Student Outreach: The Editors Archives

Pub Crawl 2017 Spotlight: Tour D - WSJ. Magazine + GQ

Pub(lications) Crawl 10.05.17 posted by The Editors

Our sold out 2017 Pub(lications) Crawl event is this Friday, October 6th here in NYC and for a little sneak peek into the amazing magazine-making students will witness during our Pub Crawl, we'll be highlighting each set of tours.

Read on for more information about TOUR D: WSJ. Magazine + GQ!

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Pub Crawl 2017 Spotlight: Tour C - Cosmopolitan + Pentagram

Pub(lications) Crawl 10.05.17 posted by The Editors

Our sold out 2017 Pub(lications) Crawl event is this Friday, October 6th here in NYC and for a little sneak peek into the amazing magazine-making students will witness during our Pub Crawl, we'll be highlighting each set of tours.

Read on for more information about TOUR C: Cosmopolitan + Pentagram!

… MORE

Pub Crawl 2017 Spotlight: Tour B - Code and Theory + Vanity Fair

Pub(lications) Crawl 10.04.17 posted by The Editors

Our sold out 2017 Pub(lications) Crawl event is this Friday, October 6th here in NYC and for a little sneak peek into the amazing magazine-making students will witness during our Pub Crawl, we'll be highlighting each set of tours.

Read on for more information about TOUR B: Code and Theory + Vanity Fair!

… MORE

Pub Crawl 2017 Spotlight: Tour A - VICE + ESSENCE

Pub(lications) Crawl 10.03.17 posted by The Editors

Our sold out 2017 Pub(lications) Crawl event is this Friday, October 6th here in NYC and for a little sneak peek into the amazing magazine-making students will witness during our Pub Crawl, we'll be highlighting each set of tours.

Read on for more information about TOUR A: VICE + ESSENCE!

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Join SPD-U for Our 2017 Pub(lications) Crawl on Friday, 10/6/17

Pub(lications) Crawl 09.11.17 posted by The Editors

**SOLD OUT**

If you're interested in working for magazines one day whether as a designer, photographer or illustrator, take a break from your class routine with our annual SPD-U PUB(lications) CRAWL! This is a day-long event where you'll get to tour the offices of two fantastic magazines and/or design firms for an in-depth look at the way things really work.

Our gracious and distinctive tour hosts this year are: Code & Theory, Cosmopolitan, Essence, GQ, Pentagram, Vanity Fair, VICE, and WSJ. Magazine. They're all getting ready to give you exclusive behind-the-scenes access, so come armed with your curiosity and questions, and prepare yourself for a very unique tour of great magazine-making.

Wanna come? You just have to register by Monday, October 2nd. Read on to find out how...

WHEN:

Friday, October 6th, 2017

9:15 am - 4:00 pm

Doors open at 9:15 and registration takes place until 9:30. Please be aware we leave for the various tours promptly at 9:45--if you're late, you're going to be left behind and because of logistics, you cannot join us at a later time during the day. The day will end after the last tour, no later than 4:00pm. After that, you are free to leave.

THE TOURS*

TOUR A: VICE and Essence

TOUR B: Code & Theory and Vanity Fair

TOUR C: Cosmopolitan and Pentagram

TOUR D: WSJ. Magazine and GQ

  HOW MUCH:

• FREE for all SPD Student Members! But you must reserve your spot and give us your tour choices.

• $15 for everyone else. (This event is for students of any level as well as recent graduates who are within a year of their graduation date. Teachers and faculty members are also welcome when accompanying their students, but you do need to register.)

• OR join now as a Student Member for $50 ($40 if you're out of the NYC area) ... if you join now, your admission will be FREE to this and all our other SPD-U events this year. Plus you get lots of other awesome stuff, like a free SPD Annual (worth $65) and free competition entries.

Save-the-Date: Pub(lications) Crawl on 10/6/17

Pub(lications) Crawl 08.17.17 posted by The Editors

As you wrap up internships and summer vacations, we're hard at work planning our next year of SPD-U events and opportunities...most notably, our annual Pub(lications) Crawl event! This day of magazine office tours is not to be missed, so mark your calendars now for Friday, October 6th.

Space IS limited on these tours, so be sure to follow us here and on social media to be notified when registration is open. Don't forget: SPD-U Student Members get to come for FREE! All other students: it's just $15 to get this exclusive look at how magazines get made. We'll announce the magazines we'll be visiting in a few weeks and registration will open in early September.

See ya then!

STAY IN TOUCH WITH SPD: Facebook // Instagram // Twitter

Congrats to our 2017 Student Competition 1st-Place Winner!

Student Design Competition 07.21.17 posted by The Editors

We're excited to wrap up our announcement of our 2017 Student Design Competition winners today with our 1st-place winner Christian Dubuque! (Check out 3rd place here, and 2nd place here).

The winners were invited and announced at the 52nd Annual SPD Awards Gala earlier in May. Along with an invitation to the Gala, as our top winner, Christian's prizes include $2,500, an internship at an NYC magazine, and inclusion in our Pub 52 SPD Annual.

Congrats to Christian and all our winners! Thanks to everyone who entered and made our judges' decision a tough one ... we loved looking at your work and commend you all on your great pieces.… MORE

Congrats to our 2017 Student Competition 2nd-Place Winner!

Student Design Competition 07.20.17 posted by The Editors

We're sharing our 2017 Student Design Competition winners this week and we're happy to share our 2nd-place winner Ruoxue Wang. The winners were invited and announced at the 52nd Annual SPD Awards Gala earlier in May. Along with an invitation to the Gala, Ruoxue's prizes also included $1000, inclusion in our Pub 52 SPD Annual and an opportunity to receive a magazine internship in NYC this summer. Congrats to Ruoxue!

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Congrats to our 2017 Student Competition 3rd-Place Winner!

Student Design Competition 07.19.17 posted by The Editors

We're sharing our 2017 Student Design Competition winners this week and we're happy to share our 3rd-place winner Eleni Agapis. The winners were invited and announced at the 52nd Annual SPD Awards Gala earlier in May. Along with an invitation to the Gala, Eleni's prizes also included $500, inclusion in our forthcoming Pub 52 SPD Annual and an opportunity to receive a magazine internship in NYC this summer. Congrats to Eleni!

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SPD-U Student Portfolio Reviews - Thursday, June 15th, 2017

Portfolio Reviews 05.23.17 posted by The Editors

Mark your calendars for Thursday, June 15th for our SPD-U Student Portfolio Reviews! You'll get valuable advice and critiques from publishing professionals and you'll learn what these pros look for in your work when they're looking to hire. It doesn't matter if your portfolio is fully finished or still in the works, digital or print...bring what you've got (full details below). Space is limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis, so sign up today!

Get the full details/buy your ticket and reserve your spot after the jump...

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The SPD-U Student Design Competition is Now Open!

Student Competition 02.17.17 posted by The Editors

Enter by Monday, March 20, 2017!!

WANT TO ENTER? GET THE DETAILS BELOW

Scroll down for the complete Rules, Frequently Asked Questions, Tips, and Past Winners.

OFFICIAL RULES & ENTRY FORM

Download the official CALL FOR ENTRIES PDF with the complete rules and entry form here.

Check after the jump for more information!

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Pub Crawl 2016 Spotlight: Tour D - McCandliss and Campbell & Real Simple

Pub(lications) Crawl 10.03.16 posted by The Editors

Our 2016 Pub(lications) Crawl event is this Friday, October 7th here in NYC and spots are filling up fast! Remember to register by tonight, Monday, October 3rd to reserve your spot before we sell out completely!

For a little sneak peek into the amazing magazine-making students will witness during our Pub Crawl, we'll be highlighting each set of tours. When you register for the event, you will be asked for your preferences of tours, so we hope these spotlights will help you decide.

Read on for more information about TOUR D!

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Pub Crawl 2016 Spotlight: Tour B - Condé Nast Traveler & Refinery29

Pub(lications) Crawl 09.30.16 posted by The Editors

Our 2016 Pub(lications) Crawl event is next Friday, October 7th here in NYC and spots are filling up fast! Remember to register by Monday, October 3rd to reserve your spot before we sell out completely!

For a little sneak peek into the amazing magazine-making students will witness during our Pub Crawl, we'll be highlighting each set of tours. When you register for the event, you will be asked for your preferences of tours, so we hope these spotlights will help you decide.

Read on for more information about TOUR B!

… MORE

Pub Crawl 2016 Spotlight: Tour A - Bloomberg Pursuits & The New Yorker

Pub(lications) Crawl 09.30.16 posted by The Editors

Our 2016 Pub(lications) Crawl event is next Friday, October 7th here in NYC and spots are filling up fast! Remember to register by Monday, October 3rd to reserve your spot before we sell out completely!

For a little sneak peek into the amazing magazine-making students will witness during our Pub Crawl, we'll be highlighting each set of tours. When you register for the event, you will be asked for your preferences of tours, so we hope these spotlights will help you decide.

Read on for more information about TOUR A!

… MORE

Join SPD-U for Our 2016 Pub(lications) Crawl on Friday, 10/7/16

Pub(lications) Crawl 09.16.16 posted by The Editors

If you're interested in working for magazines one day whether as a designer, photographer or illustrator, take a break from your class routine with our annual SPD-U PUB(lications) CRAWL! This is a day-long event where you'll get to tour the offices of two fantastic magazines and/or design firms for an in-depth look at the way things really work.

Our gracious and distinctive tour hosts this year are: The New Yorker, Bloomberg Pursuits, Condé Nast Traveler, Refinery 29, The New York Times Magazine, BuzzFeed, Real Simple, and the design firm McCandliss & Campbell. They're all getting ready to give you exclusive behind-the-scenes access, so come armed with your curiosity and questions, and prepare yourself for a very unique tour of great magazine-making.

Wanna come? You just have to register by Monday, Oct. 3rd. Read on to find out how...… MORE

Student Design Competition Q&A: The Copy

Answers 02.10.15 posted by The Editors

So, uh, for this Student Design Competition, where do I get the words to use in my layout? Do I have to write the story myself?

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The SPD-U Holiday Gift Guide: Updated for 2013!

You Should Do This 12.08.13 posted by The Editors

Now that you've gotten all the amazing books from SPD's Official Holiday Gift Guide, maybe you still need a few more things to round out your gift-giving or your own wish list. Check out a few of our wished-for items on our newly-updated SPD-U Gift Guide here.

Last-Minute Competition Tips: Entries Due Monday!

Student Competition 02.27.13 posted by The Editors

In case you haven't noticed, we've got a Student Design Competition going on right now. And the deadline is Monday. THIS MONDAY! March 4, 2013. You've got until 5pm that day to get your entries in our hands. To help you out, we've got a few last-minute tips...

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You Ask, We Answer: Student Competition Edition

Answers 02.19.13 posted by The Editors

I don't live in the U.S.

Can I still enter the Student Design Competition?

Heck, yes! We've had entries in previous years from as far-flung as Lebanon and Paris... if you represent Canada, Japan, New Zealand, where ever, we say bring it on! Our only requirement is that you are an enrolled student at an accredited school. Get the official rules, entry form and lots of other info here.
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Shortcuts to Success: Toggle to the Hand Tool

Tips and Tricks 11.29.12 posted by The Editors

Sure, there are huge lists of InDesign keyboard shortcuts out there, but are you going to sit down and memorize them all? We're here to help you learn some handy new ones, one by one, making it easier to add them to your mental list. Each week, we'll highlight a different shortcut to help you work faster, better and smarter.

SPD-U SHORTCUT OF THE WEEK

Temporarily Access the Grabber Hand

Space Bar

option + Space Bar (if using type tool in active text)

The hand tool is a faster way than using the scroll bars of your document window to navigate around your pages, because you can also move diagonally. You can save the time it takes to switch tools, too. Hold down the space bar to get the Grabber Hand Tool, and you can click hold and drag with your mouse to move around. Add the option key if you're in live text, so you don't end up with an unwanted space.

Got a favorite keyboard shortcut you'd like to share with everyone? Email it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com and we'll include it in our series, along with your own commentary if you'd like.

This week's shortcut brought to you by Joseph Caserto.

Shortcuts to Success: Use the Magnifying Glass Tools

Tips and Tricks 11.22.12 posted by The Editors

Sure, there are huge lists of InDesign keyboard shortcuts out there, but are you going to sit down and memorize them all? We're here to help you learn some handy new ones, one by one, making it easier to add them to your mental list. Each week, we'll highlight a different shortcut to help you work faster, better and smarter.

SPD-U SHORTCUT OF THE WEEK

Temporarily Access the Magnifying Glass Tools

command + Space Bar (Zoom In)

option + command + Space Bar (Zoom Out)

We're adding to your Thanksgiving feast with two shortcuts this week! If you want to use one of the magnifying glass tools, you don't have to click on them in the Tool Panel. Type command + Space Bar to zoom in, or option + command + Space Bar to zoom out. As long as you're not in active text, press space bar first to prevent Spotlight from popping up.

Got a favorite keyboard shortcut you'd like to share with everyone? Email it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com and we'll include it in our series, along with your own commentary if you'd like.

This week's shortcut brought to you by Joseph Caserto.

Shortcuts to Success: Specify Text Frame Options

Tips and Tricks 11.15.12 posted by The Editors

Sure, there are huge lists of InDesign keyboard shortcuts out there, but are you going to sit down and memorize them all? We're here to help you learn some handy new ones, one by one, making it easier to add them to your mental list. Each week, we'll highlight a different shortcut to help you work faster, better and smarter.

SPD-U SHORTCUT OF THE WEEK

Access Text Frame Options

command + B

There's a whole slew of things you can do to a text frame with this command, including moving text away from the edges, changing the vertical alignment, adding columns, and ignoring text wrap. With the text frame selected, type command + B to bring up the Text Frame Options. See more after the jump.

Got a favorite keyboard shortcut you'd like to share with everyone? Email it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com and we'll include it in our series, along with your own commentary if you'd like.

This week's shortcut brought to you by Joseph Caserto.

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Shortcuts to Success: Take The Dot Off a Lower-Case I

Tips and Tricks 11.08.12 posted by The Editors

Sure, there are huge lists of InDesign keyboard shortcuts out there, but are you going to sit down and memorize them all? We're here to help you learn some handy new ones, one by one, making it easier to add them to your mental list. Each week, we'll highlight a different shortcut to help you work faster, better and smarter.

SPD-U SHORTCUT OF THE WEEK

Dotless I

option + shift + B

Sometimes, the dot over an i can look awkward. When that happens, type option + shift + B to get a dotless lower-case i.

For typography purists, who would never do this for a design element, there's actually a legitimate reason to remove an i's dot. From wikipedia: "The Turkish alphabet, which is a variant of the Latin alphabet, includes two distinct versions of the letter I, one dotted and the other dotless."

See an example after the jump.

Got a favorite keyboard shortcut you'd like to share with everyone? Email it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com and we'll include it in our series, along with your own commentary if you'd like.

This week's shortcut brought to you by Joseph Caserto.

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Shortcuts to Success: Switch a Fill or Stroke to None

Tips and Tricks 11.01.12 posted by The Editors

Sure, there are huge lists of InDesign keyboard shortcuts out there, but are you going to sit down and memorize them all? We're here to help you learn some handy new ones, one by one, making it easier to add them to your mental list. Each week, we'll highlight a different shortcut to help you work faster, better and smarter.

SPD-U SHORTCUT OF THE WEEK

Apply the Color "None"

/

If you want to remove the color from a selected object, first click the fill or stroke box in the Swatches or Tools Panel, and then type / (forward slash). As with any single character shortcut, this won't work with live type.

Got a favorite keyboard shortcut you'd like to share with everyone? Email it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com and we'll include it in our series, along with your own commentary if you'd like.

This week's shortcut brought to you by Joseph Caserto.

Shortcuts to Success: Check for Spelling Errors

Tips and Tricks 10.25.12 posted by The Editors

Sure, there are huge lists of InDesign keyboard shortcuts out there, but are you going to sit down and memorize them all? We're here to help you learn some handy new ones, one by one, making it easier to add them to your mental list. Each week, we'll highlight a different shortcut to help you work faster, better and smarter.

SPD-U SHORTCUT OF THE WEEK

Check Spelling

command + I

If your resume has a spelling error in it, you're toast. Type command + I to run InDesign's spell check, before you print a final document. While that's a good habit, it's also smart to get it proofread, too. "I hope your well," has no misspellings, but it's still grammatically incorrect.

Got a favorite keyboard shortcut you'd like to share with everyone? Email it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com and we'll include it in our series, along with your own commentary if you'd like.

This week's shortcut brought to you by Joseph Caserto

Upcoming Events at SPD-U

Student Events 10.08.12 posted by The Editors

• Ask the Pros: Live! Join us Wednesday, 10/24 for the inside scoop on how to get a job (and FREE books too!). Space is limited so RSVP now.

• Keep up-to-date on our Facebook page!

Design a Page for Seventeen Magazine!

Student Events 09.27.12 posted by The Editors

Fall has come fast and furious here at SPD-U and we've got another super-cool opportunity for you ... Design the most important page of Seventeen magazine!

Read on for the details and how to apply (it's easy!) ...

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"Ask the Pros: Live!" Happening October 24

Student Events 09.27.12 posted by The Editors

Do you like our "Ask the Pros" series on the blog that answers all your job-hunt-related questions? Then you're going to LOVE our upcoming event ...

"Ask the Pros" will be coming to you live here in NYC on Wednesday, October 24 at 7pm. We'll have an awesome panel of professionals ready to answer all your most-pressing questions in person, so save the date and look for all the details to come soon. And in the meantime, if you've got any questions you want answered, send 'em to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com and we'll get our panelists to answer them.

And for those of you not able to attend, never fear ... we've got more online "Ask the Pros" posts coming soon.

Ask the Pros: What job sites should I be checking?

Ask The Pros 09.10.12 posted by The Editors

To help prepare you for the real world, our Ask the Pros series is here to help answer some of your most common questions about interviewing, job-hunting and working in the world of publication and media art and photo departments.

Got a question you want answered? Send it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com and we'll put it to our experts! A varying panel of professionals will give you their take, and then it's up to you to put their advice to work.

And if you're a working professional yourself, we'd love to hear your opinion too ... don't hesitate to add it in our comments or email us to be on one of our panels.

Today we tackle where to look online for magazine design jobs....
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Ask the Pros: When you get an email saying you didn't get the job, should you reply?

Ask The Pros 09.04.12 posted by The Editors

After a little end-of-summer vacation, our "Pros" are back! To help prepare you for the real world, our Ask the Pros series is here to help answer some of your most common questions about interviewing, job-hunting and working in the world of publication and media art and photo departments.

Got a question you want answered? Send it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com and we'll put it to our experts! A varying panel of professionals will give you their take, and then it's up to you to put their advice to work.

And if you're a working professional yourself, we'd love to hear your opinion too ... don't hesitate to add it in our comments or email us to be on one of our panels.

Read on for today's question .... … MORE

Come Join Our 2012 Pub(lications) Crawl: Sept. 28

Pub(lications) Crawl 08.29.12 posted by The Editors

Start off the 2012-13 academic year right with our Pub(lications) Crawl! Pub Crawl is an annual day-long event where you'll get to tour the offices of two fantastic magazines for an in-depth look at the way things really work.

This year we're visiting Men's Health, The Huffington Post, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Inked, People en Español and Seventeen magazines, all ready to give you behind-the-scenes access. You'll see their offices and hear how the pages come to life. Check out wrap-ups and reviews from our previous Pub Crawls here, here and here.

The event is scheduled for a Friday (September 28) to make it easier to get out of class ... this is hard-core research for your career, so convince those professors to excuse your absence ... or maybe you can bring your whole class!

Space is very limited, so RSVP to reserve your spot now. All the details after the jump.

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Pardon the Interruption...

Student Outreach 08.15.12 posted by The Editors

Our Ask the Pros series is taking a little vacay before resuming full-force in September ... look for more awesome questions and advice from even more awesome pros, and even an "Ask the Pros: LIVE!" event here in NYC where you can get all your questions answered face-to-face. More details on that in the coming weeks.

You should also mark your calendars for this year's fabulous Pub(lications) Crawl event ... that's where you get insider access to some of the media's top offices. Happening Friday, September 28, 2012.

Lots of other good stuff on the way too, but for now, keep checking back for more Shortcuts to Success, and don't forget to check out our Job Board. Tons of awesome internship and entry level positions up there right now (Vogue! Complex! Rachel Ray! Elle Decor!).

Good luck as you finish up your summer jobs and internships!

Ask the Pros: As an intern or assistant, will I get to go on photo shoots?

Ask The Pros 08.06.12 posted by The Editors

To help prepare you for the real world, our Ask the Pros series is here to help answer some of your most common questions about interviewing, job-hunting and working in the world of publication and media art and photo departments.

Got a question you want answered? Send it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com and we'll put it to our experts! A varying panel of professionals will give you their take, and then it's up to you to put their advice to work.

And if you're a working professional yourself, we'd love to hear your opinion too ... don't hesitate to add it in our comments or email us to be on one of our panels.

Today our photo pros talk about photo shoots....
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Ask the Pros: As an aspiring photo editor, what can I do to make myself a good job candidate?

Ask The Pros 07.30.12 posted by The Editors

To help prepare you for the real world, our Ask the Pros series is here to help answer some of your most common questions about interviewing, job-hunting and working in the world of publication and media art and photo departments.

Got a question you want answered? Send it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com and we'll put it to our experts! A varying panel of professionals will give you their take, and then it's up to you to put their advice to work.

And if you're a working professional yourself, we'd love to hear your opinion too ... don't hesitate to add it in our comments or email us to be on one of our panels.

Today, our current panel of photo editor pros give you some insight into how to get that job or internship .... even if you're not interested in being a photo editor, their awesome advice should be heeded!

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Ask the Pros: To be a photo editor, do I have to be a photographer or have studied it?

Ask The Pros 07.23.12 posted by The Editors

To help prepare you for the real world, our Ask the Pros series is here to help answer some of your most common questions about interviewing, job-hunting and working in the world of publication and media art and photo departments.

Got a question you want answered? Send it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com and we'll put it to our experts! A varying panel of professionals will give you their take, and then it's up to you to put their advice to work.

And if you're a working professional yourself, we'd love to hear your opinion too ... don't hesitate to add it in our comments or email us to be on one of our panels.

For the next few weeks, we're talking photography and photo editing ...

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Ask the Pros: Internet Edition

Ask The Pros 07.16.12 posted by The Editors

Our next panel of pros is hard at work answering more of your awesome questions (got one of your own? Email it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com), so we're turning to the Internet to see what others have to say.

Mediabistro has started a terrific series called Career Breakfast ... the first Tuesday of each month, they get a panel of their own pros to discuss popular job-hunting topics. We watched this video on How to Prepare For a Job Interview and found lots of great advice for snagging that coveted job. Or find out some answers to the ever-baffling question of Where'd My Resume Go?

We'll be back next Monday with more insight from our own experts. Until then, keep sending in your questions! and check out our past questions below:

- Do you look me up online when I apply for a job?

- If I'm applying for a design job, do you want to see my photo and illustration work too?

- How early should I arrive for my interview?

- What skill/trait are you most looking for in an intern/assistant?

- How can I build my portfolio?

- What if I didn't go to a design/art school for college?

- Is it okay to email my thank you note after an interview?

- How can I make my résumé stand out?

- Are tablet/digital portfolios acceptable for an interview?

- What's the biggest mistake you often see in recent graduates' and interns' portfolios?

- What do I wear to my interview?

Ask the Pros: Do you look me up online when I apply for a job?

Ask The Pros 07.09.12 posted by The Editors

To help prepare you for the real world, our Ask the Pros series is here to help answer some of your most common questions about interviewing, job-hunting and working in the world of publication and media art and photo departments.

Got a question you want answered? Send it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com and we'll put it to our experts! A varying panel of professionals will give you their take, and then it's up to you to put their advice to work.

And if you're a working professional yourself, we'd love to hear your opinion too ... don't hesitate to add it in our comments or email us to be on one of our panels.

Ever wonder if your interviewer has looked you up on Facebook? ...

… MORE

Ask the Pros: If I'm applying for a design position, do you also want to see my photo and illustration work?

Ask The Pros 07.02.12 posted by The Editors

To help prepare you for the real world, our Ask the Pros series is here to help answer some of your most common questions about interviewing, job-hunting and working in the world of publication and media art and photo departments.

Got a question you want answered? Send it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com and we'll put it to our experts! A varying panel of professionals will give you their take, and then it's up to you to put their advice to work.

And if you're a working professional yourself, we'd love to hear your opinion too ... don't hesitate to add it in our comments or email us to be on one of our panels.

Today we address the issue of what type of work your interviewers will want to see...

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Ask the Pros: How early should I arrive for my interview?

Ask The Pros 06.25.12 posted by The Editors

To help prepare you for the real world, our Ask the Pros series is here to help answer some of your most common questions about interviewing, job-hunting and working in the world of publication and media art and photo departments.

Got a question you want answered? Send it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com and we'll put it to our experts! A varying panel of professionals will give you their take, and then it's up to you to put their advice to work.

And if you're a working professional yourself, we'd love to hear your opinion too ... don't hesitate to add it in our comments or email us to be on one of our panels.

Our panel today gives you some feedback on interviews and when to show up...

… MORE

Ask the Pros: What skill/trait are you most looking for in an intern or assistant?

Ask The Pros 06.18.12 posted by The Editors

To help prepare you for the real world, our Ask the Pros series is here to help answer some of your most common questions about interviewing, job-hunting and working in the world of publication and media art and photo departments.

Got a question you want answered? Send it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com and we'll put it to our experts! A varying panel of professionals will give you their take, and then it's up to you to put their advice to work.

And if you're a working professional yourself, we'd love to hear your opinion too ... don't hesitate to add it in our comments or email us to be on one of our panels.

Today's panel gives you some awesome insight into what they want in an intern/assistant...

… MORE

Good Advice: Show the Work You Want to Get

Words of Wisdom 06.15.12 posted by The Editors

One of the best pieces of advice I've received was to show the kind of work that you want to get.

--photographer David Stuart

Over on A Photo Editor, photography consultant Suzanne Sease does Q&As with various photographers whose work she likes. Recently she spoke with photographer David Stuart about a recent Puma campaign he shot. She made note of a previous campaign he shot for the Children's Hospital that used a similar idea, sparking his comment above ... good advice for all types of portfolios!

