The big challenge is that I have become something of a dinosaur. 90% of all Graphic Design jobs available require and extensive alphabet of programming skills that I just don't have. HTML, CSS, PHP, AJAX, XML and so on. I know just enough HTML and CSS to not wreck this site too badly too often. The rest is unknown.

I'm a print guy in a digital world. I can design a web site - I just can't make it work. And while it seems to me that those should really be two separate disciplines the rest of the industry sees it differently. So I am beginning to learn the basics.

It's a challenge for me to learn without doing though. If I have a problem to solve I will work at it until I figure it out. That is how I developed the skills I do I have. 

I never studied design. I was doing digital production for a marketing agency when they decided to eliminate the production department and have the Art Directors do their own mechanicals. Rather than fire the production staff they made us all Art Directors. It was like the old fashioned way of teaching kids to swim. They just threw us in the deep end and we would sink or swim on our own. I swam.

In my entire career, I have NEVER opened a manual for any of the core software I use. I just figured it out because I had to use it to get something done.

Now I have to learn code. I have to learn it without a project to complete - without a problem to solve. I have to learn it theoretically vs practically.

I'm going to need a lot of Motrin.

I'm going to be doing it while looking for a job that will let me be a designer, without requiring me to be a code monkey.

I haven't found it yet. But I know it's out there.

You can help too. Here's a PDF that has my resume and some samples of my work. The whole resume, and even more work is available at this site, where you can even hear me doing the voiceover for a product launch video.

If you know of anyone, anywhere looking to hire a designer feel free to send them the PDF or the link. One of the advantages of the digital nature of the profession is that it can be done from anywhere. However, for the right opportunity relocation is an option.

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