It’s been a meandering path to get to where I am now, including two Associate’s Degrees from Cuyahoga Community College and eventually, in my late 20s, a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Cleveland State University.
I spent the next 12+ years as an engineer before deciding
to pursue a career change to graphic design.
I spent the next 12+ years as an engineer before deciding
to pursue a career change to graphic design.
As my 40s approached I began to feel less and less like engineering was as fulfilling to me as I hoped it would be when I started that journey. Looking back on my life I was reminded that some of the moments I found most enjoyable were while I was dabbling in graphic design. Projects ranging from simple logos and artwork for the band I was in during my teens and twenties to business cards for
friends and family to my personal proudest works…
friends and family to my personal proudest works…
Around 2015 I rediscovered a passion for tabletop board games and realized that a large part of the enjoyment for me, besides playing them, was learning new games and discovering how the components interacted and how the visuals relayed information while playing into those interactions. It wasn’t long after diving into this new hobby that I decided to try my hand at designing my own. I quickly found that it was an incredible creative outlet and gave me so much. Despite my limited skills at the time, I was able to create coherent and playable games that others found enjoyable. This was the spark that propelled me down the path I’m on now.
So in my late 30s I returned to Cuyahoga Community College and earned a Certificate of Proficiency in Graphic Design while at my last engineering position. The courses I was enrolled in brought me more excitement and joy than I had experienced in any other schooling – solidifying my desire and need to be in a career where I can be less rigidly technical and more freely creative.
I’m looking forward to rediscovering that excitement and joy
while continuing to develop my analytical problem-solving
and better utilizing my creativity in the work that I do in my future.
while continuing to develop my analytical problem-solving
and better utilizing my creativity in the work that I do in my future.
