Enter your keyword

Communications Design Industry Discussion, Inspiration, & Tutorials

Dec 27, 2010

Photographers! Be Seen

By On 13:03 In
Well, not just photographers--visual artists too. I stumbled upon a great wall paper sharing site called Open Wall (www.owall.net). I was looking for creative commons and clicked on the unfamiliar link and got floored. People are sharing their work, rating others, and downloading like crazy. Well, obviously, this image wasn't posted by the photographer, but it likely began life as one of the gorgeous,...
Read more
Posted by No comments:
Labels: , ,

Dec 21, 2010

Posted by 2 comments:
Labels:

Where’s Your Lightbox??

By On 09:41 In
JQuery is functional and fun to look at but—by god—it’s a ton of coding. A metric ton if you’re a graphic designer not well versed in the development side of JavaScript. Thankfully, others saw the demand and have come to your rescue. Here is a Creative Commons solution to get your lightbox portfolio up and running: prettyPhoto Lightbox Clone To see this professionally executed JQuery clone in action, ...
Read more
Posted by No comments:
Labels: , , ,

Dec 20, 2010

Tax Time Write-Off

By On 12:52 In
At the start of tax season, freelancers and consultants need to sort through receipts to get the itemized list together.  Here’s my short list of work-related expenses: Marc Train Tickets / DC Metro Tickets / Road tires for my bike(tis a stretch) New Laptop CS5 Lacie 1TB portable drive Lacie 500GB portable Drive HP scanner USB Hub 5 Sketchbooks CA magazine subscription (must purchase this week) Rainbow...
Read more
Posted by 1 comment:
Labels:

Dec 11, 2010

I've got a new look...

By On 13:25 In
...my  site has one, anyway.  This new design is courtesy of TemplatesDock.  The design is called BestFolio released under a Creative Commons license. I know what you're thinking, "A Web designer using another designer's template!!! Unheard of." I disagree. I often view great Web templates created by talented developers. These sites are functional, creative,  and technically...
Read more
Posted by No comments:
Labels: , , ,

Dec 6, 2010

Job Search Advice for New Graduates

By On 07:28 In
I went to the design studio on Friday to print some comps and ran into a student I knew from grad school.  *Randy, who will graduate soon,  had one question for me while I adjusted the print setup. He queried, "You just graduated, right? Is it really tough out there?" I know that's 2 questions, but the important one is obviously the second. Randy was referring to the job market. My answer:...
Read more
Posted by 2 comments:
Labels: , ,

Dec 5, 2010

Worst Interview Ever III

By On 07:28 In
Here’s another 2nd person account of a terrible interview. Names have been changed to protect the innocent. A year ago, “Janet Blackstock” was in the market for a new job. She found one at a national philanthropic organization located in a downtown high-rise, and sent them her resume.  The posting was for a low-level administrative position that she could do from 9 to 5 while attending university...
Read more
Posted by No comments:
Labels: ,

Nov 25, 2010

How's Your Portfolio Looking These Days?

By On 10:31 In
Remember near the end of school, you bought that sexy black portfolio case that was so expensive you were forced to subsist on ramen noodles for months afterwards? Along with the box, you picked up the 3-foot sheets of Letramax and meticulously cut them down to uniform rectangles and adorned these with the best of your student work. What ever happened to that sexy box? While you've been creating...
Read more
Posted by No comments:
Labels: ,

Worst Interview Ever: Part Deux

By On 09:52 In
I met Tracy last night at a pre-turkey day show at the metro gallery. I heard her interview story while outside smoking and knew I had to blog it. Tracy, the lawyer, showed up for her initial interview with the department of Health and Human Services. She was professionally coifed, dressed appropriately and more than prepared for the probing questions that the interviewer would ask. She arrived...
Read more
Posted by No comments:
Labels: , ,

Nov 21, 2010

Logos getting friendlier??

