So, what did you think about SND/Boston?
Can you believe it was a whole week ago last night that the Boston Workshop opened? Time flies when you’re back home, pushing out pages on deadline.It’s not too early to reflect on the cool things you did last week and to offer suggestions to Bill Gaspard and the crew that will host next year’s workshop in Las Vegas.
With that in mind, we picked up a stack of cards we brought back and asked five questions of each of them.
This is what we got back:
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Q. What was the best thing about SND/Boston? (Something you learned, someone you met, something you saw — anything.)
Christine Chan, University of Missouri
SND/Boston was definitely an eye-opener. The student sessions were enlightening and I especially enjoyed the typography session by David Berlow. Watching Cyprus create fonts live was fascinating. The critique sessions were particularly helpful too. I learnt a lot about what I should include in my portfolio and how to make it presentable.
Allisence Chang, Michigan State University
The best thing about SND/Boston was spending two days in a ridiculously hot room at the Globe while trying to come up with a cohesive group project. It really was an amazing experience.
William Couch, The Orlando Sentinel
Getting a chance to talk with Frank Mina, of the San Francisco Chronicle, and Pai, of the San Jose Mercury News. I’d only heard of or briefly met them before, but getting a chance to finally meet them and pick their brains was a lot of fun.
Dee Dee D’Asaro, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Loved Mark Porter, Chip Kidd and meeting old friends in new places.
Sara Davidson, University of Missouri
Joy Mayer made a reference to hypothetically having an orange toe, then finding a whole community of people with orange toes. Suddenly you aren’t a freak. Suddenly I wasn’t the only one in a given room who was a font nerd, or hated m-dashes or courier. I also had no idea how interconnected the design community was. Everyone knew everyone else and their brother.
Nicole Davis, Ohio University
Hmm… really the experience has a whole was unbelievable. I learned a lot and met a lot of people but if I had to choose specifics… I loved Chip Kidd’s presentation as well as the Brainstorming Design session. They both provided great insight for attacking pages from a new and different angle.
Ashley Fogle, Bowling Green University
Being my first time there were many things that were just absolutely amazing. The mediastorm presentation was amazing. I was inspired beyond belief after that presentation.
I also enjoyed meeting so many people, I respect many designers and graphic artists, and I was so humbled to meet so many of the people that I look to for inspiration.
Plus, going to see Wicked on Friday night was an amazing experience; I’ve wanted to see the musical for a long time and hadn’t gotten the opportunity, I thoroughly enjoyed finally being able to see the performance.
Patrick Garvin, (Jacksonville) Florida Times-Union
Everyone who gave a presentation was able to realistically acknowledge the current state of the industry without letting it hinder their passion or enthusiasm. These were people who are at big papers, many of which are having scary times, but this did nothing to affect how excited they are about what they do. Rather than moan about having to change, they saw the new challenges as chances to learn new things.
Elisa Glass, University of Missouri
I’m a student and this was my first time being completely enveloped in design culture. It was amazing to be in a place where everyone was using the same terminology, concerned about the same things. and, of course, Helvetica.
Tim Goheen, MCT Graphics, Washington, D.C.
Really enjoyed Chip Kidd. Was one of the funniest, most entertaining presentations. I’d pay to see the exact same presentation again.
Joe Greco, Gatehouse Media, Downer’s Grove, Ill.
SND/Boston provided an opportunity for some of the best creative minds in the business to share what they know with the next generation of visual journalists, artists and designers.
Scott Griffin, (Waterbury Conn.) Republican-American
1. Something Archie Tse said during his session: I’m not the graphics editor at The New York Times. I’m one of 30 graphics editors. If you don’t appreciate the immense humor in that statement, you’ve never worked at a smaller newspaper.
2. I loved the sessions on the non-U.S. papers: Excelsior (different products, not just different sections); Rzeczpospolita, and Politiken.
Sara Kelleher, Metro Boston
Seeing Chip Kidd was my favorite part of SND Boston. I also enjoyed the first Thursday that was just for students. It was a great introduction to typography and creating an effective portfolio.
Kris Kinkade, Kalamazoo Gazette
Getting to interact with so many younger designers and feed off their enthusiasm and excitement was the best thing for me. I hope I didn’t bore any of them with my old-timer stories. Reconnecting with friends was a close second.
