markwolfedesign.com

Iconic Images of Steve Jobs by Photographer Norman Seeff | Pursuitist

2011-11-17T12:38:00.001-08:00

via pursuitist.com

Finding A Good Web Designer Is Easy With MWD

2011-10-25T17:19:00.000-07:00

Many potential clients don't know much about web design and can feel lost when it comes to finding a good web designer. Confusing "tech-speech", hidden costs; charging outrageous fees and committing clients to long term "update" charges and proprietary software packages that only they can use, often turn off potential clients and worse, landing some in financial crisis!

Knowing what makes an effective website is only half the battle. Communication with the designer is crucial.

Here is some verbiage to understand as you seek a designer:

• Dynamic Content (Interactive features on a website. The content the user sees is sometimes updated based upon the users input. Dynamic content can be information stored in a database, user input, or even cookies. Forms and a Search option on a site are perfect examples of dynamic content.)
• Search Engine (A program (website) designed to search a database of information from and about other websites. Google, Yahoo and others use this kind of program to create a directory of sites which you can then search through.)
• HTML (how to write the code that displays the website)
• CSS (Cascading Style Sheets - controls font colors and sizes and removes code bloat)
• Server (A computer that delivers web pages to users. It is the "computer" where website files (the whole website) reside and are accessed through the Internet. A server can also be called a host or node.)
• SEO (Search Engine Optimizaztion - how to get top ranking in search engines for your keywords)
• Graphic Design (The design of logos, navigation graphics and editing images)
• Composite (Comps) (The look of the website without actually creating it. This is achieved with graphics only, and is usually presented to the client in printed form or as an attachment in an email.
• Contact Page (The page in a website that contains all information as to how to contact a business or individual. This usually includes a mailing address, phone number, fax number, email addresses and any other criteria that may be necessary. This page can also include a map and directions.)
• Content (The body of a web page. Content includes words, selling points, graphics, animations, etc. that do not comprise the framework of the page. This is the information that changes from page to page.)
• Debugging (Detecting, locating and correcting errors or problems in a computer program or web site.)
• Forms (Interactive elements which allow a user to input information to be utilized by the website. Forms can be used to gather information supplied by the user in order to help the user interact with various components within the site.)
• Homepage (The entry page to a website, also known as the index page. Often mistakenly referred to as the "Portal" page.)
• Hosting (Most commonly thought of as the place (think of a heavy-duty computer) where your website's files reside. An Internet host has a unique Internet address (IP address) and a unique domain name or host name. A host can also refer to a Web hosting company.)
• Marketing (The process of planning and executing the promotion of a website via printed and other media, and the Internet. How you make others aware that your website exists.)

Some things to look for while looking for a designer:
Is the designer's website professional looking and clean cut or is it full of Google ads and affiliate banners or links at the top of the home page?
If it's the latter keep looking for another web designer because they are attempting to gain a living via advertising instead of their web design skills.

Do they claim "award winning" designers?
Anyone can apply for a web design award and often get one because these award sites usually offer awards with one goal in mind - getting links back to their website. Emblems from web design guilds may look impressive, however if you check into the means to attain these you will see that most of them charge a fee for membership with minimal requirements, and thus anyone with the most basic web design skills can gain awards or buy memberships and that is not always proof they are quality designers. That can be better assertained by the guidelines offered in this article.

Do they Guarantee a Top Listing in the Search Engines?
No. Genuine web designer can guarantee a top listing in search engines and especially on Google because they change their algorithyms often. What used to work last week may not work next week as Google is preventing any methods that attempt to manipulate their search engine. A top listing can usually be achieved by providing unique and interesting content on the web pages, by the designer having a good knowledge of SEO and by submitting the site to numerous other websites so it has adequate links. Some designer sites are SEO Ripoffs and use spam techniques that will get your website banned.

Do they provide Site Hosting?
A web designer that boasts hosting is known as a reseller for a large hosting company. This means they have bought a large space on their host site and they host the sites they design in that space (i.e., shared hosting), and they will be your sole tech support. Sometimes they have a computer they use for a server in their home. Either way this is not a good idea because if they get sick or their computer breaks down your web site will be down also. Often they do not keep up with expensive hardware or software upgrades to prevent hacking attemps and other problems and thus your website will be more vulnerable than if it was on a real host.

Are they in your country?
It's not so important that a designer be in the same city as most design communication can be covered by phone or email. However if they are in another country you may have problems if they don't complete the job after you paid them (and no legal recourse) you're screwed. Check their contact page for phone, address and email to make sure they are in the same country.

Most important: Looking at a designer's own website is not always proof of their ability because they may be too busy to keep their own website updated. Looking at their web design portfolio will give you a better idea of their skill level.

Before you look at a large agency (which often farm out web designers), your neighbor's kid, or someone in your office that knows a little Microsoft Word, please contact Mark Wolfe Design!

The Anatomy of an Agency Infographic

2011-10-25T13:10:00.001-07:00

via imjustcreative.co.uk

Interview with Rob Janoff, designer of the Apple logo | creativebits™

2011-10-21T11:21:00.001-07:00

10 Surefire Ways to Overcome Blogging Procrastination

2011-10-20T17:48:00.001-07:00

via problogger.net

Kern Type-The Kerning Game by Mark MacKay

2011-10-11T06:31:00.001-07:00

via imjustcreative.co.uk

Coca-Cola vs. Pepsi Logos - Revised Edition | creative logo designer

2011-10-11T06:13:00.001-07:00

via imjustcreative.com

Steve Jobs 1955 - 2011

2011-10-06T05:44:00.000-07:00

By now we've all heard of the passing of Steve Jobs. We've all lost a truly great mind that can never be replaced. One of the reasons I have always loved using Apple, is that it was always engineered and promoted with an elegance, design and sense of quality never before seen by technology or the public. Not every one gets it, but those who do are participants of a special group who appreciate quality, aesthetics, performance and marketing.

Apple under Steve Jobs was bolstered by people who were MBA's and marketing specialists. This set Apple apart from the mainstream at the time. This made the mainstream work harder and employ those elements to their products.

Design, quality, understanding the market and being true to your values. What a concept. That's why I love Apple and that is how I approach my work. MWD and Apple sort of grew up together and during that time I've tried to learn from Steve and Apple. Hopefully I will still continue MWD with these core values and strive to be an active apostle of these for years to come.

Thanks, Steve.

A fun history of copyright law [video] - Holy Kaw!

2011-08-25T08:32:00.001-07:00

Protecting yourself as a designer | Webdesigner Depot

2011-08-12T20:41:00.001-07:00

via webdesignerdepot.com

Creating a virtuous circle with search and social media: a Q-and-A with GroupM Search CEO Chris Copeland

2011-08-09T07:19:00.001-07:00

This blog series, featuring interviews with speakers from the SES Conference & Expo, scheduled Aug. 15 to 19 in San Francisco, is brought to you by Incisive Media.

This Q-and-A is with GroupM Search CEO Chris Copeland.

How do you see the influence of social media changing search engine marketing?

Research we’ve conducted looking at the impact these channels have on one another suggests that search has an authority to it and that consumers are becoming more and more reliant on the views of others, whether or not they are trusted friends in the social graph. With that being said, it makes sense that Google and Bing continue to move toward a model where third-party opinions factor into the relevance of a results page and help keep consumers from abandoning search as their decision tool of choice.

In the future, I expect two things to happen: 1) the signals will get better thanks to scale and data and create an even greater need for brand-owned assets to be optimized across social media for search inclusion; and 2) social media will begin to be more like search with relevance and intent forming experiences more so than ever before.

When companies are trying to figure out the return on their social media investment, should they be taking the intersection of search and social into account? How so?

In 2009, we released a study that showed a 94% increase in search (click-through rate) for three advertisers when consumers saw the brand’s social media in-channel as well as search listing. So, if a brand wants to give attribution to a channel for its impact on search performance, the social channel is a good one to consider. It is clear that a virtuous circle exists between the channels with consumers bouncing from one to the other to fulfill their research needs on the pathway to making a decision.

