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Road ID – Branding Done Right
I recently purchased an item at Road ID (https://www.roadid.com/) and I was completely blown away by how on point and how consistent their branding is. They are an ID company that makes IDs and medical IDs for active people, kids, pets. Not only does their branding speak to the whole active lifestyle/outdoor aesthetic, but it’s also has a really friendly vibe. Bravo to their designers. Here are some examples: WEBSITE: It’s not that hard in this day and age to have a brand consistent landing page. What you don’t see as often is brand continuity through all the other fine points. Their Contact Page is a case in point. I…
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Some Favorite Design Books
In addition to the vast world out there on the internet, I also have several print books in my design arsenal. I’m a tactile person, what can I say? Here are some of the books I find most useful… Meggs’ History of Graphic Design – Philip B. Meggs – useful for all sorts of inspiration. Also handy as an historical reference The Designer’s Dictionary of Color – Sean Adams – useful for things like a color’s creative history, cultural associations, etc. The Elements of Typographical Style – Robert Bringhurst – both practical and historical uses of type The Designer’s Desktop Manual – a useful primer for someone starting out in…
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What to Ask Your Designer
I’ve had some clients who come to me with projects and then are stuck on how to go about the process. So here are some things you should ask your designer so that you know you are on the same page. Have they had experience in designing the item you are looking for. i.e., if you need a logo, is this something they’ve done in the past? Can they meet your deadline – is this something you need urgently, or do you have time? How many versions will they design for you to choose from? Once I’ve established color preference, any client ideas, etc. from the preliminary meeting I’ll usually…
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Staying Creative
How do you stay creative? First, don’t get burned out – and know that there will be times when your creativity ebbs. It happens. Don’t beat yourself up. It will come back. Take a break if you need to. Secondly, try to figure out if you are, what is termed in psychological parlance, as “early starter” or “pressure-prompted” which mean exactly how they sound. I’m an early starter. I’m more creative when I do things ahead of time with less pressure. I have several family members who are extraordinarily creative only if doing things at the last possible moment, so everyone is different. Work to your strengths when you can.…
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File Types
I’m hoping to clear up some of the mystery surrounding graphic file types. I’m often asked about the difference, so here you go: Some that you’ve probably come across: JPEG – the image type you probably come across most often. It stands for “Joint Photographic Experts Group”. If you use them for print, make sure their resolution is high. There is no difference between a jpg and a jpeg. PNG – great for web or presentations. This is an image which has no background which means it’s wonderful for logos etc. if you need to superimpose them on an image. Not great for print. Stands for “Portable Network Graphic” GIF…
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Why Do I Design?
I’ve often been asked why I chose to be a designer. The truth is it really wasn’t a choice. It just happened. I grew up with creative parents who are artists, and who ran an ad agency/design studio from our house. As I got older, I tried to find my way in the world – some time in the corporate milieu, some time in the field of education, but always the world of design tugged at me. I started taking on some clients and working for small companies. After I had the kids, the need to have a parent who was available in case of the myriad of issues that arise with small…
The Art of Design
