Master Level Graphic Designer Offering A Professional Guide On How To Use Adobe Photoshop

Find out more about Sam

• Can you tell us about your first experience using a computer?

  My first memory of using a computer was in my early teenage years - when I was around 12 years old my brother introduced me to Photoshop on his Laptop, and showed me some of the amazing things you could do! Ever since then I was hooked and it has heavily influenced my life and career.

• What is the technological evolution that has marked you most and what will be, in your eyes, a turning point in this field?

  A technological evolution that has marked me the most is CAD, although I have and always will love putting pen to paper to construct a design - I would be wrong if I didn't acknowledge that a lot of my career's progress comes from my digital work. An upcoming turning point in this field is the evolution of AI that is ever-pressing on the field of technology and also digital design. I am unsure of what the future will be like with AI in mind but I am optimistic that it will find a place and graphic designers and digital artists will be able to work with AI, not against it.

• Explain your expertise, your interest in it and, more broadly, its importance in the computer world.

  I would summarise my expertise as being the field of digital design, in order to encompass various adobe suite programs and also other software that I use in my workflow. I have had an interest in graphic design and illustration from a very early age, ever since I could pick up a pencil and draw - however evolving into digital design was a real cornerstone for me and has influenced my path to delve further into the world of technological design.

• Do so-called 'visionaries', such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg inspire you or do you have other role models?

  In the field of design I find it more often that I am influenced by other artists or designers. I often find myself browsing Behance, Dribbble or Pinterest for design inspiration and find that these sources will influence my work either consciously or subconsciously in the future.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  I began working in Photoshop and Illustrator from a relatively young age, and was always told that I had a certain knack for both. This only encouraged me to work further at these skills and develop them, to the point where I was quite fluent in both by my mid teens. This meant that when I took on my GCSEs in Design, and another in Art, I was often consulted by my fellow students and even at times the teachers, to help out with problems they were having with adobe. This is one of the memories that inspired me to look into tutoring.

• What would you say to an uncomfortable person in front of a screen who says that "IT is too complicated"?

  I believe this fallacy is something that affects many people in many different areas of life. This is why I believe that as with any subject which at first seems too complicated, with the right resources, patience and guidance, something that at first seemed too challenging (such as IT), can be made approachable and understandable. This is what I aim to achieve with my students through tutoring.

• What are your other passions, related or non-related to computers?

  Most of my passions fall within creative fields, like many people I enjoy reading in my spare time, and also love to watch films, with a few of my favourite directors being Wes Anderson, Pete Docter, and Spike Jonze to name a few. I also love music, and am always open to being introduced to new songs and albums - I have been described by my friends as having a very eclectic taste.

• What makes you a Superprof in IT?

  As I hope has been evident in my responses to the previous questions, due to my experience I am very proficient with Adobe Suite, and have also had prior experience educating others! With these facts in mind I feel I am well suited to be a tutor in my field!