Going through college (years ago) computers were barely in the classrooms for art. Sure they were there for English and Journalism, but the money wasn't funded yet. I think the school boards weren't sure about why the art department would even need a computer. So one teacher somehow got one computer in a tiny room beside the class. Well I was the only one that seemed interested and he showed me a few things on the computer. He gave me a design program, it fit onto 10 floppy disks! That must have been 10-12MB.

How things have changed. The art department now probably has a log-in ID for every student and a website to upload projects. Graphic Design has changed the way we do things. It's actually easier now to share your artwork than ever before. Much cheaper too. Back then, in the early 90's, when we had an art piece to sell, it had (sometimes still does) to be printed in large numbers. Now there is print on demand and the internet. Your customer wants just one print, it's in the mail. They want to see a proof of the logo design, it's already done! Just check your inbox.

My last year in college a teacher found me a job at a printing company. This is where I started computer training. I learned Quark, Freehand and Illustrator. I had to get documents ready for press. I had to design stationary, catalogs, cards, scan images and type. Typing is something you will do a lot. It helps to know how to write and know grammar (?). At that time, the company probably only used internet for the office up front, like for emails. There wasn't a network like we have now in offices.

Typography was one of my favorites to focus on. Some projects in one class were to take a magazine ad, put tracing paper over it, using markers color it exactly the same. From there it was to examine the elements and placement of things. Then with the same ad make a new one, but design it better. Which was almost impossible because they were already perfectly designed!

It was a few months later, one of my teachers got a call from an advertising agency looking to hire an art student. He gave me the information and I applied for the job. What helped me here the most was a few things:
1. My teacher's support!
2. My college portfolio!!
3. Hard work on art projects while other students did little effort. Typography & Design.
4. Printing samples from the printing company I was at.

My portfolio was organized with relative information. Showing my typography abilities, paintings and drawings. What my interviewer liked the most were the newspaper ads, brochures and examples of skills the agency needed.

1. I was hired to an advertising company!! A marketing agency that focused on large and small companies that needed help with designing, marketing, advertising and making them look good to bring in more clients or business.

I learned Quark fast and in detail. Sometimes I would call my friends at the local printing company for solutions to computer issues. In those days there were many problems that I had to solve without any training, but resolved to expert advice from fellows in the same business.

Projects would get their approval and I would save my design onto a tape, cd, or zip disk. This included the document, art images and font files. I would then call printing companies for quotes and take the files to the company with the best quote. I learned a lot from watching my boss handle customers with respect and wisdom. He was wise and taught me some of the agency's best secrets.

2. Four years later, I work at home. The office was closing. One client hired me for book cover designs. It was the beginning of a home career in freelance design. Many book covers were designed and published through email approvals. I'd finish a book cover and the some insert pages and prepare it for the publisher. I've made logos, prepared designs for printing, and done various design jobs.

3. I've taught myself to fix photos with digital restoration, where I can make scratches and fading disappear or people and objects removed. I still do graphic design. So much is going digital that we all need to stay on top of things, but it's nearly impossible to do because it changes so fast!

4. Working at home making book covers and now designing for t-shirt and products. It's very time consuming, but I love doing it!