Learning what not to do from crappy design

Whenever I feel as if I am not progressing like I would I go look at crappy design. You can see plenty of bad design in a subreddit called crappy design. There are many times when I get so frustrated looking at the subreddit. Because if you see any of the work that is posted it will blow your mind how such a thing is out there in the world.

Then you will learn how many people think they will save money by doing it themselves. Not saying its impossible for a business owner to design something themselves. But the main thing is that the quality and skills would be very miniscule. For example you would not try to perform a heart transplant without having the knowledge and skills and or try to build a house without knowing how to lay a foundation, how to read a ruler and etc.

Another good thing about looking at crappy design is learning what not to do. For example if you see a design that is poorly designed you would say to yourself they must have done this in a couple of minutes. Also you may say to yourself I could’ve done this better. Then looking at bad design will allow you to develop a better taste of design.

Developing a better taste is what will help you develop better quality. Style is what the result of having a better taste in design. Just take a look at design agency/studio that has a beautifully designed website that will result in them having a good taste of how their office looks and flow into other parts of their workplace.

Why I enjoy calligraphy so much

My first calligraphy piece I posted to instagram ^

My latest piece I posted ^

If you look at the first picture you can clearly see the progression that is made. One I have gain a better control over my letters. Also various other parts of the process. I have also slowed down when I do a project. Calligraphy has helped me slow down a tack things even more seriously.

Calligraphy is a skill that can get frustrating. By frustrating you can sit and wonder why are my letters not how they should be. Why is the ink not flowing well, why is the nib dry and etc etc. Knowing that if you rush through a letter you will not be able to produce a good quality piece.

Flourishes are something that comes naturally. At first my flourishes were horrible and they are a bit better now. But they can improve even more. Flourishes are as if they are dancing on your page.Flourishes have helped me in my design process even more to always have a place for something.

Calligraphy is a great skill/hobby if you have the patience for it. I personally chose calligraphy because everyone else is mostly doing hand lettering. But not to say there’s not many calligraphers I just prefer calligraphy over lettering.

Embrace your crazy ideas

We all have ideas that can seem a bit far fetched and out there. Which therefore may seem useless to act upon. Because we immediately think oh that will be too much work and or it would not work. A good thing that I learned from skateboarding is a quote that I used to write on my griptape “Risk It”.

While risking it may seem as if a fairytale thing to do. Do it any ways and then you can be happy that you did not settle for less like everyone else does. You have the capability of designing a product that people will want and or creating that website you’ve been sketching and have yet to start wireframing in photoshop or whatever the project/idea may be act on it.

Embrace your crazy ideas and let them drive you. Let them drive you to dream and fulfill your creative spirit’s desire. You only get one shot at life so make it count and the same goes for presenting work to a client/group.

Knowledge is the new money

This could not be more true today then before. The more knowledge you have just think of how much more valuable you are. But as I have said before you can know everything in the world but if your not applying it then its useless. Because you can procrastinate on that web design project or logo design project. Maybe your just lazy frustrated that you have not progressed in your work quality.

Well going back and reviewing the rules of design does no harm. Knowing the rules and etc will only help make you better. Then you have to realize that being just a graphic designer is not going to cut it. So therefore learn a skill that will help you create a niche for yourself. For me as you all may know I have been learning web design and calligraphy. Which I really just went to school for graphic design.

The reason I chose calligraphy and web design is because one calligraphy is not something you’d expect a graphic designer to be able to do. Also the upsurge of hand lettering coming back. So in the hand lettering niche I chose calligraphy to specify. Web design I chose it because its a skill that is needed now. Although at times learning web design can get frustrating I don’t give up.

Remember this and you’ll be alright

Don’t wish it were easier wish you were better – Jim Rohn

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.

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.

How to Research for a design project

When you are designing for a client or taking photographs this should be done. There is really no reason why you should immediately pick up a pencil and start sketching or pick up a camera and start taking photos. The vast amounts of information that we have available is unbelievable. The process I take when starting a project is well let me show you the steps I take.

I find out what type of industry it is
I research the current businesses,people in the industry
I then research the history of the industry
Look at what others have done in the industry
Find current trends from the past and see if they are being used currently

The importance of doing research before sketching shows that you are actually investing yourself into the project. As well as showing you want to make the project as best as possible. Which should always be a goal for anyone whom is a designer,developer or whatever profession your in. So remember you can never do enough research.

Calligraphy Vs Hand-Lettering

I recently finished a complete sketchbook and I decided that. Since before I was somewhat playing around with calligraphy and not really taking it seriously at all. My thoughts were yeah this is pretty cool and that is about as far as I got with pursuing calligraphy.

Then I learned about hand lettering and really became amazed by the whole thought of drawing letters by hand and etc. Really knowing that when you sit and watch something take form how amazing it can be. One of the reasons I became so interested in hand-lettering is my fascination with typography. Typography ranging from graffiti to sign painters.

Calligraphy is definitely something that I’m going to continue doing. Because you may think calligraphy? that its so hard too do. When honestly all it requires is for you to relax, have patience and practice practice practice. The kit that I am using currently is Calligraphy The Easy Way (Complete Kit) I would recommend this for beginners. Inside you have gouache paint, fountain pen, inks, dip pen, brush for lettering. Also you have a book on the history of calligraphy that is a quick read also with the chancery calligraphy font and a sketchpad to practice with.

If your interested I recommend picking this up if you want something simple and not super expensive that will give you a good foundation of calligraphy. I also continually update my instagram with calligraphy projects that I have completed. Now If I can just get a better grasp on flourishes to not feel as if I ruined a project. Below is a video showing me working on a quote.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Managing Your Time Better

Recently I have began to learn that as a freelance designer managing time is such a very important thing to do. Because before I would not have a set schedule of when I would start and stop designing. Also taking on too much work too do. As designer we think oh that magazine is not going to take long to do or designing the logo will only take a few hours.

Well for some that may be the possibility and you have clients that absolutely love everything you do. Then you will have clients that do not love everything you do. You also may end up working extremely long hours and lose track of time. Being able to discipline yourself in regards to time management is vital.

Here’s what I did to start managing my time better

Have a set schedule
Start off first doing whats the hardest thing
Set a designated number of hours I am going to work
One of the most important things dress as if you are going to work

When you dress as if you are going to work it will put you in a different mindset. I learned this from listening to the Seanwes podcast. Doing the simple things will help make a major difference. The most important thing is paying attention to productivity. If you are busy that’s good but what are you busy doing?