Graphic Design Tips (Submit Your Own & Win $50)
Written by Jacob Cass on Monday, August 4, 2008 – 10:30 pm
Below are some graphic design tips that were submitted by JCD readers earlier this week as part of our 5000+ subscribers celebration.
Submit Your Own Graphic Design Tip & Win $50
If you leave a design related tip on this post (or already did on the other post) you could win $50 to spend on any design related paraphernalia at Creatives Outfitter courtesy of the kind Jon Phillips of Spryre Studios.
You could also win a 30 minute design consultation via Skype or Email with David Airey, the much respected designer and blogger from Edinburgh, Scotland.
All you have to do is submit your own design (or business or freelance) related tip! Be creative as you like however remember that the prize will be given to the person with the best tip as chosen by Jon and myself!
Winners Announced
$50 for Creative’s Outfitter Prize Winner:
The winner of the $50 (picked by Jon) to spend at Creative’s Outfitter is Toon who gave us this tip below.
“Remember YOU are the designer, no matter how many ideas the client may have make sure you’re controlling the direction of the project, after all you are the professional, if they could do it themselves they wouldn’t be paying you.
Sometimes being forceful with a client can save you time and money in the long run.”
Update: Toon kindly asked to pass the prize on so the next winner me and Jon agreed on was Bruce Colthart who gave us the tip below. Congratulations.
“Learn all you can about business – marketing in particular – so that your design work is as relevant as possible to your client, who in most cases, wants your help attracting prospects and growing their business. Become more than an art monkey; become a valued consultant, an unofficial ‘partner’ in the success of your client’s business. Don’t think in terms of “I like this because…” Rather, think “this will work best for you because…”
Design Consultation with David Airey Winner:
The winner of the design consultation is Kerry Jessep who gave us the tip below. What I liked about this tip was how Kerry mentioned “Exert all of your communication skills to ascertain what your client needs.” - something all designers must do.
“Clearly state how many revisions you will do on a design and exert all of your communication skills to ascertain what your client needs. If you have a difficult to please client, offer them an hourly rate, so they can revise as much as they like and you will both end up happy.”
Design Tips from JCD Readers
Ever get a unusable logo from a client or need a particular logo that hasn’t been provided? Go to the company’s website and see if you can find a PDF with their logo…a brochure, their annual report, something. Download the PDF, open the PDF in Illustrator and then, if you are lucky, you will find the vector version of their logo inside.
from Meroko
If you provide a potential client with an estimate of say $1000, and they respond with “Well, can we make it $600. Deal?”; Respond confidently, and say “We do not discount our work and quality so we do not discount our prices.”
from Brian Yerkes
Never show a client a concept that you don’t love and believe in…it will be the one they pick.
from Kai Chan Vong
Always assume your client will say “What about this…” When you’re done with your project try to pick apart your work and prepare answers for the most likely “what about this” situations.
from David Klien
Design for the ‘little’ clients, like they were the ‘big’ clients.
from Alex Charchar
Let the world know that you mean business. Take a stand and don’t accept anything less.
from Doug Cloud
Create quality work, get quality work in return. You reap what you sow, basically. If you are always producing crummy work because you think you just have to get by until you make it big, you’ll only ever get low-quality work to do in return. You attract the quality you put out there, so always do your best.
from Lauren Marie
For all your designs use space for enough air, balance & readability. Think before you use a typeface, ask yourself what is the purpose of the design I’m making right now? Then select the right typeface and take a close look at kerning and alignment within your design.
from Sander
Never use the font Comic Sans MS.
from Edwin
More often than not, simple is best.
from Kristarella
Nothing is ever a “final” draft in this industry. And the problem with this as a designer is you need to be able to find that “final” draft and stick to it. Accomplish your goals, and stick to your guns.
from Dan Raftis
Even when you are a solopreneur, you are the leader of your tiny company. Make sure you, your website, and your printed materials look and behave accordingly, and someday you’ll lead a company as large as you hope for. You’re not “just” a freelancer. Be a leader.
from Kelly
1. Treat others as you would like to be treated.
2. Listen and thus learn.
3. Be honest.
from DreamSpeaker
Stay up to date. Be current in your approaches to design and always try to improve upon yourself. Look at things you see and admire, and strive your hardest, not just to achieve the same, but to surpass it.
from Zach LeBar
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- Aug 7, 2008: » Blog Archive » TIPS de diseño gráfico.
