3 Worst Freelance Designer Decisions You Can Make

The other day I did a piece on the three best freelance designer decisions you can make. Now, I’m following it up with the three worst freelance designer decisions you can make.

Keep in mind that I’m leaving obvious items off the list, such as copyright infringement and jumping off a cliff if a client complains, but including poor decisions freelance graphic designers make every day that jeopardize their careers and could spell doom for their businesses. In addition, I’ve avoided stating the opposites of the three best decisions you can make, since “double your fee” and “charge too little” seem a bit redundant.

Getting too comfortable
Ever hit a streak when steady client work is pouring in, you’re landing year-long contracts, and repeat business is so good you don’t have to look for new clients? I call it the Comfort Zone, and it’s a good feeling. But when you get too comfortable, you risk everything because you’re not sewing the seeds of new business.

Many say the freelance life is feast or famine, and getting too comfortable when things are going great means you’re setting yourself up for frustration when things settle down. Continually market your business, and even lulls in activity will be fruitful.

Refusing help
It’s great to have pride in your work, but too much pride can limit your profit potential and threaten your business. When you’re in the Comfort Zone, it can be easy to justify not looking for extra work because you don’t have time to take it on. Thus, you’re limited by what you – and you only – can accomplish. But when you’re open to contracting talented help to handle overflow, you can grow your business exponentially. Remember that every client you turn away is a client you can’t get back when business is slow.

Knowing everything
Think everything you need to know about graphic design you learned in college? Then you’re severely limiting your ability to compete in an ever-evolving marketplace. Always learn new techniques, stay abreast of new trends, and study others’ work. You’ll stay relevant and cutting edge while other struggle to keep up with archaic design styles.

What’s more, make a concerted effort to understand how graphic design plays into your clients’ overall goals. Remember that if your clients wanted a beautiful piece of art, they’d go to an art store. What they want, at least in most cases, is for you to create a design that will help them land sales. Understand how colors, contrast, layouts, font styling, and other design elements motivate customers in order to craft designs that not only look great, but also generate sales. Doing so will keep your customers ecstatic about your work and you in business for a very long time.

About the Author:

Brian Morris serves in various capacities as a freelance writer, content developer and public relations specialist for growing small businesses. His previous roles included managing editor for a hometown newspaper and club bartender for a group of quasi-alcoholics. When he’s not writing, he’s usually counting lost follicles and wondering what he ever did with his time before his two children were born.

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Typical Freelance Graphic Design Process

Social Graphic Designer (Photo credit: Filimonas)

Every freelance graphic designer operates their business differently, but in most cases follows the same general process as below. The information provided herein is based on my own experience as a freelance graphic designer, and can be used to set the basis for your own operations or to give clients a better insight into your typical design process.

Request for Quote
Before a project/job can begin, some form of introduction has to be made between the client and designer. It can go both ways: the designer submitting a project proposal, resume or portfolio for the client’s consideration or vice versa, the client submitting a request for quote, project brief, etc. This can be accomplished in any number of ways but most typically is either through an email, a website form, a phone call or an in-person meeting.

Estimate
If the cost of the project hasn’t been set by the client (i.e. in a job advertisement, project brief, etc.), generally the designer will review the project specifications and supply a reasonable estimate based on: the information submitted by the client during the introductory phase and their own rates and terms of service.

Contracts
An experienced designer knows better than to offer a service without the security of a contract to protect them. Typically the contract will cover all the basis of the designer’s working operations including: costs of services, deadlines, ownership, payment terms and so on. Always read and understand the contract fully before signing!

Deposits / Upfront Payments
Most designers require some form of upfront payment, generally 10-50% of the estimated project cost, and will expect it to be paid before any service is provided. This not only protects the designer in the event the client cancels after work has been provided, but also signals to the designer that the client is serious about following through with the project. In many cases, this initial deposit is retained by the designer (i.e. it won’t be refunded to the client).

Concepts 
Once all the paperwork and upfront payments are out of the way, the designer will then get to work by producing “concept ideas” based on the client’s requests. Generally these are sketches, mock-ups or what the designer believes the final design should look like (in rough form). Most designers provide 1-5 initial concept ideas. Providing the client with too many concepts could complicate and drag on the project for longer than initially projected – the client won’t like being billed more than the estimated cost.

Revisions
Generally the client will take a few days to mull over the concepts provided by the designer and choose one or two to modify or revise into what they want the final design to be. Some designers limit the amount of revisions that can be made in order to streamline the project to completion; while others provide unlimited amounts of revisions. If you have a picky client that likes to make change after change; a friendly reminder that they will go over-budget if they proceed to make any more changes and/or that their requested changes will be billed as a “redesign” (therefore needing a new set of contracts and payments) will help them make up their mind quicker, so you can get on with the design process.

Final Design
Once the client is satisfied with the concept idea that they’ve revised, its time for the designer to finalize the design – that is to clean up the artwork, prepare files for output, and compiling all the finished files to send to the client after final payment.

Final Payment
Before the designer releases the final design to the client a final payment is typically due for all the expenses incurred for the project; generally excluding the initial payment. Once all payments have been made, the designer will then send the final design along with any transfer of rights to the client. The client will then go on to use the files in the manner specified by the designer or as arranged for the project. Generally at this point the project is considered finished and the client and designer go their separate ways.

After Project Expenses
For projects where the content is licensed, sometimes the client will have to continue making payments to the designer for use of the design/material well into the future. Other times the client may return to the designer months or years later asking for a revision or change to the design; in most cases the designer will charge their then standard rate/terms for the service regardless of what the original rate was.

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125+ Amazing & Beautiful Examples Of Branding Design Inspiration

In honor of excellent branding design (which we are a huge fan of) we decided to collect some of the freshest and hottest branding we have seen in a while. Good Branding can be so incredibly epic, my favorite type of branding is when they brand all the little things that you never really expect to be branded. The Print aspects of branding are usually expected, flyers, brochures, business cards, etc. But I LOVE seeing awesome branding examples of glass, packaging, architectural (outside of building painted, logos inside building etc.) it really encompasses every aspect of their business and brand (from print paper materials to online web and mobile website design) and ties it all together in one uniform design theme that gets the message out across many mediums. It is all about the customer experience – use these branding techniques as great examples to go by if you really want to WOW your customer. I hope this inspires you on whatever it is that you are working on at the moment – Enjoy!

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30 Funny Business Cards You Should Check Today

Offering out a conventional business card to potential clients, is only as impressive as handing out a boring circular. Be creative to make a lasting impression with some fun element. Designing funny business cards is a matter of pun-filled creativity.

If you could manage to bring a smile on your prospective visitors with your business card, it’s like half battle won. An amusing design may just do that in a very light yet enjoyable manner. If the idea intrigues to win attention with crazy methods, check out some awesome funny business card ideas in the list below.

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Letterhead And Logo Design Inspiration – 60+ Cool Examples

The letterhead provides an important addition to a brand’s image, with a simple and careful placement of it’s logo and corporate design. It’s importance must not be underestimated when working on a company’s identity and stationery.

Finding letterhead designs for your inspiration is pretty hard, especially when you need something top notch to see in order to have some guidelines for your project. In this article you have a little over 60 cool examples of letterhead and logo design inspiration which should help you get an idea on how other designers have worked on the identity and stationery of various brands.

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Why Your Logo Isn't Your Brand

Bad news, kids: your logo isn't your brand.

This weekend I attended AIGA Y Conference (Y17).  One of the first speakers, a name you probably recognize, Karim Rachid, immediately launched into logo vs. brand.  He pointed out how so many companies start with logo, and that this is a misplaced focus (my words, not his, although I agree) because your brand isn't just what your logo looks like -- it's about your service, the customer experience.  In some ways, he implied, maybe there shouldn't be logos anymore. Maybe you're misplacing your focus if you put more energy into your logo than into truly understanding what your brand means -- or should mean -- to people.

