Posting on time this week it seems. I am going to go a different direction this week. Instead of me stating what I am discovering, I would like to talk about the tutorials that I find helpful for some things. As I am new to this blogging thing (that is an understatement) I will be doing my best to ensure that the links work.
One of the blogs that I read regularly is the Vandelay Design Blog. Not only are there great tips, but the tutorials there are easy to understand, listed down the right side of the page, and they give you the files to work them through. The directions are step by step, which makes me a happy geek. And the best part is you don't have to be a member to do them. I am using their tutorials to relearn (as it were) photoshop. It's been a while since I had done anything in that program.
The next one I find interesting is the DesignM.AG website. This page shows 40 InDesign tutorials including a brochure (which looks amazing), an interactive portfolio and a cool typography grid set up. From using Quark and InDesign, I have to say I am more familiar with Quark. However, with InDesign coming in a package with Photoshop and Illustrator. With this program being more easily obtained (and a little less in cost) this set of tutorials might just be the ticket to becoming more familiar with the product.
For Adobe Illustrator (which lets just admit is my FAVORITE of the Adobe products thanks to a teacher I had in college) I would like to direct you to the Noupe website. The tutorials range from bling text (which I don't use) to the realistic images you can create using the gradient mesh tool. The tutorials appear to be really clear and concise on direction and let's admit the site is pretty neat too. Full of information that is wonderful to look at.
Typography, being as important in my mind as any image you put anywhere, even has some good tutorials. One that I like (could be due to the mention of my favorite type guy out there, David Carson) is the webmonkey type tutorial mostly because it gives an intro to typography (showing it is important!) and that it goes into some of the specifics on using type in a web page. Which, let's face it, is where most of us spend our time now.
What are your favorite tutorials? Anyone want to share their favorite blogs?
Monday, April 25, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Client may be king, but knowledge is power
As some of you might know, I am designing a web site. The job started off with a "play with this and see what you can come up with" and has changed to a "you have changed too much". I have spent the last day working on it only to delete what I have done because it's "too different". So here's something from my experience on what you should get from a client BEFORE you start designing.
1. What is your company about? What do you want to say? This can not be stressed enough. With this project I had to do all my research and let me tell you, it read like ancient Greek to me. Also I am not sure what content the company will be keeping. You can only do so much with the little bit they give you.
2. Do you have anything you don't want on the site that your company name might conjure up? This could be something that would really upset someone. Say you are designing for someone who's name is not a run of the mill normal name (personally I used to get made fun of for my name all the time, you remember those "jokes" right?). Sometimes there might be something that goes with the name or the service that the client just doesn't want on their site (porta potties probably don't want a plastic porta throne as their main logo am I right?).
3. Do you have a budget for images? Have you decided to use stock images or do your own? This is a big deal. You can only design with what they give you. Remember that if you use "royalty-free" that there are rules to them. Site your artist if they tell you to. Copyright law is kind of vague but blatant use of someone's property is dangerous in this field, just ask Lynx about their suit with Greyhound. Creating your own images (photos, illustrations etc) are perfectly acceptable AND it means you control what you are using and don't have to settle.
4. Communication, deadline and all those in betweens When you start working on the project, you need feedback. Frequently need feedback. You also need to send something out to receive that feed back. For instance, this site I am working on (it's taking forever it seems) I sent over what I had, they sent it back with a template (which I had) and said there were comments. Unfortunately there were no comments, so I had to wing it. While I will be sending it back to them again tomorrow, I am unsure of what the changes they wanted were.
The deadline is important if you want to get paid, as well as keeping the client. If you miss your deadline you lose that job. Sometimes you can get an extension but I would save the request for when martians are attacking and we need to run around the the old record player, ok?
All those in betweens, what this means is there will be times where the client will want something, be firm about it. Then waver about it. Then go back to the original thought, then back to your idea. Or keep changing their minds right up to print/publish time. Keep your cool, and keep records of everything! This way when someone says "we didn't know that you would charge extra for us changing our minds after the first run!" you can show them the document stating that there would be an extra charge due to the printer being extremely disgruntled about the little change.
In other words, Client might be king, patience is the all being and Knowledge is real power! With the knowledge and information we gather at the beginning of the process, the job becomes much easier. Documenting everything means that your back is covered in case of an issue. I like to think that the way I am doing this job right now, is just because I like a challenge... not because I was too distracted by the getting the gig, that I didn't ask the right questions.
What do you think? Is client king?
1. What is your company about? What do you want to say? This can not be stressed enough. With this project I had to do all my research and let me tell you, it read like ancient Greek to me. Also I am not sure what content the company will be keeping. You can only do so much with the little bit they give you.
2. Do you have anything you don't want on the site that your company name might conjure up? This could be something that would really upset someone. Say you are designing for someone who's name is not a run of the mill normal name (personally I used to get made fun of for my name all the time, you remember those "jokes" right?). Sometimes there might be something that goes with the name or the service that the client just doesn't want on their site (porta potties probably don't want a plastic porta throne as their main logo am I right?).
3. Do you have a budget for images? Have you decided to use stock images or do your own? This is a big deal. You can only design with what they give you. Remember that if you use "royalty-free" that there are rules to them. Site your artist if they tell you to. Copyright law is kind of vague but blatant use of someone's property is dangerous in this field, just ask Lynx about their suit with Greyhound. Creating your own images (photos, illustrations etc) are perfectly acceptable AND it means you control what you are using and don't have to settle.
4. Communication, deadline and all those in betweens When you start working on the project, you need feedback. Frequently need feedback. You also need to send something out to receive that feed back. For instance, this site I am working on (it's taking forever it seems) I sent over what I had, they sent it back with a template (which I had) and said there were comments. Unfortunately there were no comments, so I had to wing it. While I will be sending it back to them again tomorrow, I am unsure of what the changes they wanted were.
The deadline is important if you want to get paid, as well as keeping the client. If you miss your deadline you lose that job. Sometimes you can get an extension but I would save the request for when martians are attacking and we need to run around the the old record player, ok?
All those in betweens, what this means is there will be times where the client will want something, be firm about it. Then waver about it. Then go back to the original thought, then back to your idea. Or keep changing their minds right up to print/publish time. Keep your cool, and keep records of everything! This way when someone says "we didn't know that you would charge extra for us changing our minds after the first run!" you can show them the document stating that there would be an extra charge due to the printer being extremely disgruntled about the little change.
In other words, Client might be king, patience is the all being and Knowledge is real power! With the knowledge and information we gather at the beginning of the process, the job becomes much easier. Documenting everything means that your back is covered in case of an issue. I like to think that the way I am doing this job right now, is just because I like a challenge... not because I was too distracted by the getting the gig, that I didn't ask the right questions.
What do you think? Is client king?
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Deadlines and why do we procrastinate?!?
Again late on updating the blog, which is where this title came from. It's been pretty busy in my world lately, mostly with vehicle swapping going on (true but still an excuse). But it brings to mind another issue that seems to plague people I know. Procrastination and the inability to meet deadlines. This can apply to any thing, not just design or art or even meeting friends to go to the movies.
I notice that when I have a deadline that is too far in the future I will sit and think "ok let's get started! Don't want to go into 'Panic Mode' if I drag my feet!". I will start some part of the project, do pretty good on time with it that first day. The next thing I know it's due in 48 hours and that's all I have done on it! So for the next 40 hours I will start snapping at people, closet myself off, turn up loud annoying music (to keep me awake while pulling an all nighter) and guzzle coffee like it's going out of style. All this while frantically working, belittling myself for timing and sniping at people around me. Let's say it's not pretty.
The last time this happened (thankfully not to that degree for a while) was a project that I knew about for approximately 12 weeks (school project, I love syllabus work). I started brainstorming then drawing up ideas, then the drive just "Poofed" as I had some other things come up. Then 3 days before the presentation (which was to 3 professionals, not the teacher) I realized that my self promo (the project) was only in the drawn up stage. I had to create 4 pieces, all identical, showing these people what kind of designer I was ... and prove that I had creativity that wasn't just follow the guidelines of a project sheet. I did cigar boxes that were decoupaged with pictures I took, inside was a resume and business card I designed for myself and 5 over-sized postcards of my work (they were pretty neat, it was like cropping some of my school projects so they appeared abstract). Lets say I should have spent the full 12 weeks on it.
Why would someone deliberately put themselves in this position where they would miss a deadline and potentially lose a job, client, contract? My reason (or excuse since there is no good reason to miss the deadline, unless you get kidnapped by monkeys and taken to the mother ship) is I get distracted and then say "oh it can wait until ...." then just forget about it. Or I will say "I need to do this" and have someone ask me for something else (which I can't say no to ever, but that's another topic). Do we do this to ourselves so we have to have that panic moment to be creative? Is it detrimental to your creative process to have a deadline that seems so far in the distance come up and slap you saying "ha ha here I am!"?