Jim McBee, Fayetteville, N.C., SmartNews
As always, it’s the people you meet. I got to talk with Archie Tse, a N.Y. Times graphics editor who covered Saddam’s spider hole; ran into Richard Curtis, one of the guys who created USA Today; drank beer with Don Wittekind and his UNC wunderkinds — the list just goes on.
This was my third SND; the personal connections I make at these things are the reason I go.
Nina Mehta, Indiana University
I got some great portfolio reviews. The best thing for a student is to have time to talk to professionals in the industry. They can really help you figure out your strengths and weaknesses.
Victoria Millner, University of Missouri
The twitter conversation during the awards ceremony dinner. A great example of embracing technology (in a very entertaining way)!
Patty Murphy, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I most liked the keynote speakers: Chip Kidd and the nice gentleman from The Guardian.
Bridget O’Donnell, University of Michigan
The best thing about SNDBoston was the Intern contest. I’m really glad
that I was a part of it because during our group projects, I learned a
lot about teamwork — more than I think I’ve ever learned in 2 years
at my college newspaper.
Claire Regan, Staten Island Advance
There were more than a few best things:
1. A great conversation with Gayle Grin after her A1 presentation.
2. At the awards dinner, I ended up at a table filled with the design staff of the Globe and Mail. (I secretly yearn to be a Canadian designer; oh, I guess it’s not a secret anymore now that I’ve told Charles Apple).
3. Being the only person from my newspaper forced me to mingle and connect more than usual.
4. Making it on to Charles Apple’s blog.
5. Twitter at the awards dinner!
Darren Sanefski, Syracuse Post-Standard
1. Chip Kidd was great.
2. The eyetrack07 findings will probably effect the amount of content of my pages, because it will reinforce the fact that people are not reading long stories.
3. Became friendly with Vince Chiaramonte, Karl Gude, saw Steve Dorsey for the first time in years and re-established the friendship and of course you Charles (I put you last so you wouldn’t think I was sucking up to you).
Christian Schmidt, The Bryan, Texas,Eagle
Meeting people and talking about what we do. The presentations were great, but just talking (especially the night we went to the Baseball Tavern to watch the Sox) was great.
Rob Schneider, Dallas Morning News
I always think the best thing about SND conventions is talking about ideas with other people who do what you do and struggle with what you struggle with. I learn more from those conversations then any speech I attend. Those conversations you get to have with the smartest visual journalists in the world are priceless. Any day I can talk shop with Brian Gross is a great day. Got to meet Vince Chiaramonte. That was greatness.
Tiffany Schwarz, University of Alabama
The Felt night was good, but we expected heavier hor’dourves, so we
didn’t eat dinner. We ended up eating at the pub on the bottom floor after we got back. Plus chilled beef isn’t for everyone…I would like to see some sessions taught about sections like Football Preview. How do you start the theme process? Do you follow a theme? Maybe a session on breaking into magazine design v. newspaper design with a split of in-house magazines and regular Conde Nast publications.
A session on how to network or how to get an intenship with young designers or students who have done internships and how they got them. I know that these things seem simple; but I met several students who were asking ‘what did you do to get an internship?’ ‘How did you build your portfolio?’ ‘I want to talk to (fill in the blank here) but I’m nervous.’ If more students are coming you have to offer more than a three hour session at 10 a.m. on Thursday.
Plus, Wicked. That was freakin’ awesome. The activities being organized was a very smart move. I loved Wicked.
And, I got Podcasted, twice. [I'm still waiting on my 'I got Podcasted' T-shirt.]
Sara Slobin, Fortune magazine
Realizing how much I admire John Grimwade, even if he is direct competition.
Erica Smith, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The hands-on sessions were fantastic. I hope this is something future SND conferences continue to build on. Even the “short” 90-minute sessions were eye-opening and you were guaranteed to learn something.
Otherwise, Adrian Holovaty’s “Making data webby” was top-notch, and a welcome addition to the usual SND fare. (Not that the usual SND fare is lacking spice, but it’s time we actually reach out and embrace the fact that our jobs, our newsrooms and our futures are changing. And prepare for it.)
