It's a new day.

I'm dating myself, but I've been a graphic designer since 1989. I started before there were computers! We used wax, exacto knives and straight edges to set text and images on artboards, then film was produced and sent to the printers. It was a very complex process - there was no "undo" button - if you messed up, you peeled it off the artboard and started over. We also used to say, "Speed, quality, or cost - you only get two. If you want it fast but don't want to pay much, then the quality may not be great. If you want it fast and demand quality, you're definately going to pay more. If you want want it cheap and don't care about quality, then find another designer." Good designers aren't interested in doing poor quality work.

I always found being a graphic designer engaging; never the same, and usually very interesting. However, the one thing that never seems to change are the deadlines. They can be brutal, and you'll often find designers working late at night to meet a clients' deadline, because good designers meet deadline. It's also a fact that creativity can not be turned on and off like a light switch. There are days when the lights are very bright, and others where you're fumbling in the dark for inspiration. So if someone questions your billable hours, remind them they are not paying for the time it takes you to hit a couple key strokes on the keyboard. They are paying for your expertise in providing a creative solution that meets their marketing objectives, and is flexible for all their advertising needs. Creativity is not about the software program, it is about the idea, the concept, and the solution. Good designers will achieve that.

I still do graphic design, but I've scaled back a bit so I can pursue other creative avenues. I am currently assisting the National Wildfire Coordination Center as a Web Assistant, and in my spare time I'm strongly engaging my right hemisphere doing fine art that's purly selfish, with no deadlines. It is a refreshing change. I'm working on a novel as well.

I've also been doing a lot of photography. Therefore, You might want to take a peak at my portfolio. Follow me on Instagram for the most current happenings @afpdesignphoto or to see what my current projects might be.

This year AFPdesign.com will be dedicated to sharing photography, illustration, travel adventures and thoughts as they happen. Let me know what you think...share my page...buy my pictures...hire me for a gig! Fair warning, all you'll get is quality. Cost is negotiable :-)