February 2011 Archives

#37: Design or Technology?

Design or technology? Which is more important? Why? No question: Design. Apple without design would be the old Microsoft. JetBlue or Virgin Atlantic without design would be AirTran. More and more of the human experience is, or will be, enabled by technology, but you must add design to technology to make magic.
 
--Gaston Legorburu, worldwide chief creative officer of SapientNitro, from a Q&A in Communication Arts.

The Recent Grad Report:

Nicole Zigmont

Along with our added "New Work: Student Publications" category, we're starting another series of posts aimed at giving you the inside scoop on the school-to-job transition. Titled "The Recent Grad Report," we'll be featuring designers who have graduated within the past few years--and even some lucky current students--who have successfully made the switch from classrooms to cubicles.

To start the series off, we're featuring a familiar name to those of you who've been checking out last year's Student Design Competition winners and this year's SPD-U event. Not only did 2010 graduate Nicole Zigmont win an internship at Complex with her 4th place competition entry, but she more recently got a full-time job as Assistant Designer at Family Circle. (See where that internship can help take you? Enter the competition now to get your own career jump-start! Entries due March 7.)

So when we were looking for panelists for our "recent grads" discussion session at SPD-U, Nicole was an obvious choice. Read on to hear how she got her start, and be sure to join us on Monday, March 14 to hear more from her and others on making that real world jump.
… MORE

Student Competition Tips:

Ignore at Your Own Risk!

Our Student Design Competition deadline is less than 2 weeks away now, so we sure hope you've got your entries started. We've got lots of last-minute tips after the jump, but also be sure to check out the last page in the official Competition PDF ... we show you all the elements that make up a great spread, from folios to sidebars, pull quotes to captions. These things aren't requirements, but you should definitely consider them. Read on for more tips and advice...
… MORE

#36: No Slacking Off

Show up for work, both in mind and body.
-Joseph Caserto, in his blog post on interning advice, a must-read for any current or aspiring intern, no matter your field.

Come hear Joe share more of his spot-on advice in our "Designer Jobs" panel at SPD-U March (Design) Madness on March 14. Sign up now, cause space is limited and filling up fast!

Pick SPD-U for March (Design) Madness

Forget the basketball, SPD-U is where the real action's at this March! Join us Monday, March 14 for an awesome afternoon of top-seeded presentations in publication design and art direction. We've got even more topics and presenters than last year, all there to give YOU the edge in your design work and job-searching. And we're offering portfolio reviews as well. All the details after the jump... … MORE

#35: The Difference Between Print and Digital

I've compared print to new technologies by saying that the difference between reading on an iPad and reading a magazine is the difference between looking at a woman...and having sex with her.
--George Lois, in response to SMH Magazine's question about why print is still important is this increasingly-digital market. Read the full article (featured in our recent "New Work: Student Publications" post) here.

Meet SMH Magazine

You know those cool posts over on our main Grids blog featuring New Work from the magazine world? Well, with this post, we're starting a similar series here on the Student Blog featuring new work from student publications. Think your college pub is doing some awesome design? Then send us samples and tell us the backstory. Magazines, yearbooks, newspapers, zines, literary journals, newsletters ... whatever you've got, we want to see it and hear about it!

Today we're starting off the series with SMH Magazine created by the Design Club students at New York City College of Technology for their Advertising Design & Graphic Arts Department. Design Director Travis Bonilla shares some of their recent work and the thinking behind it...
… MORE

Student Competition Judges Announced

That March 7 deadline for our Student Design Competition is now less than a month away, and we've got an awesome team of judges who can't wait to see what you have created! Those judges are just one of the many good reasons why you should enter ... when else will you have the chance to get your work in front of so many incredible art directors?

Our 2011 Student Competition Judges
 
- Evan Campisi :: ART DIRECTOR :: Nylon
- John Dixon :: ART DIRECTOR :: The Village Voice
- Robert Festino :: DESIGN DIRECTOR :: Men's Health
- Elizabeth Hummer :: DESIGN DIRECTOR :: Harper's Bazaar
- Kory Kennedy :: DESIGN DIRECTOR :: Runner's World
- Gloria Pantel :: DESIGN DIRECTOR :: TV Guide
- James Reyman :: PRINCIPAL :: Reyman Studio

Event: SND Student Symposium

Are you anywhere near Syracuse, NY? Then you should attend this Friday's FREE Syracuse Student Symposium, sponsored by the Society of News Designers. Sure it focuses on newspaper design, but as we mentioned before, newspapers and magazines have lots in common when it comes to design. Starting with a free lunch at 1pm, there will be 3 sessions followed up with individual critiques. Professional advice, free admission AND free lunch? Why aren't you registered already?!

And don't forget, we've got our own half-day SPD-U March (Design) Madness event coming up on Monday, March 14 from 1pm to 4pm. So mark your calendars, ask your professors for the day off, and make your travel plans ... it's going to be an awesome event you won't want to miss! Details will be posted soon.