Name: Crystal Osborn
Profile: Deputy Art Director
How did you score your job at DOLLY?
I graduated from Billy Blue School of Graphic Arts in 2004. I knew I wanted to get in to the publishing industry so I could combine both my passions for design and illustration. My first job was designing ads for TNT magazine. I was there for 6 months when an amazing opportunity came up for a designer on Notebook: Magazine in the editorial department. I learned so much from so many amazing and talented people and worked my way up to Senior Designer. I also loved the opportunity of illustrating for them on a regular basis. Half way through the December 2010 issue, we were told they were closing the magazine. We were all very close and I knew I needed to find a lovely team like the one I had just worked with for so long. I had seen that Dolly were looking for a Deputy Art Director and quickly emailed Tiff in the hope that I wasn’t too late. The girls were so lovely and I think my timing was just right.
What does your job at DOLLY involve?
When I’m given a story to design, I read the copy and then come up with how the page will look. This could involve an image search, an illustration or working with supplied images. When I’ve found what I’m looking for I begin to put it all together on the page by styling the fonts and coming up with the right typography for headings to make it easy for our readers to navigate through the mag. I work with our lovely art director on putting the pages together and when it’s been through the rest of the talented team members, we then get the file ready for printing.
What do you love most about working at DOLLY?
I love being creative and coming up with ideas for how a page is going to look. It’s always nice to see the finished product in the mag when it’s printed.
What’s the hardest part?
The deadlines. They come around fast!
What advice do you have for anyone who wants to work at mags?
Take any opportunity you can get for a foot in the door. Once you’ve got some experience and contacts then you’re on your way.