What advice would you give companies looking to use paid, earned and owned media as part of a single campaign? How do you make those components harmonious?

When it comes down to digital signposts, outcomes and measurement are important. We see each step of a consumer’s journey as an opportunity put a sign out to direct them to their next encounter with a brand. Consumers are willing to shift between mediums from paid to owned and earned platforms to expand their knowledge and make the best decisions. Brands need to have a strategy for connecting and execute on this strategy by determining the right media type for the moment.

There are obvious times when in order to create scale and establish reach, paid media is the best solution. But, more and more often we see consumers wanting opinions from their social graph and beyond using social media and the wisdom of an earned response from a community built up on behalf of a brand. The data and measurement components validate the process. If brands cannot measure the movement and connectivity between their brand and consumers, they have lost sight of their own relevance in the process and then outcomes will be questionable.

How can businesses use the data they’re getting from their search and social marketing efforts to improve their marketing efforts? How do you create a virtuous circle?

Search has been the single biggest Petri dish of consumer intelligence for the better part of a decade. Every search is an expression of consumer intent. Every click is a response (positively or negatively, depending on whether or not they clicked your ad) to the connection your brand tried to create and their intent. Now, social layers in their ability to follow information, share information and take up arms as an activist on your brand’s behalf. The combination of intent expressed and relevancy between the consumer and a brand cannot be gathered anywhere else compared to the depth and degree that search and social offers today. This can shape everything, including your future marketing efforts, by tightening up the connection points via signposts on the journey. It can also shape future product development and macro business decisions. The data, when measured properly, is just that powerful.

Can a corporate blog place too much emphasis on SEO? How does one find the line?

Priority needs to be given to your owned assets based on the role you want them to play in the journey consumers are taking. If your brand is built on hearing from the authority of your own people in a confined setting, then you should optimize it to the fullest. If you believe that third-party opinions and a variety of experience beyond blog formatted text are important, then you have to find balance. No one sign will get people from A-to-Z, so the weight you give to SEO efforts should be proportionate to the impact and influence that asset will have on your brand in helping customers reach the final step of a journey to engagement.

Related Posts:
How to blog like a dieter (and vice-versa)
From BlogWorld Expo: The secret to futureproofing your blog’s SEO
4 simple ways to jump-start your SEO efforts

via smartblogs.com

5 Tips for Using Humor in Your Social Media Activities | Social Media Examiner

2011-08-02T06:19:00.001-07:00

5 Tips for Using Humor in Your Social Media Activities

By Jason Miller
Published July 28, 2011

Can you remember something funny? Humor can go a long way with social media.

Are you considering using humor with your social media activities? If so, this article reveals some tips to get you on the right track.

Why humor?

It’s no surprise that using humor in advertising is an effective way to connect with your audience and humanize your brand or company, but what about using it for social media?

Adding humor to your social media strategy can be a great way to get people’s attention.

If you appeal to your audience emotionally, you’ll have a much better chance that they will further engage with your brand or product. Doing so will help your customers remember you, share your content and have a better understanding of what you stand for.

Finally, an emotional appeal differentiates you from the millions of other companies out there bombarding their social channels with nothing but self-promotion.

If you’re not “humorizing” your brand, product or business, then you might be missing out on a ton of unseen potential.

Here are 5 tips to help you get started:

#1: Ask yourself WWJD?

(What Would Jerry Do?)

Jerry Seinfeld has a simple formula for comedy. He takes everyday situations and asks himself, “What’s funny about this?” Apply this type of thinking to your brand, product or company.

A perfect example of this is Otterbox, a manufacturer of protective gear for handheld devices. Check out how they take a seemingly boring product and make it funny as hell.

#2: Keep it clean

Steer clear of controversial topics and jokes in bad taste. A good example is earlier this year, fashion designer Kenneth Cole tried to be funny but instead won the award for most insensitive tweet of the year.

The offending tweet was eventually removed entirely from Cole's feed, and a statement about the incident was posted on his Facebook fan page.

#3: Wittiness is terribly underrated

Twitter and Facebook updates can go a long way with the right quip. Use your wittiness to compete against big budgets. Here are three perfect examples of how the wit is mightier than the ad dollar.

Here’s a tweet from “Rebel Red,” part of the www.MiddleSisterWines.com.

Their philosophy: Smile! It won't mess up your hair.

A witty take on a popular quote for a Facebook update from Cups and Cakes Bakery.

Join them on Saturdays for Cupcake Super Happy Hour!

And a brilliantly funny Facebook update from Boccalone: Tasty Salted Pig Parts.

Known for their authentic Italian sandwiches.

#4: Just because your company is serious doesn’t mean all marketing has to be

Don’t take yourself too seriously. Poke fun at yourself by doing a parody of your company or your industry. HubSpot wears their marketing mullet loud and proud—mixing the business up front with the party in the back. Check out how they spoofed social media with Foursquare Cops.

And in this video parody, IBM had some fun with Art of the Sale.

#5: The best humor comes naturally

Experiment by recording video interviews with quirky customers and employees. Again I reference Otterbox as they apply this principle very well. Check out:

Being Funny Is a Risk

Some people might not appreciate your company’s brand of humor. Business owners need to observe their target audience to make sure humor fits.

Being funny may not work for healthcare, financial services or any highly regulated industry.

The target market must always be considered. Running tests and focus groups to gather feedback is always a great idea. Try using an online survey to test your attempt at humor against an internal audience before you send it out. Comedy is subjective so don’t expect to please everyone.

Using humor in social media levels the playing field between big-budget creative ad agencies and a clever marketer. Try having fun with your social messaging. You’ll know it’s working when your customers enthusiastically reply, “That’s gold, Jerry!”

What do you think? If you’re using humor with your social media, let us know how it’s working for you. Leave your comments in the box below.

inShare873
Tags: branding, comedy, emotional appeal, funny, funny content, funny video, humanize, jason miller, joke, social media humor, Some Fun

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How to Make Your Clients Say ‘YES’ to Your Designs!!! « Graphic Design Blog – An Ultimate Resource for Graphic Designers

2011-07-24T19:50:00.001-07:00

via graphicdesignblog.org

Untitled

2011-07-18T04:54:00.001-07:00

Logo Design - more than meets the eye - GraphicStart - posterous

2011-07-08T13:32:00.001-07:00

via graphicstart.posterous.com

Hiring a Social Media Agency? Read this First! | Social Media Explorer

2011-06-28T12:06:00.001-07:00

News Flash: Not everyone who says they understand or have used social media actually knows what they are talking about.

I know, that’s not much of a news flash for many of us. We’ve been watching as this tremendous growth of social media has created a mass-market of companies selling huge lines of BS to brands who honestly don’t know the right questions to ask. They are like really smooth men with pick up lines that are so brilliant you don’t even see them coming. They know if a company is looking for help with social media, it is likely because they don’t understand it themselves. Therefore, if they talk in buzz words and “fake it ‘till they make it” the company will never realize they are clueless.

This is so prolific you can’t really point a finger in one direction. I’ve seen it with agencies, I’ve seen it within corporations, and I’ve seen it amongst “consultants.” And honestly, it isn’t that these are bad people per se, they are simply trying to capitalize on a market that is booming and trying to learn as fast as they can. That’s just capitalism taking its natural course. However, it can be really unfair for companies who are placing a tremendous amount of confidence in these providers to not at least have a clear understand of their real capabilities. Therefore, this post will provide a list of “red flag” pick up lines I’m seeing a lot.

Social Media Red Flag Pick Up Lines

Social media is a great strategy for every company. If you don’t have a social media strategy you will be left behind.

Social media isn’t the “right” answer for every company. There are several factors to consider before diving into a social media strategy. Do you have the resources to support a social media strategy for the long-term? Are there natural places within your current marketing strategy where social media can be integrated? Are there conversations happening about your industry already?

