Posted February 10th, 2009 by Exhibitslist Team in Modern Exhibit Design
Submitted by Pablo Perez, a freelance exhibit designer in San Diego, California and official Exhibitslist contributor.
After ten years in this industry in which at times compared to a circus, I’ve asked, how did I get myself into this mess, what was I thinking. I have continuously asked myself and others this question and have found many stories interesting including my own.
[more after the break]
It all started while I was attending SDSU, I was a graphic design major. But by the 2nd year of college I realized It wasn’t for me. That didn’t stop my education, I began to take AutoCAD classes not knowing if that would give me a solution to my dilemma. Shortly I began to look for a job, submitting my resume to any company that required AutoCAD skills or graphic design. I found myself jobless even after six months and decided to give it a rest for the time being. Shortly after six additional months, as I prepared to make my way up to Los Angeles to visit my parents, I received the call that would alter the next 10 years of my life. The phone call was from a small San Diego business who was looking for a qualified Detailer who could provide in-house details of construction drawings, set-up instructions and electrical plans in the exhibit industry. “What’s an Exhibit?” I asked over the phone. After 5 minutes of being explained what it was, I was convinced to come in that same day for an interview and demonstrate my AutoCAD skills. After a short 15 minute drive to their facility I was walked in to their engineering department and greeted by a couple of guys who seemed to be on their way out to a Luau. Across from them was their senior engineer who sat in front of a drafting table trying to complete some set up instructions for the 50’x50’Mad CATZ booth that at the same time was being loaded up to the 18 wheeler semi truck. One of the guys reached out and greeted himself as Viet Do. He briefly showed me around the set up floor in their warehouse and gave me a lesson in Exhibits 101 only to have taken 5 minutes and a conclusion of “that’s pretty much all there is to this industry?” he commented. “If that’s all there is to it, this is going to be sweet” I replied. He quickly sat me down on a computer station eager to see
what I could do with AutoCAD 13. He sketched out a couple of shapes on a napkin and told me I had 30 minutes to put them in 3D. After having him hover over me for the first 5 minutes, I nearly had half the small project complete. It was shortly that with out hesitation, I was removed from the station and was told that I had the job. It was the beginning of my introduction to the exhibit industry.
Through out a short journey as a detailer, I was able to make my way up to new hires in other exhibits houses where I spend over five years as a design Illustrator and finally Jr. exhibit designer at a customhouse. Then moving to senior designer for a modular exhibit company. Through out my career I have been fortunate to have the honor in working with talented designers who I thank for giving me the opportunity to learn from them and become the designer I am today.
I’m not sure exactly how I was able to make it this far in this crazy industry, all I can say is that I’m enjoying the roller coaster ride.
Pablo Perez is a freelance Exhibit Designer in San Diego, California. You can contact him at pperezbp@gmail.com
How about you? They don't have Exhibits 101 at college. How did you get into the industry?
