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.