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Book success for USC graduate Dean
When University of the Sunshine Coast arts graduate Dean Jacobs’ first book is published next year, his first two readers will get special treatment.
The Caloundra 30-year-old and his wife Kylene will be reading the children’s picture book aloud to their toddler daughter and new baby due this November.
“It looks like 2010 will be huge for us,” said Dean, who wrote and illustrated the book in 2006 with Kylene while they were studying computer-based art and design at USC.
Dean, a graphic designer who works from home, was delighted to get the publishing deal.
New Frontier will release the book ‘Where are you, Baby Roo?’, which is based on the former Kawana Waters High School student’s patriotism and love of native animals.
In April Dean will find out if he’s on the shortlist for the Children’s Book Council of Australia annual awards for his illustration work on another book.
“I illustrated ‘Colin the Cranky Kookaburra’ by author Murray Forbes and it’s been nominated in two CBCA categories: the Crichton award for best new illustrator and Picture book of the year,” he said.
Dean said the knowledge and skills he honed at USC also contributed to the growing success of the couple’s design agency, Bizy Bug Creative <www.bizybugcreative.com>, which has clients in fields such as property advertising.
“I won my first client while I was at University,” he said. “The owner of DKC, a children’s hairdresser at Currimundi, came to a lecture and offered students the chance to win a $500 contract to create their branding. I won and I’m still doing work for them now.”
He said USC lecturers such as Associate Professor Gary Crew (Creative Writing) had taught him the importance of communication to reach potential employers and clients.
“There are so many seasoned professionals who inspired and guided me at USC,” he said. “I want to come back, possibly to do a teaching degree.”
– Julie Gatehouse