Pros

Marketing. Graphic designers often get requests from nonprofits for free or discounted services. Rather than just delete those requests, think about the new business potential: business marketing. In exchange for your work, will your company name or logo be included on a website or promotional materials? That could offer you search engine rankings as well as just put your name out there for potential new clients.

Inspiration. Sometimes you just need to break away from the day-in/day-out grind. Slaving away at a desk can induce creative block. Doing design work for an entirely different cause than what you’re used to has the potential to kick-start inspiration, whether it’s using new shapes and colors or just interacting with other folks in a different field.

Vacation. Wanna get away? Some volunteering can take you to places you’ve never been. A recent trend called “voluntourism” allows do-gooders to travel in order to help others. Sure, you’ll likely pay most of your expenses, but sometimes room and board is thrown in, and if anything, you can feel less guilty about taking a trip if it means you were volunteering.

Networking. Volunteering your time gives you the opportunity to mingle with people – people who may need a graphic designer in the future. Sure, you’re offering up free services to the nonprofit itself, but you get to network with people who know other people who might need a designer in the future. See where this is going? If you impress the client with your work, they’ll likely remember you later on.

Cons

Too much time. So what if you aren’t one of the many unemployed graphic designers out there? What if you have a lot of work and have to accept it all to pay the bills? Taking on even more jobs – especially ones that don’t pay – could diminish the quality of the projects that do earn you cash. In turn, your paying clients might seek other designers in the future if your work for them suffers.

Devalues your work. FreelanceSwitch made a post the other day about giving back to one’s community. It discussed volunteering time locally to organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. A commenter said that while she does volunteer, she doesn’t do so as a designer or a photographer because “I’ve learned the hard way that offering my paid-for services for free only devalues them.” Martha Retallick went on to add, “Yes, I’ve heard that pro bono work can be a good way to get referrals to paying work, but wouldn’t it be easier to just go straight to the people who can pay you in the first place?”

Burnout. Retallick makes a good point – sometimes people need a break from graphic design in order to recharge their creative batteries. Rather than volunteer design skills, why not follow FreelanceSwitch’s advice and go bang a hammer on a home with Habitat for Humanity or donate some blood? Step away from the desk and do some physical work – you can benefit society and let out aggression at the same time!

Already working for a nonprofit. When I posed the question, “Do you give away your graphic design services for free to nonprofits?” on Twitter, Traci Pitman replied, “Nope – because I’m the in-house designer for a nonprofit.” Indeed, Pitman, who works for a regional arts council in Texas, found a way to offer her skills to her community while earning a paycheck at the same time – the best of both worlds!

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The Pros and Cons of Giving Away Your Graphic Design

I spoke with intellectual property attorney Jed Phillips about what artists can do to protect their creations once they’re posted on the Internet.

Are photos copyright-protected when posted online, whether on Flickr, Picasa or other sites?

Short answer: Yes, you do not lose your copyright by posting your work online (whether music, pictures, video, text, etc.)

Longer answer: Copyright gives you the right to control your work (assuming the work is covered by copyright, which is a wholly separate issue). The three big rights for creative people online are:

1. The right to prevent people from copying their work.
2. The right to control the distribution of their work.
3. The right to control the creation of derivative works based upon their work.

There are other rights, but these are the big three that are going to impact most creative professionals. As an example, if someone pulls an image off of Flickr, uses it to create an ad and then publishes that ad online, they are creating a copy of the work (the copy they have stored on their computer, printed out, e-mailed, etc.), a derivative work (creating the ad incorporating the copyrighted work) and distributing the work (posting it online). If unlicensed, these are all potential infringing actions.

What about licensing?

The copyright holder has the right to control the use of their work. The normal expression of that right is a license, either explicit or implied. An explicit license sets out the conditions under which a right holder will permit (i.e., refrain from enforcing their rights through a suit) copying, distribution or the creation of derivative works. The licenses can be vague or incredibly specific – it depends on what the right holder wants. There are some “off the rack” licenses that creative professionals can use. Probably the most familiar would be the various Creative Commons licenses. Flickr uses these and has a quick and easy system for a rights holder to designate which license they would like to apply to their work. Some of the licenses control derivative works and copying; others permit any use (including commercial) so long as the rights holder receives credit (“attribution”). Anyone posting on Flickr should review the license descriptions before posting and make sure they select the license they want.

What can creative professionals do to protect their work?

There are practical and legal steps they can take. Realistically, the legal steps are less effective than the practical steps. As an initial matter, if they are putting their work up online, they need to make sure they read the site terms and conditions before they post anything. Facebook, for example, has some interesting and somewhat controversial terms about what they can do with anything you post. If they don’t like the terms, don’t post and let the site know why. If they have their own portfolio site, then they need to have a copyright blurb somewhere (the more prominent the better, but I know that isn’t likely) that sets out what folks can do with the files posted on the site.

For practical steps, common sense is a good guide. Post low-resolution images, use watermarking, make sure the site logs IP addresses (If you plan on enforcing a copyright, proving that a particular computer accessed it, and when, can be useful.), etc.

What about enforcement?

Always start friendly, if possible. Many people view anything posted online as fair game. If someone has their work stolen, sometimes it only takes a gentle reminder that the work isn’t up for grabs to stop the behavior. If that fails, then the next step is a DMCA notice and take-down letter. The rights holder can send a letter (the format is spelled out in the code, and there are countless examples online) to the ISP, and the ISP will generally remove the infringing work.

If the offender is particularly persistent, then it’s time to chat with a lawyer. Sometimes a letter from a lawyer will work where more informal dispute-resolution efforts failed.

If the letter from the lawyer fails, it’s time to have a chat about obtaining an injunction and damages. At this point you are discussing federal litigation. This is generally where you have to decide just how important or egregious the infringement is and what it is worth.

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How To Protect Your Creative Work Online

Me too.

photo by yushimoto

I was sitting on the plane from New York to Los Angeles racing to finish a project for a client. My battery life was rapidly dwindling and the pressures of design and technology restrictions put me over the edge. I closed my laptop in frustration and took a look at my surroundings.

Why haven’t I noticed this before?  The plane.  The passengers. The many small problems that were being solved by highly competent and professional people. I almost choked on a peanut as I came to a new realization; flight attendants do what we as designers do, only they do it 32,000 feet in the air. This was the strangest and perhaps the purest translation of design I had ever seen and there was no Helvetica in sight. I have seen design that lives in the web or on paper, but this was design that just plain lives. There was no way to but acknowledge that designers and flight attendants are peas in a pod. But it is more than just that. Are designers and flight attendants brothers (and sisters) in arms?

