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This is Paul Hirsch

Paul Hirsch

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Fun. Sexy. Smart. Not a Designer.

Name: Paul Michael Hirsch
Y.O.B.: 1975
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Occupation: Owner, Studio1337

Welcome to PaulHirsch.com. This is the 5th, maybe 6th version of this site since I first launched a personal site back in 2000. I dunno – I stopped keeping track a couple versions ago.

This site exists because pretty much every professional in the Web design industry maintains a personal site, and what kind of example would I be setting if I didn’t have one too, right?

This site is my little playground. I write about whatever I feel like, when I feel like it. Some of you will enjoy what I write. Some of you will be put off by what I write. Most of you probably won’t give a shit about what I write. I’m perfectly ok with all three. Here’s my most recent musing, to help you decide whether I’m worth your time:

Kids Do Dumb Things

About Paul Hirsch

I’m an Ohioan (again!), living around the Columbus area. My road to Columbus started in Akron/Canton, wove through Austin, Texas (one of the most amazing cities in the world), through Houston Texas (one of the cities in the world), and eventually back North, where I now live with my amazing, beautiful wife Amy and my two dogs, Max and Gizmo.

In order to maintain some semblance of sanity, I try to travel as much as possible. So far I’ve covered most of the states, and a half-dozen or so countries in the Americas and Europe, including Croatia, the home of my mother’s family. It’s a start. I highly recommend renting a car and setting out across southern France for sunshine and wine. That’s about as awesome a trip as you’ll ever have, better than any cruise or resort vacation, trust me. Outside of travel, I’m a classically trained pianist, an avid pool player, bowler, skiier and a bit of a wine and craft beer snob.

Before getting into online media, I was headed for a career in radio/tv. I flirted with the idea of becoming a piano performance major, but I figured this was one of those instances where taking something I love and turning it into a career would eventually ruin the magic for me. I grew beyond radio/tv, mainly because I needed to earn enough to feed and clothe myself. So I stuck with journalism/media, but switched my focus to the online world. And now I’m an established professional in the Web development industry. It’s a fun life, and I’ll gladly do it for free as charity one day after I retire.

Oh yeah, I’m not the film editor and actor Paul Hirsch who is best known for his involvement in the original Star Wars movie trilogy (you know, the good ones). I won’t visit your college class to discuss film editing, I won’t send you an autographed picture (unless you’re really a fan of my Web work), and I’ll be happy to read your latest screenplay, but don’t count on it getting into a producer’s hands through me. Sorry!

Paul Hirsch’s Blog (read all)

Kids Do Dumb Things

Just because some kids occasionally do dumb things, doesn’t mean you should be a prick about it. People seem to have a lot to say about kids and Tide Pods (or the latest craze – condoms). I understand the negative reaction, but the generalizations that typically follow are absurd and hypocritical. Kids doing dumb things […]

Phantom Thread – Unraveled

This is a sad movie for two reasons. First, it is Daniel Day Lewis’s final film. Second, it is garbage. This is an art film. Do not expect it to be filled with intrigue, suspense or action. That said, a good film premise, great writing and great acting can make the most subtle movie worth […]

Irrefutable Proof We’re Living in An Alternate Reality

Stick with me on this one folks, because we may not be the original versions of ourselves, and I have the “proof.” Archaeologists have uncovered a number of ancient artifacts from various dig sites all over the world that appear to depict alien ships, beings in space suits, and objects of advanced technology. We have […]

Read More Blogs!

Paul Hirsch’s Resume

Professional Experience

Studio1337 – Co-owner, Media consultant, Web/graphic designer

Hilliard, Ohio
July 2001 – present

As the founder and co-owner of Studio1337, I’ve had the opportunity to develop my skills as a Web designer, graphic designer and content editor in a competitive, demanding environment. Studio1337 began as a sole proprietorship under a different name as the subject of my Master’s thesis. Since then, I’ve merged with two other developers to create a respectable and growing entrepreneurial company.

Clients for whom I have managed projects include the Firefighters Community Credit Union, Performance Software, Kool Party Rentals, Biometric Update, Stadium One, Avilla Homes, Heaven & Stubbs UK, Kleinhenz jewlers, Todays Kitchen Store, Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Redwood Center for Theoretical Neuroscience, author and Palm Pilot inventor Jeff Hawkins, The Web Host Industry Review and many more.

Stark State College – Adjunct Professor

N. Canton, Ohio
September 2011 – May 2013

I love teaching. It is an absolute passion of mine. I believe I’m quite good at it; my students appear to agree, judging by their evaluations (top marks in the department five straight semesters). I value real-life application above all else, and always teach from a position as an industry professional, not simply an academic.

One day when I’ve retired, I will pursue it again. The only reason I left was because of our move to Austin, and the only reason I haven’t done any teaching since then is because I’ve been flat-out swamped with work. It’s a good problem to have.

Diebold Inc. – Sr. Instructional Designer

N. Canton, Ohio
September 2002 – February 2011

Being an instructional designer at Diebold allowed me to exercise my areas of expertise (Web, broadcast and print media design) in an instructional context. I was responsible for developing online training, primarily for Diebold’s global sales force.

I was also consulted and utilized by a number of departments for my multimedia capabilities. As part of Diebold’s Instructional Media Group, I often found myself developing training for Global Communications, Product Development, Service and Maintenance and others within the company.

Kent State University – Graduate Assistant

Kent, Ohio
August 2000 – May 2002

My duties as a graduate assistant included teaching radio production labs to undergraduate students, developing and grading assignments and designing instructional sites for the Journalism and Mass Communications (JMC) intranet.

Additionally, I served on the JMC curriculum committee, the JMC hiring board and the media advisory board. During this time, I gained a great deal of experience working as a teacher and an administrator. I did this while developing Studio1337 and attending graduate school as a full-time student.

WCLV-FM 95.5/WKSU FM 89.7 – Production Assistant

Cleveland/Kent, OH
May 1999 – May 2001

My numerous responsibilities as an employee at WCLV and a fellow at WKSU included announcing a Sunday morning radio program, creating and submitting BMI and ASCAP logs for pay-for-play license billing, production of local and nationally syndicated programs and various administrative functions within the syndication, production and sales departments. I also served as a quality controller and I assisted on numerous remote broadcasts.

Education

Kent State University: Masters degree

Media Management (Online Media Development)
Graduated May 2002
4.0

Kent State University: Bachelors degree

Major: Electronic Media Production
Minor: Information Systems
Minor: Sociology
Graduated August 2000
Magna Cum Laude

Industry-Related Skills

I am an expert with the following software and languages:

HTML5/XHTML, CSS, JavaScript, DHTML/DOM, jQuery, all relevant coding text editors, Fireworks, FTP, SoundForge, Audacity, and Microsoft Office products.

I am proficient with the following software and languages:

PHP, MySQL, XML, Dreamweaver, Flash, Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, DadPro, Dart Pro 32, Strata and mp3 compression engines.

I have working knowledge of the following:

Visual Basic, QuarkXpress, Poser, ZBrush, Cool Edit Pro, Cakewalk Pro, Deep Paint, Maya.

Contact Paul Hirsch

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