I can't count the number of times someone has come to me with a cute image, or even a not cute image that the spent serious time and money on. It's memorable, so they think they have "brand". They do not.

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Designing Style Guidelines For Brands And Websites

A website is never done. Everyone has worked on a project that changed so much after it launched that they no longer wanted it in their portfolio. One way to help those who take over your projects is to produce a style guide.

Edward Tufte once said: “Great design is not democratic; it comes from great designers. If the standard is lousy, then develop another standard.” Although there’s no stopping some clients from making their website awful, by creating a style guide, you’re effectively establishing rules for those who take over from you.

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Ask a Madman: My Client Wants Me to Copy a Design

Whether it happens in a corporate conference room or in a startup client’s office (read: Starbucks), at some point in your career, someone is going to ignore your sketches and ideas and say, “Here’s a site I like. I want one designed just like this!” A bruised ego is bad enough, but knowing where to draw the line between inspiration and theft is even tougher.

There are times we need to just give in to clients—it is a service industry, after all. As an old teacher once said to me: “If you’re a designer, you will have to follow instructions and inane wishes of clients. If you want to be an artist, then paint pictures.”

It sticks in my mind because at the time he was strangling me while other students tried to pry his hands from my throat. My arguments about creativity and self-respect were naïve… and aggravating, judging by the teacher’s attempt to murder me. I’m still reminded by peers that the wishes of the client are of utmost importance in our line of work.

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5 Steps to the Birth of a Logo

I actually wanted to name the title "5 Steps to the Birth of a Brand", but unfortunately people still don't know the difference and that's why I'm writing today's post. You may be thinking it's time to invest in your brand and have a designer create your logo. Or perhaps you have a logo, but want to give it a good face lift. Well, I'm going to take you through the steps of such a process and hopefully create some converts. Let's face it, logo design is a big investment and some see it as one that is over priced. After all you're not a huge corporation. But success isn't measured in big or small. Size only matters in your way of thinking.

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How To Gracefully Fire a Client

Clients come in many varieties. Some are thoughtful, professional, cooperative and ALWAYS pay on time. Then there are the other ones. When a client goes beyond “difficult,” to being such a burden on your resources that your other clients suffer, then you may have no choice but to cut the cord. There are many legitimate reasons to end a client relationship, including non-payment, poor communication, client procrastination, and plain old-fashioned disrespectful behavior. Sometimes these situations can be solved with a little conversation, sometimes they can’t. For the purposes of this article, we will assume that you have already decided that you no longer want to work with your client. In that case, here is my action plan to gracefully bow out of a client relationship at any stage of the project.

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A Clever Branding System Based On Clip-Art Icons

Clip art existed in a place and time that our kids will never know. In a pre-photo era driven by screens and printing technologies with limited resolution and color palettes, it was like every object had its own series of logos.

Creative consultancy Figtree, with the help of icon designer Christopher Gray, recently rebranded public affairs agency Brevia Consulting with a “no-nonsense approach” and “a down-to-earth nature” to highlight their “clear and simple political advice.” What they came up with was a series of 20 pieces of clip art to use across their brand.

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Starbucks Concept Store Is A Lab For Reinventing The Brand

A new coffeehouse in Amsterdam will be the testing ground for ideas that will find their way to the rest of Europe.

Starbucks is known for its unwavering consistency, from its unoffensively homey store décor to its burnt-coffee smell. But this Thursday, the brand that normalized the $4 latte is opening an experimental concept store in Amsterdam that offers a glimpse of the Starbucks of the future--at least in Europe.

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Boost Sales By Establishing Your Business' Corporate Identity

The Importance Of Corporate Identity Have you ever wondered the first thing that comes to mind when a consumer thinks about your brand or company? Unless you haven’t worked on building a corporate image for your company, your company logo is the first thing that a consumer will remember.

Brand awareness is crucial to creating and enhancing your company’s market presence, and to maximize brand recognition. You need to apply strategies that will define the uniqueness of your company. A strong corporate identity is key to reaching your target audience. Quite simply, if they don’t know you exist, how will they buy from you?