That observational moment changed everything. Instead of racing against my Macintosh death clock to try and finish my project, I decided instead to go analog. I pulled out a pen and some paper to do some proper thinking and wondering. I posed to myself the ultimate question, “What will I do if and when I become an ex-designer?”

photo by Melissa of craftgasm

Apply, then reapply

Before applying for any job, it is best to take an inventory of skills. The things that make this list are things that only we, the designers can bring to the table. It is important to also take note of what we want out of the job, for the sake of happiness.

Basic Skills:

Understanding of grids, hierarchy, filtering information, editing, mixing and combining of elements, sequencing, communication, multi-tasking, immaculate taste, the level headedness of a business man and the heart of an artist.

With these skills, we also expect to achieve a certain personal gratification; what I call the “design high.” That feeling is one of the main reasons we do what we do. I am certainly not ready to lose that feeling.

Basic Needs:

Control- Design is the ultimate control. Not only are we giving people something to use or look at, we are showing them how they look at it, how they approach it, and how they should think about it. We like this.

Organization- Messy makes me nervous. Disorder is cause for disdain.

With these things in mind and with the classifieds in hand, I have circled three perfect jobs for the ex-designer.

photo by paxbgd

Flight Attendant

The one that inspired it all. The job description for a flight attendant is seemingly simple. Keep ‘em safe and keep ‘em happy. Sure that might be the “important” part, just as graphic designers do more than “make things look good” the duties of the flight attendant go far beyond passing out peanuts and ginger ale. When examining the flight attendants I found myself watching the way they masterfully work up and down the aisle. The way they majestically move from seat to seat, with complete authority and uniformity. The order, the control, the grid! Flight attendants are Swiss design in action. All three of the following design alternative jobs offer face to face interaction. They get to see the good, when their life design makes things better, and they also get bad clients, just like us.

Librarian

Books, silence, systems, and organization—need I say more? Being a librarian is the odd combination of critic, mastermind and boss. A librarian gets to not only make personal recommendations but they get to decide what to showcase and promote. That’s like having a client ask for your advice, then take it. Every time! The main duties of a librarian include; keeping the library organized (organization? Check). Instruct others how to use the library resources (communication? Check). Promote reading (promoting an activity? Check and check).

Like an interesting “ex” anything, you should be haunted by your past, or at least reminded of it. This adds intrigue to not only your profession and you as a human being. Similar to the way an ex-cop who now works security constantly battles flash backs of stakeouts gone wrong. The designer turned librarian would be similarly haunted by a room full of books. Every bad rag, every widow every river in those default justified set books mocking you, “You could have made me better, you could have made me beautiful.”

photo by Maverick Digital

Bartender

The people’s choice. A job that not only has designer perks, but it has a whole new set of perks. Think about it. Number one job task of a bar tender communication. Someone walks into the bar with a frown plastered across their face, it is your duty to find out what’s wrong. What does your customer want, what can you offer them? What if they ask you what’s good? Then you find a little bit about them, and you recommend something. The same process a designer undertakes when starting a project.

The next part is what makes “bartender” a more viable option than “waiter” or “waitress.” The mixing of the drink, the combining of elements. Different drinks make different colors. Think of tonic as your classic serif typeface, lets say Baskerville, and then the bartender picks Helvetica (gin) to go with it. The classic combination. The bartender designs the drink.

The last step, bartenders produce deliverables. Designers love dropping off deliverables. Sure, some of the picky drinkers may send the drink back, but that only means the bartender has a chance to show what they can really do.

What I’ll Miss the Most

As we near the end of our search, there are some thrills and experiences as a designer that cannot be duplicated. The tradition and evolution of our trade and the creative outlet it provides. The strange juxtaposition of artist and businessman that can only be associated with graphic design. The command we have to translate our thoughts onto paper, the web, and any other media we can get our fingers on. The swagger and confidence that can only come from blowing a clients expectations out of the water.

You know what? That list might just be enough for me to fire up my laptop back up and prepare for my meeting. The “ex” prefix may have to wait a few more years.

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Tales of an Ex-designer

Mood Music

For many, motivation comes as long as they have good music pumping through their headphones or speakers. It was an answer that came from so many, mentioning the melodies that make them get to work. Who knows why the connection exists, but it is an undeniable one, for many, their motivation is tied in to the music they play to set their mood.

Arthur Charles Van Wyk – I have to pop on a set of headphones (the big ones that go OVER your ears) and crank up Andrea Bocelli (the Romanza album works like a key in anignition) or Josh Groban.

A Change of Pace

Be it scenery, creative gears, or even the clothes on their backs to the hats on their heads, but some kind of a change of pace was another highly recommended motivational tool for many who responded to the post. This change breaks the mode that we are in and offers a kind of refresh, which can prove helpful for finding that spark to get us going. Switching things up seems to flip many a switch to help us begin working.

Alison Rowan – When I really need to persuade myself to sit down and get something done, I change into pajamas or even just something different than what I was wearing. The change of outfit signals a change in situation, to me. I’m the same way in the morning, always getting dressed before trying to work.

A Clean Start

Another recommendation that was offered is to get a clean start by actually cleaning. Be it our bodies, or our work or living spaces, there is obviously something resetting about these cleansing activities for helping us find that motion towards project progression. Almost like scrubbing bubbles for our workflow, cleaning can prove beneficial in this arena.

Larry Williamson – …and what I’ll do now is — wait for it — clean!

A clean environment and the “getting things done” inertia that I build *while* cleaning, usually pushes me in the right direction. I also have less things to look and and get distracted by when everything is tidy.

A Pinch of Passion

One of the more resonating responses that we received to this query was passion. When it comes to motivating us to get moving on a project, nothing is quite as effective as that fiery passion burning inside us when we are majorly excited about what it is we are working on. So with a pinch of passion, it seems hard for your butt to slip out of its creative gear.

AJ – Passion.

I’d have to say an idea or a cause that I feel really passionately about is the only thing that can get me going.

Other people can get me going by yelling and screaming and pressuring me but I don’t really consider that as getting me going. I try my hardest and perform my best when I am passionate about the work. The perfectionist in me shines out and I can never feel satisfied with my own work when I’m like that. I keep looking back at it and finding things to improve.

