It was 2005, and Brian M. Law decided to go out on his own as a graphic designer.

Law had been doing graphic design and related work for various businesses since 1994.

From 1994 to 2005, he had been employed with Peak Advertising Publications in Ebensburg, the Altoona Mirror, the former Kane & Co. Advertising & Public Relations in Johnstown, Link Computer Corp. in Bellwood and Mountaintop Technologies Inc. in Johnstown.

The 38-year-old Law said he took his graphic design career independent in order for his wife, who is a software developer, to take her career full time. His wife is the former Angela Havrilla of Portage.

The couple has a son, Jacob, who is 9 years old.

Brian Law told his story last week to students at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College in Richland Township as part of the Upstarts and Innovators series.

The series – sponsored by The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown Area Regional Industries and the Greater Johnstown Keystone Innovation Zone – takes area entrepreneurs into higher education classrooms in the region to tell their success stories.

Law created Prime Design Solutions which operates at 514 Coleman Ave. in the Moxham section of Johnstown.

Besides Law, who is president, Prime Design Solutions now includes a second full-time designer and a part-time office manager.

Prime Design Solutions has about 50 clients throughout the country, most of them located between Pittsburgh and State College, Law said.

Prime Design Solutions offers a full line of graphic design and company image development services.

He told the students that it is important to have both a business plan and a marketing plan.

Marketing is important because it allows a business to effectively inform the public about the services it provides.

Customer service is a key to staying competitive, Law said.

He said customer service goes a long way toward ensuring that a business retains its existing clients and attracts new ones.

Law said maintaining contact with customers is of paramount importance.

“I try to get back to everyone who calls me within four hours or less,” he told the students.

He said Prime Design Solutions is planning to unveil a Web site that will provide information about things to do in and around the Greater Johnstown area. The site will be updated on a regular basis.

Titled “Do Johnstown,” Law said it carries a tagline of “A Guide to Things to Do In and Around the Johnstown Area.” The goal is to have it fully operational by Memorial Day.

Access is www.dojohnstown.com.

Law told his audience that networking has played a large part in acquiring customers for Prime Design Solutions.

And a business does not operate in a vacuum, no matter how large or small.

He offered this advice to the fledgling entrepreneurs:

“The owner of a business of any size has responsibility to the business community and to its neighbors.”

He said a business should work to improve the quality of its neighborhood through community service and related action.

Following his talk, Law told The Tribune-Democrat that he had no desire to become a business owner when he began his career. But he said he’s glad he made the decision to go on his own.

“It’s the best decision I’ve made in my career,” he said, adding that Prime Design represents an investment in his future.

“I never would have done this if I hadn’t learned all that I did from working for those other companies.”