Design Mind

by Nicolette Good

Name: Chuck Kerr (B.A. ’07) Age: 28 Location: San Antonio Major: Music Job: Art Director, San Antonio Current

Quick look: Award-winning graphic designer for an alternative news weekly. First in his family to graduate from college. Moonlights as a jazz percussionist and songwriter.

When did you decide to pursue graphic design as a career?
I’ve always been really interested in two things: playing the drums and drawing. (Also, Batman.) At St. Mary’s, if I wasn’t in the music department, I was in the Rattler office. If the whole “best drummer ever” thing didn’t take off, I knew I’d be happy doing graphic design.

How did you land your job with the Current?
My senior year I interned in the Current’s production department. The art director left, and they needed someone to jump in quickly. It was a full-time position, and I was still a full-time student. I accepted on the condition that I could still take classes.

Was it tough pulling double duty?
For a year and a half, I worked a 40-hour week at the Current and took at least 12 hours a semester at St. Mary’s. I was still an editor at the Rattler, and I was on a music scholarship, which meant playing in all the required ensembles. I was also playing jazz gigs downtown at night. It was pretty crazy.

Did the overtime pay off?
My first year at the Current I won first place for my cover design from the Association of Alternative Newsmedia. My professors — especially Dr. John Rankin and John Moore — were incredibly supportive of me during that hectic period. I literally would not be where I am today if not for the music faculty.

What’s the toughest part of your job?
Trying to not repeat myself. Since 2006, I have designed more than 300 covers of the Current. Some of my best covers have come out of having thoughts like, “Well, I’ve never made the cover out of cake or Legos before, let’s do that.”

Who do you keep tabs on in your field?
My favorite weekly designer is Richard Turley at the ridiculously great Bloomberg Businessweek. This guy is like a rock star. It is the hippest, most fun magazine around, and it’s all dedicated to the stock market, the economy and corporations.