- Aug 9, 2008: Graphic Design Tips (Submit Your Own & Win $50) | WhiteSandsDigital.com
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By liam (33 comments) on Aug 4, 2008 | Reply
Respect those that take the time to give you advice, even if you disagree, advice is one thing that you can never get enough of.
liams last blog post..32 Examples of Websites with a Brave colour Scheme
By Kristine (7 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
Be passionate about what you design and it will be visible in your works.
By Siva (2 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
Always pay attention to these four things:
1. Type - your font must be the perfect size
2. Lines - strokes/thickness to invoke message
3. Texture - appropriate ones
4. Shape - not too overpowering
All these four things must come together in perfect harmony and not overpower each other. If you want to deviate, do so only to prove a point about your design and your client’s message or product. not haphazardly experimental.
By Toon@Design Forum (5 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
Remember YOU are the designer, no matter how many ideas the client may have make sure you’re controlling the direction of the project, after all you are the professional, if they could do it themselves they wouldn’t be paying you.
Sometimes being forceful with a client can save you time and money in the long run.
Toon@Design Forums last blog post..Givesto Wine Bar - Logo Design
By antonwoods (3 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
Time and management is a key factor while surviving in the world, without good time your project will fail, without the right management your project will fail. Always keep your work load to a mininum for what you can handle under pressure and plan your way through to success.
By Zhuoshi (1 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
Keep learning.
By MikeWhoBikes (3 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
Take time to practise outside of work projects. A chef doesn’t try new things on unsuspecting diners and athletes don’t show up to competition to ’see how it goes’.
It takes practise to develop any skill and doing it on the side allows for the freedom to push the boundaries and embrace failure. Now you can take what you’ve learnt and apply it to your next client project with confidence and experience. Relax, you’re a professional!
By Jeremy (5 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
Recognize your own darlings. Be willing to kill them when necessary.
By Eddie Gonzalez (1 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
When you learn the rules of graphic design, break them.
By Prescott Perez-Fox (5 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
When you think your design is finished, take a step back, then remove something. The challenge is what you can reduce, not what you can add.
By drew (3 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
If the customer gives you a small sized logo that is only one color and expects it to be used on large format print, and doesn’t have a vector file of it. Here is the quickest tip I know on recreating it. Magic wand the logo in Photoshop and then switch to your paths palette and select “Make New Work Path”. After you have a path you are then able to fine tune it, saving you much more time than just recreating it from scratch. Once you’re done go to Edit-> Define Custom Shape and that will put their logo in your shape palette so you are able to open it up in the future on other projects. And, if they need a vector file, just export your paths to Illustrator and save.
By Leala (1 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
Work with your client, not against them. You have to build trust in order to be given the creative freedom you want.
By AJ (1 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
never use
flash if it can be done with java script and css which in 90% of cases it can
By niasian (2 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
If your a student doing freelance work on the side, never let people exploit you for cheap labour!
I nearly fell into this trap…
By Beaulys (7 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
Never work without a signed estimated cost document by your client, followed by an account. (Sorry, it’s hard to explain that in English huhu)
By Beaulys (7 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
Competition = Remuneration
By Bryan D. Hughes (3 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
Good design is effective design; looking great is the baseline.
Bryan D. Hughess last blog post..Lorem Ipsum Design Dork
By Chris Brooks (1 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
Think back to the people who gave you the inspiration to get started. All the people who gave their time and effort in order for you to succeed. Always give back to the people that helped you get where you are and never stop giving. It will advance you faster and in ways you would never imagine.
By Rafie (16 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
There are three *NEW* things that you can do to be a good designer - have, read and write a good blog.
Rafies last blog post..2008 Design Survey
By Bruce Colthart (1 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
Learn all you can about business – marketing in particular – so that your design work is as relevant as possible to your client, who in most cases, wants your help attracting prospects and growing their business. Become more than an art monkey; become a valued consultant, an unofficial ‘partner’ in the success of your client’s business. Don’t think in terms of “I like this because…” Rather, think “this will work best for you because…”
Bruce Coltharts last blog post..Visual brand vigilance
By susan (1 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
I’m not a designer, but love your site and offer this distinction. When going for a extraordinary result (like 5000+ subscribers!) remember that there are 5 phases of breakthrough and you work differently in each phase. (1) Formulation - bring creativity, openness, create multiple options (2) Concentration - pick one option, focus action with lots of intention, put 10 in get out 1, don’t lower vision! (3) Momentum - things start working 3 - 5 in and 5 - 8 out, don’t let up (4) Breakthrough - give that last effort to get result over the line, then celebrate, offer contest! (5) Sustainablity - ask: what did I learn, how can I replicate it? and do it.
