http://www.talenthouse.com/creativeinvites/show/submission/detail/JY7PPJ

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It's that time of year when I work on a lot of Holiday pieces. From ads to cards to stickers and giveaways. I do it all. Last week I got to work on a couple of ideas for an ad to appear in a local holiday songbook. Here are the two ideas I came up with:

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I recently got asked to work on updating the look and feel for some pieces a local salon was handing out to its customers. The old gift certificates they were handing out looked kind of dated and didn't follow the fresh approach that the new manager wanted to convey.

The old gift certificate they were using is shown here:

Here is the design for the fresh-looking new design. Much better, don't you think? To go along with this, they asked me to work on a price board that would go up on the walls of the salon.

See the full gallery on Posterous

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Sorry bout the lack of posts lately. I've been working on a very cool project for myself. A new venture. I can't say too much about it right now. All will become clear over the coming months.

In the meantime - I hope to get back on track soon with some posts to this site so you can see what I have been up to lately in the world of graphic design.

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A wedding invitation is a letter asking the recipient to attend a wedding. Historically, wedding invitations were hand-written, but modern invitation design follows fashion trends. Invitations are generally chosen to match a couple’s personal preferences, the level of formality of the event, and any color scheme or planned theme.

In this showcase I have included 50 beautiful and stunning wedding invitations for your inspiration. 

Invitation

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Tying the Knot – RK+MM Wedding Invitations

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I Do’s Wedding Invitation

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Email Wedding Invitation

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Wedding Invitations

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Christine & Garrett

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Wedding Invitation + Collateral

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Susana & Nathan’s Wedding Invitations

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Wedding Invitations

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Wedding invitations

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Wedding invites

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DIY wedding invitation wheel

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Endless Love

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Pennsylvania Wedding

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Letterpress Wedding Savedate: Pomeroy

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Set Sail Wedding Invitations

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woodcut wedding invitation

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Vintage Elegance Wedding

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wedding invitation

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Wedding Invitation

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wedding invite

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Alice & Zach’s Wedding Invitation

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K+B Wedding Invitations

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Spring Island Wedding Invitation

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Classic Typography Save the Dates

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Squirrels Save the Date

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Printable Wedding Invitation – Garden Party

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Wedding Invitation

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Rock Poster Wedding Invitation

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Monogram complete printalbe wedding invitation set

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Wedding Invitation

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Black and White Printable Wedding Invitation

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My Wedding Invitation

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A Very Big Misconception

Since the 1990s, the average consumer has had access to easy-to-use desktop publishing tools. Some people have decided that since anyone can make a newsletter or flyer on their PC that graphic designers are irrelevant.

Some Things to Remember When Using this Approach:

1: You will often be too close to your message.
You may have been working on your marketing idea or business venture for a very long time. You will need a fresh approach to understand the various ways in which it can be presented successfully.

2: A professional graphic designer has years of experience to bring to the table.
Most graphic designers, like myself, have a degree of some sort. I spent four years at college earning my degree along with the fundamentals of design and creativity. I am also a very creative person. I look at things with a very different eye than most people. I also have 18 years experience working in the design field. I have worked in very large creative environments and collaborated with photographers, copywriters and marketing specialists on a daily basis. 

3: Do you want your brand or image to be presented professionally?
This is so important – you want your customers or clients to think of you or your business as being professional. Will you be happy to hand out a flyer designed in Word using clip art? You want your advertising pieces to not only look professional, but to be remembered. You need them to stand out and represent your business in the best way possible. I have lost count of the number of times I have seen a business open and fall flat on its face because they have no idea how to market themselves professionally. 

4: Create a 'brand' and allow your customers to trust you.
Graphic designers look at things differently to most of you. Give us a problem and we will solve it. Remember - graphic design goes far beyond make things 'look pretty'. Designers use all of their skills and knowledge to present things in a clear and precise way. Designers use color, images and text to create a look that will stand out and be remembered. Designers are experts at creating a 'mood' or a certain 'look and feel' that draws people in and that enables the person on the street to remember you and the services you offer.

