I want to address a question that has been asked a few times. Birthdate announcements have become an important feature on my Twitter account. Almost every day I post a composite image of a graphic designer (or related field; photographer, printer, type designer, Illustrator, artist, etc.) and some examples of …
I have a confession. Some of these FAQ’s are not actually “frequently” asked. The frequency runs the gamut from frequently to seldom asked. The proper title would more accurately be stated as IQTSFTA. Interesting questions that seem fun to answer. This next question is less FAQ and more IQTSFTA. So …
I don’t believe in styles. I am not arguing against a graphic designer having a point of view and values evident in their work. I believe a designer should strive to make things personal but not necessarily have a style and in that, I may be using an alternative definition …
Trends can tyrannize; trends are traps. In any creative industry, the fact that others are moving in a certain direction is always proof positive, at least to me, that a new direction is the only direction. —George Lois The first thought that comes to mind is why do want …
This is a good a question and it has a simple answer. It’s easy to believe in your work if you believe in your process. When I say process I mean some version of a traditional design process. A variation of identifying the problem, investigations, explorations, feedback*, refinements etc., we …
There is open source software available that is similar to the most popular Adobe programs: Scribus — Layout/InDesign Gimp — Image Editing/Photoshop Inkscape — Vectors/Illustrator The learning curve might be a bit higher, but there are Wikis and tutorials and the software is “free” after all. (They accept donations to …
The snarky answer is never. Never mention money because you should never work for friends and family. The snarky answer is also the best answer. Don’t work with friends and family. It causes more problems than it solves. In the real world, it often can’t be avoided. You need to …
I saw a question on Reddit, regarding how to deliver a letterhead design to a client. The answer involved setting up a template in the appropriate software to enable the customer to print out letterhead automatically with their correspondence. When a client prints out their own letterhead what problem have …
This is the perfect type of issue to be addressed in a brief and/or initial client meetings. Exploring all the possibilities for how the design will be used helps define the project as well anticipate what file formats might be needed at its conclusion. The goal is to meet your …
Should I use a business name or my real name? Is “it depends” a good answer? It depends on your goals and aspirations for the endeavor. There is no consensus on which is strictly correct. You can find reasoned and cogent arguments both for and against using your name. Two …