Two of the most successful and cost effective brand awareness strategies used by businesses to give their company a distinct identity are:

· Professional Logo Design
· Corporate Identity Packages

How Corporate Identity Helps Small Businesses Establish Their Brand Most small business owners mistakenly think that creating a strong corporate identity is for big businesses only. Just because you have a small business catering to a small segment of the consumer market does not mean that you should not try different ways of expanding it. A distinctive corporate identity will help to establish your company image among suppliers, distributors, and above all, your potential customers.

Ideally, a good corporate identity package should include a business logo, a motto or company slogan, and other promotional materials such as letterhead, business cards, and envelopes. When you have your corporate identity package designed by a professional company, the graphic design artists will take care of important details such as the font to be used, icons, graphics, color and spacing of the text. Your corporate identity package will give your business the professional image it needs to win the trust of your customers.

Why You Need A Professionally Designed Logo – NOW! A professionally designed logo has several advantages:

- Help in building your corporate image: Whether you are trying to get funding for your fledgling business or additional capital for an established one, it is important that your business looks professional. A professionally designed business logo, along with other marketing collateral, will help you to build a strong, professional image for your business.

- Increase sales: Being associated with good brands is important to most customers - and the look and feel of the business can greatly influence their buying decisions, helping to boost your company’s sales.

- Establishes credibility: A well-designed logo helps to convey to your target audience that you are established and strongly committed to your business as well as your customers.

- Brand recognition: Usually people will remember a logo more readily than the name of the company itself. A logo is often synonymous with quality and trust (provided your company also has great service).

It is very important for your company to establish it’s corporate identity and brand image. Marketing works because many people become emotionally attached to brands. The key to remember is that it is not necessarily great customer service or innovative products that will bring new customers in the door. People make decisions to buy based on emotions - then they rationalize their decision. If you can remember this, then you can understand how important it is to include a professionaly designed logo and corporate identity package as part of your company’s overall marketing and branding strategy.

Author
Michelle McCray is a marketing expert, author, and entrepreneur. She’s President of Swell Creative, a marketing and graphic design firm that specializes in marketing consulting, graphic design, corporate branding, , creative ideas, and advertising for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Visit http://www.swellcreative.com for more info.
Copyright © 2007 Michelle McCray

Freelance graphic designer – how to win the project

As a freelancer, whether you like it or not you have to get clients by bidding for the project often and wish to win to survive, because getting clients by doing marketing is not easy for freelancers. Some companies, especially the big ones hardly put the trust on freelancers to get the job done. On the other way around, if the companies open the project for bidding, they don’t really care who is going to do the job, as long as the freelancers able to fulfill all requirements needed, including the price.

The problem is that sometimes professional freelance graphic designer has to be pitched with either fresh graduates or graphic design students. In this case, they are ready to lower the price in order to make a quick buck, earning some pocket money or building their portfolio. It is not fair for professional freelancer, since they don’t do it for living. Not like us who really make a living out of freelancing.

Do you have to lower your price and integrity to win the project? Some freelancers succumb to the need to win projects after they bid on it. Hawking over a less than worthwhile project is a complete waste of time. What freelancers should do is to simply keep their integrity. If you’ve established yourself in the market, have a relatively large (and impressive portfolio) and think you deserve to be paid whatever you think you should be paid, why lower yourself?

Just stick to what you believe and control the price. By lowering the price, it means that you seemed to be desperate for business, and don’t let your future and potential clients think that you are.

Make them believe that you stick to your price because you are much better than others. That’s what you “sell”, isn’t it?!

Of course, even after winning a bid or not bidding at all, you should still be open for reasonable bargaining. In business, there’s always some bargaining involved. Therefore, mark your price up about 5% than what you would normally charge others on your first bid. If the clients negotiate for a lower price, bring it down by 5% and you’ll get whatever you thought you deserved to start with.

