Business Cards: Ideas and Inspiration, Part II

March 25, 2011 – 6:57 pm

Today we continue looking at business cards that stand out, and here’s hoping you get some inspiration and ideas! After all, you only get one first impression, so your business card should be something that showcases the best of your design abilities. On Wednesday we looked at the use of interesting shapes, 3D business cards, and business “cards” made out of other objects. Today, we’re looking at different techniques.

Color

Let images and color draw attention to your card. If your name incorporates a color, the reiteration on the card can create a memorable impression. Take a look at the elegant, striking, and fitting use of color on these business cards, all from Inspiredology.com.

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Clever Associations

The next four pictures are taken from creativebits.org.

Have a lawn-care business? Consider seed packets as business cards.

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Or perhaps you want something to help people find their way to your map-printing business:

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Work Samples

Maybe you want to include a sample on your business card. This gives people a tangible vision of your work.

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Image: Toxel.com

And of course, if you claim to be an interactive designer, an interactive business card (from creattica.com) is a good way to back up your claim.

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AllGraphicDesign’s blog offers many more examples of unique and interesting business cards. For more inspiration, take a look at these posts:

The Coolest Business Cards - Beautiful & Unique Business Card Designs Part 4

More Cool Business Cards - Business Card Layout & Design Part 5

The Coolest Business Cards - Beautiful & Unique Business Card Designs Part 6

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By All Graphic Design Staff Posted in Best of the Best Designs, Cool Business Cards, Graphic Design 101, Self Promotion & Marketing No Comments

Business Cards: Ideas and Inspiration, Part I

March 23, 2011 – 9:50 pm

As a graphic designer, your business card should do more than let people know how to contact you. If you’re interested in truly making a good first impression, the business card has got to stand out. Whether through color, design, die cutting, unique materials, 3D shapes, or actual samples of your work, a stand-out business card can demonstrate your creativity and talent. This week we’re looking at ways business cards can generate positive interest in your design.

The following three examples all use shape to convey the nature of the business. Whether you’re designing a card for another business, or trying to figure out what shape best conveys your graphic design specialty, consider these shapes for inspiration, the first two from Card Inspiring’s The Most Beautiful and Creative Unique Shaped Business Cards Design and the third from bestbusinesscard.net’s post on 28 Best example of Shaped and Die-Cut Business Cards.

NinjaBTL’s throwing-star-shaped business card:

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These bottle-shaped business cards for a sommelier:

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Lindsey Casabella’s comb-shaped card, perfect for a hairstylist:

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If you feel like adding a third dimension to your business card, be inspired by some of bestbusinesscard.net’s 20 Most Unique Business Cards of 2010.

Check out the TAM Cargo business card…

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…or the Norburn Model Aircraft Supply airplane card.

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Or you could ask yourself why a business card needs to be made out of paper. The balloon and clothespin business cards are taken from Odd Stuff Magazine’s list of the 90 Most Unusual Business Card Designs of All Time.

ballon-card

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For more inspiration, check out these Coolest Business cards posts:

The Coolest Business Cards

Coolest Business Cards Part 2

Coolest Business Cards Part 3

By All Graphic Design Staff Posted in Best of the Best Designs, Cool Business Cards, Lists, Self Promotion & Marketing 3 Comments

Collaborating and Negotiating: Part II

March 18, 2011 – 3:24 pm

Image: http://sedu731fall09.wikispaces.com/

Today, we’re looking at the collaboration side of negotiation and collaboration in graphic design. Because your work is ultimately for the client, at times you as the designer must be willing to compromise to reach a mutually agreeable goal. Here are some tips to help you collaborate with clients.

Ways to Collaborate

Listen. On page 28 of its publication A Client’s Guide to Design: How to Get the Most Out of the Process, AIGA states that “The most successful collaborations are always those where all the information is on the table and expectations are in the open from the outset.” Ask questions and practice active listening to really understand what your client wants in the first place. What’s their vision of the finished product?
Research. Know the company before you meet with them, and take time to learn about their world. If you’re working for a nonprofit, read up on current issues in charity work. If you’re working with a small business, take time to understand small business trends.
Learn. While you may have a handle on what your client wants and what will make audiences respond, remember that the marketing directors with whom you are working are also striving to understand their particular audience. Asking for their help and clarification can give you insights into a niche audience they may know better.
Be willing to simplify. Remember, what you’re ultimately doing is developing a communication strategy. However creative you want to be, if the client doesn’t feel like you’re communicating what they want, it doesn’t matter how brilliant or original your design is.

If you want more suggestions, AIGA’s article on in-house design and communication is quite helpful in learning about communication with a broad client base.

By All Graphic Design Staff Posted in Clients, Design Careers, Graphic Design 101 2 Comments

Collaborating and Negotiating: Part I

March 16, 2011 – 5:46 pm

Image: raincityguide.com

It’s there in the design brief: the problem your client wants you to solve. But whether your objective is to create an advertisement, exhibition or public announcement, sometimes you and the client aren’t quite on the same page about what exactly the best design solution is. OC Photographer asked a great question about the collaborating and negotiating side of graphic design when it comes to dealing with clients. Today we’re focusing on the negotiating side of handling disagreements.

