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

Your Logo’s Future

Before you even start conceptualizing your logo, plan on the future life of the logo. Make your logo flexible, so the client can use it in all types of media and marketing mediums. Begin with the potential of multiple end products in mind. Your logo may travel through all types of media that you wouldn’t have imagined.

It may end up on a storefront sign, car wrap, or on something small like a pen or keychain. Be prepared to have your logo embossed, embroidered, silkscreened, watermarked, blown-up, or shrunk down.

Logos aren’t just for pretty business cards and stationary. They are widely used for marketing and communication in an array of forms. Ensure that you have thoughtfully prepared your client for success. They are not the experts at what they need to make this happen, you must help them here.

There have been many times when a vendor is tearing their hair out because the only logo the client can find is the 12k .gif off of their website. Not a good choice for a billboard or backpack.

How To Create The Most Versatile Logo

Here’s how you create the most versatile logo:

• Create your logo in a vector-based program. Illustrator or CorelDraw not Photoshop. (Vector-based means that the software is based off of a mathematical formula not pixels like Photoshop. This allows you to scale your logo without losing any detail.)
• Set it up to a good beginning size: a common size such as 4” x 4” or 6” x 6”.
• Keep it simple. Minimize your usage of gradients, shading, shadow, anything that will lose its detail when shrunk down in size.
• Use PMS colors. This allows you and others a quick way to identify the correct color usage for the brand and logo. Vendors will also use this information to closely match when a PMS is not available in materials like plexi-glass, vinyl, fabric, and thread.
• Plan on multiple color usage. Do several versions for your client: full color – CMYK, 2 or 3 Color – your PMS colors spotted out, Black, and White.
• Plan on multiple files variations: .ai, .eps, .jpg, .gif, and a .png with a transparent background. Your client will most likely use the .jpg, .gif, or .png files, since those are the ones that they are likely to be able to see on their computer. However, they will be asked for the .eps or .ai file when they need promotional materials created for an outside vendor.

Make this “variety pack” part of your finished product delivery. If you want to give them an added bonus, size one of the logos down to email signature size and let them know how to add it to their outlook.

Now you can rest knowing that you have given your client all the tools they need to make themselves and their logo look good – no matter what!

What Is The Designer’s Goal

The whole goal of design is to elicit a response. You are trying to organize and convey information to an audience. Typography is the key to getting this information out. It is a subtle art and easily the quickest way to determine if you are an amateur or a professional. Correct use of typography can sometimes be more important than the logo itself. Correct use of typography is meant to complete the logo.

Did you ever see a logo that used too many fonts, too generic of a font treatment, or just didn’t have the proportion of the words right? Does it automatically associate in your mind a cheap or unprofessional product? A logo can speak volumes about a company and the people and product behind it.

There are a few simple rules when designing a logo:

• Choose a typeface that is easily readable scaled down.
  San Serifs are usually excellent choices, but not the only choice you have. You just want to make sure that it is legible.
• Balance your type so that it is appealing.
  This means when you have it close to what you want, convert it to outlines in Illustrator and adjust the spacing between words manually so that it is impeccably spaced.
• Work with your negative space.
  White space is almost as important is what creates it. You want a fluid sensible flow to your lettering and eyeballing what is in-between can help you there.
• Use Complimentary fonts.

Experiment, Play Around, And Have Fun!

If you are using more than one font, make sure they are complimentary. For instance use a San Serif with a Serif, a bold with a non-bold, or a larger font with a smaller font pairing. These generally have a way of balancing the logo out. Important information should be largest and boldest. Taglines should be secondary.

Experiment with many different combinations until you hit the one that feels right to you. Then pair it with your mark, if you are using one, and determine if it is spot-on. With a good logo, you should be able to separate the mark and the text comfortably with both maintaining their strength.

Play around and have fun with your fonts, experiment with drawing out a letter and manipulating its form to make it truly unique to you.

Without Your Own Logo, You’re Faceless

A logo is not simply about creating great symbols; it is the keystone to your identity. You can’t walk around without a face and your brand can’t survive without a logo. It should be very personalized, very you, but follow a few guidelines to make it last the test of time.

The logo itself will live in many different areas and forms. It must have an easily identifiable mark. A mark is a symbol that you use to represent your logo. It can be an interpretation or abstract of what you do or it can be as simple as a unique typographical treatment of your company name. Either way, make it yours and make sure you aren’t too closely replicating another logo especially in a related field. This could end you up in trouble.

Your logo should be able to interpret into different collateral forms and sizes. It should be able to be printed in black and white, 2 color, and full color. Preferably it should be flat (not 2D or 3D). If so, it’s not a ‘logo’ instead they are called ‘icons’. Icons are symbols that are used in a computer environment, to launch applications or assist in navigation. While your logo is fun to look at in 3D, in certain applications like web and email your logo could be mistaken for an icon. There is nothing more frustrating than a click that goes nowhere and does nothing.