What if the client still wants you to bring the price even lower? In this kind of situation, you need to use your business intuition. If you think that this future client is a nice kind of person and your relation with him/her will long lasting, you might lower your price down. But if this is what you’re doing, make sure you point out the fact that the price is exclusive and you don’t charge everyone else the same price.

Sometimes the clients would say that they will give you all project in the future. Don’t buy that! They say that just to make you trust them and lowering the price. The only way that you could make them coming back to you is giving them a very, very, very good quality! Both design and service!!! Not only this will make the client feel special but he/she will recommend other people your freelancing services. And if they do, they will also make a special note not to mention the pricing.

© Anton Ardjanggi, April 2007

how to survive as Freelance Graphic Designer

I’ve been a freelance graphic designer for about 2 years. Many people wonder how I can survive, because they know that I don’t have big clients.

Most graphic designers, especially beginners care too much about having big clients, big job with big bucks. Well, there’s nothing wrong with that. But sometimes they forget about their capabilities, considering freelancer has to do all work that ideally have to be done by more than one person. The result is that they can’t focus and concentrate on creativity process which is their main job. Therefore they can’t fulfill their clients’ requirements.
Guess what?!

The clients wouldn’t satisfy, and…… they never comeback!

So, what’s the big deal about having big clients, big job with big bucks if you’re only getting once for awhile? In fact, you’re only getting bad reputation by that.

Personally, I don’t really care about the big clients and big jobs. Big bucks?! Yes! I do care. But big bucks don’t always come from big clients. How can I get it, then?!

Continuity. That’s the answer.

Having small jobs from small clients constantly and continuously is more important than having big jobs from big clients once for awhile for freelancers.

During my career as freelance graphic designer, I focus on small to mid-size businesses as my target market. It’s been more than enough for me. They keep coming back regularly because they get their satisfaction from the first job I given. In fact, I got free marketing by their recommendation from one client to another.

Getting new client is not easy, but (trusts me)… to make them keep coming back is even harder. Therefore, treat them professionally and yet personally. Call them once for a while just to say “Hi” and find out how they’ve been doing if you haven’t heard from them for awhile. Create an “open-communication” in order to make both sides comfortable, that way it will be easier to understand what clients need when you get projects.

Treat your clients equally instead of take a side on the bigger one, because no matter how big (or small) your client (or the project) is, they all have the same right: getting what they paid for, rights on schedule.

© Anton Ardjanggi, March 2007

graphic design niches - Finding a Narrow But Deep Client Base

With so many graphic designers, website designers and logo designers competing in the field, it is more important than ever to specialise in a particular area and be top rather than covering all bases and mastering none. Here's how to find your own graphic design niche.

Stick with a style and run with it
So many young designers coming out of the art colleges today have a style taken wholesale out of the fashion mags and club flyers. Granted there's nothing wrong with selected pilfering of ideas but to steal complete styles and typefaces means everything you see looking pretty similar. The more long sighted designers would do well to develop a style of there own and make this into a recognisable trait. Trying to ape the latest trend in clubland is going to see your designs rapidly losing favour once some bohemian brown hatter decides the current vogue for vector graphics and fonts on a 45 degree angle is yesterdays news.

Pick a particular industry and specialise
There are whole swathes of industry that are in dire need of a makeover, the building industry for example is populated by design illeterate seventies throwbacks, who couldn't recognise a good logo if it jumped off the page and took a bite out of their backsides. An entrepreneurial young designer could clean up by proffessing to be the building industry design specialists. Bare in mind builders like big fat typefaces in keeping with their big fat bellys.

Use an existing project as a springboard to greater things
So, you were approached by the Cumbrian Choral society to produce a flyer for their Christmas bazaar. It was a satisfactory if not exactly stimulating project. And that was the end of that. Or was it...hold on, how many other church based societys are out there looking for a similar flyer to advertise their own family fun days or church roof whip rounds? Could this be a deep furrow of design work ahead...who knows?