Brian Storm’s “Multimedia, the next frontier” was also awe-inspiring. And, it was pretty darn cool to have our own screening of Helvetica, The Movie.
Elaine Tan, The Straits Times of Singapore
Chip Kidd. He’s simply wonderful. Too bad I’m not a guy.
Michael Tribble, The Plain Dealer
I think the forward-thinking and inspiration culled from the sessions such as Brian Storm’s and Tom Bodkin and Khoi Vihn’s Print vs. Online. The idea that the technology is something that can be learned, but the same journalistic institutions such as good reporting and news judgment are the key pieces to telling good stories, was something I could take home and preach to my staff.
Paul Wallen, Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel
Working with students. I was really impressed with all the students and their work, and it’s so great to see their enthusiasm and energy.
Also, finally meeting lots of folks in person that I have gotten to know through websites or e-mail. It was great to put faces with names for people like Vince Chiaramonte, Mark McTyre, Josh Penrod, Jason Dugger, Ananda Walden, David Holub, Elizbeth Zuhl, Rick Epps… And I definitely should NOT have started this, because I’m sure I’m missing some. Anyway, you get the idea.
Bryan Wendell, University of Missouri
The typography session for the students on the first day was amazing. Watching a font be created before our eyes was like watching someone blow glass. It truly enhanced my respect for all of the work and thought that goes into something that the average person takes for granted.
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Q. If you could have changed one thing about your trip or the workshop, what would it have been?
Christine Chan, University of Missouri
More time? Wished I was Hermione Granger with her time-turner device so I can attend some sessions that were scheduled during the same time slot.
Allisence Chang, Michigan State University
I would have won the intern contest, of course. (I’m kind of joking.)
William Couch, The Orlando Sentinel
I wish I’d had a twin there with me, so I could’ve done and seen twice as much as I did. There were so many people, so much talent, that even after stretching each day to its limit, flying back home, I still found myself with a long, unfinished to-do list.
Dee Dee D’Asaro, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wish I had allowed more time to explore Boston.
Nicole Davis, Ohio University
More time to sleep! Going from the intern competition during the week to the conference drained me of all energy.
Sara Davidson, University of Missouri
I wish I could have seen more of Boston, but SND couldn’t make it stop raining. I also wish my plane hadn’t been late, but SND wouldn’t have been able to fix that either.
Ashley Fogle, Bowling Green University
Some of the presentation rooms were not ideal for a presentation and made it very hard to focus on the session. Specifically the Stanbro room, it had two columns and if you sat in the middle of the room you couldn’t see either screen. Also some rooms just didn’t seem like they had the capacity for so many people. Many times there were people sitting on the floor or standing along the wall just trying to catch the presentation. Overall, I would’ve had better presentation rooms, but that’s really it. Like I said, this was my first time, so I was amazed with everything.
Patrick Garvin, (Jacksonville) Florida Times-Union
So many of the speakers showed their great work, and I think that people young in their career or working in a one-person shop might have benefited from hearing as to how one can brainstorm ideas like that. I know Matt Erickson was speaking about smaller newspapers, and I hope a lot of people got to see that.
Elisa Glass, University of Missouri
I would have liked to see the town more (although this is probably
more my fault than SND’s . . . )
Tim Goheen, MCT Graphics, Washington, D.C.
If I had to do it over, I would have signed up for one or more of the hands-on training sessions. Definitely the Flash one and probably the Soundtrack Pro. Don’t know why I didn’t.
Joe Greco, Gatehouse Media, Downer’s Grove, Ill.
More hands-on workshops with multimedia software. Perhaps a longer 4-hour session.
Scott Griffin, (Waterbury Conn.) Republican-American
I wish I could read Polish or Dutch. And I wish I’d met more people to get a sense of designers in different places and situations.
Sara Kelleher, Metro Boston
I would have stayed closer to the hotel. I was staying with some friends at Boston University and it was too much of a hassle.
Kris Kinkade, Kalamazoo Gazette
I would have had my portfolio in better shape to show and get comments on. There were lots of missed opportunities for input. Launching a full redesign two days before leaving for Boston doesn’t leave much time for personal preparation.
