Graphic Design Blog - An Ultimate Resource for Graphic Designers

Valentine Day Movie Posters - Love is in the air!!

Charlie B. Johnson — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:57:49 +0000

The eagerly awaited “Day for Lovers” is round the corner with dear couples ready to celebrate Valentine’s Day with their sweethearts. Saint Valentine’s Day or more commonly known as Valentine’s Day, is an annual festival celebrated on 14th February by millions all over the world to rejoice their love and affection for their beloved ones.

With the arrival of this date, we get to see bulk of graphic design stuff like heartwarming wallpapers, online greeting cards and other e-gifts. But apart this all, you will agree that taking your valentine out for a romantic movie in the warm and cozy atmosphere of a theatre is the ideal present you can give on Valentine’s Day.

Therefore, to make your valentine special, I have collected a list of 20 heartwarming valentine day movie posters. These movie posters will make you agree that creative graphic design techniques can make movie posters an alluring spectacle.

I Hate Valentine’s Day

ILY Phillip Morris

The Caveman’s Valentine

The Ugly Truth

Valentine’s Day

Playing by Hearts

My Bloody Valentine

When in Room

Blue Valentine

Paper Heart

Death in Love

NY I love U

David & Fatima

Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging

The Last Song

When I Met U

The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre

Beautiful Losers

Valentine

Love Actually

30 brilliant high-speed picture: Photography in action!!

Charlie B. Johnson — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:26:03 +0000

“To photograph is to hold one’s breath, when all faculties converge to capture fleeting reality.”

Henry Cartier Bresson

Capturing still objects is fairly a novice skill in photography. The real challenge for a photographer is to incarcerate objects travelling at high speed. This introduces us to high-speed photography which is an enthralling method of capturing the moments that we don’t often get to see. So many wonderful things take place in the blink of an eye which is too fast for human eye to observe. The only thing we get to see is the after-effects of that event.

When a wine glass breaks, the naked eye only witnesses the bits and pieces of shattered glass. We can’t watch a jet passing by at ultra high speed. But with the help of high speed photography, these fast movements can be captured. What is intriguing about high-speed photography is that the photo itself does not interest us, it is the little element of reality that we wish to capture.

Using a modern shooting gear and quick shutters, photographers can freeze time to reveal a fabulous moment. I have compiled some amazing photographs showing how brilliantly photographers can grab hold a moment of impact or sudden movement.

1 ) Water Stream

2 ) The Train

3 ) Water burst

4 ) The Bubble

5 ) Fired Can

6 ) Hidden fires

7 ) Milk Splash

8 ) Bucket of Colors

9 ) Water Bath

10 ) Splish ‘n’ Splash

11 ) Water accident

12 ) Merry go round

13 ) Red & Green

15 ) Speed Boat

16 )The tracks

17 ) Punched hard

18 ) The swim

19 ) Water droplet

20 ) Destruction

21 ) The action

22 ) Colorful splash

23 ) Waterfall

24 ) The city

25 ) Shower Cap

26 ) The friuts

27 )Color flood

28 ) Tiger Race

29 ) water man

30 ) Coffee cube

8 Logo Design Ideas – Lightening up your creative minds!!

Charlie B. Johnson — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:04:19 +0000

Searching for a logo design Idea? Ever wondered from where do the graphic designers come up with such illuminating inspirations for logo design? Do they just pop out of nowhere or is there a process for inventing logo design ideas? The answer is quite intricate.

The conception of a logo starts with the idea to personify a company’s image using graphic design. There is literally no captivity of thoughts when it comes to designing a logo. So in a nut shell, an ideal logo is a lengthy process. But the question still remains unanswered..…how to get an inspiring idea for a logo design?

So, here are 8 simple but fruitful notions which if kept in mind, can give you bundles of successful logo design ideas. Many of you will claim to be well-informed about these concepts but trust me…following these simple points will introduce you to new world of logo design ideas.

1. Know your business:

The logo is used to exhibit the fundamental nature of your business. Best logo designs are those that reflect on what you do; what products and services you tend to offer. A general example would be a bank and a coffee shop. Both of them need a logo design but of completely different forms. It is imperative to comprehend each industry’s basic ‘theme.’

2. Target your audience:

It is vital to establish your target audience before developing a logo. What age bracket will you be targeting? What is the average income level? What’s their gender, their education level, their demographics, their likes and dislikes? Always develop you logo design to meet the criteria of you target audience. Bear in mind, if your logo doesn’t appeal to your intended audience, it’s totally ineffective.

