I’ve been on computers all of my life.
‘Hacking’ on everything from my family’s first 486 up to my G4 PowerBook (I know it’s time for an upgrade). I’ve also always been very interested in art. I’ve almost always carried around a pen and paper everywhere I go. It was only natural that I would find a way to combine 2 of the things that I am most passionate about into a career.
I took as many computer and art classes as I could growing up. Neither were offered very prevalently throughout my basic education, but I took what I could get. Things changed when I got serious about college and went for a degree at Weber State University. In college I found tons of classes in to learn more about computers and art.
When I first started college I couldn’t decide what passion to study.
I started off taking classes in both fields, but eventually 1 of them won out for a while. I decided to commit to art and get a Bachelors of Fine Art degree. At first I was only taking classes in the basics – drawing, sculpture, etc. Then while searching for a major within the art department I discovered something that would change my outlook on art (and computers) for the rest of my life – Visual Communications.
Discovering that there was an entire field of artistic expression that was done on computers excited me. It would allow me to once again start doing 2 of the things that had been big parts of my entire life, but this time I would be doing them together for the first time.
My studies at Weber State focused on the Fundamentals of Design - typography, layout, color theory, etc. - with most of the focus being on the printing side of things. All of these classes were great and I got really into, but then I was able to take a classes titled Digital Media. My first time through this class the entire course was about Adobe Flash. It was like lightning struck my head. I was exposed to a whole new side of the Design world. The interactions and coding were all so new, yet so familiar at the same time. It took me back to my days as a youth hacking away at lines of code. I had discovered something that I could get truly passionate about.
I took the Digital Media class 2 more times while getting my degree. The second time through the class split the focus between Flash and learning HTML & CSS (2 things I fell in love with). The third time through the class focused on Video Production, working with Apple’s iMovie and then Final Cut Pro software. This was a great departure from everything I had done before. It allowed me to experience a whole new kind of expression.
I finished getting my BFA in Visual Communications in May 2006.
After college I started looking for a job in the Design field.
After a few months I found a position at FORTHGEAR, a design firm in Kaysville, UT. I was very grateful for my experience in the Digital Media class when the open position came along. They were looking for someone who had experience working with video production to finish a project. I think that having even the limited knowledge of Final Cut Pro that I had gave me the edge that I needed.
I started 10/03/2006 as a Web/Interactive/Multimedia Designer and have been there since.
While at FORTHGEAR I’ve had the opportunity to expand on my knowledge of all things web related. I’m constantly working to improve my skills and broaden my knowledge base. I’m constantly looking to improve my website design chops, find innovative ways to use HTML/CSS/JavaScript, discover new programming techniques in PHP and Ruby on Rails, or trying out new techniques in video production and Flash animation.
I feel I’m pretty lucky.
I get to do something that I truly enjoy for a living. I don’t think it can get much better than that.