About the Electric Artist
The Electric Artist is Gary Crilley, a 25 year veteran of graphic design, computer graphics, prepress, production management and all forms of Adobe design software.
"My name is Gary Crilley and I'm a graphic designer who began teaching myself computer software in the late '80s. It was a struggle in those early days, with few resources, complicated software and underpowered hardware. (Gee, if I knew then what I know now...!)
"Since then I've made a name for myself not only as a designer but as an illustrator, production manager, prepress expert and photographic retoucher. I have also taught computer graphic design at college and have written several books on the topic – including Get a Job inDesign.
"One thing I've noticed over all these years is that few designers have a full and rounded knowledge of the myriad subjects that make up 'computer graphic design'. While some are strong on typography and layout, they're weak on Photoshop or vector graphics, and others who might class themselves as Photoshop experts will often be weak in their composition concepts or page design. And we haven't even touched on marketing or prepress yet.
"Teaching advanced software courses to practising professionals – such as Photoshop, Illustrator or InDesign - I have also discovered that even the so-called 'experts' are missing vast areas of knowledge (and I would include myself in that group – not a day goes by in which I don't learn something new!).
"Consequently my courses became very popular and I regularly receive emails and other communication from past students - newcomers and professionals alike - with questions and connundrums about the tools of their trade.
"Now I write books, create tutorials and offer training and advice to as many people as I possibly can – and have recently been forced to take on staff to keep up with demand."
"This book (Get a Job in Design) came about after I found myself tearing out hair over the attitudea and activities of some of my graduating students. How could they possibly be so stupid? On one occasion two students from the same graduating class went for the same job. One was a very good graphic designer, but not a particularly practical job seeker. The other was an average designer (I'm being kind here), but he was very street smart. Guess which one got the job!
"As an employer I also found it difficult to comprehend some of the stupid little mistakes that applicants regularly made. I had one young woman tell me in her cover letter that she had 'very good attention to detial' (spelt that way!)
"As a result I found myself, when receiving 40 applications for a single job, doing myself a great favour by tossing away the ones that made stupid mistakes, which usually left me with haf-a-dozen or so. Then at the interview stage I'd discount the ones who turned up in pyjamas or on the wrong day or whatever, and generally leave myself with a choice of only 2 or 3.
"Hence the book."
"All in all I have a great life, doing the things I enjoy doing and making a (sort of) living from it. I hope that you either already have a great job in graphic design, or that you read my book and achieve your goals.
Good luck"
Best regards,
Gary Crilley
On the beach,
New Zealand