3. Always brainstorm:

Next step in creating an effective logo design for your business is to brainstorm. Think of an image that you want your business to have with your clients. Are you serious or funny? Are you novel or conventional? What are you best at? Brainstorm without hurry and jot down all of the words and pictures that jump to mind when you describe your business.

4. Thinking an alluring tagline:

Taglines are phrases that describe your company, similar to your company motto. Typically the tagline is attributed at the foot of the logo but not as part of the logo. This creates a memorable jingle to be associated with your logo. Incorporating a tagline in your logo design helps the customers in quick brand recognition and recall.

5. Stand out among your competitors:

It is essential for you to have a distinctive logo, one that is unlike your competitors and easily recognizable. But bear in mind, it should follow the general theme of the industry you are in. Having a logo design similar to your competitors will not get you distinguishable from the rest of the pack. Hence it is a nice idea to stay a class apart from your rivals.

6. Appropriate metaphorical use:

It is a clever idea to actually incorporate a meaning in your logo design like, the color representing growth or dedication. But it is important to make sure that the logo doesn’t look inflated. This is how remarkable logos are created.

7. Play with fonts:

Another idea for a logo design is to play around with font type. Simply take the company or product name and give a different font type. This can help you see what kind of font will be suitable for the words or particular logo design. Also experiment with various font formats and colors, try to use closely related colors or a mixture of low contrast high contrast to avoid horrible tick tack style clashes.

8. A robust logo design:

The logo design has to be flexible so that it can be tailored according to all forms of business. It should be adaptable so that you can promote your products and services across cultures. Adopt an idea for a logo that is successful in the future. It should be robust and resilient. Even though it is impossible to predict the future, it can be of useful to keep in your mind where you picture your business in the coming years.

There is a tradition of altering an idea till it is right. As such, it’s precautionary to create a number of logos to test. Just because you like your new logo design, does not imply the target will too. After all it is their views that really matter.

Dealing with Client Objections & Rejections

Charlie B. Johnson — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:37:48 +0000

Author Name: Jodi Salisbury

Post Category: General Graphic Design

One of the things that entrepreneurs learn in their ventures is that they must learn how to deal with objections. I can say from experience that it is very easy to get discouraged when the product or service we hope to impress upon others does quite the opposite of our intentions.

As a freelance artist, I tend to wonder if it is easier to take objections personally, because, at that point it isn’t so much about persevering in our efforts as it is taking a loss or starting from scratch. Still, objections are something that a contracted artist must overcome. It doesn’t matter how skilled or creative we are; we are bound to have our few clients whose creative tastes and expectations differ from our own.

Though I try hard to avoid this issue by interviewing and getting to know my clients before the start of a project, there have been very few times where creative expectations and outcomes just don’t line up. And in this, I have observed a very narrow range of how clients present objections, or flat rejection. Here is a short list of popular scenarios I collected from colleagues and my own experiences:

1 - MIA (missing-in-action) – The client receives the mockup(s) and is never heard from again, forfeiting the down-payment and right to a change-of-direction when presented in a contract

2 – client doesn’t respond for at least a couple weeks, apologizes for being “so busy”, and proceeds with a very diplomatic list of objections

3 – client responds with a friendly request to pay the “kill” fee with no explanation and no request for a change-of-direction

4 – client presents positives before negatives, hoping to ease the blow

Scenario #4 is obviously the most desirable way listed to receive a client’s objection. It presents both what a client likes and dislikes and helps us to proceed in a more desirable direction. But regardless of how a client presents objections, take comfort in knowing that you’re not alone. We artists all experience it and must receive all objections as opportunities for growth.

I’d be interested in knowing what experiences you’ve had with client objections. Please share your stories here.

Graphic Design FAQs – Finding the path of success!!

Charlie B. Johnson — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:05:55 +0000

Encountering problems in graphic design is customary but finding a quick solution remains an issue. Sometimes even the most talented graphic designers get caught in a quandary. Even if he does manage to work out the remedy, solution to one problem gives way to another

To answer the most general questions people have in their mind regarding graphics designing, I have assembled a list of FAQ’s. The replies are based on my personal experiences as well as the solutions given by other professionals.

What is Graphic Design?
What are common Graphic Design Degrees?
What does a graphic designer do?
Is Graphic Design a high earning career?
What are the most common graphic design software programs?
What is 3D Graphic Arts?
How to get paid in graphics designing?
Why should people consider hiring a professional graphic designer?
Interview questions asked from Graphic Designer?
Is it necessary to get my work copyrighted?
What is a good piece of graphic design?