By On 11:18 In
Sure they are.  Logo redesign is the wave of the present.  These corporate  giants moved from authoritative type in bold uppercase characters to lighter weights,  lowercase, sans serifs. The jury seems to be out on the GAP logo redesign.  It has a few striking differences that hit me immediately. Readability: dark on light is 15% easier to read than light text on a dark...
Read more
Posted by 3 comments:
Labels:

Nov 17, 2010

4 Weeks Mac-Less

By On 06:07 In
I'v almost got the hang of it. The highlights of my Sony Vaio is the full keyboard, sick speed, and the new upgrades to MS Windows, I guess I have W 2010; it offers a more intuitive UI than previous versions. The drawbacks are--well, they're more my problems than actual hardware/software issues--it takes way too long to shut down ans start up, I'm trying to be okay with the widget add-ons and I just...
Read more
Posted by No comments:
Labels:

What’re you Waiting for?

By On 05:58 In
Right now every professional designer I know is busy as hell. And no wonder, companies have tightened belts and expect small creative departments to do more with less. Unfortunately, the trend is increasing. As a graphic designer, you have a few options that can be employed: Hold your breath until you turn blue. Threaten to quit until you get some help. Look for a new job with a company with greater...
Read more
Posted by No comments:
Labels:

Nov 2, 2010

Dangit - I'm Getting an Intern

By On 12:31 In
I'm busy as hell at work I'm about to get busier. I have a lot to teach novice designers. I had an awesome internship and learned a lot at Port Discovery. I keep telling other people about the benefits of mentoring an intern. I'm ready to 'give back'. I want a partner in my once weekly commute I'm busy as hell at wor...
Read more
Posted by No comments:
Labels: ,

Oct 27, 2010

Three Keys to Landing that Internship

By On 16:23 In
1. Network Get to know your professors. Whether it’s a visit during office hours to discuss coursework or an impromptu cup of coffee before class, take the time to know the man or woman who’s teaching you. This is the person who may write you a stellar recommendation next semester.   In my undergrad program, we had several professors who had real world projects that kept them busy when not...
Read more
Posted by 2 comments:
Labels: ,

Three Weeks Mac-less

By On 08:20 In
The default browser is Google Chrome. I know that I should’ve tried this out a year ago, but I just wasn’t thinking. Chrome auto-populates as you type, and when you hit enter, you’re there baby (just like Safari, actually)! It took me a while to figure out how to get my bookmarks in there, but I’m on a roll now. The first problem I've encountered is this; I've been spoiled by the Fetch FTP Client!...
Read more
Posted by No comments:
Labels:

Oct 25, 2010

A Virtual Color Index, Only Better

By On 05:50 In
If you’re like me, you’ve got an ever-growing list of resources that help you as a designer.  My  list gets longer by the week. One item that's been in my top 10 for years is COLOUR Lovers.com. This online community is a place to share colors, color palettes and patters, and discuss color trends and get inspiration. If you haven’t bookmarked this one yet,...
Read more
Posted by No comments:
Labels:

Oct 18, 2010

Two Weeks Mac-less

By On 09:57 In
The new laptop is a Sony Vaio with CS5 and the newest version of MS Office. I’ve been on a quest for an Apple-free existence since the springtime customer service cock-up when I tried to:   Buy a new Mac desktop   Replace the new desktop that arrived at my house cracked  Cancel the replacement  Get my money back (after over a month with no computer)  The customer service...
Read more
Posted by No comments:
Labels:

Oct 15, 2010

Packaging Redesign at Giant Foods

By On 18:02 In
This is my new favorite breakfast cereal. It's a knock off of a more expensive brand, and it's healthy as hell!! I started eating fiber select 3 weeks ago after picking up two boxes of the stuff on my bi-weekly grocery run.   Here's the box:  When I went back to my local Giant  for my 2nd pair of boxes, I was surprised to find the package fundamentally different. It took a little...
Read more
Posted by No comments:
Labels: ,

Worst Interview Ever!

