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DM DIGITAL DESIGN STUDIO TECHNOLOGY
Desktop Miracles maintains a state-of-the-art digital design studio in our new offices in Stowe, Vermont. We keep up with the latest hardware and solution resources utilized in the publishing and graphic design industries, including Apple iPad and Amazon Kindle eBook readers.
All of our design and production work is done on the Macintosh platform utilizing the Adobe InDesign/Creative Suite. We do NOT produce layout and/or design work in Microsoft Word or Microsoft Publisher.
Software Specifications and Compatibility
Adobe InDesign Creative Suite subscription
Adobe Acrobat Professional
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Microsoft Word (word processing only, not layout)
Quark XPress (upon request)
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Excel
Word Processing and File Conversion available in virtually any program or platform
Hardware Specifications and Compatibility
Macintosh workstations
Macintosh Laptops
Apple iPads
Amazon Kindles
Large screen High-Res Color Monitors
Xerox Tektronix Phaser High-Res Color Printers
1200 dpi Laserprinters
24-bit Heidelberg Color Scanner
12-megapixel digital camera and photo box station
OCR Text Scanner
CD & DVD Recording Stations
CD-ROM / Zip /Jaz Drives for you old school types
SyQuest drive, just to see if you’re still reading…
Internet Connectivity and transferring files & originals
Internet Access
Our offices utilize a High Speed Cable Modem Internet Connection
FTP File Server Access
Desktop Miracles can also provide an online proofing / focus group system for reviewing design comps, as well as FTP File Server services for our connected clients.
Transmitting Hardcopy Originals
We STRONGLY recommend sending all physical materials to our offices via UPS United Parcel Service.
We are usually a one-day GROUND shipment from anywhere in New England and most of New York City,
and we usually receive ground shipments with the morning delivery depending on the seasons.
Our office mailing address is a UPS Store in the village of Stowe, primarily because our offices are outside of town on a hillside that can be tricky in winter. UPS and Fedex truck drivers don’t like icy hills. This means your packages are always delivered to a person, inside, safe, secure, and out of the elements, even during a snowstorm! They are never left on a front porch without a signature. The UPS Store notifies us upon receipt of packages, and of course we pick up mail daily.
Backup Systems & Files Maintenance2
File Nomenclature
We maintain a strict file naming structure for documents, duplicating and renaming files prior to working on them to minimize the risk of losing more than one generation of work.
Computer BackUps
Our office network has backup systems for each workstation and server.
Original Files BackUps
We copy your original files onto our servers as “originals”, then duplicate and rename them as “version 1″, then your original disk and files are stored offline and never touched again.
Original Hardcopy BackUps
We scan client artwork, photographs, prints etc, then store the originals in a protected place.
Off-sight fireproof storage at additional cost is also available.
Archival BackUps For Convenience Only
We archive all files on our server, then create duplicate CDs and DVDs for long term storage, with one set kept off-site. This service is for convenient access and retrieval of job files only (not guaranteed) and clients are recommended and URGED to maintain their own backups. In a pinch though, we usually have it.
7 things to know about Desktop Miracles
The Desktop Miracles Team
Mission Statement & Business Philosophy
Who We Work With
Digital Design Studio Technology
Frequently Asked Questions & Answers FAQ
Desktop Miracles History & Timeline
Stowe, Vermont
Media Resources, Headshots, Bios, etc
Legal & Privacy Details
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Desktop Miracles History
Desktop Miracles, Inc. was founded April 1, 1994 in Dallas, Texas by Barry T. Kerrigan.
Yes, April Fools Day.
Seems appropriate yes?
Prior to Desktop Miracles
Our key executives, Barry T. Kerrigan and Del LeMond worked together at Word Publishing in Dallas TX in the early 1990s when computers still had things like floppy disk drives and 4 megs of RAM, and designers spent $1000s on Matchprints and film separations. Word was the world’s largest Christian publishing house, dominated the NY Times Bestseller List, and was a part of the ABC Capital Cities corporation.
Barry created, set-up, and managed the Desktop Publishing, Typesetting, and Electronic Prepress department at Word, becoming one of the first major publishing houses to move to in-house digital design and prepress. He ran the “Desktop” department and the company’s Macintosh and graphics dept network from 1990 to 1994, participating in the design and production of hundreds of books, including several NY Times Bestsellers, multilingual academic texts, and a complicated multi-color Bible. The department was state of the art and ahead of it's time.
Del LeMond joined Word in 1991, with responsibility for the design and production of the trade books, and supervising several department employees. He was involved in the production of hundreds of titles until he left in 1993 to work for the FAA.
In 1993 Thomas Nelson Inc. bought the company, restructured, and moved some divisions to Nashville, TN.
Barry was looking for a new challenge, it was time for a change that didn’t include Nashville, and it was mutually agreed that both he and Word Publishing needed a break from each other.
