Be Nice

Santa is not the only one looking to mark you naughty or nice, and in business it never hurts to be nice. It can be easy to put on the nice face for clients, customers, and bosses; since they are recognized income. It can be harder to be nice with coworkers, employees, secretaries, and sales representatives (especially when you have had a bad day).

Some say you need to be a shark to get ahead, but I find that being kind has better results. The advertising world in a mid-sized city is a small market, and eventually you will need something that another agency, former employee, or ect. If you played nice people often happily will find a way to fulfill your request, rather than avoid your calls or flatly refuse to help you at all.

Coworkers and employees need you to be nice because you spend at least 8 to 9 hours, 5 days a week with these people (that is more time than I spend with my spouse). The more positive work place that you create for yourself means happier employees and working environment. When you are happy with your work environment it increases your happiness and stress level in your home life as well. Coworker bonding is essential for keeping the workplace happy, productive, and enduring. a bad work environment typically leads to high turnover and hurt feelings (with someone you will most likely work with sometime down the road).

So say a kind word, ask about their life, and give praise when someone has done a good job!

Moving Forward

As a young designer I hear a lot about how much design and the tools we have used have changed in the last 20 to 30 years. It's true computers were not capable of the tools that we utilize today, and they were not as available to everyone. My more experienced colleagues have had to adapt to quickly changes times and develop new skills, styles, and techniques. It makes me wonder what I will be seeing in my future as a designer. It seems like technology is exponentially accelerating that vastly different fields that I could, and probably should, immerse myself in.

User Interface (UI) is a discipline that is just exploding, and for good reason. It takes into account how users will utilize electronic devices, website, apps, and other software. There are some companies that cater just to the discipline, and is becoming necessary for agencies to have a specialist on staff. UI gives customers the simplest and the easiest interaction possible. This requires adaptive websites and software from all devices and browsers (if you are using one), as well as interpreting what the customers needs maybe and tailoring to the individual. This takes research and coding capabilities to a new level.

3D Printers. Who knows what applications we will use 3D printers for in the future of graphic design. They are becoming more affordable so they are becoming utilized in fields such as: bio-composites, mechanical engineering, architecture, industrial design, and I am sure much much more. It will force designers to move from mostly 2-dimensional outlook to a 3D. I am sure it will have some interesting results.

Digital Applications. Print is not going anywhere anytime soon, but we have been moving to a more digital world. Digital books and publications have soared. Websites are standard necessity for any business. More people are carrying smartphones or tablets that have access to internet and apps that need to adapt for useability. More of my own clients are sending emails rather than direct mail these days. Designing for a digital medium will carry its own requirements and will be adapting as new technologies become available.

I don't know what the future will hold, but I guess that is part of the fun.

Humor in Pain

Sharp Suits have stumbled onto an extraordinary idea to all the complaints and criticism designers tend to hear about their work. I wanted to share some of my favorites from this collection, and these were all contributed by Mark and Paddy. Sadly I have heard some of these phrases, some of these just have been designed with a style I find interesting, others are just funny. Sometimes that best part of having a difficult client is being able to find humor in the situation.

Following My Own Beat

I am not much of a music geek. I usually find what I like and continue to listen to it until I am sick of it. Even with my limited music appreciation it is essential for me to have during work. My typical at work jams require: mellow, can be background at times, but still has a zip to it, to keep me motivated. I tend to listen to Pandora to give me the work mix I desire.

Currently listening to:
Tegan and Sara
Florence + the Machine
MGMT
Lana Del Rey
The Killers
Mumford & Sons

 
(I don't get the weird dancing in this video, but I am really liking this song right now)
What is your favorite work song?

What Do You Do?

Maybe it the job "graphic designer" or maybe it is the creative field in general or maybe everyone has a difficult time describing what they do for a living. I have talked with some of my fellow graduates and we discussed what is the best way to describe to our grandparents what we do.

"I make art on the computer"

It's not quite accurate, but they art and computer are easy enough concepts to understand. Graphic Design can be so inter-disciplinary that it is difficult to describe with the field that it is no wonder "outsiders" struggle to grasp the concept. (My grandparents probably think I play in Microsoft Paint all day).