Ask the Pros: How Can I Build My Portfolio?

Ask The Pros 06.11.12 posted by The Editors

To help prepare you for the real world, our Ask the Pros series is here to help answer some of your most common questions about interviewing, job-hunting and working in the world of publication and media art and photo departments.

Got a question you want answered? Send it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com and we'll put it to our experts! A varying panel of professionals will give you their take, and then it's up to you to put their advice to work.

And if you're a working professional yourself, we'd love to hear your opinion too ... don't hesitate to add it in our comments or email us to be on one of our panels.

Today's topic takes us back to portfolios...

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Ask the Pros: What if I didn't go to a design/art school for college?

Ask The Pros 06.04.12 posted by The Editors

To help prepare you for the real world, our Ask the Pros series is here to help answer some of your most common questions about interviewing, job-hunting and working in the world of publication and media art and photo departments.

Got a question you want answered? Send it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com and we'll put it to our experts! A varying panel of professionals will give you their take, and then it's up to you to put their advice to work.

And if you're a working professional yourself, we'd love to hear your opinion too ... don't hesitate to add it in our comments or email us to be on one of our panels.

Today we're talking about how your type of college affects your job chances...… MORE

Ask the Pros: Is It Okay to Email my Thank You Note After an Interview?

Ask The Pros 05.28.12 posted by The Editors

To help prepare you for the real world, our Ask the Pros series is here to help answer some of your most common questions about interviewing, job-hunting and working in the world of publication and media art and photo departments.

Got a question you want answered? Send it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com and we'll put it to our experts! A varying panel of professionals will give you their take, and then it's up to you to put their advice to work.

And if you're a working professional yourself, we'd love to hear your opinion too ... don't hesitate to add it in our comments or email us to be on one of our panels.

Today we're tackling the post-interview thank-you note... … MORE

Ask the Pros: How Can I Make My Résumé Stand Out?

Ask The Pros 05.21.12 posted by The Editors

To help prepare you for the real world, our Ask the Pros series is here to help answer some of your most common questions about interviewing, job-hunting and working in the world of publication and media art and photo departments.

Got a question you want answered? Send it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com and we'll put it to our experts! A varying panel of professionals will give you their take, and then it's up to you to put their advice to work.

And if you're a working professional yourself, we'd love to hear your opinion too ... don't hesitate to add it in our comments or email us to be on one of our panels.

Today's panel of pros give you their take on résumés...
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You Like Us, Right?

Student Outreach 05.16.12 posted by The Editors

While we're getting pumped to judge our new Best of Collegiate Design competition (thanks to all who entered!), and our pros are answering all your job-hunting questions (Ask the Pros will be back on Monday!), how about visiting us over on Facebook?

Ask the Pros: Around-the-Internet Edition

Ask The Pros 05.14.12 posted by The Editors

While our SPD pros are busy answering your awesome questions for our next Ask the Pros post (the series will resume next Monday), we'll let the rest of the Internet fill in for the week.

(And don't forget, entries for our Best of Collegiate Design Competition are due tomorrow!)

- The partners behind the Chicago-based creative studio Knoed have a great article geared towards the graphic design graduate.

- Designer Frank Chimero has a lovely roundup of random advice.

- Charles Wheelan has some graduate advice most people will never tell you, over at the Wall Street Journal. (They have a Careers section that has some other good stuff in it.)

- Designer Shauna Haider (aka Nubby Twiglet) has some tips on how to get back into graphic design after pursuing other work, and much of it is great advice for recent grads on how to pump up your resume and portfolio.

- Some great info over on the Savvy Intern blog.

- One of the toughest parts of the job hunt is not getting a job you really wanted. HR Dave has some tips on how to handle it (and some other great advice too).

Find a link you want to share? Comment below or email it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

Our 2012 Student Design Competition Top Ten

Student Design Competition 05.01.12 posted by The Editors

David Lettermen has his famous Top Ten. American Idol and all those other reality shows celebrate theirs as well. But nothing compares to our 2012 Student Design Competition top ten! It was a great bunch this year ... you've already seen our first, second and third place winners. Now you can take a look at the rest of the awesome work rounding out our top group.

And don't forget to enter our co-sponsored Best of Collegiate Design competition now ... entries due May 15!

Congrats to all our 2012 winners...

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Ask the Pros: Are Tablet/Digital Portfolios Acceptable for an Interview?

Ask The Pros 04.30.12 posted by The Editors

To help prepare you for the real world, we're introducing this Ask the Pros series to help answer some of your most frequently asked questions about interviewing, job-hunting and working in the world of magazine art and photo departments.

Got a question you want answered? Send it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com and we'll put it to our experts! A varying panel of professionals will give you their take, and then it's up to you to put their advice to work.

And if you're a working professional yourself, we'd love to hear your opinion too ... don't hesitate to add it in our comments or email us to be on one of our panels.

Today we're continuing on the portfolio topic ...

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Our 2012 Student Design Competition Third-Place Winner

Student Design Competition 04.24.12 posted by The Editors

In case you've missed it, we've been announcing the winners in our 2012 Student Design Competition starting with first-place winner Chris Allen and second-place winner T. Leclaire. We'll be announcing more winners soon, but for now, click through to see our third-place winner's full entry, Q&A and to see who won the third-place $500 prize, Adobe Creative Suite software, and a summer internship ... … MORE

Our 2012 Student Design Competition Second-Place Winner

Student Design Competition 04.19.12 posted by The Editors

We saw Chris Allen's first-place winning entry already, but now check out the second-place winner in our 2012 Student Design Competition. Click through to find out who won a $1,000 prize, the Adobe Creative Suite and an internship opportunity as well as a great Q&A with the winner. And keep coming back as we announce the rest of our winners!… MORE

Speaking of Competitions...

Student Competition 04.18.12 posted by The Editors

While we're in the midst of announcing the winners of our 2012 Student Design Competition (see Chris Allen's first-place win here and come back tomorrow for our second-place winner), how about entering another competition? The Best of Collegiate Design competition (in it's 20th year!) is now officially open, so for all of you who produce any kind of print or digital publication on your college campus, this is your chance to have your design in the spotlight. Get all the details here.

Our 2012 Student Design Competition First-Place Winner

Student Design Competition 04.17.12 posted by The Editors

We had an awesome group of entries in our 2012 Student Design Competition and we've finally made the hard decisions as to who won. See our first-place winner's full entry after the jump and read our short interview with him to see how he came up with his winning entry.

Then come back over the next few days and weeks to see all the rest! Thanks to everyone who entered, you gave us a hugely-difficult task! But now without further delay, congratulations to...

… MORE

Ask The Pros: What Do I Wear to My Interview?

Ask The Pros 04.16.12 posted by The Editors

As the 2012 graduating class makes their way out into the real world, we're starting up this new Ask the Pros series to help answer some of your most frequently asked questions about interviewing, job-hunting and working in the world of magazine art and photo departments!

Got a question you want answered? Send it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com and we'll put it to our experts! Each time a panel of 5-8 professionals will give you their take, and then it's up to you to put their advice to work.

To start us off, we're tackling the seemingly-easy but oh-so-tricky question of how to dress for an interview. Click through for our panel's advice...
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Smart Quote #42: Dream Jobs

Quoted 03.21.12 posted by The Editors

... don't wait to get assigned your "dream job", it may never happen. Assign yourself, and go and do it. I fully appreciate this can be expensive, but you have to find a way. I am always asking favors of people, and seeing how I can cut corners to save money. Some friends will work for you for free. Your excitement is contagious. But clients are unlikely to assign you work if you can't show them you've already done it. The good idea is hugely important in all this.

--Photographer Andrew Southam in a Q&A over on APhotoEditor.com

Get more Smart Quotes here.

Be the Best Intern Ever!

Internships 03.16.12 posted by The Editors

Today's post comes to you from one of our newest Student Outreach Committee members, Nicole Zigmont, Assistant Designer at Family Circle. You might remember her from last year's March Madness event or from her honorable mention in 2010's Student Design Competition. Thanks to her awesome interning and working experiences, she's got great advice for those of you interning or starting entry-level jobs:

Since I've been working as a full time designer for over a year, I am really understanding the flip side of the work relationship between interns and the art department. Interns are not only here to gain professional experience, but they are essentially becoming key members of the magazine.

Here are some examples of what you may end up doing as a design intern and how much your contributions are impacting the art department:

… MORE

Will You Be Our Next Winner?

Student Design Competition 03.07.12 posted by The Editors

Who will join the ranks of our elite SPD Student Design Competition winners? It could be you!

We've had winners from all over the country and even outside the U.S., from small private art schools to large public universities. And a lot of them have gone on to successful careers in the magazine world thanks in part to the exposure the competition has given them ... and many of those weren't even first-place winners. So in addition to all the awesome prizes you could win (money! an internship! Adobe Creative Suite!), simply getting your work in front of our awesome panel of judges is a prize you get just for entering!

So get those entries in by this Monday, the 12th. And you could see YOUR winning entry amongst the winners above!

P.S. Check out all our past winners on our Facebook photo gallery (with links to their winner Q&As where you may find some valuable tips!).

Meet the Judges, Part Three: InStyle and ESPN

Student Design Competition 03.06.12 posted by The Editors

Only a few days left to get your entries in to our Student Design Competition! And to help you in those final moments, we'd like to introduce our final two judges (check out our other incredible judges here and here). Read on for what they're hoping to see in your entries, and don't forget the deadline is next Monday, March 12, by 5pm. … MORE

Student Design Competition Update: DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 3/12

Student Design Competition 02.29.12 posted by The Editors

Attention procrastinators: You've been given a reprieve!

We're extending the deadline for our 2012 Student Design Competition to Monday, March 12 at 5pm. So you now have a whole extra week to perfect your entries! Check out our main competition page for all the nitty-gritty details, some frequently asked questions and lots of tips. And keep coming back here as we announce the rest of our awesome panel of judges.

Deadline Countdown: Student Design Competition Entries due Next Monday!

Student Design Competition 02.27.12 posted by The Editors

Our Student Design Competition deadline is almost here ... your entries need to be in our office by 5pm next Monday! So for those of you outside the NYC area, that means you pretty much have till Saturday morning at the latest to finish and get your entry in the mail if you're willing to pay for overnight shipping. For those of you in or around New York City, you're welcome to hand deliver your entry directly to our office (we're located at 27 Union Square West in Suite 207).

But you've already sent in your entries, right??? Well, for those of you procrastinators, be sure you check out our awesome series of Competition Tips...

… MORE

Last Chance: Register for Portfolio Reviews by 3pm Today!

Portfolio Reviews 02.22.12 posted by The Editors

Our CMYK: Student Portfolio Review event happens Thursday night, but registration closes today at 3pm, so be sure to sign up now! It's a rare chance to get hands-on personalized advice on how to prepare your book for all those upcoming internship and job interviews. It's free for all student members, but you still have to register to save your place.

Most Common Portfolio Mistakes

Portfolio Reviews 02.16.12 posted by The Editors

In anticipation of our awesome CMYK: Portfolio Review event coming up next Thursday (you have to register by Wednesday at 3pm!), here's an interesting graphic from The Career Group's Portfolio Guide. You can download their guide (and others) here.

But if you want to find out more great advice on what makes a great magazine-design portfolio (as opposed to the more general graphic design portfolio), come to our event! You'll get one-on-one reviews and tons of great personalized suggestions. Doesn't matter what shape your book is in ... in other words, all the mistakes mentioned above? For this event, we don't care, we're here to help you make sure that stuff doesn't happen.

Wanna come? Sign up here!

Lots of Deadlines Coming Soon!

Student Outreach 02.13.12 posted by The Editors

We've got a flurry of activity happening here at SPD-U Headquarters, so a few reminders and notes for you:

Space is filling up fast for our Portfolio Review event happening Thursday, Feb 23. It's for student members only, but if you're not a member, it's simple to join now and attend for free! If you are currently a member, don't forget to RSVP now to hold your space. Only those who register by 5pm, Feb. 21 will be able to come. Details here.

Our Student Design Competition Deadline is coming up very soon: Monday, March 5 by 5pm. Get all the details here.

Our Student Photo Competition Deadline is also coming soon: Monday, April 9. Details for that here.

And to get even more fun info and details about all our events, check out our new and improved SPD-U Facebook page!

Student Design Competition Q&A: High School Kids? Grad Students?

Student Design Competition 02.02.12 posted by The Editors

I'm in high school, but I love magazines and design. Can I enter your Student Design Competition? What if I'm in grad school? Or I just graduated with my Bachelor's degree this past December?

… MORE

CMYK: Student Portfolio Reviews Feb 23

Portfolio Reviews 01.30.12 posted by The Editors

With the spring school semester in full swing, we thought all you graduating seniors (and undergrads too!) could you use some guidance as you're cranking out those portfolios. So Come Meet Your Kind...

Get a critique from our publishing pros and find out what they're looking for in your book when they're looking to hire. Doesn't matter if your book is finished or still in the works ... bring what you've got and our design superstars will help you figure out what's working and what's not. Details after the jump.… MORE

Student Design Competition Q&A: The Photos

Student Design Competition 01.25.12 posted by The Editors

Okay, so I saw the post on where to get the copy for my Student Design Competition entries. But what about the photos? Where do I get them?

… MORE

The 2011 PUB(lications) CRAWL: It's On.

Pub(lications) Crawl 08.30.11 posted by The Editors

Our Pub(lications) Crawl is a day-long event where you'll get to tour the offices of two fantastic magazines for an in-depth look at the way things really work. This year we're visiting Billboard, HGTV Magazine (a startup!), Maxim, Money, Parents and TIME magazines -- all ready to give you behind-the-scenes access to the real workings of a major magazine.

This year, we specifically scheduled it for a Friday early in the semester when you can (we hope!) coax your professor into excusing your absence, or bringing your whole class along too! Come armed with your curiosity and questions, and prepare yourself for a very unique tour of great magazine-making. Space is very limited, so RSVP to reserve your spot after the jump...
… MORE

Two Extra Days! Show and Tell Juried Show Deadline Extended to Friday

Show & Tell 06.02.11 posted by The Editors

We know, we NEVER do this, but the Memorial Day holiday has us all triple-checking the calendar, and we suspect you may be too! So we are, just this once, EXTENDING THE DEADLINE for Show and Tell to 6pm on Friday, June 3rd. Keep reading after the jump for some inspiration, and download all the info you need for this free competition here... … MORE

#40: Type Considerations

Quoted 04.18.11 posted by The Editors

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!

Student Photo Competition 04.12.11 posted by The Editors

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

Quoted 04.04.11 posted by The Editors

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)

New Work: Meet Inside Magazine

New Work: Student Publications 03.29.11 posted by The Editors

In the spirit of our New Work series over on the main site, and following up on our first featured student publication, we'd like to introduce you to Indiana University's Inside magazine. Art Director Larry Buchanan (a senior studying graphic design and journalism) shares the most recent issue of the Bloomington, Indiana, quarterly with us...
… MORE

Congrats to Our SPD-U
Grand Prize Raffle Winner!

Student Events 03.25.11 posted by The Editors

If you entered our Student Photography Competition or if you submitted work to our Student Design Competition, you know it takes hard work and effort. But for our SPD-U Grand Prize Raffle all you had to do was show up! Find out who won after the jump. And for those that attended, don't forget to fill out our survey and tell us what you thought!
… MORE

Student Photo Competition: Deadline Friday!

Student Photo Competition 03.24.11 posted by The Editors

Now that you're inspired by our Student Design Competition winners (more of those to come soon!), take that energy and enter our Student Photo Competition. The prizes are...
… MORE

Announcing our 2011 Student Design Competition Winners!

Student Design Competition 03.22.11 posted by The Editors

Wanna know who won our 2011 Student Design Competition? Well, click thru for our top 3 winners and then be sure to check back next week for the runners-up! We'll then post the full winning entries with Q&As from their designers in the weeks to follow, so keep coming back. And now without further ado, congratulations to...
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#38: Inspiration Is For Amateurs

Quoted 03.21.11 posted by The Editors

The advice I like to give young artists, or really anybody who'll listen to me, is not to wait around for inspiration. Inspiration is for amateurs; the rest of us just show up and get to work.

--Chuck Close (see his full quote on our Tumblr, reblogged via kyleferrino)

SPD-U: Are You A Fan?

Student Events 03.14.11 posted by The Editors

Duke may have the Cameron Crazies, Penn State may have the Nittany Nation, but no one can beat our SPD-U fans! Are you one of them? If you attended our SPD events Monday, March 14, we want to know what you thought! Fill out our quick survey here and give us the lowdown on how we did.

SPD-U: "Awesome" and "Amazing"

Student Events 03.10.11 posted by The Editors

Only 2 days left to sign up for our SPD-U event happening this Monday, and only a couple spots remain open. If the session topics and super-cool speakers aren't enticing enough, let your fellow classmates tell you what they thought of our sessions from last year's event...

- "This was one of the first presentations I went to that when I left I was excited and wanted to get to work."

- "It was an amazing experience, I will definitely go to the next one."

- " I gained a much greater understanding of the process of photo shoots, and am glad I had the privilege of listening to real pros."

- "The speaker gave good solutions to design dilemmas. Great pointers and quality presentation showing how to improve a layout."

- "Everything was awesome, a definite highlight of my design event experience."

Got you convinced? Sign up now, only a couple spots left!! Registration closes Friday at 5pm.
… MORE

The Recent Grad Report:
Brett Tabolt

Designers 03.08.11 posted by The Editors

Joining our previous "Recent Grad Report" designers on the SPD-U "Real World" panel is Brett Tabolt. Read on to hear his story and then join us Monday, March 14 to hear more from him and the others about finding the perfect internship and first job.

… MORE

The Final Countdown

Student Design Competition 03.04.11 posted by The Editors

Okay, so you might have to ditch your friends, skip some parties, and order in all weekend, but there's still a whopping 2 days or so left to get your entries in by 5pm Monday for our Student Design Competition. (Yes, that's THIS Monday.) If you haven't already, check out our tips and advice, our answers to your frequently asked questions, and all the nitty-gritty details. Best of luck! We can't wait to see your brilliance!

The Recent Grad Report:
Lauren Stine

Designers 03.03.11 posted by The Editors

Now that you've heard from Nicole and Travis, we'd like to introduce recent grad Lauren Stine, another of our SPD-U panelists. Be sure to join us on Monday, March 14 to hear more from her and other recent grads about their internship and first job experiences. But for a sneak peek, check out some of Lauren's experience so far...

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Student Competition FAQ

Student Design Competition 03.02.11 posted by The Editors

I just found out about your Student Design Competition and I want to enter! Is the deadline really next Monday? That's just the first deadline, right? Where do I get the rules? Is there an entry form? What if I'm not in the U.S.? Assuming I win, what if I can't do the internship, should I still enter? And where do I get the story from ... do I have to write it myself?

For all you procrastinators and those who've just heard about our competition: never fear! You've still got a few more days to create an awesome entry and we've got all the answers to your questions here. Read on for all the gory details and then get to work!
… MORE

Don't Forget These Dates!!

Student Events 03.01.11 posted by The Editors

::: Our Student Photography Competition deadline is April 1. Enter up to 3 pictures inspired by this year's theme: Self-Portrait. Details to come.

The Recent Grad Report:
Travis Bonilla

Designers 03.01.11 posted by The Editors

Next in our newest series is another familiar name. Maybe you've met SPD Student Member Travis Bonilla at previous student events, or maybe you recognize his name from our recent "New Work: Student Publications" profile where we featured his student magazine SMH Magazine. You'll also find him on our "The Real World" panel at SPD-U ... even though he hasn't actually graduated yet, he's managed to snag some impressive internships at Esquire and Complex, and even an official job at Essence!

Read on to learn more about Travis and what he's learned so far about the "real world" of magazines. And then don't forget to join us Monday, March 14 to hear more from him, Nicole and many others whom we'll be featuring this week and next. Bring all your questions, they'll be ready to answer!
… MORE

#37: Design or Technology?

Quoted 02.28.11 posted by The Editors

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

Designers 02.25.11 posted by The Editors

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!

Student Design Competition 02.23.11 posted by The Editors

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

Quoted 02.21.11 posted by The Editors

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

Student Events 02.17.11 posted by The Editors

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...

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#35: The Difference Between Print and Digital

Quoted 02.14.11 posted by The Editors

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

New Work: Student Publications 02.12.11 posted by The Editors

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

Student Design Competition 02.10.11 posted by The Editors

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

You Should Do This 02.01.11 posted by The Editors

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.

Student Competition Q&A: Grad Students & December Grads

Student Design Competition 01.31.11 posted by The Editors

As our Student Competition deadline quickly approaches (March 4, 2013), we're answering your questions to help you figure out all the details, rules, and guidelines. If YOU have a question, email us at mail@spd.org, and we may answer it here.

I'm in grad school for design. Can I enter your Student Design Competition? What if I just graduated with my Bachelor's degree this past December?

… MORE

Awesome Advice:
"Don't Be A D*ck"

Words of Wisdom 01.26.11 posted by The Editors

Okay, those aren't our words exactly, but it's a good rule to follow, courtesy of typographer/illustrator Jessica Hische. Yes, we've featured her before. Many times. What can we say ... we're head-over heels in love with Jessica and her super-honest yet helpful advice. We've featured her insightful list of FAQs before, as well as her recent "Should I Work for Free?" Flowchart like most of the design blog world, not to mention her Daily Drop Cap blog, so really, if you haven't already seen this link we're about to give ya, then you're not paying attention.

Yesterday on her blog, Jessica answered the common question "How do I get freelance work?", and while her advice is spot-on for aspiring freelancers, it's also essential for full-time job hunters. Aside from some awesomely practical words of wisdom, the big takeaway in our own more conservative wording: Be Nice to Work With.

Design Lessons From the NFL

Newspapers 01.24.11 posted by The Editors

While newspapers have their own particular set of design rules and guidelines, they also share a lot with magazines and editorial design in general. News designer and blogger Charles Apple reviews some of the front pages of the day that feature yesterday's NFL championship games and gives a nice little lesson in what can make for good and bad design decisions. Check out the full post here.

Student Design Competition: Entries Due March 7

Student Design Competition 01.20.11 posted by The Editors

Want a sure-fire way to start your editorial design career off on the fast track? Then enter our Student Design Competition and you could win an internship at a top magazine in NYC and more!
… MORE

Working for Free, Take 2

Words of Wisdom 01.14.11 posted by The Editors

Hopefully you enjoyed Jessica Hische's "Should I Work For Free?" flowchart that we posted the other day. But if it got you thinking, "hey, wait a minute! what about all these unpaid internships I'm applying for?", then head over to David Airey's blog post on the topic to see him argue the pros and cons. Be sure to read the comments there too, for a fuller perspective on the topic.

Should You Work For Free?

Answers 01.12.11 posted by The Editors

As aspiring designers (and really all of us designer-types), you probably get hit up often to use your talents on behalf of someone else for the huge lump sum of "experience" and "portfolio pieces". Sometimes working for free is worth it. Most of the time, it isn't. But what's a student designer to do when they've got limited experience to get the paying jobs? Well, check out this awesome and hilarious flow-chart, courtesy of typographer/illustrator-extrordinaire Jessica Hische. It'll be your guide the next time you get offered the generous payment of "future work".

Student Competition Q&A: Do I Have to Be in a Publication Design Class?

Answers 01.11.11 posted by The Editors

As our Student Competition deadline quickly approaches (March 7), we're answering your questions to help you figure out all the details, rules, and guidelines. If YOU have a question, email us at mail@spd.org, and we may answer it here.

I'm an art student interested in graphic design and I think I could design a pretty awesome magazine spread, but I haven't taken any publication design classes. Can I still enter your competition?

… MORE

#34: Talent isn't much without Ambition

Quoted 01.10.11 posted by The Editors

All of us want to be good at our jobs, but how good do we really want to be? ... Talent helps, but it won't take you as far as ambition. Everybody wants to be good, but not many are prepared to make the sacrifices it takes to be great. Most people are looking for a solution, a way to become good. There is no instant solution, the only way to learn is through experience and mistakes. You will become whoever you want to be.

--Paul Arden, excerpted from his book It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want To Be

#33: Imagine

Quoted 12.27.10 posted by The Editors

Imagination is more important than knowledge.

--Albert Einstein, as seen on the July page of this designer-friendly 2011 letterpress calendar designed by Fabien Barral

2011 Is Going To Be Great!

Student Events 12.22.10 posted by The Editors

So it may seem like we've been slacking here lately, but what you haven't seen is all the work going on behind-the-scenes. We're gearing up for a spring full of great events and competitions. Save these dates on your calendar and start working on those competition entries!
And of course, have a wonderful holiday season!

Student Design Competition: Entries due March 7. Find all the details and rules here. Still have questions? Email us and we'll answer 'em here on the blog.

SPD-U March (Design) Madness: Join us March 14 for a day of awesome speakers, presentations, door prizes and portfolio reviews. Read about the details we have so far here. (This event is part of the College Media Convention.)

Student Photo Competition: Entries due March 28. Info and rules to come in January.

#32: Be Nice

Quoted 12.20.10 posted by The Editors

Sometimes the key to getting things done on time is having friendly relationships with the people in the mailroom, or the assistant to a photographer. It always pays to be nice.

--Megan Cummins, our 2007 Student Design Competition 2nd place winner.

Read more about what Megan learned during her prize internship here. And check out this year's competition rules and info here to win an internship (and money! and things!) of your own.

This Is Who We Are:
Sarah Garcea

Student Outreach 12.17.10 posted by The Editors

Another long-time member of our Student Committee, Sarah Garcea has been instrumental in creating many of our events and activities. From coordinating the early days of our Pub Crawls and Portfolio Reviews, to more recently speaking on our panels, she's been an integral part of our efforts. Learn more about her after the jump, and say hello at our next event... … MORE

#31: Appreciate

Quoted 12.13.10 posted by The Editors

Talent recognizes other talent and shows appreciation for it, instead of envy.
--from John Maeda's Twitter feed, via the 99%

The Ultimate How-To: Win a Summer Internship (and Work With the Pros) and More...

Student Design Competition 12.09.10 posted by The Editors

The time has come to put your hard work in class to use in landing yourself a killer resumé addition: a summer internship at a top NYC magazine, something that can change your career path forever. (Oh yeah, and the $2500 cash first prize, a copy of the Adobe Creative Suite, and your work published in the SPD Annual.) Entry forms for our 2011 Student Design Competition can be downloaded here (8.5 x 11 pdf here or 11 x 17 poster pdf here). The deadline is Monday, March 7th, so you have almost exactly 3 months to work up your most spectacular ideas, dazzle the judges, and land that internship!