Local Jobs for local people
Britain is a hot bed of talent, many of it arriving from overseas, increasingly from the relaxed borders of the former Soviet Bloc countries. But I'll bet a dollar to a pound that the average little Englander would rather eat nails than go to a foreigner to place a design job. Providing you've been established for at least a couple of years in your locality there's no reason why you cannot stress the locally organically reared nature of your graphic design business e.g. Golden Plum Design - Serving the good local people of Midsommer Norton and Westfield since 2001. Whether the locals are inbred or not, and it would be beneficial if they were, the reassurance of a 'local' business to the area will keep them happy, while they munch on their cornish pasties.

Hopefully, that's given budding graphic designers some incentive to go out there and carve a hole for yourselves. Remember it's better to be big fish in small ponds than little fish in big ponds, or is it the other way around...whatever.

About the Author
Mindtap Graphic Design Resources is your single point entry into a UK web design company. A unique site where you can access information on UK graphic design, leaflet design, brochure design, catalog design, flyer design and web design

Source: Free Articles from www.articlesbase.com

wanna be Freelance Graphic Designer? (English)

* For Bahasa Indonesia Version click here


Things to be considered before you decide to become Freelance Graphic Designer

- Place to work
First thing first, you are going to need place to work so you can work efficiently and effectively. If you work at home, a separate room would be nice in order to avoid any other home activities. Having a room to place a set of computer is good enough, even better if you have more space to any supporting activity such as writing, drawing, printing, set up final artwork (mock up), because as a freelancer you have to do all work which is supposed to be done by more than one person. Place your telephone or fax machine near you, so you don’t have to get up to receive or make a call. It would be better if you have filling cabinet to store all your paper-works.

- You are the company (…and the company is You)
As a freelancer, you’re not only responsible for your creative-works, but you’re responsible for your marketing, briefing, presentation, accounting and filling system matters as well. You are also responsible for all incoming calls, make appointment and take any complain (if any). Being a freelance graphic designer is not only about creativity and design, but it needs strong commitment and takes a big responsibility.

- It needs a lot of patient
All the activity mentioned above needs a lot of patient. It happen so often, when you are so busy designing and need very good mood, at the same time you have to take the incoming calls from your clients who’s complaining your recent work (bad service, bad quality, etc.). Not to mentioned technical problems which occur at the bad time such as problems with your computer, paper-jammed printer, run out of paper, ink and the list goes on. Those problems will hamper your on-going project, and you have to tell your client about the delay.

- Be a professional
As a freelancer you have to be professional. You might be stressed with your on-going project, but at the same time you have to do presentation in front of your client. In this kind of situation you have to be able to get your stress out of your head and leave it at home, on the other way you need to get your concentration on your presentation. Do not let your problems home ruin your presentation. Keep your performance at the highest level, don’t forget… as a freelance graphic designer, you’re not just an artist, but you’re a businessman as well! Your performance affects how the way your client evaluate youself and how the way you run your business.

- Well organized
To run business by your self, you have to be a ‘well organized –person’. Well organized for your filing system on your computer, filing system for your paper work, graphic tools, the preparation for your presentation, etc.

- Supporting facilities
It would be the best if you have telephone, facsimile and e-mail with high speed internet connection. Set your e-mail program to receive all mails at least 15-30 minutes automatically, so you won’t miss any important mails.

- Discipline
The key of success for being freelancer is DISCIPLINE. Trust me… it’s not an easy thing to do, because you have to discipline yourself! No one would warn you but yourself! Discipline in this case consists of:

a. Discipline with your time, although you work by yourself at home, you have to work at office hours. You can’t wake up late and start working at 10-11. What would happen if your clients try to reach you at 9.00 while you’re still sleeping?! In this situation, your clients don’t care about your condition (whatsoever). He has right to call you at the office hours, on the opposite you have responsibility to serve them during that time.

b. Discipline with your money, as a freelancer you have right to own all the profit you get! But it would be wise, if you pay yourself on a salary basis. That way you will save few bucks each month, because who knows you don’t get any job later on… That happens if you don’t have strong or big market.

c. Discipline with YOUR OWN DECISION, being a freelancer is not an easy thing to do! It needs a strong commitment that you have to respect and do it consistently. You better think twice (or maybe more) before you make decision to be a freelancer, because once you jump in this industry as a freelancer, than you risk your own life and your own credibility!

