Life After Ad School for Melissa Cornet

Discouraged with advertising before I really got into it, I made a bold move to replace those ads in my book with stuff I really loved: cards, books, type, and design. My classmates thought I was crazy. It was my seventh quarter, after all, so what was I doing? However, as soon as I spoke my decision out loud, I knew I was right. And I've never looked back.

I graduated with a book full of whimsical designs and emotional products and it was time to find a job. After months of hearing, "Your book is so different. We like it but it's not for us," or "You could work here but you wouldn't be doing what you could be doing," I was frustrated and wanting to give up.

In a last attempt, I applied to American Greetings online. In a click I was flown out for an interview and offered a job.

The only questions I asked myself before signing were, A: "Where the hell is Cleveland?," and B: "Did it really matter?"

So far, it has been a great experience. In my first year I helped the company win a partnership with Starbucks Coffee. My Valentine's Day designs were in their stores last February. The win was recognized as one of the biggest achievements of the company in  2006. (Which means I got to dress up and go to a fancy party.)

Day-to-day, I work with the humor/juvenile graphics team. We brainstorm ideas for most major holidays. Our ideas are sold at Target, Wal-Mart, and American Greetings stores. We collaborate with well-established illustrators and writers, do production work for card files, and have rubber-band wars in the hallways. I really enjoy it and I'm glad I took the risk with my portfolio when I did.

And Cleveland? Well, it's more exciting than you'd think!

Click here for more information on the Program.