Last week, SND held a live Q&A session with members and the seven candidates. Candidates introduced themselves and their vision for the future of SND and answered questions from the audience. Questions not answered in the session due to time constraints were sent to the candidates for comment.
Questions Asked Live
Candidates were given the opportunity to expand on their answers given live during the session. To view responses asked live during the Q&A session, watch the replay of the session by logging into Crowdcast with you SND login.
How will you bring designers of color to the table?
TK SAJEEV KUMAR
We have to popularize SND Internationally. Now it is concentrating more on US and Europe. As you can see there is only one member from India. That is myself. There are 17573 active newspapers in India with 40000 news designers. We need to reach out to them
DOUGLAS OKASAKI
We bring designers of color to the table by letting them know their voice is heard. Not just designers of color, but also diverse groups and gender equality. When we have a group with diversity and cultural backgrounds, the conversation becomes richer and broader. The diversity should be in the board of directors, SND committees, judges in the competition, speakers selection in the conferences.
RYAN HILDEBRANDT
We need to engage colleges and student publications beyond the schools that have been traditionally active in SND. There’s so much talent in HBCUs and universities with high enrollment of people of color. Like many industries, we’ve seemed to have banked on diverse talent on finding us where we’ve always existed, instead of us seeking out that talent where it lives. Promoting ourselves to minority publications across the country is another key step. There are so many community publications that have existed for decades, some older than a century, that are still overlooked by most in the “established” news industry. We should partner with other professional news organizations like, AAJA, NABJ and NAHJ and make it easier for visual journalists in those organizations to join SND, and attend its events. Strengthening SND’s international reach can create opportunities for recruiting outside of our usual pool. The board should also consider creating a role focusing on diversity and inclusion – though one person, or even a committee, isn’t going to solve the issue. We need to work to make sure future board candidates are representative of our communities and this country and others. I’ve been impressed by the quality of candidates for the SND board, but collectively, we’re still missing key perspectives and voices that will be essential to helping SND’s survival. We have to find and add those voices ASAP.
SEAN MCKEOWN-YOUNG
This topic is extremely important to me. I’d argue that, sadly, our industry lacks racial diversity and historically has always lacked diversity. We are in the perfect position to work to change this, to take action instead of being reactionary. Getting involved at the university and high school level; to attract young talent of color and mentor them to target their education and join our professional ranks is one direct way of bringing more designers of color to the table. “Be the change you want to see in the world.” (Gandhi) Just as we should have a board member focused on working with universities and high school and students, we should have a board member focused on working specifically with minority communities and localized minority publications. It’s also important that we don’t become too distracted by the idea of U.S. minority populations. We should be equally focused on spotting talent in international ethnic minority groups like Kurds and Uyghurs as well as sexual and gender minority populations. Inclusion for these populations goes beyond just a mandate for a more inclusive international newsroom. It is the noblest aim and will result in a better educated international readership and ideally less of the violence and bigotry that seems to be on the upswing.
TARA MCCARTY
I would make it clear that SND is an inclusive, tolerant and respectful organization where we benefit from having a diverse membership and suffer if we lack it. The key to getting people involved in the organization is to make people feel valued. SND’s natural environment is to share ideas and thoughts, and that’s the kind of atmosphere that we should encourage every single member to take part in, because every new perspective on a page or design has the ability to exponentially inspire. It’s important to reach out directly to designers of color to be sure they feel welcome and know that their voice is valued and needed. Find out what people are good at, what they’re interested in, what they have a knack for, and ask if they can use those traits to get involved. Feeling seen, heard and valued is what matters most.
How will you focus on including more designers from smaller newsrooms?
TK SAJEEV KUMAR
SND’s monthly subscription scheme is good to attract designers from smaller newsrooms. But for that the members page must be active and updated. Now you can see that most of the links in the pages are not working and the latest pdf file is of 2017.If one takes the monthly subscription, he or she must feel that they are gaining from it and so is worth taking. Or else, they will cancel the membership before long.
DOUGLAS OKASAKI
A smaller newsroom is nowadays a big reality. The journalist is doing some design editing. Designers are doing more than one design activity; layout, video editing, illustrations, and so on. Then I see a big task for SND to help these communities to learn and deliver design with good quality, even if this task is a completely new skill that the designers from the small newsroom need to improve.
