About Altered Impressions
Hello, my name is Karen Harwood and I have been creating web sites and studying Multimedia Design and Development since 1997.
I'll never forget when I first got into things. Within a weeks time I knew I was in over my head, it all seemed so impossible. But I really wanted to learn all this web/programming/media stuff, it was all so exciting!
My biggest problem was knowing where to start. I ended up buying a C++ books and quickly learned that I was not going anywhere fast. So I switched to multimedia design and forked out over $1000 for Macromedia Director.
Well, that sent me off in all kinds of directions, before I could program anything in Director I had to know how to do graphics and sound. Before I knew it I had a bank of software that was worth more than anything I'd ever owned at the time.
Most of the software I bought, I never did end up learning how to use. But I did finally learn how to build web sites, not sure how, but I did eventually get there...
I started off getting a degree in Electronics (I know, that doesn't have anything to do with web design, but I was good at math and I needed a career that would support my expensive software habit). With my degree in hand, I got a job working in an electronic repair department. Before they knew what hit them, they were sending me to school for web/programming/media stuff so that I could build online tutorials and other web related stuff for the company (I sort of pushed my way in and made up my own jobs as I went along, and they paid me to do it!).
In the summer of 2003 I went full time as I started my own business, Altered Impressions. I still didn't know anything (that's the way it is, the more you learn, the more your realize how much you don't know), but I was determined and had lots of time to learn. And here I am today still learning how to design web sites! It just never ends.
Today my business continues to grow and grow. It is my primary goal to help small business owners achieve success in their internet marketing efforts by providing them with quality information and services through my business, Altered Impressions.
I look forward to working with you and your business. Please continue to browse my site and if there is anything that I can do for you, please don't hesitate to ask - I'm here for you!
Educational Background...
- Lake Washington Technical College: Completed 2 year Electronic Technician Certificate program and participated in the Multimedia Design and Development program
- Bellevue Community College: Completed classes in the Information Design certificate program, Microsoft Office and Windows System Tools, and A+ Certification course
- New Horizons Learning Center: Completed several classes in Business Skills, Web Development, and Project Management
- Lynda: Continuing education in CSS, Web Design, Joomla, Drupal, Fireworks CS4
Multimedia and Design Software Knowledge...
- Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- Adobe Director and Flash
- Adobe Captivate
- Joomla! Content Management System
Fields of Study and Experience...
- Advanced CSS and Web Standard Design
- Content Management Systems
- Joomla! Custom Template Design
- Database Design
- Ecommerce Application Development
- Multimedia and Graphic Design
- Information Architecture
- Media-Based Training Development
- Instructional Systems Design
- Online Technical Help Systems
- Computer Science
- Technical Support Services
- Troubleshooting Documentation
- Internet Applications Support
- User-Centered Web Design
- Email and Web Marketing Solutions