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Friday, September 3rd, 2010
These days, most people don’t get their basic business documents like newsletters and flyers designed by professionals. Most of the time small businesses use a word processor to publish documents in-house. Just because these documents are homemade, doesn’t mean they have to look that way. Here are some basic typography tips on getting your home published documents to look a little more professional.
1. Use no more than two fonts
This is a rule that I see broken all of the time in self-published newsletters, brochures, flyers, etc. Many people feel that using many different fonts in a document will give it some flare and liven it up a bit. Or, they may think that using an abundance of different fonts will help communicate the message of a certain section of the document better. I can understand this thinking. But, unfortunately, (more…)
Tags: tips, typography
Posted in Best Practices, Graphic Design, Tips · No Comments »
Trends
Tuesday, August 10th, 2010
There’s always been a debate on whether creative professionals should follow trends or blaze their own trail. Most people, I think, would say, “Be an individual, don’t copy, be original”. And while I agree mostly with that idea in theory, practically speaking and from a business standpoint, it doesn’t really work.
Tags: Opinion, Trends, Web Design
Posted in Opinion, Web Design · 2 Comments »
Content Drought
Tuesday, August 10th, 2010
Managing a great website is tough. Coming up with a never ending stream of useful and/or interesting content is no easy task. Even for someone like me who knows (theoretically) the importance of it. However, knowing that you should do something and actually doing it are two different things. I’m sure that is what it is like for most website owners.
I’ve recently been very busy with work, which is great! But, it keeps me from maintaining my blog and website as consistently as I know I should (and want to). I’ve had this itch to write a post, update my site, and send a newsletter out, but because I have put it off so long, every time I sit down to write—nothing.
So, all you website owners out there, I feel your pain. So here’s a tip: just do it. When you have an idea get it down. Just hammer it out. Work your creative muscles. They will grow stronger with time. I hope to practice what I preach, so be expecting some great articles, videos, and other useful content related to designing and managing your website! Game on.
Posted in Website Management · No Comments »
How to compete with crowdsourcing
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010
For the majority of freelance designers and design firms the rise of crowdsourcing is quite unsettling. The growing demand for cheap commoditized design is growing and severely undercutting the industry. This article on Sixrevisions got me thinking about this issue and how it relates to my business and other designers in my position. While I’m not going to write on the evils or merits of the crowdsourcing trend, I do want to share some thoughts that I had while thinking about my own business and what I need to do to compete.
1. Face Reality
Sometimes, truth hurts, but, it’s best to face it head on. The fact is, crowdsourcing is not going away anytime soon. From the business side of things I can see why it is gaining steam: low cost & choice. This is very appealing to small businesses with tight budgets, especially in lean times. For this reason, I think that this segment of the industry is going to be around for a long time. That’s the reality. Accepting this, I think, is the first step to readjusting to the new reality marketplace. Whining about it wont help anything.
2. Focus on Your Value Proposition
We all know that this is important in any kind of business. It’s what sets you apart from the rest of your competitors. It is what keeps your clients coming to you again, and again. Now, more than ever, it’s time to refine and refocus your value proposition. What makes your business unique? What value can you bring that the crowdsourcing sites cannot bring? Why is that worth the cost? These are questions that I am currently sorting out again in my own business. It can be a difficult task, but well worth it in the end.
3. Focus on Client Relationships
One of the huge negatives of croudsourcing is the lack of relationship between the designer and the client. As you probably already know, business is ALL about relationship. Why do I go pay double to get my haircut by my hairdresser rather than go to supercuts? Because I like my hairdresser, she’s nice. She gets me a cup of coffee (good coffee, not some instant crap) when I go to get my haircut. She asks me about what’s going on in my personal life and takes an interest. This is all pretty basic stuff. But it keeps me going back. Why would I go somewhere else? Even if she raised her rates, I wouldn’t even think of not going to her. Focusing on building quality relationships with clients that go beyond just the work that’s being done can add tremendous value to your services. Raise the bar. Care more. Remember the little things. This crowdsourcing cannot compete with.
4. Expand Your Skill Set
You’ve heard the term “Jack of all trades, master of none” before I’m sure. In this day and age, however, I think it’s to the designer’s advantage to know a bit of everything. Specialize in something, for sure, but don’t plateau. Expand your skill set to accommodate your client’s future needs. It may mean branching out into UX design, or learning a new scripting language. These things can make you more valuable to clients. If you’ve already formed a strong relationship with them they will be coming to you to solve their problem. It would be a shame to turn them away because what they need is not in your skill set.
5. Don’t Give Up
There will always be Walmart, and there will always be Neiman Marcus, and there will always be a market for both. I see this time as an opportunity to contrast my strengths with crowdsourcing’s weaknesses. I’m embracing the market reality, telling people about the real value of my services, taking excellent care of my clients, and adding more skills to my skill set. This is how I plan to compete.
How about you? Do you have plans on how you are going to compete? Or is crowdsourcing a non-issue to you? I’d love to hear what you think.
Tags: Business, Crowdsourcing, Design
Posted in Business, Graphic Design, Web Design · 4 Comments »
Killing the Artist
Friday, May 28th, 2010
One of the hardest things to learn, when venturing out on your own in the design world, is that you shouldn’t be too attached emotionally to your work. Clients come to you for a creative solution to their problem, and they trust that you are going to provide them that solution. Some clients give you all the freedom in the world and let you have your way with their website, brochure or whatever. These projects are always a pleasure to work on because it feeds the artist that is in most of us. For the most part, however, clients have their own idea of what the end result should look like, generally. Sometimes they have preconceived idea, or they simply do not like what you have done after they see your first iteration. There are times when it doesn’t matter how detailed a brief you get or how many interviews you do, sometimes you just miss the mark. They don’t like your design for some reason or another, valid, or invalid—dosen’t really matter. This is where you have to kill the artist in yourself and think like a business person.
What’s so bad about the artist?
An artist creates works of art that are expressions of his thoughts and feelings. He is attached to his work emotionally as it is essentially part of him. While most designers are artists at some level, and artistic sensibilities play a huge role in crafting effective design, the artist must not be (more…)
Tags: Client Relations, Creativity, Web Design
Posted in Business, Process, Web Design · No Comments »
