Recently in SpeakEasy Category

SPDWest@STUDIO1342: Unsung Heroes of the American West 7

DON'T MISS THE BIGGEST AND MOST ORIGINAL UNSUNG HEROES NIGHT YET.

THURSDAY, APRIL 18. DRINKS AT 7:00. SHOW AT 8:00.

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SPDWest@SMASHBOX: Unsung Heroes of the American West 6

We love LA! For the sixth time Smashbox Studios is hosting another raucous evening of brilliant presenters, smart ideas and lots of sun-soaked inspiration.  Come and join us on Thursday, October 4th at 6:30 pm - VENUE CHANGE TO SMASHBOX CULVER CITY

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Speakeasy West: Unsung Heroes 5

Los Angeles, we're coming back for more! Please join us Thursday, May 17 as our pals at Smashbox Studios, West Hollywood host us for another evening of creative collaborations and inspiration courtesy of this amazing line-up of top talents and unsing heroes.

Our stellar lineup of presenters includes: a keynote speaker and conversation with iPad Design Guru Joe Zeff, Gallerist Paul Kopeikin, Photography Agent Carol LeFlufy and Art Director Charlie Hess It's another night of Right Brain thinking on the Left Coast -- not to mention cocktails, delicious food and inspiration, so RSVP now to guarantee your place at the party!

Let's get down to business after the jump... … MORE

Speakeasy: Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

The world of sports comes to the Helen Mills Theater next month for an SPD Speakeasy featuring two industry heavyweights: Chris Hercik, Creative Director of Sports Illustrated, and John Korpics, Vice President/Creative Director for Print and Digital Media at ESPN the Magazine. Hercik and SI helped start the tablet publishing revolution with its innovative demo video before the iPad was even announced. Hercik continues to inspire with interactive editions for tablets, browsers and smartphones and smart standalone apps like Sports Illustrated Football Rivals. Korpics is one of the industry's brightest stars, with two National Magazine Awards and an SPD Magazine of the Year Award from his runs at Entertainment Weekly, Esquire, InStyle and Fortune. He joined ESPN this fall to oversee The Magazine and provide an integrated vision for its editorial and photography teams across all platforms. The two will take the stage January 26 for a moderated discussion about their innovative brands and to take questions from the audience. RSVP today after the jump... … MORE

WAITLIST ONLY -- Tablet Town Hall:
Questions and Answers About the Next Generation of Tablet (and Kindle) Publishing

What's the new Adobe + WoodWing alliance all about?
If you're working in WoodWing, what will the Adobe partnership mean for you? Vice versa?
 
Can you really make, and publish, your indie app for just $399? Really?

Need some iPad advice? Need some KINDLE advice??
We've got it, and we're bringing them together for you.

On Thursday, November 10th, please join us for an SPD Town Hall kind of night: learn from Adobe and WoodWing what their partnership means for you, whether you work at a large company producing digital magazines or are interested in making your own standalone apps. Shawn Duffy from WoodWing and Steve Hart from Adobe will talk about what's changed -- and what hasn't -- in the quickly evolving world of creating content for the iPad, Android tablets and other new devices, including the Amazon Fire. They'll take your questions in a special event moderated by Joe Zeff, an SPD Board member and president of Joe Zeff Design. Submit your questions as part of your RSVP after the jump, and we'll be sure they're asked first before all the others from the crowd, or submit them to us at mail@spd.org. Now get those tickets...
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Speakeasy West: Unsung Heroes 4

Los Angeles, we're coming back for you! Please join us Thursday, October 20th as our pals at Smashbox Studios, West Hollywood host us for another evening of creative collaborations and inspiration courtesy of this amazing line-up of top talents and unsung heroes.

Our stellar lineup of presenters includes: a keynote presentation from John Van Hamersveld in conversation with Lawrence Azerrad and special guests Jeff Divine, Rebeca Mendez, Frank W Ockenfels 3, and Heidi Volpe each presenting one of their selections of hidden talents on the west coast. Their choices of "Unsung Heroes" will be revealed that night, so RSVP now to guarantee your place at the party! It's another night of Right Brain talent on the Left Coast -- not to mention cocktails, delicious food and inspiration and from a lot of old & new friends!

Let's get down to business after the jump...
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WAITLIST ONLY -- Speakeasy: The Story of O

UPDATED 5/31: Tickets for this event are currently sold to capacity. Please sign-up for waitlist tickets so we can help seat you at the door the evening of the event as soon as we have additional tickets.