Jim McBee, Fayetteville, N.C., SmartNews
I would have looked at a lot more student portfolios. I’m kicking myself for not officially volunteering to review ‘em.
Nina Mehta, Indiana University
I would have liked more workshops with application. I felt like a few sessions were just newspagedesigner on a big screen.
Victoria Millner, University of Missouri
Not sure, had a great time the way it was.
Patty Murphy, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I would have liked to come in on Friday instead of Thursday. I felt coming thursday made the event too long. I was brain-dead by Sunday (and it wasn’t just from the beer!). I would have liked to start the Friday session at noon to give folks a chance to settle in Friday morning.
Bridget O’Donnell, University of Michigan
If I could change anything about the trip, I would have taken more photos. I was so caught up in blogging, networking and getting my portfolio perfected that I didn’t take the time to get photos from the conference/Boston.
Claire Regan, Staten Island Advance
Hotel was pricey (but in a great location). SND hotels should be selected on the basis of whether or not there is a full-service Starbucks in the lobby. And, it seemed like there were fewer sessions than past years (just a feeling; haven’t researched this).
Darren Sanefski, Syracuse Post-Standard
They may want to have different levels of hands on training sessions, the one I went to seemed fairly basic.
Christian Schmidt, The Bryan, Texas,Eagle
More hands-on stuff. All the sessions were full by the time I signed up, but this is the sort of thing that could make an immediate improvement in what I do every day.
Rob Schneider, Dallas Morning News
I would have talked to more students and found out what they think about our future. I know the stuff The Interns said was really sharp and fascinating.
Tiffany Schwarz, University of Alabama
I wish the hotel had been a little less expensive. Or maybe that the
deadline for students to get assistance money for SND wasn’t so far
away from deadline.
Sara Slobin, Fortune magazine
Having to fly out in the middle of a monsoon, or rather, having to not fly out because it was the middle of a monsoon.
Erica Smith, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
This is the first time I’ve come home from an SND conference and didn’t have pages upon pages of story ideas, project ideas and design ideas, and just feeling enthusiastic about newspapers, design and journalism.
I think there are a couple of reasons. Usually, this is a chance for me to “unconnect” from the world. Instead, I always had my laptop, always had my phone, constantly received Twitter updates, so I knew other things going on in the world and, more specifically, the industry. Like an announcement that came out during the opening session that the Detroit newspapers were restructuring and planned to cut more than 100 jobs. Or breaking news about Al Gore winning a Nobel Prize for peace; the mother of a Pennsylvania boy suspected in a school plot being charged with buying him guns; or investigators serving search warrants in the death of Anna Nicole Smith. Second, I’m trying to steer my career more toward the online side of this business, which also changed my perspective.
But this is also the first time I’ve come home and felt I learned (and could do) something entirely new — and that’s thanks to the hands-on sessions.
Elaine Tan, The Straits Times of Singapore
The hotel - it needs faster lifts, mini bar/fridge and a safe in the room.
Michael Tribble, The Plain Dealer
An Indians win in Game 1?
Paul Wallen, Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel
Well, I’m sure most people loved the opening reception. For me, though, the crowded, dark and noisy nightclub setting took away from the reason I look forward to the reception – catching up with old friends and meeting new people. It was just hard to find people and hard to talk over the loud music. That’s my honest answer even though I realize it makes me sound incredibly old and out of touch.
Bryan Wendell, University of Missouri
I would have scheduled more portfolio critiques. I just did one, and I heard from colleagues that it was the most beneficial part of their conference. The critiques were full of specific comments, which was really helpful.
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Q. What is the one thing you wanted to do in Boston but didn’t get to? (A session you missed, a person you wanted to meet.)
Christine Chan, University of Missouri
The NYT vs nytimes.com panel session and of course, see more of the city.
Allisence Chang, Michigan State University
One thing that I wanted to do in Boston but didn’t was finding the chance to show my portfolio to more people. I think the way the hotel was set up made that a little hard because there didn’t seem to be a meeting spot where people could just hang around.
William Couch, The Orlando Sentinel
I met Richard Koci Hernandez, and spoke with him for a bit, but would’ve loved to have sat down with him for a few hours more to talk more and do a portfolio critique. He’s a really nice, approachable guy and that’s pretty cool considering how talented he is.
