Adobe Creative Cloud expert brings a wealth of experience to the DWC instructor team
When Digital Workshop Center began offering classes in Denver, Colorado, we looked to the local graphic design community for experts in their field to join our instructor team. Alan Peters was one of our first hires for the position, and he brings a wealth of experience in marketing and graphic design.
For classes on Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, or Adobe InDesign, Alan brings real-world experience to the classroom. Students find themselves learning from someone who is on the front lines of the design world, as Alan has worked with major brands, bands, and breweries.
To learn more about Alan’s background and how he uses these programs in this daily design workflow, we did asked him to answer some questions about his experiences.
When did you get started in the graphic design industry?
I got started in the graphic design industry in 1999 after finishing a Studio Arts Degree at Montana State University. Early jobs included being a graphic imaging tech editing scans and being the graphic designer for a small mountain newspaper, and working pre-press in a print shop.
How has the industry changed in the last 10 years?
The industry has changed a lot in the last 10 years with a shift from print to digital and the emergence of devices and social media. The web has evolved to allow anyone to publish content easily and that has created both new opportunities and new challenges in design. Technology has changed to allow tools like Dropbox and the Adobe Creative Cloud to make tasks in design easier.
What are some of the projects you are currently working on?
One of the bigger projects of the year has been to roll out a brand update and website redesign for my long time customer StickerGiant in collaboration with a development company and other teams. I am also currently volunteering at the Boulder library maker space and learning how to design for laser cutting which has been fun and interesting.
How do you use Adobe Creative Cloud effectively in your workflow for these projects?
My workflows are almost 100% vector and Adobe Illustrator based. This allows me to use assets in a modular way across print and web at different sizes and keeps them agile for all use cases.
What advice do you have for someone who is interested in getting started in this field?
I encourage emerging designers to look for projects in their own personal networks. Ask friends and family if you can design something for their businesses, projects, etc. It is a supportive and low risk way to start building your portfolio. Also take classes at Digital Workshop Center!
What is one pro tip for Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign you can provide to students to help improve their daily workflow?
Customize Keyboard Shortcuts in all three programs to streamline repetitive tasks and for easy access to functions you use regularly.
Interested in taking a graphic design or Adobe class with Alan in Denver? Contact us or fill out the following form and we will get you all the information you need: