Graduate Graphic Design classes at Portfolio Center: “Anne was one of my favorite teachers at the Portfolio Center. I was lucky enough to have her for four of my classes, each of which provided me with skills that I use daily. She's passionate, knowledgeable, and sincere and I'm glad that I had the opportunity to work so closely with her!” October 15, 2009
Top qualities: Great Results, Expert, Creative
Lauren Jung,
hired Anne as a graphic design instructor in 2008, and hired Anne more than once
“Anne is a wonderful instructor and talented artist. She instills in her students a passion for strong concepting and boundary breaking creativity. Her example is truly a source of inspiration. She persistently challenged me to take my ideas to furthest, in both thought and execution, and also emphasized the value of a strong work ethic. I enjoyed her classes, and looked forward to the many different perspectives and dialogues that would arise from them. She is easy to work with and has a wonderful sense of humor. Her skills in calligraphy never cease to amaze me.” August 31, 2009
Top qualities: Personable, High Integrity, Creative
Jenny Garrett,
hired Anne as a Graphic/Web Designer in 2005
“Anne was an excellent instructor that brought her passion and excitement to each and every class. She was great at pushing our creative thinking as well as teaching us important technical skills that have helped me in my everyday design work.
*Her calligraphy and book making skills are awesome!!” June 4, 2009
Ben Krantz, Student, Portfolio Center
reported to Anne at The Portfolio Center
“Anne's work is so beautiful and amazing. From books to boxes to calligraphy, she can do it all. If you don't love her, you might need to check your pulse.” June 1, 2009
Sarah Coffman, Designer/Art Director, Minus Five
was with another company when working with Anne at The Portfolio Center
“Anne is a wonderful teacher and beautiful person to know. She is a tremendous artist and pulls amazing things from her students.” May 27, 2009
Jessica Sutton, Student, Portfolio Center
reported to Anne at The Portfolio Center
“Anne has an amazing gift for being able to pull ideas out that you may not have otherwise realized were there...her process as an instructor, geared towards personal exploration and hands-on (literally) expression, give more technologically inclined folks a way to play with calligraphy and ink, to get messy and create things straight from imagination. She's very passionate about getting the best out of everyone, never settling for anything less, and the fact that she takes an active interest in the students work helps to ensure that she gets awesome work from them. She's a truly great teacher, no two ways about it.” May 23, 2009
Witt Irion Langstaff, III, Student, Portfolio Center
reported to Anne at The Portfolio Center
“Anne Elser is one of the most amazingly creative people I've ever known. Her holistic, emotive approach to her work and her teaching is a rare gift, and has inspired hundreds of her students to think differently and design in new, innovative ways. She is also an expert in hand-crafts, from bookmaking to beautiful calligraphy and hand-type. Anne is a true, unique designer and an excellent teacher.” May 4, 2009
Top qualities: Personable, Expert, Creative
Kyle Thompson,
hired Anne as a teacher in 2007, and hired Anne more than once
“Anne is a passionate and dedicated teacher. She works with each student in an effort to bring out his best work. What I enjoyed most about Anne was her willingness to let students explore in their design process, take risks and make mistakes. In the process of her class, you learn how to bring an emotion, whether strong or faint, to your work so that people can relate to it and find a piece of them in what you are communicating. The work that I did in Anne's class is some of my favorite work, even if one project is about shoes, and truly work that others notice and comment on.” May 4, 2009
Jessica Sudalnik, Student, Portfolio Center
reported to Anne at The Portfolio Center
“Anne is a wonderful teacher, designer and mentor. She pours her immense creativity and passion for design into each student with whom she works. Everyone receives personal attention and a chance to share in Anne's inspiration. Her own personal work is extraordinary as well.” April 23, 2009
Top qualities: Great Results, Expert, Creative
Penny Cannon,
hired Anne as a Graphic/Web Designer in 2006
“Anne is a teacher that forces you out of your comfort zone which is where your best work happens. Her two passions are teaching and design and it comes out when you are in her classes. It was a shame I only had her in one class during my time at Portfolio Center because she really gets you to think in a different light. I highly recommend Anne as a teacher and as a designer.” April 22, 2009
Tyler Schultz, Student, Portfolio Center
reported to Anne at The Portfolio Center
“To quote the oft initialed item on the Anne Elser Course Contractual Agreement:
"Anne is smart and sexy and I wish I were just like her."
