The Perfect Design Blog » graphic design tips

Design From Life Experience

Rufino — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:19:21 +0000

This post is a continuation of graphic design tip #63 in our article “101 Graphic Design Tips for Business Success.“

Research And Intuition Is All You Need

You don’t have to live through an arctic expedition to be able to design an accurate brochure about one. The best design narratives can happen with research and a little bit of intuition. Let the flow of ideas based on your life, and your perception of environments, become a key to successful design. No matter what the subject is!

Pay attention to the details. Inspecting common objects closely is a way to incorporate authenticity into your artwork. Little details like a coffee stain or sandstone texture can add depth and dimension to your page. Notice the things that make your experiences feel genuine like the pattern formed by water ripples or the light reflected off of a glass. Incorporate and morph these effects in new ways to make your creative more robust.

Inspiration Is Just Around – Interpretation Is On You

Kindle your memories when you get stumped. Your recollections can be your greatest resource. Reach back and recall moments that were particularly meaningful to you. Objects from your childhood such as an old book cover, a favorite marble or your Aunt’s colorful couch can surface for much needed (and sometimes odd) inspiration. If you need to, take a moment and just let your mind wander to see what it comes up with. Embrace the hidden treasures that you have already accumulated in your mind.

Look for enlightenment in your own proximity. The neighborhood that you live in, the people you associate with, even the last road trip you took that can reward you with some fantastic material. Taking a drive through an area of your city that you love for the architecture or attending a party with other creatives is a great place to start. What you need may be as close as your own back yard.

Inspiration from around the world is within your grasp – the interpretation is all up to you.

Practice Your Graphic Design Skills

Rufino — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 22:41:08 +0000

This is graphic design tip #62 from the post 101 Graphic Graphic Design Tips for Business Success

Experience Is The Difference Between Good And Great Designers

The more you do things the better you get at it and the faster you do it next time.

One of the biggest differences between good and great designers is experience. If you want to be great, it’s going to take some effort. A little old-fashioned elbow grease and the gumption to keep trying is all you will really need. Setting aside time to practice and train is important in honing your skills in graphic design. There is so much to learn, even the most experienced designers are learning something new every day.

Don’t get stuck in the areas that you know. Have the courage to venture out into the territory that you don’t quite understand. Pinpoint the areas that intimidate you. Scared of html? Drill on a few lines of code each day. Need to learn clipping paths? Pick out a complex picture and practice on it until you have it nailed. Remember the one awesome
thing about digital art is that you have an “Undo” option (try that with oil painting or sculpture). You can’t really screw up that bad with an emergency safety hatch back to the original.

You Will Never Know Everything, But Practice Adds Value To It.

There are plenty of tutorials on the web to help you on your way. Don’t be afraid to ask the members of your online communities and other designers when you get stuck. Look for what you need to learn and there will be something out there to assist you in learning it. Begin with what you have and build onto it.

You will never know everything, but you can always add value to what you know by practice. Learn to be interactive and disciplined in your own career, actively learning and sharpening your skills every day.

Graphic Design Tip #61 – Don’t Underestimate The Cost Of A Project…

Rufino — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 21:45:16 +0000

…but, if you feel you did underestimate the cost of a project then say something.

This post is an expansion of tip #61in our post 101 Graphic Design Tips for Business Success.

Win Graphic Design Projects By Your Bid

A thoughtful and accurate bid can help you win projects. Almost all clients want to know what costs they should expect up front. Your estimate should be very thorough including details such as time, editing costs, printing, and other production. Your client will base his budget on the amount you give him and this will almost always be a hard amount to
change at the end of the project, especially if they are using a corporate purchase order. Corporate purchase orders can sometimes take a long time to process and be difficult if not impossible to change. Remember all of this before letting an amount slip out of your lips or be prepared to pay the price later on.

Set up your bid specification sheet to include all of the information your client would need to open up a purchase order:

Date bid information was issued
Bid Expirations Date
Client contact information
Your contact information
Project name and description
Estimated hours for design/edits
Printing details if applicable: quantity, size, color, paper, etc.

