Designer shares down-to-earth advice from heights of success
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Photos by Cindy Davis Meixel, writer/photo editor
![Todd True enjoys engaging with young creatives at Penn College.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2023-09/1_7501341_0.jpg?itok=bewbMJfT)
A graphic designer who has created and revitalized brands to international acclaim shared his grounded advice recently with graphic design students at Pennsylvania College of Technology.
Todd True’s world has revolved around such companies as John Deere, FedEx, BP, Canadian Airlines and Johnson & Johnson, but he is connected locally – serving on the Advertising Art/Graphic Design Advisory Committee and being the father of a Penn College freshman.
“Having a graphic designer with the breadth of experience that Todd has was an exciting opportunity for our students to learn from,” said Brian A. Flynn, assistant professor of graphic design and department head. “He is at the top of the graphic design industry; the knowledge that he was able to share will be invaluable to their development as designers.”
In Penn’s Inn on the second floor of the Bush Campus Center, True addressed Penn College’s graphic design students, sharing the evolution of his career and designs and advice on crafting meaningful work for a range of audiences.
A resident of Centre County, True is a co-founder of the creative agency, True Geist, along with Christina Geist, a New York Times bestselling author. The two were founding employees of Johnson & Johnson’s in-house global design team and are creators of Boombox, heralded as an “instant heirloom” on Oprah’s O List.
True’s son, Jett, is enrolled in automotive technology management: automotive technology concentration.
![Delving deep into design, True discusses updating the SeaWorld logo, as Penn’s Inn provides an ideal “laboratory” for discovery.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2023-09/1%20xt_7501295.jpg?itok=Zoq5qfTh)
![The designer who created the current John Deere logo shares its historical evolution. True had pointed out to the company that its “leaping” deer for over 100 years was actually a “landing” deer. His winning design, making a simple change to the deer’s stance, strengthened the company’s story about future potential while maintaining a strong link to its heritage.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2023-09/3_7501299.jpg?itok=d33tRmGR)
![Emily M. Scaife, a graphic design sophomore, poses a question to the guest.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2023-09/2_7501334.jpg?itok=iNYxLGW8)
![True shares the pride felt by designers when customers engage with their design, creating new expressions.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2023-09/4_7501346.jpg?itok=a0kZMdxO)
![Flynn makes a point.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2023-09/5%20xt_7501324.jpg?itok=yx59-c1Q)
![The True family, including automotive freshman Jett (in purple shirt), enjoys a Penn College tradition: a photo op at The Rock to start the Fall 2023 semester.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2023-09/5_True%20family_auto%20son_1.jpg?itok=GrxMOiUA)