THE NOT-SO-PLAIN DEALER

Work, wit and wisdom from Ohio's best visual team
The crushing weight of debt Business, February 9, 2013 Ted Crow, illustrator The simple yet sophisticated style that Ted brings to the figure in this illustration almost makes us feel the burden ourselves. For a consumer-centric wire story about the crushing weight of personal short-term debt. From the Chicago Tribune story: Lawrence Berger, a University of Wisconsin-Madison associate professor of social work, has found that when the dollar amount of a person’s debt increases by 10 percent, depressive symptoms — such as not being able to shake the blues, feeling lonely or having trouble eating or sleeping — increase by 14 percent. Here’s how it played on the page: copyright 2013

The crushing weight of debt

Business, February 9, 2013

Ted Crow, illustrator

The simple yet sophisticated style that Ted brings to the figure in this illustration almost makes us feel the burden ourselves. For a consumer-centric wire story about the crushing weight of personal short-term debt.

From the Chicago Tribune story:

Lawrence Berger, a University of Wisconsin-Madison associate professor of social work, has found that when the dollar amount of a person’s debt increases by 10 percent, depressive symptoms — such as not being able to shake the blues, feeling lonely or having trouble eating or sleeping — increase by 14 percent.

Here’s how it played on the page:

020913_C01_Debt

copyright 2013

Hearty Gras Friday! Magazine, February 8, 2013 Andrea Levy, photographer/illustrator When Marti Gras and Valentine’s Day coincide, there’s lots to love. Like this delightful Andrea Levy illo. copyright 2013

Hearty Gras

Friday! Magazine, February 8, 2013

Andrea Levy, photographer/illustrator

When Marti Gras and Valentine’s Day coincide, there’s lots to love. Like this delightful Andrea Levy illo.

copyright 2013

Cocoa for your Valentineis a sweet (and hot) idea. Style & Taste, February 6, 2013 Amanda Petkiewicz, designer; Chris Morris, illustrator Food and restaurant editor Joe Crea has a simple proposal for Valentine’s Day. Not the bended knee kind, but rather a warm, casual, easy thing: Is there anything more wonderful than curling up on an icy midwinter day with somebody you love — just the two of you—and a couple of cups of hot chocolate? ¶ In the realm of life’s simple pleasures, it doesn’t get much better. Or, sweeter. Or, frankly, easier. Find lots of recipes here. Your Valentine will love it. And you. copyright 2013

Cocoa for your Valentine
is a sweet (and hot) idea.

Style & Taste, February 6, 2013

Amanda Petkiewicz, designer; Chris Morris, illustrator

Food and restaurant editor Joe Crea has a simple proposal for Valentine’s Day. Not the bended knee kind, but rather a warm, casual, easy thing:

Is there anything more wonderful than curling up on an icy midwinter day with somebody you love — just the two of you—and a couple of cups of hot chocolate? ¶ In the realm of life’s simple pleasures, it doesn’t get much better. Or, sweeter. Or, frankly, easier.

Find lots of recipes here. Your Valentine will love it. And you.

copyright 2013

28 reasons to love winter

Friday! Magazine, February 1, 2013

Andrea Levy, photographer/illustrator; Lisa Griffis, designer

Andrea’s imagery set a nice mood for our guide to outdoor February fun, and Lisa’s design-hand was as soft as the new fallen snow.

And the animated version that appeared online is subtle and elegant.

Yes, the post is late (your not-so-plain blogger has been out having too much fun!) but there’s still time to do at least half of the things on the list that Debbi Snook compiled. Click here for inspiration.

