What I did with my Summer Vacation:
When I was in School I took my first real design job for a company called Intrepid Technologies. I was a Web Design intern...but not for long. Within a few dinner meetings I was on the fast track to creative freedom, and before long I was given the informal title of "Interim Creative Director." Within a few months I mounted a campaign to invigorate the company's somewhat stodgy corporate identity. This consisted of writing and designing advertising for newspapers, magazines, billboards, and new media. It also included revamping the company's graphic standard guidelines to adjust color use, and a drastic overhaul of the company's own website as well as their user portal and newsletter.

The campaign was a huge success. Internet Service Subscription rates went up, web hosting subscriptions went up, and we were getting real attention from the business community. Then, not six months to the day after I had begun my campaign to revitalize the company's marketing, the owners sold us to another ISP from Pittsburgh. The Result? I was out of a job. A company isn't going to keep the old "Interim Creative Director" around when they already have one in place. I stayed on for 2 months or so to help ease the transition and finish up the web design projects we had taken on. Then it was on to the next adventure.

Jon Walker Graphic Design:
Jon Walker was an adjunct faculty member at Shepherd College. He was honestly the best teacher I ever had. He was patient, and supportive, and he allowed us to indulge in our petty, if not momentary, obsessions with obscure design principles. I was honored when he asked me to join his small firm, as his partner, because of my web design skills and my creative flair.

While with Jon Walker Graphic Design I added website and new media services to the company, as well as adding capacity to handle more and larger print design projects, through my skills in design for both Print and The Web. I also expanded the firm's client base by working with clients over the internet, allowing us to take on accounts on the West Coast, and even as far away as Singapore. This effectively doubled the capabilities of the firm, and in turn, drastically increased revenue. Our clients included: MCI, NAGHSR, NCOA, Merck, AOL, Lucent Technologies, The Hydropower Reform Coalition, The Solution LLC, National Public Radio, Nutshell, Meetings Etc. , and TalentSpin.com.

Alas, my efforts were not enough to save the struggling firm, and after a year and a half Jon Walker decided to leave the company in favor of full time employment. I personally can't blame him. He has a growing family and a mortgage. Self employment is hard, and unstable.

LeftUpstairs Studios:
As the sole remaining partner in Jon Walker Graphic Design, I decided to change the name. After all, Jon Walker wasn't here anymore. As LeftUpstairs Studios I have maintained accounts from Jon Walker Graphic Design, as well as gaining my own small, but very loyal crop of clients as well. There are a few good reasons for this: 1) With every project that I take on, I make an effort to analyze the true nature of the final product and its use, and I try to deliver a fresh take on its objectives. 2) My secondary concern is Customer Service. This means I try my hardest to meet deadlines, keep budgets, and deliver creative, but ultimately appropriate and usable, design.