Dee Dee D’Asaro, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gosh, so much I wanted to do but didn’t … everything from Extreme Sports to screening of Helvetica, The Movie.
Mostly, I am sorry I didn’t get chance to tell Dan Zedek in person how much I appreciated all their hard work. Inexcusably bad manners at the very least …
Sara Davidson, University of Missouri
I didn’t get a chance to sign up in advance for the hands-on workshops, or portfolio critiques. I learn by doing, instead of watching, so I think I would have taken more home if I’d gotten to do some of those workshops.
Ashley Fogle, Bowling Green University
I really wanted to see Helvetica, but I was going to Wicked and couldn’t see the movie. I am, however, going to buy it, so I guess everything worked out.
I also wanted to go to some of the hands-on sessions, specifically Photoshop and Illustrator, but they were full and I couldn’t get in.
Patrick Garvin, (Jacksonville) Florida Times-Union
I have wanted to meet Javier Zarracina and I thought that now that I was in Boston and he works there that I’d get to meet him. But no dice!
Elisa Glass, University of Missouri
The session on designing for small newspapers.
Tim Goheen, MCT Graphics, Washington, D.C.
Go to Fenway Park.
Joe Greco, Gatehouse Media, Downer’s Grove, Ill.
What I didn’t get to do in Boston was watch Matt Mansfield sing karaoke.
Scott Griffin, (Waterbury Conn.) Republican-American
I didn’t walk up to a guy I saw in the lobby and say, “Hi, remember me? You cold-called me about a great job opening a couple of years ago, then didn’t have the decency or stones to reply to one of my e-mails and simply say it wouldn’t work out. Jeez! … How are you anyway? (hand out to shake)†I’m not bitter, honestly. I got a chuckle playing the scene in my head while we waited for the elevator.
Sara Kelleher, Metro Boston
I really wanted to go to the Multimedia Storytelling workshop on Saturday.
Kris Kinkade, Kalamazoo Gazette
I was running errands and missed the Chip Kidd presentation. I heard it was awesome.
Jim McBee, Fayetteville, N.C., SmartNews
We wanted to go see Lewis Black do stand-up on Friday, or maybe take in a rock show, but we got started too late (and Boston’s nightlife starts too early, dammit.)
Nina Mehta, Indiana University
I wanted a little more time between workshops to catch my breath, chat with other designers and maybe sneak in a portfolio review.
Victoria Millner, University of Missouri
Well, there’s still a lot of people I want to meet, I can’t narrow it down to one. But I got a good start on meeting some of them!
Patty Murphy, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I missed the page one workshop on Saturday. I had gone to lunch on my own. It was a beautiful day and I walked around, got a little lost and ended up getting back too late.
Bridget O’Donnell, University of Michigan
I wanted to go to more of the hands-on sessions. I was so interested in learning about web and multimedia that I didn’t go to any of the tips and tricks sessions, and I feel like I missed out on these.
Claire Regan, Staten Island Advance
I missed the opening reception and felt a little out of sorts for the rest of the workshop. That reception is the best opportunity to reconnect and reunite.
Darren Sanefski, Syracuse Post-Standard
1. There are always two sessions that run at the same time and you pick what you think is the best one just to find out, you should’ve picked the other one, but that’s life isn’t it?
2. I missed the brainstorming design session.
3. I really wanted to go to Fenway Park but just didn’t find the time.
Christian Schmidt, The Bryan, Texas,Eagle
The sports session. I was in a different session because my bosses wanted me to go to it, but that’s one I really wanted to see.
Rob Schneider, Dallas Morning News
There are so many great people I always want to meet. I just stumbled across Michael Workman at one point. I would have loved to talk to him more. There’s a gigantic list of those people …
Tiffany Schwarz, University of Alabama
The ability to swap business cards more freely. At Orlando there was the business card Bingo that helped a lot. Plus, I wanted to meet with The Hartford Courant staff but I was never able to track down anyone at their table or out and about, sadly.
Sara Slobin, Fortune magazine
Missed hearing Bob Newman talk, both times.
