About: MK Design

Established in 2007, MK Design is owned and operated by freelance graphic artist and web designer Mike Kong.
MK Design also contracts with a proven network of talented artists and developers to offer enterprise class web design and development solutions while maintaining low overhead—effectively keeping costs low and quality high for its clients.

Mission
To deliver high quality, tailored design solutions to businesses that are making a positive change in the local and global community. To be resourceful in order to minimize waste and keep design and production costs as low as possible for the client. To develop designs that are bold, creative, and innovative.

About The Artist
Mike Kong, 30, earned his professional skill through over 15 years experience training under local artists and working as an independent contractor serving a wide variety of businesses throught the San Diego county region. In his own words:

"I had been drawing ever since I was a little kid and then, when computers started getting more powerful, right around 1993 or so, a friend's dad who was a working graphic designer gave me a copy of one of the leading professional graphic design programs for the time. I was 13. I took it home and learned how to use it on my dad's computer—just so excited about being able to lay images and text out on the computer screen and then be able to print those digital images onto a page that I could hold in my hand. It was really exciting to me. "

"When I was 15, a local surfboard shaper and master airbrush artist took me under his wing as an airbrush artist painting surfboards and designing surf board paint designs. Under his instruction, I learned about being creative in a production setting—meeting deadlines, working fast while maintaining an almost obsessive attention to detail, picking design ideas and developing them without wandering off track or letting things get out of control. Possibly one of the most important things he taught me was the importance of maintaining a standard of excellence and pride in my work."

"While I was working at the surfboard shop, I was also doing other graphic design jobs for family, parents of friends, school teachers, and referrals. It's been a steady progression from there—getting more work, bigger projects, learning the ins-and-outs of design and production as well as working with people to assess needs and deliver solutions in a professional manner."

"Right around 2002, I realized that the web was where it was at and I started going online combing the web for information on how to build websites. Coming from a graphic design background, and a mostly self-taught one at that, I hit a brick wall when it came to coding in order to create web page layouts, functionality, and doing simple things like basic server configuration. I walked away for 2 years and gave it another shot in 2004. Since then, slowly and painstakingly over the course of the last 6 years, I've learned what not to do, I've learned about coding efficeiency and conventions, web technologies, and the importance of simplicity. Maybe more importantly, I've learned how to work with people. It hasn't been easy, but I've come a long way. Now, in 2011, out of my twenties on onto a more focused and selfless phase of my life and career, I'm confident in what I have to offer and am eager to help business establish a solid presence on the web, in print, and throughout the media sphere."

Project Description