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Need an insurance illo? Ted has it covered Business, January 26, 2013 Ted Crow, illustrator; Reid Brown, designer Bit of a different style for Ted in bringing some life to this wire q&a about insurance. copyright 2013

Need an insurance illo?
Ted has it covered

Business, January 26, 2013

Ted Crow, illustrator; Reid Brown, designer

Bit of a different style for Ted in bringing some life to this wire q&a about insurance.

copyright 2013

Cleveland’s most polarizing figure January 27, 2013 David Kordalski, Bill Lammers, designers Here in the best location in the nation, nobody — not even LeBron — brings out more charged feelings than former Browns owner Art Modell. So on the eve of a vote that might possibly put him into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, we presented a pro/con on the merits of Modell’s candidacy. The PD’s Bill Livingston outlines the negative argument, while Baltimore’s Peter Schmuck makes the positive case for Modell’s induction. According to the Cleveland fans voting in our online poll, that Baltimore Schmuck didn’t have a chance of changing their minds … as of this writing, with over 7,500 votes cast, nearly 92% say no way. You can read more opinions and cast your vote here. The Plain Dealer file photograph that we digitally altered for this presentation was by retired picture editor Richard Conway, a remarkable photographer and a veritable walking encyclopedia of everything Cleveland. copyright 2013

Cleveland’s most polarizing figure

January 27, 2013

David Kordalski, Bill Lammers, designers

Here in the best location in the nation, nobody — not even LeBron — brings out more charged feelings than former Browns owner Art Modell.

So on the eve of a vote that might possibly put him into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, we presented a pro/con on the merits of Modell’s candidacy.

The PD’s Bill Livingston outlines the negative argument, while Baltimore’s Peter Schmuck makes the positive case for Modell’s induction.

According to the Cleveland fans voting in our online poll, that Baltimore Schmuck didn’t have a chance of changing their minds … as of this writing, with over 7,500 votes cast, nearly 92% say no way.

You can read more opinions and cast your vote here.

The Plain Dealer file photograph that we digitally altered for this presentation was by retired picture editor Richard Conway, a remarkable photographer and a veritable walking encyclopedia of everything Cleveland.

copyright 2013

A second helping of 50 foods

Friday Magazine, January 25, 2013

Amanda Petkiewicz, designer; Peggy Turbett, Lisa DeJong, Allison Carey, Lonnie Timmons III, Gus Chan, Lynn Ischay and Thomas Ondrey, photographers

Last year we did such a kick-ass job in presenting the 50 must-eats in and around Cleveland that when challenged to tackle the topic again with 50 different foods, well, frankly, your not-so-plain blogger was skeptical.

But the visual staff — happily — proved me wrong. In fact, I’m thinking that  making me eat crow rather than one of the 50 foods might even have been their prime motivation.

Peggy, Lisa and Allison (with some help from Lonnie, Gus, Lynn and Tom) shot 50 mouthwatering shots at 50 different locations, and Amanda served it up on a marvelous structure that gives each tasty morsel its due.

An appetizer for the whole project is this Jon Fobes special video trailer.

An online version of the 2013 is here.

And if you happened to miss the first 50, you can see those pages here.

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Never kiss off a cool opportunity Style&Taste, January 16, 2013 Amanda Petkiewicz, designer To celebrate the 40th birthday of Cleveland-based Bonne Bell’s Lip Smacker, Amanda planted a big one — or more precisely, 118 little ones — on the cover of Style&Taste. Born from necessity, and 800 flavors later, Bonne Bell’s product is still going strong. Read Emily Hamlin Smith’s story here. copyright 2013

Never kiss off a cool opportunity

Style&Taste, January 16, 2013

Amanda Petkiewicz, designer

To celebrate the 40th birthday of Cleveland-based Bonne Bell’s Lip Smacker, Amanda planted a big one — or more precisely, 118 little ones — on the cover of Style&Taste. Born from necessity, and 800 flavors later, Bonne Bell’s product is still going strong.

Read Emily Hamlin Smith’s story here.

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Inside pages need love, too

Books, January 13 and 27, 2013

Chris Morris, illustrator; Lisa Griffis, designer

With just a bit of effort and planning, inside pages can offer surprise to our readers. Chris and Lisa combined to do just that. Special thanks to outgoing book editor Karen Long for always recognizing the need to make these pages thoughtful, and to incoming book editor Joanna Connors for continuing the commitment.

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Second inaugural

January 22, 2013

Scott Sheldon, David Kordalski, Tim Graham, designers; Gus Chan, picture editor

For the second inauguration of Barack Obama, we, like most news outlets, didn’t commit to as much coverage as four years ago. But given that, a tidy job nonetheless, with six inside pages, including the full text of the inaugural address.

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