Conference

On Tuesday, March 24^th, the School of Print Media held the 2009 RIT Gravure Day, introducing the theme of Networking, Collaboration, and Standardization. The day created an open forum to nurture the understanding of the Gravure Process and allow participants to explore career opportunities within the Gravure Industry.

The day began with a welcome from the Associate Dean of CIAS, Frank Cost, and an update of Gravure at RIT by School of Print Media Professor, Robert Chung. The day then shifted into discussions on the process, roles, and challenges gravure faces today. Presentations were given by Paul Steen, Group Manager, Circular Operations Target Corporation, Minneapolis, MN on the Role of Gravure at Target; Tim Flynn, Manufacturing Manager, Gravure Process, RR Donnelley, Lancaster, PA on Meeting the Challenges of Providing Gravure Print Product for Today’s Magazine, Catalog, and Retail Insert Markets; and Rod Sosa, Technical Development Manager Armstrong, Lancaster, PA on the Gravure Process and the Flooring Industry.

The event then shifted into networking offering a one-on-one speed networking with Gravure Day speakers. Lunch was then offered with closing remarks on the day given by CIAS dean, Joan Stone and a closing presentation by Rod Sosa on Graphical Editing Framework and Its Educational Mission.

Popularity: 11% [?]

Congratulations to RIT TAGA, who won the Best Overall Publication Award at the TAGA Conference in New Orleans!

The chapter competed against 6 other universities for 4 awards: Best Overall, Best Production, Best Design, and Attendee’s Choice. In addition to winning the Best Overall Publication, TAGA also won the Attendee’s Choice award. TAGA was awarded a trophy cup for their win. It will be temporarily on display in the SPM office.

TAGA’s book this year focused on the idea of accessibility. The group produced a technical journal that is accessible to not only graphic arts professionals, but also those unfamiliar to the industry. Within the technical papers, are highlighted terms that are defined and translated into German, French, Spanish, and Chinese to deepen understanding in relationship to the context of the paper. These words were also complied into a glossary. The design of the journal was simple and basic to increase functionality.  The book was designed to make its elements accessible to all, including technical papers, design, production.

Clemson University took home the Best Design and Best Production awards for their journal using phosphorescent inks.

RIT TAGA is comprised of students, freshman to seniors, majoring in New Media Publishing, Graphic Media, Graphic Design, Visual Media, Photography, and more. Congratulations to all those who contributed to the journal.

Popularity: 20% [?]

On April 15th, 2009, the Paul & Louise Miller Professorship & the School of Print Media will sponsor the next Paul & Louise Miller Lecture: “News Media Today: A Look at Emerging Career Opportunities.” It will be held at 4:00 PM in the Van Peursum Auditorium, Gosnell Building 08-1250. The lecture will focus on the future jobs in news media as well as the needed skill sets. The hosting panel includes: Patricia Albanese, Gannett Distinguished Professor of CIAS, Brian Ambor, VP operations of the Democrat & Chronicle, Rudolph Pugliese, Professor of College of Liberal Arts, and Virgil Smith, VP talent Management of Gannett Co., Inc.  The panel will be moderated by Twyla Cummings, Paul & Louise Miller Distinguished Professor. Everyone is encouraged to attend to learn more about the future of the news media industry. A reception will follow the event.

Popularity: 6% [?]

The Wayzgooze celebration was a fun place for RIT students, faculty, staff, and outside printing firms to join and network with one another. Great music, food, dancing, and events made a successful night for all involved to meet new people and learn more about the printing industry.

Wayzgooze is a long-standing tradition in the history of printing. It is currently celebrated with a dinner, where printers gather to talk about the art they share. Rochester Club of Printing House Craftsmen, Inc. and RIT’s School of Print Media sponsored this year’s Wayzgooze celebration. Other attendees included Monroe Litho and Hawver Display.

The celebration kicked off with the OPL, Open Publishing Lab, implementing their Social Networking Game, a unique way for all attendees to interact. Read Sean Conklin’s post “Networking Just Got a Little More Social” to learn more. Also included was a delicious dinner, recognition of printing awards, and a Jeopardy Game in which students and professionals battled it out, testing their printing knowledge.

In all, it was a fun night to share the common interest of printing. The Wayzgooze celebration was a great way to promote Printing Week, recognize outstanding accomplishments in the industry, and a fun way for all to network.

Popularity: 10% [?]