Our Creative Process

Where does the creative process begin? In our boook “How to be a graphic designer without losing you soul” author Adrian Shaughnessy describes the creative process as a daily activity. One of the best things about being a designer is the fact that you see design everywhere, whether you are at the super market, gym, or just sitting watching TV. Inspiration for new design ideas is all around you and some of the best designs always look effortless.
In order to create your own signature on the design world, you must have three elements. First, you must be able to tell the difference between what is good design and what is bad design. Second, you must allow your personality to be portrayed through your work. And third, you must be constantly aware of “changing fashion, trends, and history.”
The three ways will help you to develop your own style in the design world. When using these skills clients and designers often research the market that they are developing for to get a greater understanding of the target audience. Now a days graphic design is almost done entirely by computer, and the internet allows for easy research tools while designing.

In our line of work you must have a master copy of everything that you have ever done. It is up to us to keep originals, slides, prints, or disks of our work for future reference. Author Cynthia L. Baron writes that “Keeping you work in prim portfolio condition is an imperative first step, but isn’t enough.” She lets us know just how important organizing and archiving our work can make for great designs in the future.

How to handle your clients

Dealing with disgruntle clients can be one of the hardest things in the world, although how ever wining a client over can also be one of the most rewarding feelings. In our book “How to be a graphic designer, without losing your soul” author Adrian Shaughnessy teaches us how to win our clients over in order to gain the satisfaction of developing a great product. Adrian writes “I like a fight, and I get satisfaction from winning over a difficult client.” If you are frustrated with your client the time spent on your frustrations will be counter productive to the development of your product.

There are certain ways to deal with your clients and the best way is treat your clients as your friends. But as Adrian writes “there is much to be said for keeping a barrier between intimacy and professional matter.” In using this philosophy you are able to tell your client that they are wrong with out losing critical design time. Wording of your replies to your client is critical to politely show them that their design ideas are wrong. By showing your client how their ideas wont fit they will begin to trust you in your thinking.
Knowing when you are wrong is also a critical part in dealing with your client. If you are not able to realize that you are wrong your clients may see you as over confident or cocky to an extent. This will lead to loss of clients leading further to loss of money.
There is one thing that I have always thought that has gotten me through public speaking, and that is if you are confident in your work and satisfied with your design it will almost sell its self. Presenting your work is one of the ultimate tests as a designer, it allows you to sell your work and make people believe that this is the best possible design for their product.
Getting to the presentation stage will rely highly on your design portfolio. While there is no one-way to design a portfolio, there are certainly better ways to layout your work. In our book “Designing a Digital Portfolio” by Cynthia L. Baron, she gives us different ways to design a professional portfolio. One of the most common and popular ways is to us a CD. Compact Discs are no the standard on all computers and are the most compatible with both Macs and PC’s.

When choosing your portfolio type it is critical to take in account the type of work that you are applying for. For motion graphics one might use a DVD, or for an interview that does not allow for a lot of time one might put their portfolio on the Internet. This will give the client the option of viewing your work at his or her own leisure.