When it’s work that other people have gotten me going on and I’m not so passionate about, my perfectionism doesn’t really kick in, and neither does the workaholic in me. And so it gets done on time but not like something I’d do if I had passion.

A Matter of Momentum

Another response we got, that was equally inspired and unique was offered by EM. So wonderfully explained that we felt we would just let EM’s words speak for themselves. But this was an awesome idea that we had never considered so we knew it had to be included.

EM – What helps me with motivation? Momentum – just getting started . . . some action related to the work that I want to do. For me working daily is pretty important, if I stop, I have to climb over or push through the resistance.

Moving promotes momentum which engages motivation.

That Wraps the Up

So that wraps up this end of the discussion, but as always, the conversation continues as long as you all still have something to say on the subject. Just leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

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Getting Your Creative Butt in Gear – A Creative Discussion #5 Wrap-up

For creatives and non-creatives alike, sometimes the issue that arises is not necessarily a block of ideas, in fact, there may be times when you have an over abundance of inspiration, but you just cannot seem to get started. For whatever the reason, we come across the times when we are unable to find the drive to push us forward and into action.

Remember this is an open discussion with the creative community, so feel free to chime in below in the comments to keep the flow of dialog moving. After leaving the discussion open for the month, we will be compiling some of the responses into a post on the topic at hand, so be sure to keep checking in on the talk as things develop.

What Gets Your Creative Butt In Gear?

Alright everybody, the torch has been passed…Discuss!

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Creative Discussion – What Gets Your Creative Butt In Gear?

True, ‘die’ is a harsh term, it evokes a visceral response and that is why I used it. Because the idea of letting a creative idea die should be something that effects us viscerally. It should never be easy…

In some productivity oriented schools of thought, there are those who believe that whenever we have an idea it stays in our heads clinging to the back of our minds. Never giving us rest from the idea until we have seen it through or let the idea go. So it was swimming through this school that brought on this discussion, and we called on the community to share their thoughts on this demise.

Never Say Die

Though the whole idea behind the post, was determining when it is time to let go, there were some who do not believe that there is ever an occasion when throwing in the towel is the answer. They do not think that surrendering the idea is ever the right course of action for a creative mind to take.

Andrew Gerber – …There is no need to say die. If an idea doesn’t work know the most important thing for you is to make a deep analysis and realize what is going wrong. Don’t stop doing the analysis of mistakes. Correct your mistakes and you will see that any idea can work.

Alberto Pichardo – An idea as it is never dies i mean theres times when im just playing with PS or ILL and sometimes brilliant ideas comes to me and seems wonderfull at first, but then it just evolve into something else, it could go to both ways, it can change ur first idea completly or modifiying the current, so im not sure if theres a time when you can say “now is the time to quit” cause at lest on my case ive never found me saying ok thats it for this idea

Take Time With A Wounded Hand

Flying back towards our topic with some help from the Stone Temple Pilots, one of the more popular ideas that was discussed was all about taking time away from the idea. Stepping back from a project whenever we feel like we are going nowhere with it can prove to be the key in deciding whether or not we will ever be able to fully make the idea work. Otherwise we end up forcing the idea and settling on a finished product that does not meet the full potential the project once had. So take time and come back with a refreshed and renewed perspective before condemning the idea to die.

chunkydesign – When you look at what you´re doing, and you think it is bad, and you no longer feel any kind of will to keep on working that idea, it may be the time to let it die. But, I think, that before letting it die, the best is to give it a rest. When you´re too involved with your work, you´ll be the worst person to judge it, so step back from it. For a few hours, days, weeks, whatever… Go work on something else, and when you´ll come back to it, you´ll probably have a better perspective of what can be done to make it work. If you still feel the same way than before, then just put it on your archive of failed projects.

Jeff – I see your quote and raise you another quote, “Do, or do not. There is no try.” -Yoda :)

But seriously, I agree with what chunkydesign said above. Step away from it for a while and come back, you may not be in the right frame of mind to take it to the level it could become.

Sometimes it’s as simple as a walk or a hot shower to the right music or complete silence. If none of that works, Kill It!

I Like To Steal

…Not literally, but it went with the lyrics from the first header, so we ran with it. Besides it does work when you think about taking pieces of the idea that you cannot see through and letting them be worked into other projects. Stealing elements that we are too fond of to ever let fall by the wayside, and incorporating them elsewhere, seems to be a bit of a time honored tradition among creatives. So before you toss an idea aside, make sure that you have salvaged any parts that still send sparks shooting through you.

Kate – I think the main thing I try to keep in mind is to understand when to let go and move in another direction. Don’t be charmed by the initial “oh this will be cool” feeling if you have put serious effort and it is still weak. It is easy to hang on too tightly to a style/element/overall concept and drive it into the ground just because you thought it was going to be cool. Make sure you get regular feedback, and don’t be afraid of criticism. Accept your failures and learn from them. Maybe that idea that needs to “die” will be reincarnated into something else. If not, then at least you have gone through the mental exercise of playing with it and learning something from it.

Jason Garrison – …Even when I feel like I’ve hit a brick wall, I take elements of my original idea into another draft. Creativity is a fluid process, not with stops and starts but with plateaus. The starting levels build a foundation for the peak.

Give It Away, Give It Away, Give It Away, Now!

Changing gears to a more Chili Pepper kind of place, another popular idea that surfaced from the discussion was to give the idea away to someone else to try and make it flourish. An awesome and inspirational suggestion that really feeds that sense of community which drives many creative people. This way, there is no true death for an idea, it is simply passed on to the next architect of its evolution. For many, the thought of handing over any creative idea is a hard one, but it is certainly one with merit that can allow the idea to soar to heights from which you were holding it back. So before you give up, give away.

Brandon Cox – I think you let it die when you realize you’re already trying to cultivate one too many, therefore you know that going for it will only result in mediocre execution. Better yet, it’s a good time to give the idea away.

Yaritsa Arenas – I usually try to get a second (or third) pair of eyes involved. Sometimes you’ve lived with something for so long that your view becomes a bit narrow. I find if even someone else’s input can’t help resuscitate it, then it’s time to let the idea go. Or like Brandon said, give it away.

That’s The Wrap-up!

That concludes the wrap-up for this month’s creative discussion, but the dialog carries on. So keep the comments coming either here in the wrap-up or in the original post. Either way, always remember:

Eric – “Good ideas don’t die, they’re just abandoned” – a paraphrase from Martin Scorsese.

