the blog

Started in 2015, the Design Matters blog is here to help you with your creative struggles and help you grow!

Whether you need a deeper understanding on how to really use color in design, fill those blank pages, or If you need tactics to overcome imposter syndrome–you’re in the right place!

Process & Strategy

Design Process: Presenting Your Ideas

Presenting is actually a crucial design skill, one that you can be good at with intentional practice.

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Focus on One Step at a Time

There are lots of steps to take from the beginning of the creative process to the final product. I think often we are so amped

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A Few of My Favorite (Free) Things

The creative process can be full of small speed bumps to huge mountains. Some things can make the actual execution of your ideas be so much

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podcast picks

More About
Color

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Design Thinking

encouragement

Just Go with It

It’s okay to follow your whims sometimes. If you feel like making something, then make it. If you feel like writing something, then write it.

Delete, Delete, Delete

You always start with addition (put everything in your design that you think you need), but to get to the end you must think in subtraction.

Why Being a Critic is a Good Thing

Critiquing and directing other peoples’ creative work creates an endorphin-like rush that motivates ME to do better work.

Staying Inspired

Design Basics from a Hairdresser

March 7, 2015

I had the opportunity recently to be a hair model for a highly reputable salon in town. They brought in some very influential cut and color experts from Portland (Ryan & DeAnnalyn, tealsalon.com) to show some of their techniques to a group of local hairdressers. As I sat with foils in my hair, waiting for the lightener to take effect, I started to listen to the colorist explain her process and I heard a few design “buzz” words that caught my attention. So I decided to stop browsing Twitter and put my phone down.

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Watch on YouTube

If you’re strapped for time, check out a few of these quick design tip videos. They’re never more than five minutes long, bite-sized and packed with tons of sensible, valuable, and actionable know-howthat are easy to digest.

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What is a design concept (and do you really need one?)

September 24, 2016

by Brandi Design Advice Design Process Design Thinking

Building a concept can be difficult. Many creatives (including myself at first) don't quite get the purpose of a concept. Today I'd like to write briefly about

Do [Design] Math

September 20, 2016

by Brandi Design Advice Design Process Design Thinking

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x5g9fKRQHE Many designers look at their work and think, “It’s still missing something.” But maybe it’s actually that somethi

Why I Do What I Do

September 19, 2016

by Brandi Design Advice Design Process Design Thinking

Why do I write this blog? I mean, what's the point? There's probably lots of other designers or creative directors that know what I know (and more) that don't

Talk Shop

September 13, 2016

by Brandi Design Advice Design Thinking Design Tips

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq24ueo8UXM Don't you wish that someone understood the importance of choosing the right typeface? Have you ever been frustrat

Cheat, Sometimes

September 6, 2016

by Brandi Design Advice Design Thinking Design Tips

https://youtu.be/ZYA6yb7qLb4 "If you're not cheating, you're not trying" right? Well, sort of. What does it mean to be a cheater as a creative? I have a coup

Use Colored Pencils

August 31, 2016

by Brandi Creativity Design Tips Graphic Design

https://youtu.be/Wq4zhAhvtVo With all the amazing new technologies we have at our disposal as designers, we start to rely on the computer to create things th

Get Outside

August 31, 2016

by Brandi Design Tips Graphic Design Uncommon Inspiration

https://youtu.be/8tID5Pnlz48 There's literally no excuse for sitting in an office all day. Here's a few reasons why it pays to get out as a creative! ------

Be Tenacious

August 31, 2016

by Brandi Design Advice Design Thinking Design Tips

https://youtu.be/deF8yioLBWs Tenacity: it's not giving up, not letting go... But how does this relate to being a better designer or creative? ---------------

Be Humble

August 31, 2016

by Brandi Design Tips Graphic Design Uncommon Inspiration

https://youtu.be/MSuD4xVa3B4 No one likes a snobby designer, today's tip will help you understand why humility is a trait every designer needs to strive to h

Be Curious

August 31, 2016

by Brandi Graphic Design Uncommon Inspiration

https://youtu.be/Oii5AXCIxj8 There's something about curious people and genius that makes for a better designer... -----------------------------------------

Be Receptive

August 31, 2016

by Brandi Design Tips Graphic Design Uncommon Inspiration

https://youtu.be/3jPMILZ7Ig8 Don't hate on criticism. Be receptive and be better for it. -------------------------------------------------------------------

Be Honest

August 31, 2016

by Brandi Sea Design Tips Graphic Design Uncommon Inspiration

https://youtu.be/CCHvJrBNK5g People often say "honesty is the best policy". But what does it mean to be honest in your creative life? Find out on today's tip

Try to Just Say No

July 13, 2016

by Brandi Design Advice Design Thinking Design Tips

https://youtu.be/GmPldhzL1wE There’s obviously a lot more than just saying no to your clients; but for today’s tip, try to think about saying no to certain cli

Ask Why

July 2, 2016

by Brandi Creative Confidence Creativity Design Advice

Asking why, or questioning your decisions, tests your motive for every design decision you make. Knowing your reasons requires that you, have gone through some

What You Can Learn from the Hipster Mindset

June 25, 2016

by Brandi Creativity Design Advice Design Thinking

There's a phenomenon that has gripped the country (and possibly the world); it's the hipster. Whether you love them, hate them, tolerate them, or maybe y

Creativity is a Work Ethic

June 20, 2016

by Brandi Creativity Design Advice Design Process

Creative people are not magicians. Ideas are not something that you need special skill to find. Someone may be born with talent but that doesn't make them ide

Don’t Think — Know

June 14, 2016

by Brandi Design Advice Design Thinking Design Tips

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXDTx9YcN50 Thinking is great, it's something you NEED when you're designing. But if you want your clients to trust that you kn

Passion Projects (why every designer needs one)

June 13, 2016

by Brandi Design Thinking Design Tips Designers

A few months back a we brought a designer friend of mine, David Schwen (owner, DSchwen) into town to speak at our 99u event. He spoke about pa

See Type Differently (Conference Talk)

June 6, 2016

by Brandi Design Advice Design Process Design Thinking

This past week I had the opportunity to speak to designers from the SEE/PRC at their annual conference. SEE is a professional association of communication dir

Stay Relevant

May 31, 2016

by Brandi Graphic Design Uncommon Inspiration

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIDCeSDEhHk As graphic designers it is part of our job to stay up to date with the trends. If we aren't relevant, we ca

It’s Good to Fail

May 24, 2016

by Brandi Design Advice Graphic Design Uncommon Inspiration

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szZoosQboL4 Design is not a science. There is no one right answer, and the road to the best solution is paved with failures.

The Myth of the Right-Brained Designer

May 21, 2016

by Brandi Design Advice Design Process Design Thinking

If you are a designer, and someone were to ask you if you are right brained or left-brained, chances are that you would answer without hesitation, “right-brain

You Can Be Weird

May 17, 2016

by Brandi Graphic Design Uncommon Inspiration

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH35Ay7P5ys Creatives need to learn to embrace their weird and stop trying to be like other people. Way too often we kill our