View engaging conference lectures, interesting how to discussions, and high quality freelance advice via video here on FreelanceSwitch.

This week we look at Ways of Seeing by Rob Forbes. This weekend we’re sharing an interesting talk by, Rob Forbes, who shares a gallery of snapshots that inform his way of seeing the world. Charming juxtapositions, found art, urban patterns. Continue Reading

View engaging conference lectures, interesting how to discussions, and high quality freelance advice via video here on FreelanceSwitch.

This week we look at Philippe Starck Thinks Deep on Design by Philippe Starck. In this video Philippe Starck, With no pretty slides to show — Stark spends 18 minutes reaching for the very roots of the question “Why design?” Listen carefully for one perfect mantra for all of us, genius or not. Continue Reading

Desktop publishing has become a critical business skill today, and the use of the Internet means that creation of print content is no longer the only consideration.

Now the documents you create likely have to be displayed in both print and on the web.

This article looks at how to determine the right tools for the job, as well as resources for getting the best possible desktop publishing results (such as where to find the best free desktop publishing fonts).

No matter what the final format, never forget that quality content is the primary goal, and following a proven desktop publishing process will result in higher quality results.

It’s easy to get distracted with the technical side of desktop publishing layouts. The real key is to communicate your information effectively. No matter how well-designed, how great the layout, and how clever the typography selection — if you don’t get the important information to the right people, nothing else matters.

Jump into this article and learn desktop publishing tips that will give your work the professional edge.

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View engaging conference lectures, interesting how to discussions, and high quality freelance advice via video here on FreelanceSwitch.

This week we look at Our Brains are Mis-wired by Al Seckel. In this talk, Al Seckel, a cognitive neuroscientist, explores the perceptual illusions that fool our brains. Loads of eye tricks help him prove that not only are we easily fooled, we kind of like it. Continue Reading

View engaging conference lectures, interesting how to discussions, and high quality freelance advice via video here on FreelanceSwitch.

This week we look at A Smarter Twitter Page in Under 15 Minutes by Adi Purdila. In this video learn to design a smart, vintage modern background to welcome visitors to your Twitter page. Discover layout considerations, then dive into Photoshop. Continue Reading

Credit: Dimitry B on Flickr

Pursuing a design career sometimes means uprooting a life and moving it somewhere new. Opportunities are more obvious in larger cities, where meeting new people, taking risks, and getting involved in a design community are more the norm than in small towns. And sometimes a small town offers the respite necessary to push through creative blockage.

As someone who has made the transition three times, crossing two international borders, I can confidently say it isn’t as easy as it looks. Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way.

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Credit: elenathewise on Photodune

More than once, I’ve made the mistake of diving head first into a project, full of enthusiasm and brimming with ideas. After a quick consult with what seems to be an agreeable and understanding client, I’m already half a dozen logo concepts down in Illustrator and adjusting kerning and leading in InDesign to suit the brilliant brochure design that has materialized at the front of my mind. All seems well in my creative world.

I’ve found out the hard way, that sometimes the creative process does not always go to plan. Unplanned adjustments, small client misunderstandings, added extras slid in here and there, long response times and unworkable files and information create a huge, foreboding cloud in what was just a week ago a sunny sky.

I’ve created a three-step checklist to prepare myself for projects, which I hope will be of use to my fellow creative who make a habit of diving into the deep end.

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Credit: freeparking on Flickr

Many designers stumble into the web industry from a fine arts background. Working commercially is a natural progression for artists – not only does it make for a reliable income, but you have the pleasure of making something useful for a wide audience. Furthermore, both art and design draw on many of the same concepts and we artist/designers are often able to incorporate our art skills into designs and illustrations.

Sometimes, however, the inspiration behind creating original artwork is missing from the design process, especially when cranking out content-managed websites or banner campaigns. A return to artistic roots often becomes an unavoidable want, and for me, such an instinct meant deciding to paint thirty portraits in three weeks during a trip back home. What surprised me was how much I discovered portrait painting could actually make me a better graphic designer.

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You can’t deny that typography is important in design. You could have the most beautiful illustrations in the world, but if you use a font like Jokerman, your entire design will look iffy.

Now if you really want to blow your client away with an awesome design, you have to find a font that works. I mean sure, you could always just play it safe and use a font like Arial or Helvetica, but where’s the creativity in that? There are literally thousands upon thousands of fonts and typefaces out there just waiting for you to download. You just have to find them!

Use these tools and resources below to help you find the perfect font for your next project. Get ready to enter the world of beautiful typography! Continue Reading

I’m a graphic designer and a photographer. Permit me to share an ethical dilemma that happened earlier this month. I’ve been working on enhancing my portfolio site, and I needed a photo for the top header. And lookie-lookie! I found one! A desert scene I shot while visiting Phoenix, Arizona. Nothing says I’m an Arizona designer and photographer like that, right?

Well, not so fast. In order for this photo to work with my logo, I had to Photoshop several saguaro cactii out of it. This being Arizona, where many of my clients come from, someone is bound to say, “Hey, Martha, that scene is from the Desert Botanical Garden. I know that spot. Where did the saguaros go?”

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Business cards are so important when it comes to networking. They provide prospects with our contact info and, more importantly, a lasting impression. My rule of thumb good business card design is if people are no longer “oohing” and “ahhing” over my cards, it’s time to make a change.

The following is a sampling of business card designs from Creattica.com. If you’re thinking of redesigning your cards, looking for a little inspiration or just need a little eye-candy over your coffee break, take a peek at the eye-catching pieces below.

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Your college professor may have placed a lot of importance on type and hierarchy. Your client may be telling you to make specific words “larger” so they’ll stand out more. No matter who it’s coming from, it’s clear that graphic design is a lot more than just colors and layout; it relies heavily on typography as well.

It’s no lie that type treatments can make or break a design — have you ever seen a logo where the font does not at all match the actual service or product it stands for? Or maybe the text in a magazine is a mess and difficult to read. I’ve broken down two examples that I feel reflect the importance of quality typography in a design.

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