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Shelly Mackintosh
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I'm 35 years old, a married mother of two. I run a design shop with my husband.
I graduated from University of Colorado, Boulder with a degree in American history. My background is in recruitment and account management. I left my career to be home with our kids but then accidentally took over the client-facing side of Chris' freelance business.
I am the Project Manager, practicing the extremely delicate art of managing a creative. I set up Chris' days and weeks. I conduct all of our client communication and I make sure we get paid. Sometimes I contribute to the design work.
Being in business for ourselves is challenging and at times, exasperating, but for the most part, it's amazing. We make a real difference for our clients. We help them to land more business or launch a startup or improve their web presence.
Also, we get some sweet tax deductions.
Cheers,
Shelly Mackintosh
Chris Mackintosh
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I'm 35. Work every day. And love what I do.
I attended Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design. I've worked for some notable companies including L&M Printing, Quark, and Sterling-Rice Group in Boulder. Like all designers my age, I started out in print and can still smell the intoxicating fumes of a spot varnish. After print, I moved into an agency setting, then left that setting to be at home with my daughter. While she slept and my wife worked, I created a thriving freelance business out of a linen closet.
My roles include Front End Developer, Visual/Interaction Designer/UX/UI, and Graphic Designer.
On the print side I pull from an extensive background involving all aspects of the industry. I worked for a large commercial printer, getting a hands-on education where ink meets paper. I worked for Quark Inc., the leading page layout software for design and publishing professionals (before the InDesign era). I worked as a creative at various agencies creating the files that make their way through these systems.
On the interactive side, I apply strong visual design skills (layout, hierarchy, typography, color theory) and pixel-level attention to detail. I create page layouts/UIs, color palettes, typography, wireframes, system flows, icons and user interface elements, while monitoring design consistency. I stay on top of web design trends and the latest techniques in my spare time.
Running my own small business gives me first hand knowledge of the challenges facing our clients. I strive to deliver the best possible solution on time and within budget. My emphasis is on well-thought-out design.
Thanks for reading,
-chris