John West
Art Director
John K. West Illustration & Design
Milestones
My road in life took a while to figure out.
I majored in art and French because I had a passion for them.
I got a job in France as a translator thanks to contacts I made as an undergrad.
I returned to the U.S. and fulfilled family obligations while earning a Masters in French.
I wrote a scholarly article about French literature that was published in an academic journal.
I found a position writing marketing copy since I had cultivated demonstrable writing skills.
I was promoted to marketing director where I became responsible for the graphics team.
I slowly took over more and more design projects and built a competitive portfolio.
I earned a position as art director in a corporate design department. Mission accomplished!
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Brophy College Prep
Brophy College Prep
Career
Art Director
I create art that punches a time clock. Its job is to provoke a response.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Design
Writing
Being Creative
Day to Day
A great day at work is one where the synergy created by client / designer collaboration encourages my creativity and best visual problem-solving capabilities to emerge.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for college students
Commit to following your passion. Find the courage to develop the innate skills that truly interest you. Although it may take some time to carve out a career that showcases those skills, it's absolutely worth the patience and extra effort. It may seem cliché, but it has been 100% true in my case that when you love what you, your job doesn't feel like work. Life is to be enjoyed and not just endured, and I enjoy mine thanks to my work. I look forward to Monday mornings instead of dreading them.
Recommended Education
My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Society in General:
"Majoring in French and art is impractical. You might as well get a degree in starving because you'll never earn a living. You're too old to switch careers. You don't have the right educational credentials. You're not competitive against recent graduates."
Challenges I Overcame
Family responsibilities delayed career progress