Sometimes an idea can become beautiful in the hands of one and wither in the hands of another. If an idea is starting to with wither then it is time to bring in some reinforcements – as has already been mentioned, give it time, step back, look at it in a different way, get some feedback from some fresh eyes. If it’s still withering, then it is time to abandon the idea.

But this doesn’t mean that all hope is lost. Save your idea, this same idea work on a different project. Share your idea, someone else could use this inspiration. Good ideas never “die,” they exist in the ether of humanity. While an idea may not work with this project a good idea will find a new home somewhere else…

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Live and Let Die : A Creative Discussion #4 Wrap-up

Even if productivity is not quite your forte, those of us in the freelancing forum always need ways to keep our minds on the current tasks at hand, and our focus in a fixed range. So the following apps can prove beneficial in these instances as well, so it may behoove you to take a gander through what we have gathered here.

In order to use the apps listed below, you will need to first install Adobe Air.

Focus Booster

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management technique that works great for anyone who needs help in focusing on a single project as well as those of us who have trouble stopping to take breaks, you can easily give it a try yourself by downloading the free ebook and taking it for the proverbial spin. Focus Booster is an outstanding Air app designed to help you keep track of your Pomodoro sessions. Whether you use the Pomodoro technique or something a bit different, this app will help you enhance your focus and productivity.

Klok

Klok is a time tracking app with a lovely user interface giving you a clear look at how much time you spend on specific projects as well as helping you estimate time frames for future tasks. With the ability to enter notes on projects, adjust times, create subtasks, retrieve accidentally deleted items and view full featured reports, this is a fantastic full service app to keep track of where you are spending your time, and perhaps more importantly, where you aren’t.

MiniTask

MiniTask is a great to do app to keep track of minor lists. It seems more fit for the immediate to-dos, and is really good for use as a secondary app covering what you need to do this week and today. Having a small to do list, separate from your more comprehensive lists, that tells you exactly what you need to focus on now is very beneficial. Featuring drag and drop reorder, reminder alarms, separator headers and a variety of keyboard shortcuts, MiniTask can really help keep you on track and focusing on those tasks that need to stay in the forefront of your mind, and cannot afford to be back-burnered.

Doit.im

If you prefer to use the David Allen GTD method then finding a great app for Windows can prove to be a daunting task. Personally we have tried so many great Mac apps, but for those who prefer to work primarily on a PC, choices are seriously lacking. Doit.im was a dream come true. It has everything you need and nothing you don’t to fully implement GTD.

The only downsides to this app is that there are a few stability issues that still need to be worked out and it is currently only available for Windows & Mac, no Linux version yet. So for another option there is:

GTD-R

GTD-R is another option for GTD on Windows. Not only does it lack a few of the features that Doit.im has, but it also lacks the clean UI Doit.im users are used to. Though it is a bit more stable and available for Linux.

Remember the Milk Notifier

If you use Remember the Milk for your to do list, then Remember the Milk Notifier is a must. Okay, so must might be a bit strong for some, but it is definitely a decent addon that can enhance your overall use of the Milk. Unfortunately this is another app that is not quite available for Linux yet, but they are working on it. In the mean time, if you need a RTM solution for Linux, you may want to check out Tasque, though this is not an AIR app.

In Closing

If we missed any must try productivity apps please comment and let us know. And if you know of a great GTD app for Windows, please recommend it even if it is not an Adobe Air app.

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The Best Adobe Air Apps to Increase Productivity

The freelancer must be as prepared as a scout for any situation they may face when breaking out of their ‘Lance-Cave’ (which is like the Bat-Cave, only slightly less cool often accompanied by the aroma of stale food and energy drinks). So we wanted to help out with this element of freelancing and give a few pointers on what to pack as you venture out on the road. Below are the freelancer ‘must-haves’ that we feel are necessities whenever we leave the comfort of our home.

Laptop

Naturally if you are going to work, then you need access to your computer loaded with your different programs that you keep you functional from wherever it is you roam, so you are going to generally need a laptop to take with you. Even if your main computer is a desktop, if you plan to take your business on the road, a laptop just may be one of the wisest career investments that you can make. Make sure that you can stay connected with your professional contacts and colleagues, and keep from falling behind without the hassle of having to find a way to drag your desktop computer along with you.

A Reliable Internet Connection

Now in the interest of keeping in touch, since social media tends to play a large role in this area of the freelancer’s life, a reliable internet connection is a must! You want to make sure that when you need to access the world wide web…you can. This can sometimes be taken for granted by the more technological savy nowadays. The internet has become such a basic part of our lives that we just figure whichever road we take will have an open wi-fi signal on every street corner just waiting to stream you onto the world wide web.

Online Storage

Another great means of keeping in constant contact with your most important files, is to use some form of online storage so that you may be able to access them from other systems besides your own. This can prove a beneficial backup should something happen to your hardrive while you are away from home, so that you can limit your downtime as much as possible, and maintain as much of the workflow as you can should anything unforeseen befall you or your files. Viruses and simple corruption of files can aggravatingly grind your work to an unexpected hault while away from your fortress of freelancitude.

Multi-Plug Extension Cord

Another important toolkit addition that tends to slip passed many a mind, is the packing of a multiplug extension cord. Owing to the fact that in a lot of hotels the number of electrical outlets that you have access to are oft times scarce or inconveniently placed, especially if you have a couple of extra plugs that you need to power along with your laptop like we have run into a time or two when out and about. This allows for you to focus more on comfort over convenience when you have to set up your workstation.

The Ability to Let Go

The final bit for your kit would have to be the ability for the freelancer who cuts loose to also fully let go! This is an important thing to remember overall, but it really applies in this situation. For once you break free from the little nook you have worked hard to carve from the fabric of society, you will have to be able to relax and relinquish a little bit of the control over your environment that we tend to like to maintain. It may not be the easiest element to take with you on the road, but it may be the one that keeps you the most sane, as very little of your immediate environment is truly in your hands while away from home.

That’s Your Pack

Those are our top five tools to take along with you as you try freelancing from the road. What would you add to your toolkit to make sure that you could keep on track while trekking? Leave us a comment below to let us know.

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Freelancing From The Road: The Tools to Take With You!

Here they are in no particular order…

Scalability

One major element to pay particular attention to when designing a logo is scalability. You can be as creative as you want to be in your construction, but if it does not scale well, it is over. A great logo will be able to be re-sized with ease, all the while maintaining its recognizable form and expressive imagery.

