We congratulate Terry on the design!

From the contest brief, “I need a logo that includes the initials, EDS, from my company name, “Efficient Dental Solutions,” and also includes the name. I would like to see a couple variations of the logo…maybe a couple with just the initials and a couple with the initials incorporated into some sort of abstract symbol.”

We think Terry did a great job capturing the contest holders requirements.

What do you think about his design?

vbarnhart recently won the JustTemps logo contest.

From the design brief, “…need a strong, innovative logo to represent our company, which is a market leader in the industrial temporary labor field.  Would like one, identifiable color, preferably orange (like the traffic cones and work vests often worn) but open to other color ideas.  The logo needs the brand name “Just Temps” and “Industrial Labor” in it.  This logo needs to resonate with foreman and business owners in this very labor intensive field and should convey reliability, strength, and professionalism.”

Vince did a great job with this one! Congratulations!

What do you think?

]]> http://theperfectdesign.com/blog/recent-logo-designs/feed/ 0 http://theperfectdesign.com/blog/terry-bogard-graphic-designer-spotlight/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=terry-bogard-graphic-designer-spotlight http://theperfectdesign.com/blog/terry-bogard-graphic-designer-spotlight/#comments Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:50:15 +0000 admin http://theperfectdesign.com/blog/?p=2572 I am a finance professional. Design has never been my occupation, it is just my passion and I think I’ve have come a long way with it. Most of my friends happened to be creatives during my teens and I used to do alot of freelance and fun work around that time. I worked in a design studio for a few years and learned market dynamics. I have also participated in many crowd sourced projects which helped me learn some different and unique aspects of the trade. In short it has been a learning curve all along. Specially in crowd sourced projects where its a contest-environment and you have to constantly do better.

Designer Terry Bogard

I am a finance professional. Design has never been my occupation, it is just my passion and I think I’ve have come a long way with it. Most of my friends happened to be creatives during my teens and I used to do alot of freelance and fun work around that time. I worked in a design studio for a few years and learned market dynamics. I have also participated in many crowd sourced projects which helped me learn some different and unique aspects of the trade. In short it has been a learning curve all along. Specially in crowd sourced projects where its a contest-environment and you have to constantly do better.

I think I’m no different than other creatives in terms of enjoying their work. I can simply put it this way – I love being paid for doing what I enjoy. Imagine being paid to have fun, eat and sleep. Designing is my passion and every creation of mine makes me feel great regardless if its sold or not. But getting paid to be passionate is just great.  My most used tools are graphite pencil & graph paper. Then later it goes on to Illustrator. I also work on Photoshop occasionally for web-layouts as its hard to pull web-layout off by graphite .

Inspiration can come from anywhere – from an individual atom to the entire universe and everything in between. It’s all about observation and bringing your memory of visuals together FOR the right brand, AT the right time, WITH the right combination(s) and WHEN the need arises. But that does not mean that I’m just another creative junkie who is waiting for his next design hallucination. There is a process that formulates this creativity. I think a product has both functional and emotional attributes. The functional attributes are the brand’s promise to its consumers, while the window to its emotional attributes is what design is really all about. Although design process will vary depending on the project, my most basic practice is to do a 20 second visual check where I brainstorm the keyword(s) that best describe the business or project I am working on. The idea is to know what emotions those keywords generate and what image those emotions translate into from a consumer standpoint.

Message for designers:

You are all unique creatures. What makes you unique is the ability to THINK and CREATE unique things. Know that you’re not a designer the day you stop being unique in all aspects of your designs and start ripping off  . Have patience and respect for a creature like yourself. Never say “I know”…but say “I can learn more”.

We’ve been getting e-mails from graphic designers asking when the site would launch, but we don’t have to worry about answering that question anymore. It’s here! The site is up, it’s beautiful, and you can now sign up as a contest holder or designer.

In fact, we are launching our very first beta contests right now (logo and website). The contests are two week contests, which will give us plenty of time to test and receive feedback from those participating in these contests. At the end of these contests we will award the winners and the site will be empty of any new contests for one week, unless some unsuspecting contest holder launches a contest, which we don’t mind.

In three weeks, you will see more new contests and we will be moving forward at full speed. We thank you for visiting and welcome any feedback you may have for us. See the contests HERE. Please let us know your thoughts!

Chad, on behalf of ThePerfectDesign.com Team

Have you ever suspected that there is something peculiar about Graphic Design? If you haven’t before, I’m sure you will after this. Because, maybe you’ve never wondered at the thought of Graphic Design being a living thing; ever growing, teaching, evolving…changing the world and changing the way we humans look at things. Have you ever wondered about that?

Peculiar, isn’t it?

