Brian F. Young

 Young Design
Tel 240 441 0730

Graphic Designer Brian Young is a graphic griot.  "As a graphic designer, I bring words to life with literal imagery.   I see myself as part of a team that helps pass on our history and knowledge of currents events," he said.

From Young's perspective, many Black publications struggle to survive partially because they too often present readers with graphic layouts that do not compete with the designs in non-Black publications.   "A non-effective design has a financial impact," he added.

Young explained that most advertisers see publications as vehicles to reach current and potential customers.  He added that vehicles that look uninviting are not the ones that many readers will want to read or share with others. 

"Our experiences," he says, "have conditioned us to print newspapers, magazines, advertisements, and other communication tools that are not as good as consumers should expect from us.  The words may be on point, but image wise, many of the publications and other communication tools lack fuel."   However, Young has observed that newer Black publications are breaking from the past.  "They are more likely to have competitive contemporary designs that compete with the layouts that are often in non-Black publications."

Since its biannual May 2003 issue, Young (who is not related to Port Of Harlem publisher Wayne Young) has worked with Port Of Harlem.  "I saw the publication as one with substance, something we rarely see in our community.  To make it solid, it needed a more competitive design," he commented.

Since designing the cover for the May 2003 - October 2003 issue, Young has increased his involvement with the magazine and is now fully responsible for its mature, competitive look, cover to cover.  "Wayne, the publisher is responsible for the words.  I take care of the images," he added.  Young also demonstrates his massive creativity by giving each of the advertisements that he designs in the publication a unique look.

To stimulate his creativity, he routinely looks at the work of other designers, reads design publications, and talks with other professionals in the industry. However, being creative is only one part of the job; a proficient designer in today's world must be technologically astute.  "I learn how to use new software and hardware every year," he said.

He added,  "However, it's not so much about how many packages a designer knows, but how proficient he or she is with the design tools he or she uses."   With Port Of Harlem, Young also troubleshoots and corrects problems created when other players in the production process, such as a printer, uses a process or software not fully compatible with the software or process that Port Of Harlem uses.

His interest in graphic designing started when he was a child.  Simply put, he wanted to draw like his cousin.  At Bishop McNamara High School in suburban Maryland,  he would voluntarily create flyers and posters for school dances and other activities. "In high school, I won an art award.  That pushed my interest even further," he recalls.

After a year at Prince Georges Community College, an instructor noticed Young's artistic gift and suggested that he enroll in a more challenging curriculum.  After investigating several schools, his father, John Young, enrolled him at the Corcoran School or Art. 

"I spent the first year developing a foundation by studying a broad range of art genres from painting graphics to photography.  During my second year, I gravitated to graphic arts," he recalled.   In those days, most designers, including Young, did their work by hand on drafting tables and used waxers and rulers.