In the interests of scalability, you will want to make a habit of using vectors to create your logos. If you are not as adept with the vectors as you would need to be to make this happen, then you need to see to that. Vectors tend to provide for maximum scalability, putting the rest of the re-sizing capabilities on your design. Remember, you want your logo to look great at any size, from billboards to ink pens.

Looks good in Black and White

Another thing to keep in mind when designing a logo, is that no matter how you design and present it, you will not always be in control of how the logo is displayed once it is out of your hands. The client’s needs for the design are going to end up being multifaceted and possibly bounce between the web and print arenas. This means you will need to keep things fairly flexible on your end.

You can do this by making sure that the logo you design always shines in both form and function no matter how it is rendered. Be it in full color, gray-scale or even in pure black and white. This means that you will have to remain imaginative and yet keep things simple enough for the logo’s idea to transfer despite any less than flattering displays it may find itself in. You should never rely on color to get the message of your design across.

Make it Timeless

Another area to keep focused on while fine tuning your logo design is dating. And no we are not talking about the designer needing to cut loose and get out on the town, we are talking about keeping your design timeless. You want your design to always feel fresh and relevant, and you certainly don’t want anyone looking at it and being able to pinpoint the era in which it was created. The logo should always be without age.

This may be one of the most daunting tasks you will face throughout the process of building the logo, but you cannot let that deter you from making sure that you achieve the desired results in this area. Make sure that you steer clear of any of the current logo design themes that are circulating, and instead take the time to find the right design that will never go out of style. Remember that the logo should be just as effective 50 years down the road as it is today.

It is Memorable

One more may to separate your logos from the more mediocre stock would be make sure that you keep it memorable. This is not a Bob Hope moment, the memories are important but you can thank us later. You want the design to stick out, and basically just stick overall, because you want it to also stick with them.

What good is taking all the time to research the client and meticulously pour over the details as you work out the perfect logo, only to have people forget it mere moments after they have taken it in. A great logo will remain memorable enough that a person who has only seen the logo once should still be able to recall it enough to describe the logo to someone else. This is not the easiest of qualities to impart, but it is certainly a high ranking one so make sure your designs stays in their minds.

Originality

As with any design, you always want to keep originality in the forefront of your mind as you make your logos…or the backfront, or in whatever area of the brain controls that kind of stuff really. Make sure that the design you have created does not just blend in with masses of others that we are inundated with on the daily, failing to have the original qualities necessary to stand out.

Now being original is something that hopefully comes naturally to you as a designer, or just as a creative individual, but you never know. Furthermore, to that end, it should go without saying, but do not use any kind of clip art or stock images in your logos. Remember that the logo should be something created solely for the individual client and their business, and should reflect that individuality. Copy-catting is not the way to achieve that.

Clean and Clear

Finally, the last characteristics that we want to mention here that help to establish the great from the good are make the logo clean and clear. We figure if it works for skin care then it must be true of logos. Kidding. But once again, consider the point of making the design in the first place, to represent and embody the client’s business. If your design does not cleanly and clearly convey that to the viewer then it hasn’t been the biggest of successes, now has it?

For all of the above reasons, the best logos tend to be those that are the most simple. So take care not to overload and overwork the design by adding in too many elements to muddle up the message and ideas it needs to transfer to the audience. Abstract is good in art, but for the logo the best way to go, is concise and straightforward.

Wrap-up

That concludes our look at logos and the characteristics to keep an eye on as you embark down the logo design road. What are some important ideas that you would make sure to keep in mind as you make your way through the process? Hit us up in the comments and let us know.

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6 Characteristics of Great Logo Design

Remember this is an open discussion with the creative community, so feel free to chime in below in the comments to keep the flow of dialog moving. After leaving the discussion open for the month, we will be compiling some of the responses into a post on the topic at hand, so be sure to keep checking in on the talk as things develop.

When Is It Time To Let An Idea Die?

Alright everybody, no holding back now…Discuss!

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Creative Discussion – When Is It Time To Let An Idea Die?

As the comments came in and the opinions flowed in a very pros and cons kind of way, we even had a great guest post that further expanded on this look at the ways in which we learn. 5 Tips to Study By, took the look to a more helpful place, offering techniques that have aided others in their past attempts to expand their knowledge base. So after a month of contributing and checking in on the conversation here is the wrap-up.

Systems Check

The learning process is a complex system that is made up of numerous approaches and methodologies, built by what works best for each individual. We customize our process to fit the means that yield the most positive results for us. Everyone absorbs knowledge differently, and we each incorporate the methods and techniques that we need into our educational construct to make sure that we retain what we need to. Through this discussion, we took a look at which environs we found more conducive to our learning process.

Disclaimer:

This question was in no way intended as a slight against or to downplay the role that teachers play in our lives. As is expressed in numerous comments throughout the discussion, when the job is performed correctly by a passionate participant, a teacher is vital for stimulating and steering us in our educational development.

Teacher’s Leave Them Kids Alone

‘We don’t need no education…’ was not really a popular mantra being uttered among the crowd that was discussing this topic throughout the month here on FYC. In the creative field, continuing education is a must and most of us understand that this is an important part of our creative existence. The question was about the format of that education, and that is where the ideas differed and expanded. We presented our inquiry in a sort of one versus the other kind of way, but it was intended to come from a personal preference perspective.

On the one hand, we had a large wave of support for teaching ourselves. For letting our passion lead us into unknown areas that we would conquer at our own pace and by our own process, and thereby learn more and retain the knowledge better.

Martha Wade – I think its best to learn things yourself, through trial and error and with experience. I have taken formal art and design classes, but I feel like I get more from just doing the work and trying new things. Being ‘taught’ the ‘proper’ way to use type, text, and form are a great foundation for the way people did things in the past. Great to learn new ways of expressing your creativity outside of the confines of what past greats have done. Take those lessons and CREATE something bold and different!

Franz Jeitz – I’m with you on this one Rob and here’s why. First off I want to say that being taught is by no means a bad way of gaining knowledge. I believe that it is a great way to get things going. Depending on the subject it can be quite overwhelming at the beginning. Not knowing where to start is a sure way to give up. Hence having someone lead the way is a great help.
However once the initial contact has been assured it is important to think for ourselves. I remember being taught in school that there are different panels to learning: visual, audio and action (I might have mislabeled them and forgot some, but for the sake of making this point it’ll be sufficient). Being taught mostly adresses the first 2, whereas learning on your own emphasizes on the action. This has been proven to have the greatest success rate in terms of actually remembering the things you learn.
Teaching yourself is certainly more time consuming, but at the same time more rewarding…

rayvolvez – I would say “Learning” is better – in that knowledge are retained more and it is through self-discovery and exploration that leaves a stronger impression.