By: anton ardjanggi / www.anarddesign.com

how to find Free Business Logo Design

Free business logo design can be found in a variety of areas. There are many logo design companies that will design your free business logo design if you purchase other products from them. Some logo design businesses will provide the free logo design with website design, stationary design and web hosting. For example, you purchase your website design and hosting through them and they will design a free business logo design for you. The price you pay for the website design and hosting depends on your needs in those areas but you are able to lump your free business logo design in the package as well for no additional cost.

Many logo design businesses will also provide you with discounts on products if you purchase your stationary and envelope design through them. You may not receive a free logo design but you will be able to save a little money on other business necessities. You may also find packages that offer other free services if you purchase your logo design from them. For example, some graphic design businesses will provide you with stationary and envelope design, a black and white logo design and your logo design in a variety of useful file formats. You may not be receiving a free business logo design but the other services are free or included in the price of the business logo design.

There are many options available to businesses that will help relieve the stress on the budget. Combining packages of products that you will need for your business will help you save both time and money. You will be able to find various graphic design packages that include free business logo design with the purchase of other services. Remember that you get what you pay for in the graphic design industry. Before you commit to any package in particular you should research the portfolio and pricing of the graphic designer. Designers must also be able to show you a logo design portfolio with several different types of work. You want to be sure that the designer you choose will be able to develop a logo in your industry. Many logo designers will have their logo design portfolios divided up by type or industry. Find your industry and compare those logo design portfolios between each other until you are sure you have found the designer and logo design portfolio that you like. You should feel satisfied with the logo design portfolio that you choose. If you feel like you need to keep looking do so until you find the logo design portfolio that you are looking for.

Whether you have any artistic abilities at all, graphic designers are able to use your ideas and recreate the image in your mind. If you have some artistic abilities, you can provide the graphic designer with a rough sketch of what you envision. You may also provide them with samples that you like and would like a variation of. The graphic designer will gather as much information as they can from you for your graphic design logo. They will need to know what your ideas are and what you are looking for in a graphic design logo. They will also need to know what your business name is, the area your business is involved in and if you have any key phrases or terms that you would like incorporated. You want to design your own logo so that it is unique but you also want a logo that you can be happy with.

By: Jeff Marsh / http://www.articlesphere.com

basics for the small graphic design office

The Environment
If you are just starting out as a graphic design student or setting up a second office in a spare room there is a lot to consider. The comfort of a graphic designer’s workspace is important not only to inspire you do to your most creative work but also for you to stay healthy and motivated. Technology and software have made graphic design one of the professions where it can be easy to work remotely. Enjoy the freedom and set up your office for success. In the information below we’ll cover the basics of equipment and ergonomics for the one-person graphic design office. If you are planning for a multiple person office you may consider hiring a professional space planner to tackle unforeseen problems such as maximizing storage, adequate power and data connections and permits.

In future articles we’ll cover the aspects of office organization, business planning, pricing, contracts and marketing,

Why is your workspace so important?
We spend half of our waking hours at work (when a deadline calls it can be a lot more!) and more than a few thousand dollars when purchasing furniture, equipment and software. Making the right choices for your office in the beginning will save you a headache later. When the work pours in you want to work effectively without small hassles due to shortsighted decisions when planning you office.

The Environment
A small office is just that–small. Even though it may have to be carved out of the corner of another room try to thoroughly evaluate the situation before you hook up the computer. You pay attention to the details in your graphic design– also pay attention to the details of your workspace.

Comfort
What kind of lighting does the space have? Natural light changes during the day and during the year. Try to predict if you will be sitting in a hot sunny window in August and avoid it. Control the artificial light sources. Glare and hot spots on the computer screen will fatigue your eyes quickly. Would turning your desk in a different direction help? What is the noise level outside? Perhaps you should choose a different room if the trash truck comes at the same time as a client conference call every week. If you share the office with other professionals or you are at home do what you can to create a space without distraction.