Right now I work in a field that has no give on deadlines. If I miss one I cost companies up to $800 a day plus medical costs. I have never missed one of those deadlines. I got close once. So now the next thing is, should I charge myself funds every day I am late on a creative deadline? I don't know.
Well next time I should have an update on time, and maybe a more put together topic.
I notice that when I have a deadline that is too far in the future I will sit and think "ok let's get started! Don't want to go into 'Panic Mode' if I drag my feet!". I will start some part of the project, do pretty good on time with it that first day. The next thing I know it's due in 48 hours and that's all I have done on it! So for the next 40 hours I will start snapping at people, closet myself off, turn up loud annoying music (to keep me awake while pulling an all nighter) and guzzle coffee like it's going out of style. All this while frantically working, belittling myself for timing and sniping at people around me. Let's say it's not pretty.
The last time this happened (thankfully not to that degree for a while) was a project that I knew about for approximately 12 weeks (school project, I love syllabus work). I started brainstorming then drawing up ideas, then the drive just "Poofed" as I had some other things come up. Then 3 days before the presentation (which was to 3 professionals, not the teacher) I realized that my self promo (the project) was only in the drawn up stage. I had to create 4 pieces, all identical, showing these people what kind of designer I was ... and prove that I had creativity that wasn't just follow the guidelines of a project sheet. I did cigar boxes that were decoupaged with pictures I took, inside was a resume and business card I designed for myself and 5 over-sized postcards of my work (they were pretty neat, it was like cropping some of my school projects so they appeared abstract). Lets say I should have spent the full 12 weeks on it.
Why would someone deliberately put themselves in this position where they would miss a deadline and potentially lose a job, client, contract? My reason (or excuse since there is no good reason to miss the deadline, unless you get kidnapped by monkeys and taken to the mother ship) is I get distracted and then say "oh it can wait until ...." then just forget about it. Or I will say "I need to do this" and have someone ask me for something else (which I can't say no to ever, but that's another topic). Do we do this to ourselves so we have to have that panic moment to be creative? Is it detrimental to your creative process to have a deadline that seems so far in the distance come up and slap you saying "ha ha here I am!"?
Right now I work in a field that has no give on deadlines. If I miss one I cost companies up to $800 a day plus medical costs. I have never missed one of those deadlines. I got close once. So now the next thing is, should I charge myself funds every day I am late on a creative deadline? I don't know.
Well next time I should have an update on time, and maybe a more put together topic.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Mind Blank, jumpstarting ideas
I am a little late in updating the blog (as you probably noticed). In deciding what to talk about I thought, why not discuss what you do when you find you are stuck in a design or piece of art.
I recently worked on a design for a website. Updating a design is, to me, harder than designing from scratch. You see what the client has and have to expand, making it better. But what happens when the design they have isn't so bad? Of course you are given what the client wants (which in this case was way too much information) and have to come up with something to blow their mind. I started strong on the design, and when I hit the layout part of the content I hit a brick wall of pixels. My mind went blank and I just sat there staring alternately at my computer screen and sketch book. Asking my roommate and friend their opinion really didn't help much, though I appreciated their insight. I walked away from the project for a day and tried to go back, full of vigor only to look at what I had already and realize that the wall was still there.
For most of us we can't afford to have a block, a wall that is in our brain preventing us from even a bad idea. So what do you do to jump start your ideas again? Getting the creative juices flowing, as it were, can be really hard or pretty darn easy. Sometimes I walk away from the project, other times I will grab some markers or crayons and just do random doodles (which is how I came up with Fred in my Flash class, I should tell you about him someday). I have a plastic envelop which has clippings, papers, and all sorts of other things that I will go through when I am working on something. Sometimes it helps, other times all I do is waste a bit of time going through the fat file.
How do you get out of the block? Do you even experience it or is it something that is purely in my head? What do you do when you hit that wall of pixels or shall we call it the "wall of mental anguish"?
I recently worked on a design for a website. Updating a design is, to me, harder than designing from scratch. You see what the client has and have to expand, making it better. But what happens when the design they have isn't so bad? Of course you are given what the client wants (which in this case was way too much information) and have to come up with something to blow their mind. I started strong on the design, and when I hit the layout part of the content I hit a brick wall of pixels. My mind went blank and I just sat there staring alternately at my computer screen and sketch book. Asking my roommate and friend their opinion really didn't help much, though I appreciated their insight. I walked away from the project for a day and tried to go back, full of vigor only to look at what I had already and realize that the wall was still there.
