Chad Maloney: Something new and different every day

Though some people prefer a daily routine filled with predictability, Chad Maloney, computer graphics specialist in the Center for Media Production, likes a diverse range of projects because of the opportunities it provides to learn and expand his knowledge of his field.

"I enjoy working at the university because I'm constantly designing things that have totally different audiences and purposes," Maloney says. "There's a lot of variety; you're not locked in to one job function."

Maloney has worked at the center for 10 years. He designs posters, brochures, logos and display presentations for professors and departments.

He received his bachelor of fine arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1977. After earning his degree, he entered the graphic design industry and he's been in the field ever since.

"When I graduated from college, I had been trained in the traditional methods of graphic design. I knew how to do everything by hand," Maloney says. "Now, everything in this industry is done on desktop computers. Kids graduating now have had all that training in college. I had on-the-job training."

Over the course of his career, Maloney has seen graphic design software metamorphose from stages of infancy to the easy-to-use programs utilized today. Maloney says he rarely uses freehand drawing techniques anymore, though freehand skills were once a staple of the profession.

Before entering college, Maloney already knew that he wanted to be a graphic designer because of his experiences in art during junior high and high school.

"I had really good art teachers throughout school. I always wanted to do graphic design. There was never anything else I wanted to do," he says.

He applies skills he's learned as a graphic design artist to photography, both in his career and his personal life.

"I like to photograph nature in any of its stages. I love being outdoors and doing anything in nature, like camping and hiking with my family," he says.

Maloney also enjoys sailing on Texas lakes when he has time and when the weather cooperates.

"One time, my brother and I were sailing across Lake Travis near Austin when a storm blew up. It was my brother's first time to sail and I had never had to sail through a storm before," Maloney says. "The sailboat ended up capsizing. In order to turn it right side up, I had to stand on the edge of the hull of the boat and pull the mast up. Everything turned out all right, but my brother hasn't been sailing since."

BY ALLISON YEAMAN paiswri3@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue:

• Dallas City Council approves purchase of land for UNT at Dallas
• UNT closes deal to purchase TI plant
• Friday Pride Day: a chance to show pride in UNT
• UNT e-learning program wins top national award
• Staff approves Staff Council constitution
• Former International Criminal Tribunal president to speak at UNT
• Anticipated holiday film releases bring popular literature to the big screen
• UNT severe weather closing information
• Film professor's book looks at female stardom and views on immigration
• Learning to read gets a boost from UNT students

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