Ways to Negotiate

Show your skills. Now is the time to use the expertise gained from your graphic design education. You need to be able to explain clearly to the client why the visual/layout/typeface you’ve chosen is the best way to connect with their target audience. You’ve learned color theory, design theory, cross-cultural communication, etc. at graphic design school, so be willing to defend what you’ve created.
Show your knowledge. If research will back up your claims, do it! Facts and figures speak louder than opinions.
Bring samples. When you’re defending one particular design over another, it helps if your client can see other ideas you’ve rejected. Particular adjectives such as “masculine,” “subtle,” or “attention-grabbing” may not mean the same thing to different people.
Check your attitude. If you’ve approached the problem with the attitude that you, as the creative designer, know everything, and your client knows little, it becomes hard to establish trust. If you listen humbly and are willing to show that you are taking their concerns seriously, they are more likely to trust you and listen to your advice.

If you can’t negotiate your design idea, sometimes it’s time to compromise. Check back on Friday, when we’ll take a look at different ways to collaborate.

By All Graphic Design Staff Posted in Clients, Design Education, Design Project Management, Graphic Design 101 No Comments

When Things Go Bad: 5 Tips for Firing Clients

March 11, 2011 – 2:47 pm

Most graphic designers will be in a similar situation at some point: the client will not pay, the client is never satisfied with your work yet won’t collaborate to fix it, or you simply realize that you and the client are not meshing. Regardless of when and why you need to fire a client, everyone knows that breaking up is hard to do. But there are graceful ways you can handle it that will help your design firm grow and keep doors open.

Image: GetEntrepreneurial.com

Stay business-focused. Make sure the client knows that this is not personal. It’s simply not a good fit for you and your business at this point.
Be polite. Never burn all your bridges, even if you’re certain you never want to work with a client again. You never know when you might need a reference or recommendation, or whether an employee from one client will end up working at another client.
Be honest. Let the client know exactly what the problem is, phrasing it in business terms. The more honest you can be, the more mutually satisfying and productive the separation will be for both parties.
Offer an alternative. Ask clients if they can see any other option or think of another solution besides terminating the current business relationship.
Ask for feedback. This is a great tip whether your relationship with the client is coming to an end because you’ve finished the project, or whether you’ve simply decided not to work together anymore. Asking the client for honest feedback can help your business grow and improve, and help you know what future clients might be looking for.

By All Graphic Design Staff Posted in Clients, Design Careers, Design Project Management, Graphic Design 101, Self Promotion & Marketing 1 Comment

Tips for Working with Clients: Approaching the Relationship

March 10, 2011 – 8:09 pm

Whether you’re looking for design classes, design degree programs, internships or first jobs, it’s important to choose an option that will help you learn clear communication, especially when it comes to designer/client relationships. Knowing how to work with clients should always be part of a successful graphic design education. The following tips can help you form a solid basis for a good run with nearly any client.

Image: Freelance Apple

Gain clients carefully. Selecting your clients carefully is the first step in a responsible client/designer relationship. You should have a clear idea of who the client is and what needs exist, and the client should have a clear idea of your expertise or that of your firm.

Collaborate and negotiate. Be able to explain your vision to the client and why it’s the best possible solution to their design problem. While you should defend your ideas, when possible it’s a good idea to give in to the client.

Maintain contact. If you are proactive about contacting the client and providing updates, the client will feel important and have more confidence in your work.

Stick to deadlines. It doesn’t matter if you have to give up an occasional weekend or work thirteen-hour days for a week. Part of being a professional designer is getting your work done on time.

For more ideas on handling your relationships with client, check out “Keeping Your Cool as a Graphic Designer,” Part I and Part II.

By All Graphic Design Staff Posted in Clients, Design Careers, Design Education, Design Project Management, Graphic Design 101 2 Comments

Working for Good: Pro Bono Design, Part II

March 4, 2011 – 2:30 pm

Image: The Society of Graphic Designers of Canada

If you’re interested in doing pro bono graphic design work, it’s important to educate yourself about smart ways to do it. Once you’ve got some guidelines, you can approach your pro bono work with creativity; unless your client specifically requests it, you don’t need to limit yourself to a brochure. Consider these ideas for pro bono designing.

Think outside design. Sure, you’re a graphic designer, but your pro bono work doesn’t need to be done in front of a computer. Consider offering free art or design classes at a local community center, after-school program, hospital, or nursing care facility. You’ll be using your skills, interacting with others, and teaching design to those who might not otherwise have the ability to take classes.

It’s not about a brochure. Consider other ways to use design. If your client is trying to spread a message, consider designing a t-shirt. If your nonprofit is renovating a run-down building, consider painting a mural for the walls or even doing some environmental design to organize the layout of the building.

Reach as far as possible. Or take a cue from nonprofit organization Art with Heart’s founder Steffanie Lorig: knowing a young girl who was fighting cancer inspired her to help organize and create the art-therapy activity book Oodles of Doodles, designed to help hospitalized children work through the pain.