What I do on a day-to-day basis:

• Receptionist: Answer and Direct calls
• Media Buyer: Monitor and Purchase Facebook Ads
• Graphic Designer: From sketch book to digital files to final prints
• Direct Mail—yep, someone has to make that junk mail and keep the USPS in business
• Newspaper and Magazine ads 
• Email Designs 
• Business Collateral: business cards, brochures, posters, and ect...
• Magazine Layouts: Small publications for local non-profits
• T-shirts
• ...and the occasional logo
• Web Designer:
• Flash Ads
• Website Development
• Website Coding
• Email Coding and Sending
• Facebook Page Management
• Website and Email hosting

My job has really shifted over the last six months and I have become more responsible for the web development and facebook management. I have had to work faster, and expand my skill-set. New projects and opportunities are definitely a blessing, but they have left me worn out and burnt out (which is why I have a vacation soon—I am counting the days). There are skills that are sitting on the back burner but would love to get out again: branding, photography, illustration, aftereffects, and drawing. (and work with more open-minded clients)

So what do you do for a living and what would you LIKE to do?

Jacked In or Not?

Recently I took a vacation from work, and there is was the concern of what would happen if an emergency occurred while I was away. My boss calmed herself when she realized that I had a smart phone and could check emails on my phone, but I revved up the anxiety when I explain I do not stay linked in away from the office. Yes, technology has made my life incredibly easy to stay connected, but I know that I don't want it to rule my life. I have never added my work email to my phone. I do not want to hear alerts or deal with the stress of taking work home with me. I already work 8 to 5; I don't need to tack on 5 more hours (that's my time).

Everyone was easily shocked by relaxed notion of being connected 24/7. I pretty much ignore my phone at night unless I am expecting a call. that is the best part of technology I can use it when it is convenient to me, and put it away when I would rather focus on the life going on around me.

Avoiding Combustion

Recently I read an article by my former professor (a very talented designer) at KU. Burn-out is a danger for all creatives whether you work for corporation, small business, and freelance (it is probably a little scarier freelance creatives, but not necessarily). Our livelihoods depend on us being creative on command, which is not always possible. His use of honesty with clients and himself is essential to knowing how much work that you can take on at once is essential, but more striking is taking in account that we all need time away from work in order to be creative for work.

I need to work on both of these crucial points. I do not do freelance, but I have trouble telling my boss that I am just too busy to get my work done beautifully. This has made me produce some lack-luster work as of late. I try to counteract that by telling myself I need to work on personal projects at home, but that only results in burn-out. What I really need is time out to enjoy my life around me, because that is what I work so hard for everyday. My wonderful husband, my hyper labs, and my sweet niece are what help me regain focus on what I really want in my life. So cheers to a weekend to focus on my loved ones and giving myself a break!

Email, Facebook, Blogs, and Twitter...Oh My!

As I mentioned before with a new shift in my company, which means taking on more responsibility. I have recently obtained a twitter account, so that I know more about this medium that I am supposed to help my clients navigate. Webinars, blogs, and seminars can only help me go so far. I have to delve into these murky waters myself to help my clients to the fullest potential.

With so many social medias that we log into everyday it is difficult to manage them all in a personal matter. It is a more difficult animal to deal with for companies. More important than maintaining so many medias and connecting with customers it is essential to first have a brand. A brand is a living thing, and that is why your brand needs to reach out to your current client base through email, facebook, twitter, and ect. This is why branding is essential because all of these medias are elective, meaning that your customers allow you to access them in this way. Even with this access, your information is seen by less than 20% of your elective customers. Social media allows you to approach your customer in his or her favorite medium, and allows them to interact back with you/brand.

This is why social media consultants is becoming a full time job at many companies. I am not an expert by any means, but I working hard to help my clients have a new type of conversation with their customers.

Process

Working a big project at work that means I am not only spending 8 to 5 in the office, but I working hard when I get home as well. I have also been struggling with a serious bout of creative block. Working in the fast pace advertising business has forced me to put aside my school development process that we went through with EVERY SINGLE project. the other night as I as struggling to come up with a design worthwhile I vented to my husband, and in return asked to see my process book. 

"I haven't made a  process book since college."

"Well  maybe that's your problem"

Reaching back into my school mind frame helped me move along in my design process, so I thought I would share my design stages:

1.   Research: It is the most important project (If you can get the time, because it is also the most time consuming part of any projects).
2. Create a Design brief: Based on your research create a brief on what the project is and what the deliverables should be, as well as information about the company/person, their audience/clients, and their brand image or if they even have one. Having this design brief helps you during the design process to go back and make sure you are staying on track for the type of consumer/client you are designing for and if you are meeting their needs. But if you skew the Creative brief the wrong direction it can send the whole design off on a different tangent.
3. Process: Sketch whether on a computer or with your hands start making marks, and a lot of them. It can take a lot of initial bad ideas to create something that truly meets everyone needs.
4. Refine: Take your best ideas and refine them, and keep looking back to your creative brief. and do not neglect the type (it often comes as an afterthought, but the type is just as important as the imagery).

