Design Tip

White space (the absence of text and graphics) is vital to graphic design. The key is to add just enough white space so the eye knows where to go and can rest a bit when it gets there.

You can control white space in the following location: margins, paragraph spacing, spacing between lines of text, gutters (the space between columns), and surrounding text and graphics.

Tips on principles of Design

four principles of design: balance, emphasis, rhythm, and unity. Below are some tips on the same.

Balance:

• Repeat a specific shape at regular intervals, either horizontally or vertically.
• Center elements on a page.
• Put several small visuals in one area to balance a single large image or block of text.
• Use one or two odd shapes and make the rest regular shapes.
• Lighten a text-heavy piece with a bright, colorful visual.
• Leave plenty of white space around large blocks of text or dark photographs
• Offset a large, dark photograph or illustration with several small pieces of text, each surrounded by a lot of white space.

Rhythm:

• Repeat a series of similarly shaped elements, with even white spaces between each, to create a regular rhythm.
• Repeat a series of progressively larger elements with larger white spaces between each for a progressive rhythm.
• Alternate dark, bold type and light, thin type.
• Alternate dark pages (with lots of type or dark graphics) with light pages (with less type and light-colored graphics).
• Repeat a similar shape in various areas of a layout.
• Repeat the same element in the same position on every page of a printed publication such as a newsletter.

Emphasis:

• Use a series of evenly spaced, square photographs next to an outlined photograph with an unusual shape.
• Put an important piece of text on a curve or an angle while keeping all of the other type in straight columns.
• Use bold, black type for headings and subheads and much lighter text for all other text. Place a large picture next to a small bit of text.
• Reverse (use white type) a headline out of a black or colored box.
• Use colored type or an unusual font for the most important information.
• Put lists you want to highlight in a sidebar in a shaded box.

Unity:

• Use only one or two typestyles and vary size or weight for contrast throughout the publication, presentation, or web site.
• Be consistent with the type font, sizes, and styles for headings, subheads, captions, headers, footers, etc. throughout the publication, presentation, or web site.
• Use the same color palette throughout.
• Repeat a color, shape, or texture in different areas throughout.
• Choose visuals that share a similar color, theme, or shape.Line up photographs and text with the same grid lines.

The Psychology of Color

Color -- Associations
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Reds -- Energy, Passion, Power, Excitement
Oranges -- Happy, Confident, Creative, Adventurous
Yellows -- Wisdom, Playful, Satisfying, Optimistic
Greens -- Health, Regeneration, Contentment, Harmony
Blues -- Honesty, Integrity, Trustworthiness
Violets -- Regal, Mystic, Beauty, Inspiration
Browns -- Easiness, Passivity
Blacks -- Finality, Transitional Color

'A' Paper Sizes - Art Glossary

Definition: 'A' size or 'A' series is a set of paper sizes established by the International Standards Organization (ISO) that ranges from 2A0 (the largest) to A7 (the smallest). The size of the paper goes down as the number goes up, and each is half the size of the previous e.g. two A4 sheets make up an A3 piece and two A5 sheets make up an A4 sheet.

'A' size -- size in millimeters -- approx inches
2A0 -- 1,189 x 1,682 mm -- 46.8 x 66.2 in
A0 -- 841 x 1,189 mm -- 33.1 x 46.8 in
A1 -- 594 x 841 mm -- 23.4 x 33.1 in
A2 -- 420 x 594 mm -- 16.5 x 23.4 in
A3 -- 297 x 420 mm -- 11.7 x 16.5 in
A4 -- 210 x 297 mm -- 8.3 x 11.7 in
A5 -- 148 x 210 mm -- 5.8 x 8.3 in
A6 -- 105 x 148 mm -- 4.1 x 5.8 in
A7 -- 74 x 105 mm -- 2.9 x 4.1 in

How to be a Design Superstar!

That’s right everyone just wants to be a Design Superstar? Oh really? No the fact of the matter is, when all else is equal, Superstars get hired, and boring designers don’t. The main difference between the two? The Superstar has the ability to sell his/her brand of design and if you want to be a Superstar, correction, a hired designer, you should seriously consider doing the same.

A designer’s guide to self-branding

Of all the professions out there, I think there is no other one that can benefit from “self-branding” as much as a design professional. That is because it is a profession that is almost solely driven by talent. The equation is very simple, in design it’s not about how many certifications or affiliations you have, but what gets you ahead is the quality of your portfolio as well as your plain raw talent.