On Tuesday, June 7th, please join us in welcoming Robert Priest and Grace Lee (Priest + Grace) to the SPD Speakeasy to talk about their collaboration as Design Directors for O, the Oprah Magazine, and their work redesigning the print product while launching its first iPad app (We know Oprah loves her iPad!). Hear about repositioning a huge corporate brand across all kinds of platforms, working with the reality of a celebrity, and more -- just days after the Oprah show goes off the air, Robert and Grace bring it all to the Speakeasy! … MORE

SOLD OUT -- Bloomberg Businessweek: Process

An evening with CD Richard Turley and the visual team of Bloomberg Businessweek.

On Thursday, April 21st, please join us at the offices of Bloomberg Businessweek where Creative Director Richard Turley, Design Director Cindy Hoffman, Director of Photography David Carthas, Information Graphics Director Jennifer Daniels and the creative team behind the Bloomberg relaunch of Businessweek will take us behind-the-scenes for a look at work that is smart and serious, from a team that knows how magazines are made.

As our very own Bob Newman wrote in GRIDS back in November,

When Bloomberg Businessweek launched their redesign (and re-imagination) of the magazine at the end of April, the response from the publication design community was somewhat underwhelming. The first couple covers were solid but not remarkable, the insides were crisply formatted but a bit overstuffed, and the imagery had yet to find its full voice.

It's time to take another look. In the succeeding months, the new design has grown and matured into a remarkable visual package. Week after week, creative director Richard Turley and his crew are producing stunning covers and features, along with tightly formatted interior pages that rival New York for their texture, density, creativity, and attention to detail. This is state-of-the-art magazine design, with highly-original and intelligent photos, graphics, and illustrations. It's a look that fuses the formatting brilliance of New York and the smart visual approach of The New York Times Magazine, with a hierarchy and architecture lifted from the best British and European publications (the Guardian chief among them). Most impressively, Businessweek has a high level of visual intelligence, challenging its readers, pushing the boundaries of traditional newsweekly and business magazine design. ...

Tickets and all info after the jump...
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Speakeasy West: Illustration's Unsung Heroes

We can't stay away! We hope you're in the LA area on Thursday, March 24th and can join us at Smashbox West Hollywood for another amazing gathering of the coolest creatives around, a night of Right Brain talent on the Left Coast, presented by Charlie Hess, Lisa Thackaberry and Carol LeFlufy. This time we're focusing on the bright lights of the illustration world, with David Armario, Lou Beach, Jim Heimann, Brian Rea and InJu Sturgeon introducing some of the top-notch, unsung illustrators they have spotted as the ones to watch (but you have to be there to meet these Unsung Heroes!). You'll be amazed at the work on display, not to mention you'll beef up your own rolodex with our Unsung Heroes and also the connections you'll make with the creatives in the audience. Cool inspiration, cocktails and homemade Mexican food, and an amazing group of people. All details and RSVP info after the jump... … MORE

Albert Watson and Laurie Kratochvil Talk STRIP SEARCH, UFO and more...

Photographer Albert Watson has shot more than 250 Vogue covers, 40 covers for Rolling Stone, movie posters, movie star portraits, and more; it's unlikely anyone who's ever browsed a magazine rack in a bookstore, bus station or airport hasn't at one time or another seen an Albert Watson cover. -- Mike Folds, Ragazine

In addition to his iconic editorial work covering everything from portraits, to fashion and reportage, he has two new books representing both his assignment work -- "UFO: Albert Watson," is a look back at 40 years of his career, and purely personal work -- "Strip Search" is being released in early December. A project ten years in the making, "Strip Search" is a personal look into the life and lives of Las Vegas. We're honored to announce that Mr. Watson will join us at the SPD Speakeasy on Tuesday, November 2nd to discuss "UFO" and "Strip Search," his editorial work, his process, the secrets to crafting a career over 40 years in the making, and more. Tickets (and this is probably going to be another sell-out, so get them now!) after the jump... … MORE

1000 TIME Covers:
Thinking Inside the (Red) Box

On Wednesday, October 27th, please join us in welcoming Arthur Hochstein to the SPD Speakeasy to talk about his greatest hits, favorite never-seens, and all the in-betweens that went into making over 1000 covers of TIME Magazine. Longtime collaborator, artist Matt Mahurin, will introduce the night, and you'll walk away with a better sense of the secrets behind making a mass-market cover jump out from a crowded newsstand, and the power of the page. RSVP info and all details after the jump... … MORE

