"Working Hard To Improve News Design Through Education"
First Edmund C. Arnold Scholarship Given to Greg LaSpina
We will post examples of Greg's work soon!
GREG LaSPINA, class of 2010 in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, received the first SND Foundation Edmund C. Arnold scholarship.
The $5,000 grant honors the late Edmund C. Arnold, a designer, teacher and author regarded by many as the father of modern newspaper design in North America. Greg's hometown is Little Ferry, N.J. He says, "With the shifting future of visual journalism to a more Web-oriented world, I want to be involved in creating innovative projects and compelling journalism. Changing the way people understand the world through design is what pushes me to not only overcome any challenges or obstacles that arise, but also to continue pursuing visual journalism as a way to create enthralling visual messages."
The Edmund C. Arnold Scholarship Fund is administered by Syracuse University and thanks to SND member support, SND Foundation transferred $25,000 into the fund this year. But that's only half of the amount needed to permanently fund the Arnold Award. The Foundation is committed to raising $5,000 each year for the next five years to complete the endowment.
In Greg's own words:
Q: How did you get interested in design? What are your inspirations?
When I was in high school, I didn’t have much of an art background, but I started toying around with Photoshop, picking up design books, and trying to learn everything I could about the design world. Ever since then, graphic design was sort of a natural process — going into college was actually the first time working with print such as magazines, posters, and logos and I also became heavily influenced by typography and Web design. Everyday I learn something new about design, which only compels me to keep doing great work. Being inspired is one of the most important things to me in design. Inspiration comes from everywhere — music, art, nature, other designers, and just life in general.
Q: What does design mean to you?
Design is everywhere — to me it is about extracting it from the world and translating it into a tangible entity to create better things for people. Whether working on personal projects, logos, Web sites, or magazines, the fundamental idea is about balancing between form and function to create clear, simple, and innovative content. Q: What will winning this award mean for you?
Winning this award has been such an incredible experience for me and represents all the help I’ve received from professors, family, and friends over the past couple of years. This award is going to push me even harder to continue creating great work.
Q: What's your goal for the coming year?
My goal for next year is to become more involved with interactive multimedia and motion graphics. Learning new and interesting technologies will further my skill set and help me prepare for the Web-oriented world to come.
Q: Favorite font and why?
This is probably one of the most difficult questions to answer, but if I had to choose it would probably be Archer. It’s one of the most beautiful slab serifs families out there — it combines elegance, strength, and vibrancy with a hint of professionalism.
Q: Why did you come to Newhouse?
Originally enrolled as a hospitality major, I decided to transfer to the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications during my sophomore year to pursue an education in graphic design. When I was in high school, I started delving into Photoshop and Illustrator not only learning different fundamentals and techniques, but also creating mockup Web site designs. This inspired me to learn much about typography, multimedia, print design, photography, and other interactive communications, ultimately leading to further my skill set in the Graphic Arts program at Newhouse.
Q: What are your professional goals?
My professional goals include developing more versatile skills in the fields of motion graphics, Web development, and interactive multimedia, learning new and more advanced techniques, becoming an art/creative director for design firms, and eventually starting my very own design studio. Brief Bio
I am a graphic/ designer based in the metropolitan NJ/NY area specializing in Web design and development. As a senior in the graphic arts program at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, I have an exceptional understanding of the fundamental principles and techniques in graphic and Web design. Always striving to learn more about the Web, I have developed a strong interest in the fields of typography, interactive graphics, and Web development.
My interest, experience and creativity have led me to triumph nationally in numerous Web design competitions since 2003. I currently retain an internship with Digital Media of Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, where my prime concentrations include the production of interactive Flash-based applications and eLearning courses.
Miller Is 2009 SND Marshall Matlock Designer of the Year
More information will be posted soon. Please return.
Fessler is '08 SND Marshall Matlock Designer of the Year
Hannah does it for the second year in a row; You can't get much better than this, she's told
HANNAH FESSLER
HANNAH FESSLERwas named the 2008 SND Marshall Matlock Designer of the Year at an awards ceremony at the Newhosue School April 29. This is the second year Hannah has won the award, something that has never happened in the history of the award, according to Prof. Marshall Matlock.
School Dean David Rubin presented the yearly award that goes to the best News Design student at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.