Psychological factors also come into play. Add a room divider screen if you have a view of the kitchen. Add pictures and inspiration that will help lift your spirit when you didn’t get the latest plum project.

Safety
Are there electrical and data ports nearby? If not can you safely install your equipment without the wires becoming a tripping hazard? Consider a wireless office for your Internet connection. Secure tall and heavy items like the bookcase. Do you have enough room to move your chair around and walk clearly to the door in case of an emergency? Make sure your workspace has good ventilation. Air quality has an invisible but big impact on your health. Molds and fumes can be mitigated when you have good air circulation.

Productivity
Consider workflow as you envision your new office. A workspace with a logical set up will enhance your ability to complete projects effectively. Are the phone and printer located nearby? Are the consumables such as paper and ink cartridges stored in a handy place? Do you have pin up space on the wall to easily stand back and view your latest design?

By: Mary Beth & Paul Trautwein / http://graphicdesign.about.com/

how to get started as a Graphic Designer

If you doodled, loved comic books or made the poster for your school fair as a kid you probably already know you want to be in the graphic arts. A graphic designer creates and arranges two-dimensional visual elements to communicate a message.

Education & Training
Internship

If you are still in high school or college a summer internship at the local paper, marketing firm or printer will expose you to the day to day work of a designer. Search the web for internships but also look around your neighborhood and town. Ask friends and teachers if they know a graphic designer and to introduce you. Working at a computer is essential for a graphic designer today. Just being in the office will show you a lot about a designer’s daily routine.

When you are at your internship ask questions and eagerly volunteer to help out on important projects. Surfing the web all day won’t expose you to anything new.

Associates Degree
An associate's degree in graphic design or art is a good starting point if you want to get started quickly. You’ll learn a lot of technical skills and become marketable as an entry level computer artist within a limited budget. Check if the courses adequately prepare you to transfer to a four-year institution if you decide to pursue more years of education.

Advanced Degrees
A Bachelor's Degree in graphic design is recommended. A good graphic designer has a grasp of art history, communications and business. With 4-6 years of higher education you will have the time to both gain a breadth of knowledge in various areas of study as well as learn and sharpen essential skills specific to being a graphic designer. Look around and compare schools. Your comfort level with the school will be a big factor in your success. Though the admissions process may be daunting remember to evaluate the school as much as they evaluate you. Talk with faculty and alumni:

- Where do alumni work now?
- Where were the faculty educated?
- What is the philosophy of the program?
- Are internships and/or exchange programs available?

What is the admissions process? Start the process of evaluating schools a couple of years before you begin. Share your interest with teachers and friends. They may also have additional input and encouragement.A Master’s Degree will give you the credentials to teach in higher education. It will also give you the time and freedom for exploratory work. Some designers even return to school for a Masters Degree in the midst of running a successful firm.Graphic Designers do not need credentials or a license to practice. Though education is the route most will take some, such as David Carson, are largely self taught.

Continuing Education
Regularly take classes to keep your skills current in the marketplace. A two-hour teleseminar or a two-week intensive class will keep your professional skills from getting stale. Online training is a convienent way to learn software.

Portfolio
A design portfolio is a key requirement for getting a job. Every detail will count from the typography on your resume to the thoughtful organization of the work. Present your portfolio in person whenever possible, talk critically about your work and be informed about the firm or person you are interviewing with. Whether you use a traditional black book or go digital remember you are communicating visually—give a strong impression.

Your First Job
Congratulations. Are you ready to learn more? Once on the job it is essential for young designers to continue to grow. Good project management, interpersonal communication skills and a positive attitude will advance your career as quickly as knowing the latest software. Salaries range between $30,000 and $50,000 for starting designers. Many designers freelance at night and on weekends to expand their portfolio and earn extra cash.

By: Mary Beth & Paul Trautwein / http://graphicdesign.about.com/