SND/Update

Society President Gayle Grin announced this week that Felix Soh will be the new regional director of the vast Asia/Pacific region. Soh is taking over from Peter Ong, who resigned after many years in this role. Soh is the design editor as well as digital media editor of The Straits Times, Asia’s largest-circulation English language newspaper.

Society President Gayle Grin announced this week that Jon Wile is the new regional director of the East Coast Metro region, which includes New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington. Wile takes over from Shraddha Swaroop, who resigned to return to California. Wile is a front page designer at The Washington Post during the election and inauguration period. His full-time role is as The Post’s lead sports designer.

Society President Gayle Grin announced this week that Matt Martel joins the SND board as country coordinator of Australia and New Zealand. Martel is the Managing Editor, Presentation for The Sydney Morning Herald. Martel was in charge of design and graphics at The Age in Melbourne, and had the same role at the New Zealand Herald in Auckland.

Thanks to all members for the overwhelming response we had to our call for someone to edit the next Best of Newspaper Design™ annual. The competition committee director, the three elected officers and the executive director have reviewed dozens of applications. We now have two finalists and will be contacting those individuals soon. We believe either candidate will be a fine editor for “the book,” which is something all Society members in good standing receive. We will report back soon when we have the new editor in place.

In SND’s custom-illustrated deck of playing cards, each card (including the jokers) was designed by a different illustrator — we’re talking Martin Gee, Andrea Levy, Stephanie Grace Lim, Guillermo Munro, Deborah Withey, Joe Zeff and dozens of other award-winning designers. Jonathon Hoefler designed the card backs and box, and provided the typography. SND leaders served as art directors for this mini-gallery. Each deck is just $20 (or $220 for a dozen) and proceeds benefit the SND Foundation. The numbers are limited — don’t wait! Order today.

If you have not seen it, SND member Sara Qinn has a wonderful interview about information graphics with Nigel Holmes on the Poynter site. Great advice!

Tyson Evans is leaving Las Vegas.

Tyson will join the Interactive News Technology team at The New York Times after the general election in November.

Tyson, who many SND members know from his work on this here site, has been a driving force behind the transformation of the Las Vegas Sun’s Web site, as well as designer on the print edition of the Sun.

And, of course, he worked tirelessly on SND Vegas last month as the co-chair of the annual workshop.

The Society for News Design is seeking an editor for the 30th edition of “The Best of Newspaper Design™” and a cover image for same edition.

The book editor produces the book as a work for hire for a stipend, and is credited as the editor. For more information or to apply, contact Marshall Matlock, Subject: Book Editor’s Position, by Oct. 31, 2008.

Bonita Burton shares the details in this staff memo:

I’m sorry to announce that multimedia artist Tory Hargro is leaving the [Orlando] Sentinel for a multimedia producer position at USA Today. His last day will be Oct. 31.

Steph Yiu asked 21 people what they will remember most about the workshop.