In 2007 when she won, Prof. Matlock said, “Hannah is an outstanding student and, although only a junior, has shown great potential in her design work. She was an obvious choice for the award.” At the time Hannah was design director at The Daily Orange, the student-run newspaper at Syracuse University.
"One has to be a very special student and designer to get the cash award a second time," Matlock says. "The committee was awed by the supportive information Hannah presented both years," he says. "Her involvement at SU in and outside the classroom was nothing short of incredible," he says. She could never have been overlooked for the 2008 award just because she was the 2007 winner, according to Prof. Matlock. "She has to be really good to receive the honor two years in a row," he says.
She is or has been involved in non-class activities in the design area, according to her résumé that can be accessed below as a PDF. She is a Graphics Design major at the Newhouse School and has been involved in two SND judgings as a facilitator as well as attended the Boston SND Workshop. She graduates from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications in May with degrees in Graphics Arts and Spanish.
HANNAH'S THANK YOU:
After she received the award at the School's annual Awards Ceremony and attended the reception for all award winners, Hannah wrote:
"Thank you so much for the incredible honor of being named the SND Marshall Matlock Designer of the Year again! I am thrilled and honored for this recognition! (and) have had a truly wonderful year with SND."
She continued, "I can't wait to learn more and keep growing as a visual journalist. Thank you also for the cash prize. It's extremely appreciative. I will be using it for the SND Las Vegas Workshop registration and travel (in September). I'm excited to be able to go to the SND Workshop again this year!"
IN 2007 SHE WROTE:
“Throughout my career at Syracuse University, I have been an active member in the communication and design departments of various campus, community and international organizations. I am extremely grateful for the nomination for The Society for News Design Award.
“As the art director for Signature Syracuse, a non-profit organization that puts musical instruments into the hands of inner-city youth, I design posters and invitations for local events and activities. In addition, I write articles, take photographs and design monthly newsletters for the organization.
During the 2006 summer, I was a design intern for CADEXCO, La Cámara de Exportadores de Costa Rica in Costa Rica. There, I created and designed publications, worked for the government in community relations and incorporated values and goals of the company through my design work. This experience better enhanced my leadership, team building and visual communication skills to continue my journey as a developing graphic artist.
“For the spring semester 2007, I was hired as a design editor for The Daily Orange where I designed sections for news, features or sports each night, working with the editors and creating graphics (pre-game and post-game graphics for sports; charts, statistics and informational tables for news). I have incorporated better visual harmony in the sections and taken design risks.
“While working on The Daily Orange I also was a design intern for Healthy You magazine, which is produced on campus through the College of Health Services and Human Professions. In the fall 2007 I will be art director of that publication. As the art director I will select color palettes, write heads, direct the art and photography and design the magazine.
“I participated in SND’s 2007 annual judging at Syracuse University as a facilitator where I assisted judges and other facilitators. Since then, I have been inspired and further motivated to pursue a career in publication design. I have kept in contact with many of SND professionals and have met individually with a few for a four-hour portfolio critique.
After the competition, I began working with SU’s SND student affiliate to increase membership and working collaboratively with other student organizations in efforts to bring a professional to campus for a workshop in fall 2007.
“I plan to attend the SND Boston conference in October 2007 to learn from speakers in news design. From the conference, I hope to further improve upon my skills in design, typography and use of color. I also hope to improve my communications skills as well as to explore design strategies in creative and innovate ways in greater detail.
“Receiving the SND award is a great honor and is further motivation to continue my work in publication design. I’m sincerely grateful and proud to have received this honor.”
JUST WHEN SHE THOUGHT IT COULDN'T GET ANY BETTER:
Hannah was surprised to learn she won the award for a second year. Since she first turned in a portfolio her junior year she has continued to grow in the design area as well as other areas at SU. She writes in her 2008 application: "To receive the Society for News Design award again would be a great honor and motivation to continue my work not only in newspaper design but in the field of visual journalism."
We have no doubts that Hannah will have no problem finding a design job. "Any newspaper, magazine or corporation that ends up with Hannah on its staff will be very lucky, according to Matlock. He says “she's going to do wonderful things in the design world.”
We wish Hannah well in her career as an excellent designer.
THE ABOVE INFORMATIONAL GRAPHIC, by Jared Novack, shows the relationship of Newhouse Building III to Newhouse I & II, once construction is completed in 2007. For more examples of Jared's work, click HERE.
