Feb 2008
Michael Wilson and The Good Fight
February/15/2008 Filed in: Friends
On any given day, Michael Wilson might open a grid-paged book, take out a pen and sketch an image triggered by a conversation overheard on the train. Or, he might scribble some random thoughts under a taped postcard. Later, these parcels might develop into a logo or a four color spread.
Michael, a graphic designer in Chicago, continually finds his subject matter from “people, places, conflicts, form and truth.” He collects thoughts, sketches and scraps of paper inside journals. “I have a journal and a concept book. I have also invested in smaller size books for doodles. You never know when an awesome idea will hit. I have sketch books for explorations and illustrations. I also collect images from anywhere I can. All of this makes for a simple library to pool from.”
In 1999 Michael graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a BFA degree in Visual Communications and left his home state to pursue a career in Chicago. At his first job for Big Idea Productions he designed packages for Veggie Tales products and later, he freelanced for many companies such as Sanford LP (makers of Papermate pens), Paterno Wines and Blue Cross Blue Shield.
With over ten years of experience in packaging and web design, Michael has come to understand what it takes to make it as a designer in Chicago.
“I would say to a young designer, to turn around and get a degree in accounting. Well maybe not that drastic. I would advise the designer to stay open to a wide range of mediums and technologies. Designers will have to be able to work in a diverse range of medium. Be a professional! Work hard and remain humble. Get a good reputation for quality and detail. So many designers become big headed or bitter, so their work suffers and so too their reputation. Never stop learning.”
Like most graphic designers in Chicago, Michael has weathered the ups as well as the downs with his chosen profession. His faith in God is what has kept him grounded as he has weathered layoffs and recessions. Yet, he has been startled at such few resources in Chicago there have been for artists, and especially those of faith. It has been a struggle not only to survive and flourish, but also to meet those within the artistic community that feel a connection to a higher being and also have a great desire to create beautiful and professional work.
His view that designers should be well versed in multiple mediums is founded in that more and more positions require an assortment of skills, not just Photoshop expertise. Many companies are looking for designers with print and web design skills, which requires knowledge of several software packages.
To compete with a skilled market, designers need to know the latest software versions on an expert level as well as possess an artistic eye for composition and detail. The software can be expensive, and in the case of video, much equipment must be utilized. Artists that have left their field for a given period of time, for whatever reason, may have a difficult time returning to the market place, while others may feel an economic crunch. This has been Michael’s ongoing concern and he has wondered what options could be made available, especially to those in underprivileged communities in Chicago.
Recently Michael’s attention has shifted to forming an online community of artists in Chicago, through his blog site http://worththefight.tumblr.com. Aptly Michael has named this "The Good Fight." While it has not been unusual in recent years for everyone to start such sites, Michael's aims are different in the focus. It is his goal to retake the higher ground in art often ignored by most evangelicals. While he would like to bring together artists for fellowship, his dream is to eventually provide a physical center in Chicago that could aid starving artists through grants, train others that would not have the financial income to buy video cameras or expensive software packages, and provide a location for exhibiting and a hands-on space for creating art.
He also believes that a center of this kind would be useful for churches and non-profit groups that don’t have large budgets or available artists within their congregations. Young artists seeking employment or portfolio pieces would aid in the design of logos or websites.
While some of these things may be in the future, Michael is dedicated now to taking a step of faith. He invites anyone to visit his blog site for more information.
Michael, a graphic designer in Chicago, continually finds his subject matter from “people, places, conflicts, form and truth.” He collects thoughts, sketches and scraps of paper inside journals. “I have a journal and a concept book. I have also invested in smaller size books for doodles. You never know when an awesome idea will hit. I have sketch books for explorations and illustrations. I also collect images from anywhere I can. All of this makes for a simple library to pool from.”
In 1999 Michael graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a BFA degree in Visual Communications and left his home state to pursue a career in Chicago. At his first job for Big Idea Productions he designed packages for Veggie Tales products and later, he freelanced for many companies such as Sanford LP (makers of Papermate pens), Paterno Wines and Blue Cross Blue Shield.
With over ten years of experience in packaging and web design, Michael has come to understand what it takes to make it as a designer in Chicago.
“I would say to a young designer, to turn around and get a degree in accounting. Well maybe not that drastic. I would advise the designer to stay open to a wide range of mediums and technologies. Designers will have to be able to work in a diverse range of medium. Be a professional! Work hard and remain humble. Get a good reputation for quality and detail. So many designers become big headed or bitter, so their work suffers and so too their reputation. Never stop learning.”
Like most graphic designers in Chicago, Michael has weathered the ups as well as the downs with his chosen profession. His faith in God is what has kept him grounded as he has weathered layoffs and recessions. Yet, he has been startled at such few resources in Chicago there have been for artists, and especially those of faith. It has been a struggle not only to survive and flourish, but also to meet those within the artistic community that feel a connection to a higher being and also have a great desire to create beautiful and professional work.
His view that designers should be well versed in multiple mediums is founded in that more and more positions require an assortment of skills, not just Photoshop expertise. Many companies are looking for designers with print and web design skills, which requires knowledge of several software packages.
To compete with a skilled market, designers need to know the latest software versions on an expert level as well as possess an artistic eye for composition and detail. The software can be expensive, and in the case of video, much equipment must be utilized. Artists that have left their field for a given period of time, for whatever reason, may have a difficult time returning to the market place, while others may feel an economic crunch. This has been Michael’s ongoing concern and he has wondered what options could be made available, especially to those in underprivileged communities in Chicago.
Recently Michael’s attention has shifted to forming an online community of artists in Chicago, through his blog site http://worththefight.tumblr.com. Aptly Michael has named this "The Good Fight." While it has not been unusual in recent years for everyone to start such sites, Michael's aims are different in the focus. It is his goal to retake the higher ground in art often ignored by most evangelicals. While he would like to bring together artists for fellowship, his dream is to eventually provide a physical center in Chicago that could aid starving artists through grants, train others that would not have the financial income to buy video cameras or expensive software packages, and provide a location for exhibiting and a hands-on space for creating art.
He also believes that a center of this kind would be useful for churches and non-profit groups that don’t have large budgets or available artists within their congregations. Young artists seeking employment or portfolio pieces would aid in the design of logos or websites.
While some of these things may be in the future, Michael is dedicated now to taking a step of faith. He invites anyone to visit his blog site for more information.