Start the Experience

Think you know what a print shop looks like? Think again. This is not your grandfather’s print shop.

Today’s printing and graphic communications industry is a dynamic blend of technology, creativity, manufacturing, design, and innovation. Behind every printed piece is a team of people using advanced equipment, digital technology, automation, design software, data, and problem-solving skills to turn ideas into something real.

Start the Experience gives you a look inside that world. Through videos, personal stories, employee testimonials, and real-life career journeys, you’ll meet the people who are building careers in printing and discover the many ways they found their way into the industry. Some started in high school or college. Others began with an entry-level job, an internship, or simply an interest in technology, design, or making things.

You’ll see that there is no single path into printing—and no limit to where a career can take you.

Whether you’re a student exploring your first career, a parent looking for opportunities for your child, an educator introducing students to career options, or someone considering a new direction, Start the Experience is your opportunity to see what’s really happening inside today’s print and graphic communications industry.

Take a look. Meet the people. See the technology. Hear their stories. And start imagining where your experience could take you.

IN THIS SECTION:

CAREER VIDEOS

PRINTING INDUSTRY VIDEOS

Every Career Has a Story

The printing industry is full of stories—stories about how people found their way into the industry, sometimes by choice and sometimes completely by accident. Some discovered printing in a high school or college classroom. Others took an entry-level job, joined a family business, or simply said “yes” to an opportunity without knowing where it would lead.

For many, what started as a job became a career, a passion, and a lifelong connection to an industry they never expected to enter. Along the way, they learned new skills, embraced changing technology, built relationships, solved challenges, and discovered opportunities they didn’t know existed.

There is no single path into printing, and that’s part of what makes the industry so interesting. Every person has a different story—and every story offers a glimpse into the possibilities that await the next generation.

CLICK HERE TO READ CAREER STORIES

For more about all that makes up printing, check out the Print Is printing awareness initiative:

And the Experience Print website from PICA’s APAN partners:

Access these videos that give detailed information about various careers in the printing industry: