Susan L.

Experience Summary

From a young age, I had the ability to observe things, study things, look at things. Little did I know that would be a fledgling foundation in the visual arts. Constantly drawing from the age of 5, it felt natural to look or think of subject matter and draw my interpretation of it. Fast forward to college and my discovery of the field of graphic design. Upon acceptance and arrival at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA, my world completely changed. The school was so top-notch, it opened up an industry and the amazing people who made it happen. We had assembly's listening to the big, I mean Mad Men Big movers and shakers of the 50's, 60's & 70's in Advertising, Graphic Design, Typography, Furniture Design, Product Design, Transportation Design, Fine Artists, Illustrators, I was a lucky girl! We did student projects working with other students assuming roles of Art Director, Photographer, etc. and came up with ad campaigns or design solutions that were critiqued, well, these sessions were legendary and would make most students heads spin and occasionally fall off! Only brilliance was left unscathed. We learned this was a very hard, cut throat industry and all before being released into the real world with real wolves (I mean bosses and clients!). Only mileage, time, patience, and tenacity would bring us along now. I was fortunate enough to land a jr. designer position at Corporate Graphics, Inc. in NYC. This is the place I really learned how much business is part of graphic design and advertising. All of it. It's all business. The creative portion falls somewhere between the budget and the CEO's unrealistic and frankly uneducated idea. This sums it up . . . come up with a solution that is within the budget, incorporates that great idea from the CEO, but put a twist to give it some conceptual and visual interest, and when you present it to your boss, they actually like it and tell you to put the presentation together. Haven't shown it to the client yet, but enjoy the lead you have in the first quarter of the game! No matter what you are designing, it is never just you or your team. It's how to end up with an appropriate, noticeable, budget conscious solution that solves your clients issues and will bring them the results they are hoping for. It's been said before, but, the journey that is what I love and where great things can come about. That makes it all worth the drive!

Teaching Style

I will not teach anything in a boring manner. Learning is more successful when it is fun, interesting, surprising . . . I do believe there is a right way to go about finding a good, creative solution. I learned it from the best and stand behind it always.

All Subjects I Tutor

• Advertising

• Drawing

• Graphic Design

• Painting