Before we go on, you might like to take a look at the basics of “self-branding” or what Tom Peters calls “Brand you“. Smart guy that Tom, he has been talking about it since 1997. Briefly, in a world where the consumer product market is so saturated and most products are essentially the same, the only proven way to get ahead is by branding. Not only just about branding of products but a holistic 360 degree effort including everyone else in the process including the design agencies used to create such products.

Drawing similar branding parallels from the consumer product industry, we are our now well past the new millennium and into a knowledge economy driven by talent. Competition within the talents for the top job is very high, and logically the only way ahead is by the talent branding themselves in some way. You see the crux of the matter is, every single positive influence adds up to putting you ahead and a personal brand is one big factor.

1) Do a SWOT analysis on yourself.

Remember the design methods class you fell asleep in? Well its a pity, especially since no one told you that a SWOT analysis could and should be done on yourself. Just like a company and its ability to generate revenue, I encourage designers to see themselves as a “business entity” that can generate income as well.

Therefore you need to identify your own Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities (to apply your strengths) and Threats (to your weakness) as a designer. So that when faced with the question of what are your strengths, you should never have a problem. Finally it is always good to have a short, medium and long term plan for yourself and career. It shows prospective employers what you want to do and that you have a vision for your future.

After you have listed all these points, you now have a list of keywords that can be the bases of creating your own personal brand and brand values.

2) Get a hair cut.

No seriously. I believe you are what you design. Many people get insulted when they are told they need to dress like a “designers” to be taken seriously. They figure that its a rude comment and encroaches in their personal style and space. That is further from the truth. Just like a consumer has only 3 seconds to size up a shelf of products, your prospective employer will size you up in that same amount of time.

In any case its pragmatic. Simply, that first impression is the most important. You will be surprise of the amount of control you have if you understood the stereotypes people associate with designers, and by looking like one you can use that to your advantage. Just don’t turn up for an interview in a beanie.

So carefully use your Strengths you have identified in Point 1 to style your own look. Your hair cut, sense of dressing, your watch (for guys), shoes (guys and gals) are all clues to a picture that you want to paint of yourself. It’s all part of your personal brand and something that should be part of your physical presence when you walk into a room. Remember every single positive point counts.

3) Buy your name as a dot com

I cannot begin to tell you how important this is. Not only for identity protection, but what you want is to turn up at the top of a Google search if a prospective employer or employment agency is doing research on you. As the Internet gets more and more integrated in today’s business world, the chances of you getting Googled is very high. I know I do it all the time.

4) Re-Brand your Portfolio

Now that you have identified your personal brand “keywords” and objectives in your design career, its time to “re-brand” your work. Just like a company’s branding initiative, you need to ensure that the documents you leave behind reflect your personal brand as well. Your portfolio, name card, resume, and perhaps that website design needs to reflect this through and through. This is especially important if you are putting your portfolio online.

On a slightly different but related note, do you then create a personal logo or monogram that reflects this personal brand? Personally, my feeling is don’t do it unless you spend some serious time working on it and that it looks good according to everyone who sees it. Most of the time I find personal logos or monograms very ugly and not well considered. A clear name card with just your name in a suitable font is good enough. But at the end of the day if you decide to create a personal logo, do ensure it reflects your personal brand values.

5) Start a blog

Now that you have a website that show cases your design work why not start a blog? The reaction on this, at this point in time, is mixed. There have been instances that people were fired when employers did not like what was written on their employees blogs. But these cases are rare, and if you keep your blog away from office politics you should be fine.

A great reason for starting a blog is to have your “voice” behind your work. Many times you can’t tell a designer’s personality by just looking at the work. But if you are able to share your thoughts, you will be better positioned as many employers often feel that they just don’t have enough time to determine an employee’s personality during those few interview sessions. Another great reason for a blog, is that it allows you to connect with other designers through the posting of your thoughts and by responding to comments left on your blog.

6) Join design networks

Get out there and market yourself! There are tons of great portfolio networking sites like Behance and Design Related. Just sign up, post your work, make friends, ask and respond to comments. Don’t forget that discussion forums on design are a good way to network with other senior designers as well.

Finally, don’t underestimate traditional non-design social networks like LinkedIn and Facebook as a means to share your work and network with other design professionals.