RYAN HILDEBRANDT
Designers in smaller newsrooms don’t feel represented. More frequently showcasing and highlighting work from these newsrooms is a good first step. We’re sometimes focus too much on the most high-end, medal-worthy design (understandably). More importantly, creating a membership model that makes it easier for visual journalists in those publications to join SND, and become active in SND, will go a long way. Most of our potential don’t have an employer who will pay their dues, travel or registration. It’s costly out-of-pocket.
SEAN MCKEOWN-YOUNG
My career started in a relatively small newsroom and much of my career has been spent working with smaller newsrooms through Gannett’s Des Moines Design Studio as Creative Director and Advance’s local publications as an Art Director. We should notice that these local design positions are fewer and fewer, many are now in hubs and studios. Focusing on the needs of designers of smaller publications is going to take a twofold approach. First, focusing on emerging talent at the studio level. Second, reaching out to local smaller publications in less immediately noticeable markets. As a resident of the U.S. Midwest, I can speak the language of small towns and I understand the challenges. (I’ve lived in three midwestern states, Ohio, Iowa and Wisconsin.) Targeting virtual ‘Quick Courses’ to the needs of smaller publication designers and sending out an open call, introducing SND and explaining why we’re relevant will make all the difference.
TARA MCCARTY
A lot of my answer about how to bring designers of color to the table apply to this question as well. One of my goals is to diversify SND’s membership and that includes racially, geographically and within newsrooms of different levels of resources. Just as you should read the story you’re designing before you set up the layout, you should be familiar with the pool of designers working in the industry as you set up an organization. I think it would be worth doing some research to see how many designers are out there that we could reach out to, especially in smaller newsrooms. Let them know their perspective is critical to hear and their involvement is wanted!
What ideas do you have to help SND become more fiscally responsible? Where can we cut back our expenses and still be a resource to the design community?
TK SAJEEV KUMAR
When we think about cutting down the expenses, I feel strongly that we must think about generating money from our expertise.SND should make maximum use of free platforms like You tube, Instagram and others. We can generate money from short videos and texts. And it will be a good resource pool for the news design community too. We must strive towards making the SND website internationally engaging. Once there is more traffic, google ad revenue is a possibility. We can also look at conducting online webinars and workshops on designing , at an affordable rate. Since it is online, accessibility is not an issue, so can bring in more audience from across the globe.
DOUGLAS OKASAKI
Keeping expenses low is always a SND concern. The industry has always been unstable. So, if SND still survives today, it’s because of its concern to keep it lean. It got worse, mainly because of the real scenario (Covid and unexpected events). SND has already taken some steps to cut costs, such as the competition going online. Searching ways to make online events. 3 years before, when I was an officer, the reality was another. Only to clarify, the fact of being SND officer, we don’t have all the power to do whatever we want. There is always a process to follow. I hope with the new bylaws/system/governance, the process will become more fast and effective.
RYAN HILDEBRANDT
SND won’t be sustainable by simply cutting expenses. We need to boost revenue by increasing membership, training events, workshop attendance and securing grants and partnerships. To do this, we need to expand our pool of potential members and make it affordable to join and be active in the organization. Regardless, we must look at SND’s biggest expenses relative to the revenue they bring in, and figure out ways to make those things more efficient. For example, producing the book is a huge cost, but it’s sacred for many inside of SND. We still haven’t found a solution for that problem, despite a lot of smart folks trying, but we need to continue to think creatively and solve it. We need to think critically about our traditions and the things we’ve always done. What’s the magic in their core that makes them special? How can keep that magic, but in a way that’s cost-effective and inclusive, and then infuse that magic into to new, or changed, endeavors?
SEAN MCKEOWN-YOUNG
My immediate commitment as a board member would be to begin work investigating corporate sponsorships and grants, applying for them and acting to ‘sell’ SND to these potential investors. I have some experience in this. The reason that I feel this is our best course of action is that I’m not convinced that the best answer is as simple as ‘cutting expenditures,’ and I don’t think it’s realistic to rely solely upon membership, conferences and courses for revenue. Offsetting losses with grants could be a way of opening up new member resources without increasing membership costs. Potential sponsorship opportunities could actually make SND more relevant to the design community. I’d like to attempt to partner with Adobe. SND members are likely one of the biggest user groups of their products and we could offer an unprecedented direct line of communication for their products, particularly those that are underperforming.
