Visual Storytelling Project 4 Part 1

Instructions: Before you begin the Project for this week, I'd like you to write the story you are trying to tell.
  The story is Your Design Adventure, or something similarly titled. As any good story it should have a structure: a problem, tension, conflict, resolution. It should reflect on your path thus far in your design journey. This is not limited to school but may have begun a long time before. It can also project toward where you expect the future to lead. Part of this assignment is to reflect upon your challenges thus far and how you have overcome them, what you have learned along the way, and how you have applied that learning. Can you show examples, link to blog posts, youtube channels, other deliverables …?
  The other part is for you to begin prepping, thinking about, the story you will tell with your portfolio next month. By carefully organizing and featuring certain parts of the story, you will be telling a story about yourself that you hope to positively influences others.

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From Precision Machining to Creative Design: My Journey

In the world of design, they say that form follows function. As someone who has spent years working with Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) machines, manufacturing components where precision was measured in microns, I've lived by this principle throughout my professional life. However, my recent pivot to graphic arts and design has taught me that function can also follow form, and that creativity and technical precision aren't opposing forces but complementary skills that enhance each other. This is the story of my journey from CNC machining to graphic design, and how my diverse background has uniquely prepared me for this new creative chapter.

The Foundation: A Love for Computers and Precision

My relationship with computers began early in life. While many children were drawn to video games, I was fascinated by how computers worked, how they could be programmed, and how they could transform ideas into reality. This fascination led me to take machine trades at a vocational school during my last two years of high school, which set me on a path toward precision manufacturing.

After high school, I immediately immersed myself in the world of CNC machining. I enrolled in a four-year journeyman apprenticeship program while simultaneously taking computer science and computer-aided design courses at the University of Cincinnati. This dual approach gave me both hands-on experience and theoretical knowledge, allowing me to understand not just how to operate machines but why they functioned as they did.

Throughout my career in manufacturing, I operated approximately 40 different types of CNC machines, ranging from simple 2-axis machines to advanced 5-axis systems that could create complex three-dimensional components. The precision required was extraordinary, sometimes working with tolerances thinner than a human hair. This experience instilled in me a deep appreciation for attention to detail, a trait that would later prove invaluable in graphic design.

As my skills grew, I moved into programming, where I translated two-dimensional blueprints into three-dimensional machining instructions. This transition taught me to think in multiple dimensions and to visualize finished products before they existed, another skill that would later transfer seamlessly to graphic design work.

Eventually, I advanced to the manufacturing engineering department, where I managed projects from conception to completion. I was responsible for everything from ordering raw materials to ensuring the final product was shipped to the customer on schedule and to specification. The projects I worked on were diverse and challenging: components for NASA's Space Station Freedom, a 360° flight simulator for CAE Electronics, and a precision device with 48 holes all converging at the exact center point for the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory.

These weren't just manufacturing projects, they were exercises in problem-solving, precision, and communication. Each project required collaboration with clients to understand their needs, with designers to interpret specifications, and with machinists to ensure proper execution. Little did I know that these collaborative skills would become essential in my future design career.

A Nautical Interlude: Navigating New Waters

Despite my success in manufacturing, I felt called to serve my country and decided to join the U.S. Navy. As a Quartermaster (assistant Navigator), I was entrusted with the critical task of helping to guide ships safely through international waters. This role required learning nautical navigation through both traditional and modern methods.

I mastered the use of sextants to measure angular distances between celestial bodies and the horizon, plotting our position using stars, the moon, and even the sun. I then compared these manually calculated positions with digital navigation systems. This experience taught me to trust both traditional methods and modern technology, understanding the strengths and limitations of each.

My naval service also exposed me to nautical science, meteorology, and astronomy, fields that expanded my understanding of the world and strengthened my analytical thinking. The discipline, attention to detail, and ability to work under pressure that I developed in the Navy have proven to be valuable assets in all aspects of my life, including my current studies in graphic design.

The Pivot to Design: Finding a New Creative Path

After my time in the Navy, I considered my next career move carefully. My initial thought was to become a freelance entrepreneur, which led me to Keiser University with the intention of taking business and accounting courses. However, fate had different plans.

During my enrollment process, my student advisor reviewed my transcripts and suggested something I hadn't considered, the Graphic Design program. Curious but skeptical, I agreed to meet with Professor Williams. That meeting changed everything. As Professor Williams showed me the program curriculum and demonstrated some of the Adobe Creative Cloud applications, I felt a familiar excitement, the same feeling I had when I first discovered CNC machining. Here was another technology-driven field where precision and creativity met, where ideas could be transformed into reality through a combination of technical skill and artistic vision.

The decision to enroll in the Graphic Design program wasn't made lightly. I had spent years developing expertise in manufacturing and navigation. Would those skills transfer to this new field? Could I succeed in a more creative discipline? The answer, I've discovered, is a resounding yes. My background hasn't been a hindrance, it's been my greatest advantage.

The First Semester: A New World of Creativity

My first month in the program was dedicated to graphic design theory, learning the fundamental principles that govern effective visual communication. I discovered that many of these principles paralleled concepts I had encountered in manufacturing: balance, proportion, harmony, contrast, and unity. The difference was that instead of applying these principles to metal components, I was now applying them to visual compositions.