Well, to put it in another way of saying, “learning” is proactive whereas “being taught” is passive. I prefer to be proactive in my pursuit of knowledge, because I want to decide what I want to learn, know what I’m learning.

True education is never spoonfed.

Looking Good, Mr. Kotter!

And on the other hand of the argument, being taught by someone else, outside of yourself and your realm of experience got quite a bit of support as well. The profound professing the finer points of their subject of expertise to the eager open minds waiting to absorb all that is offered. As the important continued educational march trudges forth, some attribute our desire to carry on this path to those who stood at the head of the class and gave their time to teach us.

CafeNirvana – …Being taught by someone with experience of the subject is good, as long as they are providing a foundation, a map, so to speak, where it is easier for students to organize all the information they collect. A teacher, ideally, should encourage independent questioning and research, they should provide a good framework for learning. Then the process becomes easier, more efficient and far more fulfilling than letting the student flounder in a sea of information and not knowing where to start or end. Pointing out weakness in a thought process or challenging us to take different view points of learning, that too is good in a teacher…

I feel a really good teacher (Be it a parent, a mentor or in an educational institution) imparts a good sense of discipline, structure and encourages a questioning mind, all of which is indispensable when it comes to learning on our own.

Sergiu Naslau – …To be taught is grate, you get everything on a silver plate, you get all the info you need, or do you? The good part of taught is that somebody explains everything do you, puts the bricks of your knowledge foundation, but sometimes a house needs more then a wall, more then a window, needs essence, needs purpose…

Niki Brown – I think that sometimes we need to be taught in order to be motivated to learn. I know that getting a BFA in graphic design definitely helped spark my yearning for design and web related knowledge.

A Bit of Both!

Overall, it should be noted that nearly every answer either claimed that both were vital in some way, or they at least acknowledged the value in the other point of view in the comments. Perhaps a bit of both are necessary to complete so complex a process.

dp – I find learning for yourself THEN being taught is the optimal way to go. After years of teaching myself, I now find that my education lacks in certain respects because I only taught myself the things I wanted to learn. In school, you are also taught the things you don’t want to learn, but should learn in order to be more well rounded. Now, if I went back to school (which i do sometimes with evening classes) I can pick up the things that I lack and throw away the extraneous stuff which I would not know was extraneous had I not educated myself to a large degree. Get me?

Anrkist – Learn, Teach, Learn, Teach, Learn…

When I went to school, I’d already been creating (bad) web sites for years. I wasn’t any good at it but I grasped the overall basics. So, I went to school and obtained a bit of structure and direction for what I was trying to accomplish. Admittedly, the stuff they were teaching in the class were a bit too basic(frames?!), so I ignored much of it but things like CSS I’d never heard of before and I began to seek out more information on it. The classes barley touched the surface on anything worth learning… so I learned to seek answers for myself.

Also, sitting with other people who had similar interests, I began to appreciate what others were doing. So I’m always keeping an eye out on trends and well done sites.

So which is better? For me, the two are intertwined. I wouldn’t be where I am without either.

Jennifer – Learning gives you the benefits of weeding through information that you already know or that you feel is irrelevant to your needs. It’s more gritty and you only have yourself to depend on.

Being taught is good because it lets someone else challenge you, you have another mind that opens you up to things you may not have thought about. However, it can have the downfall of dependency.

I prefer a little bit of both… I love being taught by my peers and learning on my own…

The Unconsidered Third Option

And though we did not actually leave room for a third option, one was offered by a couple of our commenters. They posed that the best way to fully know a subject, was to teach it! Though it was not offered as one of our original choices, we still felt it should be mentioned for those gave it as their answer.

Richard – Teaching is definitely better than learning, becuase it generally encompasses both. Unless you already know your subject inside out then teaching is the best (and scariest) way to learn something new. Many times I have heard of schoolteachers being one page ahead of their students.

Here Endeth the Lesson!

…But the discussion always lingers. Let us know your thoughts either here in the comments, or in the original post. Either way, do not feel like the topic is closed.

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The Learning Curve: A Creative Discussion #3 Wrap-Up

In my freshman year in college, I was fortunate to have taken Psychology from a professor who, with her own research and teaching, had determined several ‘learning techniques’ that were invaluable to any education. Dr. April O’Connell was probably the best professor I had, for a lot reasons. Now, some years later, I can still recall those techniques, mainly, because I applied them to her course and learned them very well.

Briefly, learning is defined as, a relatively permanent change in behavior or behavioral potential as a result of practice or experience. Most of what we learn is behavior that we have observed and mimicked, with some of it being innate, or instinctual to our species. We receive external stimulus, process it and, either, act on it or store it away. There are many ways in which we absorb and process things, conditioning, modeling, etc. Do Pavlov’s dogs ring a bell?

Here, for the average “student”, I am addressing some of these techniques, or habits, which are beneficial to gleaning useable knowledge from that which we wish to know.

Sleep

It is super important that you get enough regular-for-you sleep. It not only helps your body, but, it is during sleep that we process much of what we have learned, or taken in, during the course of a day.

Diet

Foods that we refer to as “brain foods” are good for your diet, anyway, but, eaten prior to an exam, these foods have shown to be beneficial in recalling memory. “Intellectual performance requires the specific type of fat found most commonly in fish, known as omega-3 fatty acids.” – PsychologyToday.com, “What is Good Brain Food?” By Hara Estroff Marano, October 2003; reviewed February 2007

Pace

Cramming or ‘massed practice’ is a popular method among college students of preparing for an exam. However, pacing, or ‘distributed practice’ proves to be more beneficial. Taking frequent, short breaks proved more effective than a constant stream of study, in recalling lists of words, in research that has been done. My professor also suggested that the “last thing you crammed in is the first thing you forget.” While other students were pouring over their notes on their way in to the exam, I was off having a cigarette.

Action

Any time you employ an action during the learning process, it has a more profound effect on your memory processes. Writing out things to remember is an ‘action’, as are ‘associations’. Connecting an image, or a name, to a thing to remember works on memory recall better than just seeing it.