You can choose to do this separately should your client want to use their
own printer

Web specification and any additional costs for domain purchase; banner advertising, hosting, etc.
Stock photography purchase
And anything else that may come as an out-of-pocket expense to you

Say Something – Sooner

If at the end of the project you find that you did underestimate the cost, say something. And say it sooner than later. The quicker you are to act and alert the client, the more options you will have to come up with a satisfactory solution. It’s can be easy to miscalculate the total costs of a project. Unpredictable roadblocks may come up, a content error that requires a reprint or a concept is taking twice the amount of time to create than originally thought…most clients will understand the need to be flexible. Others may want you to stick to your original bid. Mediate and come up with the
best solution for the situation where both parties can come out winning. Learn from the unexpected and build a cushion into projects that could potentially run into these obstacles.

A little preemptive planning can keep your paydays from becoming big paybacks.

Meet People – Graphic Design Tip #60

Rufino — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:15:58 +0000

This post is an expansion of tip #60 in our post 101 Graphic Design Tips for Business Success.

Meet people in “real life.” Get outside!

“Get a life!”

You can’t live in cyber-land all of the time. It’s healthy to get out and mix n’ mingle. Break up your emails and social media activities with lunches, happy hours and other activities. Making an effort to meet in person with your vendors and clients will pay off in ways you can’t even imagine. A “drive-by” to drop off a coffee or have a chat is a small way to break up the monotony of texting and instant messages. Face-to-face contact builds an emotional bond that you can’t get through electronic communications.

“It’s so good to finally put a face to a name.”

Face-to-face meetings inspire coordination and help with persuasion. It lowers the risk of misinterpretation and allows you to convey information completely. Being physically present is key to receiving vital verbal and non-verbal information. You can easily gauge a reaction to a concept by being able to see an enthusiastic nod or a hesitant stroke of the chin. Through email this information might take several messages to become evident.

“It’s just human behavior.”

People are hungrier than ever to have “real” relationships. It is simply a primal need for humans to interact with each other socially. Most people are likely to do business with people they know and have a connection with. This bond can take a very long time to form with just an online relationship. Being there physically can help you create a deeper relationship through friendship, trust and a sense of commitment. While it might not be in your nature to be a social butterfly, it is always beneficial to make contact with the important people in your life. The key to having a fulfilling career
and life is to establish a network of people that are not only clients and colleagues, but also friends.

Travel – Graphic Design Tip #59

Rufino — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 22:25:58 +0000

This post, “” is a follow-up post to tip # 59 in our article, “101 Graphic Design Tips for Business Success”. Please be sure to subscribe to that list if you haven’t seen it already.

A Change In Scenery

A change of scenery will do you good (big or small). Get out of your normal local and shake off the cobwebs in your mind. Trekking the ruins of Chichen Itza, Mexico or shopping Canal Street in New York City, can help you learn about
culture, art, architecture and most importantly – yourself. There is nothing like real life experiences with new people, places and things to stimulate your imagination.

Reconnecting with your self can be as easily as selecting an excursion that boosts your confidence and knowledge. Test your independence by hiking a national forest or taking a new subway route. All of these activities can leave you with a wonderful feeling of accomplishment at the end of the day. Keep a journal handy to document your experience
and to sketch out interesting scenes and ideas that you come to you. This will help you to continue to get value out of your trip long after your suitcase is stowed away.

Travelling And Sightseeing

Traveling and sightseeing can broaden your perspective of life and give you other avenues of ‘thought’ that you only ‘thought’ were possible. It has the ability to expand your heart and mind. Affordable ways of travel include hostels and exchange programs. This is also the best way to really get to know the locals. There is nothing like crossing a language barrier with a smile or the smell of freshly washed linens drying on a balcony to restore your faith in the benevolence of the universe. Inspire your creativity by embracing the colors of the culture. Explore and bargain at the local markets and savor
the experience of wandering new streets. Taste the cuisine, smell the air, and soak it all in as often as you can.

At the end of the day, one of the best things about travel is returning home. The first few minutes of sinking into your familiar surroundings can be priceless. Gratitude for what you have and a fresh perspective of who you are makes travel invaluable.

