Part III
I have not been surprised on the recent job descriptions I have seen out there in the job market! “Administrative Assistant with Graphic Skills” expected to answer phones, manage schedules, be an expert in business software, make coffee, and create that one-of-a-kind marketing piece in his/her spare time. The “new” employee is expected to do all of this. Perhaps it could be the specific market we are in. Tough economics in an already tough to sell small town.
But there is the other aspect of the design career. In a “normal” market with design jobs that are – well, design jobs – highly creative, deadline oriented jobs.
Are designers really expected to be a master of every aspect of design technology?
I am an instructor at Pueblo Community College and I see students in this new era of graphic design, they are learning all the finer points of graphic design, layout, typography, color, they are learning production techniques for print design, website design which includes html, CSS 1 – 2 – 3, Access, not to mention the insane amounts of supporting code techniques, photography, drawing and business management. I truly believe in a well-rounded student! If you know a bit about everything then you are better able to adapt when you do get to the job market and can play nice with others.
But what about in the real world, has technology really made it so we as humans are become the super beings that know and do EVERYTHING WELL! OR will the computer do it for you? Can Are employers really expecting exceptional work from a person who knows very little about a lot?
I am a specialized print designer. I know the ins and outs on a press. What works, what doesn’t work, how long it takes and what it takes to make it look good. I can create one, two, three, four or more color jobs. I know what paper is needed for what process, for what “feel” you want to convey. I know the specialties of varnishes, lamination, embossing, foil stamping and die cuts. I have stabbed myself with x-acto blades while cutting rubylith, been covered in photo sensitive “goop”, been nauseated by the putrid smell of ink and cleaners. I have stripped plates. I have watch the desktop publishing world come to life, image setters, the convenience of the Acrobat PDF and the wonders of straight-to-plate, and the digital era of affordable full color printing.
But then comes WWW…
The World Wide Web – the never ending world of knowledge at your finger tips. That is if you believe everything you read. The never ending storm of new technology that can take over in one night. From a single server and techno code writing geeks (Sorry Hubby) to a twenty-year take over of the entire planet Earth. Hmmmm, Where do I start… it is just that BIG!
To save you from absolute boredom (and me from having to write it). It all started with simple code, to complicated data bases, to online purchasing, store fronts, flash, movies, interactive media, and self-publishing widgets. Any one with a computer, a connection, and something to say can indeed say it! INSTANTLY.
I struggle with this a lot in my own business. Can I REALLY know print design and web design? Well, YES. Wait for it…
BUT I also know when I am in over my head, and I can play nice with others in this big sandbox of design know how.
Upcoming posts…
My how the times have changed - This is not your MaMa’s Marketing
Rebranding – A Fearless Endeavor
Green, In Print Design? – Yea Really


So what have I been doing? LIVING! In fact I am frantically typing while the 3 loves of my life are playing. Yes, THREE. We’ve recently welcomed James Raymond, our new baby boy, to the family.