You must have a presence on Facebook and Twitter and YouTube and…

There is no magic list of social media channels that applies to every company and industry. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are not the end all be all of social media and for many companies they are the “wrong” places to be. The big question here is whether or not your audience is actually “participating” in a social media channel. If they are which ones are they using? The reality is that for many industries Facebook and Twitter are not the right channels, but represent a drain on resources that could be better allocated to social media sites where their audience actually participates.

We will manage your entire social media presence for you…it’s effortless for you

There are definitely companies that will do this for you, but it raises a huge red flag. Social media isn’t about pushing out a bunch of marketing messages, it’s about engaging in conversation. Who would you allow to have a direct conversation with your customers and prospects? What kind of training is involved before you let someone pick up the phone for the first time? Allowing a social media provider to manage all of your social media channels without active engagement and commitment from your team to support them can be disastrous.

We developed a strategy for Company X that led to over a bazillion fans

Anytime a provider uses the number of fans or followers or views as a gauge for the success of a campaign, I throw up a little in my mouth. Were the fans and followers relevant to the company? Did the people who viewed your video do anything as a result? Did any of these people do anything that actually contributed to the financial goals of the company?

We have an experienced social media team

Unfortunately, this is more often than not a bold faced lie. There aren’t enough people who have successfully created, implemented and measured a social media strategy for a business to work for all of these providers who are making these claims. I’ve seen this range from people who have no “real” experience in social media to a team of fresh out of college “interns” being managed by one person who has a little bit of experience. Make sure to ask exactly who will be working on your account and how much experience “each one” has in social media. Also, make sure to ask what companies they have developed and implemented social media strategies for. You will likely have some junior people in the mix, but you should have at least one who has been in the space long enough to know their elbow from their “rhymes with smash hole.”

Social media is special. Your current marketing strategies won’t work, that’s why you need us.

Social media is another tool in your marketing tool kit. It isn’t any more special that email marketing or paid search advertising. Each one of these requires and understanding of what you want to accomplish and a clear understanding of how it can help you reach your business objectives. Social media isn’t any different. In many cases, social media will compliment your current marketing strategies with a little twist.

Social media is the only marketing strategy you need.

Social media is not a silver bullet. It will not fix problems within your current marketing strategy and quite frankly it is more likely shine a big red light on them. It is also not the “only” marketing strategy a company should use. Good marketing is a combination of smart strategy and well-thought out tactics that are executed within marketing channels where their prospects and customers play. Putting all of your eggs in the social media basket is extremely risky.

If you don’t know a lot about social media and need some help, that’s okay. But make sure you prepare yourself so you hire a solid provider who can contribute to your goals. There are some really solid providers out there if you look hard enough. The best tip I can give you is to ask for specific examples and references. Then actually check them. Otherwise, there are plenty of people who have some great ocean front property in Arizona they’d like to sell you.

Have you heard some really bad social media pick up lines? Are you seeing a lot of social media snake oil out there? What raises a red flag for you? How can you help someone select a legitimate social media provider? Please leave a comment and share your thoughts.

Related articles

Social Media Is a Venue, Not a Strategy (adage.com)

How to Hire a Social Media Agency (socialfresh.com)

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Tagged as: Facebook, Marketing strategy, Social Media, social media agency, Social Media Marketing, social media strategy, social media tips, Twitter

About Nichole Kelly

Nichole Kelly
Nichole Kelly is a social media measurement speaker, consultant and coach. She is also the publisher of FullFrontalROI.com, where she shows how to measure and multiply social media ROI. Don’t be shy … Join the conversation with Nichole on Twitter @Nichole_Kelly.
Other posts by Nichole Kelly
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How to Know if You've Been Hacked

2011-06-24T05:45:00.001-07:00

via gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com

1 out of every 6 online minutes spent on social media - Holy Kaw!

2011-06-19T04:21:00.001-07:00

Beyond the billboard: The future of out-of-home advertisements [infographic] - Holy Kaw

2011-06-14T06:39:00.001-07:00

The traditional billboard is getting a face lift. The advertising game has had to adapt to modern technology in other portals, and now out-of-home advertising isn’t far behind. Digital billboards are just the beginning; be prepared for multisensory and personalized ads whenever you leave the house. We explore what you can expect in the infographic below.

(Click on the infographic below to learn more.)

Via Column Five for BuySellAds

Like infographics? So do we.

15 brands that don't sell what they're called - Holy Kaw!

2011-06-06T09:59:00.001-07:00

6 Funny Laughs for Graphic Designers – LOL statements! « Graphic Design Blog – An Ultimate Resource for Graphic Designers

2011-06-05T12:24:00.001-07:00

via graphicdesignblog.org

The small business owner's guide to taking a vacation [infographic] - Holy Kaw!

2011-06-03T07:31:00.001-07:00

25 Stupid Facts About Social Media! | Bit Rebels

2011-06-01T06:30:00.001-07:00

via bitrebels.com

War Dog - An FP Photo Essay By Rebecca Frankel | Foreign Policy

2011-05-06T15:58:00.001-07:00

via foreignpolicy.com

Mark Wolfe | Arts Council of Kanawha Valley

2011-05-04T09:09:00.001-07:00

via artskv.org

11 Mistakes Customers Make When Getting a Logo | CrazyLeaf Design Blog

2011-05-03T15:48:00.001-07:00

via crazyleafdesign.com

Famous artists' apartments - Boing Boing

2011-04-11T11:49:00.001-07:00

via boingboing.net

60 Completely Unusable Stock Photos - Featured on BuzzFeed

2011-03-30T08:43:00.001-07:00

via buzzfeed.com

Ignoring Social Media Can Be Recipe for Failure for Some Businesses - State Journal - STATEJOURNAL.com

Ignoring Social Media Can Be Recipe for Failure for Some Businesses - State Journal - STATEJOURNAL.com

2011-03-30T07:13:00.000-07:00

You don’t need a designer | David Airey, graphic designer

2011-02-25T05:37:00.001-08:00

Picture Yourself: Wolfe on Wolfe | WestVirginiaVille

2011-02-12T09:35:00.001-08:00

via westvirginiaville.com

Picture Yourself: Wolfe on Wolfe | WestVirginiaVille

2011-02-09T06:13:00.001-08:00

via westvirginiaville.com

Everything You Need to Know about Doing Business With Designers | Inspired Magazine

2011-02-08T13:09:00.001-08:00

via inspiredm.com

How To Fight Procrastination As A Designer

2011-02-08T05:43:00.001-08:00

via smashingshare.com

Can a logo ever be too simple?

2011-01-31T12:44:00.001-08:00

via justcreativedesign.com

How social media users watch TV [infographic] - Holy Kaw!

2011-01-27T09:03:00.001-08:00

How Color Affects Our Purchases [infographic]

2011-01-18T06:45:00.001-08:00

via dailyinfographic.com

Graphic Design Career Tips - GraphicStart - posterous

2011-01-18T06:27:00.001-08:00

via graphicstart.posterous.com

Obey Plagiarist Shepard Fairey

2011-01-12T06:25:00.001-08:00

via art-for-a-change.com

The recent decision by a judge to clear street artist Shepard Fairey poses some troubling scenarios in the future regarding what is art and what is stealing. This site I found illustrates very well where creation leaves creator and vice versa:

Comedy Central's New Logo Looks More Like... | Gather

2011-01-10T08:08:00.001-08:00

via business.gather.com

Yet another knee-jerk, corporate move to make an established logo that was well liked and well known, well, more corporate.

NFL Parody Shirts: Series 1 on the Behance Network

2011-01-07T09:43:00.001-08:00

via behance.net

Starbucks logo: Sayonara coffee, hello Asia - Holy Kaw!

2011-01-07T09:40:00.001-08:00

Starbucks unveils new logo - Holy Kaw!

2011-01-06T09:34:00.001-08:00

This is a case of stream-lining a logo too much. The brand is well known, but the logo is a major reason most people are initially drawn to this product. Starbucks touts this as a way to incorporate all of their products under one brand, but the Starbucks name is just as powerful as the logo art. To take the Corporate name away from the mermaid art is very risky. I'm not sure if this works for me, a long-term fan, but it may be a sign of how other corporate brands follow suit.

