Greetings and welcome to my online portfolio!

My name is Alan, as indicated by the banner above... I'm a graphic designer and graduate of Coleman College in San Diego, CA, and thus far I absolutely love what I do. I've always enjoyed playing with images, from early on when I had little more to work with than Microsoft Paint, to producing cards and invitations overflowing with clipart in Print Shop and Print Master (hey, I had to use something!), to sitting in front of my computer for 3 hours trying to learn how to make a bezier curve in Photoshop. Through it all I learned that there was a lot of intuition involved in design, though I didn't call it design at the time; it was merely something I liked to do.

I first attended Coleman's CIS program (Computer Information Science). I knew at the time that my future involved computers, but I wasn't certain where it would lead me, and Coleman did not have a graphic design program at the time. I completed CIS, but I found myself unhappy as a programmer, and spent a great deal of time searching for a career that would truly fit me. All the while I played with graphics...

Web graphics mostly. I'm very much a gamer at heart. I love fantasy literature and computer games, and I've spent time creating player guild websites with HTML, forums, and forum signatures with Photoshop. I had no idea at the time how one would go about pursuing a career in such a field; indeed I was only beginning to understand that such a field existed. When I heard about Coleman College's Graphic Design program, I decided to return in the hopes of becoming a web designer, but I soon discovered just how truly broad the field of graphic design is.

As a graphic designer I could create anything visual; print, web, or otherwise, employing design principles to help my work reach its audience on a personal level. I learned that graphic design requires careful consideration and attention to every detail, without sacrificing the simplicity and balance that good designs require. On the surface, it is sometimes difficult to perceive the level of consideration and detail that has gone into the designs we see all around us. It is important to remember then, that those designs that seem the most timeless and virtually effortless in their elegance are likely the ones that took the most work and talent.

It is my personal mission as a graphic designer to bring designs of substance and quality to every client that I serve. I make it a point to actively observe design trends in media, marketing, and fashion, and use that knowledge to create ideas that are current but still original and lasting. I use the lastest Adobe^® and Macromedia^® products, and training in art and design principles and techniques to ensure that good design is not left to chance. And most importantly, I care deeply about my profession and the people I serve, and always strive to better myself as a designer and as a person.

It's my sincere hope that you will enjoy my site, and perhaps gain a greater appreciation for graphic design through my work.
Thank you for stopping by!