Thinking One Dimension Isn’t Bad

Thinking one dimensionally isn’t a bad thing here. You can add shading and dimension to your logo without making it look like an icon. Remember, there will be times when you want an understated logo. For instance when you partner with a client or sponsor work for a charity. Materials with multiple logos are tricky to design and even trickier when one logo is jumping off of the page screaming for attention. If your logo is strong it won’t need to do that.

Leave icons to the computer applications. The sleeker and more streamlined your logo looks, the more professional you will appear.

Email Newsletters

Unless you’re a designer and a magician, you probably won’t get a clientele without any kind of marketing. But, you don’t have to be magic to draw clients to you. In today’s world of easily accessible advertising, there are almost endless ways to promote your services.

If you have just been going by word of mouth, try expanding to other horizons, such as online networking sites. Facebook is a well known site that allows you to create and share company information with a seemingly limitless amount of contacts. Creating a blog can also add a personal touch to your business as people tend to write about everyday experiences relating to their field of business. Some other online options are:

• E-mail newsletters. This is an inexpensive way to keep in touch with your clients and provide value. If you don’t yet have customers yet (just out of school?), create one anyway and send it to your friends and family. Have them forward it on to people they know, to help you get started.
• Use Twitter to offer special promotions or discounts.
• Internet classifieds. Their viewership is often larger than printed classifieds, and is usually less expensive.
• Create your own products on a free online shop such as Cafe Press or Zazzle.

Freebies

People love free stuff, so design a giveaway. Create a catchy logo and place it on a magnet or memo pad. Design a desktop calendar that displays a variety of your work, and of course, all your company contact information. When thinking of giveaways think in terms of creativity, and uniqueness. Who could forget contact information on a kazoo?

Lastly, never underestimate the power of a business card. Make sure your business card is eye catching by using bright colors and bold lettering. Textures and cut outs on a card also add a unique element to what can sometimes be a rather bland piece of cardstock. If you’ve got a blank side, create a coupon or discount on it. Once you’ve got a show stopping card, distribute it. Post it on bulletin boards at local businesses and libraries, and hand them out to friends and relatives. Always have them on hand because you never know where your next contact could happen.

There are many inexpensive ways to market your business, so do it. If you put some extra time, effort, and a little money in to marketing yourself, soon you’ll be bringing in clients almost by magic!

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

I always wanted to be someone when I was young. Not just another book on the shelf. I’ve had that creative fuel since I was young. However it was undiscovered, as a result I picked chemistry, biology and politics as my main college subjects, hoping to make something of it and become a politician or a scientist. Unfortunately I found out I failed at all these subjects after coming back from holiday, and only had 2 weeks to reenroll or find a different college. Against my family’s consent I took up a full course in graphic design where my creative fuel had sparked and is still burning today. 

I’ve been freelancing since 2006 while I was a student, and now working temporary at a printers as a designer as well. I through my self in the design scene and took a crash course in freelance design when I was in college, and to a lot of peoples surprise I managed to prove my success. I have been taken advantage of a few times by a number of clients due to my age or my inexperience in business. I guess I’m the type of guy who seems to learn the hard way. Yep I love freelancing because you never know where your going to get your next phone call or email from. Some freelance jobs can be a bit dull but fortunately most of the freelance jobs I’ve got were good. I’m looking to expand in to my own shop/studio, so I decided to boost my experience and finance by working at Great Ledge Printers.

My favorite part… I have two… I get a buzz when I first get a brief that has a lot of potential and when I see the work I’ve designed published and used publicly, it’s a great feeling when you walk past a piece of work and you can say “I designed that”.

I never thought of this question before because I always liked to design for my self. But if there were one individual I would design for it would be Charles Saatchi, for the simple reason that he seems to appreciate design, artwork and creativity in general. One event that’s stands out in my mind was the Islam Awareness Week in Aberdeen. Where I gave a talk about my design work in Aberdeen University and then gave a calligraphy presentation, and had another two days of writing peoples names in calligraphy. The best part of it is when you see their look on their face when they see their name in Arabic calligraphy. 

One thing I’ve learnt in the business of the design industry and dealing with clients is, always have a written agreement especially if your going to be working on a big project. Also never under sell your self, as a creative your work is unique and valuable. I’ve learnt my lessons the hard way. When I first started out, I was young and had no experience in dealing with clients face to face, and was taking advantage of.

One person who was a great help and has shaped my career in a large way is Muiz Al-Khattat. Muiz was a student and already a freelance designer when I met him he was at university and I was in my first year of college in Graphic Design. Muiz was like my design mentor, he has given me countless advice, from dealing with clients giving talks and workshops to wide audiences. I also admire his work and also inspired by it. When I first entered the freelance design scene I could relay on him at any time when I needed advice and help. There were other people who have helped shape my Design career like my family and my tutors. However Muiz was the most prominent in my design career. At the moment I’m kind of taking his role and helping other younger designers in their work and their career.

