Why Be A Teacher?

I was asked the other day if I enjoyed being a teacher (I'm an adjunct professor at the University of Central Oklahoma). I replied, "I really enjoy teaching". Then the student asked me why did I start teaching, after all I have a successful small graphic design business and with an 11 month old baby, I have little time for anything else. I answered him by saying, "I enjoy passing on what I have learned".

That was a fairly simple answer to the question and it doesn't completely explain why I'm teaching. So I thought I would try to provide better rational.

When I first applied to teach at UCO, I wish I could say I was being a great humanitarian and wanted to give back. But the truth is, I was almost broke. My business had been doing poorly and I thought I would have to take a job as a bag boy at the local grocery store.

I started to think, what would I do if I couldn't do what I do? I'm only really trained at one thing and that is graphic design, so I sat down to solve my problem (after all that's what designers do, solve problems).

I thought a lot about my skills and experience and came up with…nothing!

Well, not quite absolutely nothing, but I didn't want to work in a restaurant or work behind a register, and an insurance salesman was out of the question!

So I did what I do when I design something. I got out a pencil and paper and started doodling and making notes. What I came up with was a small list of different occupations.

Designer (doing that now)
Electrician (already done that)
Farmer ( HELL NO! did that when I was a kid)
Banker ( nope I'm an artist which means I can't add or spell)
McDonald's (wont shave my beard, so that one's out)
Teacher (hold on a minute!)

Teacher…could I really do that? Really? I had absolutely no experience, just 18 + years of experience in the Advertising and Graphic Design industry.

But I thought what the heck. So I sent my resume to UCO and called a couple of people I still knew still worked there to let them know I was applying.

About a year later I got a call to come in for an interview. By this time my business had recovered and I didn't need the extra income. I also enjoy my off time with my family. So why would I want to take on another job?

As I sat down to think about it and talk it over with my wife when a thought hit me. I realized some of the most influential people In my life were teachers.

Some teachers taught me specific skills and some taught by example and I realized I very much wanted to be that kind of person to others!

The following teachers are examples of some of the people that made a difference in my life.

Mr Shores, high school algebra: Not only taught me math, but also taught me to respect others. He would never call anyone by their first name, it was always Mr. Burke or sir and a handshake when you came to class.

Mrs. Kanaga, typing teacher: Thank God I learned how to keyboard!

Mrs. Bamberg, english teacher: Taught the value of reading everything.

Mr. Henderson, Vocational Ag teacher: Taught everyone in his class to accept responsibility for your own existence and your own actions.

My oral communications teacher in college: I cant remember his name but he taught me to read at least four papers a day. He said it is our responsibility as responsible adults to keep informed on current events.


Jim Watson, Graphic Design Teacher: Jim taught me to question everything, that designers solve problems and also as communicators we need to communicate a rational for everything we do.

Which leads me back to my topic. Why be a teacher?

I'll tell you why. Aside from a paycheck, I want to make a difference in the way young people look at life. Make them stop and think a moment. Live life to its fullest, don't just exist! Every teacher I've had taught me something that has stayed with me all my life.

I don't want students to look back and say, Mr. Burke was a great teacher. I want them to go out, take what they have learned in my classes, then use the information to become productive and successful people, then pass it on.

My teachers were a big influence on me and I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of them.

I'm very proud to be a teacher and I'm doubly proud of all my students present, and past!

Learn something and pass it on, be a Teacher! You won't regret it.

The Best Time In My Life Is Right Now!

A little over 20 years ago, I lost my job, my wife and I divorced, I had no direction and I was sitting in an empty house missing my two boys, feeling sorry for myself until I realized it could only get better from here. I was wrong, it got a little worse before it got better. I ended up filing for bankruptcy and I lost my house.

After moping for a while and working odd jobs, I decided to go to college and enrolled in a local junior college, then went on to get a Bachelors degree from the University of Central Oklahoma. After college I went to work in the Advertising industry, I met and married my best friend and have been married to her for over 13 years. My oldest son is 25, went to college and is now a Police officer and my other son is 21 and is enrolled to the same college I attended and doing very well.

