Graduate of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online Division Awarded
"Best of Show" at Summer 2005 Portfolio Review

Quarterly Event Showcases Graduates' Work in Creative Arts to
Employers and Public
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After graduating from college with a bachelor's degree in theology and a minor in business marketing, Michael Fontecchio worked for several years at a publishing company, doing marketing and graphic design. He liked the creative aspect of his job so much, he decided to make a full career change to graphic design.

The problem was, Fontecchio never wanted to return to the classroom. It didn't seem to fit his lifestyle or his learning style anymore.

"I researched local community colleges and a nearby technical school. While I was impressed by what I saw, it was difficult for me to face the fact that, as a married man with our first child on the way, I would have to travel at inconvenient times and be in class several hours of the day and still not have a degree for two-and-a-half years," he says. "This made it even more difficult for me to want to return to the classroom."

Then he discovered The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online Division and its Digital Design Diploma program - a 12 course, one-year, intensive program that covers the fundamentals of graphic and Web design. The convenience of learning online, which meant not having to travel or be away from home, appealed to Fontecchio.

"I remember discussing the program with my admissions counselor, who said to me, 'Other programs will teach you software; we will teach you how to design,'" he says. "I knew immediately that this was what I wanted and the program was for me."

Fontecchio admits he didn't really know what to expect from online learning.

"I wondered if I was going to learn as much as I would at a brick-and-mortar school. But the classroom experience was very interactive, unlike my days in college," he says. "Overall, the classes were very challenging and required me to stay focused for the entire 6 weeks. I would likely drift in a 15-week college course, but these were able to hold my attention and encouraged me to learn in a way that fit my learning style. I even obtained a 4.0 GPA - better than what I did when I was in college."

Best of all, online learning through The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online Division enabled Fontecchio to be a full-time father to his infant daughter. He also had the flexibility to do free-lance design work for a few clients.

Fontecchio graduated in December 2002. His first goal is to find a design job, preferably with a large firm that has a creative team.

"After that, I plan to launch my own graphic design business on the side within the next year. I've always wanted to start my own business, but up until now, didn't really know what I wanted to do," he says.

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