April 2011 Archives

The Recent Grad Report:

Cara Willenbrock

If you're a graduating senior, no doubt you're already tired of all your parents' and relatives' questions about your after-graduation plans. And unless you're one of the lucky few who've already snagged a job, you're probably also tired of thinking about those plans yourself. Perhaps today's Recent Grad Report feature can give you a boost of motivation and a few tips.

Cara Willenbrock, a 2010 graduate, shares with us her job-hunting experience as she worked up the ranks from intern to full-time designer through work at three different companies. Read on for her great insight and advice on the process.

Cara Willenbrock
2010 graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia
Bachelor of Journalism in Magazine Design

Tell us about how you got started after school and where you are now.
Starting in St. Louis, Missouri at St. Louis AT HOME magazine as a web and art intern, I worked without pay all last summer on layouts, web design and production, photo shoots and social media coordination. ... … MORE

#41: Never Stop

I think there is a misconception, especially that students have and I really make a point when I speak at schools to talk about the fact that you never really arrive. You are always working towards something but you never stop. I think there is this crazy idea that you get somewhere and then everything is cool.
 
--photographer Dan Winters, as stated in an interview on A Photo Editor where he gives a run-through of how he got started in photography. 

#40: Type Considerations

I can write the word 'dog' with any typeface and it doesn't have to look like a dog. But there are people that [think that] when they write 'dog' it should bark.
--Massimo Vignelli

The above quote was mentioned in a UMagazinology blog post about alumni magazine design by designer Claude Skelton, recommended reading for any newbie designer (and some of us oldies too). To further Vignelli's point, Skelton writes:

"The main problem I'm having with many of the magazines I'm seeing is that too many designers are throwing the magazine's typographic identity out the window when it comes to feature stories. ... True, some consumer magazines use typography as art, and when it's done well it can restore your faith in print all over again--but those publications have world-class creative staffs and budgets to match. There are just as many consumer magazines that have a strong, consistent typographic identity and they manage to use it creatively throughout, even in features."

Congrats to our Student Photography Competition Winners!

Congratulations to the following students for their first-place wins in our Student Photography Competition! Be sure to check out their winning photos and judges' commentary here.

FASHION: Brittany Cool, junior
Nazareth College, Rochester, NY
PRIZE INTERNSHIP: At the studio of Sebastian Kim

PORTRAITURE: Allison Neckman, senior
Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA
PRIZE INTERNSHIP: At the studio of Mark Seliger

REPORTAGE/DOCUMENTARY: Ryan McBride, sophomore
New England School of Photography, Boston, MA
PRIZE INTERNSHIP: At the studio of James Nachtwey

STILL LIFE: Anthony Bui, sophomore
Parsons The New School for Design, New York, NY
PRIZE INTERNSHIP: At the studio of Svend Lindbaek

#39: More About Inspiration

Honestly I don't believe in inspiration. Most good work of mine slowly emerges as the result of sustained hard work and incremental improvements, rather than a sudden flash of insight. Deadlines are inspirational.
 
--Doogie Horner (via the awesome website 10 Answers featuring interviews with a variety of artists and designers)