7) Win design awards

While its not the end of the world if you don’t win any, I always say you have nothing to lose by entering, and winning one gives you eternal fame an glory. Well not entirely eternal, but it is a great marketing tool for yourself and a confidence booster to be able to know that your work has been recognized by your peers.

8) Don’t oversell

At the end of the day, you need to be careful of all your different tools that you can use to sell yourself. The important thing to do is not use the wrong tool for the job and worst still end up by looking like you are overselling yourself. For example, don’t bombard people on your social network with every single job you did in your 15 year history as a designer; leave that for your resume. Don’t stick all your beautiful high resolution images on your portfolio website making it hard to navigate, just leave that to your face to face meeting instead.

9) Do good work!

Always, I say ALWAYS do good design work. Even if you hate your job or your boss or the project, make sure that it is the most beautiful design you can make it be. A good reputation is hard to build, and it is just too easy to lose.

10) A different take?

I like to close this post by getting you to check out a few tips at Fast Company’s 2004 update of Tom’s Brand-you Article as a different, more corporate, but relevant take on this issue of Self-branding.

———-

As you can probably guess becoming a Design Superstar is not easy and requires a lot of hard work. It does not happen overnight nor is it something you become. What it is, is that it requires is time before it can happen. Simply because with time, you will do good work, acquire more knowledge, build an interesting portfolio, rinse and repeat, again and again. Best of luck in your design career!

Via: designsojourn.com

Re:Think, Re:Design, Re:Cycle your Business Cards

27 Creative Business Cards You Should’ve Seen

via: http://dzineblog.com/2008/01/...uldve.html

Cool business card designs

via: http://creativebits.org/cool_...rd_designs

18 Smokin’ Hot Business Card Designs

via: http://freelanceswitch.com/general/18-smokin-hot-business-card-designs/

Business Cards - a set on Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dailypoetics/sets/72057594104389710/

Example for Paper Supplier :

http://www.papermojo.com/

http://www.neenahpaper.com/

Make Your Own!:

http://www.pioneerthinking.com/makingpaper.html

http://www.arnoldgrummer.com/index.cfm

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/893532/handmade_paper_diy/

Example for Metal & Plastic Business Cards:

http://www.plasmadesign.co.uk/plasticcardmovies.htm

Paper Crafts, 3D:

http://www.yamaha-motor.co.jp/global/entertainment/papercraft/index.html

Paper History - Gallery of Papermaking:

http://www.ajvalente.com/

Don't go Mad:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoIvd3zzu4Y

- Kiril Balkanov

Best 10 Firefox Addons for Designers

These 10 essential Firefox addons will make your life as a graphic and web designer much easier! The Firefox addons are extremely easy to install and you will be notified when new versions of the addons are available. I have hand picked all of these add ons and without further ado here are the 12 best Firefox addons for graphic designers!

ColorZilla 1.0

ColorZilla is an advanced eyedropper, color picker and measuring tool.

Download ColorZilla

Window Resizer

The Window Resizer addon allows you to resize your browser to common resolution sizes allowing you to view website designs in a variety of popular browsing dimensions.

Download Window Resizer

Web Developer

The Firefox Web Developer addons is one of the most popular addons for web designers. It has a variety off essential tools that allow you to code quality websites and troubleshoot problems easily.

Download Web Developer

Palette Grabber

Palette Grabber is a nifty little addon that creates a color palette for Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, GIMP, Flash, Fireworks, or OS X based on the current page you are viewing in your browser.

Download Grabber

GridFox

GridFox is a great Firefox extension that allows you to overlay a customizable grid on any website allowing you to make sure the grid you designer in your layout translate correctly to the web.

Download GridFox

FireShot

FireShot is a cool extension that allows you to take screenshots of your web pages and also has a set of built in annotation tools that allow you to add graphics and notes.

Download FireShot

FoxyTunes

FoxyTunes is a kick butt addon for anyone who listens to music while they design. It allows you to control almost any media player from your browser. You can also find lyrics, covers and so on.

Download FoxyTunes

MeasureIt

MeasureIt allows you to overlay a ruler on a browser page so you can verify width, height and alignment of page elements.

Download MeasureIt

IE Tab

IE Tab is a useful tool for designers who need to check to see if their website looks good in Internet Explorer. A simple click will switch you back to Firefox.

Download IE Tab

FireFTP

FireFTP is a free, secure, browser based FTP client that allows you to easily access your server via Firefox instead of having to launch a separate program.

Download FireFTP

Via: youthedesigner