About 7 years ago the agency I worked for the previous 10 years closed. Unemployed again! There weren’t any jobs in my field locally that I wasn’t over-qualified for and I didn’t want to move out of state away from my children. So my wife and I talked it over and I started my own small graphic design business. Seven years later I’m relatively successful in business and I’m an Adjunct Professor at UCO, the college I received my degree. I have always felt it is important to teach others what you have learned.

This year I turned 46 and I'm busier than ever running a business, teaching college, also my wife and I just had a new baby boy (my oldest son thinks I’m insane). With my more flexible schedule, it's tough, but I’m very happy to say I am able to watch the baby everyday.

Recently I was talking to an old friend and he was reminiscing about high school, and talking about how much he missed those days and he said something that made me feel a little sad. He said that high school was the best time in his life. Can you believe it, here is a guy my age who; for him, the best time of his life was high school? What about all the years in-between then and now?

Well I started thinking about when the best time of my life was. I didn’t have to think long. The best time in my life is today! Every morning I wake up healthy and I think there is no better time in my life than right now. I appreciate my past and those experiences, which made me into the person I am today, but today is great and I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!

I love my wife. I love my three sons. I love my job. Yeah, I could be better off financially and 50 pounds lighter, but I wouldn’t trade my life today for all the money in the world.

Today is the best day of my life! Now you will have to excuse me I have to go and change a diaper.

©2009 Michael Burke

Graphic Designer, just what the heck is that?

What is Graphic Design?

I get this question all the time from friends, relatives and clients. “What is graphic design, just what exactly do you do?”

When I try to explain it to them, it usually goes something like this.

“See this ad?” “I designed it.”

“Oh, you took that cool photo.”

“No.”

“Then you wrote that great headline.”

“No.”

“Well you must have done that nice illustration.”

“Uh, no.”

“Well, then what exactly do you do?”

As graphic designers, it’s our job to take elements such as, photography, copy or illustration and assemble them into design that effectively communicates a message. Whether its print, web or product-design, graphic designers create visuals that are pleasing to the eye while communicating an idea.

The history of graphic design goes back as long as man has been communicating. Cave paintings found in Lascaux dated around 10,000 B.C. are some of the earliest examples of graphic design. Images painted to convey a story or historical event.

Egyptians used hieroglyphics, pictures representing a word, syllable or sound to convey their writings.

Monks from the 14^th century created beautiful illustrated manuscripts combining artistic illustration with writing to create some incredible works of art.

Today, graphic design is commonplace. It is everywhere you look, every piece of furniture you sit on, every movie or television you watch. Graphic designers influence the groceries you buy, and the soda you drink.

Almost anything you look at in your daily life, a graphic designer has created the look to get you to purchase a product or service.

So when someone asks me what graphic design is, I just say look around you, books, magazines, computers, desks, posters, business cards, Music CD covers, soda bottles, coffee cups, pens, DVD’s, toilet paper packages …ect. Anything human made two-dimensional or three-dimensional that communicates an idea, a graphic designer is responsible.

As you can see, as long as human beings have been communicating, graphic design has had and continues to have one of the most important roles in human history. Communication!

© 2009 Michael Burke

Where's my teaspoon!?

I was going to write some insightful blog on graphic design or marketing, but I found myself a bit nostalgic today. Maybe its the rain or maybe it was the fact that I could not find a teaspoon anywhere but I started thinking about things that I miss. So I sat down and made a list. If you miss anything drop a comment and let me know.

I miss...
Teaspoons- you know the long skinny ones that used to be standard in any silverware you bought? Do they think no one stirs their tea anymore?

Ice-cream trucks- not the silly little vans that come around the neighborhood now, that look like they could steal your kids, but the nice ones with the freezers mounted on back, kind of like a Schwans truck.

Quisp cereal- I don't know I just liked the little spaceman and cereal shaped like little flying saucers.

The Frito Bandito- I know, not politically correct, but he was fun. They used to give you free Frito bandito erasers that went on the end of your pencil.