TARA MCCARTY
I think the pandemic certainly ushered us toward some cutbacks and a re-evaluation of our financial situation. We’ve prioritized virtual events, accomplished the contests and workshop virtually and created new monthly conferences. Things like that are bound to get us a more diverse group at each event, maybe even more members if people think they are more able to get something out of it without having to spend their own money or even leave their house. But a boosted membership won’t pay all the bills. It’s important to seek sponsorships for these events — particularly the monthly ones. Partnering with different organizations that we overlap with can save event costs, bolster the membership count by reaching new people and serve as good marketing. Creating a donation campaign that is more regular than #GivingTuesday or tiered with benefits for the donors might be a good route to consider as well. In the end, I can speak to what people who aren’t managers might be willing to pay for or prioritize, but I’m no accountant or other kind of financial person. It would be important to find someone who has a business mind to come up with more strategies for SND to become more fiscally responsible.
The following was asked to the first group of candidates live, but not the second
How do you see SND becoming an organization that supports the gamut of the design’s future, which is so different from a decade ago?
TK SAJEEV KUMAR
SND can aesthetically support them with talks of veteran members . Secondly, we should make SND website an international hub for job hunters
RYAN HILDEBRANDT
SND knows news print design, and we’re pretty good across all platforms. We won’t forget how to do print. But, we need to double-down on our digital expertise and reach. We must expand our pool of membership beyond traditional news organizations to product builders, UX designers and developers from publications that didn’t start as a newspaper. If we can build there, and become THE professional community for publication platforms and emerging products, we’ll build an organization that’s around well into the future.
SEAN MCKEOWN-YOUNG
In the call, I referenced a great quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt, “It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another.” This applies to all of my answers. I think that I have some good ideas, but it’s important to know when an idea isn’t working and to try another idea. That strategy has been very successful for me in newsrooms and as a visual journalist. It’s most apropos in how we, as an organization support a design future that is changing rapidly. We need to be nimble and flexible and able to quickly spot trends, alert our membership to those trends and assess how to position ourselves so that we are able to use those trends to our advantage. At this point in time, offering educational opportunities discussing the design strategies of tablet media design would be an extraordinary idea. By acting as an educational opportunity and trend spotter, we can also be better able to keep ourselves relevant to emerging technologies.
TARA MCCARTY
Aside from direct outreach to a diverse group of designers, requesting input that will make SND a stronger organization, I think it’s important to open up conversations about more than just print design. The more we talk about social design or UX design or coding, the more we’re recognizing and normalizing those ways of designing within the organization. Those forms of design won’t feel so alien or alternative or lumped into a pocket called “digital design.” Talking more about these methods will allow SND to reach a broader membership, strength the reputation of the organization and inspire others to try different kinds of design, rather than feel boxed into one or the other.
Audience submitted questions not asked during the session
How can we grow internationally?
TK SAJEEV KUMAR
I have already answered it…We have to popularize SND Internationally. Now it is concentrating more on US and Europe. As you can see there is only one member from India. That is myself. There are 17533 active newspapers in India with 40000 news designers. We need to reach out to them
DOUGLAS OKASAKI
There is plenty of membership, subscriptions, and online services that are sharing the pocket of future members. We are a very specific industry, and we need to keep it in mind. But still… we will only continue to be relevant if we can solve the designer’s problems. SND could play the role of advocate, mentor, guidance through the alternative storyteller, showcase the best solutions and alternatives for smart design in the design hubs. And of course, bring people together… even if it is online… but one day the normal will return.
RYAN HILDEBRANDT
We need to identify and reinvigorate stakeholders internationally. Having dependable boots on the ground is a necessity to rebuilding. We also need to identify countries with untapped membership potential.
SEAN MCKEOWN-YOUNG
The strategies to attract more smaller market designers actually translate well for attracting more international designers. The intention would be to question the relevance of SND to designers that don’t work in the largest US newsrooms. I’d also like to strategically reinvigorate SND’s International Regions and work with SND Scandinavia and SND Espana to potentially offer a better framework for other regions.