Process book with a  Instagram-like effects

The process book captures all of this data and during school would be compiled in a neat binder with page protectors...now it is the few scraps of paper that I made some doodles on.

Staying Motivated

Staying Motivated, this a great article about staying motivated. I find myself motivated and creative at work, and since I have moved to my new home all I do when I get home is vegetate. Reading this article helped me understand why. 

"Build a creative den. Whether it’s your desk area, a dark cave, a hotel room, or a home office, you need a place specifically set aside to be creative in. Once you’ve decided on that place, use it like the dickens. Each creative success you have in that location will train your mind to be creative within its boundaries. When I set foot inside my office, something clicks on in my brain, and I’m ready to work. Sure, it took about six months to turn into a den—but trust me, it’s time and effort well spent."

While I have more space, in fact I have one room that is my office, but I have been unable to make it a creative den. Through habit, my brain goes into auto mode and cruises on Netflix and Youtube; because that is all I have ever been able to accomplish in that room. My creative ideas make it onto scraps of paper on my desk at work, but flutter away by the time I reach my desk at home. It will take work and effort to retrain my brain to be creative at home as well..and maybe less of a dumping ground.

Busy is Good

Busy can be a good thing, especially that it translate to work and work means money, but without taking time to nuture our networks it could mean future money lost. Even when we are expecitionally busy at owrk or at home it is important to keep online portfolios and professional sites up-to-date. Potential employers or clients can see wheather you can keep pace.

Networking person-to-person is still essential in promoting and gathering new business, but most professionals use online tools to help network in less awkward situations: blogs, LinkedIn,personal website, and other sites particular to your job field [for designers this means behance, dribble, cargocollective, krop, and others.] These sites also enable users to list jobs or actively search out jobs for hire.

Keeping updated at least keeps you showing up in recent activity feeds. Your image or logo will pop-up with these notification which helps keep you in-mind. Yes it can take time out of a busy schedule to update, but it should help you keep a constant traffic so that you do not have huge lulls in work because you neglected your online network.

The Best Days are Ahead of Me

It is easy for me to look at past projects, and sometimes current projects and wish I had done better and known more. Overcoming this negative attitude takes effort, but I find that knowing that I recognize this failure and need for improvement enables me to know that my best days in work and personal life are ahead of me. And that is encouraging.

So those school projects that I look back and cringe, let me know how far I have come and where I can go is really up to me.

Can't Seem to Make Up Their Mind

It is not uncommon to quote a project , meet with the clients to understand their needs, and then continue a develop a design based on the needs they thought they. Clients often change their minds. when you have a client that is changing their mind too often it is time to have the talk.

It is time to meet face-to-face again and discuss what their needs are now, and why they have changed from the first discussion. Was it because you just weren't listening to their needs or do they just not know what they want. At this point it is a good idea to listen, and then help take your client down the right path. Clients who are unsure of what they want may need more hand holding and education to be pointed down the best design path. If you help guide them and give clear examples and reasons for each part of the design the client will feel more comfortable with you and with your designs.

By no means should you belittle or demean the client for being unsure. Helping to either explain design terms or taking them on a step-by-step explanation for why your design looks or functions the way that it does. Design has purpose, so there should be a reasoning behind everything you brought to the design. Some clients need you to share this incite to help convince them that this is the right choice. 

Plus it gives you an opportunity to show off all the work you put into meeting their needs.

The Student Method

Picture #24

When I was looking for a job (almost 2 years ago) I heard over and over again that they wanted more experience and that projects in the "real world" did not have the lengthy deadlines that school has. The work place is fast pace and quick turn-around. The work environment could benefit from a little bit of The Student Method. Yes, clients are still going to what that brochure done yesterday, but the additional effort to understand your client and your client's consumers will greatly benefit your work output. Slowing down your research and development process can lead to quicker implementation and a better presentation to the client.

When we began projects in school we began with RESEARCH, no physical design at all. Based on that research we would develop a creative brief that would use synonyms, audience description, creative stories that help describe the brand as it is currently and what it hopes to be. Talking with your client and their customers can help you know what each side is looking for.

Only after this research had been completed were we allowed to move into design and layouts. We were limited to just hand rendering in the initial step to allow for quick layout changes and ideas to flow from our hands. Then once our sketches were approved we could move to the next stage of computer mockups. From mockups these digital pieces began to evolve into completed projects (that were often printed and hand cut and bound). Printing is its own nasty experience, and can still be today. With advancement in technology the ability to have your printout look just like your monitor (and vice versa) is next to impossible.

