Overview
Today's young designers probably wouldn't recognize the paste-ups, with orange Amberlith insertions for photos, all meticulously done by hand. It was tedious and corrections were plentiful, but the reward was great when the cases arrived at our warehouse.
From my apprenticeship at Tennessee, I went on to be Design/Production Director for South Carolina and then University Press of Mississippi, which produced books from all the state-funded universities. As director, I worked with authors, editors, printers and marketing in addition to design. Authors can be a little prickly at times. These books are, after all, their "babies" which they have labored to create. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing an author's face light up when presented with a well-produced book.
Eventually I left the publishing world for academia, teaching advanced graphic design, perspective drawing and photography at Delta State University. All the while, I kept my hand in with publishing, doing freelance on the side. Eventually my freelance business was robust enough for me to establish it as my full-time career. This didn't last long though. I was tempted by a client into the world of computers as Creative Director for an interactive software developer. This broadened my experiences into video production, an excitingly treacherous process.
Over the years I have designed more than 500 books, two statewide magazines, three online educational series and countless promotional projects and assorted assignments. I was proud of the awards I've won because peer recognition reinforced my continuing education in the field then I simply lost interest in entering them.
Now retired working as freelance artist I still enjoy freelance book design from my home studio in Memphis, TN.
Services
Fiction
Non-Fiction
Languages
Awards
- Chicago Book Show 1978
- AIGA Design 1983
- Chicago Book Show 1979
Work experience
Self-employed
Cover to cover book design, formatting and production control and sales assets
Invest Learning
In charge of all print materials, video production and graphic assets for learning website and lesson materials
Centec Learning/Mergent Technologies Group
managed the in-house multimedia department; implementation from the ground level
Applied Interactive Technologies
Producer/video director, project manager, outsourced printing and video production completing projects
Delta State University
Professor: Graphics III & IV, advanced photography, perspective drawing, ceramics, consultant to faculty for in-print materials
University of Mississippi Press
By my own hand: all Book Design/Production, all advertising graphic assets
University of South Carolina Press
By my own hand: all Book Design/Production, all advertising graphic assets
University of Tennessee Press
Assistant to Design/Production Manager