TARA MCCARTY
We need to share more about what’s happening all over the world. Right now, Afghanistan is crumbling. Let’s ask our design friends in that area what they’re working on, what they’ve been seeing that they love, what they think is coming next for them. When an event happens, I like to look up the paper in that town to see what its newspaper or homepage looks like, what that outlet is telling the world is most important so close to home. We should show and tell these designs as often as possible and provide context with it. By creating these conversations, we can unify designers across the world because we all think in terms of news value and process. We have many differences, but the design is what binds us together, so by using that, we can grow internationally. The more we can normalize these conversations, the more inclusive we can be.
What role do you think SND could play in the different design hubs and how do we attract those designers to become members?
TK SAJEEV KUMAR
As you can see during the pandemic many old members shifted from print to other professional platforms. In the process they had left SND. So we must also incorporate other designers who are working in other platforms. To attract them to our society, we can think about design competitions which can cater to social media, advertisement, architecture and app designing. This is a first step to reach out to others. It will not affect the world SND because in every profession there is NEWS. And designing is an inevitable part of it
DOUGLAS OKASAKI
There is plenty of membership, subscriptions, and online services that are sharing the pocket of future members. We are a very specific industry, and we need to keep it in mind. But still … we will only continue to be relevant if we can solve the designer’s problems. SND could play the role of advocate, mentor, guidance through the alternative storyteller, showcase the best solutions and alternatives for smart design in the design hubs. And of course, bring people together… even if it is online… but one day the normal will return.
RYAN HILDEBRANDT
We need to talk directly to designers in hubs, and speak and teach to the work they do. Most of news design in the US is in a hub, yet SND’s continue to teach in the context of designers in newsrooms. There’s a ton of talent in the hubs. Some hubs are working on digital design. Corporate memberships could be a good step toward those members, but we can’t depend on that. Our model should figure out how to turn these designers into members. But, strong gains in membership amongst hub designers, is only a small piece of the puzzle. So, while this is an important focus area, it alone won’t ensure SND’s future.
SEAN MCKEOWN-YOUNG
When I was Creative Director of the Gannett Des Moines Studio, I welcomed any and all participation from outside groups; educational opportunities, social gatherings, anything. The good thing about the design studios and hubs is that there aren’t hundreds of them located disparately. As board members, we can and should offer to make visits and offer deep group membership discounts. A relevant bit of informational training, several dozen bagels and an on-the-spot membership offer with incentive can go a long way.
TARA MCCARTY
My answer for a lot of these questions comes down to the same things: inclusivity, showing people their thoughts and ideas are valued. Of course we should have someone clued in at each design hub, just as we should have contact with design schools and other organizations. Building this community is the most important thing we can work on — going to others, not just waiting for them to come to us.
I’ve noticed that a lot of the focus of SND in the past has been print design. How will you help include a wider range of designers into the equation, including people who focus on social design or smaller digital projects?
DOUGLAS OKASAKI
If before SND help guide what was the best pagination system (Atex, DTI) … now SND can help about how to keep font size consistency across platforms (mobile, desktop, tablets) Problems and confusion are always there… what changes are the possibilities … I am willing to pay membership if SND help save my time to figure out the best ways to reach what I need in the design sphere.
RYAN HILDEBRANDT
SND should be digital first. We’re not shining the spotlight enough on social, longform or interactive projects. There’s soooo much good social design happening out there. We need to recruit more digital talent into our volunteer and leadership ranks – people who’ve never even considered print. As a digital creative director with an extensive print background, it’s so easy to slip back into my print mentality – especially when i see a clever, beautifully-designed 1A or features front. We’ve tried to think digital-first, but it’s so easy slip back to what we know. And, I think we’ve regressed.
SEAN MCKEOWN-YOUNG
The reality is that increasingly, we’re all digital designers in some way. The nature of the changes that have occurred within our industry over the last decades and the changes happening currently mean that more focus on digital design isn’t just a better use of our time as an organization, it’s integral to our continuation. Better representing digital design, especially smaller digital design, in the contests and in the conferences is smart. I believe the big questions we’re facing, as designers, is how to integrate. I started talking with newsrooms about the idea of ‘universal’ design about ten years ago – the idea that a media project’s assets should offer readers a seamless design aesthetic across platform, best using that platform as a means of story-telling. Over the last several years I’ve worked with the New Orleans Times-Picayune, NJ.com, the Cleveland Plain-Dealer and Cleveland.com to come up with design strategies with digital and print assets. I’d like to use that knowledge to help better inform print designers and digital designers. We’d all be better for understanding that we’re all at the same table.