Two tragic examples of branding changes that people rejected recently were The Gap from last year: http://tinyurl.com/2eg6ux5, and the orange juice company, Tropicana back in 2009: http://tinyurl.com/qfucjq.

The corporation is often chided as being too dominant and, well corporate. This logo literally solidifies this opinion and is unwise.

HowStuffWorks "10 Awesome Ad Campaigns You've Never Heard Of"

2011-01-06T09:22:00.001-08:00

George Marks/Retrofile/Getty Images
Everyone's heard of the "Pause that Refreshes" Coca-Cola campaign -- which is why it's not included in this list.
There are a lot of innovative and creative minds toiling in the field of advertising today. Thanks to the advent of user-friendly desktop image manipulation and design programs like Photoshop and Illustrator, bending reality to an ad executive's whims is easier than ever. Because of these two factors, agencies worldwide have been churning out a treasure trove of awesome advertisements.
But not all of these ads make their way across the globe. Due to social mores, some are too racy for some Western sensibilities. Others speak more to a particular nationality or cultural group than others. And some, on the other hand, are hyper local; the campaign is too expensive to create more than a single billboard in one location.

Whatever the cause, some of the great ad campaigns around the world don't make it across all borders. As such, we present 10 of the better ad campaigns that may have slipped below the radar.

via money.howstuffworks.com

The one in Columbus was amazing.

15 examples of good typography in packaging - ImJustCreative

2010-12-30T04:38:00.001-08:00

5 Ways To Eliminate Home Office Distractions

2010-12-27T05:39:00.001-08:00

via workawesome.com

The Star Wars Christmas Special... - ImJustCreative

2010-12-24T15:02:00.001-08:00

Architecture of WikiLeaks: Stockholm Cold War Bunker | WebUrbanist

2010-12-20T04:59:00.001-08:00

via weburbanist.com

Never Use More Than Two Different Typefaces [Book] - ImJustCreative

2010-12-16T07:14:00.001-08:00

The Perfect Billboard - My God. It even has a watermark - ImJustCreative

2010-12-06T05:43:00.001-08:00

HTML 5 Overview and Resources Showcase - DM2 Studios Blog

2010-11-29T12:47:00.001-08:00

via dm2studios.posterous.com

Create the QuickTime Logo | VforVectors

2010-11-28T08:09:00.001-08:00

via vforvectors.com

18 Search Engines For Designers – Creativity Boost | Minervity

2010-11-28T06:51:00.001-08:00

via minervity.com

Branding's Greatest Misses: The New Gap Logo

2010-10-10T05:41:00.001-07:00

Branding's Greatest Misses: The New Gap Logo

People really are very upset about the new logo of famous clothing store GAP! Whereas the former white-on-blue logo was iconic, the new black-letters-next-to-a-little-blue-box design has Gap fans and branding experts alike befuddled and discombobulated.

The main problem: Gap just stuck the logo on their website without bothering to tell anyone they were rebranding, or why. The secondary problem: the logo is dumb. Ad Age explains the sophisticated critiques of Gap's new strategic direction being posited by the world's foremost corporate branding experts:

Across the internet detractors have been picking apart the new look, with the most common sentiment being that it looks like something a child created using a clip-art gallery.

Yes, well...yes. It does. (Make your own logo here, easy!) Now Gap is backpedaling a bit, asking for public input and whatnot. There, there, Gap. Don't feel bad. You just surprised us, that's all. Usually these disasters are accompanied by a bullshit-filled press release.

Previously in Branding's Greatest Misses:

Tropicana
Pepsi
Thomson Reuters

Send an email to Hamilton Nolan, the author of this post, at Hamilton@gawker.com.

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Shadowlayer 10/08/10

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Wow they really put a lot of effort in this one! black letters instead of white, and its outside the square! not inside! OUTSIDE NOT INSIDE! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!!!1!!one
/sarcasm Reply

starless wonder 10/08/10

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I'm pretty sure a child using a clip-art gallery would have done a better job. Reply

Diogenes-the-Cynic 10/07/10

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Don Draper does not approve. Reply

kappakappaspankme 10/07/10

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10 years ago, I worked as a purchasing manager for a marine manufacturer. The brand of boats made was so riddled with flaws, the newly hired president decided to change the name and art. When the head of engineering brought me into his office to see the mock-ups and start shaking down suppliers for decals I noticed it was the same fucking logo as a particular British motorbike.
Neither the president nor the engineering cheese recognized this upon first glance and we ended up paying one metric assload of cash for a design house to rip off another logo.
Naturally, I was the unreasonable twat who had to pull two, adult men into reality. Reply

coloredmaps 10/07/10

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Someone hit the snooze button. Oh, wait... Reply

grahamillion 10/07/10

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I worked for this company for almost Three years (In Canada) and let me tell you - it's a bunch of morons who run the show (from district/ head office).
They emphasis more on LP than they do on customer service.
They care more about shoving products/accessories for people to buy with a pair of jeans than quality selling techniques.
They don't give two shits about their sales employees as they treat them like shit and accuse them of stealing ALL the time.
That is all. Reply

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kazillion 10/07/10

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I love Helvetica and all, but can we please do something a little different? American Airlines and American Apparel have done it enough.
Don't be afraid of a little serif, Gap. It's worked for you for 20 years. Reply

meechybee 10/07/10

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I was reading a story about Arnell's Pepsi fiasco a few weeks ago -- written before the release and ridicule. In the article he said that he needed to immerse himself in Asian culture before taking on the logo so he had Pepsi pay for three fact-finding trips for him, each a month in duration.
I'm so distressed at stories like these as I've been in branding for just about 20 years now and take a very practical approach to it. Branding is now so warped by ad agencies and all their bullshittery it makes me want to cry. Reply

dollarmenu 10/07/10

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The gradient gives me heartburn. Reply

summeroflove 10/07/10

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I bet they went to one of those 50-dollar logo companies: [www.160over90.com] Reply

BBQ Cornnuts 10/07/10

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It looks like one of the Powerpoint backgrounds circa Office 93 Reply

ExtendedRockyMontage 10/07/10

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I think you're missing the real gem here. Have you seen their latest ads, using Helvetica as well? Every time I see them I think they're American Apparel ads only the models are wearing more clothing.
Now that AA is having huge financial woes, GAP is sticking their foot on AA's throat, hoping to pull over all their customers, and I think they'll succeed.
This is a brilliant use of a company's own shtick, in this case AA's "simple" "minimalist" and stock Helvetica branding, to suffocate them in a brutal time.
Lazy? Or brilliant. Reply

bobella is owltastic! promoted this comment

NigelAstydameia 10/07/10

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Looks like Peter Arnell got hold of it. Reply

digitalavenger 10/07/10

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Old Navy (same parent company) also has boring blue and white logo, I guess they'll need something more oval-ly.
/invoice forthcoming Reply

summeroflove promoted this comment

FrankenPC 10/07/10

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I did some consulting for Gap's IT department a decade ago. Back then, Gap's main business focus was real estate. The stores were a source of revenue, but they had found that buying up the brick and mortar and the building on either side provided revenue and net worth way above the product they sold commercially.
Point being, their logo is probably indicative of a much broader scope of business capabilities. You know...to attract investors.
Now that the real estate bubble has collapsed for residential, I wonder what's happening with commercial? Reply

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claudinelonget 10/07/10

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The gap logo you know is not the original logo.
[www.gapinc.com] Reply

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Kapwan 10/07/10

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The new Gap logo makes it looks like it is an Element from the Periodic Table. Reply

thatgirlinnewyork 10/07/10

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ah, design via a committee of 30!
can't wait until they reveal the rationale and meaning behind it all. Reply

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El_Gato 10/07/10

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Are they selling computers now? Reply

teebol 10/07/10

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They gonna start selling software? Reply

Thunderclees promoted this comment

Ultraumatic 10/07/10

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Is that Helvitica? Ugh. Reply

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jasonelias 10/07/10

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Looks like something left over from a long abandoned website. Reply

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Malonga Gilderchuck 10/07/10

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The Gap is a shitty consulting firm now? Reply

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Crabby Cakes 10/07/10

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Gap is rebranding and "relaunching" all their stores, to be finished by the end of this month. (You may notice some of the stores are already laid out differently.) They're getting away from the basics they're known for and shifting the focus to "dressing the fashionable 28-year-old woman."
They launched the new logo on the website before they told their stores anything was happening. The first they're hearing about the official rebranding is today. Reply

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lodown (is waiting for MizJenkins) 10/07/10

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I have a feeling that Gap deliberately put out a subpar logo in order to excite interest in their little redesign contest. Reply

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Anyone can be a zombie this October 29th! Contact me at: mark@markwolfed esign for details and sign up to be the walking dead next month for East End Main Street's HallowEast 2 and Charleston's first ever "Zombie Walk"!