Speakeasy West: Return of the Unsung Heroes

If you're in the LA area on Thursday, October 7th (native or visiting: we'll be a mix of both), join us at Smashbox West Hollywood for another gathering of the coolest creatives around, a night of Right Brain talent on the Left Coast, presented by Charlie Hess, Carol LeFlufy and Lisa Thackaberry. Come meet the trade-secret talents that top Art Directors, Photo Editors and Reps turn to and beef up your own rolodex at the same time, not just with our Unsung Heroes but also the connections you'll make with the creatives in the audience. Cool inspiration, cocktails and munchies, an amazing group of people. This is a must-do. All details and RSVP info after the jump...
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Paper to Pixels v2: iPad Apps

With the advent of the iPad and other mobile devices, magazines are facing the challenge of translating their content and design from printed page to tablet screen. Our panel of designers  will share their insight and experience of developing for this new platform. Come hear about the challenges and creative solutions they have uncovered. … MORE

Summer Speakeasy: Adobe CS5
One Night Only, All You Need to Know

Improve your print skill and mock up interactivity using tools you already know. This special Summer Speakeasy is not only a great night to get up-to-speed on what's new and improved with Adobe's CS5, but SPD Members, this is FREE for you when you RSVP in advance! Not to mention, at the end of the night we're giving away one free copy of CS5 Design Premium. Seating is limited, so reserve your space and get all the info on what we'll be learning after the jump...
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SPD@SMASHBOX LA: Unsung Heroes of the American West

We're headed west, California, Los Angeles, specifically, for our next Speakeasy: UNSUNG HEROES OF THE AMERICAN WEST! Join us as 6 Art Directors and Photo Editors feature their favorite LA-based photographer or illustrator, and talk work, creativity, assignments, and more.

Smashbox Studios, West Hollywood hosts SPD and our friends on the West Coast for an evening of fun, creativity, networking and cocktails: six Art Directors and Photo Editors have been asked to present a talented, LA-based photographer or illustrator whose work they admire -- and we're NOT revealing the artists until the night of, so rsvp after the jump!
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ARTFUL COMMUNICATION: Gina Barnett

Sometimes, we all need a little help in the personal-professional department: we all have to have difficult conversations, but we could handle them better. We could collaborate better, present our ideas and our work with more confidence, agree to disagree more productively. Some of us are thinking about the next phase, and how to move into it gracefully, but we have no idea where to start, or how to do that very well. In a nutshell, we don't always know how to do all those little things that could make it all easier.

When what you need most of all is to redesign yourself, who knows where to start?

On Thursday, March 25th, please join us for an evening that might help us start to figure it all out, courtesy of Gina Barnett. Who's that, you ask? We'll let Gail Anderson share her experience:


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PAUL SAHRE: Alien abduction attempts, the hairless hand, dead pig heads, boring sex and eating the dinosaur.

The one and only Paul Sahre will be kicking off SPD's spring speaker series on Tuesday, February 9th at the Helen Mills Theater.
According to Paul's site, he...
...is a graphic designer that works out of his own shitty office in New York City.
...received his BFA and MFA from Kent State and teaches at the School of Visual Arts.
...finds comfort in the fact that we are all hurtling through space. … MORE

RICHARD WILDE on Refueling: Putting Myself Back Into My Work

LIMITED TICKETS REMAIN FOR SALE AT THE DOOR!
Tuesday night. October 6, 2009.
The SPD Speaker Series is back, and with a big night to kick off the year!
Richard Wilde, celebrating 40 years of shaping the visual culture at SVA with "The Wilde Bunch," takes a evening out to share with us one of the most important parts of being creative: taking time to refocus your creativity.
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VIDEO: Intuition Is Underrated

We know: finally. (It's a tech adventure at SPD.)
Video of Arem Duplessis' sold-out Speakeasy night, "Intuition is Underrated."

Wonder what SPD Annual got Arem interested in magazine design? Who inspired him? Want to know more about the thinking behind some of those classic NYT Magazine covers? How he feels about the people who copy his style, and the team he calls on to get it all done so brilliantly? Video after the jump...

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Carin Goldberg: By the Seat of her Pants

Can you ever be too inspired? Definitely not.
So after the sold-out night with Arem Duplessis, and the quickly-selling-get-your-tickets-already! night with James Victore, who could be next? It only seemed perfect to ask our Secret Santa for a night from Carin Goldberg. And Santa came through.

Carin will talk about how she became a graphic designer and how dumb luck, determination, some talent, supportive friends and good timing allowed her to build a body of work that some people (All of us!! -- Ed.) seem to think is worth an hour of your time. Of course, there will be lots of pictures.

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JAMES VICTORE
Norman Rockwell Is My God

After our first, sold-out Speakeasy, we're back again on Monday, October 27th with a night of cocktails and conversation with James Victore, hell-bent on world domination. Clearly he knows that path leads straight through SPD. Join us for a talk the man himself says "will be serious. And a bit silly."

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