Erica Smith, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
I actually got out of the hotel and saw more of the city at this conference than at previous SND conferences, which surprised me. Session-wise, I would’ve liked to to to Len DeGroot’s and Rafael Hohr’s “From print to interactive graphics,” but missing it was worth seeing Jenn Crandall’s “onBeing” project. And there are always more people to meet and talk to.
Elaine Tan, The Straits Times of Singapore
I really wanted to join one of the Hands-On Training Sessions.
Michael Tribble, The Plain Dealer
Spent more time with the smartest people in the room. Visual journalists are often the most flexible and capable leaders in newsrooms. They just have a knack for tackling ambitious ideas and getting them in the paper. There were so many excruciatingly talented people in Boston that I would have loved to have spent more than mere moments chatting with them.
Paul Wallen, Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel
There were just a bunch of people I wanted to spend more time talking to before the weekend ended. Lots of folks I said a quick hello to or saw across the room, and thought we’d be able to catch up later. The high turnout was great, but it seemed harder to find people this year than usual. And for some reason the time just seemed to fly by even faster than usual. Hmm, what’s that saying about having fun?
Oh, and I really would have loved to go along with the Friday night group to watch the Red Sox, but couldn’t finish up some work early enough to do it. Highly bummed about that.
Bryan Wendell, University of Missouri
While in Boston, I wish I had spent a little more time exploring the city. It could be the only time I’m in Boston (at least for a while), and I didn’t get to visit Harvard or check out the water like I wanted to. I did see a game at Fenway Park, so I really shouldn’t complain. There was never enough time to meet everyone I wanted to meet, but I met some amazing people I won’t soon forget.
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Q. What would be the No. 1 piece of advice you would offer to the organizers of next year’s SND workshop?
Christine Chan, University of Missouri
Schedule more break time in between so students can chat with professionals or get them to look at their portfolios. Do not schedule critiques when sessions are going on.
Allisence Chang, Michigan State University
I would suggest that they have more sessions that don’t require pre-registration because for one time block, there were three workshops but two of them required pre-registration. That doesn’t give people a lot of choices.
William Couch, The Orlando Sentinel
Have more of a balance between theoretical and practical discussions during the sessions. This year’s conference had a lot of theoretical and conceptual talk going on, and that’s fine - I enjoy those kind of discussions - but also having hard tips that I can start using right away back in the newsroom is nice, too.
Dee Dee D’Asaro, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I think this year’s workshop was great. But since it’s always good to look for ways to improve, I would urge more depth on key topics. Seems like some presentations zipped through a parade of section covers. Needed more explanation on how they got there.
And have more substantal hors d’oeuvres at your opening reception than they had at Felt! But that’s just my fat cells talking :-)
Nicole Davis, Ohio University
The student sessions in Boston were great and so helpful. I know the conference is in Las Vegas next year (not exactly student friendly) but it would still be great to try to up the number of students attending next year.
Sara Davidson, University of Missouri
Don’t put the presentations with important visual pieces in rooms with giant pillars. I had trouble seeing most of what was in the Stanbro room. It’s great that a lot of the presentations are online, so I’ll just watch them again.
Ashley Fogle, Bowling Green University
Make specific accommodations for larger amounts of people. Have larger rooms so that attendees don’t have to arrive 30 minutes early to get a good seat, as I did in order to sit front row for Chip Kidd, but also so that people can sit comfortably and take notes rather than being uncomfortable and distracted.
Patrick Garvin, (Jacksonville) Florida Times-Union
The speakers should have lots of “how you can do this at your publication” in their presentations. There was a good amount of that in Boston. I think streamlining it so that anyone there, whether at a student newspaper or a paper with a graphics department of 12, could find something that really speaks to them.
Elisa Glass, University of Missouri
Joy Mayer suggested that it would have been nice to have established members team up with first-timers and students. I would have loved to have had someone guide me through and jump start thing.
Tim Goheen, MCT Graphics, Washington, D.C.
Make sure there are enough chairs in the room for every person who wants to attend a session to sit. If you spend 350 dollars to come, you shouldn’t have to stand or sit on the floor.
Joe Greco, Gatehouse Media, Downer’s Grove, Ill.
Free beer. I’m kidding … free beer and potato chips.
Scott Griffin, (Waterbury Conn.) Republican-American
More sessions. And more sessions devoted to simple, old-school newspaper design.
