Blog

Stop Looking at yourself as a designer

This is one thing that I have been applying more to my design practice. Because we both are delivering ideas to whomever we are doing a project for. Whether its for ourselves or for a client there is a process of delivering ideas. Categorizing ourselves into just the category of being a designer brings up what a person would expect.

Being a designer is the profession behind the creativity. When you know to deliver your creativity in a professional manner then you can either call yourself a designer or an artist. Really that would depend upon you and whether your work solves a problem or whether its just to look pretty.

Treat Design School Serious

If you are in school currently or getting ready to start do not play. The teachers that you have may cut you some slack. But if they do cut slack then they are not doing their Job. If you take it serious and really devote yourself to becoming better each day you will began to see results.

I for one had started design school and went full time. During that time I was finding myself. When I say finding myself I was learning more so about what it takes to be a designer. The designers that you are learning about or currently learning they had to start from the bottom. So what if they live in New York or Switzerland. If you think location matters now then your wrong.

The internet has leveled the playing field for so many industries. You can start a website and blog to gain traffic. When you gain traffic and check your statistics you will be amazed. To be honest its more then just blogging and not promoting your site.

What they teach you in design school is only the beginning the rest is left up to you.

How to use social networks as a Designer

 

When someone who is a designer thinks about using social networks I wouldn’t doubt they do not think of promoting themselves. The mentality is more so to have a conversation. Really not seeing the value behind a network if you use it correctly can easily be forgotten. Also wasting time is such an easy thing to do.

You want to remember that connecting and chatting with people is very important. The main thing to remember is whom you are chatting with. Because you want to surround yourself with like minded people.

Tips to use social networks as a designer

  1. Have a goal with what you want to give to the network
  2. Stop wasting time looking at your twitter feed, Facebook timeline and other sites.
  3. Follow and connect with other people you admire and want to get to know
  4. Remember they are following your for a reason
  5. Provide value
  6. Reply to all messages, tweets and etc (unless its spam and negative)
  7. Have fun
  8. Do not connect with someone who you would not speak to in real life

What tips do you use for your social networks?

My Design Process

When I start any project my first thing I do is to not go straight to the computer. Because it is so easy to get comfortable with relying on the computer thinking that you will be more creative there. Maybe you even feel as if you will be able to finish faster. But you cannot rush creativity or you may be able to do so. Let me get back to the the topic of my design process

The design brief/goals

What is the end goal of the project. Also what is the project for and what industry is it for. Also asking questions that will help me learn what the goals will be. Knowing what to do and avoid helps with the project at hand. If there are any questions that I do not ask at the moment I will always ask later on the in project.

Research

Doing research on the project of the industry is critical. I do whatever it takes to get vital information in regards to the industry I am designing for. Then I will find out what is going on at the moment and then find out what has happened in the industry previously.

Mind-Mapping

I choose a word from the industry and use words from that to continue finding something that is similar throughout each web. Doing this helps with finding a direction to go in with the design.

Sketching

Sketching concepts in every type of way helps me get out the ideas that are coming to me. Because this helps with moving towards a concept that is best suited and has the most strength visually.

Type and color Studies

I will choose various types of fonts and continually decide which ones work best together. Then chose a variety of colors that are best representative of the goals for the project. After choosing colors and fonts to use I will decide which font and color or colors are best.

Digital Roughs

I put together a digital version of the project seeing how it will look before completion. This process shows a vital part of the project completion and also can vary from project to project. Because not every project will require

Revising

After deciding on which rough to move I will begin revising. Making sure each aspect of the design is cohesive. Doing the best to not miss any detail of the design. This can range from kerning, spacing, height and etc.

Finalizing

Preparing files for completion and saving them in RGB 72 DPI PDF,JPEG and etc (Web) and CMYK 300DPI press quality PDF  (Print)

This is an overview of my design process that I use for projects. I use this as a vital part in completing my projects to the best of my ability that I can. If the project does not require certain steps in this process I will more or less use these steps.

Promises Network

Promises Network is an organization that is for the support of the legalization of Gay Marriage. Throughout the project the goal was to not have overall completed design significantly for the Gay community.

1. Sketches

After doing a good amount of research I began sketching out ideas to capture the overall idea for the branding that would not just be strictly for the gay community. I first came across the idea for using a pink triangle in the design. But after learning more about the history and felt as if its history was not very positive.

Narrowing it down

After deciding the use of symbolism would be very powerful and the best idea to continue forward with. Because the symbol I use has a wide range of meanings and also the history behind it is more positive then the pink triangle. Deciding upon the placement of the symbol with the typography was very important. Because I wanted to create a cohesiveness in the remembrance of the symbol with the typography.

After deciding upon which logo is the strongest structure wise to move forward with. Also creating a Facebook cover photo,Google Plus cover photo and other social media profile branding.

You can see more of my Portfolio here