Desktop Miracles 1994–1999 Dallas Texas
Desktop Miracles started in Plano, Texas in early 1994 with Barry designing and producing books for various publishers, and building a team of freelancers. We concentrated on books from day one, although we also worked with advertising, marketing and design clients. Cash flow is a good idea.
The business grew quickly, and Del LeMond was talking into leaving the FAA and upgrading from freelancing to full-time in mid-1995. Another designer and co-worker from Word also joined the team. Barry then hired his wife Virginia away from a office management position at another company, and she joined on a full-time basis in late 1995 to keep us somewhat in line.
We relocated to new offices in Addison Circle in Far North Dallas in 1996
The business was doing well, but was going in several different directions including advertising and website design, which was all the rage. We actually designed and ran the first website for the NHL’s Dallas Stars for a couple of years, and if we had a clue how to pitch for business at that level, it might have even developed that into something great. But in hindsight, the technology wasn’t mature enough yet, and we did a remarkably half-ass presentation to senior management and blew it!
At this point, Barry, Virginia, and Del made several key strategic decisions:
We did NOT want any of the headaches of a large staff and corporate life
We did NOT want to run websites and servers and server farms and teams of programmers.
We enjoyed focusing on Book Design and Production.
We wanted to remain a small, tight-knit design studio.
We wanted to focus on high quality work and outstanding customer service.
Our business continued to grow, and the great Dan Wroe joined as full-time employee in 1997, giving us the most physically intimidating line-up of book designers in publishing! This seemed like a good idea at the time.
Life was good, lunches were eaten, hockey games were attended, and the economy was booming, etc. Then the office lease came up for renewal, and the rent numbers went “crazy high.” This epiphany led to the conversation that since almost all of our client contact was via phone, email, and Fedex, we could be located almost anywhere, and more specifically somewhere without horrendous traffic, over-hyped shopping malls, urban sprawl, and summer temperatures around 160*.
Desktop Miracles 1999–2018 Stowe, VT
DESKTOP MIRACLES 1999-CURRENT
Detailed history to come!
Desktop Miracles Timeline
DESKTOP MIRACLES HISTORICAL TIMELINE
1990–1994 — Pre Desktop Miracles
1984-87 — Barry majors in marketing and management at Texas A&M, utilizing brand new Macintosh computer lab.
1988 — Barry works at CommuniQuest handling corporate publishing and advertising production accounts
1990 — Barry hired by Word Publishing to create and run an in-house digital design and production dept
1991 — Barry hires Del LeMond to oversee trade book production
1993 — Del LeMond leaves to work for the FAA
1993 — Thomas Nelson Inc buys Word and restructures everything.
1994 — Barry leaves Word
1994–1999 — Desktop Miracles • Dallas, Texas
1994 — Barry founds Desktop Miracles on April 1st.
1995 — Del LeMond leaves FAA and joins Desktop Miracles on full-time basis.
1995 — Virginia Kerrigan hired away from insurance company to be full-time office manager.
1996 — Desktop Miracles moves into offices in Far North Dallas.
1996 — Desktop Miracles takes on more advertising, graphics, and website work.
1996 — Desktop Miracles blows opportunity with Dallas Stars website.
1997 — Corporate refocusing of company’s strategic direction on books.
1997 — Two large publishers commit to sending 100+ projects to Desktop Miracles
1997 — Dan Wroe joins Desktop Miracles
1998 — Temperature in Dallas hits 100+ degrees for 45 days. We debate the intelligence of living on the sun.
1999 — Desktop Miracles decides to relocate to Stowe, Vermont.
1999–today — Desktop Miracles • Stowe, Vermont
1999 — Desktop Miracles moves during July 4th weekend.
2000 — Temperature in Stowe hits -27 degrees. We debate the intelligence of moving to Vermont.
2000 — Desktop Miracles continues to grow, and incorporates more freelancers.
2000 — Barry & Virginia have first child. We debate the intelligence of this decision.
2002-04 — Not sure what happened. Have two small children.
2003 — Desktop Miracles adds two full-timers to the staff
2008 — Desktop Miracles launches $5 Business Card NSA in New York City.
2009 — Desktop Miracles shifts focus to packaging and high-end design books
2011 — Desktop Miracles becomes Amazon Professional Merchant Seller
2012 — Desktop Miracles finally redesigns website.
2015 — Desktop Miracles redesigns website yet again. You’re not really still reading are you?
2018 — Desktop Miracles redesigns website one more time. Seriously, you’re not really still reading are you?
Click Here to find out where we came up with such a great name.
Click Here to find out the story behind us moving from Dallas to Stowe Vermont
Click Here to find out the top 5 reasons why we moved from Dallas to Stowe.
112 South Main Street;
Suite #294
Stowe, Vermont 05672
info @ desktopmiracles.com
802-253-7900