Why Logo Design is not Cheap
Before they even get to the “about us” portion of your website, they are already deciding what kind of business you are based solely on your logo.
Walk Away
Just like its best to walk away from a disagreement or heated argument because we aren’t seeing clearly, sometimes we get too close to the work we do. Leave your design to chill out, move away from it and do something else. You will have more clarity when you return.
Be Free
Be Willing to Be Weird
Especially as creatives, we really need to explore and be confident in our weirdness.
Bad Design is Always Easy
But so many people make things and think they are designers. If you want to be a designer and have your work be respected by others, you will never be able to take the easy way out.
Design Better with The Right Music
Music is an important component to creative innovation. I have never met a creative who didn’t have a special connection to some type of music.
Ten of My Reliable Typefaces
I try not to use the same fonts when I am designing; especially when i’m designing a brand or logo. I don’t ever want to run the risk of looking boring or uncreative. But if i’m being honest, like most designers, I use some fonts more than others, It’s always a good thing to have […]
Trust the Process: Full Branding Project Completed in 24 Hours
I will likely do a detailed case study of our client, TIASO, in the future, but this post should show briefly how trusting the process made the most out of our 24 hours.
Print is Not Dead
Remember to learn about physical printing and don’t just design for the web. Chances are even if you are a web only designer you will encounter a print project at some point or work with a project that requires you to match print colors for a brand identity to create a website. Get to know […]
Why I’m not writing a post this week
This week I won’t be writing a post. Instead, I will be leading a team for a massive CreateAthon event. If you don’t know what CreateAthon is, I recommend you check them out. It’s a pretty rad thing to be a part of putting together. I will have lots to share with you next week […]
Collect Stuff That You Love
Collect things. Collect quotes or portions of texts you find inspiring. Save textures and patterns you find interesting. Gather intriguing photography or shots you take of unique places. If you collect these things regularly and keep them in “inspiration” folders (digitally or physically) you will have a never-ending well of ideas to draw from when […]
Use Colored Pencils
Use crayons, and colored pencils, watercolors, and chunky kids markers; use different mediums to sketch with. Get out some old pastels and get a little messy. Trying out different methods of creating can open up the possibilities for more interesting creative avenues. Even if you aren’t doing anything for a job or a client, creating […]
Take a Break
Put it down, close it down, put it away, shut it down, press pause, get up, walk away and don’t think about it for awhile. You will be amazed and thrilled at the clarity a break will bring when you get back work. Just stop thinking about it, and stop doing it for awhile, your […]
A Brief Intro to My Design Process
(This post was written in 2015. I’m working on an updated version with new photos and some new resources) This week I decided to do something a little different. I wanted to show you one of my projects and introduce you to how I work. It is a pretty straightforward 7-step process from start […]
Use Your Friends
There are many different ways you can improve your work or make an idea better. I have found, that it is very useful to use my friends, and my colleagues. Show them your work, your sketches, concepts. etc. Don’t be afraid to show them your early ideas and your progress as you go. Especially when […]
Why Boundaries Make You More Creative
It’s easy to come up with an idea when you can do whatever you want, but often the best ideas can come from forced margins.
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.
Why “simple” design isn’t easy, quick, or cheap
Bad design is easy. Bad design is quick and cheap. But good design takes time, and has value. Anything good is worth something. And good design is worth a lot.
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.
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 up about the end that we skip steps or jump randomly from step one to step four then back to two and so on. Focusing on each step as you […]
How to Handle Client Interference
While I was quite literally right in the middle of writing what I was planning on writing for this weeks post, I took a break. I decided to check out a designer whose work I really love and see what he has been doing. While browsing through his recent work I noticed a few shirts […]
Stop Trying to Be Original
Literally nothing is new, there are no original ideas. Even King Solomon wrote, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” Someone will have the same ideas as you and you may execute an idea that you find later already existed before […]
Design Movies You Need in Your Life – Part 1
Movies on everything from graffiti art to gig poster design. I hope you’ll invest some time watching some unbelievable creatives do what they do. I guarantee you will want to go out immediately and create something even more awesome for yourself!
Change is Good
Never hesitate to start over if what you have already done is not the right thing. A blank page can be daunting but beautiful! Try something different, do something you wouldn’t normally do. Stretch your creativity and intentionally change up your normal style or way of creating. Don’t get stuck in your habits, it can […]