Rather than focusing primarily on form or expression, as is often the case with art, the primary function of design is the opposite – to support function. When making design decisions, keep in mind that the goal of design is to support the function of your content with form. The content should always be the…
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Why Use Illustration?
Illustration aids visualization of ideas in a way most other representational mediums are unable to do. Illustration can: Provide visual representation of something described in the text Evoke emotion Communicate subtle themes by diverse styling Visualize, step-by-step, a set of instructions Clarify complex ideas that are difficult to describe Support a narrative through artistic expression…
Big Tasks and Little Pieces
Sixth Century BC Chinese writer Lao Tzu advises: “Accomplish the great task by a series of small acts.”
Mobile Trend
The uptick in internet use on mobile devices has increased 50-fold. The content will need to be designed and organized for the small screen and a variety of devices. Creative professionals will need to identify the appropriate offer to share with the mobile user to turn them from a browser into a buyer.
Design Simplicity vs Clutter
Clutter should not be confused with creativity. Simplicity means you only include what is necessary and make those elements beautiful. Simplicity allows the audience to focus, without distraction, on what is important.
Social Media
Perhaps the best thing about using social media is that it allows you to communicate with all of your contacts at once through status updates. Building meaningful relationships in social media can take more effort than meeting people face-to-face. Some strategists suggest that it really takes as many as 21 before the typical online relationship…
Amazing Events and Promotions, Inc. Logo Design
Amazing Events and Promotions, Inc. requested an updated logo that was fun and light. In keeping with the type of family-fun events they arrange, I emphasized the “zing” in the word “amazing.” This simple device told the story of what Amazing Events and Promotions can bring to an event without adding visual clutter to the…
What to do when your client asks you to copy a design
Commend the client for researching a style they like. Explain the copyright laws and the problems associated with violating them. Explain that you cannot explicitly steal elements of the design. Have a conversation about what they like about the design. The colors? The arrangement of elements? The typography? The white space? Make a list of…
Design Princple #2
Designing Intervals Organizational principles, in any art, are based on control of the intervals between elements. For the visual artist, such as the graphic designer, intervals exist in a spatial dimension: between shapes, sizes, colors, etc. The fundamental methods for organizing intervals are largely the same from art to art, and across dimensions. Here are…
Web images don’t work in print projects. Why?
The images used on the web have been compressed so that the web pages load quickly. As a result, much of the detail has been lost. In fact, web images default to only 72 dpi. I am often faced with the challenge explaining to clients why web images won’t work for their print projects. I…