See related stories:
Q&A with Elliot Stokes, 2010 Student Design Competition 1st Place Winner

Q&A with Kyle Lewis, 2010 Student Design Competition 2nd Place Winner

Q&A with Derek Eng, 2010 Student Competition 3rd Place (and HM!) Winner

Q&A with Nicole Zigmont, 2010 Student Design Competition Honorable Mention Winner

BONUS Q&A with Nicole about her Summer Internship at Complex

#30: A Touch of Color

Quoted 12.06.10 posted by The Editors

Having small touches of colour makes it more colourful than having the whole thing in colour.
--DIETER RAMS (via QuotesOnDesign.com)

This Is Who We Are:
Nancy Campbell

Student Outreach 12.03.10 posted by The Editors

If you've attended our events in the past few years, you've most likely been the benefactor of Nancy Campbell's expertise. An organizer of speaker events like the previous spring's Fashion Talk, a frequent tour guide on our Pub Crawls and even a tour host at times, Nancy is instrumental in many of our events, competitions and offerings. Read on for more and to hear her great advice...

… MORE

Good Advice: Do Your Own Thing

Words of Wisdom 12.01.10 posted by The Editors

Over on A Photo Editor, there's a recent post about photographers using the iPad as their portfolio. While the post itself is great reading for photographers and designers alike, it was a comment to the post from Mike Moss that really caught our attention:

The worst advice I've heard in my time in photography has always been in regard to portfolios. If there are any young people reading this blog, just do whatever you want. NO matter how bad you may be at photography, there is always somebody out there that will hire you. And no matter how good you are at photography, there is always somebody out there that will think you suck. So just do your thing and go out and find the people that click with you.

Smart Quote #29: Go For It

Quoted 11.29.10 posted by The Editors

Don't be afraid to go out on a limb; that's where the fruit is.
--H. JACKSON BROWNE (quote and illustration via Handlettering Cite, a great blog featuring hand-lettered quotes by designer lettering artist Alexander Savakis, as well as others)

Good Advice: Presentation is Everything

Words of Wisdom 11.23.10 posted by The Editors

Following up on last Tuesday's post courtesy of designer David Airey, we found another great piece of advice within his terrific brand-identity blog, LogoDesignLove. In an interview with Sagi Haviv, a partner at design firm Cherymayeff & Geismar, Airey asked about the lessons he's learned. Haviv's reply is great advice for all designers...

When Georgio Armani was first shown the new A/X logo we designed in 2008, he rejected it outright. However, we found out that the new mark had been presented to him between meetings in a rush on a white piece of paper. The A/X people then suggested approaching him a second time (which they almost never do) with our entire presentation showing the logo in applications such as magazine ads, store fronts and billboards. He then immediately approved it. This near-failure taught me that in our business, presentation is everything.

Check out the full interview here.

#28: Be Grateful

Quoted 11.22.10 posted by The Editors

In honor of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday...

The essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is gratitude.
--FRIEDRICH NIETSZCHE

This Is Who We Are:
Liana Zamora

Student Outreach 11.19.10 posted by The Editors

Today's featured Student Outreach Committee member is one of our original crew. Having helped create and run our first few years of Portfolio Review and Pub Crawl events, Liana Zamora has been an essential supply of help to the committee AND to you! She's also been a Student Competition judge, and a behind-the-scenes supporter of all our events. We don't even want to think where we would be without her, so read on and learn more about her after the jump. … MORE

What Do YOU Want to Know?

Student Outreach 11.18.10 posted by The Editors

Do you keep hearing your professors or coworkers use a term and you're not quite sure what it means? Or is there something you've seen done elsewhere and want to know how to do it? Maybe you want some advice on what degree to get, or how to prepare for the job search?

If you want to know it, then we want to answer it! Send us your questions and we'll answer them either in our Vocab Lesson series or in another future post. Email us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

Good Advice: Your Success (and Failure) Is In Your Own Hands

Words of Wisdom 11.16.10 posted by The Editors

Earlier this summer, Chris Arnold (founder of Creative Orchestra and former creative director at Saatchi & Saatchi) shared some of his advice for design students and recent grads with designer David Airey. Read on for a few highlights from the post, and if you have advice of your own, please share! Our comments section would love to have you. … MORE

#27: Make Mistakes

Quoted 11.15.10 posted by The Editors

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.
--SCOTT ADAMS (via QuoteGarden.com)

This Is Who We Are:
Rommel Alama

Student Outreach 11.12.10 posted by The Editors

It may not seem that way, but the Student Committee hasn't been around for all that long. But one of our members for the long haul is Rommel Alama. Often taking on some of the more tedious administrative tasks and always there to lend a helping hand with all of our activities, Rommel has seen us through thick and thin. Just one of the many reasons you should get to know him... … MORE

You Know You Can Win an Internship, Right?

Student Competition 11.09.10 posted by The Editors

Now that you've got all the details on our Student Design Competition, we're hoping you're inspired. But if you need a little more motivation at this point (after all, entries aren't due until early March), how about the prizes you could win?

There's certainly the money and the Adobe Creative Cloud subscription that are both very motivating. But perhaps the most valuable part of the prize might be the internships. Want proof of just how incredible an experience that can be? Well, how about we get one of our recent winners to give you a little recap.

Above is a sneak peek at some of the work Honorable Mention-winner Nicole Zigmont did at her internship at Complex magazine. Read on to learn more... … MORE

#26: Just Do It

Quoted 11.08.10 posted by The Editors

A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week.
--GEORGE S. PATTON (via the spine of GOOD magazine's May/June 2007 issue)

This Is Who We Are:
Shane Luitjens

Student Outreach 11.05.10 posted by The Editors

A master at multitasking, Shane has been a huge contributor to all our student events. Whether he's leading a session at SPD-U, helping organize a Pub Crawl, designing event posters or critiquing portfolios, we're lucky to have his talents and expertise. And you are too! Learn more about him here ...
… MORE

More from Marian Bantjes

Words of Wisdom 11.02.10 posted by The Editors

Whether you were lucky enough to attend last night's AIGA talk featuring designer/artist Marian Bantjes or not, you'll still get a lot out of perusing her website. And whether you like her work or not, her page of student questions is definitely worth reading. If you get anything out of it, it should at least be these 2 things ... … MORE

#25: Teamwork

Quoted 11.01.10 posted by The Editors

The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club won't be worth a dime.
--BABE RUTH (via BrainyQuote.com)

This Is Who We Are:
John Walker

Student Outreach 10.29.10 posted by The Editors

Whether he's leading a seminar for our SPD-U event or hosting a portfolio review or working behind-the-scenes on the Pub Crawls, we're lucky to have John Walker's experience (TV Guide! Entertainment Weekly! The New York Times Magazine!) and enthusiasm as he helps with all of our events and efforts. Read on for his great advice and interesting background...
… MORE

SEEK and Ye Shall Learn

You Should Do This 10.28.10 posted by The Editors

If you're in the Chicago area, you should definitely consider attending the SEEK Design Conference on November 20. Run by the Visual Communication students at Northern Illinois University, the one-day conference gives students a great opportunity to meet and learn from a great roster of design professionals. While there's no focus on editorial design specifically, looks like a great chance to get good advice and insight on design in general.

Does your school host a similar event? Let us know at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

Up Close with Our 2010 Honorable Mention

Student Competition 10.28.10 posted by The Editors

We're taking a look back at this past year's Student Design Competition winners to see if their work and insight can give you a little inspiration to start your own entries for this year's competition.

Nicole Zigmont, now a recent grad from the Rochester Institute of Technology, merited an Honorable Mention prize with her entry, winning her an internship at Complex magazine this summer. Once again, self-created illustrations caught our judges' attention, along with her fun sense of typography. Read on to see more of her entry and to hear how she did it. And then get your brain going to create your entry! … MORE

Vocab Lesson 18: Folios

Terminology 10.27.10 posted by The Editors

A page number is known as a page number, right? Well, in magazine-speak, not necessarily... … MORE

Lights, Cameras...

You Should Do This 10.26.10 posted by The Editors

If you a photographer type and are in the NYC area, you should definitely consider attending PDN'S PhotoPlus Expo this week. Students get half off the entry fee, and you can even attend the Expo Hall for free.

There will be tons of great seminars, including several magazine-related ones such as...
… MORE

Up Close with Our 2010 Third-Place Winner

Student Competition 10.26.10 posted by The Editors

In order to celebrate the opening of our 2011 Student Design Competition, we're looking back at this past year's winners.

Derek Eng, now in his senior year at Ontario College of Art and Design, was our third-place winner. A smart headline treatment and visually-exciting second spread helped him win a $500 prize, the Adobe Creative Suite and an internship at W magazine. Read on for more info and to see his second-spread.
… MORE

What Magazine Personality Will YOU Be for Halloween?

You Should Do This 10.25.10 posted by The Editors

Our friends over at Ed2010 are hosting a Halloween party tomorrow night here in NYC, and you're encouraged to dress up as a well-known magazine staffer. Obviously there will be at least several Anna Wintour's there, but will anyone dress up as one of our beloved Art Directors? If you attend, report back on who you go as, and who you see!

#24: Both Parties Should Be Happy

Quoted 10.25.10 posted by The Editors

Art is like masturbation. It is selfish and introverted and done for you and you alone. Design is like sex. There is someone else involved, their needs are just as important as your own, and if everything goes right, both parties are happy in the end.

--COLIN WRIGHT (via designwashere)

This Is Who We Are:
Kim Sall

Student Outreach 10.22.10 posted by The Editors

If you've gone on any of our office tours, or attended our SPD-U event in 2009, then you've likely met the lovely Kim Sall. If you ever see her at a future event, you can be sure you're in good hands. Learn more about Kim below... … MORE

Up Close with Our 2010 Second-Place Winner

Student Competition 10.21.10 posted by The Editors

We're taking a closer look at this past year's Student Design Competition winners in order to give you a little motivation for this year's competition.

Now a recent grad from Ball State University, Kyle Lewis was our second-place winner in last year's competition. Like with our first-place winner, his smart self-created illustrations, a great sidebar and a well-designed second spread helped him win a $1,000 prize and the Adobe Creative Suite. (He also won an internship at an NYC magazine, but wisely turned it down for a real PAYING job.) Click through for his 2nd spread and more details.
… MORE

Lorem ipsum dolizzle fo shizzle

You Should Do This 10.20.10 posted by The Editors

If you're entering our Student Competition or doing any kind of editorial design project, you're likely going to need some Lorem Ipsum (don't know what that is? click here). Well, leave the boring old faux-Latin version behind, and coolify your layouts with Gangsta Lorem Ipsum.

Thanks to SwissMiss for the find.

Vocab Lesson 17: Display Type

Terminology 10.20.10 posted by The Editors

If you've read through our 2011 Student Competition rules, then you've come across the term display type. But in order for our instructions to make sense, we thought it might help if we clarify just what display type is... … MORE

Up Close with Our 2010 First-Place Winner

Student Competition 10.19.10 posted by The Editors

To kick off this year's Student Design Competition (get all the rules here), we're going to take a closer look at this past year's winners to give you a little inspiration.

Elliot Stokes, now a recent grad from the University of Georgia, was our first-place winner in the 2010 competition. Thanks to his self-drawn illustrations, terrific sidebars and tons of great visual entry points within a balanced layout, he wowed our judges, earning himself the $2,500 Adobe Scholarship in honor of B.W. Honeycutt, the Adobe Creative Suite and an internship at Inc. magazine. Click through for the 2nd spread of his entry and for some insight into how he came up with his winning entry. We'll be posting the same for our other winners within the next few weeks, so keep coming back! … MORE

#23: Pay Attention to What Is There

Quoted 10.18.10 posted by The Editors

"Creativity often consists merely turning up what is already there. Did you know that right and left shoes were thought up only a little more than a century ago?"

--BERNICE FITZ-GIBBON (via 1designsource)

This Is Who We Are:
Jason Sfetko

Student Outreach 10.15.10 posted by The Editors

Having just announced our 2011 Student Design Competition rules, this week's SPD Student Committee profile-ee is quite appropriate since he himself was a competition winner. Read on to see how it helped him out.
… MORE

2011 Student Design Competition: The Rules

Student Competition 10.14.10 posted by The Editors

It's official: our 2011 Student Design Competition is now open. Entries are due Monday, March 7th, 2011 at 5pm. Yeah, we know that's a long way off at this point, but trust us, it'll be here before you know it. And you wouldn't want to miss out on this chance to win cash, prizes and an internship, right???

Read on for this year's instructions and categories, and find out more juicy details here. We'll also have a PDF with the same rules that follow available for download in the next few weeks. … MORE

Good Advice: Know the Product You Are Pitching To

Words of Wisdom 10.12.10 posted by The Editors

The talented folks at Wonderful Machine (they represent select photographers) did a great Q&A with James Mullinger, Photo Editor at GQ magazine. Whether you're looking to become an art director, a photo editor or a photographer, it's a very worthwhile read about what he looks for in potential photographers. Perhaps the best piece of advice for all of us, whether applying for a design job or trying to get illustration or photography work:

What annoys you the most? Photographers sending in grossly inappropriate work for us to see. Look at the magazine before you send your work in. If you can see it on the pages of GQ, we'd love to hear from you. Otherwise don't bother. Know and understand the product you are pitching to.

#22: Surprise Them

Quoted 10.11.10 posted by The Editors

"Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity."
--GEORGE SMITH PATTON (via Design Quotes of the Day)

This Is Who We Are:
Trevett McCandliss

Student Outreach 10.08.10 posted by The Editors

If you went on Tour B of our recent Pub Crawl event or attended our Fashion Talk event in February 2009, then you'll have met our next talented Student Committee member...
… MORE

Interning? Win Cash!

Internships 10.07.10 posted by The Editors

Ed2010's Intern Trust Fund awards $1,000 to a few lucky interns. And knowing how most internships don't pay, that could definitely come in handy. The deadline for fall interns is midnight THIS SATURDAY, October 9. Get the application here. Spring interns must apply by Jan. 30th, 2011 and summer interns have a May 30, 2011 deadline.

More Pub Crawl Love

Pub(lications) Crawl 10.07.10 posted by The Editors

As you can see, our Pub Crawl attendees were jumping for joy, their tours were so good! Okay, so, maybe that's stretching the truth a bit, but as you can see in these photos and quotes, a good time was had by all...

… MORE

Vocab Lesson 16: the Wall

Terminology 10.06.10 posted by The Editors

Pink Floyd's. The Berlin. Your Facebook one. The word wall conjures up lots of associations, and we've got one to add to the list...

… MORE

Magazine Cover Design

Covers 10.05.10 posted by The Editors

The American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) recently named the winners in their 2010 Best Cover of the Year competition. You can see what won and the other finalists here. But perhaps the more interesting part is the stories behind the covers. In their Cover Gallery here, you'll learn why certain photographs were used, how the photographer worked with the subject and more about the ideas behind the images. It's some great insight into some great design.

#21: Make Them Feel Something

Quoted 10.04.10 posted by The Editors

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
--MAYA ANGELOU (via QuotesOnDesign)

This Is Who We Are:
Joseph Caserto

Student Outreach 10.01.10 posted by The Editors

If you attended last Friday's Pub Crawl or any of our last several Pub Crawl events, then today's Student Committee Profile will likely be a familiar face...

… MORE

Vocab Lesson 15: Hed and Dek

Terminology 09.29.10 posted by The Editors

Everyone likely knows what a headline is, but have you ever heard it called a hed? We magazine types like to abbreviate things, so...
… MORE

Pub Crawl Raves

Pub(lications) Crawl 09.28.10 posted by The Editors

Our Pub(lications) Crawl event last Friday was a big hit. Students from around the NYC-area and beyond got invaluable behind-the-scenes looks at Family Circle, Martha Stewart Living, The New York Times Magazine, People, Popular Mechanics and Teen Vogue. But don't take our word for it: hear it straight from your fellow students' mouths....

(Above Deputy Design Director Neil Jamieson tells students about the processes behind People magazine.)
… MORE

#20: Design or Decoration?

Quoted 09.27.10 posted by The Editors

Content precedes design. Design in the absence of content is not design, it's decoration.
--JEFFREY ZELDMAN (via DesignWasHere.com)

Links We Love: Pub Crawl Edition

Links 09.24.10 posted by The Editors

Missed out on attending today's Pub(lications) Crawl event? No worries, there's tons of great stuff online to give you a peek into the working lives of your favorite magazines.

>> Wished you coulda gone on the New York Times Magazine tour? Then be sure to check out this in-depth look at their somewhat-recent redesign.

>> Envious of the Teen Vogue tour group? Check out this Q&A with Director of Photography Jennifer Pastore.

>> Wondering what the Martha Stewart Living offices are like? Check out a photo tour of their offices here and a glimpse into their September cover shoot process here. And watch this fun little video showing the process behind a shoot of one of their other publications.

>> A fan of People magazine? Check out this behind-the-scenes video behind one of their cover shoots.

This Is Who We Are:
Nancy Stamatopoulos

Student Outreach 09.23.10 posted by The Editors

While we were preparing for our first event of the academic year (tomorrow's Pub Crawl), we thought it might help to give you a little hint into who "we" are. As one of SPD's many committees, the Student Committee is made up of a bunch of hard-working, fun professionals who are all about helping YOU. Just who are these dedicated people? Let us introduce ourselves... (This post is the first in a series profiling the members of our Student Committee.)

… MORE

Pub Crawl Details

Pub(lications) Crawl 09.23.10 posted by The Editors

Registration is now closed for our Pub(lications) Crawl, but if you're one of the lucky ones attending, you should have received an email from us this week with all the nitty-gritty details about when and where. If not, email us to let us know.

Register for Pub Crawl by 11pm Tonight!

Pub(lications) Crawl 09.20.10 posted by The Editors

Don't forget the registration deadline for our Pub(lications) Crawl event is 11pm tonight. Even though the event happens Friday, you must register by tonight to attend. Find all the details here.

#19: Good Design Is...

Quoted 09.20.10 posted by The Editors

Good design is innovative.
Good design makes a product useful.
Good design is aesthetic.
Good design makes a product understandable.
Good design is unobtrusive.
Good design is honest.
Good design is long-lasting.
Good design is thorough down to the last detail.
Good design is environmentally friendly.
Good design is as little design as possible.
--DIETER RAMS (via DesignMuseum.org)

An industrial designer and the head of design at Braun (a German consumer electronics manufacturer), Dieter Rams wrote these 10 principles that guided his work. Learn more about him here.

Only 4 Days Left to Register for the Year's ONLY Pub Crawl

Pub(lications) Crawl 09.17.10 posted by The Editors

The registration deadline for our Pub(lications) Crawl event is 11:30pm Monday, so sign up now! Tour B is full, but Tour A and Tour C still have room, though they're filling up fast. We're only doing one Pub Crawl this year (as opposed to previous years where we did it once in the fall and once in the spring), so don't miss out on this awesome opportunity to get behind-the-scenes access.

For those of you who will be attending, we've got some trivia questions:

â€¢ Which of the magazines we'll visit (shown above) once published a multi-part graphic novel in every edition?

â€¢ Which is published under a different title in Australia, because its name was already taken by a lad's mag that features scantily clad women?

â€¢ Which was started by a former stockbroker?

Think you know the answers? Find out for sure next Friday! Sign up here.

Vocab Lessons

Terminology 09.15.10 posted by The Editors

POP QUIZ: Know what that phrase means?
If not, you should check out our Vocab Lesson series from last fall. This is where we try to give you some insider info on the terms and words you'll hear in the magazine world. Some are graphic design terms you might already be familiar with, while others are total magazine-ese ... things like spread, gutter and F.O.B. ... and no, it's not what it might sound like. Before we start this fall's lessons, let's take a look back at what we've already covered. How many of these words do YOU know?

Smart Quotes â€¢ Spine â€¢ F.O.B., B.O.B. and the Well â€¢ Rules â€¢ Gutter â€¢ TK â€¢ Flatplan â€¢ Circulation â€¢ Dummy Copy â€¢ Trade/B2B Magazine â€¢ Body Copy â€¢ Spread â€¢ Shipping â€¢ Cover Lines

Look for the enlightenment to continue starting next week!

This Club Really DOES Look Good On Your RÃ©sumÃ©

Student Outreach 09.14.10 posted by The Editors

General Admission to our Pub Crawl event: $15
3 Entries in our Student Design Competition: $30
Admission to our 2011 March Madness event: $20
A copy of our Publication Design Annual: $60
All of that AND an extra impressive line on your rÃ©sumÃ©???? Say it together now: priceless! And at only $25, it's a steal!

Join SPD as a Student Member for only $25 and you get...
… MORE

Pub Crawl Update:
TOUR B IS FULL

Pub(lications) Crawl 09.13.10 posted by The Editors

Tour B of our Pub Crawl (happening Friday, 9/24) is officially full, but we've still got space in Tour A (Martha Stewart Living and Popular Mechanics) and Tour C (Teen Vogue and Family Circle). Don't wait too long to sign up: spots are filling up fast and the registration deadline is Monday night at midnight! Find out all the details here.

Smart Quote #18: Design should...

Quoted 09.13.10 posted by The Editors

Pub Crawl Spotlight: TOUR C
Teen Vogue & Family Circle

Pub(lications) Crawl 09.11.10 posted by The Editors

Don't forget: This academic year, we're only holding ONE Pub(lications) Crawl event (which means there won't be one in the spring like usual). So make sure there on Friday, September 24th. The registration deadline is midnight, Monday, September 20th. Find out all the details here, but read on for more info on the awesome mags from Tour C.

… MORE

Pub Crawl Spotlight: TOUR B
People & The New York Times Magazine

Pub(lications) Crawl 09.09.10 posted by The Editors

Join us for a day of office tours at our Pub(lications) Crawl event on Friday, September 24th ... it'll give you behind-scenes access to some of the best mags out there, so it's totally worth asking your professor for a day out of class. Find out all the details here, but read on for more info on the incredible mags from Tour B...

… MORE

Pub Crawl Spotlight: TOUR A
Martha Stewart Living & Popular Mechanics

Pub(lications) Crawl 09.08.10 posted by The Editors

Our Pub(lications) Crawl event is happening Friday, September 24th and it's totally worth asking your teacher for a day out of class. Don't forget the registration deadline is midnight, Monday, September 20th. Find out all the details here, but read on for more info on the incredible mags from Tour A.
… MORE

Join This Year's ONLY Pub Crawl on 9/24

Pub(lications) Crawl 08.30.10 posted by The Editors

To start this academic year off right, we've got our awesome Pub(lications) Crawl event happening Friday, September 24th. For those of you unfamiliar with the event, it's a day of office tours at two fantastic magazines for an in-depth look at the way things really work. We've got Family Circle, Martha Stewart Living, The New York Times Magazine, People, Popular Mechanics and Teen Vogue magazines all ready to give you behind-the-scenes access. Come armed with your curiosity and questions, but leave the portfolios at home, please.

Please note, this will be the ONLY Pub Crawl this academic year (there will not be one in the spring like we've offered in recent years), so make sure you don't miss out on this terrific event. Space is very limited, so RSVP now to reserve your spot. Details after the jump.

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Farewell Summer, Hello Fall!

Student Outreach 08.24.10 posted by The Editors

Welcome back to all you students already back at school or heading back soon. If your summer was anything like ours in NYC, you might actually be glad the summer weather is finally almost over. And even if not, we're here to help make the fall more enticing ... we've got our annual Pub Crawl coming up on September 24 (registration will open very soon), plus all the details on our Student Design Competition and a whole lot more coming your way. So mark your calendars for the 24th and then keep checking back here for the latest details and info. Happy New School Year!

You're Catching All This, Right?

Commentary 07.23.10 posted by The Editors

In case you haven't noticed, there's some MAJOR discussion going on in the editorial design world:
â€¢ Check out our SPD post with tons of great commentary here.
â€¢ Writer/Editor Andrew Losowsky states his own argument: part one and two.
â€¢ Also noted on MagCulture with comparisons to an iPad app.
â€¢ A Photo Editor notes designers' reactions are similar to that of photographers in regards to cheap stock photography. And even puts forth the idea that this whole thing might be an opportunity for photographers.

There's probably much more out there as well. And as a future designer, editor, photographer, illustrator or creative of any kind, you better be reading.

For All You Ambitious High Schoolers...

You Should Do This 07.16.10 posted by The Editors

The New York Times has teamed up with CUNY's School of Journalism to host a 3-day journalism workshop just for high school students. So if you're in the NYC area and are getting tired of your summer days (haha), consider attending. You'll learn about and get experience in reporting, writing, photography and video (and we can only image a little design will be involved in that!). Takes place next Monday, July 19, thru Wednesday the 21st in the Fort Greene/Clinton Hill area of Brooklyn. Check out all the details here.

Help for Your Identity Crisis

You Should Do This 07.13.10 posted by The Editors

As a student, you may not yet have proclaimed editorial design as your one true love ... and even those of us who have still have interests beyond the page (or screen these days). These other arenas of graphic design can teach a lot regardless of your final medium, so if you're interested at all in branding and identity (and isn't that what creating a magazine's look is all about?), then check out this new conference from Under Consideration:

An extension of their Brand New blog (check it out if you don't already know it), the Brand New Conference takes place on Nov. 5, 2010, here in NYC, features amazing speakers, and offers you students a 50% discount on the registration!! But you have to act fast, it's limited to only 25 of you. And for those of you unable to make it to the Big Apple, you can attend via webcast for even cheaper! They'll even be selling videos of the event afterward. All the details here.

As for Extra-Fancy Portfolios...

Portfolio Reviews 06.16.10 posted by The Editors

Make sure the work your portfolio is showcasing is as strong or stronger than your presentation. That's the advice of designer Chanpory Rith. His advice is geared more towards advertising design, but it's worth considering. Check out his portfolio post here. And then read his "7 Deadly Sins of Resume Design" and the comments section too for a great discussion on what to do and not to do. He also gives great tips on how to pretty-up a Word doc resume here.

And while we're on the topic ... we're in the midst of planning our fall portfolio event, so if you have any questions or suggestions for us, we'd love to hear 'em!

Dummy Copy Gone Public!

