Top 15 to-dos from CFC2011
Whew! I’ve been furiously taking notes for the last two days… What a whirlwind. You see, I just got back from How Magazine’s Creative Freelancer Conference. True to my first attendance in 2008, I have returned inspired and motivated to work on my business as well as equipped with lots of great ideas to help […]
Learning to love black jelly beans
I don’t know what it was like at your house, but by a week past Easter, the only thing left in our baskets were the black jelly beans. My brother and I wouldn’t touch them with a ten foot pole, favoring the chocolate treats first, then the marshmallows, then any other color jelly bean besides […]
The creative collaboration
I have been in this business a long time. I have worked with some amazing clients – visionary people who are smart, savvy, decisive, and good communicators. These people understand that hiring a creative to work on a project for you is a collaboration, and they make great clients. However, if you’ve never worked with […]
If you want a good logo you have to crack a few eggs
I have heard that the test of a good chef can be based on how well they can cook an egg. In the design world, the test of a good graphic designer is in their ability to create a great logo. If you’ve worked with a professional graphic designer to develop a logo, you may […]
Which came first – the logo or the marketing?
I have had a number of clients over the years approach me asking for an estimate to create a website or a brochure, or a business card design – and my first question to them is always – “do you have a logo”? It still surprises me when the response is “No.” No? You mean […]
Cheat sheet for a good website
As a website designer, I’ve seen my share of poorly developed websites. Enough that it makes me think there should be a cheat sheet with some basics in creating a successful site. It is all important to have a web presence but it’s not enough to just throw something up there quickly. This is your […]
Pet peeves in website design
Hooooo boy. This list has been a long time coming. I’ve amassed quite a few for this list over the years, but I’ll just give you the doozies. While there are thousands of fabulous websites to see, there are still way that are struggling with the basics. Ask any graphic designer and they’ll probably have […]
6 essential points to a good logo
Most business owners these days recognize the need for a company logo. Your business card, your shop signage, your website, your packaging – all of this is your company branding and good branding starts with a good logo. Many times it’s your first impression and we all know how important that is these days. You […]
Choose the right creative
If you’ve never worked with a graphic designer before, you may be unsure on how to proceed. It can be a scary concept to embark on choosing a logo or a web design or a marketing campaign that will not only represent your company well, but will also be an effective tool to build your […]
Oh no! Did I hire a bad designer?
What if you are working with a designer and you don’t like any of their concepts? You spent all that time looking for the right designer, they make you fill out a creative brief with questions about every little thing, you paid them 1/2 down and now look at this first presentation – ugh! Ok […]