I have various ways in getting over a creative block, some are more effective than others depending on my mood at that time. One method I use of getting over a creative block is by looking at other designer’s work of similar briefs and see how they’ve tackled it. Another thing I do if the previous method doesn’t help is I’ll simply go for a walk or start painting a canvas with my spray paints. But usually I just start; I’ll do a warm up design where one thing would inspire another and before I know it I would  have  enough  ideas  for what I need to design.    

I really enjoy and have a passion of martial arts and have practiced different types. However I stopped training, as my freelance career became fulltime. Despite that I managed to fit and intertwine my reflexes and martial art spirit in everyday life. What excites me about life? I kind of treat it like a game, not in a sense that I don’t care, but in a way where I progress though different levels. I set my self objectives and go out of my way to achieve them. I get a rush / buzz when I achieve one of my objectives. My next one is opening my own design studio this January.

“I love this question” my ambition is to build my own brand as big as Adidas or Nike, and be the chairman of my own clothing / design company. I was inspired by this idea 4 years ago before I started freelancing and gave my self 20 years to fulfill it, and put my self a set timeframe. Up to now I think I am pretty much on schedule.   

 
Thanks for the interview

Yusf Ali

Robert Diffenderfer

I was born in Baltimore City and my family moved to Baltimore County to escape the 1968 riots. I have lived in Maryland my entire life and now reside in Harford County near the northeast portion of the Susquehanna River.

Good question…I guess it was a mixture of things that got me into Graphic Design. I have a degree in CAD (Computer Aided Design) and a second degree in Automated Manufacturing Technologies. While I was in college I would always add artistic touches to all of my design papers. When I did a report I always created my own graphics. My extra effort didn’t go unnoticed. I am a Phi Theta Kappa graduate and graduated at the top of both classes. I loved to create artwork. I am also a self proclaimed professional photographer. This introduced me to Photoshop. Illustrator and opened up a whole new world of adventure for me. I became addicted to Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash,
Dream Weaver, and Fireworks. I am still addicted!

In this volatile marketplace you need to spread yourself out or you wont survive. If you look at the Graphical Media Services website (still under some construction) you will quickly notice how many different things we can do. This helps us maintain a healthy business atmosphere. The more you can do for your customer the better chance you have for survival. We do not advertise ourselves as a graphic design company. We our a collaborative marketing partnership. We work with the customer to determine his needs and to define his target market. Then we offer ways to get there. Websites, Brochures, Technical manuals, etc. That is the corporate side of the business. Yes we also freelance as much as possible. I love my job because with every customer comes new challenges. Yes, many can be similar but they all have their differences. I need to be challenged to be happy and this is very challenging.

I love to collaborate back and forth with my customer until I have a design that just makes them say “YES…that’s exactly what I am looking for….I love it”. When someone loves something that you created it is that feeling of accomplishment and self gratification that you can’t get anywhere else

At this point we have been working with small to mid-size businesses and are slowly moving up the chain. I would love to do some in-depth marketing work for a large corporation of any kind just because it would be a new challenge for us and would open up other doors. All of my customers are noteworthy and that is how it should be if you want to survive in this business however EO Sports Gear just contracted GMS to do all of there graphic design work for their clothing apparel and miscellaneous items.

Listen to your customers…don’t just hear them! Forget about your design ideas and listen to their ideas. Don’t get offended if they don’t like something you did even if in your heart you believe it to be a Picasso! Remember that this is the BUSINESS of graphic design and it as all about what the customer likes.

The one person who has helped shape my career is my wife. I was afraid to go out on my own. I had an OK job and I was  comfortable but in my heart I knew it wasn’t what I wanted to do. I started doing graphic design and photography jobs on the side for friends and then friends of friends and so on. I was getting busier and busier until it came time to make that decision. Now I own one of the fastest growing design companies on the East Coast.

My technique I use to spark creativity is Play. When all else fails open your design software of choice and play. You wouldn’t believe all of the design ideas that we have come up with just by playing with the software. Sometimes things get a little crazy and we laugh at what we have created but it helps break the stress bubble and allows us
the freedom to explore other possibilities. Surf the web for graphics. Find tutorials on your software and just try a few. We have created libraries of ideas that we keep on file just by playing. It also makes for a great work environment and I guarantee the designers block will go away.

I use my photography for my business but it is also my passion. I definitely have the camera bug. I love to visit beautiful places and catch them on the camera. Just for that split second time comes to a halt and allows you to really look hard at what’s in front of you. Believe me there is still a lot of good things out there if we just take the time to recognize them. Life is exciting to me because everyday is a new beginning and a new
challenge. It is that challenge that drives us forward and I love every minute of it!

I see myself in the future as a very happy and very successful individual. My goal is to become the largest design facility in the United States. My ultimate accomplishment would be to make my business one of the top ten nicest places to work. I want all of my employees to be happy and successful……so far its working…..Thanks for listening!

Thanks,

Rob Diffenderfer

www.graphicalmediaservices.com