A Mid-Life Career Change
Foothill Graphic Design Classes Help Student Publish History Textbook

When Ed Kamholz, of San Carlos, enrolled in graphic design classes at Foothill College, he never dreamed it would be a springboard into a second career as a published historian and graphic designer. But as Kamholz, 56, prepares for the debut of his first book, The Oregon-American Lumber Company: Ain’t No More, this winter, he can look back and thank his Foothill instructors for inspiration and marketable skills.

Ed Kamholz

“Foothill’s Graphic Design Program helped me develop the skills I needed to design and produce a history textbook that I had been researching and writing for a number of years,” Kamholz says. “By implementing what I learned in class, Iwas able to translate my knowledge of the land,through my hands, to create illustrations. Translating my vision into period-specific maps was critical to the overall story I wanted to tell.”

“The design classes I took at Foothill helped me illustrate a series of maps one of which accompanied my book queries to potential publishers,” he says. “I quickly discovered how much I enjoyed the challenge graphic design presents and decided to earn the program’s certificates in graphic design for print and digital pre-press. Along the way, I learned how to illustrate my maps as well as the
fundamental production techniques required in order to prepare my work for the printing process.”

Stanford University Press is publishing Kamholz’s book and asked him to design the book. “As it turns out, my first commercial assignment as a graphic designer after graduating from the Foothill College program is my own book!” he says.

The publisher describes Kamholz’s book as “lavishly illustrated, the book chronicles the history of the Oregon-American Lumber Company, during its heyday as one of the most important lumber firms in the Pacific Northwest. The story is enhanced by the inclusion of 270 photographs, most of which are previously unpublished, that depict logging, railroad and saw milling activities, and 17 period-specific maps that give the reader a unique perspective of the growth of the company.”

Although Kamholz had completed an advanced college degree years ago and hadn’t been in a classroom until he returned to Foothill College, he credits his Foothill instructors with facilitating his first genuine learning experience. “My teachers provoked thought, helped me grow as an artist and helped me develop marketable career skills in graphic design.”

Kamholz co-authored the book with Jim W. Blain, of Scotts Valley, and Gregory Kamholz, of Portland, OR. The book is available for purchase online at www.sup.org.

For more information about the Graphic Design Program,
call (650) 949-7262.