For most of us we can't afford to have a block, a wall that is in our brain preventing us from even a bad idea. So what do you do to jump start your ideas again? Getting the creative juices flowing, as it were, can be really hard or pretty darn easy. Sometimes I walk away from the project, other times I will grab some markers or crayons and just do random doodles (which is how I came up with Fred in my Flash class, I should tell you about him someday). I have a plastic envelop which has clippings, papers, and all sorts of other things that I will go through when I am working on something. Sometimes it helps, other times all I do is waste a bit of time going through the fat file.
How do you get out of the block? Do you even experience it or is it something that is purely in my head? What do you do when you hit that wall of pixels or shall we call it the "wall of mental anguish"?
Monday, March 28, 2011
Inspiration in strange places
There are days when I have my sketch book and get a million ideas (maybe not a million, but quite a bit). Then there are days when I wrack my brain to try and get one that doesn't look like I designed it while under the influence of prescription cold medicine. Sometimes when I am working on something that I have already sketched a rough design idea of, I get bogged down and just can't go any further with it. The things that can bring you out of those are interesting and sometimes quite strange indeed.
There have been projects where a song, or a memory would cause me to have sudden insight into what I wanted on my sketch book or computer screen. Colors and images I wouldn't normally use just seemed to pop in certain moods.
I was assigned a project in a very basic graphics class where we had to design a typeface. Yup! Design a typeface. Everyone in the class started sketching and doodling, my sketch pad was blank. At the time I was also working a couple of jobs, so after class that day I went to work. I was a parking attendant at a city parking lot. There was one lot that was right next to a shady tennis court, which was where I got stationed that day. Since it was slow I had my sketch book with me and would try my hardest to come up with SOMETHING!
That's when I saw it! Lizards! No one had done lizards yet. It was original, it was... too boring! So I changed my lizards to geckos. It was right around the time Geico came out with their cute, comical spokesperson. My teacher would be thrilled! At least I thought so. She wasn't that impressed (I probably shouldn't have made them eat the tail of the other one to form letters), but the point is I found inspiration in a strange place.
When you are designing something (whether it's graphics related or even a living room!), what strange places have you found inspiration?
There have been projects where a song, or a memory would cause me to have sudden insight into what I wanted on my sketch book or computer screen. Colors and images I wouldn't normally use just seemed to pop in certain moods.
I was assigned a project in a very basic graphics class where we had to design a typeface. Yup! Design a typeface. Everyone in the class started sketching and doodling, my sketch pad was blank. At the time I was also working a couple of jobs, so after class that day I went to work. I was a parking attendant at a city parking lot. There was one lot that was right next to a shady tennis court, which was where I got stationed that day. Since it was slow I had my sketch book with me and would try my hardest to come up with SOMETHING!
That's when I saw it! Lizards! No one had done lizards yet. It was original, it was... too boring! So I changed my lizards to geckos. It was right around the time Geico came out with their cute, comical spokesperson. My teacher would be thrilled! At least I thought so. She wasn't that impressed (I probably shouldn't have made them eat the tail of the other one to form letters), but the point is I found inspiration in a strange place.
When you are designing something (whether it's graphics related or even a living room!), what strange places have you found inspiration?
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Vivids, Visuals, Valuable!
Remember in English class when you would write an essay and the teacher would tell you to use vivid language or descriptors? How much more attention do you pay to ads and bill boards if there are "vivid visuals"? Would you be more apt to read this whole blog if there were images? I am sure you would! We are visual people who like to see pictures.
Imagine you are reading a brochure for a trip to Prague (I chose Prague because it's a beautiful city and you can get amazing pictures there without being a professional).
The brochure is full of type, no pictures, no descriptive language:
"The city is the capital of the Czech Republic. It's old. It's in Europe"
This doesn't sound like a great place to go on vacation does it? Ok, try this one then:
"This beautiful city, being the capital of the Czech Republic, is full of rich history and awe inspiring architecture." Then has this image inside:
The brochure and the city become more interesting. It's no longer this dreary read, it's a place! A mysterious, beautiful place full of history and wonder!
But! Remember that using images also has a downside. You can make mistakes by using the wrong one. For example: You wouldn't use the above picture to talk about health care or financial issues. It wouldn't fit the subject.
Imagine you are reading a brochure for a trip to Prague (I chose Prague because it's a beautiful city and you can get amazing pictures there without being a professional).
