Continuing Education

Tom Stewart’s "Art Ball," winner of our last Best Project Design Contest, is a lesson in creativity and ingenuity.

The first issue of a new year is always energizing for me. I enjoy looking back at the lessons learned over the past year and finding ways to use that knowledge to improve.

The first issue of a new year is always energizing for me. I enjoy looking back at the lessons learned over the past year and finding ways to use that knowledge to improve. I had the opportunity to take a few college classes last year. They were tough, and while not necessarily the most interesting classes I have ever taken, they sparked a fire within me. I love to learn new things. If I could figure out a way to make it financially possible, I would be a life-long student. But continuing education doesn't have to take place in a classroom.

One of the great things about working on this magazine is that I get to learn new things every day. Whether it's learning a new scrolling technique or analyzing sales data from our newsstand consultant, it's the constant stream of new information that inspires me and challenges me to stretch outside of my comfort zone.

Be sure to check out this page for information on the Best Project Design Contest. This contest is all about flexing your creative muscles and thinking outside the box. It's our way of encouraging you to continue learning and experimenting. The instructions for some contest entries will be shared in future issues of the magazine. Some projects, like Tom Stewart's winning Art Ball, are too complex to publish as a how-to article, but we hope the ingenuity inspires you all the same.

My New Year's Resolution is to look at every situation as a learning opportunity. Things may not go my way, but I can learn from that experience and use that knowledge in the future. One of the most inspiring quotes I have ever heard came from Thomas Edison. When questioned about his failures, Edison said, "I have not failed, I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."

I'm sure we've all created some designer firewood in the past. The key is not letting our failures get in the way of future success. The greatest discoveries often result from a mountain of mistakes. I hope 2009 brings you many opportunities to learn and improve. If those little life lessons include scrolling, I hope you'll share them with the rest of the scrolling community.

Shannon Flowers
shannon@foxchapelpublishing.com