7 Don'ts that graphic designers should know.

1. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there-

Many designer have a fear of being criticized. This is mostly due to the fact that we criticize ourselves to much. When we begin to put ourselves out there we begin to build a name for ourselves. This process in not something that happens overnight. Now-a-days it is so easy for you to put yourself out there with social media and all. Twitter and Instagram are probably the best place for you start building your name. If you never take the chance you may never be known as a graphic designer.

2. Don’t be narrow-minded-

Some designers think that their way is the only way, and to be honest this is a very amateur way of thinking. It doesn't matter how long you went to school or how much training you have you can always learn something differently. It can be very beneficial learning from others in your field especially if they have a fresh take on design and art. You can learn new techniques and combine them with old tricks to make your workflow flow faster. When dealing with customers some of us designers have the tendency to shut out the customers creative ideas simply because they're not designers, the bad news is that we could windup losing the business. Some of the best designers are the ones that can expand their minds to create great work and still stay true to the principles of graphic design.

3. Don't work for free-

When your first starting off it is very hard to charge someone for your work especially if you know them. Graphic design is not an easy job. It takes time, so charging people to do work is more than justified. Doing things for free can cause people to take advantage of you and lose respect for your quality work. Free work is often left on the back burner and forgotten until you have the chance to get to it, and because of this people bash on your work ethics. So all in all it is never beneficial to do free work, it will windup costing you! Let alone defame the rest of the graphic design industry.

4. Don't take on more work than you can handle-

Taking on more work than you handle can build a negative reputation for you. For some designers taking on to many projects can overwhelm them and cause them to shutdown and not do anything at all. If you're a father or mother to many projects can put some tension on your family. Knowing your limits can ultimately help you control your work schedule and be an organized business owner.

5. Don't underestimate yourself-

Practice makes perfect. Graphic design is not just a gift given to certain people it is a skill that can gained by applying yourself. With the right motivation any one can be great. Shutting yourself out because you think that someone else is better than you can only bring you down. Every designer has a unique  way of working . If your way is not the same as all the other designers that’s ok. Believe in yourself and be you.

6. Don't use Photoshop for everything related to graphic design.

This one is probably the odd ball of this list but that doesn't mean that it is irrelevant. Most graphic designers start off using Photoshop to manipulate images but get so use to the workflow they try to create everything from it. Photoshop is a great tool to use but its not your one stop shop. Great designers need to be well balanced in the programs that they use.

7. Don't QUIT-

Many people quit things if they are not good at it, but the truth is if they tried a little harder they could become great at it. Quitting will get you nowhere, and if you progress forward even if it's only a little bit you would still be further than you would be if you quit. Michael Jordan was kicked off his high school basketball team, imagine if he quit. Steve Jobs was fired from his own company, imagine if he quit. Never give up you could be tomorrows next big thing.

5 Things that designer’s can use to make life easier!

            There are 5 things that I have learned about and used in my career as a graphic designer that have made my life a whole lot easier. I decided to share these things with you. Some of them you might already know about and others not so much.

          1)   Razor Tartarus- I once thought to myself it would be nice if my shortcuts had shortcuts. It’s funny how many Photoshop and Illustrator shortcuts have three or more key combinations to pull them off. The Tartarus helps take those three key combos and assign them to one key. With 10 different key maps with 25 different keys to customize in each key map and an unlimited amount of profiles you can customize this machine to make designing easier and faster. The Tartarus was originally designed for gaming but it is so practical that any designer can use it. There are other pieces of tech like this and you can even get keyboards that can do the same thing. I use the Tartarus and the time that it saves me is tremendous. You can find this product at this site http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-keyboards-keypads/razer-tartarus/. You can even find it being sold at places like BestBuy.

  

                2)   Astute Graphics- We all know how important vectors and shapes are to graphic designers. Astute Graphics is a company that provides us designers with plugins for illustrator that can significantly cut down the time we spend creating vectors and shapes. Through their site you can purchase any of their plugins individually or in a package. They also have a couple of free items that alone are worth checking the site out. Tutorials are available for all of their plugins so no one is left in the dark. So check them out at http://www.astutegraphics.com/ you wont regret it.

                3)   Air Display- Most designers either use giant 27in screens or laptops with multiple screens to do their work, but it gets complicated when you want to mobile. For the ones that use there laptops there is a solution for you to constantly have multiple screens where ever you go. Even you guys that use the giant 27in if you want a screen just to hold your tool bar this could work for you as well. Its called Air Display. It is essentially an app that can be installed on your mobile device as well as your computer that allows you to use your mobile device as your second monitor. The app for your mobile device is paid for but you will find that it is money well spent. It works through Wi-Fi so it’s not directly connected to your computer. Even you don’t have Wi-Fi where you are there are YouTube videos that show you how to setup a computer to computer network that will easily allow this app to work. For more info check out http://www.avatron.com/applications/air-display/ you will be glad that you did.

