Design artist finds

Sheila Patterson’s eye for art
and professionalism has opened
countless opportunities for her as
a practicing graphic designer and
student.

“To me, this is a profession,” said
Patterson. “It seems like the common
perception in the public is that
“if I own Photoshop, I’m a graphic designer”
and that is so not the case.”

Patterson believes that there is
more to being a designer than having
an idea and a computer.

You need the right programs, the
right skills and the right training.
You need to know about the press
and about color theory; all these different
design elements," Patterson
said.

Patterson is working towards
a bachelor’s degree in Information
Graphic Technology from ASU.
“It’s diffi cult. I come across people
who kind of treat me like a kid in
a garage having fun, like it’s no big
deal, like it’s not a real profession. It
is a real profession, I went to school
for this,” Patterson said.

Patterson feels confi dent in her
career choice and in the educational
path she has taken.

After graduating high school,
Patterson didn’t know what direction
she wanted her life to take.
She took a couple years off of
school to work and develop some
independence before making the
decision to enroll at SCC.

Patterson still wasn’t sure what
degree she wanted to persue, but
the staff in the career development
offi ce helped match her with a career.
Patterson feels more confi dent
as an older student. She said that
many of her friends who graduated
in thier early 20s are stuck in
careers that don't suit them.

“Graphic design is very creative
and artistic and just more fl exible.
It’s always in demand and I defi nitely
don’t regret going in that direction,”
Patterson said.

Patterson’s personal preferences
include creating print outs like
mailers, brochures, menus, invitations
and covers for books.

“I really like really clean, simple,
minimalistic aspects of design,” Patterson
said as she describes her appeal
to European styles.

She said that less is more, but is
able to emulate different styles.
“Each new client or project
has its own unique problem to be
solved,” Patterson said, it keeps being
new even though you’re doing
the same thing over and over again.
It’s always a new experience and a
new problem.”

Patterson has been taught, and
embraced, the idea that graphic
designers will be successful if they
learn to design for the client, not
themselves.

“You have to have discipline and
kind of be like, I think this looks horrible,
but it makes my client happy,”
Patterson said.

With a strong portfolio, Patterson
takes the art of graphic design
to an entirely new level of professionalism
and class.

Patterson recently won the
Printing Industries of Arizona/New
Mexico Print Excellence Gala Award,
Best of Student Division, for her Belluci
catalog print product.

“I really am just enjoying graphic
design," Patterson said. "I could do
this for a while. I would like to do
freelance or working for a fi rm.”