For more ideas and inspiration, check out this article about one designer’s attempt at pro bono work for a good cause in his city.

By All Graphic Design Staff Posted in Design Careers, Design Education, Salaries & Wages & Rates, Self Promotion & Marketing 3 Comments

Working for Good: Pro Bono Design, Part I

March 2, 2011 – 11:55 pm

Doing pro bono (”for the public good”) work has a variety of advantages, including the chance to do something good for someone else, network in your community (or in the online business and design community), possibly get a tax break, and build up your portfolio. Today, we’re taking a look at smart ways to do pro bono work, and later this week we’ll cover some ideas for pro bono design that go beyond a brochure or pamphlet.

Image: Keattikorn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Just the desire to do something good won’t mean successful pro bono work. To not end up in a situation where the client won’t use your work and you’ll have wasted your time, make sure to follow these guidelines.

Choose clients carefully. If you have a vastly different style and overall vision from the client you’ve chosen, you’ll just end up frustrated.

Communicate. Don’t assume that because you’re working for free, the client will love all your ideas. It’s still important that you discuss clearly what you’re looking to do and what your client wants.

Be professional. Multiple versions of creative briefs that outline what you and the client want can help you ensure that your work is mutually satisfying. You’ll have the timing, target audience, and the client’s most important needs drawn out, among other things.

Promote. Now that you’ve completed this graphic design project, see if you can draw some media attention to the work, and make sure your name/credit line and that of the organization are known. This will benefit both you and the client.

For more tips on being smart about pro bono work, check out this article about tips for designers and pro bono clients or this link to various pro-bono-related articles.

By All Graphic Design Staff Posted in Design Careers, Design Education, Design Project Management, Self Promotion & Marketing 2 Comments

Negotiating Tips: Getting the Deal You Want

February 25, 2011 – 11:49 am

Image: renjith krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Negotiating is an essential part of a graphic designer’s business, and it can be tricky even for experienced negotiators. You and the client are both looking to get as much as possible for your side of the deal, and while concessions and compromises may be inevitable, you want to make a few as possible. Here are some tips for a more successful negotiation process.

Designer, know thyself. Think about goals and limits: what are you aiming at, how much do you need to earn, and what won’t you do? If you know exactly what your aim and boundaries are, then you’ll know where to compromise and you’ll be less likely to let the heat and emotions of negotiation get in the way.

Become a researcher. There are many facets to the research you’ll have to conduct for a successful negotiation:

What are typical fees for designers working in the same location on similar projects?
What is your market value according to your education and experience?
Can you back up your claims with facts or numbers related to the specific projects and costs the client is looking for?

Don’t be afraid to walk away. If you’ve considered all angles and the client won’t even accept the least that you are willing to do, then walking away helps you avoid a job where you’ll feel compromised, taken advantage of, and frustrated.

Review the results. Once you’ve completed a negotiation, it’s important to think about where you were more or less successful, and what you could change for next time.

It’s unlikely that you’ll always get exactly what you want in a negotiation. But if you educate yourself, you’ll have a much better chance at getting closer to your target.

By All Graphic Design Staff Posted in Design Careers, Design Project Management, Salaries & Wages & Rates, Self Promotion & Marketing 1 Comment

4 Online Magazines and Journals for the Graphic Designer

February 24, 2011 – 12:23 pm

Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

As a graphic designer, where do you go for inspiration, connections, business news, copyright and legal information, best practices, and technological advances? There are professional magazines and journals out there that cover a variety of news, research, issues, and developments related to various topics, including graphic design. So if you’re interested in design magazines that offer unique information, perspectives, and the chance to keep up-to-date on facets of the latest in the design world, check out these four online graphic design magazines that, unlike much in the ezine world, are still going strong:

designboom: designboom is an online magazine dedicated to global art, architecture, and design. It covers issues and critiques related to contemporary design, as well as publishing interviews, reviews, research, and historical essays.
Digital Media World. This magazine caters to the graphic designer with a bent toward multimedia. Published on a monthly basis, this ezine offers news, reviews, techniques, and inspiration.
Typographica. If you’re into fonts, this online magazine offers typeface reviews, reviews of published books about typeface, and articles about what’s going on in the typeface world.
Voice: AIGA Journal of Design. An online magazine published by one of design’s foremost professional associations, offering articles about a variety of design-related topics.

If you’re interested in other types of web-based information and inspiration, don’t forget to look into graphic design podcasts and social networking communities.

By All Graphic Design Staff Posted in Design Education, Design News, Lists, Web Design 1 Comment

Business Cards: Ideas and Inspiration, Part II

Business Cards: Ideas and Inspiration, Part I

NinjaBTL’s throwing-star-shaped business card:

Collaborating and Negotiating: Part II

Collaborating and Negotiating: Part I

When Things Go Bad: 5 Tips for Firing Clients

Tips for Working with Clients: Approaching the Relationship

Working for Good: Pro Bono Design, Part II

Working for Good: Pro Bono Design, Part I

Negotiating Tips: Getting the Deal You Want

4 Online Magazines and Journals for the Graphic Designer

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