New Blog Address

This blog is closed now, so visit our current one at:
www.spd.org/student-outreach

We're Making A Move...

...over to the new and improved SPD site! So update your bookmarks and RSS feeders and whatever else there is out there these days that us old folks have yet to learn about and get on over to the new home of SPD Student Outreach: www.spd.org/student-outreach. All the posts from here will be there too (though some links are in the process of being fixed). We won't be updating the blog here any further, so click on over now. See ya there!

2009 Student Competition Update

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 ...

As the First Place winner in last year's competition (the winning entry seen above), Paul Johnson of Montana State University not only won the $2500 Adobe Scholarship in honor of B.W. Honeycutt, but also an internship at National Geographic Adventure and the Adobe Creative Suite software. Second place, third place, and three honorable mention winners also won money, software and internships at major magazines. You could be one of them in this year's competition, so here's what you need to know to get started:

HOW TO ENTER
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1. CHOOSE: Select a project from one of the five categories listed below (tech, entertainment, outdoors, city/regional, and news).

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2. DESIGN: Create the first 4 pages of a story (two spreads) on the project you choose. Each page measures 8"w x 10"h, so a spread is 16"w x 10"h. Original photography or illustration is not required, but welcome if appropriate. You may enter more than one design in the same or different categories. SPD Student Members get their first 3 entries for free.
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3. SUBMIT: Either printed material or electronic files as follows.

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 (entry forms will be available soon) to the BACK of each submission. Staple the spreads together in the upper left-hand corner. (Slides will NOT be accepted).

Electronic PDF: Burn all submissions to a CD. Entries should be full size, press quality, 300 dpi, PDF files (all fonts embedded). It is ok to put multiple entries on one CD. Place your name somewhere on each spread in 4 pt type. Include a printed copy of the entry form for each entry. Mark clearly the name of the school and student(s)'s last name(s) on CD.
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4. SEND: Mail all entries with completed entry and payment forms by March 2, 2009 to:
The Society of Publication Designers
27 Union Square West, Suite 207
New York, NY 10003
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Please read this over carefully and stay within the guidelines. SPD reserves the right to disqualify any miscategorized or incomplete entries.


PROJECT CATEGORIES
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TECH MAGAZINE
This publication deals with the ever-changing landscape of technology. From gadgets to processes, it reviews and informs an audience of men and women in their early twenties. New products are a huge part of what this magazine is and slick electronics are the candy for the reader.

• Project: Gear - choose a product
• Headline text: What makes the (product) so great?
• Subhead text: Everyone from Hollywood to Main St. USA can't/couldn't get enough of the (product). With long waits to buy it online, and every celebrity clamoring to show theirs off, is the (product) really worth it?
• Byline text: By Nicky Anastasi
• Design the first two spreads of a feature that focuses on a product, new or old. It can be anything from the newest in home theater to the resurgence of the old turntable. Think about what people would find interesting. Have they heard enough about the iPhone? Are they tired of laptops? Think outside the box. You could even create your own product. Remember, you don't actually have to write the story, but use real names if there are actual products used, for example, pointing to a photo of Canon's newest digital camera.
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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 an actor/actress
• Headline text: The headline should either be the subject's name or include the subject's name in it. (example: "Jack Black" or "Jack Black Still Laughing")
• Subhead text: The actor/actress finally opens up and tells how he/she plans to stay on top.
• Byline text: By Kirsten Binington
• Design the first two spreads of a feature that would appear in this magazine. There must be story 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.
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OUTDOORS MAGAZINE:
This publication is a must-read for people obsessed with the outdoors and the lifestyle associated with it. It covers destinations, gear, activities, and people. The topics range from hiking and biking to scuba diving or mountain climbing. If it's an outside activity, chances are this magazine has covered it.