5: You think you will save money by doing it yourself.
So you think you can do this? You produce something that is 'ok'. Yes - you saved money by designing a flyer, brochure or an ad yourself. But remember the things I talked about above. Remember the image you are trying to present. Is it professional? Will you or your business be remembered? You might actually spend more money in the long run, once you realize that the phone is not ringing - or you have little or no customers.

6: Print knowledge is of the upmost importance.
Do you know the difference between spot color and process color? Your printer does, and if you don't set up your design files correctly, that could come back to haunt you as well. Graphic designers possess a full understanding of the print business and how to set up their design files and supply printers with correct, ready-to-go files.

I could go on a little more about this and come up with some more reasons why you should hire a graphic designer over trying to do this yourself. I think I have made some pretty good arguments.

Do you have anything to add to this, or have any questions about graphic design? Just let me know. Be glad to get a conversation started!

     

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SPC Designs ~ Graphic Design Services has been running a special for the month of October to celebrate the unveiling of our new website and social media sites.

Like us on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/spcgraphicdesign and get 20% off our hourly rate for any design work. That's a $10 per hour saving! Hurry ~ this offer will expire on 10/31/11.

Contact us through our website and see our full design portfolio @ www.spcdesigns.com

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In this and future blog posts, I will be discussing what graphic designers actually do in their day-to-day job and will be making it easier for the person on the street to understand what is involved. Some potential clients out there will also benefit from what I have to say. I would like to make myself more approachable to someone looking to hire a graphic designer and hopefully they will understand that there is really nothing to be scared of when approaching one.

Why Am I Doing This Here, You Ask? 

Sometimes, when I tell people what I do for a living, I am often surprised by the responses I get – ranging from “that’s cool” – to “what is that?” to “I never knew that is what a graphic designer did.” So, let’s get started:

Graphic Design, in a Nutshell …

Graphic design is a creative process that combines art and technology to communicate ideas. Graphic designers work with a variety of communication tools in order to convey a message from a client to a particular audience. The main tools are images, typography and color.

Image:

benedictbatumbakal

Graphic Design is Part of Your Daily Life

If you didn’t already know it, graphic design is a big part of your daily life. From humble things like gum wrappers to huge things like billboards to the T-shirt you're wearing, graphic design informs, persuades, organizes, stimulates, locates, identifies, attracts attention and provides pleasure.

Visual Communication

Graphic designers use visual elements to help communicate information. This includes the use of color, images, photography, charts and graphs and other visual cues. They also help to enhance the look of magazines, brochures, flyers, corporate presentations and websites by making them more colorful, eye-catching and easier to navigate. Graphic designers often work closely with others to produce a total package, from coordinating with copy editors at a newspaper to consulting with salespeople for major ad campaigns. 

Graphic designers may work in a variety of formats, from drawn, painted, photographed, or computer-generated images (pictures), to letterforms that make up various typefaces found in movie credits and TV ads; in books, magazines, and menus; and even on computer screens. Designers create, choose, and organize these elements-typography, images, and the so-called “white space” around them-to help communicate a message.

In my next post:

Can't I Just Design it Myself?

 

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When applying for a job, you have no choice but to do your best to outshine competition. Even before winning an interview, your qualification (or in some instance, your character) is already judged through the resume you have submitted.

It is then important to make your resume or CV as honest, concise and striking as possible. If you are looking forward to a creative position, you will be expected to come up with something more grand and well, extra creative.

Take a look at how other designers compose their creative resumes. Below is a list of excellent resume designs that will surely catch the attention of employers. As they say, first impressions last and yes, you should make yours count…we’re pretty sure these people did.

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re-posted by Steve Clark

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Outdoor Advertising has certainly evolved through the years. With so many concepts and tag lines already overused, companies have to constantly think outside the box in order to come up with ads that could capture the imagination of their target market.

Billboards, the most common form of outdoor ads, now offer a lot more than just the company logo and tagline. Almost every billboard today is strategically located. Location not only helps in terms of exposure, but could really be a major component of the ad.  In addition to this, billboards also make use of presentations or even materials that may seem unconventional, but can be very effective in promoting a particular product or cause.

