Do you have a graphics Degree?

[Craig Sjoquist]

Went to St Paul Voc. Tech taught by Mike Le Haune wow learned alot of hand lettering basics and layout& design he was a great teacher that was 1975 but started on my own a year before that and since learned every thing else on my own and still am with computers ... besides no shops gonna teach a 30 yr vet how to now lol .....THANK YOU & ENJOY LIFE

 

[mark in tx]

20 years in the school of hard knocks.
I started on my associates in graphic design a few months ago.

 

[Former member]

BFA from The School of the Art Institute Of Chicago. Focused on Painting, Lithography and Intaglio Etching with a Little Graphic Design. Iwas pretty anti-computer in college way back in '94 . But bought my first Mac in 96 and taught myself photoshop & illustrator and the light went on. BS'ed my way into a graphic design postiton at an ad agency but hated the cubicle and constant deadlines. But I loved doing the graphic design work...

As far as signs go... self taught and still learning every day

 

[OldPaint]

Started in tech school for electronics- loved computers- took a year of programming (think fortran / bitran- ancient 1966 languages)- started a sign
shop with my daughter with no experiance at all in 1997- and never looked back. I love this business and it has been very good to us. Gene

FRED- I FOR ONE AM LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR BACKGROUND??

fred is in the witness protection program and hidin out from GINO'S FAMILY......hahahahahahahahahaah

 

[kazoosigns]

Took some graphic design classes in college, but focused more on lithography. Got a BA in Art and then worked at a newspaper doing ads. After a year, got my first sign job, which was a complete eye-opener. College classes may teach you how to layout designs for print and such, but there's a whole different mentality when it comes to signs hanging 10 feet up on a 35mph street that they just never tell you about.

 

[Blackberry Jam]

2 degrees-- Associate of Art, and a BA with a Graphic Design emphasis

apprentice to an old signpainter who taught me how to pull a brush

self taught or self maintained in many areas.

 

[Inkfish Graphics]

17 years of hands on.

 

[ChiknNutz]

I have a BS in Mechanical Engineering Technology and have worked in Aerospace most of my "career" life. Beyond college I also have taken classes in Excel and Unigraphics. I've used several design programs such as AutoCAD, CaiCE, MicroStation, SolidWorks, SolidEdge, Unigraphics and a little CATIA. However, all of my "sign" training has been self taught after some fear of downsizing in Aerospace. I went full-time in my sign business for most of last year, but have recently went back to Aerospace...hopefully temporarily. I owe a lot to this forum and others similar to it. I've made some good friends 'round these parts and look forward to learning lots more as I go.

 

[Mark Fair]

2 years, University of Alabama, Commercial art.
Started toying with sign painting at age 14.
Worked 10 years as a billboard painter.
My own business started 1986.

I learned more about sign painting and pictorial art working in outdoor advertising.

 

[Ian Stewart-Koster]

Self taught, (pre computers), the school of hard knocks, and letterheads taught!

 

[SirSlarty]

Associate's degree but the school was worthless except for one techer so I was basically self taught but can't officialy claim it..

 

[kgirl]

married into it

 

[tyans1]

Started as a Technical Illustrator in aerospace. Spent a year producing one of the first 4-color magazines from the Windows platform. A couple of years working for Micrografx software company showing the PC could do what the MAC could do. A few years putting it all to use as a PC prepress specialist and 9 years producing the first bus wraps for Greyhound. Now I am starting my own company producing anything I possibly can. Guess I became middle-aged and over qualified somewhere along the line.

 

[technowolf]

Did 1 year in sign shop.....then took courses(photosop,illustrator,flash,dreamweever....) the reste is all hands on, books, and sign101.com

 

[markz]

i not one to bring attention to myself.....but i happen to sport a Phd in the sign business-post hole-digger !
self taught & still learning, just over 30 years....dang !
vid, i love your avatar, we have a maltese but i use yours to send pics on e-mails thankz! Z

 

[Just Another Sign Guy]

i have a couple stamps on my a$$ my first was in graphic design and commercial art, but in all honesty i learned more actually working in our family sign shop and my own, but i was also very immature at the time and did not take complete advantage of the education i was offered, young and dumb.

I returned to college and studied marketing and business a few years later which helped me in my own business much more than my previous study of commercial art.

i personally believe that if you truly have the desire to learn you can learn as much on your own by challenging yourself to constantly learn something new, especially in areas that you have deficiencies in.

 

[The Big Squeegee]

Taught by experiences

Degrees in machine shop, welding, & sheetmetal. course work in Photography and art. BS degree in Computer Science and Mathmatics. Masters in teaching Mathmatics started (the college closed). Don't like teaching high school but Jr. college is OK.

Learned sign making from my kid brother who was self taught since he was 6 years old. I had to learn a lot on my own but he was there to answer questions for me.

 

[stip]

No degree either. I've always been interested in the carnival business and never had the talent to paint rides. So I bought a vinyl machine and a cargo trailer and took my business on the road.

 

[RubberDuckyDecals]

1. nope
2. nope
3. you betcha! Did my first pro job in 1985. Used to use a copier, an exacto, and a bottle of whiteout to do my typesetting because I couldn't afford letraset type sheets lol. The logo I did in 1985 is still proudly used even after 4 different owners of that business over the years. btw, I was 15 when I did that and i'm still doing pro work today.

 

[Mardi]

2 year degree from grapic arts school with major in photography.

go figure....