My Journey through Design
I have been working in the design industry for over 10 years. I originally started in the graphic design industry as a print designer marketing for a merchandise store. I eventually moved on to work with a print company in the Denver Metro area. With that experience, I was able to work with large format printers and gain first-hand experience and knowledge on how printing works. I also gained experience with smaller digital printers. Through this experience, I was able to gain knowledge and insight into how to design materials that will go to a large format printer, especially on pieces that will eventually become 3-D materials.
In 2014, I decided to go back to school to pursue a Master’s Degree in Web Design and Development to better hone my skills in today’s environment. With the knowledge that I gained by continuing my education, I was able to transition in my career from print base to digital base. I have been able to take what I learned in the classroom and apply it directly in my new role as an Account Manager at a marketing firm in Denver. Through this opportunity, I have been able to help a Universities Business School update their website to not only look and feel more current with the latest design trends but I also help boost their overall website traffic. I have also been given the opportunity to work with a large Water Industry professional to help take a site that wasn’t responsive or user-friendly become more current with the times. In a project that took just under 2 years to complete from branding the company and departments, website mockups to final launch I was able to help solve navigation problems that clients were having when visiting the website. I also helped created a website that becomes responsive allowing their users to be able to access their website from any location. After completing that project we learned that site traffic has increased as well as the amount of time that a user is on a page.
Since I can remember creating something has always been a true passion of mine. I continue to grow as a professional by following current design trends and trying to continue my education through the work that I’m doing and the trends that I’m learning about. One of the things I think is the most exciting about the industry that I work in is that things are always changing and you can always continue to grow and come up with new ideas. I love that I am able to work closely with different companies and organizations to help get their message across to their clients. I have always enjoyed being in an industry that allows me to work closely with other and bounce ideas off of people but also allows me to put my head down and just create!
Outside of my design life, I love to be outdoors. Colorado has so many wonderful areas to explore and most weekends that’s exactly what I’m doing. In the summertime, you can almost always find me on a mountain and taking photos of my surrounding areas. If I’m not hiking I’m usually in Denver exploring the many breweries and local restaurants that Denver has to offer.
Education
- Master of Science in Web Design & Development, 2018 | University of Denver
- Bachelor of Fine Arts, concentration in Graphic Design, 2013 | Colorado State University
- Minor in Business Administration, 2013 | Colorado State University
Skills
- Graphic Design
- Web Design
- Typography
- Illustration
- UI/UX
- SEO Optimization
- Project Management
Technology
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Microsoft Office
- WordPress
- Microsoft Project
Alyssa Montoya Designs 