Like States

Human memory systems are connected to emotional ‘arousal’ level and feelings. Have you noticed that we tend to remember sad things better when we are sad at the time of recall? Research has found that people have trouble remembering a thing when they are in a different state than the one they were in when they learned. So, ideally, if you are stoned when you studied for the exam, it would be beneficial for you to be stoned for the exam.

Obviously, there is a lot more to each of these concepts. There is considerable research in this area and new things are being determined. From grade school I remember the things they taught us about studying, such as sitting up straight, having a good light source, and as little interruption as possible. I remember the teachers having us stand up, bounce around, and shake our arms and hands, during a quick break from testing in grade school. These stay with us. But, these habits, or techniques, put together by one of my professors, have stayed with me through the years. Incidentally, I did exceptionally well following her tips. I made the Dean’s List and graduated with honors!

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5 Tips to Study By – An Extended Creative Discussion #3

Since I’ve known this client for years on both a personal and professional level I did stretch the rules for her a little in regards to billing – I’d often hook her up with a free consultation or whatever, you know…I tried to help out where I could (as long as it wasn’t a big deal). Perhaps you’ve worked for people that you considered friends and you’ve bent the rules a little for them as well. This is a nice gesture but it can often backfire on you, as it did me in this situation…more on that in a bit.

When you make yourself available to help the client when they have “no one else to turn to” you’ll find this quickly leads to clients thinking that they can call you for anything affecting their business, whether it relates to your area of specialty or not (graphic and or web design).

Going back to my example with this client, while the actual design of the web site has never been an issue, the web hosting, domain name registration and a few other IT issues have been a source of constant aggravation.

The root of all of these problems started because the client, (we’ll call her Marge) did not take my advice and work with a reputable, reliable web host. Instead she stubbornly went out on her own and got a second-rate web hosting company that has poor support and documentation. For her efforts she’s saving $5/year…wow.

Even though I politely told her this was a mistake, she resolutely went forward with her decision and hired a poor web host. What can I say? I can only advise, right?

In any case, it was around a year ago (3 years after the site was built) on a random Saturday…yes I said Saturday (clients aren’t supposed to call on the weekends); the client called me to complain that her email account was being hit by too much spam.

Even though I didn’t set up her email account and I don’t really offer IT support, I spoke with her for about 1/2 hour because we’re friends. I suggested that she set up a master email account but give out and use forwarding email accounts so if they get overrun with spam she can delete them and her master account would still be spared. I informed her that her web host would easily be able to walk her though this (at least the web host that I recommended that she use in the first place can). Anyway, she thanked me for the free advice and went on her way.

By the way, it’s important to note that I also told her that I could address the problem, it would take me 30-60 minutes and that I’d bill for the time. She didn’t take me up on that offer, which is fine, she wanted to go with the “free” solution and contact her web host herself.

Anyway, some time passed and I thought the problem was solved – I was wrong. About a week later this email found its way into my inbox, “Hey ! I know I mentioned this to you before but I need to change my e-mail. Do I just go into Microsoft Outlook, delete the old account and create a new one? I’m not sure how all of this works but I need to do this soon because receiving over 400 emails a day is driving me crazy!! Thanks for your help.”

Hmm, didn’t I already talk to her about this? Why is she asking me about it again?

Answer: She didn’t want to call the web host, instead she wants me to “fix” the problem…fix the problem for free – and that isn’t going to happen.

Ignoring my gut reaction to let her know what I really thought about how she’s handled this, I responded, “Pretty easy and free solution here, Marge. Whoever hosts your web site will be able to help you with this. You’ll need to set up a new account (which they’ll be able to walk you through for free, rather than hiring someone like me to do it). Contact their tech support; explain your issue and they’ll probably walk you through it. There are a couple of different ways you can go to eliminate this problem in the future, the tech support folks will have better knowledge about this than I do – give them a shout, it’ll probably take about 15-20 minutes.”

A few hours later I received this from Marge, “See this is the problem. I called my web host and they told me they couldn’t help me with this?!? This is why I contacted you; I’m a little irritated and need to have this problem fixed ASAP, not good for business. I will try them again, thanks for your help.”

A couple of thoughts here:

• If Marge had listened to me and went with the web host I suggested this would all be solved by now. Not listening to her designer got her in trouble and now she’s pissed.
• Marge says, “That’s why I contacted you…” No, you contacted me so I can solve your problem for free.
• Despite wasting loads of time and energy, Marge is unwilling to pay anyone to fix the problem. She feels since it’s such an easy thing to do, it should be free…but if it was that easy why can’t she do it?
• Marge feels I should provide FREE tech support on a web site that was build over 4 years ago!
• If Marge’s web host told her that they couldn’t help her, why would she say, “I will try them again”? If they can’t help her on the first try, what’s going to change if she calls them again? Hmm, do you get the impression that Marge didn’t actually call the web host but assumed I would fix it or contact them for her? I do.

I like Marge but in this instance she’s so focused on her own frustrating situation that she’s become a jerk. And yes, I know first-hand how technology can make people crazy (sometimes I get really ticked off at it), but railing against me in her frustration isn’t exactly helpful or fair.

My wife summed it all up by saying, “The issue here is that Marge is trying to make HER problems YOUR problems.” Yep, she’s right – and I’ve seen this so often with clients – frustrated people just trying to get someone to help them…HELP THEM FOR FREE.

Don’t get sucked into this.

Remember there’s a difference between wanting to be helpful & going the extra mile, and letting clients walk all over you. Where that line is you have to decide. In this example this client has a long history of asking for free help, and heck, she hasn’t hired me in a couple of years. I would have been happy to help her, but I was going to account for my time and expertise…what a crazy concept huh?

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Your Clients Problems Are NOT Your Problems

Write The Quote

Do this first. This simple document will explain what you’ll be doing, how much it’s going to cost and when it’ll be done. It’s also a good idea to explain how the process goes. This is where you explain how many revisions the client will receive, the cost of printing, and other steps of the process. If you don’t know what your process is, that’s quite alright. Remember, this is your first freelancing job.

Commit to a Reasonable Deadline

Committing to a humanly impossible deadline is one of the worst things you can do. There are two important reasons. First, the quality of your work will be horrible. Second, you’ll burn yourself out. Don’t feel intimidated, give yourself a reasonable amount of time to complete the job. When you do this, not only will your work be of great quality, but you’ll also be building your reputation as a reliable freelancer.