By Chris Papadopoulos (1 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
Design in black and white first. Save color refinement for the end of a project. This focuses your attention on more important things like layout and great typography instead of prematurely worrying about which specific shade of blue or yellow goes in a particular spot.
Chris Papadopouloss last blog post..Spice up your Rails app with regular expressions
By Kerri Jessep (1 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
Clearly state how many revisions you will do on a design and exert all of your communication skills to ascertain what your client needs. If you have a difficult to please client, offer them an hourly rate, so they can revise as much as they like and you will both end up happy.
By inspirationbit (42 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
Take time to ask the client as many questions as needed to create the best sketch possible right from start.
Asking clients the right questions to get all the information required to complete the task is an art and science. The sooner and better you perfect that the easier it will be to come up with the work that the client will be happy with.
By valerio vaz (1 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
I prefer to make a $10 website for adidas rather a $10000 site for a grocery shop. There isnt bad publicity.
valerio vazs last blog post..del.icio.us com novo site
By Shaun R (2 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
Be selective of the elements you use in your designs. Designs are like puzzles. Each puzzle has its own pieces that need to be placed in precisely the right spot. You can’t jam a bunch of random pieces together and expect a finished product.
By Christine Macabuag (4 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
While we all heard of the saying “The client/customer is always right” But as the service provider we know this is sometimes never the case. It’s our job to make them feel like they are correct.
A lovely piece of advice that my boss told me in terms of customer service.
By tonyf (2 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
Some clients do not know what they want, so, they would ask for more than one study. Still not satisfied, and they would ask for more and more. In the end, after presenting, say 10 design studies or more, they would leave you. So what I do, I charge for every study requested and submitted. My first study usually comes the best. So I tell the client, “If you like the first design, take it. You’ll save a lot of money.” In my end, it saves me time. It favors me because I can accommodate the next client; rather than dwelling on a number of design studies for one client alone.
By manau (3 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
Always try to make your design clean and remember The KISS principle: Keep It Simple and Stupid
By Adrian | Rubiqube (2 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
I wrote a post with some graphic design tips. It’s not about the business or process, it’s about the actual design work and how to create clean design.
Adrian | Rubiqubes last blog post..A Freelance Designer’s Daily Schedule
By Eduardo Cruz (1 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
Be optimistic, always, always, always…™
Eduardo Cruzs last blog post..Tzek rediseña
By Kurt Cruse (1 comments) on Aug 6, 2008 | Reply
In many times you can get future projects out a client by educating them to the fact that their brand is only as strong as its weakest piece. (and maybe you won’t end up seeing your logo on a brochure made in Word and printed on orange paper)
By pelayo (4 comments) on Aug 6, 2008 | Reply
Convince the client to make a bet with one concept.
pelayos last blog post..madera
By pelayo (4 comments) on Aug 6, 2008 | Reply
In each project, think about the target. Forget other profiles. The look and feel is a slave to the target.
Some clients dont want to miss oportunities making messages that some targets wont understand.
They dont want to miss a single bullet. So, convince them that they will miss bullets if they dont point all shots to where most interesting public concentrates.
By pelayo (4 comments) on Aug 6, 2008 | Reply
Request the information a needed to make a serious professional job to any client. If they dont know how to right it down, lets ask them what we must know.
pelayos last blog post..madera
By pelayo (4 comments) on Aug 6, 2008 | Reply
The client is not allways right. The creative isnt allways right neither. Nobody is allways right.
The advice: Try to be right.
Allways study.
pelayos last blog post..madera
By Katie (2 comments) on Aug 6, 2008 | Reply
I have two.
1. Your clients never really know what they want, only what they don’t want.
2. You are designing for your client, not for yourself. You need to have some self control - not every peice of work can be the most brilliant, amazing, original, complex of all time if that is not going to work for the client’s style. Don’t be afraid to lower the advancement of your work to make it work for your client.
By chochewee (1 comments) on Aug 6, 2008 | Reply
Learn to love type. A good design is always the result of a good typographic selection. Understand the mood of the project so you can achieve this.