Graphic Designers

There are many people called Graphic Designers, but I feel, with this new knowledge and wonderment, Graphic Designers should not be called Graphic Designers… No, Graphic Designers are, now, not the creators, they are only the helpers, the enablers, of this massive, living substance called Graphic Design. With that… Are Graphic Designers rightfully called so? Shouldn’t Graphic Design be called “The Designer”?

And what should they be called… these so called Graphic Designers? A few things come to mind; Graphic Design Proxies, Ambassadors, Agents, Representatives… But, these are not correct the names… No, these don’t explain the phenomenon that is taking place between the living Graphic Design and those, labeled Graphic Designers.

Graphic Design is the master hand guiding the Designer, giving them insight into the creative mind and into eternity. Its power shines forth through the enabler, bringing light and understanding to the world with its vast knowledge… It’s terrifying to think that Graphic Design would dare show us all the knowledge and power that it has. What would become of us? Would the world change as we know it in an instant? And, about that word… “Enabler”… It keeps coming back to me.

I know you’re wondering now, as I have wondered… But, I plead for you to not think too deeply about it. Many days and nights have I slouched in a darkened corner with my knees clutched to my chest, thoughts racing, fantasizing about this beautiful realization of what is. Food and water, even necessity, couldn’t drag me away from this vision (it must have been); until I was carried by some unseen power to the state of mind and understanding I now find myself in.

I’ve done away with old knowledge; the old fallible knowledge that took credence from Graphic Design and gave it to humans. Oh, but that mistake would not have been made if we humans hadn’t forgotten the power of Graphic Design. It seems that the traditions of the fathers weren’t carried with their children. Stubborn children… We are fortunate that Graphic Design still loves us and shares with us its vast and eternal beauty. Wouldn’t you agree?

And, of course, thank you to the Enablers…

Author Unknown

13. Get Credit – Print design credits and designed by links

You have a lot of great talent, feel confident in your abilities and are now ready to take it to the next level. You are ready for more business. You are ready to take it to the streets. Lucky for you, you already have the most basic, effective, marketing tool already. Most designers intuitively know how to market themselves. The only limitation for you will be how many relationships you can build.

The best way to start is to work with the relationships you already have to make more viable business. Try to get a credit on some of your print design work. You can score more business by getting credit on your work. When creating a logo or web page for someone, see if you can get a credit placed on their website with a link to your page. A lot of times you will see a “Site Design by” link on the footer of a page. Try getting a “Logo Design by” link. If the client says, “No,” don’t worry about it. It’s no big deal.

Name Recognition?

What you are doing by accomplishing these little “wins” is telling people indirectly, who you are, what you do, and why it’s important. It will gain you name recognition and compel others that like your work style to do business with you. Get in the habit of asking every client before hand if they would be willing to allow you to have a small credit on their site and testimonial when you wrap up the project.

If you have done a good job for your client, it shouldn’t be hard to get them to sing your praises. Also, if you have done any deeply discounted or pro-bono work, that can be easily worked in as a trade option. In the graphic design industry name recognition is key. This highly competitive field requires your name to become a beacon of light guiding people to you. It’s not just about them knowing you, but knowing the work you are capable of doing.

12. Rights for your logo design work

When creating your online portfolio, one of the key areas of focus should be on your logo design. Make sure you have permission to display logos you’ve created for clients on your website. This will help your online portfolio grow. Most of the time people are happy to display their business name somewhere else, but you never know…

Technically, you have produced the work but you do not own the product. You have entered into a contract with your client. Goods and services exchanged for money and rights to any creative you have produced for them. There will be many occasions where your contract can end as soon as the logo is created. The logo then will become the property of the client.

Trademark registration of logo designs

If your client is really vested in their logo they will register the logo as a trademark thus claiming rights to the graphical representation of the logo as a whole. This is a deterrent for discouraging others from registering with similar marks.

Companies will go to great lengths to protect their marks especially if they are in a highly competitive market. It’s their claim to ownership, legal jurisdiction, and may be as wide ranging as foreign goods, etc.

Get written permission for use of logo designs

Keep this all in mind when you are showcasing your work. First, get written permission, the green light from the client, to use the logo. Show them a mock-up of how it will be displayed and give the company credit or even a link to their company website. Second, make sure that the logo image is protected either by a watermark or a no right-click script. This will keep others from downloading the image for other purposes. If you have a slideshow set up in Flash, this should make it difficult to download as well.

Utilizing these precautions will ensure that you maintain a good relationship with your client that can be mutually beneficial. Most companies will appreciate any cross-pollination they might receive from your site and vice-versa. This also will show a display of good faith and your continued interest in the future of your work and the intellectual property of your client.

Thank you for reading this graphic design tip about logo design rights. Please be sure to subscribe to our blog using the social links below to stay up to date with our posts.

All the best,

ThePerfectDesign.com Team

Design a portfolio… Your own!

You’ve seen portfolios that have only a few pieces of art from some designers… This is not enough. As a designer you need to “DESIGN” your own portfolio and display your works like you are passionate about what you do.

