Like every graphic designer in the world right now, I am mourning the passing of Steve Jobs. I have been in love with the Macintosh computer since I discovered I wouldn't have to be at the mercy of a typesetter any longer. Not to mention the elimination of paste-up, exacto knifes, rubber cement and kerning. Most of the artists and designers of that era resented the computer, but I embraced the new technology and adapted quite well. Not to date myself or anything, but this was my first Macintosh.
It looked like a bread box, the screen was small and black in white.
I had been a graphic designer right out of college, until my first daughter was born, and then I took an eight year sabbatical to be a stay-at-home-mom. Little did I know, that during those eight years, graphic design as I knew it, like Madonna, had completely reinvented itself. I had to get my ass back to school and that is when I went to Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, so I could resume my career after my divorce. At first, I thought it would be so much easier, but that was before I was introduced to the learning curve of Photoshop, Illustrator and Quark. Thank God, all the computers were Macs and I cringe when I think how unpleasant life would have been, if the only choice for a designer was a PC.
I am so lucky I had a successful career doing what I loved. My relationship with Apple was probably the best, if not longest one in my life. Granted, I went through about 6 computers, always getting bored and looking for the new, upgraded version. But I was faithful to Apple and never gave Bill Gates the time of day. My ipod became my diversion when my eyes could no longer look at another annual report, and it got to the point where I started sleeping with it every night. Once Al Gore invented the Internet, I never looked back. Today, most of my life is consumed by the web and I can not go longer than a few hours, without having to google something, check my email and get bored to death by Facebook. A day without internet access is like a day without oxygen.
I owe it all to Steve Jobs, who came up with all the innovative ideas for the things I love, especially my new ipad 2. Thanks for making my world a better, if not pathetic, place.
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