Simply Magazine

WE fix WATER

EDITOR from the LETTER

Iremember my first day stepping foot into Southeast Technical College. I was intimidated, nervous, and scared about my degree choice. To keep a long story short, my choice to attend the media design technology program was a spontaneous decision. Little did I know that I would grow to become passionate about design.

I have always considered myself a creative person. I was never the best at drawing or painting, but I loved attempting it. My art teachers always stressed the importance of sketching. “Remember that anything you create is composed of nothing more than shapes,” they said. That’s a simple concept to understand. Right? As the years went by, I gradually developed an interest in music.

I taught myself how

realized that chord shapes were only a few notes that sounded great together. Simple enough. Right? Can you see the pattern yet? No? How about this? This paragraph you’re reading has been stripped down to its simplest form. I hope you notice the pattern I’m trying to paint.

As someone who has always made things complicated for herself, the most significant takeaway I have had in the past two years is to stop overcomplicating everything. Surprisingly, I began grasping this concept during my design classes. My teacher consistently emphasized the use and importance of simplicity. After repeatedly hearing this, everything fell into place.

‘Simply’ is a magazine that I am proud to share. Not only is it a representation of how I choose to live my life, but it is also a testament to how well Southeast Tech educates its students. As you browse, I hope you’ll notice how readable and visually appealing each page is. From paragraphs to advertisements, I’ve made a conscious effort to prioritize simplicity, aiming to enhance the overall look.

Picture Perfect: a Six Piece Photography Product Spread

$35 Portable battery+ Charger

Inevitably, there will come a time when you go to a photoshoot and forget to charge your battery. This is when your portable battery and charger come in handy. Just hook it up as you drive to your destination or shoot photos.

Camera

A photographer would be nothing without a camera. Before purchasing your first camera, do your research. There are many beginner-friendly cameras out there. The Canon Rebel T7 is an excellent option for beginners. It is budget-friendly and easy to use.

$450 includes lense kit

Lenses

While your camera body is essential, lenses make or break your shots. Luckily, many cameras come in bundles that provide the lenses for you; however, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do your research. Lenses can be confusing initially, but with time, you will understand why spending money on suitable lenses is worth it.

$130 18-55mm lens

$12 SD Card

Without an SD card, you won’t be able to store or transfer your photos to your device. Carrying multiple SD cards will allow

lens filters

$30ea.

Lens filters block specific colors or types of light from coming into the camera. Lense filters also protect your lens from dust, dirt, scratches, etc. The most common filters are UV light, polarizing, skylight, close-up, and neutral dense filters.

Tripod

A tripod is used in place of your hands. It will keep your camera steady when shooting photos. Tripods are particularly handy when shooting portraits or anything that requires a long exposure.

$14

- $50

From a Print Shop to a 5 Star Business

Words and Photos By: Crystal Porraz Lopez

“Remember whose child you are and straighten your crown,” said Christy Beving, co-owner of Downtown Design LLC. Downtown Design is a small business created by Christy Beving and her husband, Jeff Hunter. They are not shy about expressing their Christian values and beliefs; in fact, they embrace them. Their specialization lies in website design and digital marketing. This includes graphic design, development in UX/UI, and the management and hosting of over 150 websites. With 20 years of experience, their business maintains a 5-star rating on Google and Facebook, serving clients from the South Dakota area to Minneapolis, Minnesota.

OKI printers are one of several machines used within print shops.

“What was your first job within the industry?” I asked. “I worked at Office Max in their copy and print department, which was called Copy Max at the time. I was in charge of graphic design, printing, copying, etc. I got a good feel of the fast, low-cost graphic design stuff,” she explained. She mentioned that it was not her favorite job and came with much pressure and stress. However, having that experience led her to obtain a position within a print shop where she would create designs and prepare them for the press.

A cutting blade, ruler, and masking tape are everyday items used within a print environment.

I asked,“Do you think it’s important for graphic designers to have some kind of background in print?” “Yes, because employers are going to look at your experience more than anything else,” Christy replied. She also emphasized the importance of determination, persistence,

and resilience as a graphic designer, particularly when receiving and incorporating feedback into their work. she said. Christy understands

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,”

that her clients have their vision for their products. She noted that she does not take feedback personally and goes as far as to explain why she makes certain choices. She is as honest as possible to guide her clients in the right direction. To avoid numerous revisions, she does what she likes to call a kickoff call.

Print shops typically have more than one printer to speed up the production process.

