The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal won eight awards at the Minnesota Newspaper Association Best Newspaper Contest Awards on Jan. 24 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Bloomington. Despite being a weekly, MSPBJ competed in the daily circulation of 10,000 or more, taking home six first-place awards, one second place and one third. MSPBJ took first place in Typography and Design, General Reporting, Advertising Excellence, Self-Promotion or House Ad, Use of Information Graphic

It is interesting when ideas strike our brains. Most of the time, we can formulate a concept by past experiences. That's what happened to me while coming up with the design for the Jan. 18, 2019 cover story in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Without even realizing it, I created an illustration that is similar to one of the best heavy metal records of all time. I have no idea how the concept got into my head. Only when I was done and about to send the paper to the p

After working in a deadline-driven career for nearly 23 years, I have developed a saying: "Somehow, it always gets done." I have to remind myself that once and while, because there are times in my job I'm flirting with not making that happen. I feel pressure to come up with a look and design that makes sense and compliments a story. Some stories are easy. Other times it's like your brain is spinning the Price Is Right wheel, hoping it stops on $1.00. And if that happens, you