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A great question, and a challenge I face continually working with small or new businesses, nonprofits, and visual or performing artists with tight budgets. Because these organizations are typically small, their mission, culture, particular challenges, and near- and long-term objectives likely all exist in the hearts and minds of a small number of people. By talking openly with those involved, asking the relevant questions, and getting at the essence of who they are or who they’d like to be, you can pretty quickly gather a sense of direction. These conversations cost nothing but do require time and preparation. However, the more clearly you can outline the objectives and parameters at the outset of the project, the closer in you can start on exploration, thereby recouping some of the resources (time) allotted to discovery. Additionally, I believe that qualified designers bring a certain “x” factor to their work, which is a kind of informed intuition making it possible to connect the dots and bring all the disparate elements together into something meaningful and valuable. This comes from experience, cultural awareness, and an open, collaborative relationship with the client, which nets mutually beneficial results.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The idea of a pet food pantry occurred to Amy Williams around Christmas.

"I saw a news story on TV about a boy in Florida that started one," she said. "I really love pets, and I know lots of people are losing jobs and having a hard time financially. Pets can be one of the biggest strains financially. If you're having a hard time making ends meet, it's hard to buy food for pets."

Williams decided to alleviate that problem locally by starting the East End Pet Food Pantry. The operation began in February.

"We had a $200 donation in the beginning that we bought a lot of stuff with. Then we've just had people dropping off donations," said Williams, who owns two pugs, Pendleton and Pandora, and a cat, Moz, with her boyfriend, Mark Wolfe.

"Lots of people are picking stuff up. There's a demand for it."

In fact, the pantry is low on food because lots of people have been stopping by to pick up food. "We really need dog and cat food badly right now," Williams said. "It's good because it means people are aware of us, but. ..."

Donations are picked up and dropped off at The Book Exchange, 1588 Washington St E., across the street from the East End Dog Park. It is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Requested donations are dog and cat food and kitty litter. Williams says the current order of need food-wise is cat food, puppy food then dog food.

"We try not to be picky because people are giving us the food as donations, but we urge people to try to get good quality food. Even though you're living on a small budget, you may still have a pet with allergies or dietary restrictions.

"Anything anyone can donate is good, but try to be thoughtful. If you can afford to get nicer food, do that," she urged.

Currently, the pantry works some with Manna Meal, funneling food to them. Williams would like to do more in the future.

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Leslie Buck, Designer of Iconic Coffee Cup, Dies at 87 - Obituary (Obit)

2010-04-30T06:47:00.001-07:00

It is, of course, the Anthora, the cardboard cup of Grecian design that has held New Yorkers’ coffee securely for nearly half a century. Introduced in the 1960s, the Anthora was long made by the hundreds of millions annually, nearly every cup destined for the New York area.
A pop-cultural totem, the Anthora has been enshrined in museums; its likeness has adorned tourist memorabilia like T-shirts and ceramic mugs. Like many once-celebrated artifacts, though, the cup may now be endangered, the victim of urban gentrification.
The Anthora seems to have been here forever, as if bestowed by the gods at the city’s creation. But in fact, it was created by man — one man in particular, a refugee from Nazi Europe named Leslie Buck.
Mr. Buck, a retired paper-cup company executive, died on Monday, at 87, at his home on Long Island, in Glen Cove. The cause was complications of Parkinson’s disease, his son Robert said. Mr. Buck, previously a longtime resident of Syosset, N.Y., also had a home in Delray Beach, Fla.
The Anthora has spawned a flock of imitations by competitors over the years, but it was first designed by Mr. Buck for the Sherri Cup Company in Kensington, Conn.
Mr. Buck’s cup was blue, with a white meander ringing the top and bottom; down each side was a drawing of the Greek vase known as an amphora. (“Anthora” comes from “amphora,” as filtered through Mr. Buck’s Eastern European accent, his son said.) Some later imitators depict fluted white columns; others show a discus thrower.
On front and back, Mr. Buck emblazoned the Anthora with three steaming golden coffee cups. Above them, in lettering that suggests a Classical inscription, was the Anthora’s very soul — the motto. It has appeared in many variant texts since then; Mr. Buck’s original, with its welcome intimations of tenderness, succor and humility, was simply this:
We Are Happy
To Serve You.
Though the Anthora no longer dominates the urban landscape as it once did, it can still be found at diners, delis and food carts citywide, a squat, stalwart island in a sea of tall, grande and venti. On the street, it warms the harried hands of pedestrians. Without the Anthora, “Law & Order” could scarcely exist.
Laszlo Büch was born on Sept. 20, 1922, to a Jewish family in Khust, then in Czechoslovakia. (It is today in Ukraine.) His parents were killed by the Nazis during World War II; Laszlo himself survived Auschwitz and Buchenwald.
After the war, Mr. Buck made his way to New York, where he Americanized his name and ran an import-export business with his brother, Eugene, who had also survived the camps. In the late 1950s or thereabouts, the brothers started Premier Cup, a paper-cup manufacturer in Mount Vernon, N.Y.
Leslie Buck joined Sherri Cup, then a startup, in the mid-’60s. Originally the company’s sales manager (for a time, he was its entire sales force), he later became its director of marketing.
Sherri was keen to crack New York’s hot-cup market. Since many of the city’s diners were owned by Greeks, Mr. Buck hit on the idea of a Classical cup in the colors of the Greek flag. Though he had no formal training in art, he executed the design himself. It was an instant success.
Mr. Buck made no royalties from the cup, but he did so well in sales commissions that it hardly mattered, his son said. On his retirement from Sherri in 1992, the company presented Mr. Buck with 10,000 specially made Anthoras, printed with a testimonial inscription.
Besides his son, Robert, and brother, Eugene, Mr. Buck is survived by his wife, the former Ella Farkas, whom he married in 1949; two daughters, Beverly Eisenoff and Linda Rush; and four grandchildren.
In recent years, with the gentrification of the city and its brew, demand for the humble Anthora has waned. In 1994, Sherri sold 500 million of the cups, as The New York Times reported afterward. In 2005, the Solo Cup Company, into which Sherri had been absorbed, was selling about 200 million cups a year, The Times reported.
Today, Solo no longer carries the Anthora as a stock item, making it only on request. Other companies still turn out versions of the cup, though not in the quantities of its 20th-century heyday.
But given the tenacious traditionalism of many locals (“Avenue of the Americas,” anyone?), it is safe to assume that the Anthora and its heirs will endure, at least for a while, in the city’s steadfast precincts. For some time to come, on any given day, somewhere a New Yorker will be cradling the cup, with its crisp design and snug white lid, the stuff of life inside.

via nytimes.com

Watch any movie or TV series "set in New York" and you'll see an actor drinking rom this cup. It's so iconic for me that when I first visited NY I had to find one immediately. I still have it as a proud souvenir from that magnificent city.

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Improve your portfolio with pro bono design | David Airey, graphic designer

2010-03-01T13:01:00.001-08:00

Improve your portfolio with pro bono design

Published on February 22nd, 2010 45 appreciated comments �

Photo by Tudinh Duong

You%u2019re a graphic design student with a portfolio full of fictitious projects. You want to work with clients to build your experience, but you need a more developed portfolio to attract the clients. A classic catch-22.

