Charles Apple

Here’s wishing the happiest of VizEds birthdays to Dennis Varney, lead sports designer for the Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader.

A 1996 graduate of Western Kentucky University, Dennis spent four years as a designer and entertainment editor for the Times of Northwest Indiana before moving to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in 2000. He moved to Lexington in 2003. Dennis was also the coordinator of last year’s annual design contest for the Society for News Design.

Dennis shares a birthday with actors David Henrie, Arthur Andrew Kelm (better known as Tab Hunter) and Yuliy Borisovich Bryner (better known as Yul Brynner); musicians Richard Sambora and Suzanne Vega; Natalie Denise Suleman (better known as the Octomom); boxing great Leon Spinks; fashion designer Giorgio Armani; president John Quincy Adams; retailing giant John Wannamaker and author Elwyn Brooks White.

In addition, today is Bowdler’s Day and World Population Day. Seriously.

Have a perfect birthday today, Dennis! Best wishes!

More than 11 years after I departed the graphics department of the Chicago Tribune, I’m there again. Kind of.

I was hired by Mike Kellams — a designer when I worked there, but now he’s assistant managing editor for sports — to add a little graphics-and-brainstorming push to the Sports Smack feature in the Sunday Trib.

Check it out here, if you get a chance.

Just like old times. Sigh…

Here’s wishing the happiest of VizEds birthdays to Nicolas Rapp, the globetrotting former art director for the Associated Press. Nick turns 34 today.

A native of France, Nicolas studied at the Maximilien Vox Art School and the Corvisart Multimedia School in Paris before going to work for French newspaper redesign consultants ANDCO Press in 1997. He spent a year as a graphic artists for Reuters in Paris and another year working for the AP in its Paris office before moving to New York in 2002. He was promoted to graphics art director in 2004 and then to art director for the AP’s Interactive Design and Graphics operation in 2007.

Nicolas stepped down last fall, however, to drive a Toyota Land Cruiser around the world. Find my original post about Nick’s trip here. Find updates here and here. He passed through South America and Africa and, as of Friday, has shipped his truck across the Red Sea to Yemen. However, it was damaged in transit. We’re awaiting further word.

Follow Nicolas’ journey around the world here. Find his Twitter feed here.

Nicolas shares a birthday with actors Jessica Simpson, Ronald Glass and Frederick Gwynne; sports greats Arthur Ashe (tennis) and Giacobe “Jake” LaMotta (boxing); writer Marcel Proust, artist James McNeil Whistler; TV scientist Donald Herbert (better known as Mr. Wizard); inventor Nikola Tesla and broadcast journalist David Brinkley.

In addition, today is Don’t Step on a Bee Day and Teddy Bears’ Picnic Day. Seriously.

Best wishes for the best birthday ever today, Nicolas! Safe journeys!