Graphics
Christopher Smith / Palm Beach Post

Bright and highly aesthetic informational graphics begin taking shape the moment Christopher Smith takes in hand the mouse of his computer at the Palm Beach Post.

"Chris attends numerous meetings, keeps track of what graphics are going where, and handles a good amount of administrative work," says Mark Buzek, graphics director of the Post.

"Yet he still finds time to put together beautiful, compelling infographics."

Smith's Lake Okeechobee page is a powerful example of good newspaper graphics.

"Post reporters Robert King and Willie Howard showered me with information," Smith said.

"It took some time to go through it all and make visual sense of it. We wanted to include a brief history of Lake 'O.' We wanted to show how it had physically changed over the years and how it's at risk of 'drowning.' And we also wanted to address its biggest attraction — fishing. All this on one page. Although I am a Florida native, it was a crash course for me."

Born in Ocala, Smith graduated from Florida A&M University with a degree in graphic design, and went to work at the Ocala Star-Banner during his final semester in school. He rose to senior graphics artist, then graphics editor.

Smith was a graphic artist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 1996-98, helping launch its Monday Horizon business section. He joined the Post as art director in 1999.