That%u2019s when working pro bono proves extremely useful.

Read on to learn why, and for a chance to win one of five signed copies of Logo Design Love: A Guide to Creating Iconic Brand Identities.

What is pro bono?

Pro bono publico (usually shortened to pro bono) is a phrase derived from Latin meaning %u201Cfor the public good.%u201D The term is generally used to describe professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment as a public service.

Unlike traditional volunteerism, pro bono uses the specific skills of professionals to provide services to those who are unable to afford them.

What business should you approach?

Contact a small- to medium-sized non-profit organisation. Larger non-profits will have a substantial budget allocated to their brand identity, and are more likely to work with an experienced professional or studio.

Conduct an online search or look in your telephone directory for a non-profit in your locality. The benefit of staying local is you can meet your new client face-to-face. Doing so will not only help build your confidence in business meetings, but it makes it easier to ensure you%u2019re dealing with the decision-maker rather than passing design ideas through a middle-person %u2014 adding an unnecessary step to the design process.

There are further benefits with working locally. For instance, once the project is complete, you will have the opportunity to take photos of the finished design in context (e.g., on signage and stationery). It%u2019s these contextual shots that can turn an average portfolio into an excellent one.

Additionally, you%u2019re building your network of local business contacts, and the stronger your network, the more tools and help you will have available throughout your design career.

How to make the approach

It%u2019s important to talk to the person directly responsible for the visual branding. In a small-sized non-profit this is likely to be the managing director or chief executive.

Call or send an email pitching yourself as a talented designer who is about to, or has recently graduated with a design degree. Say it%u2019s your policy to devote a small percentage of time towards pro bono work (for the public good), and that your client%u2019s non-profit mission is one you have a great deal of respect for (this should of course be true).

Detail the savings you are offering your client (your standard rate for an identity project, only discounted by 100%). Doing so will ensure the value of the outcome isn%u2019t underestimated, and helps keep your client motivated.

Arrange a 30-minute meeting, where you will discuss the design needs and set a course of action.

In the meeting

Arrive with a list of pre-determined questions, a notepad, a pen, and your business card (which you will hand over at the end).

It%u2019s possible your client is anxious about the process of having a brand identity created or redesigned. She may see ideas as a risk, and not as a way to secure her mortgage. So the more indepth your initial discussions, the more at ease you will make your client. It may be that it%u2019s her first time working on an identity project, and it%u2019s up to you to show how smoothly the process can flow.

Be sure to time the meeting, and if you haven%u2019t finished within 30 minutes, say you have reached the end of the allocated time, and that you can call or email your client at a later date for any other necessary information %u2014 your client will be very busy, and will appreciate you sticking to your pre-arranged time limit.

Questions to ask

The crux of a healthy graphic design brief lies in the questions you pose. Obtaining the necessary answers isn%u2019t difficult. You just need to ask.

If you want specifics, I outline a number of vital questions in chapter four of Logo Design Love: A Guide to Creating Iconic Brand Identities, and I have five free signed copies up for grabs.

Photo by Raja Sandhu

There are two ways to enter the random draw:

Either upload one of your favourite self-designed logos to the Logo Design Love Facebook group

Or update your Twitter account with the following message:

Improve your portfolio with pro bono design: http://bit.ly/cfkg1m (by @DavidAirey)

Winners will be drawn and notified on Friday 26th February. I%u2019ll also update this page with the winning names. Two signed copies will go to designers who upload to the Facebook group, and three to those who spread the word on Twitter. Double your chances by entering both ways.

Update: 26 February 2010
The winners have been drawn and notified. They are Alex Rogers, Alison Rowan, Wilson Almeida, Jack Franklin, and Naomi Oldfield. Thanks very much to all who entered!

If random draws, Twitter, or Facebook aren%u2019t your thing, the book%u2019s available to purchase now on Amazon.com (or Amazon.co.uk for those in the United Kingdom).

There%u2019s also a free chapter here, and a few book reviews here.

How did you attract your first client in self-employment?

My first design client was actually my former employer %u2014 a cancer organisation in Edinburgh. I had been responsible for the company%u2019s print and web management, and when I resigned to spend some months travelling the world, I returned to find that a suitable replacement hadn%u2019t been found.

I asked the chief executive to hire me for three days per week as a design contractor. He agreed, enabling me to spend the remainder of the working week building my online presence and sourcing new clients.

Five years on, and there%u2019s very little I%u2019d change about the path I%u2019ve taken.

What about you? How did your first client come about?

You can subscribe to new posts via RSS or email, or follow me on Twitter.

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45 appreciated comments � This post is archived under Designers & clients, Identity design. Receive comment updates by subscribing to the RSS comments feed.

45 appreciated comments to %u201CImprove your portfolio with pro bono design%u201D

Omar Ayoub, on February 22nd, 2010 //

This is extremely important, especially for graduating students. I wish they taught us these things back in university so that we had the time to prepare ourselves.

Chris, on February 22nd, 2010 // Twitter: @augapfel

Helping out small local non-profits is a great way to build a portfolio and is great for your community and will be highly appreciated, so it%u2019s a win-win for everyone involved.

Corey Johnson, on February 22nd, 2010 // Twitter: @SuccessDesigner

Agreeing with Chris i do believe that building your portfolio can be easily accomplished through non-profit-organizations. You benefit through this 4 different ways:

1. You also give your share to that particular organization

2. It looks good on you to design for a non-profit-organization

3. Its much easier for you to find work through these organizations, so you can build up your portfolio much quicker

4. Those designs can travel and you can get mentioned for more commissioned work

Anna, on February 22nd, 2010 // Twitter: @annafunk

Thank you so much for sharing this, David!

I%u2019m working with two non-profit organizations pro-bono right now. My school requires students to pass two %u2018Senior Project%u2019 classes that reaches out to local non-profits, and has groups of students create websites for them.

I feel so lucky to be working with the ones I was given.

One is a ballet company that reaches out to all the young women who love ballet, but were told that they didn%u2019t have the %u2018right body type.%u2019

The other is %u2018The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity%u2019 (Yes, THAT Chuck Jones!) His daughter and grandson run the organization to promote the arts. I have full access to literally thousands of pieces of art by Chuck Jones.

Both of the websites are going to be absolutely beautiful for my portfolio.

I also hope that, even after I graduate, I%u2019m successful enough that I can do two pro-bono projects per year for small, locally-owned businesses that are involved in %u2018The 3/50%u2033 project.

David Airey, on February 22nd, 2010 //

Me too, Omar. I would%u2019ve gained a head-start had I known of this after my graduation.

Anna, good for you. I%u2019m glad to know your school is bringing non-profit work on to the syllabus, and that even after you finish studying, you intend to keep it up.

I hope your two projects turn out great.

Mark McCorkell, on February 22nd, 2010 // Twitter: @markmccorkell

When I was still doing my degree, the lecturers would have had us quit our part-time jobs, and stay in 24/7 working on their assignments if they had their way. So them making suggestions on how we could take on any extra work would have been completely out of the question.

The issue with University of Ulster in particular is the class sizes. The class sizes are huge, and each student gets very little individual time with the lecturers.

I was in my final year before I actually got some proper 1 to 1 time with the Senior Design Lecturer. A lot of students revel in the fact that they get easy timetables with little class hours%u2026 but the reality is that when that is the case students are getting screwed for what they are paying in fees!

But anyway, enough post-apocalyptic ranting on this fine Monday morning. ;-) In a nutshell%u2026 I concur, good sir.

Scott Hynd, on February 22nd, 2010 // Twitter: @hynddesign

Hi David,

Long time follower, first time thought giver!! I have been running my own graphic design business in Brisbane, Australia for approx 2years after working as a graphic designer for a printing company.

I agree with the previous comments that nothing is taught on how to get clients or promote yourself while studying. Its all well and good to have the technical knowledge, but you need to have the business knowledge too.

My best tip for anyone starting or studying, is to find some work experience. While I did my studies, I did work experience. Not only did this give me some on the job training, but it helped me land my first job!!