• Project: Adventures - choose an outdoor activity
• Headline text: Deep Secrets
• Subhead text: The 10 greatest out-of-the-way, off-the-beaten-path destinations to (activity here).
• Byline text: By Matthew David
• Design the first two spreads of a feature on your chosen subject. The story will focus on places to go to participate in the chosen activity. The idea behind it is to give readers information on destinations that they never heard of or have never thought about. It's really an insider's guide to the best of the best for any particular sport. Look for striking photos of a destination or person performing the activity. Or, collage your own photos to create an interesting piece of art that gives the reader a feel for the sport. 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 participants if you have display type, for example, pointing to a photo of deep sea fishing for marlin or biking in the smoky mountains of West Virginia.
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CITY/REGIONAL MAGAZINE
This magazine is an established city/regional publication. It covers everything from food to politics to sports. If it's happening in the area, this magazine will tell you about it. The publication is known for its great use of typography, stunning photography, and creative design.

• Project: City/Regional story - choose a city/region.
• Headline text: Best of (city/region)
• Subhead text: The hottest BBQ...the strongest martini...the greasiest fries...the most beautiful people...the greenest park...
• Byline text: By the editors
• Design the first two spreads of this annual guide. You should include a short intro paragraph followed by lots of short items on all different topics, anything that would be covered in a city/regional magazine. Some general categories to consider are eating, nightlife, shopping, home services, health and spa, fun and games. Think about ways to create sidebars that would relate to these types of articles. Also feel free to include illustrations or icons where necessary. 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.
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NEWS MAGAZINE
This edgy news magazine intended for college students has hard-hitting interviews, profiles and feature stories about current events.

• Project: Politics
• Headline text: Time For Change
• Subhead text: January signals a new era for our nation. An inside look at how this historic moment will touch each of our lives.
• Byline text: By Isabella Gardner
• Design the first two spreads of a feature on this topic: This story deals with the fact that as we head into 2009 and beyond, our country will never again be the same. For the good or the bad, we Americans have started down a new road. This article looks to the future to see what might lay ahead. The artwork could be presidential or common-man. It could be global or extremely local. Think of innovative ways to approach the story and let that help dictate what kind of art you will use. 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 people/places if you have display type.
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We'll post some Frequently Asked Questions in the coming months, so if you've got any questions, let us know at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

Come Get Your Fill (of ideas of course!)

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.)

Our fall Pub(lications) Crawl is a day-long event where you will get to tour the offices of 2 awesome magazines (see the Tour Options below). We'll start with check-in in the Union Square area at 9:30 am (exact location will be given to you with your rsvp confirmation email) and then it's off to the offices! Which ones? Take your pick:






The Details:
Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008
9:30 am - 3:30 pm (end time is approximate)
We'll start in the Union Square area, exact location to be given when you RSVP.

FREE for all SPD Student Members! SPD Professional Members pay $10 and all others pay $15. (Remember, it's only $25 to join as a Student Member. You'll have the chance to become a member at the event and then your entry will be free.)

Wanna come? You must RSVP by midnight Tuesday, September 23 by emailing us at spdrsvp@gmail.com. In your email, list your name, your school, if you're an SPD Student or Professional Member, and your 1st, 2nd and 3rd tour preferences (choose from Tours A, B, C and D as described above). (More details on our RSVP confirmation emails here.)

Be sure to bring with you a photo I.D. for access to office buildings; money for your entry fee (if applicable), lunch and possible subway travel; umbrella/raingear and comfortable shoes since we'll be walking to the different offices; notebook for taking notes; and a bag since you will be getting handouts and probably magazines. Leave the portfolios at home this time ... we'll be conducting a Portfolio Workshop in early November where you'll have a chance to show it off.

The Fine Print: Space is limited so RSVP asap! Your tour preferences are just that; in other words, they are not guaranteed. Tours are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis ... so the earlier you RSVP, the better chance you have of getting your top choice. This also means that if you are part of a large group registering, you may not all get assigned the same tour.

Questions? Email 'em to us at spdrsvp@gmail.com.

Illustration by Michael Camarra

It’s That Time of Year Again

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.

First off is our Pub(lications) Crawl on Thursday, Sept 25. We’ve got 8 awesome magazines offering up tours of their offices in this day-long event (it’s worth asking your professor for the day off, trust us). Details are still being finalized, so be sure to keep checking back for all the info and how to sign up.

Secondly, you’ll definitely want to come to our fall speaker panel on Thursday, October 30. We’ll be explaining and discussing how those pages you see actually come together ... everything from brainstorming with editors to working with illustrators to photo shoots, and all the stuff in between.