Outdoor advertising is not limited to billboards. Bus-bench and transit advertising are only two of the many media of outdoor advertising currently being used. Some of these innovative outdoor ads are just so bizarre that it would be better for you to see them for yourself. We’ve collected 44 outdoor advertising samples that will surely amuse and enlighten you. Check them out and tell us what you think by leaving a comment.

McDonald’s: Billboards 200m-197m

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Colorado State Patrol: Don’t Lose Your Head

“You can turn any car into a convertible
Tailgating a truck can turn any car into a convertible”
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Quebec city magic festival: Magic hat and pigeons

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CNN: Stories with the full background, 3

“Stories with the full background. CNN”
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Berger: Sky

“Natural finish colours”
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Panasonic nose trimmer: Baldy

“Billboards built around actual electric wires and poles to amusingly yet convincingly dramatize the need for the panasonic nose hair trimmer’s safety cutting system.”
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Foundation Abbé Pierre: 12

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Toyota Prius: Pre-collision

“The all-new Prius pre-collision system can detect a potential impact before you do.”
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Mercedes-Benz: Gullwing

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BMW: Checkmate

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Denver Water: Evolution

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Varuhuset Femman (Femman Department Store): Keep a Friend Warm

“Help us warm freezing Gothenburgers. Leave your winter clothes at the Femman main entrance, from Oct 25th to Nov 11th.”
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Pathfinders Teen Homeless Shelter: Homeless Teen, 1

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www.delhishomeless.org: Indoor Advertising

“For some this is indoor advertising.
Support homeless people.”
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Virgin Atlantic: What brings you to London?

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Leica binoculars: Rhinoceros

“Get close. With the Ultravid from Leica.”
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Specsavers: Scooter

“Should’ve gone to Specsavers”
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Cedars-Sinai Spine Center: We know how you feel

“We know how you feel”
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SunSmart Cancer Council Western Australia: Cut Out

“Cutting your sun exposure is easier than cutting out a skin cancer.
Free 30+ sunscreen”
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Coca-Cola / WWF: Plant Billboard

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Dry the River – No Rest: 3D paper-crafted horses

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Samsonite: Heaven and Hell

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Interbest: Male Stripper

“The sooner you advertise here, the better.”
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Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada: GetYourButtSeen.ca bus

“Drive to web OOH campaign to build awareness of a subject many consider taboo: colorectal cancer.”
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MAD Magazine: Light bulb

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Caribou Coffee: Ovens out of transit shelters

“Colle+McVoy helped Caribou Coffee launch its new hot breakfast sandwiches in a very warm way that benefits Minnesotans during wintertime. The agency created ovens out of transit shelters, including real heat, to showcase the hot and delectable new menu items.”
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Leica: Sharpest Details, Wood

“Sharpest details.
Leica S2 with 37,5 million pixels.”
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Swedish Tennis Veterans: Tennis ball

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Zoo Zurich: More space for the big ones, Vertical

“More space for the big ones
Support the new Elephant Park with your donation: PC80-804-4″
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Rädda Barnen (Save the Children): The Lottery of Life, Sierra Leone vs Sweden

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BMW M3 Coupe: The Light Wall Reflection

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Absolut: Lemon Drop bus stop

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Big Bazaar: Stationery Sale, Push Pin Art

“Annual Stationery Sale”
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Center for Autism: Two faces

“Derek Paravicini. A man with autism.
Derek Paravicini. The piano virtuoso.
Autism has two faces.”
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McDonald’s: MacFries Pedestrian Crossing

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Frito-Lay Lay’s Kettle Cooked Chips: Billboard carving

“In order to demonstrate that Lay’s Kettle Cooked Chips are made with traditional, artisan cooking methods, the brand hired a team of skilled artisans to hand-carve a billboard made of wood. The billboard was located in San Francisco, CA and took approximately ten days to complete.”
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Colorado State Patrol: Billboard Collision

“Tailgating Isn’t Worth It. Give Trucks Room. It’s The Law”
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Hallmark Channel, Rex in the City: Dog billboards

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Hot Wheels: Big Boy

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XBox, Alan Wake: Coffin light

