Category: inspirational

Don’t be afraid of rejection

You may be wondering ok what is the point of the picture. We’ll this was some concepts for a client that was rejected. I felt as if why would they reject this. Just look at how beautiful the New York is and how the flourishes are. Yes I know it looks a bit rough saying to myself

Getting rejected can be utmost pain to have happen to someone. Do not look at rejection as a bad thing.  I learned quickly to not get offended. Because if you get offended as a graphic design professional that shows how unprofessional you are.

When in the situation ask what it is that you could’ve done better/different to meet the expectations of the project. All of designing is a learning experience to constantly improve and get better. Making mistakes and getting rejected is the only way you’ll get somewhere.

But don’t be a fool to keep working for a client who rejects your work and is in control of the process. What I mean is they should be letting you do your part. You’ll save yourself a headache, energy and time wasted dealing with worthless and unappreciative people. Remember that if you are not failing your not getting anywhere.

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

The Enemy of Creativity

The enemy of creativity is good taste. If you are a designer developing good taste can be something that seems impossible. Because when you are starting or it could be currently your situation of producing work that you know that is not at the level that it can be. Being creative is something that has to be disciplined and structured.

When your creativity is structured you are able to developed what good tastes is. The same thing can be applied to having a Honda or a Bentley. There you can see that the brand of each car details a certain level of taste. When you are designing you should look closely at the details of work that you drool over each day.

You know when you sit on behance or tumblr, instagram or wherever study the work. By study I mean to learn and look about what it is they did to come up with the design. While you are looking at the work start to look at placement of things and how they can work together.

Expect better quality of work from yourself and your work quality will improve.

Happy New Year

Let me first start off by saying Happy New Year and I hope you made it home safely. For JostenDooley.com I wanted to continue improving and providing material for you all to enjoy.

Some things I wanted to run by everyone to get feedback on ideas I had

  • Post youtube videos of me talking about design
  • Giving away poster design files for you to enjoy and print on your own
  • Create an Etsy shop and sell posters
  • Write an Ebook about design and give it away to you all

What are your thoughts about these?

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.

It is officially My Birthday and 26 things I’ve learned that actually matter

Birthday today and I am turning the big 26 and I know I have still quite a ways to go but I’ll definitely get there soon. Oh yeah don’t let me forget the 26 things I’ve learned that actually matter.

  1. Do not depend on anyone but yourself
  2. Self respect and self confidence can take you a long way
  3. Treat everyone like your friend no matter what
  4. Be willing to let the losers fade away
  5. Be willing to go the extra mile
  6. Do a little more each day and do it better
  7. Constantly push yourself to not be average
  8. Learning is a lifelong Journey
  9. Reading helps increase your thought process and vocabulary
  10. You need to have more then one skill
  11. Let things happen naturally
  12. Stop trying to control everything
  13. Make the odds in your favor
  14. Do not make excuses
  15. Nobody has to believe in your dreams but you
  16. Put your blood, sweat, tears, mind body and soul into whatever you do
  17. Passion only helps if you are willing to get up early or after work and grind
  18. Its ok to know a lot of people but whom you know says a lot
  19. Whats easy to do is also easy not to do
  20. Take care of yourself
  21. Use past experiences to help you in the present
  22. Having ton’s of clothes and shoes does not matter in the long run
  23. Give away what you don’t need
  24. There is plenty of money available
  25. You have to know what is going on everywhere
  26. Break the cycle in your family by doing something no one else is doing and keep going until it happens