Sara Kelleher, Metro Boston
I would suggest staying somewhere less expensive. $200 a night is a bit much.
Kris Kinkade, Kalamazoo Gazette
It would be great if the organizers could get a crystal ball and know which sessions are going to be overloaded and which are going to be under attended. Some sessions were SRO in small rooms that could have been flopped with others in bigger rooms. Either that, or they should make sure the facility has all the rooms equally large.
Jim McBee, Fayetteville, N.C., SmartNews
It’s Vegas; focus on taking risks.
Nina Mehta, Indiana University
I wanted a little more time between workshops to catch my breath, chat with other designers and maybe sneak in a portfolio review.
Victoria Millner, University of Missouri
Keep lining up the great speakers. Especially the ones that have different backgrounds, like Chip Kidd.
Patty Murphy, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Make sure the workshops offer very different information from the main speakers. What comes to mind is The Guardian talk. I heard that talk in other forms in several other sessions — folks talking about their redesign, choosing fonts, showing the finished product, etc.
Bridget O’Donnell, University of Michigan
Continue to stress the importance of the web. I think it’s great that there were a number of sessions devoted to learning more about it. But I also think that there should be a healthy balance between print and web sessions.
Claire Regan, Staten Island Advance
Bring back Tim Harrower and Harris Siegel!
Darren Sanefski, Syracuse Post-Standard
Ask me to teach a session. Not kidding around, I’d really like to take a turn at teaching a session. I intend to look into it.
I liked the Extreme Sports session; had handouts so you could listen and not have to worry about writing notes.
Christian Schmidt, The Bryan, Texas,Eagle
Two things: Be ready if there are 750 people again (and in Vegas, there may well be). I think things went reasonably well, but I could tell they weren’t expecting quite that much turnout. Second: There was a session about great design at small papers, but I think they were thinking too big still. I’m at a paper with no graphics staff and no full-time designers (we all copy edit as well) — it would be nice to have somebody talk about how we can do things better, faster and easier. Heck, I think I could offer some pretty good advice about making good design on a shoestring.
Rob Schneider, Dallas Morning News
It’s more for the speakers: You are all really smart and talented, and I love your work. But I’ve seen it. Show me four pages or projects and tell me how you did them. Focus on the process and talk about the struggles, because that’s the one thing we all share. The New York Times has resources almost anyone would kill for, but there are still really smart things they are doing along the way that have common threads with someone’s approach at a 40k paper. Tell me about them. Tell me why you’re great, don’t just show me your great work.
Tiffany Schwarz, University of Alabama
Keep the Intern. It is an amazing experience for the two classes that have participated in it so far and I saw that more and more college students are coming to SND because of it. My class all came out of the experience with great internships or jobs. (Thanks to Bo, Cassie, Stephen, Melissa for making it a possibility in the first place.)
Sara Slobin, Fortune magazine
Let’s work on our headlines. The names of the seminars did not always match the content that followed.
Erica Smith, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
1. Continue to diversify.
2. Hands-on training is key. That can be extended to brainstorming sessions and roundtables — encourage the audience to get involved.
3. Give us more than two or three options on which sessions to attend each hour, then let us catch up on what we missed via videos, liveblogs, etc. In other words, embrace technology and let it work for you.
4. Talk about the elephant in the room: What can we do when so many jobs in our industry are being cut? What about the consolidation of media? How do you cope when your job role unexpectedly changes? How do you initiate that kind of change?
5. Don’t forget about the multimedia and Web aspects, but don’t neglect page design, graphics, typography …
As usual, we want it all!
Michael Tribble, The Plain Dealer
Keep it fluid. Allow for time to mingle with industry leaders and have more room for question-and-answer-type sessions and critiques.
Paul Wallen, Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel
Have all speakers concentrate on providing useful information that we can put to work and share with others. Seeing examples of others’ work is nice and can be inspiring. But with all the web sites and other resources, it’s easier than ever to see lots of work. I think we need to go deeper now and focus on providing specific, useful advice and ideas.
Bryan Wendell, University of Missouri
Put the sessions in larger rooms. Being on time for many of the sessions in smaller rooms meant a seat on the floor.
