Derek Simmons joins the L.A. Times
Los Angeles Times design Director Michael Whitley made the official announcement today:
To the staff:
We are pleased to announce that Derek Simmons, currently the design director for sports and features at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, will join the design staff as a deputy design  director for news. Derek’s primary  responsibilities will be Business and Sports, but he will help edit in all news departments.
Derek was at the Star Tribune for nine years, where he was a cornerstone of the design department. During his tenure he served as a sports designer, sports design director and business design director in addition to features design director. He led the prototyping effort on the Star Tribune’s 2005 redesign and has worked with editors and reporters in every corner of the newsroom. He was previously a designer at the Wichita Eagle.
Derek is a native of Kansas and a graduate of Kansas State University.  He is passionate about (and  sometimes frustrated by) playing golf. Derek, his wife Sheri, and their two-year-old son Jackson are relocating to Los Angeles in April. His start date is still being worked out.
Please make him feel welcome when  he arrives.
A few examples:
 
See more of Derek’s work here:
http://www.newspagedesigner.com/portfolios/portfolio1.php?UserID=383
Congratulations, Derek!
March 9th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
SWEET!
Glad to hear the rumors were true … congratulations to Derek and the LA folks on a huge, huge hire.
March 9th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
Few people I’ve never met in person have helped me and my career more. Congratulations, Derek. Great hire by Whitley and Co.
Crutch
March 9th, 2007 at 11:19 pm
Holy Shite! Congrats to Mr. Whitley and Mr. Simmons. While Derek is blessed with ridiculous talent that makes us envious, he is also one of the nicest guys in the business. As is Mr. Whitley, and man can that boy chug a beer.
Great news for the LA Times and I can’t wait to see what you guys do.
March 10th, 2007 at 12:01 am
Derek, best of luck out in sunny California. The Twin Cities will miss ya. And we never got out and golfed Mississippi Links.
March 10th, 2007 at 3:46 am
(Reposted from Sportsdesigner.com)
What can you say about this guy: To have him on your team is to have, in one guy, a top-notch QB, selfless utility player and a patient, stellar coach.
Not to mention a guy who can make Photoshop fetch coffee from the nearest Caribou.
Maybe it’s enough to say that I know a year and a half is too short a time to serve with him, and the guys who have worked with him for nine years are saying the same thing.
March 10th, 2007 at 8:30 am
This is just fantastic. Derek is one of the nicest guys in the business; it’s really too bad he’s so freaking good at the same time!
March 13th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
Thanks all for the very kind words. It’s bittersweet to be leaving Minny for L.A., but it’s such a fantastic opportunity.
May 22nd, 2007 at 8:59 am
I am very proud of my son. He has accomplished much in a short period of time. I taught him everything he knows, ha, ha.