 Research never stopped and was always continually progressively in each part of the project. With the fast paced environment is difficult to take the time and find out the needs and wants of client as well as their consumer. Design ideas  take time to develop and mature, so for our best work taking time to slow down and do it right will give us the best results.

Good

Fast

Cheap

(You can only have 2)

Halloween Festivity

My coworkers called me crazy for creating this bat garland with--black paper, no. 11 exacto blade, and some thread; but it imbued the office with holiday spirit. The spirit filled my boss, and she began remmuaging around to find her halloween bowl, and went out at lunch to fill it with candy. Which is currently causing a problem with its proximity with my desk.

I was inspired to make this bat garland because of Paper Source. I do not have one locally, so I have to make my own fun. Knowing that I have my "bat cave" to look forward to in the morning makes it that much better when I show up to work.

 

Have you been inspired to create anything this week?

Learning to Write

There are many skills I would like to become more proficient in; one of these is copy-writing. A wonderful aspect of my job is the variety it enables me to practice. Most of the time I am pushing pixels and organizing my designs. Sometimes I get to venture into photography, printing, data entry, marketing, and copy-writing. I have not developed anything profound, such as Nike's "Just Do it" campaign, but I have added lines that have enhanced a project. Copy-writing is very much intertwined in the design process, which is why I want to gain a greater skill-set in this area. In large agencies copy-writing is its own full-time profession. In a smaller office its just a bunch of creative people talking together to come up with the best idea.

One way that I am building on my copy-writing skill is by using this blog on a frequent basis. Here I am able to collect my thoughts and let my ideas come across in a clear and concise way (hopefully). This may help practice writing, but this does not help me to create liners or tags to pull in a reader/consumer and make them want to participate/buy the client's product or event. How can I become better and delivery concise statements that are attractive to a vast audience? Is it just something you are born with? I have found a few things that improve my writing.

• Writing Drafts: similar to sketching for designers, the best idea won't necessarily be the first one that comes to mind, so keep trying. I do not always write drafts for this blog, but when I do my writing seems better written.

• Think about the audience: the look and feel of any design has to appeal to the consumer/reader; it is the same for writing. I wouldn't use difficult scientific language to write a children's book. In the same respect, I wouldn't want to offend my consumer/reader by speaking down to them. 

• Find a voice, and stick to it. Writing is the voice of any design/brand/company/product so keep that voice consistent.

• WRITE IT OUT: I find this one to be the most useful for me. There have been studies that show that printing by hand improves language fluency, spelling, and have more developed sentence structure and story-line. At the very least writing it out first puts at least two drafts to go through my writing before it ends up on my blog.

Slow it Down

Work can get busy and chaotic, and it is easy to get swept up into the motion of it all. When I have the motivation I just want to get it done. I get tunnel vision and start work with increasing speed. At some point the speed doesn't matter, because the work suffers. It is better to take a break, go on a walk, or at least take a deep breath. Relax, and refocus. Going at a slower pace, maybe everything won't get done on time, but it will be done right. From experience getting it done right is what matters more. 

When I had my internship my boss had something posted on the wall behind me:

Good, Fast, and Cheap

(pick two)

 If you want good design for cheap, it won't be fast

If you want good and fast design it won't be cheap

If you want fast and cheap design, it won't be good.

You can only have two. You can not get all three. This reminds me about what I have to do about now. I am trying to have quality design for the low price. I need to take the time to make my designs the best they can be (without over analyzing). When I go at super speed, the details can sweep right by me. Even when you are striving for quality design at high speed, the quality is not as good as it would be for Quality design and taking it slow. Good designs don't always come at the drop of a pin. Design takes thought and planning. I have to work through all the bad parts, before I get to the best option. Even if the best option was the first option, working on more ideas lets me know that I had it right the first time.

Take the time to do your work right, and you won't have the regrets that come with a hasty approach.

Focus on the Minute

My local AIGA chapter had posted a link to HOW's 29 Things Article. It has a lot of useful information, but what has become my mantra for the week is to for me to focus on the details. Being detail oriented is a skill set of many designers and particularly the best ones. On a busy day it can be hard not to carefully look over little bit before sending a file out for approval...my weakness...not running spell check. For this week I am making a checklist to do before I send out a file:

1. Making sure all the points of the client are addressed
2. Spell check
3. Grammar check
4. Layers are in order
5. PDF has not dropped a layer out
6. Graphic details

Maybe I think of more things to think of in during the week. But I should make a small list to stay as focused on one idea as possible.

It's Live!

I am glad to announce that my website went live this morning!
www.mrosegraphics.com
Please check it out and leave any feedback.