Don’t Design Just to Win Awards
Let me start off by saying that I don’t see anything wrong with design awards. Just like awards in any arena of expertise, they are important in the realm of visual design. However…
Respect Deadlines
Deadlines are important? Really? I know, this seems obvious, but trust me some people forget that there are time limits to things. One of the most difficult habits for many designers is time managem ...
Use Hierarchy to Take Control of Your Design
Everyone wants to be the boss. People like to be in control; of their lives, of their relationships, etc. Designers, I believe, especially the good ones, are actually control freaks. But there are tho ...
DO NOT Make the Logo Bigger
This is one of those classic pet peeves of designers. The dreaded client question “can we make the logo bigger?” To this I say, tell them no. Not just to making the logo bigger, because often there ...
Take More Pictures
Welcome to Design Tip Tuesday! This week I want to encourage you to get out your camera. You should take a DSLR, an iPhone camera, a Polaroid; whatever camera you can get your hands on. Practice taki ...
The Motivation Myth
Much like love, creativity is a choice, you have to choose to be creative, you need to decide in your own mind that you will be creative, and the feelings of excitement and motivation will follow.
Leave Your Comfort Zone
It's really important to recognize when you have become too cozy where you are creatively. Leaving your comfort zone doesn't just mean learning something new. It can also mean pushing yourself into ...
2015 Year in Review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for my blog. Take a read and see where you fall in my readers. I'm so grateful for every single one of you!!! Here's an excerpt: ...
Take Chances
Sometimes we get comfortable in the creative spaces of what we are "good at". It's really important to do work that is something you've never tried or never had the guts to try. Trying a new design t ...
A Few of My Favorite (Free) Things
The creative process can be full of small speed bumps to huge mountains. Some things can make the actual execution of your ideas be so much easier. I've often been asked where I get my fonts or vecto ...
Read This Design Blog
If you’re not already reading my blog, today’s tip is that you should.
10 Ways to Win in Your Design Education
There are things that I see, looking back, that helped me succeed as a student that I can still say are crucial now that I am on the instruction side.
Ask Why
One of the most important parts of design thinking that you will ever need is knowing the importance of asking why. Simon Sinek, inspirational author, says that it's easy to figure out what ...
Be Flexible
As a highly methodical designer I like for things to be done a certain way. I believe that my work will be the most successful when I follow my process and follow it the way that I am used to. But so ...
On Failing
Just because you fail, doesn’t make you a failure. If you never try, you will never ever fail. But you will most definitely never succeed either.
Design Process: Presenting Your Ideas
Presenting is actually a crucial design skill, one that you can be good at with intentional practice.
Design Tip Tuesday #27 – Use Black & White
Use black and white. Thanks to computers and cheaper printing, color is easy to use as a designer. But using black-and-white can make you stand out in a world of color and add a touch of class to yo ...
Design Process: Rendering
The rendering phase can be the most fulfilling because your design is taking shape, but before you get to excited, here are the things to learn about this step.
Design Process: Sketching
The simple use of a pen (or pencil) and paper, helps you clarify your thoughts, and in turn, reach your goal more quickly.
Suck it Up
Don’t have a pity party, don’t cry over the mistakes you made, and don’t give up.
Design Process: Research & Brainstorming
The research and brainstorming stages will be the most time-consuming but most worth it of all your steps.
Do Your Research
Research allows you to see the full scope of the project
Design Process: The Brief
The [design] brief is the single most important step in the design process. Without it, you will be lost.
Have a Passion Project
You will never lack for a sense of fulfillment in your work as long as you have your own passion projects to pursue.
Design Process: The Initial Client Meeting
The goal of the first client meeting for me is get to know the client and their business