Third is a new event we’re putting together: a Portfolio Workshop. Not only will you have the chance to get your design portfolios reviewed, but we’ll also be giving you tips on what you should do and—perhaps more importantly—what you shouldn’t. The point of the day is not for you to bring in a perfect portfolio but to leave with one ... or at least the knowledge to get there. We’ve yet to set a date for this event, but we’ll let you know as soon as we do.

So ... 3 great events in 1 fall semester! Sounds too good to be true, right? But wait, there’s more! Check out our new SPD website: www.spd.org. It’s brimming with information and inspiration. Be sure to add the blog there to your daily reading list, and look for more great additions to the site over the next few months, including the opportunity for your own personal profile page where you can create an online portfolio and more (we’ll be posting more about this and the new student membership options in the coming weeks). And in fact, this blog will be moving over to that site soon, but keep coming back here for now for all the latest details and info.

Hope your Labor Day Weekend is a refreshing one and best of luck in the new school year!

Report from the Frontlines

Wondering how our Student Competition winners are doing in their summer internships? Well, first-honorable-mention winner Jason Sfetko took a break from his busy 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.

I started at Martha Stewart Living on June 9th and that very day began designing layouts that would appear in October and November issues. I was ready to hit the ground running when I got there but feared that I’d just be filing papers. I appreciate the hands-on experience because you really can’t
get a true feel for what it’s like to work at a magazine unless you’re living it.

My typical day at Martha starts at 9:30 a.m. and goes until 6:30 p.m. I get an hour lunch, wherein I usually check out Bryant Park or hit up Cosi for a sandwich—both of which are conveniently a 30-second walk from the office. In addition to designing, I’ve gone on a few photo shoots—everything from shooting food in the studio to shooting on location in Central Park—and have met some really cool and highly talented people. It’s nice to be able to meet these people who are really inspired and motivated by design and just watch them collaborate and make a blank page come alive. It really pushes you to be a better designer and think more creatively.

Other than the internship, I’ve stayed busy with all the things this city has to offer including concerts, museums and checking out some great artwork right on the streets. I’m also planning on hitting up a Yankee game this summer to see the Stadium one last time before its gone.

Thanks to Jason for the insight! Wish you could be doing that? Then enter our Student Design Competition this year. We’ll be posting more details in mid-to-late August.

Portfolio: Reviewed

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

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!

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!

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

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

LATER: Check out Ed2010’s “How to Be a Kick-A** Intern” speaker panel, being held next Wednesday, June 25. Even though it’s geared more towards editorial interns, it’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. It’s a chance for you to visit the offices of your favorite mags and see where and how it all comes together. It’s a weekday, but it’s well-worth, um, “missing” class for ... your professors might even agree!

In NYC This Summer?

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 doesn’t matter what form your book is in ... even if it’s just a pile of papers, bring it! But space is limited, so you MUST rsvp.

Also, if you’re in town, make sure you check out the events at Ed2010. Don’t know what Ed2010 is? Well, get to know them as they’re a wealth of magazine info and they represent your future coworkers. They’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 they’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

Okay, so we’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. You’ll show your portfolio to top magazine art directors for feedback on the presentation and pacing of your work. And if your book isn’t in perfect shape, don’t worry! Just bring the work that you like and we’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

Yeah, it’s early. But now you can’t say we didn’t give you enough warning. We’ll post the rules here soon.

In the meantime, we’re planning a bunch of great events for the fall ... AND we even have one this summer! By popular demand, we’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. We’ll be announcing the exact date and details asap.

Wanna See More Award-Winning Work?

Then check out Pub43’s Magazine of the Year and Medal Winners, our professional members’ competition. All these and tons more get printed in our Publication Design Annual (this year’s is Pub43), and if you’re a student member, you’ll be mailed one for free as part of your membership (you’ll get them towards the end of the year ... make sure we have your permanent mailing address!). You can see past year’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!

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

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. From a content point of view, I was always walking a line between having the layout still be funny but doing so in a way that didn’t paint the state in an overly negative light.