D'oh! 06.07.10 posted by The Editors

If you've been a reader for a while, perhaps you'll remember some of the terminology from our Vocab Lesson series from last fall, particularly "TK" and "Dummy Copy". If not, refresh your memory and then check out this example of rogue dummy copy and make a note to yourself to always proofread your work.

Editor's Note: Our Vocab Lesson series will resume later this year.

Attention L.A.-Area Students!

Speakeasy 06.04.10 posted by The Editors

Don't know if you saw the post, but SPD is hosting a great event on Wednesday, June 23 in Los Angeles. So for all you California peeps who can't make it to our NYC events, check this one out. Use that SPD Student Membership to get in for free, but even if you're not a member, it's only $10 in advance!

Advice: You Want to Be Brain-Googled.

Portfolio Reviews 05.27.10 posted by The Editors

Over on A Photo Editor (a blog you read, right?), there's a question about portfolios with some great insight and advice. Yes, it's geared towards aspiring photographers (which you may be), but it's helpful to us designer-types as well. Long story short: "You want to be brain googled. ... use your portfolio to make a mark on that person and their visual memory." Read more here.

If You're Interested in Illustration...

illustration 05.24.10 posted by The Editors

If you're thinking about pursuing a career as an illustrator (or even as a side job), consider attending the first annual Nuts & Bolts conference, sponsored by illustration mag 3x3 and aimed primarily at students. Not only will you hear from some awesome pros (Marcos Chin! Aaron Meshon! Chris Buzelli! and more!) on the more business-y side of being an illustrator (or freelance artist of any kind really), but there will also be studio tours, portfolio reviews and invaluable opportunities to network. It takes place July 9-10 in NYC and up until June 10 you can get a discount on early registration. (via Drawn!)

Not Your Typical Student Mugshots

Students 05.12.10 posted by The Editors

Yearbooks don't always enjoy the most favorable stereotype, but the School of Visual Arts is one of many schools who set out to change that. … MORE

Could You Use Some Scholarship Money?

Student Outreach 04.27.10 posted by The Editors

We're not the only ones offering scholarship money for publication design students (missed this year's Student Design Competition? Details for next year's will be available late summer/early fall) ... the Society for News Design is offering a $2,000 scholarship to "a deserving student interested in and showing promise for pursuing a career in visual journalism." And just because "News Design" is in their name doesn't mean you have to be designing newspapers ... visual journalism comes in many forms, including newspaper, magazines, websites and other interactive media forms. Check out all the details here. But hurry, the deadline is June 12.

iPad: Not Just for the Professionals

New+Notable 04.22.10 posted by The Editors

Think designing for Apple's new iPad is only for the professionals at this point? Think again, slackers ... your fellow students are diving in as well.

Abilene Christian University's student newspaper, The Optimist, has become the first student newspaper to publish on Apple's iPad device. (Not to mention that they've had an iPhone app since 2007). Check out their awesome efforts here:

Read more about it here.

So how about you and your school? Does your college paper or magazine have a mobile app? Are you working on any iPad designs on your own?

Spring Pub Crawl Wrap-Up

Pub(lications) Crawl 04.14.10 posted by The Editors

Last Friday's Pub(lications) Crawl event was a huge success, thanks to our terrific hosts and student participants. But don't take it from us: see what the tour-goers had to say... their comments and more photos after the jump.
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If You Can't Come Friday...

Pub(lications) Crawl 04.07.10 posted by The Editors

Registration for Friday's Pub(lications) Crawl office tours event closed last night, so if you missed it or just couldn't make it Friday regardless, don't worry ... we repeat the event every fall and spring, so you'll have a chance again this coming September.

In the meantime, take some virtual office tours. Folio: magazine visited the offices of Complex magazine and Consumer Reports. And Inc. magazine recently ditched their offices ... read about their experience as a virtual office here . Our Pub Crawl tours focus on the art and design departments on the magazines and companies we visit, but any tour will give you some insight into what the real world is actually like.

Only A Few Hours Left to Sign Up for Friday's Pub Crawl!

Pub(lications) Crawl 04.06.10 posted by The Editors

Registration for Friday's Pub(lication) Crawl event ends tonight at 11:30, so make sure you reserve/buy your ticket now. Remember if you're a student member, entry is free! Find out more here.

Pub Crawl Spotlight:
Tour C: Segal Savad & NYLON

Pub(lications) Crawl 04.05.10 posted by The Editors

Our spring Pub(lications) Crawl event is this Friday, April 9, but you gotta sign up by tomorrow (Tuesday) night at 11:30. Find out all the details here, but read on for more info on the awesome mags from Tour C.

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Pub Crawl Spotlight:
Tour B: Entertainment Weekly & BUST

Pub(lications) Crawl 04.05.10 posted by The Editors

Our spring Pub(lications) Crawl event is this Friday, April 9, but you gotta sign up by tomorrow (Tuesday) night at 11:30. Find out all the details here, but read on for more info on the awesome mags from Tour B.

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Pub(lications) Crawl Spotlight:
Tour A: GQ & Essence

Pub(lications) Crawl 04.05.10 posted by The Editors

Our spring Pub(lications) Crawl event is this Friday, April 9, but you gotta sign up by tomorrow (Tuesday) night at 11:30. Find out all the details here, but read on for more info on the awesome mags from Tour A.

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Office Tours Next Friday

Pub(lications) Crawl 04.01.10 posted by The Editors

Don't forget about our Pub(lications) Crawl event next Friday, April 9th. We've got an awesome line-up of magazines and design firms willing to show us their digs and tell us how they do what they do, so sign up now! You can tell us which tour you prefer to be on, but it's first-come, first-serve, so the quicker you sign up, the better chances you have at getting what you want.

2010 Student Competition Winners Announced

Student Competition 03.24.10 posted by The Editors

Okay, finally, the wait is over! Read on for a list of the top 4 winners of our 2010 Student Design Competition. We'll be posting their full entries and info over the next week or two so keep checking back to see all their winning work.

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Six Days Left! Enter the Student Photography Competition

Student Photo Competition 03.24.10 posted by The Editors

Adobe Creative Suite 4, so sweet, loaded with Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Photoshop, InDesign, and so much more...that's right, Adobe CS4 is worth millions if used to the maximum and can be yours for free as a winner in SPD's Virtue & Vice student photo competition! That's just one prize: keep reading for even more! … MORE

Last Chance for Portfolio Reviews

Student Outreach 03.24.10 posted by The Editors

Time is ticking away to sign up for tonight's Portfolio Workshop. Doesn't matter the state of your book, just bring it and we'll help fix it and tell ya what we think. Sign up here.

And we'll be posting the winners of our Student Design Competition very soon, so keep an eye out for that news as well.

Portfolio Workshop This Wednesday!

Portfolio Reviews 03.22.10 posted by The Editors

If you attended our SPD-U event last Monday, we addressed a question about how to choose pieces for your portfolio. While we did our best to answer the question there, we've got another event this Wednesday that is made just for that question: our Portfolio Workshop.

Bring us your printouts and tearsheets, your class projects and the stuff you make for your friends ... bring it all in one big pile, and we'll help you choose the best pieces and figure out the right way to organize it. Even if you think you've got your portfolio done, bring it along as well as any extra pieces and get our experts' opinions. Sign up now!

Spring Pub(lications) Crawl:
Friday, April 9

Pub(lications) Crawl 03.17.10 posted by The Editors

Put on those little silver shoes and join us for a day of magazine office tours! Our Pub(lications) Crawl is a day-long event where you'll get to tour the offices of 2 awesome magazines and/or design firms. We've got Bust, Entertainment Weekly, Essence, GQ, and Nylon magazines as well as the Segal Savad design firm all ready to give you behind-the-scenes access. Come armed with your curiosity and questions, but leave the portfolios at home, please. RSVP by Tuesday night at 11:30 to reserve your spot. All the details (and registration) after the jump... … MORE

Are We Your March Madness Pick?

Student Events 03.15.10 posted by The Editors

Thanks to all of you who came out for our SPD-U March (Design) Madness event Monday ... we had a great time, and hopefully you did too! In fact, we want to know that for sure, so tell us what you think in our survey here. All answers are anonymous and it'll help us plan better for next year, so please be honest and tell us everything!

And a HUGE thanks to our wonderful speakers: Michele Ervin, Josh Klenert, Jenn McManus, Robert Newman, Stravinksi Pierre, Jason Sfetko, Ivylise Simones, Kirsten Sorton, Stephen Sullivan and Sarah ViÃ±as.

Much More To Come!

Student Events 03.12.10 posted by The Editors

Registration for our SPD-U event has officially closed and hopefully you're on the list! But even if you're not, we've still got lots more to come this spring, such as our Portfolio Workshop on March 24th, our Student Photography Competition deadline on the 29th, and our spring Pub(lications) Crawl on April 9. You can sign up for the Portfolio Workshop now (remember student members are FREE!), and we'll have all the details about the office tours coming next week. Until then... enjoy the breather.

Last Chance to Be an SPD-U Grad!

Student Events 03.10.10 posted by The Editors

Registration for our SPD-U March (Design) Madness event closes Friday at 5pm. Don't miss this great opportunity to hear some legendary, super-talented art directors and photo editors! And remember, if you're a student member, your entry is FREE! But you must register to save your spot.

Portfolio Reviews March 24

Portfolio Reviews 03.09.10 posted by The Editors

Yeah, you just handed in your Student Design Competition entry and you've already signed up for our SPD-U event next Monday the 15th, not to mention your classwork and stuff. (You're thinking about that Nikon camera and the Eddie Adams workshop too, right? No sleep, all the glory, right?) Yeah, we know, there's lots going on. Well, one more thing to add to your calendar: our March (Design) Madness continues on March 24th with our Portfolio event. Find out the details after the jump...

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Our March Madness Pick: SPD-U

Student Events 03.08.10 posted by The Editors

Yeah, we know, you're still recovering from getting your Student Design Competition entries done on time ... well, get ready for another jolt of energy at our SPD-U March (Design) Madness event. Next Monday, March 15th, we've got 4 terrific sessions covering all the elements of editorial design.

Seen all those cool posts of old magazines or alternative-newsweeklies on the SPD homepage? Well, those are courtesy of Robert Newman, and he'll be joining Ivylise Simones in a session on creativity. Want to know how all those gorgeous magazine photos happen? Our second session will fill you in on those details, followed by a tips-and-tricks design session courtesy of previous-panelist Stravinski Pierre. And to finish the day, we've got a panel of designers, photo editors and interactive media designers ready to give you the inside scoop on how to get a job.

Trust us, this is an event you don't want to miss! Registration closes at 5pm this Friday, so be sure you sign up now.

Competition Entries Due on Monday!

Student Competition 03.03.10 posted by The Editors

Our March 8th deadline is fast approaching as our countdown clock shows, but don't worry, you still have enough time to crank something out. You can find the rules, the entry form, info about the prizes (you know you can win $2500 plus an internship, right?) and all kinds of other great info here. You'll also find frequently-asked-questions, tips and advice, and you can see previous winning entries too. So don't let the time escape you. Enter now!

Don't Forget: SPD-U on Monday, March 15

Student Events 03.01.10 posted by The Editors

Enough of this competition talk for now ... we've got other stuff going on too! March (Design) Madness begins with our SPD-U event on Monday, March 15 from 12:30pm to 5pm here in midtown Manhattan. We've got an awesome line-up of speakers and topics, so be sure to check out all the details and sign up now, as space is limited!

Also, mark your calendars for these other great opportunities:
â€¢ Portfolio Reviews on Wednesday, March 24 from 6 to 8pm; more details to come soon
â€¢ Student Photography Competition entries due Monday, March 29th
â€¢ Spring Pub(lications) Crawl on Friday, April 9; more details to come soon

Competition Tips: Wrap-Up

Student Competition 02.28.10 posted by The Editors

So now you've got all the right elements on your spreads and you know what you need to do with them (thanks to our week of tips and advice) ... now you just need some divine inspiration, right? Well, check out some of the links and suggestions below. … MORE

Competition Tips: Part 5

Student Competition 02.26.10 posted by The Editors

Unless you've been under a rock lately, you likely know our Student Design Competition deadline is fast approaching. Here's some more tips to keep in mind as you perfect your entries!
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Competition Tips: Part 4

Student Competition 02.25.10 posted by The Editors

Have we mentioned that the deadline for our Student Design Competition is coming soon? Find out all about it and download the entry form here, and read on for some last-minute tips...

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Competition Tips: Part 3

Student Competition 02.24.10 posted by The Editors

You've read our previous Student Design Competition Tips posts (here and here), right? And you're aware that the Student Design Competition deadline is coming soon (early March!!)? Well, read on for more advice...

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Competition Tips: Part 2

Student Competition 02.23.10 posted by The Editors

So you've started your Student Design Competition entries by now, right? Well, whether you're done or haven't even begun, we've got more great tips for you today. Get all the nitty-gritty details and download the entry form here. But now, onto Competition Tips, Part Deux...… MORE

Competition Tips: Part 1

Student Competition 02.22.10 posted by The Editors

Whether you're just about done with your Student Design Competition entries, or you've barely even started, we've got some secret tips and advice. Be sure to check the blog and Facebook page for more info as the early March deadline approaches! Now, onto the first set of tips...

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Competition Countdown

Student Competition 02.21.10 posted by The Editors

In case you haven't noticed, it's almost the end of February. And in case you haven't noticed, our Student Design Competition deadline is Monday, March 8. That's, like, only about 2 weeks away. Yeah. Time flies.

So what's an ambitious yet procrastinating student to do? Well, aside from sacrificing some sleep, you can keep checking this little bloggie here all week long to get some last-minute tips and advice. In the meantime, make sure you've downloaded the entry form and read through all the details and Frequently-Asked Questions here. And if you have any other questions, be sure to email us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com. Oh, and don't forget you can pay any entry fees online ... do that here.

Join Our March (Design) Madness!

Student Events 02.16.10 posted by The Editors

Registration for this event has closed as of 5pm, 3/12/10.

Forget UCLA, UNC and LSU ... SPD-U is the only sure bet when it comes to March Madness. Join us Monday, March 15 for an afternoon of bracket-busting events in publication design and art direction! Like last year, we've got a top-notch lineup of topics and presenters, all there to give YOU the edge in your design work and job-searching. All the details after the jump...

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Think We Better Give You a Reminder

Student Events 02.03.10 posted by The Editors

2010 is moving fast, and so are we, so a few reminders about upcoming events:

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9
If you're in the NYC area next Tuesday night, then buy tickets now to attend the next SPD Speakeasy with graphic designer Paul Sahre. As a student, you get a discounted rate, and in addition to hearing an inspiring speaker, you'll get the chance to do a little socializing and networking ... you never know who'll be standing or sitting beside you!

MONDAY, MARCH 8
You've now got just over a month until our Student Design Competition deadline on March 8th. Be sure to check out all the rules and details here. There's money, internships and fame to be had, so enter now!!

MONDAY, MARCH 15
Make sure Monday, March 15th is on your calendar for our SPD-U March Madness event here in NYC as part of the National College Media Convention. It's a half-day magazine design bootcamp covering everything from typographers' quotes to career advice. All the details coming soon.

MONDAY, MARCH 29
If you're a photographer type, check out all the info on our Student Photography Competition. Entries for that are due March 29th.

More Job-Hunt Advice

Words of Wisdom 02.02.10 posted by The Editors

To build on Sarah Garcea's advice from our recent Help Wanted event, fellow panelist John Walker shares some advice of his own:

Give yourself assignments for your portfolio to fill in any areas that might be weak or which you don't have enough examples. Want to do publication design? Design some spreads! Web design? Homepages! You get the clue. Get a friend to do the same, for encouragement and critiquing. Do one a week, and in six weeks you'll have SIX new portfolio pieces! Anyone looking at your portfolio will then be impressed that you have done extra work, and that you really want to work! --John Walker, Walker Design

Did You Miss Our "Help Wanted" Event?

Words of Wisdom 02.01.10 posted by The Editors

A few weeks back, we held a speaker panel event to help answer some of your job-hunt questions. If you missed it, check out one of our panelists' advice below, and mark your calendars for another career advice event on March 15 ... keep reading for all the details.

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Student Competition Q&A: Who's Eligible?

Student Competition 01.20.10 posted by The Editors

Regarding the 2010 Student Competition, can graduate students submit work? I am in an MFA program and just wanted to make sure. And while we're on the topic, what about high school students?

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Job-Hunt Help Event TODAY!

Student Events 01.19.10 posted by The Editors

Our HELP WANTED event is this afternoon, but you must register by 10am this morning to attend. Check out all the details here.

Looking for a Job or Internship?

Student Outreach 01.15.10 posted by The Editors

Don't forget to check out our Job Board here on SPD.org ... just today 2 new jobs were posted for junior-level designers. And they're not all only magazine design jobs. So keep an eye on it and apply!

Want to know how to actually get those jobs? Then attend our HELP WANTED event this coming Tuesday in NYC. We'll be addressing everything from portfolios to the interview to thank you notes. For those of you NOT in the city, send us your job hunt-related questions and we'll get our panel to answer them and post them here on the blog. Registration closes at 10am Tuesday morning and space is limited, so sign up now to reserve your spot!

Student Competition Q&A: The Internships

Student Competition 01.13.10 posted by The Editors

It says one of the prizes in the Student Design Competition is an internship. When and where does that take place exactly? And is there housing included?

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Smart Quote #17: Energy

Quoted 01.11.10 posted by The Editors

"ENERGY. It's 75% of the job. If you haven't got it, be nice." --Paul Arden

One of the world's greatest advertising creatives, Paul Arden (1940-2008) shares the above advice, wisdom and more in his book "It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want to Be.".

"Smart Quote" is a recurring feature on the SPD Student Blog ... look for more wise words every Monday, or see past ones here. Got an inspiring or motivating quote to share? Email it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

Get Job-Hunt Help TODAY!

Student Events 01.05.10 posted by The Editors

Are you a current student or recent grad looking for an editorial design or photo editing job? Then this is the event for you! Sign up by 10am this morning!… MORE

Happy New Year!

Student Outreach 01.04.10 posted by The Editors

It's back to work for us worker bees, and we're gearing up for a great and busy spring both here on the blog and event-wise.

First up is our Jan. 19th HELP WANTED event where we will answer all your job-search-related questions. Registration is now open (click here) and space is limited, so sign up now!

And don't forget about the March 8 deadline for our Student Design Competition! For those of you still on break, that's a great chance to get a head-start on your entry(ies). Check out some recent FAQs we've addressed here, here and here.

For those of you in the NYC area or coming here for the CMA College Media Convention in mid-March, you can mark your calendars now for our annual SPD-U March Madness event on March 15.

And keep coming back here for more great posts and details on the above events and more. Enjoy the rest of your break while we professionals silently wish we were back in college just for the time off. Happy 2010!

Student Competition Q&A: December Grads

Answers 12.30.09 posted by The Editors

I was wondering what the rules are for December graduates.

Can I still enter the Student Competition?

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Smart Quote #16: What's Your Passion?

Quoted 12.28.09 posted by The Editors

I think a good way to figure out your passions is to look at what you do when you're procrastinating from everything else. --Jessica Hische

That quote (and the above art--our little way of saying Happy Holidays) comes from the FAQ page of designer/illustrator/typographer/etc Jessica Hische. If you're a frequenter of design/craft blogs, you've probably seen links to her Daily Drop Cap blo g. She's done a ton of other great work, and she's a young'un too! Featured in Print, Communication Arts, STEP and by the Art Director's Club in their Young Guns competition, she's made quite a name for herself despite having graduated only 3 years ago in 2006. Check out her entire FAQ page for some awesome insight into design school, entering the real world and making a name for yourself.

"Smart Quote" is a recurring feature on the SPD Student Blog ... look for more wise words every Monday, or see past ones here. Got an inspiring or motivating quote to share? Email it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

Today's Vocab Lesson Cancelled

Student Outreach 12.23.09 posted by The Editors

In honor of the holidays, there's no vocab class today, dear SPD Student Blog readers! We're not completely shutting down, but blog activity will be sporadic until the New Year when we'll be back in full force with lots more great info and advice and events.

In the meantime, don't forget to mark your calendars for our Job-Hunt event on January 19. And of course don't forget about our Student Competition!

If you're really bored this winter break, check out all our Vocab Lessons so far. And be sure to let us know if there's any terminology that you'd like to see defined and discussed.

Just in Time for the Holidays: Student Competition Entry Forms

Student Competition 12.23.09 posted by The Editors

All that time off for your winter break sure must get boring, so SPD to the rescue! Think of it as our holiday gift to you: official rules and entry forms for our Student Design Competition are now available here. After all, the March deadline will be here before you know it.

Happy Designing!

Smart Quote #15: Bad Leads to Good

Quoted 12.21.09 posted by The Editors

"It's important to take bad pictures. It's the bad ones that have to do with what you've never done before. They can make you recognize something you hadn't seen in a way that will make you recognize it when you see it again."
--Diane Arbus

The same applies to design or anything really. It's all about experimenting, trying to do the same old thing in new ways. That leads to innovation, to discovering something new. Sometimes it will work, sometimes it won't, but even from the failures, you'll learn something.

: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :

The above quote comes from this 1000 Words Photography blog post, via A Photo Editor.

"Smart Quote" is a recurring feature on the SPD Student Blog ... look for more wise words every Monday, or see past ones here. Got an inspiring or motivating quote to share? Email it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

Save The Date: Job-Hunt Event Jan. 19

Student Events 12.18.09 posted by The Editors

Read on for more details.
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Vocab Lesson 14: Cover Lines

Terminology 12.16.09 posted by The Editors

If you've been reading any of the media blogs lately, you've probably come across news about the coverlines on Men's Health magazine. The definition of cover lines is probably pretty obvious, but just to make it official...

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Smart Quote #14: DO Stuff

Quoted 12.14.09 posted by The Editors

"Therein lies the best career advice I could possibly dispense: just DO things. Chase after the things that interest you and make you happy. Stop acting like you have a set path, because you don't. No one does. You shouldn't be trying to check off the boxes of life; they aren't real and they were created by other people, not you. There is no explicit path I'm following, and I'm not walking in anyone else's footsteps. I'm making it up as I go."
--Charlie Hoehn
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Magazine Covers Today: What Do YOU Think?

Commentary 12.11.09 posted by The Editors

If you've been in design and/or advertising classes for a while, you've probably come across George Lois, the master behind those legendary Esquire covers from the '60s and early '70s. He recently spoke with BlackBook about the state of magazine covers today and he had some pretty intense things to say...
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Vocab Lesson 13: Shipping

Terminology 12.09.09 posted by The Editors

No, this is not a post on how to get your holiday gifts to their recipients on time. And it's not even about the process of magazines being shipped out to their subscribers. Shipping in magazine-speak is why your magazine friends can't do dinner this week ... it's deadline time!

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Attention NYCers: Hear Milton Glaser and Stefan Sagmeister

You Should Do This 12.08.09 posted by The Editors

If you're in or near the city this Friday, you now have a great form of procrastination from final projects and exams ... it's cool, it's exclusive and it counts as education too!
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Smart Quote #13: Great is Not Trendy

Quoted 12.07.09 posted by The Editors

What makes great design "great" is not a trendy technique, but the logic and conceptual aspect that were figured out in the designer's mind--or on more likely, on paper--before a mouse cursor ever opened Photoshop.
--Kyle Meyer, interactive designer

The above quote comes from a thoughtful post on Kyle's blog, Astheria. Kyle is the lead user experience designer at Clockwork Active Media Systems in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and as such, his blog mainly addresses web design. However, many of his points can be applied to print design as well. And well, let's face it, even us die-hard print designers are having to learn the web stuff ... his blog is a good place to get some insight.

"Smart Quote" is a recurring feature on the SPD Student Blog ... look for more wise words every Monday. Got an inspiring or motivating quote to share? Email us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

Announcing Our Student Competition Judges

Student Competition 12.03.09 posted by The Editors

There are many reasons to enter our Student Design Competition, and one of them is the chance to get your work in front of an acclaimed group of art directors and designers who serve as our judges. So even if you don't officially win, you've still won that exposure and the chance to impress which can be hard to get otherwise!

Just who are these judges, you ask? Find out after the jump.
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Vocab Lesson 12: Spread

Terminology 12.02.09 posted by The Editors

Know how there are some things in life that it seems like you've known about forever? Like Harry Potter or reality television ... was there ever a time where we DIDN'T know about them? Well, the term spread is kinda like that. It's such a foundation of editorial design, particularly magazine design, that once you know it, you can't imagine not knowing it. Well, for those of you who are just beginning to learn about magazines and editorial design, we're here to help you out.

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Smart Quote #12: Hard Work and Luck

Quoted 12.01.09 posted by The Editors

Knowing what we wanted from design and having an idea of where we wanted to take our careers was huge. If you don't know what you want it's easy to end up designing credit cards, or the phone book. Creating goals big or small is a good way to avoid settling.

Also we are good at presenting ourselves. If you can't sell yourself and your ideas you will end up working for someone who can sell them for you.

Then comes luck. Luck doesn't seem to strike if you are sitting around smoking weed and tripping off your screen saver. When you work hard people will notice and in turn you will get better opportunities and be surrounded by like-minded people.

--Andre Andreev and G. Dan Covert

The above paragraphs are in response to the question "Are Great Designers Born or Made?" ... a question proposed by students like you to the authors of Never Sleep, a book about the transition from college to the professional world. Check out more great questions on their site here. And hear more from them this Thursday in their live DesignCast online session.

Got questions of your own like those? Then email us! We'll then post your question and our answer here.

And speaking of working hard, why not get started on your Student Design Competition entry!

The Real World: Designer Edition

You Should Do This 11.27.09 posted by The Editors

Sorry, this isn't an audition call for the next installment of the MTV hit. But it's even better:

MyDesignShop.com (a sister site to HOW, Print and I.D.'s sites) is hosting a live DesignCast seminar on Thursday, December 3. Led by 2 sorta-recent grads who've already had great success (with clients including the aforementioned MTV), you'll get a first-hand account of what the school-to-real world transition is like and how you can best prepare for it. Titled Everything We Didn't Know When We Left School, it should be an enlightening hour. Register here.

Vocab Lesson: Turkey

Student Outreach 11.25.09 posted by The Editors

Okay, so, uh, turkey doesn't really mean anything different in publishing than it does in the rest of life ... it's just our way of saying we're taking a break today and tomorrow* in honor of Turkey Day. Although, if you work for a food magazine, you can bet turkey will be a very large part of your vocabulary (see above).

