Remember this fun letterpress-style design from 2011? It's been re-purposed as the concept for an 40th birthday party invitation.  My sketch book has 3 pages of refinements of the latest design, but this page is the most coherent >> >> To flesh out this concept, I went back to the 70's in my mind.  This was the era of the three-martini lunch, black and white teevee,...

There has been a lot of chatter in the non-profit world about whether to print an annual report or present stakeholders with something simpler. A local woman’s health organization recently told me of their desire to dispense with the big beautiful photo book that features their global outreach work opposite their pristine medical labs. To date they haven’t made the switch. In my own organization,...

In my limited experience as a prospective employer, I saw firsthand the odds that face graphic designers in the job market. A few years ago, my company advertised a vacancy for a graphic designer, and I was tasked with reviewing resumes/portfolios and presenting the top 5 applications to my team for interviews. Within a week of posting the opening on www.idealist.org I had over 200 responses to...

Mastery over basic design principles means that you’re able to create the right design solution for your target audience. While this is a highly stylized resume, the designer presents a well balanced page that offers clear hierarchy and an uncomplicated grid. It may not be a stretch to say that this introduction to the designer might be highly effective across different industries. When working...

Make sure your resume gets noticed, and avoid cover letter mistakes: Attach a generic letter – NO! While a template cover letter can be a time-saver, you should customize each one to each employer. You want your letter to be noticed and  show how you fit the requirements. Also, accidentally inserting wrong titles or employer names is an excellent way to get your application deleted. Use...

Even if you're not a freelancer, don't discount the importance identity package. In a job market that  is crowded with competition, take every advantage to make an impression! An intriguing, arresting, interesting, or poignant design WILL get  your resume/portfolio/application a second look. Your identity pack sets you apart form others and speaks without words. It...

One of the most valuable lessons taught to undergrad design students at University of Baltimore comes in the form of a class called Print Design. This elective class takes students through every step of the design process; from conceptualization, revision, and completion. However, the main focus of the class is getting it printed. Instructor Bert Smith uses the resource text Getting It Printed to...