What started as a small project for a College internship actually sparked a desire in my grandmother to share her life story. A woman, in a man's world, my grandmother has made a name for herself in carpentry. The kind of thing normally reserved for men. Forced into this career by circumstances beyond her control, she didn't set out to prove anything. Her only goal was survival and paying the huge debt she had been left with.

How did this project start? Looking for a worthwhile project for a senior internship, I looked to the interesting stories of my grandmother's customers. With clients, ranging from Patsy Cline's husband to children with special accomplishments I knew there was the makings of a great book.

The Billboard.

Much like the business card, a billboard is “one-shot” advertising. You hope to catch the attention of a driver speeding by. The message must be clear enough to comprehend quickly, but powerful enough to stick in the mind.

Recently a project came across my desk for new billboard. The previous designer had included a whopping total of 22 words in their design. 22?!?!?!  How am I possibly going to take in that much information while driving down the road? Is the designer responsible for any auto accidents that may occur because drivers had to hit their brakes to take in all the information?