By IhateDesign (1 comments) on Aug 6, 2008 | Reply
before the computer use your head, read, see, taste, and now use pencil and paper.
the computer is a tool, no the final solution.
your brain is the beginning of the succes design
IhateDesigns last blog post..Editorial / Ocupado
By Paul Sample (1 comments) on Aug 6, 2008 | Reply
Stand up from your chair to see that sunrise, it will help to your creativity.
By Germán (2 comments) on Aug 6, 2008 | Reply
Three essential things:
1. Work
2. Work
3. Work
Greets
By http://jamesdraco.blogspot.com/ (2 comments) on Aug 6, 2008 | Reply
Design is Design
Art is Art
Things Different
Simple!
http://jamesdraco.blogspot.com/s last blog post.."Vivir Mejor" y "Songs For Tibet"
By Miguel Sanchez (1 comments) on Aug 6, 2008 | Reply
Not designed for your ego, or for your client if not for use
By Colz (1 comments) on Aug 6, 2008 | Reply
I have two:
Proof & Preflight
Check, double check then walk away for a tick & when you come back, Check Again.
And always ad 24 hours onto any expected turn around times, if things run over (and lets face it they often do) you have the extra time up your sleeve, and if things don’t run over then the client thinks you are wonderful for being so prompt.
Both have saved my arse many times.
By Ismael O (1 comments) on Aug 6, 2008 | Reply
My first will be…
In the first interview with the client, JUST LISTEN, NEVER give solutions, just ask questions and learn what he need!!
My Second…
Never listen to your EGO.
My Third…
A little feedback is always welcome
and Final…
Always return to the basics, why you use that color, why that shape, “Rules were made to be broken” (True… but first you have to dominate that rules)
By Erika (9 comments) on Aug 6, 2008 | Reply
I believe that developers often take “control the flow of the project” too seriously. You are the developer, and you certainly know your craft, but you have to remember that you’re a part of a bigger plan for a small business - you’re a vehicle through which they’re furthering their brand.
So, while you may know your color schemes, your layout design, and your typography, in the end respect the client’s decisions.. and don’t change the tone of the relationship because your ego is bruised (that’s bad business.)
The fact of the matter is that in the end, the client is left with the understanding that THEIR decisions caused a failure… thus leaving them to come BACK to you - thus having to pay you again - to try out an idea that you believed in.
Erikas last blog post..Miami Web Design
By Jennifer Farley (3 comments) on Aug 7, 2008 | Reply
I have two;
(i) Using two fonts or less can help transform design work from amateur to professional. Use variations such as bold, condensed, italic and so on. Keeps your design looking consistent.
(ii) Get 25% up front!
By Patricio (1 comments) on Aug 7, 2008 | Reply
Try to work in team with a creative writer.
By LOBVdesign (1 comments) on Aug 7, 2008 | Reply
BE Organize, the most important thing for a designer must be meeting the delivery dates(death lines) so, organize your pictures, your logos, your sources, your color palette, brushes and everything you normally use to make your designs and you will Save time when designing. And saving time is always saving money.
By rUriC (1 comments) on Aug 7, 2008 | Reply
Translate emotions to ideas, ideas to words, words to images. Then, when the client says “mhhh… don’t like it”, start all over again.
By Waldo (1 comments) on Aug 8, 2008 | Reply
Learn that everyone likes to create, even if they’re not good at it. Therefore, give your customers always two or more solutions to the same issue:
It will make your customers choose, making them involved and a part of the project.
By grg (1 comments) on Aug 8, 2008 | Reply
Always remember - you are trying to make the client’s message memorable, not yours.
By fcum (1 comments) on Aug 8, 2008 | Reply
Always use a vector illustration for logos.
fcums last blog post..Juguete Típico
By Matt (7 comments) on Aug 9, 2008 | Reply
“Ever get a unusable logo from a client or need a particular logo that hasn’t been provided? Go to the company’s website and see if you can find a PDF with their logo…a brochure, their annual report, something. Download the PDF, open the PDF in Illustrator and then, if you are lucky, you will find the vector version of their logo inside.”
This literally just came in handy when I had to go back and edit a logo a designer gave us. Great tip, never would have thought it would work.
By Juliette Heydenrych (1 comments) on Aug 9, 2008 | Reply
Never present anything you wouldn’t be proud to have in your portfolio.
Be honest. Remember that design has the power to change.
Stay humble.