“I ask a series of questions because we want to start on the same page as our clients. We want to make sure that we know all the details.” This process allows her to start on the right foot with her clients to allow the best outcome for her initial design.

For Christy, maintaining a solid relationship with her clients is a top priority. “One of my favorite things is helping our customers grow their business. When I see sales coming in for them, I get excited. That’s part of my inspiration. I love helping people.”

okay with asking them to use someone else for their project if it leads to that. If we don’t have the same beliefs or standards, we won’t see eye to eye. It’s not worth the frustration for any amount of money.”

“Make sure you love what you do”

It is not all sunshine and rainbows when she’s working; she may encounter demanding clients as well. “How do you handle difficult clients?” I asked. “It depends on the situation, of course. Always being honest, always trying to look at it from their perspective, and ultimately being

About the Author

Christy replied. She further explained that if a client is released or chooses to leave, she has no issue providing a partial or full refund, depending on the circumstances. When asked to offer advice to students entering the design industry, she stated, “Do it because you love it, not because it seems easy. You must stay motivated and strong and truly love what you do.”

Whether you have 20 years of experience in the design field or just 20 days, recognizing that we all start somewhere will ease your mind, hesitations, and fears about pursuing a career in design.

Crystal Porraz Lopez is a design student, guitarist, and lover of all things creative. For her, college was nothing more than a requirement. As she became more consistent in her classes, her confidence and passion for design flourished. Crystal hopes to inspire and encourage others to embrace uncertainty.

Christy Beving: The owner and operator of Downtown Design LLC

Get ZOOK’Dwith Linda Kokenge

Words and Photos By: Crystal Porraz Lopez

Linda Kokenge is a woman of the people. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she had lots of time to think. With a background in marketing and business development, she realized she spent so much time building other communities that she had been neglecting her own. This epiphany ignited a spark in her mind, and she began researching.

created one for it. Zooks can mean many things: a local destination with a big city vibe, locally roasted coffee, or hometown customer service. Along with that, to get Zook’d means to become caffeine-crazed, energizing of the mind or body, or what happens when you visit Zooks.

After 18 months, a small coffee bar in Tea, South Dakota, named Zooks Coffee Bar, officially opened on September 15, 2021. “It’s one of those things I think I did just to see what it would be about, and it just created itself,” Linda said. Zooks is about strengthening her community and giving people a place to connect with friends and family.

The word Zook does not have a textbook definition; however, Linda

When asked why she decided to go with the name Zooks, Linda replied, “I was scrolling through Instagram when someone had just gotten a German shepherd and named him Zooka, and I loved that name. It stuck in my head, but I just blew it off. It stayed in my head for a while, so eventually, I figured there was a reason why it was still in my head, and I just went with it.”

Linda believes that it is not possible to create a business on your own. Even with her background in business development and marketing, she still found herself asking for help. To build her website, Linda reached

out to her niece, who owns a marketing company in Colorado; to build her brand, she reached out to a local designer on LinkedIn, and there were many more resources for other portions of this process.

While opening, she knew she wanted a mural inside the building. Linda reached out to Tea’s local high school, asking if they had any students who would be a good fit to create a mural. One student was a match. After a few conversations and revisions, they began the process. “I’m a big believer that things need to change, especially with how the world is now. Some people get lost in the fact that they can’t change anything, but it all starts with one person,” she said. This ideology led to the creation of the Be the Change mural.

“I believe we impact people every day,” Linda expressed, explaining that something as simple as handing customers their favorite drink can turn their day around. She has even had people express their gratitude for the coffee bar, explaining that they feel safe and relaxed when they step foot into it.

As stated in the interview with Christina Beving (pg.6), owning a business is not all sunshine and rainbows.

“You got to be sure you want to do it. It’s brutal, exhausting, and not for the faint of heart,” Linda explained. Recently, she has become shortstaffed. Due to her staff shortage, she is no longer able to stay open past 3:00 p.m. She also dislikes payroll, inventory, and all the behind-thescenes tasks. Linda rarely gets free time, so when she does, she spends time with family and friends.

When asked about the future of Zooks Coffee Bar, she expressed her shock at how many customers visit from the east side of Sioux Falls. “The people of Sioux Falls want me to open a shop on the east side. If I were to

Linda Kokenge: the owner and operator of Zooks Coffee Bar

Nothing short of brilliant

Ultra-portable smart guitar amp and bluetooth speaker.