Happy Thanksgiving!

*Just because we're taking a break doesn't mean you have to! Get all the info on our Student Design Competition here.

Student Design Competition Categories Announced!

Student Competition 11.24.09 posted by The Editors

So it's Thanksgiving on Thursday, meaning 2 whole days or more without classes. What to do with all that free time? Why not get started on your SPD Student Design Competition entries! The official rules and entry form will be available for download in the next week or two, but for now, all the info you need to get started is below.
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Smart Quote #11: Not Art

Quoted 11.23.09 posted by The Editors

"For me, the mix of what we deal with as designers -- the mix of words, images and messages -- this is what I was meant to do. I like the fact that design is audience-related. I like the fact that it's not "art" and that you're typically collaborating with other people."

--Stefan Sagmeister

Stefan Sagmeister is a New York-based designer with his own firm, Sagmeister Inc. He's known for his provocative, sometimes controversial designs that are both humorous and sensational. Learn more about his work on his site ... he also has a section just for students, answering questions and addressing many of the frequently worried-about topics.

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The above quote is part of an interview with Sagmeister led by Debbie Millman in her book "How to Think Like A Great Graphic Designer" ... definitely recommended-reading for anyone in the creative field.

"Smart Quote" is a recurring feature on the SPD Student Blog ... look for more wise words every Monday. Got an inspiring or motivating quote to share? Email us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

Congrats to our Survey Raffle Winner!

Student Outreach 11.19.09 posted by The Editors

Lucky student Maria Papaleo, a 4th year graphic design major at Rochester Institute of Technology, is the winner of our SPD Student Blog Survey Raffle. As such, she is the proud recipient of a starter set of SPD Annuals (that's Pubs 40-44) and our Solid Gold book. Congrats Maria!

And thanks to ALL of you who took our survey. We were blown away by the wonderful responses. You guys have some terrific ideas and we're excited to start implementing them as we plan the future of the Student Blog.

But as always, you don't need a survey to tell us what you think: email us anytime at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com with any suggestions, complaints, questions, etc. and we'll do our best to address them.

Thanks again to everyone who responded!
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Vocab Lesson 11: Body Copy

Terminology 11.18.09 posted by The Editors

You may have to make a copy or two (or 300) with the copy machine in your internship, but in publishing terms, copy actually refers to the text. It is the writing. And body copy refers to a certain piece of writing. It is what truly separates editorial design from the rest ...

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Smart Quote #10: Technology

Quoted 11.16.09 posted by The Editors

"I'm not afraid of technology. Being a photographer, I always have to deal with technology, but I think technology makes people lazy and slow. ... The other day the electricity went off in the office, and all together they [the staff] got up. They stood up, with their hands in their pockets, and said, 'What do we do! We've got no electricity.' I was so mad. 'What do you mean you've got no electricity? You've got a brain!'"
--Oliviero Toscani, in conversation with Terry Jones in i-D magazine

Oliviero Toscani is a fashion photographer and creative director who was the mastermind behind Benetton's controversial advertising campaigns in the '80s and '90s. In the early 90s, he also cofounded the magazine Colors with graphic designer Tibor Kalman (check out many of their issues on the Colors Archive page).

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Thanks to the design blog UnBeige for this quote.

"Smart Quote" is a recurring feature on the SPD Student Blog ... look for more wise words every Monday. Got an inspiring or motivating quote to share? Email us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

Vocab Lesson 10: Trade/B2B magazine

Terminology 11.11.09 posted by The Editors

So as a design or advertising student, you've probably heard of Advertising Age. If you're into fashion, you also probably know WWD (Women's Wear Daily). And if you're into architecture, you're likely aware of Metropolis, maybe even Interior Design and arcCA magazines. But what about Institutional Investor, Dairy Today or IEEE Spectrum?

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Smart Quote #9: Details Count

Quoted 11.09.09 posted by The Editors

"You can do a good ad without good typography, but you can't do a great ad without good typography." --Herb Lubalin

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Raffle Deadline: Nov. 15

Student Outreach 11.06.09 posted by The Editors

If you haven't already done so, please take a moment to fill out our survey about our blog.

Remember the questions are about this STUDENT BLOG section specifically, not the main GRIDS blog or other sections of the SPD site. Your answers will be a huge help in our efforts to make this part of the SPD site cooler and better than ever.

And don't forget ... you can be entered in our drawing to win a starter set of SPD books just by submitting the survey (be sure you enter your name and email at the end of the survey). Just be sure to submit yours by midnight on Sunday, Nov. 15.

And for those who've already entered, thank you so much for your wonderful thought-out answers!

Vocab Lesson 9: Dummy Copy aka "Lorem Ipsum"

Terminology 11.04.09 posted by The Editors

No, it's not a journalism version of those how-to "for dummies" books ... dummy copy, or dummy text, is fake text that designers use as a placeholder for the real story. It is also referred to as filler copy, placeholder text, greeking and lorem ipsum (more details on that term later). Does your publication staff or professor call it something else? Tell us what in the comments section below.

But why wouldn't you use the real thing, you ask?

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Smart Quote #8: the Art of Magazine-Making

Quoted 11.02.09 posted by The Editors

"There are many different views on what constitutes the perfect sequence of subjects or the rhythm of a magazine... The classic form is quite like that of a grand opera. You whet the appetite with the overture... Next the opera may introduce us to shorter passages and fragments of melodies, building up to the climax of a great aria... .
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Vocab Lesson 8: Circulation

Terminology 10.28.09 posted by The Editors

Circulation is the average number of copies of each publication issue that are distributed, whether through subscription or newsstand purchases or through other no-cost methods.

These numbers can range widely: AARP The Magazine has a circ of 24 million readers; Martha Stewart Living has about 2 million; ReadyMade has about 300,000; while a quarterly literary journal like Tin House has a circ of only 12,000. But a large circulation does not automatically mean success, nor does a small circ mean failure. What matters most is that the magazines are satisfying their readers, no matter how many of them there are.

What does this have to do with design, you ask? Well...

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Smart Quote #7: Inspiration

Quoted 10.26.09 posted by The Editors

"You know, it sounds really corny to say it, but since most of my projects are book jackets, for the most part I'm inspired by whatever the book is, or by the manuscript itself. And while there aren't a lot of graphic design "rules" that I adhere to, certainly one of them is...somewhere within the problem lies the solution. I do truly believe that. I think the inspiration comes from the text, and then you sort of take it from there."
--Chip Kidd

Best known for his book cover designs, Chip Kidd is an American graphic designer and also an author. His novel The Cheese Monkeys is an extremely fun read for any art or graphic design student, as it's based on his own experiences in school at Penn State. And while his main area of focus is book covers, any designer -- but especially editorial designers -- can take his advice above to heart.

Check out some of his work here, here and here.

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The above quote comes from the book Inspirability: 40 Top Designers Speak Out About What Inspires by Pash. A great source of inspiration in itself!

"Smart Quote" is a recurring feature on the SPD Student Blog ... look for more wise words every Monday. Got an inspiring or motivating quote to share? Email us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.
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Vocab Lesson 7: the Flatplan

Terminology 10.21.09 posted by The Editors

When you work on a design project with more than a few pages, you quickly realize you need a plan to figure out what content should go on each page. If you've ever sketched out a few boxes to help you do that, then congratulations! You've created a flatplan!

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Smart Quote #6

Quoted 10.19.09 posted by The Editors

Design is the method of putting form and content together.

Design, just as art, has multiple definitions; there is no single definition.

Design can be art. Design can be aesthetics.

Design is so simple, that's why it is so complicated.

--Paul Rand

You can't get through design school--or life, for that matter--without encountering Paul Rand and his work. Although he is known largely for his corporate logo designs (such as IBM, Westinghouse and ABC), he got his start in page design, first for Apparel Arts magazine and then Esquire at the ripe "old" age of 23, followed by Direction magazine. Learn more about him and see his work here.

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Thanks to Donna Reiss, Art Director of Garden Design and American Photo magazines, for sharing this inspiring quote with us. If you find inspiration or motivation in a particular quote, we'd love to hear it and share it. Email us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

"Smart Quote" is a recurring feature on the SPD Student Blog ... look for more wise words every Monday.

Bueller? Bueller?

Student Outreach 10.16.09 posted by The Editors

As we plan and create more and more content for our student blog here, we're starting to wonder: is anyone actually reading this stuff? And what DO you guys want, anyway? So instead of us guessing, how 'bout you tell us.

Fill out our survey here (it's short and mostly multiple choice!) by November 15th and you can be entered in a raffle to win a "starter set" of SPD books ... that's 5 of our most recent SPD annuals (Pubs 40-44) and a copy of our retrospective book "Solid Gold," a whopping $330 value! You'll be asked for your name and email at the end of the survey in order to be entered. We'll announce the winner's name here a few weeks after the November 15th deadline. (If YOU are the lucky winner, we'll contact you by email to get your mailing information.)

Vocab Lesson 6: TK

Terminology 10.14.09 posted by The Editors

When you start dealing with copy for a magazine or other publication, you'll quickly encounter the use of TK ...

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A Paid Internship! For Recent Grads Too!

Internships 10.13.09 posted by The Editors

Looking over all those unpaid for-credit-only internship listings can get depressing if you're a recent grad looking for work. Well, hopefully you frequently check our Job Board here, cause there's one today for a CondÃ© Nast magazine that is full-time, paid AND doesn't require school credit!

Smart Quote #5

Quoted 10.12.09 posted by The Editors

A good photo is one that communicates a fact, touches the heart and leaves the viewer a changed person for having seen it. It is, in a word, effective. --Irving Penn, legendary photographer

As you've probably heard, American photographer Irving Penn died this past Wednesday. Known for his fashion and portraiture photography, he helped shape the path of fashion magazines and photography in general.

Images above from artnet.com See photo editor Greg Pond's reflection of Mr. Penn on our GRIDS blog, here.

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"Smart Quote" is a recurring feature on the SPD Student Blog ... look for more wise words every Monday. Got an inspiring or motivating quote to share? Email us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

Vocab Lesson 5: the Gutter

Terminology 10.07.09 posted by The Editors

It has many meanings, but in publishing, the gutter refers to the space where 2 facing pages meet. Much like in bowling, you don't want things to fall into it...

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Smart Quote #4: Engage

Quoted 10.05.09 posted by The Editors

"Without an active engagement with the material, I'd think the job [of editorial designer] would be minimally rewarding. You need a willingness to read the material, to discuss it thoughtfully and passionately, and to develop visual components that expand the read while still working within the publication's architecture." --Martin Venezky, designer of Speak magazine

That quote comes from Yolanda Zappaterra's book Art Direction and Editorial Design (Abrams Studio) (a great resource, by the way). Wanna know more about this Martin guy and Speak magazine? Click here and here.

"Smart Quote" is a recurring feature on the SPD Student Blog ... look for more wise words every Monday. Got an inspiring or motivating quote to share? Email us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

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You Ask, We Answer

Answers 10.02.09 posted by The Editors

This is the first post in our new Q&A series. Whether it's about magazines, or the job hunt, or maybe just trying to figure out how to do something in InDesign, send us your question and we'll get our SPD "experts" to give you their answers. Email us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

The Fall Pub(lications) Crawl was a wonderful experience and I certainly feel like I learned a lot and gained valuable information. I would love to go on the Pub Crawl in the spring. When will the locations be decided, and can I be notified when the information is posted? Once again thank you; it was tons of fun.
Get the answer after the jump...
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Vocab Lesson 4: Rules

Terminology 09.30.09 posted by The Editors

No, we're not talking about what you were trying to escape as a kid or the seemingly-arbitrary rules your professors make you follow ... we're talking about lines. Yes, lines are more than just lines. Learn more after the jump.

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Smart Quote #3: Fear is Good

Quoted 09.28.09 posted by The Editors

It's important to feel confident so that you are willing to take risks, but don't get too comfortable even though you are longing to be. Fear is often a good catalyst.
--Debra Bishop, creative director of More

That quote comes in response to the question: "What is the key to producing constant, memorable work over a number of years?" We put that question to her and many others in our book Solid Gold: 40 Years of Award-WInning Magazine Design which you can buy directly from us or other sources of course.

"Smart Quote" is a recurring feature on the SPD Student Blog ... look for more wise words every Monday. Got an inspiring or motivating quote to share? Email us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

Pub(lications) Crawled.

Pub(lications) Crawl 09.25.09 posted by The Editors

A lucky bunch got to see first-hand how art directors and designers work in our Pub(lications) Crawl event yesterday. Didn't get to go? Never fear, we're doing it again in the spring. In fact, it'll be a whole new group of publications, so even if you DID go yesterday, you can do it again.

Some pix from our SpotCo/Complex tour after the jump...
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Vocab Lesson 3: F.O.B., B.O.B. and the WELL

Terminology 09.23.09 posted by The Editors

If you spend enough time around magazine staffers (and if you're attending tomorrow's Pub Crawl event), you're likely to hear the terms F.O.B. and B.O.B. and the well. No, these aren't variations on a common curse phrase... these are real terms that you need to know. Instead of pretending you're in on the game, learn what they really mean after the jump...… MORE

Pub Crawl Registration Closed

Pub(lications) Crawl 09.22.09 posted by The Editors

Registration for Thursday's Pub(lications) Crawl has officially closed as of midnight. If you RSVPed in time, look for an email from us soon with all the location details and last-minute specifics. If you did not RSVP in time, don't worry ... we hold Pub Crawls every fall and spring.

Pub Crawl Update: TOUR A IS FULL

Pub(lications) Crawl 09.21.09 posted by The Editors

Tour A of our Pub Crawl event this Thursday is officially full, but we have plenty of space in Tour B (Inc. and W magazines) and Tour C (SELF and ESPN magazines). Remember, the RSVP deadline is midnight TONIGHT! Sign up now ... all the details here.

Smart Quote #2: Internships Work

Quoted 09.21.09 posted by The Editors

"If you want to be involved in the magazine industry in any capacity, whether it be photo research, fashion or editorial, start interning while in college! Take it seriously. An internship isn't a full-time job, but it is a very good way of setting a foundation. If you are a hard worker and approach your internship in a professional manner, people will see that and be more willing to hire you rather than sift through a stack of rÃ©sumÃ©s."

--Kathryn Hurni, Photo Research Editor, W magazine, as quoted in a December 2008 PDN.edu interview

That's what Kathryn Hurni of W magazine says when asked for advice for aspiring photo editors in this interview with her and Mardi Miski, photo assistant at Teen Vogue. Don't forget to sign up by midnight tonight for Thurdsay's Pub Crawl if you want to hear more from Kathryn and the rest of the W magazine staff about how the magazine comes together and what you can do to get a job like theirs.

"Smart Quote" is a recurring feature on the SPD Student Blog... look for more wise words every Monday. Got an inspiring or motivating quote to share? Email us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

Pub Crawl Profile: Tour C

Pub(lications) Crawl 09.19.09 posted by The Editors

THIS Thursday, September 24th is our fall Pub(lications) Crawl event, giving you insider access to some of the top magazines and design firms in the city. Spots are still available in each of the 3 tour groups, but the registration deadline is midnight Monday, so RSVP now! Click here for all the details.

Tour C of our Pub Crawl features SELF and ESPN magazines. Learn more about them after the jump...
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Pub Crawl Profile: Tour B

Pub(lications) Crawl 09.17.09 posted by The Editors

Next Thursday, September 24th is our fall Pub(lications) Crawl event, giving you insider access to some of the top magazines and design firms in the city. Spots are still available in each of the 3 tour groups, but space is filling up fast, so RSVP now! Click here for all the details.

Tour B of our Pub Crawl features Inc. and W magazines. Learn more about them after the jump...

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Vocab Lesson 2: SPINE

Terminology 09.16.09 posted by The Editors

Over on our "Grids" blog on the homepage of www.SPD.org, Josh Klenert wrote a post about GQ magazine's recent attention to detail. The photo he posted is shown here (but feel free to check out his post here). So, aside from Michael Jackson, what is that a picture of? Think you know? Find out for sure after the jump.
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Pub Crawl Profile: Tour A

Pub(lications) Crawl 09.15.09 posted by The Editors

Thursday, September 24th is our fall Pub(lications) Crawl event, giving you insider access to some of the top magazines and design firms in the city. Spots are still available in each of the 3 tour groups, but space is filling up fast, so RSVP now! Click here for all the details.

Tour A of our Pub Crawl features the design firm SpotCo and the magazine Complex. Learn more about them after the jump...
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Smart Quote #1: Join the Community

Quoted 09.14.09 posted by The Editors

Learn from colleagues: Belong to professional associations; enter contests; read FOLIO: and attend conventions. --Ruth Thaler-Carter, as quoted in the fall 2008 issue of FPO Magazine

Ruth Thaler-Carter may be a writer and not a designer, but that's good advice for any field. Here's our two cents to make it a little more designer-friendly...

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Fall Pub(lications) Crawl: Thursday, Sept. 24th

Pub(lications) Crawl 09.10.09 posted by The Editors

Our Pub(lications) Crawl is a day-long event where you'll get to tour the offices of 2 awesome magazines and/or design firms. We've got Complex, Inc., W, Self and ESPN magazines as well as the design firm SpotCo all ready to give you behind-the-scenes access. Come armed with your curiosity and questions, but leave the portfolios at home, please. Space is very limited, so RSVP to reserve your spot now. All the details (and registration) after the jump...

****UPDATE: Registration is officially closed.****
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Vocab Lesson 1: SMART QUOTES

Terminology 09.09.09 posted by The Editors

As our first Vocab Lesson of the fall semester, we're going to make sure you know the meaning of "smart quotes." They are one of those things that can scream "amateur!" no matter how good a designer you are. Plus it's a term we use a lot here (you'll see soon enough). And in order for you to truly appreciate how witty we are, you gotta know what it means. So...

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It's That Time of Year Again

Student Outreach 09.04.09 posted by The Editors

All those nice new binders and folders and pretty Prismacolor sets make us excited for the new school year, but if you're like us, that excitement wears off pretty fast as the assignments pile up. Well, we're here to help that enthusiasm last as long as it can.

We've got more of our usual great events (if we do say so ourselves) planned for the fall -- like our Pub(lications) Crawl on Sept. 24 -- and we've even got some new things cooking, so be sure to keep checking in with us. In fact, we're adding more posts more regularly this fall, so there's even more reason to come back and visit.

In the meantime, if you're looking for inspiration for some of those first projects, make sure you check out our design annuals ... that's the cover of #40 up there. You can find this one and many others at Barnes & Noble as well as other bookstores with decent design selections. Hopefully you can even find them in your school library. But if you want one of your own, we're selling some recent ones at pretty awesome discounts (some are only $15!), click here to find out more.

Save-the-Date: 9/24/09 Office Tours

Pub(lications) Crawl 08.31.09 posted by The Editors

As we get ready to ring in a new school year, plans are already underway for our Fall Pub(lications) Crawl event ... that's what we call "office and studio tours" for all you freshmen out there.

So mark your calendars! Thursday, September 24. (usually 9:30am - 4pm)

We'll be visiting the offices of Complex, ESPN the Magazine and Time magazines, as well as the design studio SpotCo, plus a whole bunch more (to be announced soon).

We'll post more info and registration instructions in the next week or two. Spots on each tour are limited and registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis, so be sure to stay tuned for all the gory details.

For all you newbies, check out the info from this past spring's tour to get an idea of what to expect.

Internships: Get 'Em While They're Hot!

Internships 07.29.09 posted by The Editors

So, uhhh, have you guys seen the deluge of cool internships recently posted on our job board? There's even one at Vanity Fair that does NOT require that you get school credit! Better jump on them asap!

How to Deal with that Internship-for-Credit-Only Thing

Internships 07.09.09 posted by The Editors

If you're a recent grad, you may notice there's a lot more internship opportunities than jobs out there right now, but that most of those internships require that you get school credit for it. Even if you're still in school, those extra credits can cost extra money that few of us have these days. So what's an aspiring magazine designer or photo editor to do?

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More Job Hunt Advice

Words of Wisdom 06.26.09 posted by The Editors

That's some of the advice from a top creative director in this post about what she's looking for when she hires, over on Coroflot's Creative Seeds blog. Obviously that type of work doesn't really pay all the bills, so if you're still in school, it's probably smart to make a conscious effort to save up some money to allow you to take those kinds of jobs once you do graduate.

And if you don't know about Coroflot already, check it out! It's for all types of designers, not just editorial, but it's definitely useful ... there's a job board, you can post your portfolio, and their blog Creative Seeds has lots more great job-hunt advice. Here's a few of our favorites:
Michael DiTullo's Advice to Design Students
Five Successful Practices for New Grads
Six Reasons Why I Didn't Look at Your Portfolio
Is Networking Creepy?

Tips for the Hunt

Words of Wisdom 06.05.09 posted by The Editors

Sorry that all you upcoming and recent grads are coming into the real world at such a very depressing time in the magazine industry and in the economy. But here's some help:

In addition to the informative essays and FAQs on the site we previously mentioned, check out TwentyFourSeven. It's an e-book you can download for free written by Adam Gravely expressly for graduating designers. He's compiled lots of interviews with top designers about their job and career advice, and combines it with essays on the real-world design experience. Check it out.

And good luck.

So You Think You Can Start A Magazine?

Words of Wisdom 05.29.09 posted by The Editors

We assume that as readers of our SPD blog, the idea of starting your own magazine has crossed your mind at some point. Maybe it's just a random fleeting thought from time to time, or maybe you're more hard-core and already have your first issue fully-designed. Either way, you'll probably find the following link very interesting:

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Up Close with our First Honorable Mention

Student Competition 05.22.09 posted by The Editors

Eric Chang is a sophomore at the City College of New York. His entry was named First Honorable Mention in this year's Student Design Competition, earning him an internship at Esquire magazine!

Click "more" below for his complete entry and his thoughts on how he came up with his winning idea.

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Up Close with our Second Honorable Mention

Student Competition 05.20.09 posted by The Editors

Katie Kindinger is a sophomore at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. Her entry was named Second Honorable Mention in this year's Student Design Competition, earning her an internship at Glamour magazine!

Click "more" below for her complete entry and her thoughts on how she came up with her winning idea.
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Up Close with our Third Honorable Mention

Student Competition 05.19.09 posted by The Editors

That 3-D look isn't just for effect ... it actually works with a pair of 3-D glasses: just one of the many reasons that Anthony Cruz, a junior at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, is the winner of our Third Honorable Mention. (You may recognize his name, as he was the Second-Place winner in last year's competition.)

Click "more" below to see his complete entry and to read his thoughts and tips on how he came up with his winning ideas. … MORE

More Winners from Our Student Design Competition

Student Competition 05.14.09 posted by The Editors

To keep the spirit of winning going here on SPD.org (check out the winners of our professional competition here, and don't forget our Student Photo Competition winners and top 3 Student Design Competition winners), we've got 3 more to add: our Student Design Competition Honorable Mentions! Check out their work after the jump.

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Award-Winning Student Photos

Student Photo Competition 05.07.09 posted by The Editors

Click here to see the winning photos in our first-ever Student Photo Competition over on the main Grids blog. Wanna know more about the competition? Click here for this past year's rules and guidelines.

Pub Crawl Registration Now Closed

Pub(lications) Crawl 04.30.09 posted by The Editors

We're no longer accepting reservations for tomorrow's Pub(lications) Crawl event.

To those of you who are coming, you should have received the email with location info and other details. If you haven't, email us at spdrsvp@gmail.com.

Sign Up for Pub Crawl by Noon TODAY!

Pub(lications) Crawl 04.30.09 posted by The Editors

It's your LAST CHANCE to take part in tomorrow's Pub(lications) Crawl event. We've got some awesome magazines offering up sneak peeks into the way they work, so sign up now! Registration closes at noon.

And for those of you who aren't student members, you can pre-purchase your ticket up until noon as well. Otherwise your fee will be required at the door tomorrow.

Click here for all the details.

Pub Crawl RSVP Deadline Extended!

Pub(lications) Crawl 04.28.09 posted by The Editors

We're extending the RSVP deadline for Friday's Pub(lications) Crawl event ... now you have until noon on Thursday (April 30th) to sign up.

To do so, follow the instructions in the post here.

Some tours are close to full, so send in your RSVP now!

Pub Crawl Profile: TOUR D :: Redbook and TV Guide

Pub(lications) Crawl 04.28.09 posted by The Editors

THIS Friday is our Pub(lications) Crawl event. Spots are still available in each tour group, but space is filling up fast, so RSVP NOW! Click here for all the details.

Tour D in our Pub Crawl starts at Redbook magazine and follows up with TV Guide.

… MORE

Pub Crawl Profile: TOUR C :: Fortune and Rolling Stone

Pub(lications) Crawl 04.24.09 posted by The Editors

In preparation for Friday's Pub(lications) Crawl event, we're profiling each participating magazine/organization. Spots are still available in each tour group, but space is filling up fast, so rsvp now. Click here for all the details.

Tour C in our Pub Crawl starts at Fortune magazine and follows up with Rolling Stone.

… MORE

Pub Crawl Profile: TOUR B :: BusinessWeek and Men's Health

Pub(lications) Crawl 04.24.09 posted by The Editors

In preparation for Friday's Pub(lications) Crawl event, we're profiling each participating magazine/organization. Spots are still available in each tour group, but space is filling up fast, so rsvp now. Click here for all the details.

Tour B in our Pub Crawl starts at BusinessWeek magazine and follows up with Men's Health.

… MORE

Pub Crawl Profile: TOUR A :: Reyman Studio and Time Out New York

Pub(lications) Crawl 04.24.09 posted by The Editors

In preparation for Friday's Pub(lications) Crawl event, we're profiling each participating magazine/organization. Spots are still available in each tour group, but space is filling up fast, so rsvp now. Click here for all the details.

Tour A in our Pub Crawl starts at Reyman Studio and follows up with Time Out New York.
… MORE

Spring Pub(lications) Crawl: Friday, May 1

Pub(lications) Crawl 04.16.09 posted by The Editors

The show "Running in Heels" may give you a good glimpse of what the real world of magazines is actually like, but nothing compares to being there yourself. So come join us for a day of office tours at some of the top mags and design firms in the industry!