TARA MCCARTY
This question is a little similar to the one asking about SND becoming an organization that supports the gamut of the design’s future. If we can make room to include designers who focus on social or custom coded projects, we can build a foundation for those kinds of designers to take part in the organization in a big way. Inclusivity, y’all!
How will each of you help the Society refocus its efforts to connect with a changing industry and evolving membership?
TK SAJEEV KUMAR
It is team work that is essential here. But at first we have to rectify some basic flaws and identify, acknowledge and find solutions for problems
DOUGLAS OKASAKI
Focus on the needs / problems of SND members and solve them. Also, to fortify some aspects that SND are well-known; competition, conference and workshops.
RYAN HILDEBRANDT
Outreach is going to be crucial, and we have to be smart about it. There are so many different design-related roles in news organizations. UX and product designers, developers, illustrators, graphic artists, print designers. We need to recruit leaders from each of those professions to help us connect with potential members inside those organizations – to help us promote SND. Those roles could be starting points for micro-communities within SND.
SEAN MCKEOWN-YOUNG
I’m hoping that one of my previous answers, to “Becky, how do you see SND becoming an organization that supports the gamut of the design’s future, which is so different from a decade ago?” may best answer this question. Personally, I think this is one of our first priorities as a largely new board. My first goal would be to explore new sources of revenue but my second would be to personally begin better attracting smaller newsroom designers and international designers. Much of my personal career has been focused on merging traditional and evolving media platforms for better design. I’d continue that work within SND.
TARA MCCARTY
I want to connect students with design professionals, work with design departments and professors to get the future of our industry involved from the start. Without these kinds of efforts, I wouldn’t have been part of SND and who knows if I would be working in design right now. I want to pay that forward. I also want to be part of our efforts to diversify and bring people from all over together. Design teams are consistently one of the more diverse groups within newsrooms and other companies. I want to bring more people who identify as a designer together to make our contests more well-rounded and competitive and pull the organization out of the mindset where print comes first and national papers rule all. We are so much more than that.
The word ‘news’ can be problematic at times and can narrow who might become a member – do you see a way of expanding our membership reach outside of the traditional newsrooms to other places that still do that same kind of content design or should we focus on expanding membership inside of newsrooms to include more developers, product directors, etc
TK SAJEEV KUMAR
I have already answered it….As you can see during the pandemic many old members shifted from print to other professional platforms. In the process they had left SND. So we must also incorporate other designers who are working in other platforms. To attract them to our society, we can think about design competitions which can cater to social media, advertisement, architecture and app designing. This is a first step to reach out to others. It will not affect the world SND because in every profession there is NEWS. And designing is an inevitable part of it
DOUGLAS OKASAKI
True… news is not any more news… maybe change for “content” … “information”; ” User experience” … The best of content design… Worth putting this topic for a deep discussion.
RYAN HILDEBRANDT
I want to SND members wherever journalism is happening – whether that be a traditional newsroom or magazine, news site, culture site, gossip site, etc.
SEAN MCKEOWN-YOUNG
The answer to this one is tough. I would seriously consider changing the name of SND to SMD – Society for Media Design. I’d argue that it may better reflect who we are and what we do. It also opens up a broader membership base. I’ve actually thought about this for almost two decades, almost from the day that I was introduced to SND. For the majority of our members, the idea that we ‘design’ the news isn’t problematic but, as the concept of ‘fake news’ has become a greater threat, we may want to distance ourselves from the idea that we ‘design the news.’ I hope that I’m communicating the difference. The broader population is increasingly and smartly wary of the idea that the news can be manipulated. As an organization, it’s important that we defend our membership, who are finding the best ways to aesthetically present breaking news and current events in intelligent and easy to read formats. It’s also important that we step away from potential controversy and offer easier language for our members to present what it is that we all do.
TARA MCCARTY
I think of the word “news” in SND as our link to journalism. We aren’t just making pretty things. We are merging journalism with problem-solving to present an audience with facts. I’m not opposed to adjusting the SND name, but I don’t want to lose sight of who we are as a group. We are journalists.