Digital photography followed, teaching me not just how to take pictures but how to see the world as a designer. I learned about composition, lighting, and perspective, concepts that helped me understand how to create compelling images that communicate specific messages or emotions. This course also taught me the technical aspects of digital cameras, which, given my affinity for technology, came naturally to me.

Digital image editing introduced me to Adobe Photoshop, a tool that felt both alien and familiar. While the interface was new, the concept of manipulating digital data to achieve specific results was something I had done for years with CNC programming. I quickly learned how to adjust colors, remove imperfections, and combine multiple images to create compositions that couldn't exist in reality. The precision required reminded me of my machining days, where a millimeter could make the difference between a perfect part and scrap metal.

Social media and digital marketing opened my eyes to how design intersects with business strategy. I learned that effective design isn't just about aesthetics, it's about achieving business objectives, whether that's increasing brand awareness, driving website traffic, or converting viewers into customers. This course helped me see that my entrepreneurial ambitions and design skills could work together harmoniously.

Digital illustration introduced me to Adobe Illustrator and the world of vector graphics. Unlike the pixel-based images in Photoshop, vector graphics can be scaled infinitely without losing quality, a concept that appealed to my precision-oriented mindset. Creating illustrations from scratch was challenging but rewarding, allowing me to express ideas visually in ways I never thought possible.

The foundations of branding course taught me that design is about more than creating pretty pictures, it's about crafting cohesive visual identities that represent the values and personality of organizations. This strategic aspect of design resonated with my experience managing complex manufacturing projects, where understanding the client's needs was essential for success.

In the digital publishing course where we're creating a magazine using Adobe InDesign. This project brings together everything I've learned so far, photography, image editing, illustration, and branding, into a comprehensive publication. Working with multiple pages, text flow, and layout design has been challenging but immensely satisfying.

In my Web Programming course, I learned the foundational skills of HTML, CSS, and basic JavaScript. I developed a solid understanding of how to structure webpages using semantic HTML, apply consistent styling with CSS, and add interactivity through scripting. I also gained experience in building responsive layouts, organizing site navigation, and formatting content with accessibility and SEO in mind. By the end of the course, I was able to create multi-page websites that apply real-world concepts, including a copyright information site, allowing me to combine design principles with web development best practices.

In my Digital Video and Audio Editing course, I learned how to use Adobe Premiere Pro to edit and produce professional-quality videos. I gained hands-on experience with organizing media, cutting and sequencing clips, applying transitions, adjusting audio levels, and syncing sound with visuals. I also explored techniques for adding titles, background music, and voiceovers, as well as creating smooth fades and pacing to enhance storytelling. One of my key projects included creating a before-and-after photo video for St. Jude Children's Hospital, which helped me understand how to combine emotional impact with technical editing skills.

In my Post Production course, I built on my video editing skills by focusing on the final stages of video creation, including color correction, audio mixing, and visual effects. I learned how to polish raw footage using tools like Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects, ensuring consistent tone, smooth transitions, and professional pacing. I explored techniques for enhancing mood through color grading, refining sound quality, and adding motion graphics and kinetic typography. This course helped me understand how to bring all the creative elements together to deliver a cohesive, engaging final product that meets both technical standards and storytelling goals.

We are currently studying Visual Storytelling, and in this course, I have learned how to communicate powerful narratives using images, composition, color, and metaphor. We explored how to create emotional impact and meaning without relying on text, using techniques such as panel sequencing, framing, and visual pacing. I applied these concepts in projects like mini-narrative comics and metaphor-based posters, such as my "Father Time" design. This course has strengthened my ability to think creatively, use symbolism effectively, and develop visual narratives that resonate with an audience on a deeper level.

The Intersection of Past and Present

What has surprised me most about studying graphic design is how much my previous experiences have contributed to my success. The technical precision I developed as a CNC machinist helps me create clean, well-executed designs. The spatial reasoning I honed while programming complex machining paths allows me to visualize layouts and compositions before creating them. The project management skills I developed in manufacturing engineering help me organize my design process efficiently, from initial concept to final execution.

Even my naval experience has proven relevant. The discipline required to stand watch and navigate a ship translates to the self-discipline needed to master new software and techniques. The ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines, essential at sea, is equally valuable when completing design projects. And the attention to detail required for safe navigation is mirrored in the precision needed for professional design work.

Looking Forward: Where Precision Meets Creativity

As I continue my graphic design education, I'm excited to see how my unique background will shape my design aesthetic and approach. I believe that the combination of technical precision and creative thinking gives me a perspective that sets me apart from designers who have followed more traditional paths.

My goal is to become a freelance designer who specializes in bridging the gap between technical industries and effective visual communication. I want to work with engineering firms, manufacturing companies, and technology startups to help them communicate complex ideas through clear, compelling design. I believe that my understanding of technical processes will allow me to translate specialized knowledge into visuals that anyone can understand.

The journey from CNC machining to graphic design might seem like a dramatic shift, but to me, it feels like a natural evolution. Both fields require a balance of technical skill and creative problem-solving. Both involve translating ideas into tangible results. And both have the power to transform how people interact with the world around them.

As I look back on my decision to study graphic arts and design, I'm grateful for my student advisor's insight and Professor Williams' enthusiasm. What started as a chance meeting has developed into a passion that combines my love for technology with a newfound appreciation for creative expression. The precision machinist and naval navigator in me hasn't disappeared, he's simply found a new way to chart a course toward the future, using pixels and vectors instead of metal and stars.