Love reading your posts, and admire your work.

PS: Updated my Twitter account with your message!!

Take care
Scott

David Airey, on February 22nd, 2010 //

Seems like a real shame, Mark (the crowded classes). I didn%u2019t attend there, but here%u2019s hoping things have improved at the University of Ulster.

Scott, I completely agree about the work experience part. I was lucky enough to spend a summer interning in the United States %u2014 an experience I%u2019ll never forget. Thanks for the tweet, and for your first-time comment.

Mark McCorkell, on February 22nd, 2010 // Twitter: @markmccorkell

It certainly was, David, and it is an issue with the course I did.

All students should definitely do some form of work placement.

I done a placement year for my 3rd year and I worked for Intel in Dublin. It was a bit of a bizarre experience working for a corporation trying to do marketing materials for them because you had such strict guidelines to comply with. But the experience I had there was an eye opener to the other side of industry, that being the large monolithic corporate world, which hopefully I won%u2019t have to endure again.

When I was actually back in my final year I wanted to learn a bit more about the print process so I managed to talk my way into getting a job in a local printers. I was in there a day or two a week helping out, and was getting paid, with some really good perks for coursework printing too, as you can imagine. Even If I wasn%u2019t getting paid though, I reckon I would have at least put in some time there to learn the stuff you don%u2019t get taught in class.

Most students aren%u2019t aware of opportunities that are out there for them, but if you look hard enough there are always some options to better yourself %u2013 you just need to have that spark and itch to want to work.

Jon Liebold, on February 22nd, 2010 // Twitter: @JonLiebold

Definitely with you on the pro bono thing. I am working an internship pro bono right now with a neighborhood association and it has given me a lot of stuff to do that I normally would not have been able to. For example I have had two ads published in a local paper (One was a rush job so I crammed new content into a pre-existing template, the other I did from scratch) and I have a third one to be done on Friday. I have also done a few other projects like a membership card and some feature boxes for the website.

LukeSF, on February 22nd, 2010 // Twitter: @LukeSF

Out of curiousity, what do you mean by %u201Cself-designed logos%u201D? Ain%u2019t all logos are self designed by the designers? Or I%u2019m just missing some peculiarities of English%u2026

David Airey, on February 22nd, 2010 //

When I was starting out, Mark, I signed up with a design-based recruitment agency. I was placed in the design department of Scottish Widows for a few days, and it didn%u2019t take long to tire of the incredibly specific design guidelines.

Jon, our internships are similar in a way %u2014 I didn%u2019t get paid either. Mine was full-time, and because of which, I needed a second %u2018job%u2019, working whatever hours I could get. Tough going at times, but hugely beneficial.

I%u2019m glad you%u2019re getting your work out there. Definitely a plus with pro bono.

Luke, if I asked everyone to upload one of their favourite logos, chances are I%u2019d see numerous submissions for FedEx, Apple, Shell, etc. Hence the inclusion of %u201Cself-designed%u201D logos.

Carolina, on February 22nd, 2010 // Twitter: @caritomaufinet

I totally agree, this is very important because you improve your portfolio and also you can help an organisation that is in need of a design makeover.

My twitter account is updated!

Andy Lam, on February 22nd, 2010 //

Hi David, I think pro bono is a terrific idea for beginning designers. It is hard to get paying clients when you have little to show and works from class is not enough.

The first works I did that was beyond the classroom was actually for my Fraternity. This was a great opportunity for me, because I got to design materials that were printed, and distributed throughout campus and online. Soon I was designing for other Fraternities/Sororities, and cultural student organizations.

Many of the events I designed (and participated in) for involved partnered non-profit organizations and I think having those recognizable names (Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc) looks good when presenting your portfolio.

Eventually I landed a job for the campus TV station and campus Newspaper. Then I was able to get a paid summer internship at a real estate agency and then finally, a full service advertising agency in Boston.

All those things built upon one another, and though I think doing pro bono work for non-profits is a great idea, David, I also think doing work for student organizations and being involved on campus is also a good way to add pieces to your portfolio.

LukeSF, on February 22nd, 2010 // Twitter: @LukeSF

Hmm%u2026 Taking into account what has been already said, what should a beginner persue %u2013 a pro bono work for a non profit, etc or a low to no payment work which also genenerates him/her a portfolio? what%u2019s your mind on that?

Catherine, on February 22nd, 2010 //

David, I have a question for you. It may sound like a silly question, but I%u2019m just curious. I%u2019ve been a graphic designer for almost 5 years now. I always wanted to do pro-bono work, but based on the article, is this only something beginner designers/design students do? I only ask because I%u2019ve been looking for other ways to expand my portfolio. Should I look into freelance work instead?

I also wish they mentioned this in design school. I think my portfolio out of school would have been stronger.

David Airey, on February 22nd, 2010 //

Nice addition, Andy (about getting involved on campus).

Luke, I advise against devaluing yourself with spec work or design contest websites.

Catherine, not a silly question at all. Pro bono work is something all designers can do, regardless of experience levels. Think of it as giving to charity, only you get a little something back, too.

Fatma, on February 22nd, 2010 // Twitter: @FatmaYasin

I totally enjoy pro bono work it lets me put into practice what I%u2019ve gained.
Although, I was under the impression most people did pro bono work.
By reading the comments then realized perhaps not, thanks for the sharing
the informative article David.

Jason O'Brien, on February 22nd, 2010 // Twitter: @zenworm

Nice article David, always good reading your blog.

The only thing I would add is that pro bono doesn%u2019t have to be 100% free. %u201CFor the public good%u201D doesn%u2019t mean you have to work for weeks or months without any compensation.

I would urge students/recent grads that if you feel your work is really good and that you can bring real value to the organization, try offering your services at a reduced rate and/or alternate terms (no deposit, etc.).

Of course if you don%u2019t feel confident yet in your skills, offering your services completely free can be a good choice. Low/no risk for the organization, and an opportunity for you to get some good experience under your belt.

Jon Liebold, on February 22nd, 2010 // Twitter: @JonLiebold

LukeSF:

As an employer, what would you want to see? A portfolio full of pro-bono work, or a portfolio full of contest losses? Sure you might have the occasional wins, but sheer probability will be mostly losses?

David:

Can it be one for a made-up company?

LukeSF, on February 22nd, 2010 // Twitter: @LukeSF

@Jon IMHO most of those who look at the beginners folios don%u2019t bother much where the designs come from.
They cast a look and decide whether that person possesses certain skills, meets their own %u201Cvision%u201D of who a designer for their project should be, and check whether there%u2019s some feedback from real people.

LaurenMarie - Creative Curio, on February 22nd, 2010 // Twitter: @creativecurio

I think it%u2019s awesome that Anna%u2019s school requires students to get some real world project experience and benefit a non-profit at the same time. What a great idea! And how helpful for making the jump to the professional world less painful.

Great article, David. I%u2019ve always liked this idea of yours and I echo it whenever I get questions from students about how best to build their early portfolio while gaining valuable experience in the process (creating your own fake projects isn%u2019t anywhere near the same!).

Jason above makes a great point, too. Having the non-profit pay even a nominal fee for one%u2019s work makes it have at least a small intrinsic value to them and hopefully brings the project higher up on the priority list. Having worked at a non-profit myself, I can attest to the truth that often times projects that make measurable money (like fundraisers, grant proposals, etc.) have priority over what they might view as %u201Cnice to have%u201D projects.

My first official client was my chiropractor. He had been talking to me about expanding his business and having a professionally designed brochure to hand out at health talks and fairs. He was impressed with my portfolio and asked me to work on it. It was a great project (not pro bono, though). Turned out very well!

LaurenMarie - Creative Curio, on February 22nd, 2010 // Twitter: @creativecurio

@LukeSF, I think you are partially right, but portfolio isn%u2019t everything and having real world experience is also very important. You will hear it time and again, a designer can be brilliant, but if s/he doesn%u2019t know how to work with people, s/he won%u2019t make it very far. Just being a cool person to work with will seriously go a long way!

