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Posts Tagged ‘design inspiration’
Today’s Value and Venues of Additional Training
7/6/2011 12:05 PM By Jeff Orloff
For many creative and tech freelancers, taking time away from projects to learn new skills or even brush up on old ones equates to taking the day off. After all, you don’t typically earn money while you’re sitting in a training course. However any resume that does not reflect skills and abilities that are current in today’s market will likely wind up in the “do-not-contact” bin.
A decade ago, computer-based and online training really couldn’t compete with being in an actual classroom for direct instruction. Nowadays, though, virtual training is often more effective and efficient than having to sit and listen to a lecture all day.
There are many different training opportunities available for you to take advantage of to make yourselves more competitive. A few places to start are:
YouTube and Vimeo
These video sharing sites are filled with videos that walk you through tutorials, tips and techniques for just about any type of skill. Want to learn how to design a website template in Photoshop? Curious how to leverage SEO for your website? These topics, and countless more, can be found here. But because these resources are so easily accessible, make sure to only pursue credible ones with cautious selectivity.
Vendor Websites
Product vendors like Adobe and Microsoft provide users with training videos on just about everything you can do with their software packages, and most of the time they are free. Better yet, like video sharing sites, these training videos can provide a quick walk-through for a task, giving you a perfect excuse to take a “break” from working on that project.
Paid Training
While other methods of training are great for someone looking for a simple tip or how-to, there are times when you need to turn to formalized training. Not only are these more comprehensive, but often times you can work towards a certification in your skill as well, which is a great resume booster. Be prepared for formal, paid training to be a bit expensive – but the outcome is usually worth it.
Artisan & AIGA Chicago Support City’s Vibrant Design Community
6/10/2011 1:38 PM By Julia ShiplettAs proud sponsors of AIGA Chicago’s Design Week, Artisan had a wonderful time mixing and mingling with Chicago’s design community during last night’s Annual Members Meeting at Park West. With hundreds of talented creatives and industry leaders in attendance, the evening was an overall celebration of design and collaboration within the city. Below are photos and highlights!
Keynote speaker Liz Danzico, a top design consultant, educator and co-founder of the MFA in Interaction Design Program at the School of Visual Arts, explains the fascinating way communication has evolved over the past centuries. Whether it’s writing in the margins of books or commenting on a friend’s Facebook status, people have always felt the need to express themselves and share it with others. Learn more about Liz’s work at bobulate.com.
Our talent Ezekiel Binion was the lucky recipient of Creative Suite 5.5.
Former AIGA President Marcia Lausen is celebrated for her long-time achievements within the design community, including leading the election design initiative of AIGA Design for Democracy. Learn more about Marcia’s work at Studio/lab.
Our very own Kristin Rupert introduces Artisan to the crowd.
Web Design Tips Your Clients Will Appreciate
5/24/2011 2:40 PM By William PirragliaLittle is more important to freelance web designers (except making sure checks arrive on time) than creating a portfolio of buoyant clients and employers. Clients that love your work will give you more and shout praises from the corporate rooftop. These referrals are as valuable as cash.
While there are thousands of online web designer tips, many are targeted to beginners while others focus on purely technical issues. However, these few intermediate tips can make the difference between an outstanding website and a mediocre project.
- Always be sure that every page of a website contains something of value. Although this rule is often violated by amateurs, don’t subject visitors to fluff or useless pages. Make every page a source of valuable information.
- Do not use heavy animation, auto-scrolling text or distracting sound. Complex animation with sound is exciting. It can also be a “visitor killer.” Most clients want you to create a sticky website that keeps visitors interested and customers returning. Auto-scrolling text is an annoyance since everyone reads at different speeds. You cannot create auto-scroll speed that satisfies most visitors. Remember, car drivers believe everyone going faster than them is a maniac, while everyone driving slower is a grandma,
- Avoid pop-up windows. Pop-ups are irritating. The only time they make sense is with voluntary surveys, additional requested information or extra product notes/pictures. Even then, many visitors have installed pop-up blockers that prevent them from viewing this information. Find another method to accomplish your goal.
- Do not employ image backgrounds. Unless your employer mandates an image background, do not use one. First, this advertises the designer or company as an amateur. Second, the time it takes to load each page is an open invitation for the visitor to move to another website.
- Publish a link to the homepage on every screen. Give visitors a gateway to return to the homepage on every page. This tip is eminently basic but often neglected by top web designers. Compress all image files for faster loading. Would you rather wait for a 300k graphic to download or a 30k image? Like waiting in line at your favorite restaurant, visitors suffer high-level frustration with delays. Since you can compress images to accelerate load speed, do so.
