nikkieve design

art vs design

2011-12-22T17:08:00.000-08:00

Interesting concept and very true!

Designing Christmas

2011-12-14T05:15:00.000-08:00

It's beginning to look a lot like christmas...

With presents and wrapping, ribbons and tags,

champaign and cards about to spring forth...

I have been designing my own christmas tags to go with my christmas colour scheme

of red, white and silver. (I will post my tags up very soon!)

I found some fantastic christmas cards online for inspiration...

dear lola

Concrete Lace

the hungry workshop

greenwich letter press

paper coterie (my favourite)

Are you designing your own christmas cards and gift tags?

design process made visual

2011-12-11T20:21:00.000-08:00

Most clients and non-designers generally don't understand what it takes to create effective design.
The sketches, headaches, long nights and coffee all go unseen and unknown.
The design process always varied from client to client and job to job, but the basic design process is always the same.

I found this fantastic project on behance which aims to show the design process in a visual way, which it great for visual thinkers like me!

Do you think this represents your design process too?

Starting your own business

2011-11-08T18:19:00.000-08:00

Now that I am nearing the end of my university career, it is very hard not to worry about whats next.
With the GFC going on and job's very sparse, working on my own design and photography business becomes ever more appealing. The only problem I have been having is figuring out how to go about building and establishing my business properly. I know how to take a good photo and I certainly know a good design when I see one but the legalities of it all are rather mysterious and I was never taught this aspect of the game at UNI.

I found this little info-graphic about how to establish a small business here!

Have you started your own business, be it freelance or otherwise, how did you go about setting yourself up?

Busy Busy Bee!

2011-10-30T17:59:00.000-07:00

I have been a very busy bee these past few weeks, I am in the last few weeks of uni for ever! which has been very hectic and I just photographed my first ever wedding!

Fist things first, I completed my first ever graphic design portfolio!

let me tell you, much harder then anticipated indeed. I know I will replace it with an updated version before the job hunt begins so Im not to concerned by the work not being the highest standard.

here is a link to my portfolio

Nikkieve portfolio

Now for the photography, what a day!

It never occurred to me how hard wedding photography really is!

I will do a post soon just on wedding photography and what I learnt from the big day, but for now here are a few photos I am particularly happy with.

More photos coming soon...

stay creative

2011-09-16T04:19:00.000-07:00

from here

just a little something...

2011-09-07T04:49:00.000-07:00

Just a little something for uni, what do you think?

Nikkieve x

About me...

2011-09-06T07:17:00.000-07:00

A little while ago I did an intensive design workshop with Ken Cato at my UNI and I learned a lot. I am still amazed at how much I learn't in three and a half days!

The task we were assigned to was to make a series of a4 posters exploring our identity. Looking at what made us who we are, talking to family, finding pictures and documenting passions. I found this to be an amazing insight into myself and made me realise I have what it takes to be a designer.

To be honest, before this workshop I was seriously doubting my ability to be a designer and now I realise my I was being to hard on myself and I was letting my pessimistic nature leach into my designing as a whole. I was expecting the worst and not giving myself a chance to prove otherwise. I am so glad I gave myself a chance with this and I was so happy with what I came up with in an afternoon!

Have you explored your identity through design?

Nikkieve x

Don't over think it!

2011-09-06T06:49:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon a new website today that addressed one of the most frustrating and important parts of the design process, not over thinking your design.

So how do you know when to stop? Where is the perfect middle between simplicity and meaningful context. It would seem the most important part of the decision making process is to develop your fast decision making skills so how do we get there? In the design world we wont get a month to work on one project like at UNI so I think this is very important to understand and put into action ASAP!!

So the website I found it called 99% and it is awesome and full of amazing content for designers!

So the article I found particularly interesting is called... Don't over think it! and it talks about how to not over analyse your work.

Here are the headlines:

1. Satisficers vs Maximizers.

Gathering additional information always comes at a cost. We’re better off setting our criteria for making a decision in advance (as in, “I’ll make the call once I know X, Y, and Z”). Once you have that information, make the choice and move on.

2. How less can be more.

We are designed to process information so quickly that “rapid cognition” – decisions that spring from hard thinking based on sound experience – can feel more instinctive than scientific. Trust your gut.

3. The three kinds of intuition.

We should trust our expert intuition (based on experience) when making choices about familiar problems. But when we need a break-through solution, we shouldn’t be too quick to jump to conclusions.

4. Why we should trust experience. (Any one's experience.)

If you’re wrestling with a difficult decision, consult a friend or colleague who’s been in your situation before. Their insight will likely be significantly more valuable than almost any research.

5. Choosing your battles.

Ask yourself if this decision is really that meaningful. If it’s not, stop obsessing over it, and just make a call!

Check out the full article here- Don't over think it

Do you over think it?

Nikkieve xx

Newly Acquired Skills

2011-09-04T05:07:00.000-07:00

Today as I was messing around with my camera after uni, I became quite attached to the continual shutter release mode. I was documenting my friends as we had Starbucks and capturing the passers by. I realised this would be the perfect opportunity to learn how to make animated Giff and that's exactly what I did tonight. Its really very easy when you get the hang of it.

Here is what I came up with...

I know I'm a little behind the times but its so fun!

do you think animated GIFF's are a little outdated?

nikkieve x

My Identity

2011-09-04T04:14:00.000-07:00

I have finished my personal brand identity for a UNI assignment and I'm pretty happy with the results. I think there is a few little tweaks left to do but other all I feel I have done a good job!

What do you think of my brand identity?

Is it important to have a strong and eye catching brand identity to land a graduate job?

nikkieve x

This is the begining...

2011-09-04T04:02:00.000-07:00

This is the beginning of something good ... (I Hope)

How does one person go about finding there way into the real world, past the gates of university and into work land. How do you get a real job without floating of into the abyss of easy to come by, menial jobs standing behind counters, making sales, serving customers.

I wanted to capture my journey right as I begin to embark upon it, finishing uni and trying to get a 'real' job. it seems imposable as this point but I hope I can look back at this with fond memories. What better way to preserve my journey and connect with other people who were, are or will be in this position.

My name is Nicole (Nikki for short) and I am in my last 8 months of university studying a Bachelor of Design and Communication through the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. I a in my last 8 months of uni and I have begun to look into my future and consider were I am going to be in a year or two's time. How does a design student go about successfully making there way into the industry? I hope to find this out and share it with you in the months ahead.

Nikki xx