LukeSF, on February 22nd, 2010 // Twitter: @LukeSF

@Lauren Absolutely agree. And in this case pro bono work gives way more positive effect on a designer.

LaurenMarie - Creative Curio, on February 22nd, 2010 // Twitter: @creativecurio

@LukeSF, agreed! :)

Artis Desels, on February 22nd, 2010 // Twitter: @artisdesels

Hi David! Thanks for the great, just in time article.

I was trying to think of how to approach the local non profit organization, which is providing support to families with children suffering from leukemia, to offer my services. And you just made it so much easier.

@LukeSF regarding your question about low or no payment services. I agree to David about spec work.There are other ways for beginner to fill his/her portfolio with masterpieces.

For example, as a beginner logo/web designer I could offer my knowledge and services for low or no cost in exchange for their knowledge or services to photographers, illustrators, copywriters, artists, [enter your option here] who have shabby or no website and/or logo. It%u2019s a win-win situation. I think it was called %u201Cbarter%u201D. At least I suppose it is way better than spending time on spec lottery.

Patricia, on February 22nd, 2010 //

Hi David, great post, I have been away for a while and was getting ready to catch up with all the the posts I missed, and I noticed the changed David Airey logo (I really loved the old one) is there a link to the post that explained the new logo? could I please get a link to it? thank you.

cheers.

PK

LukeSF, on February 22nd, 2010 // Twitter: @LukeSF

Barter sounds good, but one should be careful too, cuz sometimes stuff like %u201Cdo me a logo and I will mention you in blog, create press realease, etc, etc%u201D sometimes can be far from being a fair trade..

David Airey, on February 22nd, 2010 //

Great tip, Jason. Pro bono doesn%u2019t necessarily involve a lack of financial compensation, and it all depends on the initial chat.

Jon, you asked, %u201CCan it be one for a made-up company?%u201D but I%u2019m not sure what you mean. If you%u2019re referring to the Facebook group upload, then absolutely.

Lauren, I%u2019m sure I can%u2019t take credit for the idea, but I%u2019m glad it%u2019s one you agree with. And yep, great to know about Anna%u2019s design course.

Your chiropractor, eh? Good on you for bringing your skills into the conversation!

Artis, it%u2019s a pleasure to be of some help.

Welcome back, Patricia. There was quite a chat in the comments on the following post about my old/new logo and the chances made to the blog:

Experimenting with a new portfolio design

To sum it up, I felt I outgrew my previous design, and the legibility wasn%u2019t great amongst those who didn%u2019t know my name. It may well change once I finish helping a current client, but for now, I%u2019m much happier with the simpler logotype.

Kiren, on February 23rd, 2010 //

I think it%u2019s great practice to have real clients, even if you%u2019re not getting paid, experience is sometimes worth the lack of funds%u2026 Sometimes%u2026.

Dominic R�del, on February 23rd, 2010 // Twitter: @dominic_87

I think this is WAY better training then doing made up %u201Cbrandstack%u201D work. there is nothing harder then doing client work. That is where the good designers seperate from the normal designers.

Damian Herrington, on February 23rd, 2010 // Twitter: @iDamianH

Hi David, excellent article as usual. What do you do if your between a rock and hard place. Currently I am a freelance web designer and I have a few portfolio pieces but I am finding it difficult to get new work/clients. I also have a couple of websites on the go which are going through the stages and I am working with a web company doing development work too, neither can really help on the portfolio front right now. What can you suggest to somebody who isn%u2019t a %u201Cfresh%u201D graduate and somebody who is already a freelancer with a limited amount of portfolio work?
Thanks
Damian

Curt Doll, on February 23rd, 2010 // Twitter: @curtisgraphics

I have contributed to a couple non-profit organizations but your article has inspired me to contribute more. Thanks! Curt

Curt Doll, on February 23rd, 2010 // Twitter: @curtisgraphics

If you would please replace my twitter address in my previous thoughts.

Crystal, on February 24th, 2010 // Twitter: @freecreatives

I think pro bono work is always a great idea when its for a good cause, and especially when one is just starting out. I strongly suggest it to any new designer, and recommend it often to my own readers. Despite my own thoughts, it%u2019s still amazing how many people are against the idea of free work when just starting out (even for charities and etc!). I always get at least a bit of retaliation when I mention the idea in one of my posts. Glad there%u2019s a detailed post here, and plenty of others agreeing with me.

Richard, on February 24th, 2010 //

Good idea, David, and I also agree that there%u2019s no need to stop doing pro bono once you%u2019ve got a portfolio established. I still do pro bono work for good causes and have made it part of my business (only part, mind you, I still need to eat%u2026). One thing I would add is to bear in mind that offering your services for free is a great idea, but don%u2019t forget that you are getting something in return. I%u2019ve heard of some people offering pro bono work with the attitude that they are very much doing the client a huge favour, which is not the best way to go about things.

I don%u2019t use Twitter, but I might upload a logo as I%u2019d love to read your book. Alternatively I%u2019ll just go the old-fashioned route and buy a copy.

Catherine, on February 24th, 2010 //

I have a question. Like I said in an earlier post, I%u2019ve been a full-time graphic designer for a design agency for about 5 years. I am interested in pro-bono work. However, I%u2019m curious how that will work with someone who has a full-time job. I mean I won%u2019t be able to meet with them during the week, because I work full-time. Does anyone out there do pro-bono work and work full-time as well? How does that work? Do you think the client you are doing pro-bono work for will be flexible? What are your thoughts?

Richard, on February 25th, 2010 //

Catherine, I have done pro bono work while working full time and found the client(s) to be more flexible as they appreciate what you are doing. Having said that, if you promise to complete work by a set date you should deliver %u2013 i.e. treat them the same as you would a paying client. I think it also depends on where you are and where your client is. In my case, we were both in Tokyo so it was easy to meet up after office hours and discuss the project. As David said in his original post, though, I think it%u2019s important that you support what the charity or NPO stands for.

Catherine, on February 25th, 2010 //

Thanks, Richard! I appreciate your thoughts.

Sibu Dandato, on February 25th, 2010 //

I love this article because this is where it began for me. I have done numerous pro bono projects for small non-profits and individuals as a hobbie and this inspired me to go back to school and study graphic design. I am looking forward to expanding my repertoire and reach as a designer and I already have a small client base as well as the makings of a real portfolio after only one year of study.

David Airey, on February 26th, 2010 //

Thanks very much to everyone who entered the draw.

The winners have each been notified, and are Alex Rogers, Alison Rowan, Wilson Almeida, Jack Franklin, and Naomi Oldfield!

Anthony Oduro, on February 27th, 2010 // Twitter: @anthonyoduro

Hi Dave

You have been an inspiration to me and it gives me great pleasure to comment on your blog after so many years of followership. I think it is a wonderful act to give, especially if one is a designer. It helps one to not only not showcase their design flair but also contribute to community. I know it is hard, but giving ones talent for free should not be a heartache, but an opportunity in getting recognition as an individual and a designer. So I would recommend designers having a sort of %u201Cpro bono%u201D in them.

Keep up the good work Dave.

Tin, on February 27th, 2010 // Twitter: @tindesigner

Great article and insightful inspiration. Thanks for this article. I just finished your book, yet I%u2019ll still pick it up and read some chapters again.

ryanMoultrup, on March 1st, 2010 //

I have had this approach backfire on me. I suppose I should have gone to a larger business but I believe that because I was offering to do the work for free they didn%u2019t take me seriously. I couldn%u2019t get any content or approvals for my designs and in the end was a huge waste of my time because I got nothing for my portfolio.

I do however agree that this is a good approach to help build a portfolio and when I am not so jaded will offer my services for those in need.

Steve O, on March 1st, 2010 // Twitter: @stevedesigner

Oops, missed this one. Gah.

Pro bono can work even when you have a client base. I producing this logo http://bit.ly/beginspacelogo for a local organisation. They were delighted and it has led to more work and good connections. Win win!

Congrats on the book btw David B)

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