Ask Questions

Freelance Folder has a great post about asking the right questions. Questions are invaluable to doing your job right. However, don’t annoy your clients with unnecessary questions. Write down what you’d like to ask beforehand and read the aforementioned article.

Send a Thank You Card

This is a great business practice. Thank them for their business. Tell them that it was a pleasure working with them. Stroke their ego. They’ll come back for more.

Final Words

Do you remember your first freelancing job? What did you do? Anything to add?

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Tips for Your First Freelancing Job

The Question

What is your process from the initial project query to starting your design? In essence, what do you do to get yourself organized, what steps you take to get the project into the designer’s hands and rolling?

Brian Yerkes

@brianyerkes | BrianYerkes.com

Let’s say the lead comes in from our website, Brian Joseph Studios, we respond by phone or email (depending on what option they chose in their form submission) . This email thanks them and asks them a few questions about their needs… do they have a current site/logo etc. This email also introduces our company a little more, and tries to build that instant relationship. They are given one person to speak with that will be their project manager throughout the entire project.

The potential client responds with some answers, and we determine whether or not we want to take on the project or not. We have an interview process that we put the client through, and many fail at this step. I think it is extremely important to take on clients that are similar in their professionalism as you and your company.

It can even be down to small things… like if they don’t start an email addressing a name with something like “Hi John…” or anything like that. Small things like that can say a lot about the type of client they will be if you take them on, especially if you understand the truth behind some of the things that clients will say to you!

So, we begin the sales process. If the client is local or somewhat close to our area, we will arrange a meeting in person with them. This gives us the chance to really build a relationship on a personal level, beyond emails and phone calls.
We get to know the client, their business and their needs in detail. We listen to them and we provide solutions. After the meeting, we draw up a proposal outlining the solution for their project.

If they like it, we send the contract along and ask them to fax it back. We then invoice 50% of the project total and begin the project once that 50% is received.

The details in the contract, along with any notes taken by the sales person are then put together and loaded into our project management system for the designer to start working on.

Once the project starts, we keep in regular contact with the client, and ensure that they are involved in the design and development process throughout. We ask for feedback at all stages of the development and once they are happy with the final design we invoice the final 50% before we send final production files.

The client pays the final 50%, they receive the final files, (we upload the files to our server if it is a website project) and they are ready to roll with their brand new logo, website, or piece of print design.

After they are finished with the project, we still keep in touch with them regularly to keep that relationship with them and to help them with any needs in the future. This way we build up a strong and loyal client base, and we do not have to take on a huge amount of new clients to pay the bills and project costs.

If you work with 5 loyal, professional clients that have their stuff together, and understand the importance of your services, those 5 clients will always be more profitable than taking on 20 new clients of all different types. Ever heard of the Pareto Principle (80 / 20) rule? It works perfectly and has done for quite some time!

Chris Spooner

@chrisspooner | Blog Spoon Graphics

I guess every lead starts with an email. I try to direct clients to supplying plenty of info, such as project details, budget etc. This all helps give a good indication of what’s involved so I can estimate a number of hours or morning/afternoon sessions that would be required for the job, this is simply multiplied by my hourly rate. After which an estimate document is sent out, that contains an overview of the price and a list of terms. Once accepted an invoice for 50% is supplied, after payment is made it’s down to me to get cracking!

My process starts with some further research into any initial ideas I’ve had, I’ll create a client folder and save various text snippets from their email and images I come across online in a ‘Research’ folder. Next up, I’ll often dig out the pen and notepad to sketch out some ideas. Then things eventually move into Illustrator or Photoshop to continue the design in digital format.

Liam McKay

@liammckay | Function

For me, when I receive a request for a quote I send them a PDF file with costings on. I tend to stick to set prices per project so this makes this part very easy. Anyone who hasn’t been scared off will get in touch, and if they’re with me at this point it tends to be a good sign. Then I ask them for as much information as they think is relevant and can help with with the design, the usual things everything from photos to colour ideas. Anything that has been missed out or is up for discussion is sorted out via email or Gmail. Once I’ve got a clear idea of the direction it’s a quick wire-frame & mood-board to show what’s in my head, and find out if it matches what the client had in mind.

Only once all of these stages are done will I start, it’s really about me being comfortable with the process. I can’t start on something I’ve got doubts or uncertainties with so the process is really about me clearing up things and helping me understand the needs. It’s also worth mentioning I make sure to get a deposit before I start the design, and sometimes before I do a wire-frame.

If I’m working with a client I’ve worked with before I don’t always need to do all of the steps mentioned above as I tend to understand the requirements and expectations without the need for a mood-board etc, and likewise they feel comfortable enough to trust me. But generally this is my process for most new clients and projects.

Jon Phillips

@jophillips | Spyre Studios

In most cases, for a new client I’ll start by asking questions and try to figure out what the client is looking for. For an existing client, since we have a history and I already have an idea of what they like and dislike, it’s usually faster. I’ll often ask the client to show me some examples of sites they like and what they like (and don’t like) about them. Some clients will also have a design brief which is always helpful.

I use my own folder-based system on my computer to keep track of client infos, files, images, screenshots and inspiration material. When both me and the client are ready to move forward with the project I’ll send a quote and ask for 50% in advance (and the remaining 50% when project is complete)

Then when everything is good, I’ll grab my Moleskine notebook and start drawing wireframes and I’ll brainstorm some ideas focussed on the branding and the audience. My process will also be very different whether I’m working on a blog or on a small business website.

Once I’m getting somewhere with my wireframing I’ll open up Adobe Fireworks (I prefer Fireworks over Photoshop for website mock-ups) and start working on different layouts and grids. Then it’s just a matter of doing a couple more mock-ups, coding and voila! :)

Franz Jeitz

@fudgegraphics | Fudge Graphics

The initial design process depends on factors such as type of project and location of the client. If possible I try to meet up with the client over a cup of coffee to discuss the project. Prior to the meeting I will have compiled a list of questions to ask. It is important to get as much information as possible. Furthermore I’ll present some examples to show the client. This enables me to get an idea of what they like and dislike. For non-local clients this will all be done via e-mail or Skype. Once the ground outlines of the job have been set I will give them a quote. Upon approval I will start with the actual design work.

Now It’s Your Turn

Don’t forget to take a few minutes, if you feel like it, and tell us about your process in the comments.

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From Client Contact to Design – A Group Interview