Syracuse Student Workshop: Learn More about News Media with SND
According to their website, SND, known as the Society for News Design, is “an international organization for news media professionals and visual communicators who create print, web, mobile publications and products.” Last week, they hosted a workshop that consisted of six parts: Eye Tracking Photojournalism, Je Suis Un Illustrator, Understanding Infographics, Be Bold, Designers as Writers and Career Questions with Speakers.
1. Eye Tracking Photojournalism
Sara Quinn, who is a design and journalism consultant, illustrated the Eye Tracking Photojournalism presentation and spent one year teaching at Ball State University. She has a BA from Wichita State University and a master’s in Illustration from Syracuse University. She is vice president of the Society for News Design.
An eye tracker is a device designed for measuring eye positions and movement, which is usually used to learn the user’s visual system and understand the user’s cognitive system. The eye tracker could be used in many situations, such as supermarkets, online games and online news organizations. For example, this study gives insight into how people perceive the quality of journalistic photographs. Eye tracking can help to analyze the reader’s reading order and reading habit. Using the tracking data, the photographers can make the photos more attractive.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd27OH84WBQ#t=41
2. Je Suis Un Illustrator
Lucille Umall is based in the Middle East as senior illustrator/ design for the Times of Oman and Al Shabiba, who has received SND awards in design, infographics and illustration since 2010.
The Best of News Design 32nd Edition
3.Understanding Infographics
Jonathon Rivalt is an information graphic designer and illustrator from Toronto, Canada. His work has appeared in such publications as the National Post. Jonathon introduced Visual.ly for us, which is a website used to build your brand, increase business, drive traffic to your website, raise money or spread awareness. Their expert creative team of producers, animators, scriptwriters and art directors demonstrates how to solve the mystery of storytelling through video, as well as how to create effective “Explainer” videos. They’ll also teach you how to create effective calls-to-action, how to measure your video campaign’s success.
4.Designers as Writers
Steve Cavendish is the news editor and food critic for Nashville Scene, an alternative weekly, where he writes about politics, sports, courts and barbecue. “It does not mean you do not have to write just because you are a designer,” said Cavendish. In today’s newsrooms, being able to write and edit is critical.
Smaller newspapers have benefited from off-site design hubs, while resource-starved newsrooms suddenly enjoy access to more seasoned page designers. And designers have benefited from working in design-studio environments, side by side with more fellow designers than they would have previously. The insight from the student workshop has been invaluable as I research internships: I know exactly what kind of environment I want to start my career in.