Anne is very talented and knows how to pull the soul of a subject close to the surface making her work invaluable communication pieces. She can take even the most complex challenges and turn them into the most beautiful and hardest working pieces.
As a student I came out of her class with a greater understanding of how to communicate the world around me and insert human qualities into my work that enable people to have more personal connections with the pieces I create and ultimately the brands I create for.” April 20, 2009
Hank Trefethen, Student, Portfolio Center
reported to Anne at The Portfolio Center
“Anne's strength is in helping you express your true self in a way that is focused, creative, and engaging. Her attention to detail and hand crafting skills are top notch as well.” April 15, 2009
Top qualities: Personable, High Integrity, Creative
Herbert Bacchus,
hired Anne as a Graphic/Web Designer in 2007, and hired Anne more than once
“I was very fortunate to have Anne as my instructor several times while attending Portfolio Center. Her approach to teaching design is refreshing and honest. Anne's sense of humor made class fun and entertaining and her serious dedication to her students pushed them to produce their best work. Anne has taught me invaluable design skills as well as a unique way of thinking and problem solving that will be of great advantage to me in my future design career.” April 14, 2009
Grace Poser, Student, Portfolio Center
reported to Anne at The Portfolio Center
“I've had the pleasure of knowing Anne Elser for over two years, as my teacher and then friend. In the whirlwind that is graduate quarter at Portfolio Center, I hired Anne to bind a book for me; it came out so impeccably perfect that I had her make second one! Anne is a deeply creative person, passionate about her work and life. She loves to laugh and I think she truly enjoys what she does. Anyone would enjoy working with her!” April 13, 2009
Top qualities: Great Results, High Integrity, Creative
Anna Shypailo,
hired Anne as a Book binder in 2009, and hired Anne more than once
“Anne has undoubtedly been one of the most unforgettable and inspiring teachers that I have had at Portfolio Center. While she clearly has a natural born talent for design, she carries those same qualities of patience, engagement and love that uses in her design into her teaching and motivates us all to be better thinkers and designers. Since being around her, I've learned to put more of myself in my work and be ok with communicating messages that are important to me. For that I will always be grateful.” April 11, 2009
Lynnette Galloway, Student, Portfolio Center
worked directly with Anne at The Portfolio Center
“Anne teaches her students to be honest in their work and to really push themselves–from conceptual development to final execution and everything in between. Her calligraphy and book-binding work is exceptional; her ability to inspire her students is extraordinary. She is the type of teacher you want to work hard for.” April 11, 2009
Abby Brewster, Student, Portfolio Center
reported to Anne at The Portfolio Center
“Anne is a born teacher and artist. She always has the patience and drive to help pull the best possible work out of her students, even when we might be frustrated. I really appreciated her commitment to helping students learn not only about design, but about ourselves as well. Anne teaches students to integrate a human quality and our own personality into our work, helping it to be smart, thoughtful, and unique.” April 10, 2009
Julie Rado, Student, Portfolio Center
worked directly with Anne at The Portfolio Center
“Anne is a truly inspiring teacher who gives her all to her classes and her students. She is a superb designer with a deep understanding of color, form, composition and production. She is the most giving and caring teacher I know. Anne is also the finest craftsman I know and has the ability to teach these invaluable skills to her students. As you can tell, I think the world of Anne. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.” April 10, 2009
Melissa Kuperminc, Instructor and Counsel, The Portfolio Center
worked directly with Anne at The Portfolio Center
“Ann has consistently demonstrated an expertise in hand drawn type. Her guidance and feedback were invaluable in helping me finalize several logos last year. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for unique typographic expertise.” April 9, 2009
Jimmy Stones, Designer & Art Director, Jimmy Stones Design
worked directly with Anne at The Portfolio Center
“I have taken two classes with Anne at The Portfolio Center. Her friendly and professional attitude created a positive work environment where students were influenced to grow in both creativity and accountability. In the class "Holy Hand" Anne taught us ways to make our work personal, while also communicating a universal message. She adheres to a strict timeline in class that is especially helpful to those of us who struggle with time management. Take her class.” April 8, 2009
Top qualities: Personable, Expert, Creative
Elizabeth Haywood,
hired Anne as a Teacher in 2008
“Teachers teach more by being what they are than what they say. For me, learning from Anne wasn't just about critique times, but the time that she takes to show her students how to be great designers. She takes the time to really listen to her students, and push them in the right direction on their projects, whatever that may be. I feel so privileged to have the opportunity to learn from her. She always helped to inspire me, and helped me to become a better designer.
