Meet the next news design superstar
Every year, the wonderful professors at Ohio University ask a number of industry folks to critique magazine covers designed as class assignments.
I’m always delighted to lend a hand. I’ve met some very talented students over the years via this exercise.
My former Virginian-Pilot colleague Julie Elman sent me a batch of covers to look at over the weekend. Imagine my delight when I saw this:
Isn’t that cool? It’s a hell of a concept. And what detail! Look at the claw marks in the backdrop. And you see the ink-stained fingers, right?
The designer is Kelley Shaffer. Remember the name.
KELLEY SHAFFER
Senior, Ohio University
Expected date of graduation: June 2009
Major: Informational graphics and publication design Minor: Business administration
Plans after graduation: Undecided
Extracurriculars: Design editor at The Post, an independent student-run newspaper serving Ohio University and Athens County. Circulation: 14,000. She also is a designer for Backdrop, a student-run magazine.
Internships: Worked at BFG Communications, an event marketing and promotions agency in Hilton Head, S.C.
And that’s just scratching the surface. Kelley’s on the Dean’s List with a 3.98 GPA. She’s a member of the National Honor Society. She’s attending this year with a Charles L. Scott Scholarship. She’s also the recipient of a DAR Good Citizens Award.
Unfortunately, she has not set up an online portfolio. So we have no link for you. We do have another page, though:
Ouch!
When I e-mailed Kelley this week, seeking information and permission to post her work, she replied she’d appreciate it if I could also give credit to her photographer:
His name is Pete Larson (for both the Death of Newspapers & Macinposh). He is also a student here at Ohio University majoring in commercial photography.
Extraordinary work. Just extraordinary. I suspect we’ll be hearing a lot more from Kelley.
February 11th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Well, I certainly feel unworthy. Between Kelley and her photog, I wish I had this much talent.
February 11th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Amazing work. Love it. But I can’t help but point out the irony of the subject matter in the first cover. It makes me sad to think that print news design might be a dead art in another 10-20 years.
February 11th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Twenty years seems mighty optimistic to me.
February 11th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
If not sooner.
February 11th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
It’s quite creative and apropos — and five years would be pushing it.
February 13th, 2009 at 10:45 am
I have seen Kelley’s portfolio, in person, and she is so creative. Her work is so stimulating. It stays with you!
February 14th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Shane —
Five years? FIVE years?
Guess we’d all better start practicing our lines…
“Welcome to Walmart.” “Do you want fries with that?” “What can I do to get you into this new car today?” “Sorry, I don’t make printing plates.” “We’re out of Shiner Bock. Sorry.”
And my personal favorite…
“I’m from the government, and I’m here to help you.”
February 14th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Wow, that is quite amazing work, Kelley!
February 25th, 2009 at 9:46 am
Remarkable talent.
March 7th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Incredible! Clean,striking,thought provoking,witty and
cutting edge work! Would love to see more!