Robb Montgomery

Finally a chance to present a design workshop in Chicago! Next month we’ll be gathering along Lake Michigan for a presentation and coaching in visual journalism at a meeting of the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies.

The date is Saturday, Aug. 11. The site is at the Medill school at Northwestern in Evanston.
I have been asked to lead two sessions - one for designers and a keynote for the general session.

People have been asking me about student rates - at this point I don’t know - I will ask the organizers if there are any and update this post.

Great Storytelling in Visual Formats
with Robb Montgomery, CEO and founder of Visual Editors
Writers, editors, artists and designers will learn how to identify and develop the visual components of stories so people will actually read them in print, as well as how to take stories to new levels online. Learn how to innovate and collaborate on deadline, and develop new ways to provide an engaging reader experience.

Ellen J. Meany has just set me the details for the workshop.

Program
Friday, August 10
3 to 3:30 pm
Welcome and Introduction

Design & Production
3:30 to 4:45 pm
Doing a Lot with a Little
Inspiration, creativity, recycling, stealing, arm-twisting, and other
methods of making publications. Luke Hayman spent over two and a half years
as Design Director of New York magazine — a punishing weekly with an
equally punishing editor. Stories from the front line…
Speaker: Luke Hayman, Pentagram

4:45 to 6 pm (concurrent)
Art Directors Panel
Explore day-to-day challenges and solutions.
Moderator: Joe Mac Leod, Baltimore City Paper

Production Roundtable
Explore day-to-day challenges and solutions.
Moderator: Mike Kalyan, Washington City Paper

Writing & Reporting
3:30 to 6 pm
Finding the Heart of Your Stories
In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn a new process for reporting and
writing that transforms storytelling from a search for information into a
quest for meaning. And it only takes five questions and 95 seconds to put
you on the path to irresistible writing.
Speaker: Chip Scanlan

Saturday, August 11
Design & Production
9:30 to 10:45 am
Design for Designers
How to use the tools of design to tell stories, not decorate pages. All articipants should bring two examples of their best work, as well as two
that could have, umm, been done better.
Presenter: Robb Montgomery, Visual Editors

11 am to 12:15 pm
Great Storytelling in Visual Formats (both tracks)
Writers, editors, artists and designers will learn how to identify and
develop the visual components of stories so people will actually read them in print, as well as how to take stories to new levels online. Learn how to innovate and collaborate on deadline, and develop new ways to provide an
engaging reader experience.
Presenter: Robb Montgomery, Visual Editors

12:30 to 2 pm
Lunch, Critiques and Mentoring Sessions

2:15 to 4:30 pm
Graphic Secrets for Creative Pros: Timesaving Techniques
In this session you’ll glean many time-saving tips for creating really tough selections and learn fast ways to create today’s most popular photo effects like silhouettes, partial color, duo-tones, gorgeous grayscale conversions, creative photo frames, edges, and more. We’ll also take a look at the world’s most popular resource for stock imagery, iStockphoto.com, and how using imagery can help you to more effectively communicate your message.

Last but not least, you’ll learn the four secrets of great graphic design that will ensure your layouts always look their very best.
Presenter: Lesa Snider King, iStockphoto.com

4:45 to 6 pm
Creating Great Ads for Print & Web
This session will cover the state of advertising from simple and easy to
make, to the outrageously complicated and expensive, and help define
realistic expectations for alt newspaper websites. We will look at ads that
are — or seem — successful online, and show how AAN designers can tap into their skills to craft Web ads that complement the print message — and vice versa. The session will include voluntary critiques — and Q& A.
Presenter: Ellen Meany, Isthmus

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