Featured image by Gabby Manotoc
Photos courtesy of Eli Schneider
Last summer, Schneider was living in Long Island, but this time around he’s in the heart of Manhattan. “I love being so close to everything!”
New York is commonly known as being the breeding ground of the young and hungry, yet it is rare to come across someone still in university who knows exactly where he’s headed even if it takes “sleeping in a cardboard box… to be in this city.”
Eli Schneider is a fourth-year graphic design major and photography minor who’s had his eye on a successful career ever since high school. A born adventure-seeker, he “always knew [he] wanted to [study] far away” from his home in Kansas. But the challenge was finding a school that married his love for athletics and art.
He was recognized early on by his high school art teacher for being a modern-day renaissance man and suggested SCAD as the right fit. “I visited SCAD in November of my senior year [of high school]. I had a portfolio review and met with the cross-country coach… After that, my mind was set.”
Still, affording a private university isn’t smooth sailing. “My dad’s a firefighter, my mom’s a teacher and I have a twin who would be going to college at the same time.” Yet, as Schneider could not stress enough, his parents said they would do whatever it takes “to get me to where I wanted to go.” This overwhelming determination and ambition is something he has carried throughout his time at SCAD.
Upon his arrival, one thing was certain: Schneider loved working with so many mediums he couldn’t decide which to focus on. His initial portfolio had “charcoal drawings, photography, printmaking and painting.” After speaking to his high school art teacher again, he decided to major in graphic design because of the nature of the field. He didn’t feel bound to a method because the work relies on being able to decide what is the most effective format and medium for the intent.
Soon, Schneider found a deep love for publications and editorial design. Being a photography minor as well, it was beneficial “to know how to crop, size and prepare an image for production,” whether it be on paper or on the screen. “I see myself excelling in anything that involves type in relation to image.”
Schneider loves running in Central Park and exploring the city.
His portfolio led him to his first internship in New York city at Town and Country magazine during the summer after his second year.That was when his love for the city began to grow. “I’m a walker… I love to explore everything. I thought that coming from Kansas, I would be overwhelmed; but I fit right in!”
He returned to school with a goal in mind: to find his way back to New York. Schneider started looking for internships in publications as early as mid-winter quarter. He specifically wanted something both paid and in the art department. Fulfilling both criterions would be difficult, so he reached out to Graphic Design Professor Jane Zash. Through a personal recommendation as well as a strong, prepared portfolio, Schneider found himself flying out to New York for an interview with DuJour magazine. He was hired and now works twice a week as an intern in the art department.
Working for DuJour is an “exciting experience.” The magazine was founded in 2012 and has since existed as an award-winning hybrid publication consisting of both online digital content as well as a print magazine that comes out four times a year. The most challenging thing for Schneider is “not being at work enough!”
On a day to day basis, Schneider prepares art files to be published on the web. He makes sure they are optimized for the screen and if there are no withstanding images, he has to research and find appropriate ones. He even made several banners for the site. He’s also had the chance to pitch a few ideas for different design directions stories can take.
When asked about the editorial debate between print and digital, he firmly stated he “personally love[s] print.” The sensory experience leaves a lasting impression. There’s a permanence because of “the emotional connection that becomes an experience. When you look at the facts, people still buy print magazines. They say [the medium] is dying because it’s harder to start a new one when so many people are loyal to established brands.”
Schneider said he’s constantly worried about whether what he’s “creating [is] good enough.” Yet that doesn’t deter his drive. He said he plans to be an art director in the future. “I love conceptual thinking. I want to follow ideas and … be behind the creation of something before it goes out.” As with every aspect of his career, he’s already planned out his final year of school.
He said he wants to take the Publication Design elective that’s only offered in winter quarter and defer his photography classes until spring so his portfolio is as strong as possible as soon as possible. He’s also been networking with professionals he met in New York.
Gabby Manotoc has been Creative Director for District for the past three years. She also designs the Port City Review, the student produced and curated annual literary arts journal of SCAD.
