To be able to become a true graphic designer, it is extremely necessary to at least learn the so-called "Triangle of Graphic Design Tools".
While sometimes we hear some IT men claim that they are graphic designer after learning Photoshop, it is as it is. Just a claim. While we totally appreciate their work, we also want them to be "complete" of their graphical tools arsenal to be able to really claim that title. I say "complete" because these are just the tools. And by no means you can be complete without your fundamental foundation, creativity & insight among other things.
The three must-learn tools are (not necessarily in the order of importance);
1. Photoshop - Of course for image editing and all that stuff.
2. Illustrator - For creating logo and vector graphics.
3. InDesign - For doing web and print layout professionally.
And to jumpstart your Illustrator learning process, memorize and use the shortcut keys.
And what a better way to do that but by having this Illustrator Shortcut Keys image reference in your desktop. A complete reference both for PC and Mac.
I used to purchase a book just to memorize the keys during my immersion days. But lo and behold! it's totally free for you. Courtesy of Wells & Drew, makers of fine stationary since 1855.
Brought to you by Wells & Drew, makers of fine engraved stationery.
We designers are sitting most of our design hours. We cannot do anything about it. It's hard, if not impossible, to work on your sketches and computers while standing. But a live dog is better than a dead lion. We want to design and design but we must also take care of our health in order for us to take care of the more important things.
So here's an authorized grab that might help us minimize the health risk of too much sitting. For all who spent their working hours sitting, read on.
Via:
Medical Billing And Coding
Not many realized the impact of the contribution of font designers to the reading pleasure and the appeal of reading, much less remember the font names . Whether we enjoy an article, an Ad, a poster, brochure, magazine, graffiti, logo identity, business card and stationaries on print, mobile and on web (among others), we are indebted to the passionate and dedicated artists of present and of long ago behind the high art of font design and typography. This experimental magazine is a tribute to the designers of the few good fonts.
Let's admit it. Design inspirations from any (conceivable&unconceivable) sources are always most welcome to fuel our design passion and to keep the fire burning as they say. Even the pain can be a source of inspiration, say that to Mr. Jon Bongiovi. Devoid of inspirations, an artist may find himself tight and locked up.
As I dug into the design minefield, I found these two very interesting collection of Logo Designs that will surely save yourself from missing the deadlines and costly graphic design books from Fully-Booked, National Bookstore and Powerbooks. Eighty designs. Just Two Links. Consult them often.
When we see a Brand, a Logo we rarely think of the design process that it has gone through.
Unless of course if you possess a 'keen eye' on visuals. It is so enlightening to peek into the background of what goes on behind the finished product and find the rationale and some justifications behind the design. It is also an exciting experience to know the designer's perspective on issues at hand and how he came up with the idea.
On this blog, I will be searching those gems and try to present to you in a simple manner. A good resource for those just starting in graphics design this topic would become.
For a start, have you ever wondered how Google came up with their (now) very identifiable and famous Logo?
You will be amazed and at the same time be appreciative of how the designer toiled for this Logo design project.
Read the full text here.
Another good read about Google's Logo evolution can be found at Wikipedia. Here's the link, On-Click.
If you look around, someting is happening in the creative world that keeps the designer's coffee hot and warm. Everybody is in the Logo Makeover mode! well, not everybody. But in the local and international scene, a changing 'brandscape' is happening just under the hood. Pepsi has just quietly launched the new and modern Pepsi which keeps the debate still raging on on the critical mind's who's who of the design industry. The mortal question is still in the oven and on fire, What do you think of the new Pepsi Logo? Which is better, the old one or the new one?
The Pepsi debate 'war' is not over yet and look who's in the arena; Seattle Best Coffee!
I have here the image of the New vs the Old Logo of Seattle's Best Coffee grabbed from http://www.fastcompany.com/1651634/seattle-s-best-coffee-logo-is-a-blend-of-the-bland for you to see and decide which of the Logos represent the Brand very well. Fell free to leave your comment as freely as you can as this may entitle you for a free cup of coffee at Seattle's Best! Joke.
What do you think of the new Seattle's Best Logo? Is it better than the Old Logo? From a design perspective, do you think a makeover is in order?
Let your voice be heard . . .
NOT JUST FOR YOUR COFFEE ...
Another famous logo that quietly undergone major changes on its Logo design is Pepsi. Being much older than Seattle's Best, Pepsi claims millions (billions?) of followers and believers and it is one of the most recognizable logos on the planet. Maybe, even in the outer space! (The International Space Station had Pepsi Logo painted on it before). Therefore, any tweaking to the brand, icon, and packaging, receives enough reaction from its core and die-hard customers and equally the same amount of criticism from the competitors.
Whatever the case and the reason behind the new design, as designers, YOU OUTTA KNOW!
So what do you think of the new Pepsi Logo design, LOVE it or HATE it?
The New Pepsi Look
or Which of the Pepsi Logo designs you like most?
Join the discussion here or go to the site for much in-depth discussion and see what others think and have said about the new logo.
Prepare to be mind-dissected.
The Pepsi Logo through the years . . .
Been very busy lately with a new packaging design project and just finished a text-intensive tri-fold leaflet for another Health Company, all in a month's work including product photoshoot.
During the lull, I decided to peek into the world of Online Jobs Opportunity and see what's available for a Creative Designer like me. I say, a plenty of platform exists for us and each one has its on pros and cons. Others would let you bill an every hour of work you put into the project and a guaranteed payment for every hour worked. If some of you attacked the design process like mine, some hours are spent on researching, while sketching works would eat up a heck of a time studying design possibilities on the design brief before facing the digital workstation, then, most of your working hours won't be recorded - you won't get paid for those countless hours you've pour in for the project. I say, this kind of approach doesn't fit perfectly with me, but may work for most people.
There are workplaces also that feel similar to an Auction Site. Here you will bid for projects posted on their site. You are going to compete with designers around the world, outhustling each other for price war. Most buyers would go to the 'lower bids' but there are smart and savvy buyers who don't go with the norm but instead look for a perfect 'balance' between the price and the quality of work. Yes, those people exists. The latter can be a good designer's 'friend'.
[ A SURPRISE ELEMENT OF ONLINE JOBS ]
Online Jobs may sound like all work, but not, really. For example, most of the time you will find them very professional, easy to work with, respectful and sometimes friendly. I haven't meet yet the 'very friendly' type (I will write about him/her when I meet one for sure), but those friendly persons (we treat them as boss) are worth mentioning ( and maybe linking? ). There is such a man from UK who let me design a web logo for his website. The site are not yet complete but you can access it already. The name of the site is quite long, but very interesting. I am looking forward to the contents of this site. I'll write more about this site once it is complete but for the meantime you can access it here.