The brochure is full of type, no pictures, no descriptive language:
"The city is the capital of the Czech Republic. It's old. It's in Europe"
This doesn't sound like a great place to go on vacation does it? Ok, try this one then:
"This beautiful city, being the capital of the Czech Republic, is full of rich history and awe inspiring architecture." Then has this image inside:
But! Remember that using images also has a downside. You can make mistakes by using the wrong one. For example: You wouldn't use the above picture to talk about health care or financial issues. It wouldn't fit the subject.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Good enough or just garbage?
Design that blog...
Over the weekend I was of a mind to design my blog some. I like the template design but it just doesn't say it's me or graphic design, typography, art or crafts. It's pretty, just doesn't go with the idea of this blog. So I looked up tutorials. I found one that looked like it would be easy and quite useful. It's on the Vandelay design website (http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/design/website-layout-photoshop-tutorials/ ). Being a smart designer I figured I would do the tutorial, use my own images and then as I got more confident with the HTML, coding!
Sadly, as you can see it did not work out. I am still trying to get step 2 down. Where you use the pretty design they give you as a background abstract image, my little gradient is now blank. I can't find something I think is "good enough" to put up there.
This is an issue we all run into. Whether it's sewing a hemline (yes I have torn out hemlines up to 12 times to get them right), coloring inside the lines (it's a HUGE issue when you are 6) or your design you spent hours pouring blood, sweat and tears into. As a designer the thing that we sell is our skills. If you don't believe in your work, how will anyone else?
Value your work...
HOW magazine recently published an article where there are 29 things a new designer must know. One of them is to value your work. This is the hardest step for me, and others it appears! We go out and bid for a job, the job is a good one. You put in your bid where it's not too high, but still you get to eat more than Ramen for the month. The sweating starts, you question yourself, the doubt creeps in with misery and when it's time to start your presentation you put down yourself and your design without even realizing it. It's time to show that you care about your work and you know you are good at what you do.
Lately, I have found that part to be the hardest part, not the brainstorming, thumbnails, composites... just the part where I say I like that design, it's my best yet! So I tear up my thumbnails or despair and just do the lamest job I can, so I get credit or just get it over with.
The wind up...
I just put in for a design position. Whether I get it or not is dependent upon how I sell myself to the project manager and the head design guy. Am I nervous? Yes, as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs (love that image). Was I sick to my stomach when I sent a couple of my pieces to them? Oh yes I was, I thought I would faint. But the key here is I did it. And I guess that means that when I get the rest of my design back up CD's to actually spin right, I can design this blog and it will be amazing!
Remember to value your work, and mean it! If you don't it could cost you a position, sale or even a night's sleep!
Over the weekend I was of a mind to design my blog some. I like the template design but it just doesn't say it's me or graphic design, typography, art or crafts. It's pretty, just doesn't go with the idea of this blog. So I looked up tutorials. I found one that looked like it would be easy and quite useful. It's on the Vandelay design website (http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/design/website-layout-photoshop-tutorials/ ). Being a smart designer I figured I would do the tutorial, use my own images and then as I got more confident with the HTML, coding!
Sadly, as you can see it did not work out. I am still trying to get step 2 down. Where you use the pretty design they give you as a background abstract image, my little gradient is now blank. I can't find something I think is "good enough" to put up there.
This is an issue we all run into. Whether it's sewing a hemline (yes I have torn out hemlines up to 12 times to get them right), coloring inside the lines (it's a HUGE issue when you are 6) or your design you spent hours pouring blood, sweat and tears into. As a designer the thing that we sell is our skills. If you don't believe in your work, how will anyone else?
Value your work...
HOW magazine recently published an article where there are 29 things a new designer must know. One of them is to value your work. This is the hardest step for me, and others it appears! We go out and bid for a job, the job is a good one. You put in your bid where it's not too high, but still you get to eat more than Ramen for the month. The sweating starts, you question yourself, the doubt creeps in with misery and when it's time to start your presentation you put down yourself and your design without even realizing it. It's time to show that you care about your work and you know you are good at what you do.
Lately, I have found that part to be the hardest part, not the brainstorming, thumbnails, composites... just the part where I say I like that design, it's my best yet! So I tear up my thumbnails or despair and just do the lamest job I can, so I get credit or just get it over with.
The wind up...
I just put in for a design position. Whether I get it or not is dependent upon how I sell myself to the project manager and the head design guy. Am I nervous? Yes, as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs (love that image). Was I sick to my stomach when I sent a couple of my pieces to them? Oh yes I was, I thought I would faint. But the key here is I did it. And I guess that means that when I get the rest of my design back up CD's to actually spin right, I can design this blog and it will be amazing!
Remember to value your work, and mean it! If you don't it could cost you a position, sale or even a night's sleep!
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