"It's never to late to be who you
should have been." - unknown

Michael Johnson, Graphic & Web Designer, Tomball, TX

2006 Honors Graduate, of the Art Institute of Houston, majoring in Graphic Design and winner of the “Best Of Show” Portfolio Award. For someone who had thought he wasn't college material, getting out sane was the goal, receiving that award was a bonus. Attending college for the first time at age 37 was challenging, especially since my classmates were 19-24 year old artsy kids.

I've always been interested in art, in Jr. High, I was the kid who friends depended on, to draw their science posters, I still see diagrams of the human brain in my sleep. At 24 I taught art classes in my garage to neighborhood kids, to give them something creative to do after school. Then there were murals; I painted murals for three years, then my first child was born and I had to get a "real job". I had worked in sales and logistics, but that spirit to create was still flickering.

While at the Art Institute, I interned at Driving Force Marketing and was asked to stay on as a lead designer, creating ads and web sites. Shortly the Art Institute called and said a firm requested to interview their top three graduates and from that I was hired as Graphic Designer/Marketing Assistant at MJLM. There I designed from concept to print; brochures, ads, proposal covers, and other print materials, web maintenance was also part of my job duties. With freelance jobs and kids demanding more of my time, I decided to start MJayGraphics and work closer with my clients and see my kids before bed time. But I use that corporate experience at developing brand identities, advertisements, annual reports, proposal covers, brochures, flyers, and exhibit displays that fits my clients needs. I understand and work hard for small business owners.