“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” —William Arthur Ward” April 8, 2009
Audrey Campbell, student, Portfolio Center
worked indirectly for Anne at The Portfolio Center
“Anne Elser was certainly one of the most creative and inspiring teachers I had while I was a student at Portfolio Center. As a designer, her work is intuitive and playful, and as an instructor, Anne was structured and relevant. This great balance is reflected in her work.” April 8, 2009
Raymond Forbes, Student, Portfolio Center
reported to Anne at The Portfolio Center
“Anne is amazing. As my teacher/friend/mentor at Portfolio Center she always took ideas to the next level. Besides her natural talent in calligraphy, book making, crafts and anything she touches, her true skill is teaching. Within my first few quarters, she broke the chains surrounding my previous beliefs of what design was "supposed to be" and made it personable, passionate and raw. She showed me the power of visible emotion in communicating a story to an audience. Thanks so much Anne for all your time and sincerity, and I'm so proud of what you have accomplished.” April 8, 2009
Top qualities: Personable, Expert, Creative
Jennifer Graham,
hired Anne as a Graphic/Web Designer in 2007, and hired Anne more than once
“I have always thought Anne somehow got more than twenty-four hours in each day -- not only is she creative, but prolific as well! Because she does so much hand work, graphics or otherwise, she has a very sharp eye for detail. Every bit of her work is thoughtful and provocative, whether that be on a conscious or subconscious level. I am so glad I got to work with Anne and be a part of her creative process.” April 8, 2009
Robert Griffin, Student, Portfolio Center
was with another company when working with Anne at The Portfolio Center
“Anne has the ability & passion to open paths otherwise unimagined, with the grace of not only staying out of the way of a budding creative, but of ensuring said creative stays out of their own way. It was a pleasure to share the light of her teaching and I am far better for it.” April 7, 2009
Kevin M. Scarbrough, Student, Portfolio Center
reported to Anne at The Portfolio Center
“Anne's work speaks for itself, it is simply amazing and inspiring. So, it comes as no surprise that this translates directly into her talents as an instructor. She is patient, understanding, and engaging but also pushes her students and expects great work from them. She is one of the best teachers I have ever had and it is my pleasure to recommend her.” April 7, 2009
Christine Clayton, Graphic Design Student, Portfolio Center
reported to Anne at The Portfolio Center
2. The center of this piece is grounded with the couple's monogram and wedding date. The monogram can be used to print thank you cards, labels, rubber stamps, stationary and more. The date can be left off if you wish to give longevity to your monogram.
3. Also with this piece come table number cards. They can be adapted to fit any size table number card you wish, vertical or horizontal.
And I don't need to tell you how much fun this bride was to work with. All the fun and flirty calligraphy was inspired by her.