Add Other Things You Love Into Your Work – Graphic Design Tip #58

Rufino — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 21:49:42 +0000

This post is an expansion of tip #58 in our post 101 Graphic Design Tips for Business Success.

What’s Your Other Craft Other Than Graphic Design?

Odds are as a talented graphic designer you are also interested in other forms of art. If your heart lies in another craft, powerfully combine your passions to kick life into your designs. Pablo Ferro has created title sequences and theatrical trailers for classics like Thomas Crown Affairs, The Clockwork Orange, and Dr. Strangelove. Watch Ferro’s sequences and you will see the harmony of animation, typography, music and graphics entwined. He is a self-taught animator and often uses hand drawn lettering in his work.

Mix-it-up with music. If you want to work on a fun project with little or no creative restriction, approach a local band and offer up your services. You will get an artistic release, a boost to your portfolio, and possibly free tickets to their next show. Check out the amazing work of Art Chantry and Paula Scher, both got their start designing posters and record cover art. They are also published authors as well. Sometimes it’s simply smart to follow the muse wherever it takes you.

Apply Everything That You Know

If you have a passion for the environment, utilize environmentally friendly ink and recycled paper. Take on clients that have a sustainable conscience. Do you airbrush cars on the side? Apply that technique to an illustration for your next open-minded client. Graffiti artist Doze Green was able to take his work from the subway to clothing lines and live painting performances. The point is that everything you create can benefit from the multi facets of your abilities.

Most great artists are more than one-dimensional. Have the eagerness to apply everything you know and love to your work. Your work will love you back!

Remember That Graphic Design Is ART

Rufino — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:00:10 +0000

This post is a continuation of graphic design tip #57 in our article “101 Graphic Design Tips for Business Success.“

Imaginations Don’t Have Boundaries

Try new things. Let yourself get caught up in your customer’s vision and give them your best work. You might be surprised what you can do if you just let go for a concept or two and “let your hands explore the canvas.” Imaginations don’t have boundaries.

Experimenting with different styles, mediums and materials is crucial in creating memorable art. Stefan Sagmeister is a master at limitless creativity. He has used everything from wire hangers and corrugated boards to clothes irons utilized as
makeshift printing presses. This kind of ingenuity puts you on the map and wins awards.

Childlike Enthusiasm + Originality = Genius Artwork!

You don’t have to rely on stock photography or existing templates. Even with budget restraints you can be innovative. Use your own photographs or create illustrations utilizing materials you have. Collaborate with other fellow designers and artists to produce something surprising and new. Some of your concepts should take “guts” and follow through. If there is something you have been dying to try – go for it.

Add a little elbow grease and cross your fingers. Navigating uncharted territory takes hard work and courage, but the results when correctly executed is unforgettable. So the next time your client asks for something edgy, give em’ all you got. Think outside of the box or even use the box if you have to. Childlike enthusiasm and originality is a powerful
combination that produces genius artwork!

Time For Personal Projects – Graphic Design Tip #56

Rufino — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:49:16 +0000

This post is an expansion of tip #56 in our post 101 Graphic Design Tips for Business Success.

Go Home And Have A Creative Life

Not all of your artistic endeavors need to happen from behind your computer. It’s good for you to get out and your hands dirty. This is the only way that you actually explore and understand your creativity, and likes, to the fullest. A quote from the movie Auntie Mame (1958) sums it up, “Yes! Live! Life’s a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to
death!”

At a recent In-HOWse design conference, Stanley Hainsworth, founder of Tether and former creative director at Nike, Lego and Starbucks, stressed the virtues of personal projects. He encouraged his team at Starbucks to go home and have a creative life outside of work. The results were happy, healthy and inspired designers.

Other Forms Of Mediums

Remember how much you enjoyed arts n’ crafts as a child? You can still find stimulation from activities that required you to wear a smock (minus the paste eating). Spend time each week, even if it is just a few minutes, immersing yourself in an activity of your choice. Create watercolor cards for your friends, experiment with photography or sculpture. Japanese ink painting and oils introduce you to the nuances of shade and concentration. You don’t have to be good at it to give it a try.