We've got Rolling Stone, Men's Health, TV Guide, Fortune, Redbook, Time Out New York, BusinessWeek and Reyman Studio ... need we say more? Space is very limited so RSVP to reserve your spot now. All the details after the jump. … MORE

Up Close with Our Second/Third-Place Winner

Student Competition 04.15.09 posted by The Editors

Raul Aguila, a senior at the School of Visual Arts, is our second-place AND third-place winner in this year's Student Design Competition. Click "more" below for his complete entries and his thoughts on how he came up with his winning ideas.
See more about our first-place winner here.
We'll be posting more of our top entries in the next few weeks, so keep an eye on us!
… MORE

Up Close With Our First-Place Winner

Student Competition 04.13.09 posted by The Editors

Melanie Teppich, a junior at the School of Visual Arts, is our first-place winner in this year's Student Design Competition. Wanna see her complete entry and hear more about how she came up with her top-notch design? Then click through. We'll be posting the same for our second and third-place winner in the next few days, and more after that, so keep coming back!
… MORE

Announcing the Student Design Competition Winners!

Student Competition 04.01.09 posted by The Editors

Without further ado... our winning entries, after the jump.
… MORE

Next Pub(lications) Crawl: May 1

Student Events 03.31.09 posted by The Editors

Want a sneak peak into the real world of magazine design? Then make sure you come to our Pub(lications) Crawl event on Friday, May 1. We're still working on the details, so keep checking back here to find out which magazines/companies will be offering up tours of their offices, as well as RSVP info. But for now, mark those calendars!

FYI: More Spring Events

Student Outreach 03.26.09 posted by The Editors

Thanks again to everyone who participated in our SPD U event! Now we've got a few other events in the works for the next few months.

First up is another full day of office tours: our semi-annual Pub(lications) Crawl event will be happening at the end of April/beginning of May. We're still finalizing the date, so keep checking back here for that info.

After that, we'll have another evening of Portfolio Reviews in early June. So whether you want feedback on your polished book or whether you've just got a stack of printouts and tearsheets, you should plan on coming for some great individualized advice.

And of course in the meantime, keep an eye on our blog here for the announcement of the winners in our Student Design Competition.

Have any questions, suggestions or comments about our events, membership or anything else? Email us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

Are You A Fan?

Student Events 03.18.09 posted by The Editors

Did you attend our SPD U March (Design) Madness event on Monday? Then fill out our survey here. And thanks for coming!

If you were there and gave us your email address for our mailing list, you should have received an email from us about the survey. If you haven't gotten it, please email us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com so we can make sure we have the right address.

And the Crowd Goes Wild!

Student Events 03.17.09 posted by The Editors

A HUGE thanks to all our "all-star" speakers and staffers at yesterday's SPD U March (Design) Madness event! It was a great success, thanks to everyone who attended.

For those of you who couldn't join us, we're hoping to post some video of it here soon, so keep an eye out for that.

And now, let's do the wave and give a thunderous round of applause to our speakers Courtney Brown (Real Simple Creative Studio), Darren Cox (Spotco), Michele Ervin (Popular Mechanics), Samantha Grass (Food Network Magazine), Mike Ley (Field & Stream), Shane Luitjens (INK Publishing), Nathalie Kirsheh (W), Andy Omel (CondÃ© Nast Traveler), Paul Shrynemakers (Rodale), and Stephen Sullivan (freelance photographer), tour-givers David Schlow and the People staff, Kristin Fitzpatrick and the Marie Claire staff, and Nancy Campbell and the Symphony Publishing staff. And last but not least, super-big thanks to our coordinators and support staff Leah Bailey, Kimberly Sall, Emily Smith and Nancy Stamatopoulos.

March (Design) Madness Registration is CLOSED

Student Outreach 03.13.09 posted by The Editors

No more RSVPs are being accepted for our SPD U March (Design) Madness events, including the office tours. We will have more office tours available later in April as part of our Pub(lications) Crawl event, so keep an eye on our blog for more details!

March (Design) Madness RSVPs due by 5pm!

Student Events 03.13.09 posted by The Editors

College basketball may have Selection Sunday, but we have Final-Chance Friday!
Today's the last day to sign up for our SPD U March (Design) Madness events. We must receive your RSVP by 5pm for both the afternoon event and the office tours. Check out the details about the afternoon event here. As for the office tours (click here), the Marie Claire tour is full, but there are still a few spots on the People tour and the Symphony tour. Sign up now before the game's over!

More March (Design) Madness: Office Tours

Student Events 03.10.09 posted by The Editors

In addition to our game-changing afternoon of events next Monday, March 16 (click here for all those details), we also are able to offer you a few office tours! All the details after the jump...

… MORE

It's March (Design) Madness!

Student Events 03.04.09 posted by The Editors

Join us March 16 for an afternoon of bracket-busting events in publication design and art direction! We've got a top-notch lineup of topics and presenters, all there to give YOU the edge in your design work and job-searching.

All the details after the jump...
… MORE

Mark Your Calendars: Mar. 16

Student Events 03.03.09 posted by The Editors

So the deadline for our Student Design Competition has passed, and we're busy unpacking and organizing your entries for our panel of judges. Keep an eye on the blog as we release details about the winners in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, we're also gearing up for our next event, a series of presentations from some of the coolest designers out there: Monday, March 16 from 12:30-5pm in the afternoon. We're still tweaking the details, but we'll have a career advice panel, a design-tips-and-tricks presentation and speakers on photo shoots and inspiration. So keep checking back to find out how to attend.

Today. 5pm.

Student Competition 03.02.09 posted by The Editors

Yes, even with the snowstorm here in NYC, your Student Design Competition entry(ies) should be in our office today by 5pm. At this point obviously the U.S. Postal Service and FedEx and UPS and all those lovely services will not be of help. But you can use your own 2 snowbooted-feet (or a messenger service) to deliver them directly to us. We are located at 27 Union Square West, Suite 207, right beside the Coffee Shop restaurant.

Not in the area and just learning about our competition? At this point you'll have to wait for next year, but don't forget our upcoming Student PHOTO Competition ... all the details for that are here.

It's the Final Countdown!

Student Competition 02.27.09 posted by The Editors

For those of you who have somehow missed it:

The Student Design Competition
Deadline is MONDAY.

As in, THIS COMING MONDAY. As in 3 measly days from now. As in March 2, 5pm. If your stuff isn't in our office by 5 pm this coming Monday, March 2 (did we mention the deadline is Monday?), then your entry will not be part of this year's competition. No excuses, no extensions. Welcome to the real world of deadlines!

Have other questions? Most of them can be probably answered here. And if not, email us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

Need inspiration? Check out the recent winners in the link above. Or check out last year's winners of our professional competition here. Or check out the Design Archives on the AIGA site, specifically the Editorial Design category.

Good luck!

And P.S. We have a great event coming up on March 16 from 12:30 to 5pm here in NYC, so mark your calendars and check back next week for all the details!

Update: Fashion Event Closed

Student Events 02.25.09 posted by The Editors

Our Fashion Talk speaker panel event tomorrow night is now fully booked to capacity and no more RSVPs are being accepted.

Didn't RSVP in time? Well, then use that time instead to work on your Student Competition entry! The deadline is Monday, as in 5 days from now.

Calling All Photo Students!

Student Photo Competition 02.25.09 posted by The Editors

As you've probably seen, SPD is in the thick of things this time of year with PUB 44, our annual Publication Design Competition, and our Student Design Competition (deadline Monday, March 2nd!).

With both of these competition, the winning entries are published in the SPD's hardcover Publication Design Annual -- and this year, for the first time, photography students have the opportunity to be part of this world-class competition, and to have an incredible number of potential future employers see their work in the SPD Annual. Not to mention, a ton of other great prizes, so read on...

… MORE

Only 7 days left!

Student Competition 02.23.09 posted by The Editors

Our Student Competition deadline is NEXT MONDAY, March 2. All entries must be at our SPD office by 5pm, so whether you mail it, FedEx it or bring it yourself, make sure it arrives on time as all late entries will be disqualified. Click here for all the competition details.

Fashion Magazine Speaker Panel Next Thursday 2/26

Student Events 02.19.09 posted by The Editors

EVENT FULLY BOOKED, NO MORE RSVPs BEING ACCEPTED
Is the Devil Wears Prada your favorite book or movie? Did you wish you could be on "Stylista"? Do you dream of working at a fashion magazine? Then this panel is for you! Come hear staffers from Glamour, Harper's Bazaar, Nylon and Vogue and a Ford fashion model discuss the fantasies and realities of designing and art directing in the fashion mag world.

Details after the jump...
… MORE

Tick Tock

Student Outreach 02.18.09 posted by The Editors

A friendly reminder that Monday, March 2, at 5pm is the ultimate deadline for our Student Competition. What? You haven't even started? No worries, some of our past winners didn't create their entries till the weekend before! Not that we suggest that, of course.

Meanwhile, we have some speaker sessions in the works for the afternoon of Monday, March 16 in midtown, so put a hold on that date and look for more details to come very soon. And a fashion-magazine-themed speaker panel is also being planned. We'll post the details when we've got 'em.

All the Info You Need (And Then Some)

Student Competition 01.22.09 posted by The Editors

In case you haven't noticed, there's only about 5 weeks left until our Student Competition deadline of March 2. In case you're in need of some info and inspiration, here's a bunch of links to help you out (and a list of our judges):
… MORE

Help Us Help You

Student Outreach 01.15.09 posted by The Editors

So as we gear up for a new year of events and opportunities for you, we'd love to know what YOU think! Click here and fill out our survey - all answers are anonymous and greatly appreciated.

We've got a few events in the works for the spring ... a Fashion Magazines Speaker Panel is being planned for February, and several more speaker sessions in mid-March. So keep an eye on our blog here for more details on that.

And of course, don't forget our Student Design Competition! Entries are due March 2. See the post below for some frequently asked questions.

Student Competition FAQ

Student Competition 12.30.08 posted by The Editors

Okay, so the holidays are almost over and other than celebrating (and recouping from) New Year's Eve, you've got some extra time on your hands before the spring semester starts. Why not get 2009 off to a productive start and work on your SPD Student Design Competition entry!

In case you haven't heard, winners get internships at top magazines in NYC, cash prizes and the Adobe Creative Suite software, not to mention inclusion in the SPD 44 Annual with all the professional winners (click here for more on this past year's Annual).

So, to get you motivated, here's a list of some Frequently Asked Questions about the competition. If you've got others, post them here or email us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com. And don't forget, the deadline is Monday, March 2. Click on for answers to your questions...

… MORE

Skills? Check. Portfolio? Check. Internship or Job? Well...

Internships 12.07.08 posted by The Editors

You've come to the right place. Thanks to our Pub Crawl earlier this fall, our recent speaker events and last week's Portfolio Workshop, you're all set to start the job/internship-hunt ... and lucky for you, we're here to help with that too! So check out our Job Board ... spring internships are beginning to come in, so keep checking back as more are posted.

And don't forget, the winners of our Student Design Competition get top-notch internships at some of your favorite magazines ... so get those entries ready!Â

Registration Closed for Portfolio Workshop

Portfolio Reviews 12.02.08 posted by The Editors

Thanks to everyone who's coming ... see you soon!

Portfolio Workshop RSVP Deadline: 4pm

Portfolio Reviews 12.02.08 posted by The Editors

At 4pm today we're closing registration for tonight's Portfolio Workshop, so RSVP NOW! And remember, if you're a Student Member, the event is FREE. And it's going to be awesome. Details here.

Portfolio Workshop: Spots Still Available!

Student Events 12.01.08 posted by The Editors

Don't forget our Portfolio Workshop is tomorrow night (Tuesday, Dec. 2)! We still have spots open, so RSVP now. Remember you can't get in without an RSVP.

You'll get invaluable one-on-one critiques and advice on how to put the whole thing together, so if you're in the hunt for a magazine art dept job, you should definitely be here ... better to hear this stuff now than in an interview!

Details here.

Competition Entry Forms

Student Competition 11.19.08 posted by The Editors

The official Rules and Entry Form for our 2009 Student Design Competition are "hot" off the presses (check out the full picture and you'll see what we mean) and here in downloadable PDF form. If you have any questions, send 'em to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

Students, Please Take Out Your Books and...

Portfolio Reviews 11.13.08 posted by The Editors

...bring 'em to our Portfolio Workshop!

Want to break into magazine design but don't have any publication work in your book? Or maybe you don't even have a book and it's just a pile of printouts. Whatever your portfolio's state, you should come to the first-ever SPD PORTFOLIO WORKSHOP.

… MORE

Portfolio Workshop: Dec. 2

Student Events 11.12.08 posted by The Editors

Mark your calendars: The date is set for our Portfolio Workshop ...

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2
6 - 8:30
Midtown, NYC (exact location tba)

More info to come very soon!

We Did It

Student Outreach 10.31.08 posted by The Editors

Thanks to everyone who came to our Making Magazines: This Is How We Do It event last night! And a HUGE thanks to our wonderful panelists. We're hoping to post video from the event and/or a transcript in the coming weeks, so keep an eye open for that. And we'll be recapping some of last night's revelatory thoughts in the days to come. If you came, we'd love to know what you thought ... fill out our survey here.

In the meantime, plans are in the works for our first-ever Portfolio Workshop, happening in November (exact date to be announced soon!). Not only will you have a chance for portfolio reviews, but we'll be giving overall tips and suggestions and helping you figure out the next step for your book.

And don't forget the Student Design Competition! Click here for the rules and keep coming back for some answered questions and tips.

Missed the RSVP deadline but still want to come?

Student Events 10.30.08 posted by The Editors

We closed our RSVP list at 3, but if you missed that deadline and still want to come to tonight's Making Magazines event, please do! Those on the RSVP list have guaranteed seats, but after that, it's first-come, first-serve. Doors open at 6:30.

The address is:
SVA Amphitheatre
209 East 23rd St. (between 2nd and 3rd Avenues)
3rd floor
NYC

Hope to see you there!

RSVP by 3pm for Tonight!

Student Events 10.30.08 posted by The Editors

If you want to come to tonight's Making Magazines speaker event, you'll need to RSVP to us by 3pm today. Click here for the details.

Making Magazines Event THIS THURSDAY!

Student Events 10.28.08 posted by The Editors

Spots are filling up, so RSVP now for our Making Magazines: This Is How We Do It speaker panel event. Click here for all the juicy details.

Speaker Panel Profile: Steve Motzenbecker, web designer

Student Events 10.25.08 posted by The Editors

THIS COMING THURSDAY, Oct. 30th, at 7pm at our Making Magazines event, we'll have an awesome group of magazine insiders discussing how magazines are made ... to come hear what they have to say, you must RSVP. Space is limited! Click here for more info.

Today, we're highlighting the last of our 6 panelists, Steve Motzenbecker, who currently holds the title of Associate Art Director at NYMag.com, the website of New York magazine. ...

… MORE

Speaker Panel Profile: John Korpics, creative director

Student Events 10.24.08 posted by The Editors

NEXT Thursday, Oct. 30th, at 7pm at our Making Magazines event, we'll have an awesome group of magazine insiders discussing how magazines are created ... To come hear what they have to say, you must RSVP. Click here for more info.

Today, we're featuring the moderator of our event, creative director John Korpics. Currently heading up his own design studio, John Korpics Design, he's been a publication designer and art director for over 20 years... … MORE

Speaker Panel Profile: Scott Omelianuk, editor

Student Events 10.23.08 posted by The Editors

On Thursday, Oct. 30th, at 7pm at our Making Magazines event, we'll have an awesome group of magazine insiders discussing how magazines are created and where you could fit in. To come hear what they have to say, you must RSVP. Click here for more info.

In preparation for the event, we're highlighting each of the 6 panelists (all the easier for you to do a little research beforehand and come armed with questions for them, hint hint). Today, we're featuring editor Scott Omelianuk. Currently the editor-in-chief of This Old House magazine and the senior member of the management team of This Old House Ventures, Scott is a veteran media executive with experience in television, magazines, books, and web publishing...

… MORE

Speaker Panel Profile: Stravinski Pierre, designer

Student Events 10.22.08 posted by The Editors

On Thursday, Oct. 30th, at 7pm at our Making Magazines event, we'll have an awesome group of magazine insiders discussing how magazines are created and where you could fit in. To come hear what they have to say, you must RSVP. Click here for more info.

In preparation for the event, we're highlighting each of the 6 panelists (all the easier for you to do a little research beforehand and come armed with questions for them, hint hint). Today, we're featuring designer Stravinski Pierre who's currently serving as Associate Art Director at Popular Mechanics magazine...

… MORE

Speaker Panel Profile: Marian Isel BarragÃ¡n, photo editor

Student Events 10.21.08 posted by The Editors

On Thursday, Oct. 30th, at 7pm at our Making Magazines event, we'll have an awesome group of magazine insiders discussing how magazines are created and where you could fit in. To come hear what they have to say, you must RSVP. Click here for more info.

In preparation for the event, we're highlighting each of the 6 panelists (all the easier for you to do a little research beforehand and come armed with questions for them, hint hint). Today, we're featuring Marian Isel BarragÃ¡n who currently serves as Photo Editor at Complex magazine...

… MORE

Speaker Panel Profile: Edel Rodriguez, Illustrator

Student Events 10.20.08 posted by The Editors

On Thursday, Oct. 30th, at 7pm at our Making Magazines event, we'll have an awesome group of magazine insiders discussing how magazines are created and where you could fit in. To come hear what they have to say, you must RSVP. Click here for more info.

In preparation for the event, we're highlighting each of the 6 panelists (all the easier for you to do a little research beforehand and come armed with questions for them, hint hint). Today, we're featuring illustrator Edel Rodriguez who's done work for The New Yorker, TIME, Newsweek and The New York Times amongst others ...

… MORE

Don't Forget...

Student Competition 10.15.08 posted by The Editors

The deadline for our Student Design Competition is still months away (March 2, 2009), but time flies, so it can't hurt to get started on your entries now! Click here for this year's rules. And email us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com if you have any questions ... we'll be posting soon with a list of frequently-asked-questions and tips, so let us know what you'd like more clarification on.

And of course, if you're in the NYC area, don't forget our Making Magazines speaker event on Thursday, Oct. 30th. We have an awesome group of panelists who will be speaking, you don't want to miss it!

Speaker Panel: Oct. 30 7pm

Student Events 10.10.08 posted by The Editors

You know there are designers and editors ... but what about the photos and illustrations and all the web stuff? Come hear our panel of insiders discuss how magazines are created and where you could fit in. Panelists' names and all the details after the jump. … MORE

Words to the Wise: "Above the Fold"

Terminology 10.08.08 posted by The Editors

As part of our efforts to make this blog more helpful to you, we're starting a new series of posts called "Words to the Wise" all about editorial and media design lingo. If there's a term you've heard but can't quite figure out, email us or post a comment and we'll define it in a future post.

To start us off, today we're featuring a phrase heard several times in last night's SPD@FIT Paper to Pixels panel discussion. "Above the Fold" is...
… MORE

Pub Crawl Report

Student Events 09.30.08 posted by The Editors

Seems like everybody had fun and got lots of great info on our Pub(lications) Crawl last Thursday. Check out some pictures here...

… MORE

Next Event: October 30

Student Events 09.26.08 posted by The Editors

Thanks again to all the magazines and students who participated in our Pub Crawl yesterday! It was a great success. If you missed it, be sure to come when we do it again in the spring.

Next up: a speaker panel on Thursday, October 30th, at 7pm. All the exact details will be here next week, but for now, mark your calendars!

And off they go!

Student Events 09.25.08 posted by The Editors

Thanks to everyone participating in our Pub(lications) Crawl today! If you weren't able to join us, then keep checking in here throughout the year since we do these magazine art department office tours twice a year, once in the fall, once in the spring.

A HUGE thanks goes out to our participating magazines: CondÃ© Nast Portfolio, Esquire, The FADER, Fast Company, Pentagram, Siempre Mujer, Vanity Fair and W

Pub Crawl CLOSED

Student Events 09.24.08 posted by The Editors

Registration for our Pub(lications) Crawl event tomorrow is officially closed. Thanks to everyone who has signed up, it's going to be a great day! Be sure to check your email for the starting location and last-minute details. Contact us if you haven't received the email by noon today.

For those of you who couldn't make it, mark your calendar for our next Student Outreach event on Thursday, October 30, at 7pm here in the city. More details on that to come next week.

And don't forget our Student Competition! The deadline is March 2, 2009, but time flies, so get busy! Check out the rules here. We'll be posting more about that soon as well.

Pub Crawl Update: Tour D now full also

Student Events 09.23.08 posted by The Editors

Registration for Tours A, C and now D in Thursday's Pub(lications) Crawl event are now full and officially closed. There are only a few spots left in Tour B ... first come, first serve! Click here for the details.

Pub Crawl Update: Tour A and C FULL

Student Events 09.23.08 posted by The Editors

Tour A (Siempre Mujer and Esquire) and Tour C (Vanity Fair and Fast Company) are all full and officially closed. There ARE still spots in Tour B (The FADER and CondÃ© Nast Portfolio) and Tour D (Pentagram and W). If you want to sign up, you must do so by midnight tonight!

Please note: If you ignore this and you RSVP requesting Tour A or C (which are full), you will be assigned to one of the others. Also, there is no changing of tour choices after midnight tonight. Click here for all the event details.

Student Events 09.23.08 posted by The Editors

In preparation for THIS Thursday's Pub(lications) Crawl event, we're profiling each participating magazine/organization. Spots are still available in each tour group, but the registration deadline is midnight TONIGHT, so rsvp now. Click here for all the details.

CondÃ© Nast Portfolio â€¢ www.portfolio.com â€¢ part of Tour B

We see business differently. ...

… MORE

Pub Crawl RSVP deadline tomorrow

Student Events 09.22.08 posted by The Editors

Just a reminder that you must RSVP by midnight Tuesday night if you want to attend Thursday's Pub(lications) Crawl. All the details on how to do that here.

Pub Crawl Profile: W

Student Events 09.22.08 posted by The Editors

In preparation for THIS Thursday's Pub(lications) Crawl event, we're profiling each participating magazine/organization. Spots are still available in each tour group, but space is filling up, so rsvp now. Click here for all the details.

W â€¢ www.wmagazine.com â€¢ part of Tour D

W is the only pure luxury, fashion and lifestyle magazine.

… MORE

Pub Crawl Profile: Fast Company

Student Events 09.21.08 posted by The Editors

In preparation for next Thursday's Pub(lications) Crawl event, we're profiling each participating magazine/organization. Spots are still available in each tour group, but space is filling up, so rsvp now. Click here for all the details.

Fast Company â€¢ www.fastcompany.com â€¢ part of Tour C

Founded in 1995 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures, LLC., Fast Company magazine illuminates the evolution of business through a unique focus on the most creative individuals in the marketplace. ...

… MORE

Pub Crawl Profile: Esquire

Student Events 09.20.08 posted by The Editors

In preparation for next Thursday's Pub(lications) Crawl event, we're profiling each participating magazine/organization. Spots are still available in each tour group, but space is filling up, so rsvp now. Click here for all the details.

Esquire â€¢ www.esquire.com â€¢ part of Tour A

As the only general-interest lifestyle magazine for sophisticated men, Esquire defines, reflects and celebrates what it means to be a man in contemporary American culture. ...

… MORE

Pub Crawl Profile: The FADER

Student Events 09.19.08 posted by The Editors

In preparation for next Thursday's Pub(lications) Crawl event, we're profiling each participating magazine/organization. Spots are still available in each tour group, but space is filling up, so rsvp now. Click here for all the details.

The FADER â€¢ www.thefader.com â€¢ part of Tour B

The FADER magazine is the definitive voice of emerging music and the lifestyle that surrounds it. ...

… MORE

Pub Crawl Profile: Vanity Fair

Student Events 09.16.08 posted by The Editors

In preparation for next Thursday's Pub(lications) Crawl event, we're profiling each participating magazine/organization. Spots are still available in each tour group, but space is filling up, so rsvp now. Click here for all the details.

Vanity Fair â€¢ www.vanityfair.com â€¢ part of Tour C

From entertainment to world affairs, business to style, design to society, Vanity Fair is a cultural catalyst--a magazine that provokes and drives the popular dialogue. ...

… MORE

Pub Crawl Profile: Siempre Mujer

Student Events 09.16.08 posted by The Editors

In preparation for next Thursday's Pub(lications) Crawl event, we're profiling each participating magazine/organization. Spots are still available in each tour group, but space is filling up, so rsvp now. Click here for all the details.

Siempre Mujer â€¢ www.siempremujer.com â€¢ part of Tour A

Siempre Mujer is for the Hispanic woman living in the U.S. who keeps her traditions alive and embraces new American values. Siempre Mujer reflects her lifestyle, aspirations and dreams.

… MORE

Pub Crawl Profile: Pentagram

Student Events 09.16.08 posted by The Editors

In preparation for next Thursday's Pub(lications) Crawl event, we're profiling each participating magazine/organization. Spots are still available in each tour group, but space is filling up, so rsvp now. Click here for all the details.

Pentagram â€¢ www.pentagram.com â€¢ part of Tour D

Pentagram is organized and run so that designers may achieve their best -- because design at its best satisfies clients, pleases users and gratifies the designer. We design print and screen graphics, products, environments and buildings. ...

… MORE

Now Available: Pre-Pay for the Pub Crawl

Student Events 09.10.08 posted by The Editors

Have you RSVP'd for our Sept. 25 Pub(lications) Crawl yet? To make things easier, we now have the option to pre-pay for your entry. If you're an SPD Student Member, your entry is free of course, but for everyone else, you can now pay by credit card beforehand. Check out the details here.

2009 Student Competition Update

Student Competition 09.08.08 posted by The Editors

The posters and entry forms are still in progress, but it's never too early to start working on your entries ... there's major money, prizes and an internship at stake here! So to get you going, here's some information and inspiration ...

… MORE

Come Get Your Fill (of info of course!)

Student Events 09.07.08 posted by The Editors

Here's your chance to get an inside peek at how magazines actually come together. Come armed with your curiosity and questions (but leave the portfolios at home please). All the details after the jump.
… MORE

It's That Time of Year Again

Student Outreach 09.04.08 posted by The Editors

Is it really already September? Well, even if you're not excited about being back at school, you should definitely be excited about what we have in store for you this fall...

… MORE

Report from the Frontlines

Internships 07.23.08 posted by The Editors

2008's first-honorable-mention winner Jason Sfetko took a break from his busy internship days at Martha Stewart Living to give you a little glimpse into his summer so far:

Hello. I recently received a SPD student award for my piece on Amy Winehouse. I was extremely excited to win because that meant I'd receive a summer internship at Martha Stewart Living and be one step closer to living my dream as a publication designer.