GI Joe adventure team with the kung fu grip and life like hair- Nuff said.

Pepsi in a tall glass bottle- Nothing like that ice cold glass bottle with the sweat running down the side of the bottle then trading in the bottles for money for comic books.

The original Battlestar Galactica- Not that I don't like the new version, but I liked the old one that had absolutly no message what-so-ever. Just mindless Fracking fun!

Sure I could think of other things but you get my point. Maybe I'm just getting older and looking back or maybe it's because I'm a new dad and I would like my son to enjoy some of the things I enjoyed. Maybe I'm just cranky that I can't find a long skinny teaspoon to stir real 100% bad for you sugar into my tea! I guess I'll just pull out my Mego Capt Kirk and Mr Spock and go play with my new son.

Let me know some of the things you miss...


©2009 Michael Burke

Brand Identity

There are signposts ahead. how do you guarantee your customer pays attention to yours?

The Dictionary defines the term “brand” as a type of product manufactured by a particular company under a particular name.

Historically, branding started out as an identification mark used on cattle and horses. But as time went on, it evolved to define ownership of a product no matter whether it was livestock or people.

Today branding doesn’t have the same negative overtones it developed in history however, branding is just as important today for identifying ownership of a product as it was in the past. Brands now include companies, not just the products they produce. It’s not unusual for the company name to have as much brand value as the product itself. For example: Clorox is the company and the brand, but Clorox also owns other brands you may have heard of such as, Kingsford Charcoal and Brita water filters.

Walter Landor, founder of Landor Associates says, “Products are created in the factory, Brands are created in the mind.” Good brand identity helps build a good company.

Branding is what the customer thinks about your product, so making a brand identity tangible to the customer is extremely important for a company.

How can you accomplish it?

Finding the right partner is a place to start. Advertising, Marketing and Graphic Design agencies specialize in helping to create effective brands. There are so many ways to reinforce your brand that we can’t even start to cover everything in this short article, so I will try to discuss some of the ways to develop your brand.

Alina Wheeler, author and speaker says; “Brand identity is the visual and verbal expression of a brand.” One of the best ways to develop your brand is the old fashioned “Word of Mouth.” Get your customers to tell everyone they know about your product or service.

Here are a couple of tips you can do right now. One way is simply to ask your customers to tell others about your company. If they are satisfied with your product or service they will probably be happy to do it. How hard is that?

Another way is getting your customers to write testimonials that can be placed on your website or in a brochure. These are just a couple of things you can do on your own to start developing your brand awareness.

Visually reinforcing your brand is another important way to get the customer to remember your brand.

The most important way to start visual reinforcement is to develop your identity. Remember how brands started out? An identification mark used on cattle and horses. Each brand was registered and unique, no one had an identical brand. So creating the right visual identity or mark for your company or product is the most important first step to establish brand ownership. Having a well thought out and registered creative logo provides a tangible visual mark immediately identifiable as your brand.

Tom Watson, former chairman of IBM said, “Good design is good business.”

Brand reinforcement requires understanding and leadership from the top down. If the principals of a company don’t understand their brand, how can they expect their customers to do the same?

All aspects of brand development need to be structured and coherent. Everything should tie back into the look, feel and message of the brand. For example: If your direct mail ties into your website and your brochures visually tie into your direct mail, the television and radio should emulate your company message and all of these should tie into your identity. Remember, the value of your brand is priceless. Solid marketing strengthens your brand value providing consistent and clear messages.

Another important thing to remember about branding, is getting your message across. You must understand your customer and their lifestyle. Research and strategy are essential in brand development.

Strategically, you must have a clear set of goals that produce measurable results. Finding the right marketing partner can help you define your strategy to build your brand. It is a long process that is almost impossible to do alone.

And a final thought, naming your company or product is only part of the branding process. Effective implementation of branding strategies is what makes a brand successful. Remember, your ultimate goal is to sell. Whether it is a product or service, your company can’t remain invisible. Developing your brand and making a lasting impression in the minds of your consumers, can be the life or death of your business.

©2009 Michael Burke