People with Jobs in Graphic / Media Design (United States)

My last position was as a Senior Artist within a University Print Services Department. I was originally told the job would be heavy in the typesetting end (to start off) as the main product was business cards for 2 teaching hospitals - a LOT of turnover - end of every semester. However I was told that my direct supervisor was working with a company in California that would allow the process to be automated - ie - when the client filled out the request for a business card - the informatin was to be entered into a format that could automatically be downloaded for printing. The tricky thing was that the formats (of which there were many, many, many) had to be set up in code. My direct supervisor decided that he could do this (his background/degree was in photography, but was the graphic supervisor). He had a very high opinion of his ability to use a MAC - but avoided the PC platform like the plague, a real format queen - if it was to be printed - it had to be set up with style sheets, didn't matter if it was a simple letterhead or a 24-page newsletter. Every line of copy had to be set up in style sheets. I mean - really - styles sheets are good tools (as the computer is a good tool) - but they should not get in the way of timely production. My cubicle was directly across from my supervisor, so I was in a position to hear what progress was being made in getting the formats completed. In the 6 months I was there not one workable format was developed (and a lot of money was spent on the software and sending this guy to San Diego to be 'taught' how to develop these formats in useable code). What excuses I heard. I was never given a typing test for this position, was told I would be doing some design work, more as time went on (or so I was lead to believe), but after 6 months of the most awful production scheduling (there was none) - I was the only production artist - and in six months I was only asked once (about a week before they let me go) how much work I had going and if the deadlines I was being given were doable. Talk about being set up to fail. I went through 2 90-day probationery periods. These reviews were very humiliating (I was made to feel as if I was doing nothing but running around in circles - did not know how to use a MAC (ie STYLE SHEETS) and that I was extremely slow and inefficient. (I've been using a MAC for over 20 years - have kept my equipment up to date and ran a sucessful design studio for 12 years based on using the MAC as a design/production tool). It's just a real shame that a shop has to be run this way. I don't know why I was not given a typing test - if speed and accuracy were so important - there seems to be an easy 'test' to find out if your hiring the right 'typesetter'. About two weeks ago I checked to see if my previous job was being advertised - it was - with the exact same wording and qualifications as were posted in January. I wonder what they will do to the next person to get that position.