By On 17:29 In
Bad job interviews happen. Sometimes it's the interviewee's fault, sometimes there just isn't a good fit, and sometimes the forces of nature conspire against a positive outcome. Whatever the reason, bad interviews happen. Look, here comes one now. This past summer--also known as the hottest summer on record--my buddy Lisa* went on her first job  interview in over three years. The night...
Read more
Posted by 3 comments:
Labels: , ,

Sep 14, 2010

Everybody Needs a Good Purge

By On 08:37 In
I decided to have a clothing swap at a local art/music venue. Thanks to Travis and our  long-shuttered clothing shop, Funk in the Trunk, there's more 70's fashion in my apartment than any other decade. The swap will help whittle down the luggage,  plus all the leavings will go to Goodwill of Baltimore to further their mission of providing social services to women and children in our community. After...
Read more
Posted by No comments:
Labels: ,

Aug 26, 2010

Business Lunch

By On 09:15 In
My home office is a mess, with stacks of design books and paintings in piles on my worktop. So when I meet potential clients I do it like we’re back in the 60’s or 70’s. I’m talking about three-martini lunches as they were called (mine are usually sans martini, however).  I usually suggest a restaurant in midtown or Charles Village. The choices that these two neighborhoods offer are varied, eclectic...
Read more
Posted by No comments:
Labels:

One Thing All Creative Folks Need

By On 08:31 In
I just had dinner with a friend, a well-rounded communications professional—who shall remain nameless.  We recently talked over our plans for the future over salads, salmon and Cotes du Rhone at Donnas of Charles Village. My buddy is a writer - designer - communications kinda-gal with diverse and extensive experience in marketing and communications.  In order to get an idea of the type...
Read more
Posted by No comments:
Labels: ,

Aug 22, 2010

An Online Portfolio

By On 16:07 In
It's time to update yours! Having an online portfolio does a lot to boost your street cred among potential clients and employers. It’s also: More Convenient than a Resume and it saves time in your job search. This tool gives potential employers and clients a preview of your skills and abilities. In addition to the pieces that you present, folks are impressed by the design of the...
Read more
Posted by No comments:
Labels:

Aug 18, 2010

Designer Job Search: Supplemental

By On 12:07 In
Here are a couple other job search resources that I know of.  I've gotten feedback from former jobseekers that these are valuable resources: Mid-Atlantic Employment Search: Maryland - Maryland Workforce Exchange Washington, DC - DCNetworks.org Virginia - VAEmploy.com Pennsylvania - Commonwealth Workforce Development Happy Hunti...
Read more
Posted by No comments:
Labels:

Aug 2, 2010

Entrepreneurial Spirit: Shodekeh

By On 06:20 In
Friday, July 23rd was a particularly hot night; not just because of the 100+ degree temperatures. The Baltimore Symphony Opera brought the heat when conductor, Maryn Alsop, featured a local musician alongside her world-class orchestra. The Musician: Shodekeh Dominic Talifero The Instrument: His voice I first met the beat boxer about ten years ago when he performed on one of the West-facing...
Read more
Posted by No comments:
Labels:

Jul 26, 2010

Worst Typeface - That’s easy. The second worst - that’s tough…

By On 15:03 In
Comic sans is number one!  That’s the truth according to every graphic designer I know.  I’m on that bandwagon, too. While we’re all in agreement, we can’t come to consensus on number two. Recently a young designer that I respect and admire totally blasted Bleeding Cowboys on a popular social media site. She said it’s the “absolute worst.” Bleeding Cowboys is a distinctive typeface with...
Read more
Posted by No comments:
Labels: ,

Jul 22, 2010

Internet Job Searches - The Keyword is the Key

By On 06:56 In
The prospect of looking for work is a scary one, but it’s a fact of life for many of us; either you’re dealing with a lay off, or you’re looking to cash in your education, or you simply long for a better work life. The pickings are slim out there and with companies tightening their belts, creative departments are taking a huge hit.  Small to medium-sized firms now choose to make due with the...
Read more
Posted by No comments:
Labels:

Jul 19, 2010

Rant: Apple, iPhone, iMac, MacBook

By On 13:16 In
Apple has gotten its last dollar from me.  I’ve always been true to Apple. The desktop that I purchased last month was to be my fourth Apple computer and the first desktop I’ve EVER bought.  Unfortunately, the machine turned up with a crack in the screen.  After getting jerked around by the nads for weeks by the geniuses in their call center, I’ve had enough. You see, in my attempt...
Read more
Posted by 3 comments:
Labels:
Page 1 of 571234567...57Next �Last

Popular