It must be at least 1,278 days since I last stayed up late sitting in a quiet library with a pile of books, only to find myself with just half of my school assignments completed. Those feelings are still vivid now. But the accomplishment I felt learning and pushing myself was very rewarding.

Now, dare I say, I’m ready for the next round. Yes, I’m going back to school for interactive media.

Time really has flown. For the past three years, I’ve been fortunate to be part of a great team that works on an array of projects involving various types of print media. I’ve enjoyed that immensely. Nothing is more satisfying than the smell of inks on paper and the sound of flipping pages. But recently, a conversation with an old friend working at a prominent multimedia company sparked some interesting questions: “Will advertising and news be delivered digitally? Will the industry shift from ink to digital, or even paperless?”

While the questions remain for many industry experts to answer, they provide deeper meaning for me. As a designer who was trained in print media, I have encountered many projects where clients are concerned with printing budgets and effectiveness of delivery. Suggestions often shift from a PDF and email banners to display ads and videos. And due to changes in technology, the need for a digital presence has certainly become equally important. This opportunity has opened the door for a designer like me to understand more about the Web and its world.¬

Though online and print media are two different forms, they are equally engaging. When I was still in college, I had the opportunity to take a couple of interactive media design classes. It was very interesting to learn how different they are in terms of information delivery – in format and in content. The tactility and aesthetic of print can never be compared with the virtual interactivity of Web, or vice versa.

So here I am, a loyal print designer ready to tap into the world of the Web and interactive. I hope I can bridge and bring the best of both worlds to Realm and our clients.

With that said, in less than two weeks I’ll be sacrificing nights and weekends for homework, and CSI for CSS. Is it worthwhile? Absolutely.