If you also have some confusing concepts about graphic designing, come up with your questions and our blog readers can drop their comments to help you find the correct answers.

1 ) What is Graphic Design?

Graphic design is the talent of creating ideas. It unites the creativity of fine art with the results-focused theory of marketing to produce effective communication materials. Where graphic design differs from fine art is in its pursuit of fulfilling the customers’ goals. Whether convincing the audience to support a social cause, helping a business attract clients or simply teaching employees how to operate new computer software, every element of the design is intended to achieve a goal.

2 ) What are common Graphic Design Degrees?

The most common graphic design degree programs to become a Graphic Artist are an Associate or Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design. There are many degree programs available, but it’s important to locate one at a school with experienced design faculty, resources and a comprehensive prospectus that match with your career objectives.

3 ) What does a graphic designer do?

Graphics designers make use of a visual vocabulary; concept, photography, color, shape, illustration, and fonts to create a wide array of communication projects. These projects may involve logo design, company brochures, business cards, advertising, annual reports, newsletters, publications, packaging, other promotional items, website designing, sales related materials, training/educational materials, etc. By drawing on their individual creativity, methods of fine art and market research, a graphics designer expresses the message to inform, persuade, and motivate audiences to action. In a nut shell, graphic designers organize and develop the "look and feel" for the communication.

4 ) Is Graphic Design a high earning career?

Although, Graphic Design may not be one of the highest paying professions, but the prospects in this field are growing. Most Graphic Designers ought to start with a salary in the average range and find their pleasure in the quality of their work. Some areas of Graphic Design do pay very well; with experience, many designers could earn a fortune.

5 ) What are the most common graphic design software programs?

The term desktop publishing was originally formulated to describe Aldus (now Adobe) PageMaker and among professional designers refers to high-end page layout software programs like Adobe InDesign and QuarkXPress. Additionally, Adobe Photoshop Adobe Illustrator FreeHand Corel Draw, are frequently used graphics software programs used for professional graphic design work. There is no single best graphic design software program. There are, however, specific programs that are better suited for certain tasks than others. The above cited programs are deemed as standard; nonetheless, they are not the only options.

6 ) What is 3D Graphic Arts?

3D Graphic Arts (also called computer graphic animation) uses computer graphics to create lifelike 3-dimensional images for computer and video games, web and movie animation. 3D computer animation techniques are more sophisticated than 2D animation techniques because they create more realistic figures and smoother motion.

7 ) How to get paid in graphics designing?

The potential costs linked with the development of various materials differ greatly based on the complexity of the work and the requirements involved. All clients are supplied with a price estimate, which includes a break-down of the design time and the printing/production costs.

8 ) Why should people consider hiring a professional graphic designer?

Freelancers, generally, are people with a limited amount of experience in graphics designing. They may work a full-time job and freelance (so they work on your project when they get a chance). Freelancers may not have a backup system in place or have a secure area for your personal/business information. A professional designer will employ the latest professional tools to develop your work. The files created are the kind that printers and web developers expect to receive in order to produce professional output. Moreover, a professional designer will consider contrast, color, proximity, repetition, alignment, typography and much more when designing for you.

9 ) Interview questions asked from Graphic Designer?

How much experience do you possess?
How do you define graphics designing?
Which graphics designing software do you have experience using?
Where do you go for inspiration?
Who is your favorite designer? Why?

10 ) Is it necessary to get my work copyrighted?

A copyright is a type of intellectual property intended to protect the creator of an original, novel and creative work against unnecessary duplication of his work. When someone creates a new original work, he or she has already, in theory, secured the rights for that work, simply by creating it first. The dilemma is that copyrights which are not officially registered are difficult to defend legally if someone else attempts to steal the idea or replicate it; so many copyright owners enroll them to further protect their ideas.

11 ) What is a good piece of graphic design?

Last but not least…how to know a good design has been created? Although the answer to this question is quite subjective but in short a design is successful when it appeals to the viewer and makes him react. That response might be a person making a decision to purchase a new product, or something a little harder to evaluate like brand recognition. It may be an emotional response, such as laughter, or even shock. A good design should communicate the intended message effectively.

My aim for listing these basic questions is to clarify the vague concepts occupying the minds of upcoming graphic designers. However, regardless of this all… I have a question for YOU which can only be answered through your judgments.

QS: Is it the creativity and effective communication skills that make you a successful graphic designer? Or the design degrees and latest graphics software play the critical role in boosting your graphic design career?