Tom Saal
Multimedia Designer with Lockheed Martin
Holding off on freelance till I can get the cream to buy a new computer.
Red Bank, NJ

Career

I studied Filmmaking at Fairleigh Dickinson University. After graduation, I freelanced at a TV studio in NY while juggling a few other part time jobs. After a year or so I became frustrated with no health benifits and unsteady pays so I sold out and got a job selling IT supplies for a leading reseller. There are some people made for jobs like that … I quickly learned that I am not one of those people.

When I came to, I stumbled into a job at a local design company where I was doing everything from sales, to graphic design, motion design, coding and account management. This was a huge step in helping me define what I wanted to do for the rest of my life and I feverishly absorbed everything I could.

Now, I’m working for Lockheed Martin and while the constraints of our government customer can be overwhelming at times, it sorta catapults my techniques and style when I get some time for my own stuff. The benefits and steady paychecks are pretty dope, too.

Personal

I grew up in New Jersey (and proud to say so). It’s really hard to beat an hour ride to NY, Philly and 5 minutes to the beach. I’m now living within walking distance to everything in Red Bank, which provides a steady stream of inspiration and things to do. I grew up playing soccer and am an Aston Villa fan. I love a cold Carlsberg, traveling, friends and living.

Music

Music is a huge inspiration. Huge. Listening to all types helps you think differently, develop different perspectives and it stimulates moods. I listen to a wide variety, too many to list, so from time to time, I will post something on bands/songs and/or videos that I dig.

So, if you have some music you like or think I would like, email me!

Edge and Heavy

Edge and Heavy is my venue to show some of my work, whether it be static, interactive and/or motion driven. It also highlights things I find inspiring, cool or of interest and provides a place of conversation. As a largely self taught designer, this site also provides a digital archive of how I progress in techniques and visual aesthetics. The name ‘Edge and Heavy’ is something that popped in my head a few years back and thought it sounded cool, so I stuck with it.