“Dark is Deadly”
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Toronto Academy of Karate: Board

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Hygiene Color Bleach: Disappearing stains

“Hygiene Color Bleach removes stains fast. From a distance, it appears there is a stain on the clothes, but as one comes closer, the stain disappears. You can test it on your screen too.”
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Meiji: Stronger

“Milk makes you stronger.”
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TV3: Law & Order outdoor lamp

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re-posted by Steve Clark

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Most clients consider graphic designers to be magicians who can come up with creative ideas with a swish of their wands. But the reality is otherwise. Thinking of an original design idea isn’t magic that can be whipped up in a matter of seconds. It entails an entire and elaborative procedure of transporting the idea from the designer’s brain to its final end-result. But the hardest part for a graphic designer is to explain their creative process to bad type of clients or project managers. Even though designers go through the entire process, still they cannot put in words the feelings attached with the entire endeavor. So how does a creative design idea reach to its final destination? Today, we analyze the different stages through which a graphic designer goes in order to develop a brilliant design idea.

1. Learning:

The conception of a design idea starts with a deep learning and understanding of the fundamentals of design. Your creative thinking is backed by a firm groundwork of knowledge and wisdom regarding the design trends and developments. Although this is not a necessary condition for achieving creativity, but with a solid background of the field, you will know how to convert your ideas into reality.

2. Training:

Training is essential in learning how to do things properly. Regardless of the fact that a designer designs by hand or uses some design software, they must be fully trained in operating the tools so that they don’t hinder the creative process of generating a logo design. Being a graphic designer, training is crucial in effectively delivering the concepts to their final stage.

3. Investigation:

Before you can even conceive an idea, you must gain sufficient information of the client’s business. A graphic designer’s worst mistake is to jump straight to the designing stage, but this stage is crucial in yielding factual and relevant ideas. In a majority of cases, you will obtain this information from the client via a design brief. But if the client doesn’t provide sufficient information, then the burden falls onto the designer to conduct a full-throttle investigation of the relevant things required in the design.

4. Enlightenment:

After filling your mind with sufficient data and information related to the subject, you will now encounter the enlightenment phase where several small but creative revelations pop into your head that you can utilize in your design. In this stage, the idea is not fully hatched and needs to be incubated in order to emerge. The designers note down all the tiny bits and pieces of thoughts and inspiration that come in their mind.

5. Ideation:

After a series of strenuous phases, the graphic designer is finally in the stage to produce a creative idea. I call this stage IDEATION (Idea + Generation). This is where designers filter out the small bits and pieces of creativity obtained in the previous stage and convert it into a proper graphic design idea. This process involves analyzing all the possible designs and eliminating each one at a time until you are left with the best one.

6. Execution:

The creative process isn’t over just yet. One of the common misconceptions in graphic designing is  that creative process terminates once the idea has been generated. Without proper execution, you creative ideas are bound to fail and your strenuous labor will go down the drain. The execution phase involves converting the sketches into digital format, adding colors, effects and final testing on various mediums. After the final approval from the client, then only can your creative design process be considered as successfully completed. Orginal post from graphicdesignblog.org

re-posted by Steve Clark

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This past week I was given a project for a postcard design - not one to be mailed - but one to be handed out at an event. The first design I worked on was ok - but something bugged me about it. I went home and thought about it overnight. Sometimes I get my best design ideas while relaxing at home with a clear mind. The postcard lacked warmth - in color and design. I was also trying to be too clever with the 'growing theme'. The new second design was chosen as the finished printed piece first time - without any corrections or additions. I think the main reason for this was its simplicity and introduction of the warmer color scheme. It's a lot more inviting to look at and really draws you in.

So what am I trying to say?

Sometimes it is better to take a step back and re-think things when the design you are working on is just not happening. I think this happens to all of us at some point. Most days when I design pieces, I have little or no problems, and I get it right first time. I guess we all have days when things don't go quite so right. You may be extra tired - or stressed, which can affect the design. If things are not going right for you - take a breather - think about it overnight - and come back to work with a fresh state of mind.

In the end, the client really loved this piece and everyone was happy! 