Opening up your brain to other forms of mediums sharpens the skills you have and helps you develop new ones. An added bonus is that it’s a no-pressure way to release your inhibitions. You don’t have a client to impress or a deadline to meet. A new undertaking takes your mind off of the stress of the day and rejuvenates your way of thinking.

You’re Not The Best Graphic Designer

Rufino — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 01:42:07 +0000

This post is a continuation of graphic design tip #55 in our article “101 Graphic Design Tips for Business Success.”

Don’t Be A Prima Donna

Graphic designers can be known to act like Prima Donnas once their career takes off. A healthy amount of confidence is vital for your career; an overload of ego can be fatal. The last thing you want is a reputation for being inflexible, irrelevant and difficult to work with. While it feels good to be “king of the mountain”, there will always be other talented designers rushing up behind you. They will either want to beat you or be like you.

No matter how good you are, there will always be room for improvement. Even Michelangelo said, “I am still learning”. A little humility goes a long way; it will get you out of the hen-house attitude of constantly being competitive and jealous. Your motivation should always be to be the best that you can be and realize that you have no limits to your own self-discovery.

Limitless Possibilities

You are only as good as your current work, so keep trying to improve, even if a lot of people admire your work. Take each project as a challenge to set the bar a little higher and to stretch a little further. Make goals that aren’t dependent on outside sources of validation. Take on projects that aren’t necessarily in your job description. Attack tasks that intimidate you like new learning new software or code. Mentor and collaborate with others. Remember the people who helped you on the way and thank them for it.

Limitless possibilities make being a graphic designer fun. Embrace change, accept criticism and learn. Even if you think you are number one already, acknowledging that growth is still possible is exhilarating.

Join A Network Of Graphic Designers

Rufino — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:57:24 +0000

This post is a continuation of graphic design tip #54 in our article “101 Graphic Design Tips for Business Success.“

Don’t Be A Caveman

Social networking is the hottest trend these days. Recently sites like myspace, twitter, and facebook have become widely popular and accepted as valid sources of information. If you haven’t signed up for one or all of them you may have been living in a cave! There is more to networking online than posting pictures of the new pup or your status on what’s for dinner.

You can spend a lot of time on these sites, so setting things up the right way may take a little planning. If you do it right you will create a profile that will attract both clients and colleagues to join your network.

Here are some of the A, B, C’s of social networking.

A. Always keep your business and personal profiles separate.

a. When being exposed to a large online community you should practice the art of compartmentalizing (for example when facebooking set your business up as a “page” instead of a “profile”. Your clients won’t be interested in your summer vacation and your friends and relatives might not be interested in your self-promotion. This doesn’t mean that they can’t overlap, just draw the line and keep it relevant to your audience.

B. Be prepared with a robust personal profile.

a. Create a text document with the basics about you. It can be a livelier version of your resume including previous job experience, awards and current projects. A short bio with your networking interests accompanied by a nice profile picture should give you the essentials for most networking sites. For graphic design sites plan on creating an online portfolio and links to your website(s).

C. Consistent contact.

a. Narrow down how many networks you belong to in order to achieve this goal. The best way to build reputation and credibility is to consistently blog, post, comment and upkeep your profile. People won’t visit profiles that are stagnant and unresponsive. Don’t open a profile and then neglect it. If you find that you haven’t visited a site for several weeks consider closing down that particular account.

The Value Of Niche Networking

Also, never underestimate the value of niche networking. Joining a graphic design network is imperative to your growth and validity as a designer. Networks help you see more designs and get in contact with good designers. If you don’t know who’s good, look at who’s being followed the most and try figure out why?

Some specialized sites allow you to follow websites, setup feeds and notices for people and agencies that interest you. They can place you in contact with clients looking for freelance and forums to connect with other designers to share ideas or vent frustration. Best of all they are a source of motivation and inspirations. An amazing way to feel connected through a virtual community.

The final no-brainer of social networking is just because it’s virtual doesn’t mean you can act recklessly. Everyone potentially can view your profile; abstain from making rude comments, pointless arguments, or sharing TMI (too much information). Get ready to make some real, robust relationships that go beyond geographical limitations. The Internet is your virtual power-lunch, treat every online contact as a real face-to-face relationship.