
Photo Editor: It's pictures of laid-off workers, so I'm wondering if smiles are ... well, you know. But, sure, yeah, OK.
Editor: [Walking away] Smiles! Color! Energy!
Photo Editor: OK.

The above conversation didn't actually happen, but similar ones have. In fact, they happen all the time these days. I'm the photo editor in question and I admit it, I've become guilty of the sin of saying OK. I'm not fighting it out with editors as much as I should be. Not the ugly fighting of course, but the great back and forth that leads to exciting stories and strong layouts, brilliant pictures, and award-winning illustrations. OK is the safe choice. OK is business as usual. OK is sticking with what you know. OK is not taking chances. OK is not asking that one time too many for the extra spread you think your story deserves. OK is not risking the black eye you might get if you push back with your boss about that opener you believe in.
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Things I Am Thankful For (A Note from Your President)

2009 will be my tenth year in the SPD.

I love working for the Society; whether you're a photographer or a designer, an illustrator or an intern, a photo editor or an editor, participating in this organization is a terrific way to get an inside look at how great magazines are made. It's a front-row seat to the present-tense history of America.

Which is why this is a particularly painful time for many of us, our friends and colleagues. We're living in the end of one era of publishing--a seismic shift in what models of media will be viable--and experiencing firsthand the painful repercussions of a failed economic philosophy.
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Imitation is Flattery?

Hi all, quick question...I illustrated the logo on the left a few years ago for a small burger shop in Brooklyn, it's copyrighted on all display / menus / collateral. I got a text the other night from the NY Food & Wine Festival, saying a major restaurateur ripped it off. The logo on the right just came to me...I think they're pretty different, others say it's too close for comfort and find out the extent of their usage. Not a new topic but an ongoing one; I'm curious what you think at what point is a copyrighted design is original, inspiration, or just an idea out in the world? It's basic deconstructing a sandwich... but if it was your small startup business versus a multi-million dollar franchise does that change the picture?

Luke Hayman on the Best and Worst Magazine Design Trends

Pentagram's Luke Hayman, one of the magazine industry's most respected and prolific designers, was filmed at "FOLIO:Show 2008" discussing the best and worst trends of 2008.

Watch the video after the jump.
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New Favorite Magazine: FOAM

I'm afraid I'm a little late to the party on this one but Foam: International Photography Magazine based out of Amsterdam is simply amazing.  I was lucky enough to come across it at the NY Photo Fesitval in Dumbo--directed to it by my pal Ryan Mesina in the Real Simple Photo Department.  We were both instant fans.  Each specially themed issue feels like you've stumbled into a little photo gallery on a city street that is filled with gems the likes of which you haven't seen before.  … MORE