“I knew I wanted to become a graphic designer at the age of 16. Luckily, I had two art teachers who encouraged me to pursue a career in art. It was in Junior High School that marrying typography with an image equals graphic design. I was quite happy to be accepted at the private art college California College of Arts and Crafts (CCAC) in Oakland at the Berkeley border. Then I made the long trek from my home state of Colorado to California to begin a new life. I really flourished at CCAC, always excited to go to class and even looked forward to the daily smells of turpentine, and fresh oil paint. At the time, CCAC required students take their “foundation classes” before any classes with our major. I was happy to do that! I took classes in illustration, painting, photography, lithography, ceramics, art history, color theory, drafting, and printmaking. With that printmaking class I had to drive myself to the emergency room when the knife met my hand! Then my schedule was full of typography, graphic design, production classes. With art history I loved studying about modern artists like Jim Dine, Robert Motherwell, Andy Warhol, Richard Diebenkorn, Mark Rothko, Jasper Johns, Ivan Chermayeff, and my favorite Robert Rauschenberg.

    Once I graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design, I began my long career as a wine and food package design specialist. I’ve been told that my style sometimes is a layered look probably due to the artists that have influenced me. I couldn’t be happier!”

 

Patti Britton, BRITTON DESIGN, Sonoma, California