- Make all text easy to read. While text size and font are always considerations, a greater challenge is a client-mandated color scheme that hinders ease-of-reading. Sufficient contrast between text and background is the common problem. Be firm and creative. Try to use your client’s preferred colors in subtle ways to maintain enough contrast to highlight text sufficiently to encourage easy reading.
- Keep ALL CAPS TEXT to the absolute minimum. Much like the contrast issue, using all caps must be minimized to avoid annoying visitors. All cap text not only loses the emphasis intended, it is hard to read and highly aggravating to site visitors. Limit your use to two consecutive words (maximum) and fewer than three or four in a paragraph longer than three sentences.
Our Talent Gives Back to Local Non-Profit Working Bikes
5/18/2011 8:03 PM By Julia Shiplett
We at Artisan feel very fortunate to do what we love with passionate people every day. That’s why we value opportunities to give back to organizations that improve the world we live in and proudly represent talent that share this sentiment.
As the brainchild of Designer Atom Groom, Our Digital Gift has evolved into an annual collaborative donation that grants a worthy not-for-profit organization in Chicago or Northwest Indiana with professional design and development services. Although often the most deserving of marketing efforts to raise awareness and leverage opportunities, non-profit organizations usually do not have the means for investment. However, we are pleased to announce this year’s grant recipient is Working Bikes, a cooperative that restores used and discarded bicycles to be sold and donated locally in order to raise money for international distribution.
Our very own Talent Representative Suzanne Shannon has actively volunteered with Working Bikes for a number of years now to help provide transportation to people from Guatemala all the way to Ghana. Atom and his team were inspired by the organization’s humble resources and big commitment – out of a small storefront on Western Avenue, Working Bikes makes a global impact by shipping bikes to second and third-world countries so others can become independently mobile. This can make the difference between having a job and providing food and clean water for your family.
As a tribute to their hard work, Our Digital Gift will be providing professional identity package such as a new logo, business cards and letterhead in addition to a new website with valuable content management tools installed. Written content and a social media presence will also empower Working Bikes by leveraging a stronger platform for communication and participation.
As Atom put it, if his team can offer Working Bikes more recognition to continue their work, then the organization can provide even more bicycles in more countries. “If that doesn’t make your neck tingle and your heart glow, I don’t know what would.… Just knowing in our hearts and minds that we are making a difference through our talents in this world is amazing.”
If you would like to learn more about opportunities with Working Bikes, please check here for volunteer and donation opportunities.
If you would like to contribute your design and/or development skills to Our Digital Gift, please check here for ways to get involved.
Support Japan through Design
3/20/2011 11:50 PM By Julia Shiplett
As a country famous for its rich appreciation of art and design, it only makes sense that the global creative community has reached out to Japan during this time of tragedy. Countless artists and creative outlets around the world have put their talent to positive use over the past week and a half to raise money, resources and awareness. The beautiful simplicity of the Japanese flag has proved to be a wonderful source of inspiration.
Below is a sample of the relief efforts you too can contribute to while supporting fellow creatives showcase their work. While some have recently sold out, check their websites at a later time to see if more have become available. If you know of others you would like to raise awareness about, please leave a comment.
AIGA Indy – INHOUSE Series Kick-off
3/9/2011 11:46 AM By ArtisanAIGA welcomes you to join the kick-off event of [INHOUSE], a new initiative focused on what it means to be an in-house designer in and around Indianapolis today. With round-table discussions and presentations from experts, the series is a wonderful opportunity to gain valuable insight and resources from other local creatives in the industry.
Leading the first event will be Art Director Kevin Kinross and Senior Design David Byers of Cardinal Health in Columbus, Ohio. Over the evening, they will share the success and challenges of working with a creative team to juggle an array of projects for diverse clients. Following the presentation, AIGA will raffle off two 30-day trials of CS5!
Registration is required for all attendees. Please register here.
AIGA Members: Free
Non-Members: $20
Location: Indianapolis Art Center, Frank M. Basile Auditorium
Date: Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Consumer-Run Print Shops
12/9/2010 2:05 PM By Sharon PotschOne of my favorite school projects of all time was way back (way back) in fifth grade when we got to decorate and write our own books. Mrs. Deacon brought in dozens of blank books with assorted black and white cover designs. I immediately selected the book with the illustrations of lollipops and hard candy just begging to be colored in and I titled my book none other than, Candy Shop.Hopefully through the years my writing has become a bit more creative. Fast-forward to today with the advent of true do-it-yourself books offered by I-Photo, Shutterfly, and dozens of other print-and-click online photo shops that allow you the ability to see your images, art direction, and copy in glossy print.
