Designer creates for future 

The cover for the schedule of classes, with its number laden, futuristic, golden spiral design is the first cover in a long time to be so bold.

"It speaks of the future and the millennium change," said Armando Contreras, executive assistant to the president.

The goal was to create the cover using the Cal State Long Beach Odyssey theme, reaching for the future in a dynamic way, said graphic design major John Tso, the designer of the cover.

"I worked with the administrators to create the design and this is what came out," Tso said.

One of those administrators was Marily Jensen, associate vice president for academic affairs and dean of university academic programs.

"It was something to go with the Odyssey theme," she said. "He did a creative cover. I think he did a great job."
 

Cristian Vera Aleman/Summer Forty-Niner Cal State Long Beach junior graphic design major John Tso displays some of his art projects.

An artist at heart, Tso claims his parents had a hard time accepting his decision to go into the world of art. Tso's father, an engineer, and mother, a dentist, wanted him to choose a safer route such as taking over the dental practice, he said.

"They said, ëyou're going to be a starving artist,'" Tso said, laughing. "But, you see something shinny and you've got to go for it."

In his pursuit of higher education, Tso considered more expensive and prestigious schools such as the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena but is glad he chose the program at CSULB.  "It really is second to none," Tso said.

"I think John is very talented, innovative and follow-through oriented," said Thomas Hall, professor of art.  "In designing the cover, John was trying to represent that we're going toward a cyber world."

Tso, who works for a design company now, said he can't wait for the day when he doesn't have to work in the 9-to-5 world.  A far cry from his first on-campus job, pushing a hot dog cart around.

Despite wanting to create new designs and logos for companies, Tso said he would like to do social work someday and help people.