For as long as I can remember, I've always been interested in art. At a young age I remember analyzing paintings, drawings and logo design and wondered how the artist created them. Throughout my childhood, it goes without saying that my favorite class was art… and my least favorite was math. As I entered into 9th grade I was able to pick electives to supplement my basic education classes. I chose to teach little kids how to swim, studio art, commercial art and ceramics. I was able to experiment with many different mediums; pencil, acrylic, airbrush, marker, plastic, glass, pottery, pastels, chalk, photography and many more. This really shaped my artistic ability and lead to the decision that I did want to have a career in the art field.
Half way through my senior year of high school, my family relocated to Harlem, Georgia from the Poconos in Pennsylvania. This was my 16th move with my parents. During the second half of my senior year, I no longer had the luxury of different art classes, so most of my art came outside of school.
Upon graduating from high school, I enrolled in Augusta College (now called Augusta State University), as an education major and a minor in art. My goal was to be a high school art teacher modeled after my favorite teachers Mrs. Fisher and Mrs. Crowely. During my time in college, I needed a job to supplement my college loans. I started looking and landed a job in a screen printing shop helping print t-shirts and create the t-shirt designs. I wasn't thrilled with my boss. She spent countless hours on the phone lying to her customers, charging them extra money for things that they didn't need. I wanted to get a different job with people that had integrity, so I searched for a couple of weeks and found what I thought might be the perfect job, but I didn't have a whole lot of experience. I went to the interview and brought my fine art portfolio to show what I was capable of and actually got the job! I was now a graphic designer for Super Coups in Augusta!
I thrived in my new position and realized that this was something that might be a good fit for a future career. Over the next couple of years my life changed… I got married young and relocated back to Pennsylvania. I was happy to be back in Pennsylvania, but devastated to leave my graphic design position. I went through a series of odd jobs, before landing a position at a local hotel as the night auditor. Remember when I said I wasn't good at math? Here I was balancing the books for a 152 room hotel with a bar, restaurant and gift shop, and I was actually good at it! During the down time I would draw on the hotel stationary, and I really missed the creative side of my graphic design job. My marriage didn't exactly work out so I needed to get a second job to deal with the mounting debt.
I accepted a position as a junior graphic designer about an hour from home in New Jersey. I had a pretty rough schedule; midnight to 8:00am at the hotel and 9:00am to 5:00pm as a graphic designer. After about a year, the drive started to take it's toll. So I found another job, closer to home, as a graphic designer and stripper at a large print house. I know what you're thinking… but I wasn't that sort of stripper. A stripper is someone who photographs artwork that is to be printed, takes the film and 'strips' it with the other film that will be on the same printing plate. I loved this job. I got to screen print, design t-shirts, design magazines, work on logos and stationary and I learned so much more about graphic design.
During my time at the print house, I was offered a promotion and a higher wage at the hotel, after two and a half years of working two full time jobs, I was able to cut my hours in half, but still make the same amount of money. It was a hard decision, but I left my beloved graphic design position to be a manager at my hotel. About 6 months into my position, I was transferred to Washington, D.C. and was excited to move and explore a new city. I was now the front office manager, but found it difficult to manage my new employees, so I moved into sales. The sales position suited me since I loved to work with people, but I wasn't thrilled with living in Washington D.C.
In June of the year 2000, I was asked to help out a new sales team in Orlando, Florida. The minute that I stepped of the plane, I fell in love. I arrived at the hotel and decided that I wasn't going back to D.C. and the hotel agreed! During my time in Orlando, I was able to pick up some freelance work, I longed for a full time position in graphic design.
During my time in Orlando, I met and married my husband. He realized that I really wanted to get out of the stressful hotel industry and suggested that I go back to college to realize my dream of once again becoming a graphic designer. In 2006 I took the leap and left my sales job. I was terrified that I wasn't going to succeed and with one less income into the house, how were we going to make ends meet? Luckily it all worked out and I was able to pick up freelance clients and obtain three degrees at the same time. I excelled in school and was happy to learn all of the latest technologies. In 2009, after graduating, I won 13 Addy awards for some of my work. In early 2010 I won a Logo Design award from the American Graphic Design and Advertising Association. Currently, I have also found out that two of my photos were selected to be in Orlando's Historic places 2011 calendar.
Looking toward the future I want to continue to make award winning designs for my clients to help them win more business. I do a lot of research for my clients and find the best designs that will suit their business needs and beat their competitors. I would love to be your graphic designer.
- I am a SCUBA diver and I REALLY want to go shark diving.
- I am a volunteer photographer with a pet rescue group.
- I love dogs. My dogs are like my children.
- I have moved a total of 27 times, but I think Orlando is home for me.
- I love to travel and if I'm not painting, drawing or designing, I would rather be traveling.
- I am obsessed with Australia and was able to visit in June of 2010. A dream come true.
- I love the United States and get teary eyed when I visit my favorite city Philadelphia.
- I love to be out in nature and photograph all of the natural surroundings.
- I LOVE Volkswagen and currently own Volkswagen #4. My first VW being a 1970 White Beetle… that I could fix with duct tape and a hammer. It was the perfect car.
- I love hurricanes. They are fascinating and one of the only things that people cannot control.
- I love snow, even though I live in Orlando.
- I love being a graphic designer.
How do you want your customers to view your company? Whether you have an existing business or are just starting out, I can help. Satisfying you is my goal. wendy@wendykjohnsondesign.com
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