Below is the original design and the new design so you can see how I changed things up.

Original Design

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New Design

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I had so much fun on this shoot tonight. The light was perfect. The model was amazing for not doing this before. I was so happy to help her start compiling her photo book. The photos here are unedited straight from the camera. As soon as I get them edited, I'll put them up in my photo gallery at spcdesigns.com ~ enjoy

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Thank you Steve jobs,

Thank you for your vision and your inspiration. You have helped shape my life and career and will continue to do so as long as I hear that Apple 'chime' as I turn on my Mac for work every day. Where would we be if it were not for Steve Jobs? Staring at a blank screen and reaching for the restart button! You will be greatly missed by the design community.

Best Regards,

Steve Clark

Owner/Art Director/Senior Designer -
SPC DESIGNS - Graphic Design Services

web: www.spcdesigns.com
email: spcdesigns@gmail.com
phone: (816) 729 0752

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6. Meet new client

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Don't forget that my October Special starts today and runs for the whole month of October!!
SAVE 20% off of my hourly rate for any design work.

What do I have to do to get this?
Just 'like' me on my facebook page and become a fan at www.facebook.com/spcgraphicdesign.

The good news is that you can use this for multiple projects during the month of October. If you are not allowed to use social media at your place of work, just use your personal facebook account. If you are still not comfortable with 'liking' me on facebook - I will except another way to get the discount. Just write a review on my facebook page. Once you are logged on to my page at www.facebook.com/spcgraphicdesign just look for the reviews tab on the left.

Once you have done this - just use my Contact Form on my website at spcdesigns.com, or facebook page, or shoot me an email and let me know what kind of design project you need help with. If you hire me during October you will see the 20% discount on your invoice.

Thanks so much - I am sitting by my Mac and ready to go!

Steve - SPC Designs

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 There are lots of benefits in using a freelance graphic designer when compared to using a design agency. Costs are very low in comparison - a freelance graphic designer can offer lower rates simply because they don't have the big costs associated with the running of a large graphic design agency.

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I like how simple the original logo is - but it lacked color and vibrancy. I decided to start over and work up a new idea using colors from the printing process - CMYK. (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black for those of you not familiar with this.) I liked the idea of using crop marks and color bars that you will find on a printers proof.

I almost decided that I would go with this design. I liked it - I went ahead and put it up on my site. It sat there for about a week or so, until I started thinking about ordering some new business cards. This design would not really work on a business card - the crop marks would not make sense on such a small piece and I was worried that people would just not 'get it'.

Time to Step Back and Simplify - Again!

I liked the new colors that's for sure - really pops. But it didn't pop enough for me. Time introduce another element. Lets make these 'buttons' shiny. You see a lot of companies out these days using this technique to update their old tired logo and bring it in the 21st Century. Below are some of the ideas I went through in my design process before settling on the final design.

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The Final Design

After a few tweaks I decided on a final design that I liked and that can be used in a number of places without any problems. I have a vertical and horizontal version. A version of the horizontal logo is used a the main header on my website. I will be using the vertical one on my Facebook page and my business card - which I hope to design next.

See the full gallery on Posterous

If you need help with a new or updated logo for yourself or your business, follow the links below:

SPC Designs - Graphic Design Services

Find us on the web at:

www.spcdesigns.com

www.spcdesigns.com/blog

www.facebook.com/spcgraphicdesign

Contact SPC Designs: http://www.123contactform.com/contact-form-spcdesigns@gmail.com-210460.html

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Behind every memorable brand, there is an unforgettable logo design. The foundation of a logo design revolves around three essential pillars …font, color and symbol. Out of these elements, color is the nucleus of a logo that dictates the charisma. This is because color contribution in logo design is critical in affecting your customers.

Some colors are friendly, while some have the properties of arousing anger. Some can make you hungry while others can do the exact opposite. Ever wondered why certain logos of the same industry adopt almost the same color scheme? For instance, major fast-food and beverage companies employ yellow and red colors in their logo. Likewise, Social Media sites like Twitter and Facebook use the blue tones because of its welcoming and sociable characteristic.

   

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