… MORE

Portfolio: Reviewed

Portfolio Reviews 06.25.08 posted by The Editors

Lots of great advice was flying around the Village Copier last night as a bunch of you sacrificed a lovely summer evening for Portfolio Reviews. More than a few left saying they were excited to get home and rework some of their stuff. AND we had snacks. A successful evening all around, we'd say.

Thanks to all of you who came, and a big thanks to our 7 reviewers!

That's it for our summer events, but we're busy planning out a great fall schedule which will include MORE portfolio reviews, so keep coming back here as we set the dates and details. And as always, if you have any ideas or suggestions for things you'd like to see us do, don't hesitate to send 'em to us! Or reply to this post in the comments below.

RSVPs Closed

Portfolio Reviews 06.24.08 posted by The Editors

No more RSVPs for tonight's Portfolio Reviews ... BUT if you're late to the game, you can still come! (Location info here.) We can't guarantee you a spot, especially in the more crowded later times, but if you come on the early side, you'll likely get in.

Last Chance for Portfolio Reviews!

06.24.08 posted by The Editors

Our later time slots are all full, but we still have openings in the 6:00 and 6:30 time slots. RSVP with your preference by 3pm. Details here.
Hope we see ya there!

Time's Running Out for Portfolio Reviews!

06.23.08 posted by The Editors

Spots are filling up for our Portfolio Reviews tomorrow night (Tuesday, June 24th). The 7:30 and 8:00 time slots are full, but we still have openings in these time slots:
6:00 :: 6:30 :: 7:00

So RSVP now and tell us your 1st and 2nd choices for time slots. Remember, all RSVPs must be received by 3:00 tomorrow.

More details here.

Now and Later

06.18.08 posted by The Editors

NOW: Spots at our Portfolio Review next Tuesday are filling up, so sign up now!

LATER: Check out Ed2010â€™s â€œHow to Be a Kick-A** Internâ€ speaker panel, being held next Wednesday, June 25. Even though itâ€™s geared more towards editorial interns, itâ€™ll still give all you current interns and intern-wannabes tons of inside secrets and tips on how to wow your supervisors.

EVEN LATER: Mark your calendar now for our Pub(lications) Crawl event on September 25. Itâ€™s a chance for you to visit the offices of your favorite mags and see where and how it all comes together. Itâ€™s a weekday, but itâ€™s well-worth, um, â€œmissingâ€ class for ... your professors might even agree!

In NYC This Summer?

06.17.08 posted by The Editors

Then you have no excuse not to sign up for our Portfolio Reviews next Tuesday! See the post below for more details. And remember, it doesnâ€™t matter what form your book is in ... even if itâ€™s just a pile of papers, bring it! But space is limited, so you MUST rsvp.

Also, if youâ€™re in town, make sure you check out the events at Ed2010. Donâ€™t know what Ed2010 is? Well, get to know them as theyâ€™re a wealth of magazine info and they represent your future coworkers. Theyâ€™re aimed more towards the editorial side of magazines, but they have awesome events, active message boards and tons of insider info on their site. And theyâ€™re hosting a party tonight for all magazine interns at the Boat Basin Cafe (click here for details) ... a great opportunity for networking, door prizes and fun, of course.

Portfolio Reviews, June 24th

06.16.08 posted by The Editors

Okay, so weâ€™ve finally set the date for our summer portfolio reviews: next Tuesday, June 24th. This event is geared toward design students looking to break into a career in publication design. Youâ€™ll show your portfolio to top magazine art directors for feedback on the presentation and pacing of your work. And if your book isnâ€™t in perfect shape, donâ€™t worry! Just bring the work that you like and weâ€™ll help you edit it down and explain what we art directors are looking for.

WHEN: NEXT TUESDAY! June 24, 2008
6 - 8:30 pm (sign up for time slots on the half hour, see RSVP info below)

WHERE: Village Copier
20 E. 13th Street, NYC (between 5th Ave & University Pl., a block south of Union Square)

HOW: Space is limited, so you must RSVP by 3:00pm, June 24th. Send an email to spdrsvp@gmail.com (RSVP details here) and indicate your preferred time slot: 6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 8:00. This event is FREE for all SPD Student members. The entry fee for non-members is $10.

QUESTIONS? Email us at spdrsvp@gmail.com or call 212-223-3332.

Hope to see you there!

Competition Deadline Set: March 2, 2009

05.21.08 posted by The Editors

Yeah, itâ€™s early. But now you canâ€™t say we didnâ€™t give you enough warning. Weâ€™ll post the rules here soon.

In the meantime, weâ€™re planning a bunch of great events for the fall ... AND we even have one this summer! By popular demand, weâ€™re putting together a summer Portfolio Review session. The date is still being determined, but look for it to happen in mid- to late-June. Weâ€™ll be announcing the exact date and details asap.

Wanna See More Award-Winning Work?

05.15.08 posted by The Editors

Then check out Pub43â€™s Magazine of the Year and Medal Winners, our professional membersâ€™ competition. All these and tons more get printed in our Publication Design Annual (this yearâ€™s is Pub43), and if youâ€™re a student member, youâ€™ll be mailed one for free as part of your membership (youâ€™ll get them towards the end of the year ... make sure we have your permanent mailing address!). You can see past yearâ€™s winning work in our previous Annuals. Look for them at your local mega-bookstore, school library, Amazon and, of course, us!

Congrats to Our Winners!

Student Competition 05.15.08 posted by The Editors

Inspired by their work? Or think you can do better? Then prove it ... enter next year's student competition and show us what you've got. We're finalizing the rules and deadline info now, but it'll pretty much be the same in regards to categories, and the deadline will be early March. So make use of that summer vacation and put your thinking cap on now. And don't forget, you can enter as many entries as you can do. Here's last year's rules to get you started. We'll upload the new competition brochure in the next month or so.

2008's First Place Winner and Winner of the Adobe Scholarship

Student Competition 05.12.08 posted by The Editors

CATEGORY Travel
DESIGNER Paul Johnson
SCHOOL Montana State University
YEAR Senior
MAJOR Graphic Design
INSTRUCTOR Jeffrey Conger
INTERNSHIP WON National Geographic Adventure

What was the biggest challenge in creating your entry?
From a design point of view, it was tough creating a comical "thrown together" travelog feel that still had enough structure to easily flow for a reader. ... … MORE

2008's Second Place Winner

Student Competition 05.11.08 posted by The Editors

CATEGORY Entertainment
DESIGNER Anthony Cruz
SCHOOL American Academy of Art
YEAR Sophomore
MAJOR Graphic Design
INSTRUCTOR Carol Luc
INTERNSHIP WON New York

What was the biggest challenge in creating your entry?
My biggest challenge was narrowing my ideas into one composition. ...
… MORE

2008's Third Place Winner

Student Competition 05.10.08 posted by The Editors

CATEGORY Entertainment
DESIGNER Lauren Turnier
SCHOOL Fashion Institute of Technology
YEAR Senior
MAJOR Advertising Design
INSTRUCTOR Ronald Bacsa
INTERNSHIP WON Real Simple

What was the biggest challenge in creating your entry?
I had no idea where to begin! I do not have any experience in editorial design nor have I ever had an assignment like this before. ...
… MORE

2008's First Honorable Mention

Student Competition 05.08.08 posted by The Editors

CATEGORY Entertainment
DESIGNER Jason Sfetko
SCHOOL Rochester Institute of Technology
YEAR Senior
MAJOR Graphic Design
INSTRUCTOR Chris Lyons
INTERNSHIP WON Martha Stewart Living

What was the biggest challenge in creating your entry?
Being my biggest critic. ...
… MORE

2008's Second Honorable Mention

Student Competition 05.07.08 posted by The Editors

DESIGNER Krzysztof Piatkowski
SCHOOL School of Visual Art
YEAR Junior
MAJOR Graphic Design
INSTRUCTOR Mitch Shostak
INTERNSHIP WON W

What was the biggest challenge in creating your entry?
The biggest challenge was to convey speed, motion, the overall extreme rush of snowboarding using type composition against sort of a static image of Shaun White. ...
… MORE

2008's Third Honorable Mention

Student Competition 05.07.08 posted by The Editors

CATEGORY Travel
DESIGNER Soo Yun Yun
SCHOOL School of Visual Art
YEAR Junior
MAJOR Graphic Design
INSTRUCTOR Mitch Shostak
INTERNSHIP WON Cosmogirl!

What was the biggest challenge in creating your entry?
It was important to create beautiful spreads for the competition. A magazine is the tool for communication with readers. ...
… MORE

Wanna See What Won?

05.06.08 posted by The Editors

So you're probably thinking, "gee, I'm happy for these winners and all, but all I really want to see is their winning entries!" Well, don't you worry, we'll be posting them all online here over the course of the next few days. So keep coming back!

In the meantime, check out last year's winners:
First Place
Second Place
Third Place
First Honorable Mention
Second Honorable Mention
Third Honorable Mention
Fourth Honorable Mention

Drumroll please...

Student Competition 05.05.08 posted by The Editors

The annual SPD Student Competition recognizes exceptional design by students and honors them with various awards and cash prizes (as described after the jump). Entries are created for the competition in one of 5 supplied categories and are judged by some of the most distinguished names in publication design (see this year's jury after the jump). The winners of the 2008 competition are as follows:

… MORE

Pardon the Interruption of Service...

05.04.08 posted by The Editors

So, yeah, we've been kinda awol for a while, sorry about that. And unfortunately we can't blame it on final exams (or final partying) like you can. Anyhow, we're back and about to announce the winners of this year's Student Design Competition ... yes, we've promised that before, but this time it's for real. Stay tuned...

SPD Professional Event Tuesday Night

04.21.08 posted by The Editors

Don't forget that as part of your student membership you get discounted admission to all our professional member events. And it just so happens that there's one TUESDAY night featuring Chip Kidd. Don't know who he is? A quick Google search will give you a pretty good intro. He's just published a new novel called "The Learners" which is a sequel to his previous novel "The Cheese Monkeys" ... both of which you should read cause they're about design school and transitioning to the real world. Fun AND educational, what could be better? Anyway, if you're in the city, you should come:

WHEN: Tuesday, April 22
7 - 8:30pm; doors open at 6:30
WHERE: Katie Murphy Amphitheatre, FIT (27th Street & Seventh Avenue, NYC)
HOW: Buy tickets at the door:
SPD Members, $15 CASH
Non-members, $20 CASH
Students with valid ID: $5 CASH
First 50 FIT Students & Faculty with valid ID: FREE / $5 if after the first 50

We sure have a case of it; do you?

04.17.08 posted by The Editors

And today in NYC is supposed to be extra spring-y ... how is anyone supposed to get work done with weather like this?Â

Regardless we have been hard at work selecting winners for our STUDENT COMPETITION and matching them up with the internships they want. We'll reveal the winners' work starting next Monday, so be sure to check us out on your laptop while you're hanging out in the park procrastinating on all the stuff you have to do.Â

Thanks!

04.09.08 posted by The Editors

Last night's Year One speaker event turned out great ... in fact, all our events this spring got great turnouts and good reviews. So a huge thanks goes out to all of you who attended and participated! We hope you got at least a little something out of it, if not lots. And based on your comments on our surveys or from you directly, we're starting to plan our fall events ... it might seem like we're on summer vacay since we won't have any summer events, but rest assured we're working hard behind the scenes.

If you have any ideas or suggestions for future programs and events, we'd love to hear them! Email us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com or leave a comment here.

We'll be posting dates for our fall events as soon as we set them. And we'll be announcing the Student Competition winners soon too ... so don't forget us completely in the end-of-the-school-year craziness! And good luck with your exams and final projects!

Pre-Registration Closed, But You Can Still Come!

04.08.08 posted by The Editors

At this point we've closed our pre-registration for tonight's Year One speaker event, but we still have room for more of you to come. Just show up and we'll sign you in at the front door. And don't forget, there will be yummy snacks afterward! See you in a little while!

Speaker Event TONIGHT

04.07.08 posted by The Editors

Don't forget to RSVP for our Year One event tonight, Tuesday, April 8th. Be ready to ask all the questions you want!

Don't Forget Next Tuesday

03.31.08 posted by The Editors

Don't forget about our next speaker event, happening next Tuesday, April 8th. It'll be a great chance to get answers to all your real-world questions. More info here.

Portfolio Homework

03.28.08 posted by The Editors

Putting together a great portfolio is never easy. And finding advice that pertains to your situation specifically can be disappointing. Hopefully you were able to attend our portfolio reviews today, in which you got some individualized feedback. If you didn't make it today, don't worry, we'll be hosting more of them later in the year. Keep an eye on our blog here.

Until then, here are 2 links we found helpful:
http://www.coroflot.com/public/help_portfolio_tips.asp
http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/portfolio-presenting

We'll try to address some of the more magazine-specific portfolio questions in the coming months. If you have questions or suggestions you'd like to share with us and fellow readers, post a comment or email us.

Today's Event is Officially Closed

03.28.08 posted by The Editors

If you didn't make it or you're just now finding out about it, sorry! But we do it twice a year, so keep an eye on our blog here and look for the event again this fall.

An FYI about our RSVPs

Student Outreach 03.28.08 posted by The Editors

When you sign up for an event by emailing us at spdrsvp@gmail.com, please include the following info:

- name

- school (or place of work and job title if you're no longer in school)

- are you an SPD Student or Professional member?

And of course you can also ask any questions you may have about the event or registration, etc.

We will always confirm/reply, usually within 24 hours ... though sometimes sooner, sometimes later. If you haven't heard from us in 3 days, please write again.

If it's past the RSVP deadline and/or you want to attend an event that is about to start or has already started, do not bother RSVPing. Instead, you can call our office at 212-223-3332 to see if you're still able to attend ... but if you get our voicemail, it means you're out of luck. Please do not call that number to RSVP for events before the reply deadline ... you will simply be instructed to email us here.

Make sense?

Too late for office tours, but...

03.28.08 posted by The Editors

You can still come to the portfolio review part of our event today. Come to our office (17 E.47th St, 2nd floor) by 12:45 and just tell us you're here for the reviews only. It's free for SPD Student Members, but all you others still have to pay $15. Hope you can make it!

Tomorrow's event

03.27.08 posted by The Editors

Want to come but haven't signed up yet? That's okay. Just show up tomorrow morning (click here for details) and we'll do our best to get you on one of the office tours. No promises though. That's what you get for waiting 'til the last minute. But rest assured, you'll definitely be able to participate in the portfolio reviews in the afternoon.Â Hope to see you tomorrow!

Portfolio Reviews FRIDAY (that's tomorrow!)

03.26.08 posted by The Editors

Nervous about getting your portfolio reviewed with us on Friday? Don't be! We don't care if you bring in a book (that's slang for "portfolio") that looks like the above case, or one of those cool metal or acrylic ones, or even if it's a 3-ring binder. Heck, bring us a pile of papers, we'll look at it!

We're here to help you get ready for the real world, so save the nerves for the interviews and come ready to show us whatever work you have, regardless of whether it's "perfect" or not. We'll let you know where you stand.

Reviewers will include:
â€¢ Joe Caserto Freelance Designer
â€¢ Adam Fulrath Creative Director//TimeOut NY
â€¢ Viki Nestico Art Director//Men's Health
â€¢ Gloria Pantell Design Director//TV Guide
â€¢ Scott Wooledge Art Director//TimeOut Special Projects

Details for Friday's reviews: click here.

Last Call: Portfolio Reviews and more!

03.24.08 posted by The Editors

Time is running out to sign up for our event this Friday, March 28th. We'll start with tours of the above-listed magazine offices, giving you a sneak-peek into how they work. And then you'll have the chance to get feedback on your portfolio from a number of top art directors. Trust us, this opportunity is well-worth your effort.

Find out more here. Sign up by emailing us at spdrsvp@gmail.com.

Don't Forget: Next Friday!

03.20.08 posted by The Editors

March 28th is our next Pub(lications) Crawl and Portfolio Review event, in case you haven't noticed. Why haven't you RSVP'd yet?

Next Speaker Event: April 8th

03.18.08 posted by The Editors

Want some straight talk on what the real world is actually like? Then join us on Tuesday, April 8th, for a night of conversation and Q&A with some of our recent competition winners and other young guns who are in their early years of magazine design. Find out how they turned internships into jobs and what those jobs are really like. So come armed with all your questions!

WHEN: Tuesday, April 8
6:30-8:30, reception to follow

WHERE: Pratt Manhattan Campus
144 W. 14th St, Room 213
(between 6th & 7th Aves)
NYC

HOW: Pre-registration is closed, but there is still room for you to come ... just show up and we'll sign you in at the front door.
FREE for SPD student members (only $25 to join and you can join that night!) and
FREE for the first 55 Pratt GradCOMMD students ... and as of 4:45 there are still spots left, so show up early to get in free!
$5 for SPD professional members
$10 for non-members with a valid student ID

Co-Sponsored by the Pratt Graduate Communications Design/Package Design Department.

You Missed An Awesome Event!

03.17.08 posted by The Editors

Our first-ever Magazine Design Bootcamp was a big success! We had incredible speakers and a terrific career-advice panel, and students got multiple opportunities for one-on-one interaction and guidance.

For all you who didn't come, you have another chance at some great opportunities for feedback and info at our next event, our Pub(lications) Crawl and Portfolio Reviews on March 28. Trust us, it's worth taking a day off work (or skipping class ... but we didn't say that!).

Bootcamp Registration Closed

03.14.08 posted by The Editors

Thanks to all who are participating! Everyone else: sign up now for our March 28th event (see link at side) ... spots are filling up fast!

Time is running out ...

03.12.08 posted by The Editors

Friday's Bootcamp is coming fast. The deadline to sign up is midnight Thursday night.

And don't forget about our Pub Crawl & Portfolio Reviews on the 28th! Space is filling up.

Atten-TION! Bootcamp on Friday!

03.10.08 posted by The Editors

What part of "be there!" don't you understand? Trust us, after this workshop, you'll feel like part of the magazine design crew. Get the details here. Otherwise, drop and give us 20!

Competition Closed. Next event: March 14

03.04.08 posted by The Editors

You can sigh with relief, the deadline frenzy is over. We'll have news on the winners in the coming weeks.

But now, take a look at our upcoming events: we've got an incredible day-long workshop happening on Friday, March 14. And don't forget our Pub(lications) Crawl and Portfolio Reviews on Friday, March 28. Click on the links at the left for more details.

All Entries Due by 5pm!

03.03.08 posted by The Editors

It's down to hours now. Hope your entries are on their way!

HURRY: The Deadline is Monday!!

02.29.08 posted by The Editors

Need some last-minute inspiration? Check out the Design Archives at the AIGA's website: http://designarchives.aiga.org/
They've got a TON of incredible design from over the years, and there's even an Editorial Design category. Also check out some of the sites in our "Design Habits" list on the left sidebar about halfway down this webpage.

Have some last-minute questions? Check out the links to the left, especially the "FAQs and Answers" which is the post below this.

Remember, all entries have to be in our office by 5pm on Monday, March 3. No extensions like your nice professors give ... welcome to the real world! Good luck!

Best of Luck! (& some answers to Frequently Asked Questions...)

02.26.08 posted by The Editors

WHERE CAN I GET THE ENTRY FROM ALREADY?

Follow this link and it will download as a pdf for you. Entry forms, additional instructions, easy as a click.
Do it.
You know you want to.

DO I HAVE TO KEEP THE HEDS/SUBHEDS THE SAME?

Pretty much. Our goal is to make the playing field as level as we can here -- we want to be sure that the judges are distracted by your visual work, and not an arresting, attention-grabbing headline you might create.

Now, that being said: of course we get that, with the FILM or ENTERTAINMENT categories where you're dealing with some one, you might need to change it up a little bit, so here are some examples of what would be just fine:

Â» a FILM piece where you're working with, let's say, the Coen Brothers, might mean you need to change the subhed from ".... (insert last name) remains one of the..." to something like "... the Coen Brothers remain two of the..." -- changing the verb and the number to reflect two people. Not a problem.

Â» an ENTERTAINMENT piece where you've chosen, let's say, Taylor Swift -- not exactly a "sex, drugs and rock-n-roll" singer, no? But that should be easy enough to tweak so that you're working with most of the same copy, in something like, "Sex, drugs and rock & roll aren't what her lyrics preach, but to think that's what defines her would be... a sin!"

Again, we get that you might feel tied down by these restrictions. Believe us. But we want to see what you do with the DESIGN, not as an editor just yet. And we have to try to create an entry field that's as fair as we can make it, with entries coming from every different kind of school and student.

IT SAYS IN THE INSTRUCTIONS, 'YOU DON'T HAVE TO WRITE THE STORY...' â€” BUT WHERE AM I SUPPOSED TO GET THE STORY FROM?

Ah... the glories of dummy text. Basically, you want to flow some text in here, so that the story is part of your piece, but obviously we don't, in this instance, care at all about what's actually written there. You just need SOME copy (text) to fill-in. We recommend using lorem ipsum ("greek") text, and we encourage everyone to take advantage of the brilliant site lipsum.com . You can generate anything you'd like there, in any length. It's a lifesaver.

I DON'T LIVE IN THE U.S. IS THIS CONTEST STILL OPEN TO ME?

Heck yes! We've had entries in previous years from as far-flung as Lebanon and Paris... if you can represent Canada, Japan or the UK, we say bring it on! Our requirement is just that you are an enrolled student at an accredited school.

WAIT: IS THE DEADLINE REALLY THIS MONDAY?

Yep. Monday, March 3rd, by 5:00. FedEx it, mail it, bring it by our offices yourself... all of those are great ways to get your entries in on time!!

Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln all say...

02.15.08 posted by The Editors

ENTER THE COMPETITION!
Make use of the holiday weekend and finish up (or finally start) those entries! Winners get cash, the Adobe Creative Suite software and the 1st place winner gets an internship (have we mentioned how important those internships are???). Plus your work gets printed in our Annual (a glossy hard-cover book featuring the best design of the year).

Each entry is only $10, but if you're a member, you get 3 entries for FREE.

Want more details? Download our entry form by clicking here, it'll tell you all you need to know. Or comment here.

Long Story Short: Internships Work

02.13.08 posted by The Editors

Internships and networking. Those were the two main things our wonderful panelists kept recommending last night at our speaker event at SVA. That's how most of them got their jobs. That and being curious AND proactive. And oh yeah, sorry to say it, but if you want to be an illustrator for a magazine, you might want to start seeking out other means of income cause things aren't looking too good for you editorial illustrators.

Despite the winter wonderland outside, we had a huge turnout ... thanks to everyone who came! If you have any comments or suggestions about it, we'd love to hear it. (Use the comments option below.)

And if you didn't come, well, you missed some good stuff, but no worries, we have MUCH more to come. Check out our upcoming events in the list to the left and don't forget our competition!!! Winners get one of those oh-so-important internships, which, as we learned last night, means a job ... seems like a pretty good deal, does it not? So enter already!

Hope to see you tonight!

02.12.08 posted by The Editors

Snow, schmo. It's not going to stop our BIG DOGS, LITTLE DOGS event tonight. More details below.

And don't worry if you haven't RSVP'd ... you can still show up and buy a ticket at the door.

We have a lot more happening this spring (keep looking here), and don't forget, the competition deadline is fast approaching (March 3) ... get your entries in now before spring fever takes hold!

March 14 Event: a day-long design workshop

02.12.08 posted by The Editors

REGISTRATION CLOSED.

Atten-TION! Want a crash-course in magazine design? Sir, yes sir!

Then you WILL join us on Friday, March 14 for a day filled with inspiration and advice. We'll go from 0900 - 1700 (that's 9am to 5pm for you civilians) covering everything from brainstorming to the job hunt. There will also be time for portfolio reviews, so be sure to bring your book. Be there, Private!

WHEN: Friday, March 14, 2008
9am - 5pm (but be there at 8:45 to sign in)

WHERE: The Roosevelt Hotel

45 E. 45th St (between Madison and Vanderbilt, near Grand Central Station)

Exact location will be emailed to all who register.

DETAILS: There will be a $30 fee for all student members and a $50 fee for non-members/professional members. Questions? Or want to sign up? Email us at: spdrsvp@gmail.com

Topics and Speakers will include: (subject to change)
â€¢ Design Principles Linda Root (Studio Incubate, Sports Illustrated)
â€¢ Identity/Theme John Walker (TV Guide, Entertainment Weekly)
â€¢ Photos & Imagery Leslie dela Vega (Time, Vibe)
â€¢ Inspiration/Problem-Solving Kate Elazegui (Radar, New York) and Robert Newman (Fortune, Real Simple, Vibe, Entertainment Weekly)
â€¢ Career Advice Panel Evan Campisi (Entertainment Weekly, SpotCo); Shane Luitjens (Ink Publishing); Jenn McManus (More, Health); Nicholas Rezabek (Cosmopolitan, Wine Spectator); Nancy Stamatopoulos (Supermarket News, DNR)

This workshop is part of the Media Pro Workshops series sponsored by the College Media Advisers (www.collegemedia.org).

CLOSED March 28: Office Tours & Portfolio Reviews

02.12.08 posted by The Editors

This event is closed.

Go ahead, tour our offices, check out our stuff. And have your work reviewed by some of the best art directors around. We'll do our best to get you ready for the field of magazine design... although really we're just scouting out our future competition.

The Details:

Friday, March 28, 2008

9:30 am

SPD Offices

17 E. 47th St (between Madison and 5th Ave.), NYC

2nd floor

FREE for all student members! Professional members pay $10, all others pay $15.

Portfolio Reviewers will include:
â€¢ Joe Caserto Freelance Designer
â€¢ Adam Fulrath Creative Director//TimeOut NY
â€¢ Viki Nestico Art Director//Men's Health
â€¢ Gloria Pantell Design Director//TV Guide
â€¢ Scott Wooledge Art Director//TimeOut Special Projects

Wanna come? Email us to confirm your spot at: spdrsvp@gmail.com

Be sure to bring a photo I.D. for access to office buildings. Also bring money for lunch and possible subway travel to office tours, an umbrella/raincoat since we'll be walking a lot on the tours ... and of course your portfolio! It doesn't have to be complete or in perfect form ... we'll give you feedback on whatever you've got. (You'll be able to leave your portfolio safe in our office while you're on the office tours.)