What was your inspiration in creating your entry?
I grew up on a farm in North Dakota, so I’ve got a pretty deep connection to the area. From an outside perspective though, there really doesn’t seem to be much reason to consider it a travel destination. It’s actually true that North Dakota is the least visited state. I thought that was a unique distinction that needed to be capitalized on! So I tried to center the layout around turning that fact into a humorous selling point for recruiting college-aged visitors. So the message is: You want to come here because most people don’t. ***Winter Travel Note: It’s possible that your car will go off the road when a –30˚ ground blizzard kicks up, and you have to survive by curling up in a sleeping bag with your dog next to you for warmth, just a heads up.

Do you participate in any publication- or design-related campus activities?
Not at MSU. At Northwest College in Wyoming, the school I transfered from, a group of us designed and published a visual arts magazine featuring student photography, fine art, and design. They were sold on campus and sent out to alumni.

What are your favorite magazines?
The Atlantic and Newsweek — news fix; HOW and Print — design fix; Discover — science fix; Powder — snow fix

What do you want to do while in New York for your internship?
I want to experience as much as possible during the period of time I’m there. Hmm, that’s not very specific.

2008's Second Place Winner

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.

What was your inspiration in creating your entry?
My inspiration started from the Kanye West video “The Good Life.” While I continued to work on it, inspiration came from the 1980s style in general.

Do you participate in any publication- or design-related campus activities?
I am generally too busy with my studio work to do any publication/design-related campus activities. However, I do submit my pieces into any gallery showings the school exhibits.

What are your favorite magazines?
My favorite magazine are CMYK, PRINT, and Alarm.

What do you want to do while in New York for your internship?
While interning in New York, I hope to visit Central Park and possibly catch a Yankees game at Yankee Stadium.

2008's Third Place Winner

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. I always have had a huge interest in the publication industry and just designed from what I knew. I tried to design something a little different, something I would like to see. The deadline also served as a challenge. I only found out about the competition a week before it was due!

What was your inspiration in creating your entry?
I was mainly inspired by the copy and description of the magazine given. Once I read the copy, I was flooded with ideas and got going with conceptualizing and sketching. I also flipped through some magazines for some inspiration.

Do you participate in any publication- or design-related campus activities?
There are some offered at FIT such as yearbook, and ICON magazine, but I do not participate in them.

What are your favorite magazines?
This is tough but I’m going to go with Nylon, Real Simple, Gourmet and Good.

What do you want to do while in New York for your internship?
Well, I am from New York so I tend to take for granted all that the city has to offer. There are a lot of concerts and movie screenings in the parks during the summer that I would like to check out. Also, there are many museums and galleries I’ve been meaning to get to.

2008's First Honorable Mention

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.

What was your inspiration in creating your entry?
Getting my work in front of the most respected art directors in the country.

Do you participate in any publication- or design-related campus activities?
Art Director of Reporter Magazine, Rochester Institute of Technology (nation's only four-color weekly college publication)

What are your favorite magazines?
New York, Nylon, Vice, GQ, Esquire, New York Times Magazine

What do you want to do while in New York for your internship?
Get a job.

2008's Second Honorable Mention

CATEGORY Sports
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.

What was your inspiration in creating your entry?
SPEED, balance and snowboarding subculture was the inspiration. I do snowboard myself, so I know how speed is critical in this sport especially when doing extreme style like Shaun White. Also the handwritten type was used to create that connection with loose lifestyle, a lot of times associated with professional snowboarders.

Do you participate in any publication- or design-related campus activities?
Design workshops with various designers.

What are your favorite magazines?
I like a lot of magazines, but the ones I read regularly are Print, How, New York. Archive is a great inspiration and of course my roommate’s Time Out New York. I like their covers.

What do you want to do while in New York for your internship?
I want to see how it is to work for a magazine, experience the editorial side of design. Most of all, to have fun I guess.

2008's Third Honorable Mention

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. So, putting correct and useful information in my second spread was the biggest challenge for my entry. I researched a lot about Tokyo’s restaurants and famous places. As a result, instead of using just dummy text, my pages are full of useful information (it is also well organized), and turned out beautiful as an opening spread.

What was your inspiration in creating your entry?
Tokyo reminded me of one of my favorite movies “Lost in Translation”(2003). I got inspiration from my favorite scene from the movie where Bob and Charlotte escape the hotel, take a taxi and hang out the whole night. I liked the sparkling neon signs on the street and colorful character taxi signs a lot. I wanted to express the flutter of emotion of nighttime sightseeing.

