Graphic designer is making career strides in Minneapolis
An MSU graduate is gaining recognition in the world of graphic design.
Jeremy Nelson, class of 2001, won a gold and two silver awards from the Minnesota Magazine and Publications Association last fall.
Nelson is a graphic designer with Greenspring Media Group of Minneapolis. The firm publishes 16 local and national publications including Minnesota Monthly, Midwest Home and Midwest Home Chicago.
Nelson earned the three awards for his art direction of Meetings: The Minnesota’s Hospitality Journal. The publication is a resource for meeting planners in the Upper Midwest.
The gold award was for the best use of visuals/art category for the cover article "Demotivator: Attack of the Misguided Meeting" in the spring 2006 issue.
One silver award was for best overall design for the fall 2005 and spring 2006 issues.
A second silver was for the best use of visuals/photography in the spring 2006 issue. On this project, he collaborated with photographer Stephen Geffre, a 1999 MSU graduate.
While at MSU, Nelson parlayed a graphic design internship into a two-year job with the Minot Daily News. Geffre worked there as a staff photographer.
"I knew Stephen’s talents having worked with him at the Minot Daily," Nelson said. "So when I needed a photographer for a particular assignment, I knew he would do a great job."
Nelson attributes some of his recent success to the personal attention he received at MSU.
"There were a lot of opportunities for students that they wouldn't get at a larger school," he said. "It was nice to have more of a hands-on, personal relationship with professors."
A closet-size graphics lab grew into a fully functional space during his time at the university. Even more important was the direction provided by instructor Bill Harbort.
"His challenging assignments gave us a good taste of what the industry had in store," Nelson said. "Although his critiques were sometimes pretty tough, he was very influential in making me the designer I am today."
The Minot native majored in graphic design and minored in marketing. He also contributed his talents to the MSU Broadcasting Department.
Nelson lives in St. Paul and works in Minneapolis. His parents, who live in Arizona, would like him to relocate there, but he prefers the Upper Midwest.
"I'm pretty happy where I am currently," he said. "I'm getting tons of great experience."