Mark Your Calendars: Next Event Feb. 12

01.18.08 posted by The Editors

Ever wondered what being an art director actually means? Or what the heck is the difference between a design director and an art director? And just where does the designer fit in to all this? Well, come find out on Tuesday night, February 12th, at 7pm. Our speaker panel represents just about every rung on the career ladder, so you'll leave feeling ready to climb your own.

FREE to current members and SVA students! Otherwise it's $20 ($10 if you're a professional member) ... OR you could do the smart thing and enroll then and there as a student member for only $25. Wanna come? Register by sending us an email: spdrsvp@gmail.com.

Location: School of Visual Arts Amphitheatre, 209 East 23rd St. (between 2nd/3rd Aves), 3rd floor
Questions? Leave a comment here or email us at spdrsvp@gmail.com

The Panel: Robert Newman (mag. design consultant & former design director of Fortune, Real Simple, Entertainment Weekly, Vibe, New York, Details, need we go on?); Nathalie Kirsheh (art director at W magazine); Vera Naughton (freelance art director, Europa Design); Andrea Nasca (associate art director at Men's Journal), and Michael Pangilinan (designer at GQ).

New Year, New Look

01.17.08 posted by The Editors

So yes, it's mid-January already, but Happy New Year! You'll notice we look a tiny bit different ... and you'll notice more subtle changes over the next few months as we try to make this blog more valuable to you. If you have any suggestions or comments, please let us know! And keep an eye on us over the next few weeks as we tell you about our exciting events this spring.

In Case You Haven't Noticed, We're On a Break

12.18.07 posted by The Editors

So it seems that the holiday season has gotten the best of us, but look for lots to happen in the new year ... and don't forget about the Competition! Details to the right. Not that you want to do work over the winter break, but you could at least be "brainstorming," right?

Happy Holidays! See you in January!

Event CANCELLED

11.27.07 posted by The Editors

Let's blame it on all that turkey ... due to some technical difficulties, we have to cancel Wednesday night's event (11/28). Our apologies to everyone who'd planned on coming. Stay tuned to find out when the Year One discussion will be rescheduled.

Date Change for Next Event

11.16.07 posted by The Editors

Uh, so, the previous post? Yeah, ignore it. We changed the date. Sorry!!

So... you will now be coming to see us WEDNESDAY, November 28, at 7 pm.

It should be a really informative night. We have a few of our recent student competition winners talking about their experiences in their internship(s) and career thus far. It should give you some good insight into what to expect and how to best prepare for life after college. Plus, there will probably be food. How can you NOT come?

Click on the image for more details. And feel free to post a comment here or email us at spdrsvp@gmail.com if you have questions, we'll respond as soon as we can. See you there!

NEXT EVENT: Nov. 26 (NOT! see above post)

11.12.07 posted by The Editors

Our office tours and portfolio reviews went well last Friday. Thanks to everyone who participated! And for those who missed it ... we're doing it again in the spring, so keep checking back here to find out specifics. Otherwise ...

Mark your calendars for the evening of Monday, Nov. 26. We're hosting a speaker night featuring several designers talking about their internship experiences and how it affected their career paths. Look for more info to come in the next few days.

Only a few spots left!

11.07.07 posted by The Editors

Don't forget: our PUBlication CRAWL and PORTFOLIO REVIEWS are THIS Friday!
We still have a few spots left, so sign up now by emailing spdrsvp@gmail.com

In addition to touring the offices of Spin, More and Fortune, we'll be visiting Martha Stewart's Blueprint magazine also. And if you don't have the time to make it to the whole day, you're welcome to come just for the tours or just for the portfolio reviews. Just let us know in your email.

So sign up now, and we'll see you at 9:30 on Friday, at our office at 17 E. 47th St on the 6th floor.

(More details can be found in the post below.)

PUB(lication) CRAWL & PORTFOLIO REVIEW

10.19.07 posted by The Editors

Hey you!
Yeah, you. Get your calendar out, and clear off what you might already have on there for Friday, November 9th. (click on the poster for the FULL EFFECT)

Because you're going to come to SPD instead, tour some magazine art departments (like SPIN, More, & Fortune) in the morning, and in the afternoon, get your portfolio reviewed by a panel of art directors coming especially to talk about what does and doesn't work, and what they're looking for when you come to them to interview.

The cost? Totally FREE for SPD Student members (and it's only $25 to join!)

So take this down:

WHEN: Friday, November 9th, 9:30AM
Tours start at 10:30 // Portfolio review at 1:00

WHERE: Meet at the SPD office, 17 East 47th Street (between Madison & 5th Avenues)
6th Floor, Buzzer #1

HOW: RSVP! Register online at spdrsvp@gmail.com (but hurry, space is limited!)

Again, FREE for SPD Student Members, $10 for SPD Professional Members, $30 for everyone else (and again, it's ONLY $25 to join SPD as a student member!)

YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT

10.05.07 posted by The Editors

Of COURSE we want you to enter the student design competition; we wouldn't keep talking about it if we didn't think it was awesome, and the great thing is â€” we'd tell you that about entering any competition. It's good for you!

But really, we're not the only ones with that position on it. Core77 came up with 5 reasons (scroll down to the 5th post) far more eloquently than we could, so we're going to just highlight them here:

1.
Preparing your entry will force you to create a well-crafted, well-produced "piece"â€”with great photography and great copy. Which means it's portfolio-ready.

2.
Even if you don't win, many competitionsâ€”especially online onesâ€”publish dozens of notable entries. So you'll probably get some press from it, which you can screengrab and put in your portfolio next to the entry spreads.

3.
It's not schoolwork. Many design competitions have themes that are ambitious, progressive, and challenging, so entering them will give you a great opportunity to spread your creative wings. Especially if you find that a lot of your classwork doesn't possess these characteristics, go get it across the street.

4.
The fact that you enter design competitions sends the message that you're engaged in the design world beyond school. Which you should be.

5.
You may just win. And then that point about printing out press clippings takes things to a whole new level. "I see that you've won or been published in 3 magazines and on 5 websites since your Junior year?" Endorsements from judges and editors may get your interviewer to think a little more seriously about you, which is the point, right?

More fantastic advice from Core77 in their Hack-2-School posts here:

Hack-2-School Classroom

Hack-2-School Dorm Room

Hack-2-School Represent

Hack-2-School Crash Course

Hack-2-School Cheat Sheet

MORE REAL-LIFE TALES FROM THE INTERNS

09.11.07 posted by The Editors

So, Tina sounds pretty fantastic, right? In fact, you might be thinking, it ALMOST sounds too good to be true. Ooh, you little skeptic. You think we're making it up!

The really great news is ... we're not. Again, we'll get out of the way, and let Megan Cummins, 2007's Second Place Winner, tell about her experience as a summer intern at Departures:

I cannot begin to express how much I learned during my internship. It has, quite literally, changed my life. Prior to coming here, my ideas about the magazine industry were based on movies, classwork, and my overly-active imagination. I honestly had no idea what to expect, and countless questions. So, here goes.

First off, I finally understand the chain of command. I never quite understood what each job title entailed. More importantly, the departments themselves. Seeing first hand what each dept. does and how they interact with one another was quite eye-opening. I now know for certain when I start my own Graphic Design firm, a mixture of styles and personalities will be pertinent to its success. I loved watching how people reacted to hearing everyone's opinions and see them make revisions as a result. I also enjoyed getting to experience how stressful it can be when someone might not clearly understand what another dept.'s job is and have certain expectations of them (ie. the photo deptâ€™s ability to make images appear instantaneously). Communication is key.

Another thing I learned was the importance of personality. This one is multi-faceted. I believe those who are in higher positions have the ability to set the tone keeping everyone on eggshells or making them feel comfortable and encourage new ideas. I can see what an impact it makes. I also noticed the need to be able to sell an idea â€" to pitch a story with enthusiasm so as to get everyone else excited to be working on it with you â€" to paint a picture in their minds so the photo dept. knows what images they're looking for, and the art dept. knows what style of design to imitate, and so forth. Lastly on the personality bit, I learned that you CAN overcome shyness. Prior to my coming here, I was always rather nervous on the phone- since I tend to sound like my younger brother, but after making calls to businessmen and women across the globe, I somehow forgot to feel uncomfortable and saw it as something that just needed to be done. I also learned the value of creating relationships with individuals over the phone- establishing contacts that are willing to go the extra mile for you when youâ€™re in a bind because theyâ€™ve come to know you. Sometimes the key to getting things done on time is having having friendly relationships with the people in the mailroom, or the assistant to a photographer. It always pays to be nice.

I have also learned the value of time and efficiency. I can honestly say I now understand what is meant when you say "a New York minute". 1 NY min = 10 southern min. When I was able to work in the Art Dept., I quickly picked up on the fact that not only does your work have to be great, but you have to be able to produce dozens of ideas in hardly any time. You also can't put too much heart into it, because critiques can be brutal!

I'm struggling to express just how much this internship has taught me. From little things like the mysterious "editor-in-chief" or how to politely call someone for the 13th time about a contract or W9, to tagging along on a photo shoot or watching ideas evolve and move from each dept until they're finally put into print... It would take pages to fully relate what all I learned.

I love that the magazine was like a small family. I was able to go on a photo shoot, watch the images get edited, see how the art department laid out the spread, learn the details of crediting and research â€" basically every aspect of the magazine. I never expected to be so immersed in the production and get such a thorough understanding of the inner-workings of the industry. I witnessed an entire issue come to life! It was terribly exciting and has woken me up to the real world. I learned the pros and the cons of the industry. I can appreciate it so much more. Regardless of the industry I end up in, the mechanics behind the magazine â€" the teamwork, the business personalities, the production, the mixture of the creative and technical skills â€" are all things that I know will have a direct influence on my business, and whatever job I may have prior to that. I now know what aspects of my portfolio to focus on when I return to school and what direction I'd like to go after graduation â€" things I was terrified of at the start of the summer. I cannot thank you enough for this internship. I cannot express what an impact it has had on my life. Everything I learned will continue to pay off for the rest of my career and will shape and influence everything I do in the design world.

So, there you have it. A rambling overview of what I learned. Please know that however cliche it made have sounded, I sincerely mean every word of it. I cannot thank you enough for the opportunity. It was everything I had imagined and more. I will never forget sitting at a little restaurant with my family in Memphis and getting the greatest phone call of my life.

Get all the details about this year's competition here.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE INTERNSHIPS?

09.11.07 posted by The Editors

So one of the big perks of being a top winner in the Student Design Competition is a summer internship at a major magazine. And one of the big questions we always get is, But what is it really like?

It's hard for us to say, because, like magazines, each one is different. When choosing magazines to host interns, we try to find placements that are unique and promise a lot of experience to a hard worker. But we can't really guarantee what you'll be doing day-to-day.

What we CAN tell you is what some of this summer's past interns have reported back to us, and so, we'll just get out of the way, and let Tina Nguyen, 2007's First Honorable Mention Award winner tell what her summer was like, interning at Fortune magazine:

As for my experience at Fortune...it was absolutely amazing! It was beyond what I expected and more. Two months was so short and I was really getting used to it there. Grace Martinez, who was the Art Assistant at Fortune (you might've heard, but she's now going to be a designer at Portfolio magazine) was basically my supervisor, she was such a big help and wonderful to work with. Bob Perino was so great as well, making me feel welcome at Fortune, and helping me out in any way possible, he is such a kind and thoughtful individual, and such a great talent, was so great to learn from him. Linda Rubes, was someone I also learned so much from, she was all the more helpful to me, just guiding me along some articles she was working on for the issues, she was so kind and sweet and it was great getting to know her. Everyone else in the art department were wonderful as well, welcoming me with open arms...I also learned a great deal from them.

I had my own cubicle with my name labeled on it...:) The first few weeks, I organized hundreds and hundreds of their magazines in storage, updated illustrator tearsheeets, updated the art wall, (in which I loved, it was interesting to see how the articles all came together) among other administrative type of things, then Grace got me started with the Letters page of the magazine and eventually I worked on the table of contents of their international issues. I had a great time learning how to put together their pages, the formats they follow, the images being chosen, and how everyone just works together as a team. Bob also gave me the opportunity to come up with different designs for the Question Authority and Investing page, because he wants to change the whole style of the magazine, so I felt nervous and excited at the same time to show him my ideas. I also helped the other designers in the art department, looking for images, setting up a PowerPoint presentation, among other things, definitely keeping me busy over there.

Almost every week, someone would bring some treats, ranging from bagels, to cakes, to muffins......hahaha, just feeding everyone like crazy...it was great though, just brought everyone together.

All in all, this experience has taught me a great deal and I feel that I've grown so much during the 2-month period. I've met so many wonderful people there, not just in the art department, but also in the photo and Editorial department. It's been a great pleasure being around them, I couldn't have asked for more.

They all made me feel like I was part of the team. I always looked forward to coming there to work each and every day, it's just been phenomenal and I feel so fortunate that I had the greatest experience ever, and after all this I definitely know where I stand, what I want to be doing in the long run.

I will definitley be keeping in touch with everyone, Bob even told me, if anything, to call him after I finish up with school, and he told me, who knows what will happen then, and that was so great to hear, because there is no doubt in my mind that I would love to come back and work there and to just be surrounded by such wonderful people...I will miss them dearly.

On the last day, they bought me a cake, and some cream puffs for Grace (it was her last day too) and a thank you card, along with a book that showcased Fortune covers from the 1930s to 1950s. I did not expect that at all, it was so sweet of them...I actually started to cry, not in front of them, but once I was alone in my cubicle reading the card and just reminiscing about my experience at Fortune...I just couldn't believe it was already over.

I will never forget this, and I really am sad that it's over, but I know that I will see them again. This experience has meant so much to me, there are not enough words to explain it all, just thank you from the bottom of my heart...it's been beyond wonderful.

Get all the details about this year's competition here.

I WANT TO BE A WINNER TOO! (Step 1: Get ready.)

09.11.07 posted by The Editors

Well, wanting it's the first step. Good for you.

This year's competition is just heating up, and there's plenty of time to get a whole batch of entries ready for the judging.

First thing, think about the categories, and which ones you might want to enter â€” remember, you can send in as many entries as you want, from any categories. And if you're an SPD Student Member, your first 3 entries are FREE!

The five categories are

Film Magazine
This publication informs an audience of young and older cinephiles about the behind-the-scenes, well, scenes in the film business. It gives gossip, industry developments, and information about directors, films in the works, deals being made, and newcomers you don't know ofâ€”yet. Indie projects and big-budget efforts share space in its pages. Lavishly illustrated with cutting edge photography and film stills, this is more than a trade rag.

PROJECT Celebrity biography/profile -- choose an actor/actress or director as your subject.
HEADLINE Up Close: (Actor/Director Name)
SUBHEAD TEXT Hollywood can't/couldn't get enough of this stalwart actor/director. With an inspired body of work that commands respect, (insert last name of actor or director) remains one of the most acclaimed legends of the silver screen.
BYLINE By Marion Curley
WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT Design a two-spread feature** that focuses on a living or dead actor or director's career. You can use a real actor or director as the subject, as well as real films they've made (or invent some), along with other information factoids or graphics that relate to their career highlights. Think about what people would find engaging. You might want to go beyond using all portrait photography and find some photos of the actor/director behind the scenes on-set. Remember, you don't actually have to write the story, but use real names of the subject if you have display type, for example, pointing to a photo of Kate Winslet or Alfred Hitchcock.

Entertainment Magazine
This new publication targets young people from college age to young professionals. A clever, sometimes sharp-tongued magazine, it focuses on music, movies and television, with reviews, investigative stories, interviews and reader polls. This magazine isn't afraid to poke fun at the subjects it profiles.

PROJECT Celebrity Interview -- choose a recording artist or group (Example: Weezer).
HEADLINE The headline will be the subject's name.
SUBHEAD TEXT Sex, drugs, and rock and roll are what the lyrics preach but to think that's what defines (him/her/them) would be a sin. The gospel according to (person or group name as headline)
BYLINE By Chemra Chavez.
WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT Design a two-spread feature** that would appear in this magazine. There must be some text, but it does not have to begin on the first spread. Find great photos of your chosen artist, but think beyond the expected. Look for baby pictures, a great illustration, or maybe there's a way to illustrate him/her with type instead of an image. It's to your advantage not to choose your friend's band or someone too obscure. Think celebrity. Remember, you don't actually have to write the story, but use the band's real name if you have display type, for example, pointing to a photo of Weezer.

Sports Magazine
This publication is a must-read for young athletes and people obsessed with extreme sports and the lifestyle associated with them. It reviews new products, covers competitions and goes around the world to explore new sports. Writers interview sports super-stars as well as kids in the park. Style is a big focus of the magazine, and it regularly covers what athletes wear and where they hang out.

PROJECT Sports profile -- choose a sport (Example: Skateboarding).
HEADLINE "Extreme Rush" or "The Thrill of It"
SUBHEAD TEXT Danny (or Danielle) Way aced the (you add name here) Competitionâ€”this (name of sport) legend now owns the top spot. But it wasn't always this easy.
BYLINE By Katherine Geib
WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT The story will focus on participants in the chosen sport, amateur or professional, with an emphasis on lifestyle and attitude. You can highlight the athlete's style (clothing, hair, body piercing, gear, etc.). Look for photos of an athlete in the middle of a great jump, at the moment of victory, or the moment of defeat. Or, take your own photos of skateboarders in the park, great haircuts, bootsâ€“improvise. You can choose a famous athlete or your teenage brother and his friends. Design a two-spread feature** on your chosen subject. The text does not have to begin on the first spread, but it certainly can. Remember, you don't actually have to write the story, but use real names of sports and players if you have display type, for example, pointing to a photo of Real Madrid or Andy Roddick.

Travel Magazine
This magazine is a new travel guide for college students and young professionals looking for inexpensive ways to see the world. It has lots of maps, youth hostel reviews, info on cameras and gear, clothing, footwear and books. Readers' photos and journals are featured, as well as short stories and advice columns.

PROJECT Travel Guide -- choose a destination.
HEADLINE The headline will be the name of the country or city.
SUBHEAD TEXT The insider's guide: 10 places to eat, drink and hang out like a local.
BYLINE By Fabrice Carrier
WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT Design a two-spread guide** to your chosen destination. The key to successful spreads will lie in the research. Consider including postcards, maps, unusual souvenirs, passport stamps, rail schedules, foreign money. If you haven't taken the big college trip abroad, try designing a guide to your own city or state. Your spreads should be full of information that would be useful to a young person on a budget. Think about what would be important to you if you were traveling. Remember, you don't actually have to write the story, but use the real names of places if you have display type, for example, pointing to a photo of Buckingham Palace.

News Magazine
This edgy news and history magazine intended for college students has hard-hitting interviews, profiles and feature stories about historic events.

PROJECT Crime
HEADLINE THE ESCAPE ARTISTS or THE GET-AWAY ARTISTS
SUBHEAD TEXT On a warm August morning in 2004, two men and a woman ran out of the [Name of Museum] with [famous artist's name] [ title of same artist's work], never to be seen again. A true story of art, thieves, and the man hunting for a missing masterpiece.
BYLINE By Isabella Gardner
WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT This story explains the theft of a famous work of art, the theories about who did it, and profiles of the victims, the suspects and the detective working the case. Think of innovative ways to illustrate the story â€“ not just photos of the museum or the artwork. You may want to incorporate maps, floor plans, historic timelines. Design a two-spread feature** on your chosen museum and artwork. The text does not have to begin on the first spread, but it certainly can. Remember, you don't actually have to write the story, but use the real names of places if you have display type.

**A spread consists of two side-by-side pages; in this case, a page measures 8 x 10". The spread itself will measure 16 x 10".

Now that you've thought about the categories & what you can do to dazzle us, work on putting together the actual entries. Like some of our mamas always say, "You can't win unless you enter."

Wait - maybe that's the lotto people.

Anyways, here's HOW TO ENTER:

1. CHOOSE
Select a project from one of the five categories listed above (film, entertainment, sports, travel, and news).

2. DESIGN
Create a 4-page story (two spreads) on the project you choose. Each page measures 8 x 10, so a spread is 16 x 10. Original photography or illustration is not required, but welcome if appropriate. You may enter more than one design in the same or different categories

3. SUBMIT Either printed material or electronic files
PRINTED MATERIAL:
Full-size spreads, not reduced copies. DO NOT MOUNT THE WORK TO ANY TYPE OF BOARD. Tape a copy of your completed entry form to the BACK of each submission. Staple the spreads together in the upper left-hand corner. (NOTE: Slides are NOT accepted).

OR

ELECTRONIC PDF:
Burn all submissions to a CD. Entries should be full size, print quality, 300 dpi, PDF files (all fonts embedded). It is ok to put multiple entries on one CD. Include a printed copy of the entry form for each entry. Mark clearly the name of the school & students' last name(s) on CD.

4. SEND
Mail all entries with completed entry and payment forms to:
The Society of Publication Designers
17 East 47th Street, floor 6
New York, NY 10017
tel: 212.223.3332

Please read this over carefully and stay within the guidelines. SPD reserves the right to disqualify any miscategorized or incomplete entries.

AND THE 2007 WINNERS ARE....

Student Design Competition 09.01.07 posted by The Editors

Established in 1995, the SPD Student Competition honors the life and work of Bruce W. Honeycutt, the former Art Director of Details and Spy magazines, who died January 12, 1994 at the age of 40. It recognizes exceptional design by students with awards and three cash prizes: the Adobe Scholarship in Honor of B.W. Honeycutt (the First Place prize of $2500), the Second Place prize of $1000, and the Third Place prize of $500. The First, Second and Third Place winners also receive copies of the Adobe Creative Suite software.

In addition to these prizes, the First, Second and Third Place and First Honorable Mention winners have received Summer internships at leading magazines: Departures at American Express Publishing, Fortune at Time Inc., Marie Claire at the Hearst Corporation, and Men's Health at Rodale, Inc. All of these internships come with FREE summer housing in NYC.

All of these winners, along with the Second Honorable Mention, Third Honorable Mention, and Fourth Honorable Mention winners, will have their work featured in our upcoming PUB 42 Annual.

Chaired by Francesca Messina, CD, Guideposts Publications and Linda Root, DD, Studio Incubate, this juried competition acknowledges the talents of the student designer and the teachers who develop their unique talents. Our enormous thanks to the jury for this year's competition: Susan Bogle, DD, Atlanta Home; Craig Gartner, AD, Sports Illustrated Presents; Gretchen Smelter, DD, Brides; Armin Vit, Senior Designer, Pentagram; and Fred Woodward, DD, GQ.

In recognizing the promise of each student, Adobe affirms the creative possibilities inherent in the individual. Throughout its partnership with SPD, Adobe is helping shape the next generation of creative professionals. Together we are building the foundation that will sustain and further artistic accomplishments within the editorial design community.

Want to enter THIS YEAR's competition? Get the rules and details here.

WINNER â€” FIRST PLACE, THE ADOBE SCHOLARSHIP IN HONOR OF B.W. HONEYCUTT

09.01.07 posted by The Editors

DESIGNER Allison McLean
TITLE Rugby
SCHOOL Montana State University
INSTRUCTOR Jeffrey Conger
CATEGORY Sports

PRIZE $2500 cash, Adobe Creative Suite 3, Summer internship with Marie Claire

WINNER â€” SECOND PLACE

09.01.07 posted by The Editors

DESIGNER Megan Cummins
TITLE Coldplay
PHOTOGRAPHERS Elis Parrinder, Tom Sheehan
SCHOOL Savannah College of Art & Design
INSTRUCTOR John Waters
CATEGORY Entertainment / Music

PRIZE $1000 cash, Adobe Creative Suite 3, Summer internship at Departures

WINNER â€” THIRD PLACE

09.01.07 posted by The Editors

DESIGNER Beau T. Foor
TITLE Armin Van Buren
SCHOOL Montana State University
INSTRUCTOR Jeffrey Conger
CATEGORY Entertainment / Music

PRIZE $500 cash, Adobe Creative Suite 3, Summer internship at Men's Health

WINNER â€” 1st Honorable Mention

09.01.07 posted by The Editors

DESIGNER Tina Nguyen
TITLE Copenhagen
PHOTOGRAPHERS bloggingcopenhagen.net, colorado.edu/gallery/copenhagen
SCHOOL School of Visual Arts, New York City
INSTRUCTOR Mitch Shostak
CATEGORY Travel

PRIZE Summer internship with Fortune

WINNER â€” 2nd Honorable Mention

09.01.07 posted by The Editors

DESIGNER Wenjun Zhao
TITLE Radiohead
PHOTOGRAPHERS Jason Evans, Capitol Records
SCHOOL The City College of New York, CUNY
INSTRUCTOR Ina Saltz
CATEGORY Entertainment / Music

WINNER â€” 3rd Honorable Mention

09.01.07 posted by The Editors

DESIGNER Shin-A Kang
TITLE The Strokes
SCHOOL School of Visual Arts, New York City
INSTRUCTOR Mitch Shostak
CATEGORY Entertainment / Music

WINNER â€” 4th Honorable Mention

09.01.07 posted by The Editors

DESIGNER Thy Nguyen-Huu
TITLE Sapa
SCHOOL Fashion Institute of Technology, New York City
INSTRUCTOR Kingsley Parker
CATEGORY Travel

Welcome!

08.31.07 posted by The Editors

Thanks for visiting our SPD Student Outreach blog!

So just what is this SPD anyway, you ask? We're the Society of Publication Designers, the professional organization for those who make the art/design/photo-related decisions for print and interactive media (magazines, newspapers, newsletters, websites, etc). You can read all our official mumbo jumbo here, but all you really need to know is that we hold speaker events, networking opportunities, and an annual competition showcasing the best of the best in publication design (resulting in a really awesome book filled with tons of inspiring work ... for copies of recent editions, click here).

As a student, you can join SPD for just $25 a year ... that'll get you a free copy of our next Annual (as described above), a subscription to our newsletter, discounted or free admission to our student and professional speaker/educational events, and 3 free entries in our Student Design Competition. Not to mention, it'll look really good on your resume. With all those benefits, how can you NOT join?

So, do we have you convinced yet? Then click here for the Student Membership Form. You do need to be a full-time student, and we'll need a copy of your current school ID card. Have questions? Call us at 212-223-3332 or email us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

Even if you don't join, you can still attend our events (and we hope you do!). You'll just have to shell out some extra bucks. But trust us, it's worth it.

So keep an eye on our little blog here for news and info on upcoming events. And we hope to see you at one soon!

Recently by The Editors