Your portfolio will be the single most important thing that you do. It’s how you peddle your wares; convince the client or potential employer of your abilities. It’s the key piece to any interview. And in the case of online portfolios, it may be the qualifier to you getting an interview.

When creating a print portfolio the most effective formula is as follows:

• Keep it simple. Though you don’t want too few, make sure you don’t also overwhelm them with too many pieces. 10-15 should be quite enough. Usually by the third or fourth piece the client will know if they want to use you.
• Keep it flexible. Have several interchangeable pieces that you can customize to an interview. If you are going to a conservative corporation, you won’t necessarily need your ripping skateboard designs in there. If you are going to an agency interview, you will want to show them a variety of fun and creative works.
• Keep it relevant. The best practice for a portfolio is to show that you are capable of doing commonly requested tasks. They are also looking for consistency and if can you follow through a common thread on a campaigns. Try to have a combination of basics the below:
• Logo design
• Letterhead, Envelope, and Business Card.
• Newsletter Spread
• Direct Mail Piece
• Product Brochure
• Email Campaign
• Website Design



• Keep it you. The nice button down version of you, but you all the same. This is the only thing that you get total carte blanche on. Your portfolio must reflect you, your style and your uniqueness. If you want to stand out in a crowd. dazzle them with something they haven’t seen before. Many designers will get creative with the portfolio case. Try looking for a vintage accordion case, create a three-ring binder out of brushed metal, leather craft with your initials or logo. Make it fun and classy at the same time.

Design an online as well as an offline portfolio. An online portfolio is also the easiest and quickest way for a client to review your work. In this day of telecommuting, your client or employer could be miles away. Keep it fresh and updated. Something that they will want to periodically check in on.

Remember, presentation says a lot about you and how serious you are about getting their business and doing an amazing job. Try tailoring your portfolio to your next client (or prospective employer). They will be impressed

Thank you for reading this graphic design tip. Please remember to subscribe and share using the social links below.

ThePerfectDesign.com Team

Testimonials Can Lead to Even More Success

Testimonials are a great way of showing that you have been successful with other businesses and people. And, on top of that, they show that you are diligent and prepared and have a desire to do well and succeed.

I am a huge word-of-mouth person. Before I choose any goods or services, I have to read all of the reviews and know what I’m getting into. When hiring other designers for our team, it was important to check references to make sure they were responsive, easy to work with, and had a positive attitude. At the base form, what you are doing for yourself is a little basic PR.

Find a Referral System that works for you

LinkedIn has a great referral/testimonial system. I have talked to recruiters that check LinkedIn before they proceed into the recruitment cycle. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, I would recommend you get one. Also collect testimonials for use on your own personal site. Testimonials are effective self-promotion and speak louder than your own words can in the potential client’s mind. They have been proven to sell books, movies, and even Sham-wows®! Why not you?

One easy way to get testimonials is to simply ask for them. If you have a good relationship with your clients, this should be easy. They will want to help you success (that means you will still be around to do more work for them). Keep track of emails that praise your work. Our last team had a “brag book” that was filled with these kind of emails. If you have a blog, keep track of positive compliments. Not only are they good for testimonials, but also a great ego boost when you need it.

Thank you for reading this graphic design tip. Please be sure to subscribe to our blog. We have many more tips and tricks coming your way!

ThePerfectDesign.com Team

Track your time

One of the biggest challenges about graphic design is educating your client to the value of your work. Most of the time they will only see your finished project, not the time that you put into it. They won’t see that you sat for ten-hours in front of your MAC instead of going out with the family or working on something else. Tracking your time will take an intangible and will translate it into tangible specialized man-hours.

While most people will approach you to create material that they cannot produce, it’s hard for some to grasp the monetary value. Their nephew or wife can do that with their scrapbooking software right? It looks like fun, and even easy sometimes. The fact is that you are not just doodling; you have an important skill that can take an idea and translate it into a valuable marketing tool. This in the end will help your client earn money. You are important to their bottom-line.

Don’t worry about the money…

Sometimes it takes a relationship to establish with a customer before you can actually translate it to dollars. The relationship may even exist without it ever producing anything substantial. Always value a relationship over money; you never know what will happen in the future. Networking is always worth it and referrals are the best!

Be prepared to do a few pro-bono projects in your career (and for your portfolio). If a small start-up business approaches you, offer to provide them with some basics for trade or even future business. Once you have proven your worth, they will come back to you. At the same time, don’t be a sucker. If you feel you are being taken advantage of, bow out gracefully, your time is valuable and it is precious. If it is not a mutually beneficial relationship, cut it off.

Money is important, no doubt, but if you can focus on creativity and the needs of the client and prove to them your value as a designer, money will be no object if you’re charging what you’re worth and no less…