Novack is '06 SND Marshall Matlock Design of the Year
JARED NOVACK
JARED NOVACK was named the 2006 SND Marshall Matlock Designer of the Year May 2 at the School’s annual Awards Ceremony. Dean David Rubin presented the senior a certificate and check.
Jared is the former editor-in-chief of The Daily Orange, SU’s award-winning student newspaper. He has taken a number of Newhouse courses to fulfill his Public Communications minor including GRA 587, News Design. For examples of Jared's work, click HERE.
Jared's Web site is still being constructed but you'll see some of his work as well as his resume.
The SND Matlock Designer of the Year award fund was set up by SND in 1998 in recognition of the school's involvement in co-sponsoring the annual international competition.
Matlock's name was recently added to the award's name in honor of his more than 30 years of teaching at the Newhouse School. Matlock has directed the SND international competition for the past 18 judgings.
"We're happy to hear that Prof. Matlock's name will be added to the award — he certainly deserves the recognition after more than 30 years of service to SU," says Shamus Walker, SND's audit director, who has worked with Matlock for 16 of the 19 years the judging has been cosponsored by the Newhouse School.
As part of Jared's design experience, he was one of 12 students in the News Design course who participated in the annual competition in February. He was a facilitator all three days of the general judging.
"Jared is exactly the type of student we hope to graqduate with design knowledge and the ability to put it to practical use," Matlock says. "He's going to do very well when he enters the industry," Matlock predicts.
JARED TELLS US:
"I thought when I came to Syracuse University I knew a lot about design. Now, four years later, I can see how far I've come and how far I have to go. By joining The Daily Orange I had a chance to design a newspaper almost every night of the week and get feedback from editors who are today designing for The Boston Globe and Boston Phoenix.
"I also had the chance for the last four years to attend the annual judging co-sponsored by the Newhouse School. The first time I attended the three-day event at Drumlins Country Club, it was visual overload. I couldn't believe the excellent work that was being placed on the judging tables. I went around with my digital camera and did my best to take it all in.
"Attending the SND workshops were a similarly overwhelming (almost frustrating) experience. After every speech, seminar or workshop I wanted to run back to try what I had just learned or heard about. Of course, soon after one seminar there'd be another one to rush to.
"Prof. Sean McNaughton's graphics courses at the Newhouse School gave me a great chance to experiment with different techniques and take huge risks without worrying what they'd look like in print the next day.
"We'd cover course content in readings and then take a real-world problem for homework. Coming back the next week, we'd get to see not only how our solution fared but the results of 20 different minds taking a different path."
The Visual & Interactive Media Communications Department wishes Jared well.
2005 Designer of Year graduates with honors
JENNIFER DOOP
JENNIFER DOOP was named the Newhouse School's SND Designer of the Year at the school's annual Awards Ceremony May 2. The school's Dean David Rubin presented the award at the ceremony attended by a standing-room only crowd.
"Jen is an outstanding student who will do well now that she is ready to enter the work world," says C. Marshall Matlock, an associate professor at the school.
Jen wants to work in a design department as part of a dedicated and enthusiastic team where she can use her creativity and design training to "create a product that is visually appealing and maximally functional."
She's a May graduate with a Dual major in Graphic Arts and Psychology.
During her years at SU she experienced many opportunities that made her realize that she wanted to work in design. It's her love and she is talented, say her professors.
The SND Designer of the Year recipient receives a certificate and a cash award. The award fund was set up by SND many years ago in recognition of the school's involvement in cosponsoring the annual international competition at the school.
As part of Jen's design experience she was one of the students in the News Design course who participated in the annual competition in February. She was a facilitator all three days of the general judging.
"All one has to do is look at examples of her work and her resume," Maltock says, "and he or she will know Jen will go a long ways in the design world. I sure hope she reaches her potential and dreams because she is a deserving young lady."
The entire Visual & Interactive Media Communications Department wishes her well and supported her nomination for the design award.
Jen's resume, work examples
DOWNLOAD Jennifer's resume & examples of her designs by clicking on the SIT (stuffed) image file at the right. Once the files are downloaded they should automatically open or use "Unstuff" to get the two PDF files. You will need Adobe's Acrobat Reader to view the document. If you don't have it download it free HERE.
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