             

                  4)   Compfight- Every designer has to worry about copyright issues it’s a vice that comes with the career. Compfight is a site that can help with that. It’s a search engine that allows you to search for images with either commercial or creative common licenses from the original source. Using a site like this can really cut down the hassle that we have with copyright. We can search for models, cars, clothing and more all with the original license. Don’t hesitate check it out at http://compfight.com/, the next best thing to taking your own images.

5              5)   Wacom- This last one almost all designers are familiar with but I had to through it in there for those of us who don’t. Wacom is a company that provides pen tablets for designers and digital artists to use and create all sorts of work while feeling natural. Wacom offers many different types of tablets from touch pads to second monitors with touch capability. Having the ability to design or draw on a computer the same way you would if you were doing it freehand will tremendously increase production time. Why wait check them out at http://www.wacom.com/ see what they have to offer.

Yes everything I had to share with you today has a price tag on it. Some are more expensive than others, but they are all worth the money considering the money you save on time. There are other ways of purchasing some of the products like eBay and amazon where you buy used items. Check them out if you haven’t. By implementing any one of these products you can cut your production time in half in turn save money.  

Graphic Design is not EASY!

Many people have this misconception that Graphic Design is easy. I must admit I thought just because I love what I’m doing it would be easy for me to do it. The truth is I was wrong. Graphic Design is not easy.

            The idea of Graphic Design being easy is actually a vice of the trade. Very few know the difficulties that we face as Designer. In the eyes of many all Graphic Designers do is sit in front of the computer all day. In part it’s true we do sit in front of a computer all day, but it is not as simple as it looks.  There is a reason that so many designers go to school for years to study their craft and prefect it.

            Graphic Design is an important part of all businesses. Without graphic design businesses would never grow. They could never be recognized. What would McDonalds be if the M were never designed? What would any of your favorite companies be without there famous logos that made them who they are? Design is a much-needed part to all businesses and that need continues to grow. The understanding of the work that goes on behind the scenes on the other hand continues to diminish. Graphic Design has become the norm in today’s world so it doesn’t get enough credit. Since design is everywhere people have this idea that it is easily accessible and in turn is easily done. The truth is since design is everywhere that’s what makes it harder.

            There are so many designers out there that chances of getting good work are slimmer. We all have to fight to be the better designers. We have to fight to be different. For this reason so many Graphic Designers are expanding their knowledge and their skill sets. Now it is no longer just sitting in front of a computer all day, we have to research. We need to know our audience. We need to know the message that is being asked for us to portrait in our designs. There are many things that we must know to bigger and better than our competition. What happens is most of the time people don’t realize what we have to do to get them a great design, thus creating the misconception of Graphic Design being easy.

            I remember a story of another Graphic Designer who charged a client $100 for a logo that she literally knocked out within ten minutes. The client thought that it was absurd that she could charge so much for something that took her only ten minutes to make. What the client didn’t realize was that it took her four years of undergraduate school and ten years of experience for her to create that logo in ten minutes. What I find interesting is that the client is now the most recognizable business in town and has probably cashed in on the logo ten fold what was charged of him.

            Graphic Design is not easy! Before you begin to think it is just remember we go to school and work on our skill sets everyday to perfect our craft. I have decided to include a few things that you should never say to a Graphic Designer.

You can find these and more at http://www.creativebloq.com/career/19-things-not-say-graphic-designer-71412278.

Designing with color

         Color has to be one of the most important aspects of design. As designers we rely on color just as much as we rely on lines and shapes. Color can make or break a design. Color has meaning, we as humans associate color with different emotions. Imagine your self designing a logo for an energy drink and you use some down and depressing colors in your design you're bound not to get the gig. Try to imagine one of your favorite logos and change the color of it and see what emotions come to mind. 

Here are some examples of color Psychology:

Knowing some of these different things about color can really improve your designs. You can find these same examples and more @ http://theultralinx.com/2014/04/psychology-colour-design-marketing-infographic.html

          Now that we have a little bit of understanding of the psychology of color, what do we do with it? All designers need to have a basic understanding of color theory. We have to have an understanding of what colors go good together. What colors are aesthetically bound to each other. An example would be the classic black and white. These two colors are perfect together, but they are completely opposite. These two colors together are responsible for some of the simplest, and some the coolest designs out there. It is widely used in negative space designs. 

The best way to get better at this is to know the color wheel. We need to know our primary and secondary colors. Here is a chart that will help you learn the color wheel. 

You can find these charts and more @http://inkfumes.blogspot.com/