Do you participate in any publication- or design-related campus activities?
No, but a few of my classmates and I have separate critique time after class. The times that I spent with my classmates were helpful for this competition.

What are your favorite magazines?
I like Men’s Health and Women's Health, Martha Stewart Living, Harper’s Bazaar... there are tons of good magazines to read.

Wanna See What Won?

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...

The annual SPD Student Design Competition recognizes exceptional design by students and honors them with various awards and cash prizes (as described below). Entries are created for the competition in one of 5 supplied categories (click here for this year's rules), and are judged by some of the most distinguished names in publication design (see this year's jury below).

The winners of the 2008 competition are as follows: (click on their names to see their work)
First Place and Winner of the Adobe Scholarship
in honor of B.W. Honeycutt
PAUL JOHNSON
Senior, Montana State University. Instructor: Jeffrey Conger
(Paul's prizes include $2500, the Adobe Creative Suite software and an internship at National Geographic Adventure)

Second Place
ANTHONY CRUZ
Sophomore, American Academy of Art. Instructor: Carol Luc
(Anthony's prizes include $1000, the Adobe Creative Suite software and an internship at New York)

Third Place
LAUREN TURNIER
Senior, Fashion Institute of Technology. Instructor: Ronald Bacsa
(Lauren's prizes include $500, the Adobe Creative Suite software and an internship at Real Simple)

First Honorable Mention
JASON SFETKO
Senior, Rochester Institute of Technology. Instructor: Chris Lyons
(Jason's prize is an internship at Martha Stewart Living)

Second Honorable Mention
KRZYSZTOF PIATKOWSKI
Junior, School of Visual Art. Instructor: Mitch Shostak
(Krzysztof's prize is an internship at W)

Third Honorable Mention
SOO YUN YUN
Junior, School of Visual Art. Instructor: Mitch Shostak
(Soo's prize is an internship at Cosmogirl!)

Additionally, all the winners' work will be printed in the SPD PUB 43 Design Annual.

ESTABLISHED IN 1995, the SPD Student Design Competition honors the life and work of Bruce W. Honeycutt, who died January 12, 1994 at the very young age of 40. During his career, he served as the Art Director of Details and Spy magazines, as well as on the staffs of Vanity Fair and GQ. His work has been recognized by SPD, AIGA, the Art Directors Club of New York, and by magazines such as Print, Advertising Age, and Adweek. He also taught publication design at the School of Visual Arts in New York City.

CHAIRED BY Ian Doherty (Deputy Art Director, Travel + Leisure Golf) and Robert Perino (Design Director, Fortune), this year's jury consisted of some of the best publication designers out there. To them, we extend a huge thanks: Florian Bachleda (Creative Director, FB Design/Doubledown Media); David Curcurito (Design Director, Esquire); Luke Hayman (Partner, Pentagram); Nathalie Kirsheh (Art Director, W); David McKenna (Art Director, National Geographic Adventure); and Linda Pouder (Design Director, Studio Incubate). Thanks also goes to Emily Smith.

THANKS TO the School of Visual Arts for their generous support of the competition. And we also extend our appreciation to Adobe. 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.

Pardon the Interruption of Service...

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

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?

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

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. 

Thanks!

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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...

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

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. Hope to see you tomorrow!

Portfolio Reviews FRIDAY (that's tomorrow!)

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

Details for Friday's reviews: click here.

Last Call: Portfolio Reviews and more!

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!

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

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!

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

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 ...

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!

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

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!

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

HURRY: The Deadline is Monday!!

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...)

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:

» 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.

» 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...' — 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...

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

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!

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

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)
• Design Principles Linda Root (Studio Incubate, Sports Illustrated)
• Identity/Theme John Walker (TV Guide, Entertainment Weekly)
• Photos & Imagery Leslie dela Vega (Time, Vibe)
• Inspiration/Problem-Solving Kate Elazegui (Radar, New York) and Robert Newman (Fortune, Real Simple, Vibe, Entertainment Weekly)
• 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

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:
• Joe Caserto Freelance Designer
• Adam Fulrath Creative Director//TimeOut NY
• Viki Nestico Art Director//Men's Health
• Gloria Pantell Design Director//TV Guide
• 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.)