james lau

Graphic Design Fail

2011-08-08T19:54:00.000-07:00

The three cogs can't turn... FAIL!

New Artwork Posted!

2011-06-03T18:23:00.000-07:00

Hello there,

My first quarter at FIDM is almost over! I've added some class projects to the art section of the portfolio page at jlaudesigns.com, as well as facebook. Go check it out and let me know what you think!

Exciting News!!

2011-03-28T22:20:00.000-07:00

The past several months have truly been exciting for me personally. I am nearly complete on the website for Evolution Martial Arts Academy (www.evomaa.net), and is just about ready to go live soon. I have been working on Evolution's tshirt and hoodie designs and can be found here on the EVO Blog.

I have also been accepted to the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM), a internationally leading school for Fashion, Graphics, Interior Design and Entertainment Industries. I am so excited and hope that FIDM will help further my skills in graphic design!

And last, but not least, the most exciting news for me... I just purchased the newest 2011 17" Apple MacBook Pro!!! Windows has treated me well, but im sure OS X will do just fine!

Anyways, thats all for now. Thanks for reading!

Why Business Cards Will Stay Alive!

2011-03-04T10:30:00.000-08:00

An article on Yahoo! discuss why business cards will stick around:

"In these days of BlackBerrys and e-mail contact lists, the humble paper business card may look like a relic. Does passing them out signal you as hopelessly behind the curve?

Not at all. In a world where so much communication happens electronically, the business card remains a valuable, tangible way to promote yourself and your company. The key is to produce cards that are memorable and informative, ones that can instantly sum up your brand in a glance.

While social media may get all the press hype, the vast majority of business interaction in this country still takes place face to face. Most business owners still interact with potential customers and partners personally at Chamber of Commerce events, the local Rotary Club or informal social gatherings.

In all those instances, exchanging business cards remains a primary way to formalize your interaction. It helps the person you've met remember your name and the name of your business -- sealing the deal, if you will. (How often have you been introduced to someone, only to forget their name within minutes?)

In the best-case scenario, the person you meet keeps your card and adds you to their list of contacts, either by putting the card in a Rolodex or scanning it into an electronic database (the card itself will probably get tossed, but by then it has served its purpose). Either way, the card helped cement you and your business in the mind of the person you met.

Business cards may be a tried-and-true marketing device, but that's not to say they haven't changed with the times. For a look at recent trends, browse The Business Card group on Flickr or go to Cardonizer, where users have posted stylish, creative examples.

The key is to keep your cards looking up-to-date but not overcrowded. Cards these days cram ever more information into a small space -- in addition to the company name, address, phone number and email address, some people are adding their company's website, Facebook fan page link and Twitter stream. The result? A visually confusing mess.

If you are active in social media, a better bet is to simply list your website. Then, on your site, add prominent links to social-media sites visitors can quickly access if they're interested.

The days when your color choices were limited to white or cream are also long gone. Nowadays, cards come in full color, many with photographs -- and again, that leads many businesses to overcrowd their cards with logos and pictures. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak even hands out custom-designed stainless steel cards, which fall into the memorable-but-not-exactly-practical category.

While it is easier than ever to design and print your own cards online, hiring a pro is the way to go if you want to project a professional image. With many talented designers laid off from jobs at ad agencies and magazines in recent years, you'll have your choice of freelancers willing to take on this kind of project.

When designing a business card, think of it as a miniature introduction to you and your business. Do you want to present yourself as innovative and forward-thinking? Then your card should be designed with a modern font and color palette.

By contrast, a simple, two-color business card sends its own message: that you and your company are traditional and no-frills. Even so, the card should include your e-mail address and website -- modern-day business necessities. A good designer can integrate that information with your company's logo and other details to make sure the card isn't overwhelmed with type.

Although creative types may be tempted to make their cards stand out by using nontraditional materials or shapes, make sure the finished product still fits easily into a standard wallet pocket; otherwise they're more likely to get tossed. Also, avoid glossy paper, which makes it difficult for someone to scribble a note on the back.

And remember that business cards aren't meant to be hoarded and admired in private. Get in the habit of handing them out, which is easy if you have one you want to show off."

Source: Yes, You Still Need Business Cards

Vote with your Gum!!

2011-02-28T18:54:00.000-08:00

What a great way to use logos!!!

Source: LogoDesignLove

What does the “G” in the Green Bay Packers logo mean?!?

2011-02-02T11:48:00.000-08:00

Based out of Green Bay, Wisconsin, the Packers are the second-oldest franchise in the NFL. They will be playing in Super Bowl XLV against the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday. So let's get to it...

What do u know about the Packer’s logo design?

Yes, it’s a green and yellow, and yes it’s a big “G”… but what does the “G” mean?? If it stood for Green Bay, I wouldn’t be bothering with writing this post.. so what does it mean?

The oval “G” was created in 1961 by the Packers equipment manager, George Braisher (no.. it doesn’t stand for George). And so, when the logo was adopted, it was determined that the “G” would stand for “Greatness”.

So there you have it. “Greatness”. Don’t worry, if you thought Green Bay, even the members ON the team didn’t know:

Link: What does the "G" in the Packers logo stand for?

Thanks for reading.

CSS: Position

2011-01-19T00:21:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,

Are you confused with CSS Positioning? Well, look no further for help because I just found a great tutorial that describes different styles of positioning, including static, relative, absolute, float, and a few more. Take a look.

Learn CSS Positioning in Ten Steps

James

Happy New Year!!!

2011-01-04T19:02:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, everyone!!!

2011 is going to be an exciting year, with new projects and designs!

Follow along and I hope you are as excited as I am.

Let's make 2011 a great year for all of us!

JLauDesigns.com

2010-11-18T12:19:00.000-08:00

This is my first-ever post, of my first-ever blog. Welcome! Enjoy reading!

I have just launched a new website.. www.JLauDesigns.com.

This site is a work in progress so please check it frequently to see any new updates. Please let me know if you have any comments, questions, suggestions. You can comment here on the blog or send me an email at my site.

Thanks for reading!