A “year-in-review” personalized photo book is a no-brainer gift idea for the in-laws and I’m dizzy with options and choices but I narrow down 4,000 images to the best 45 and select “ship” once I’ve slightly modified the Modern template. The templates are great—the site automatically positions and resizes images you select on the fly to fit inside pre-ordained layouts. Brilliant.
A week later snuggled in my mailbox is a bright orange box holding my masterpiece. Visions of 300 dpi images, bold bleeds, and saturated black fonts dazzle through my mind as I rip open the package. I pull out the book with its puffy, high gloss cover which wasn’t wrapped in bubble wrap but was instead slipped inside a rough, plastic cover. The book was scarred, a victim of plastic friction which rubbed and scratched my project all the way from California to Chicago. No matter. This company guarantees satisfaction! I call the super-duper-efficient 24-hour customer support center and am immediately issued a replacement at no cost. Superb! Certainly this is a one-off problem. Two days later the bright orange box appears. I envision a crisp, jet-black glossy cover and yet again I’m disappointed to see no bubble wrap and familiar war-wounds of travel buffed into both the front and back of the cover.
Trying to explain proper printing and shipping requirements of printed pieces with glossy covers to a call center instead of a designer or printer is a losing battle when a big company’s response is to throw money at a problem. Each day, designers (especially in this economy) do the dance of working within constraints to realize their vision. A big company finds that it’s just easier to issue credits or re-ship the same problem over, and over, and over. I personally can’t stand the thought of another FedEx driver tossing yet another bright orange box through the truck, filling the tank, and hauling yet another marred book to my doorstep.
Small print shops take the care to bind, package, and deliver a glossy black cover book with nary a scratch but not necessarily with free shipping, 20%-off coupon codes, and a $24.99 price tag. We rely on big chain establishments for so much—Black Friday shopping deals, free shipping, and quick service. It seems like the personal touch behind the things we consume is slipping faster than ever. Quality over cost is certainly a lesson learned and two weeks before Christmas it’s back to the drawing board with my creative book project. Oh, and it’s also time to find a way to use up my $24.99 online credit.
Print vs. Web
5/24/2010 2:39 PM By Sharon PotschCongratulations to Citigroup Center and its award of Leed Certification. For a building that large to obtain certification (it’s the first building of its size in Chicago to do so) certainly deserves recognition.
Building employees circulated thousands of beautifully designed cards to incoming Ogilvy Transportation Center commuters proclaiming the building’s impressive certification. Adorned to each flier was a golden coin of chocolate to match the tagline, “Green is the new gold” which is a great tag line. All in all, the piece was very nice and did a great job.
While walking at lunch a few hours later, I saw a dozen or so flyers shoved in a trash can outside the train station. I thought immediately of the design firm who won the business at a time when landing print work is coveted. I visualized the designer who toiled over style sheets for the constricted space and who collaborated with the writer who penned the great tag…only to have their work carelessly discarded. I thought of the responsibility of organizations when it comes to choosing proper means of advertising.
Flipside of the card. Great layout and design!
We’re in an interesting era of print. Information needs to be relayed. Free fliers with the enticement of free chocolate ensures eyeballs a lot easier than having people remember a complicated Facebook URL or company web address. What’s the future of print in today’s hypersensitive economy, push to green, and society’s timid view of what constitutes as “design?” What other options are there, really, to reach the masses?
Web Design: Custom CMS Themes
8/22/2009 1:39 PM By Catherine TOne of the most popular freelance web designer job opportunities is the custom content management system (CMS) theme. Those who use WordPress, Joomla, Geeklog and other CMS platforms often require sites far beyond what is available in the free CMS template market. If you're serious about taking on freelance web designer jobs, your web design skill set should include knowing how to modify PHP, CSS and other code to customize sites using these content management systems.
The challenge of customizing CMS themes depends on which platform is used. Become familiar with the major CMS options including Drupal, WordPress, and Joomla. Some choose to specialize in one CMS only, but this is an area where a bit of market research is in order. If you find the majority of the freelance web designer gigs open to you are in WordPress, specializing in it is a good thing. If you discover more work from those who need Joomla customization, your time is well spent learning all you can about that CMS first.