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Q. Will you be in Vegas?
Christine Chan, University of Missouri
I hope so.
Allisence Chang, Michigan State University
I want to go to Vegas but I guess it depends if I have a job by then or if I’m unemployed and sad. Having it on a Sunday-Monday-Tuesday also makes things a little weird.
William Couch, The Orlando Sentinel
Is the Pope Catholic?
Dee Dee D’Asaro, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hope so.
Nicole Davis, Ohio University
Hopefully!
Sara Davidson, University of Missouri
I hope so.
Ashley Fogle, Bowling Green University
Yes, I am going to Vegas and I am so excited!
Patrick Garvin, (Jacksonville) Florida Times-Union
Really hoping. The workshop will be the beginning part of a week that ends with the Centennial of the Missouri School of Journalism and the dedication of some new facilities. My sister (BJ ‘90) were thinking of going together. But she also wanted to come to SND Vegas. So maybe we’ll hit both.
Elisa Glass, University of Missouri
Next year, (hopefully) on a young designer salary, who knows?
Tim Goheen, MCT Graphics, Washington, D.C.
Probably. Will have to figure out how to work in some spa time between sessions.
Joe Greco, Gatehouse Media, Downer’s Grove, Ill.
Wouldn’t miss it.
Scott Griffin, (Waterbury Conn.) Republican-American
Unsure. A big reason I went is because we’re two hours from Boston.
Sara Kelleher, Metro Boston
Yes! I actually won free registration at the Casino After Party in Boston.
Kris Kinkade, Kalamazoo Gazette
I’ll be in Vegas if at all possible. I also plan to drag my managing editor there if at all possible to see that atttending these things is really worth a company investment. He will be there for APME anyway, so why not?
Jim McBee, Fayetteville, N.C., SmartNews
If I can figure out how to make it pay. Boston was expensive, man.
Nina Mehta, Indiana University
I hope so, but it depends where I am and who I’m working for!
Victoria Millner, University of Missouri
I hope to be!
Patty Murphy, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I hope to, if my newspaper will send me. But I also want to make sure we send more staff designers and fewer managers.
Bridget O’Donnell, University of Michigan
I hope to be in Vegas next year. But it all depends on if I can afford it. Hopefully I can get my college paper (The Michigan Daily) to cover the costs. And I’m already telling my designers to apply for the Intern contest if they hold it again next year!
Claire Regan, Staten Island Advance
Yeah, baby. Haven’t missed a workshop in 10 years. And I think it’s a great idea for SND to team up with APME. The possibilities are endless.
Darren Sanefski, Syracuse Post-Standard
Maybe.
Christian Schmidt, The Bryan, Texas,Eagle
If I can afford it.
Rob Schneider, Dallas Morning News
I’m going to have to clear some arrest warrants and legally change my name, but I’ve got a year. It should be a great show. I can’t wait for Cirque de soleil to do their brainstorming session.
Tiffany Schwarz, University of Alabama
I would love to. I’ll be in my first year of real employment, so I hope to have a chance; but if I don’t I know that VizEds will cover everything via podcast and blogging so it will be like I’m there, plus I can just watch Ocean’s 11 and pretend. [Nice plug, huh? Is my check in the mail?]
Sara Slobin, Fortune magazine
Yes, and someone should invite me to do a seminar. Mine will be fun and useful and I’ll even supply the hed.
Erica Smith, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Did you see the final bill for SND Boston? I owe a huge thanks to Bonita Burton and The Orlando Sentinel — I won registration to SND Boston last year at the VizEds luncheon at SND Orlando. That is the only way I was able to go to Boston. Many of us are paying for these conferences on our own, and that’s getting more and more difficult. Wouldn’t it be great if someone set up scholarships or programs so more designers could attend the conference?
Elaine Tan, The Straits Times of Singapore
Unfortunately, no.
Michael Tribble, The Plain Dealer
Signs say yes.
Paul Wallen, Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel
Way too early to predict. I hope so!
Bryan Wendell, University of Missouri
I bet I will.
Sorry, that was a poor choice of words.
Ah, it was a great choice of words, Bryan. You know we’re a sucker for puns.
So, what did you think about the workshop? Hit “comment” and speak your piece.