I have spent my decades-long career in graphic arts. I started in a family-owned printing company, worked for other printing companies, design studios, agencies, and have been self-employed. I studied graphic design at UCLA and took any prepress course, workshop, or seminar I could find. I was in the charter class that earned a Transition to Management Certificate from Loyola Marymount University and have an Academic Certificate in Project Management from UCLA.
I used to draw forms by hand with ink and kerned type with an X-Acto knife by slicing between and repositioning letters. Later, I transitioned from typesetting on an IBM Composer and Varityper headline machines to Compugraphic phototypesetters. This shift allowed me to do cool things like program an entire newsletter masthead under a single key and place vertical and horizontal rules with mathematical accuracy. Inspired by these capabilities, I developed a technical thirst for knowledge. When the Mac appeared, I hit the ground running in electronic prepress. Eventually, I became an expert in file formats for print publications and served on the DDAP (Digital Distribution of Advertising for Publications) Steering Committee.
I found myself at the helm of some of the largest prepress departments in Los Angeles. I became an expert in operating and troubleshooting the Scitex/Creo Brisque and served for a few years on the Board of the Scitex/Creo/Kodak Graphic Users Association. I had a network of colleagues around the world who were always ready and willing to provide technical help.
Later, using XMPie, I built and programmed web-to-print storefronts with variable-data digital printing on the back end, feeding the geek in me, while keeping my hands dirty in Adobe apps—always eager to dive into a catalog, brochure, or other prepress project.
I eventually joined an in-house creative and marketing team, then a small agency that felt like family—bringing my journey full circle.
I feel privileged to have witnessed this evolution of graphic arts. But it's not over—and neither am I.
