victoriaanndesign.net

Simple Tutorial – Creating a pattern brush in Adobe Illustrator

Vicki Willingham — Tue, 11 May 2010 14:42:08 +0000

In this, my first ever video tutorial, I will show you how to make a simple brush in Adobe Illustrator. This is invaluable and comes in useful in so many more ways than you can imagine. As this is my first video tutorial, I’d like you please to be [...]

Is this the craftiest banner ad?

Vicki Willingham — Mon, 10 May 2010 13:11:23 +0000

I was just taking some time to look at the designs over at LogoPond when I accidentally opened another graphic design web site from what I mistook for an innocent LogoPond link. This very clever web ad invites the viewer to select from a variety of design styles or items – business cards, logos or [...]

Free Fonts? Font Packages?Impulse buyer? What do YOU do?

Vicki Willingham — Wed, 05 May 2010 10:36:36 +0000

I have been thinking about font costs lately and am starting to wonder how other graphic designers approach the purchasing of fonts. Are you a bulk buyer taking advantage of packages? A person who buys only when you need a specific item? Someone who impulse buys when they see something nice because ‘it’s bound to be useful in [...]

16 Questions you can’t afford NOT to ask your graphic design clients

Vicki Willingham — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 12:58:53 +0000

Clients. They all know exactly what they want, don’t they? We’ve all been there, you’re asked to create a logo to a certain style then when you present your draft it’s just not right. You spend a further 10 hours and numerous revisions tweaking, re-drafting, and emailing back and forth to ensure you’re on the right track. Save yourself and your client time and frustration by asking the right questions before you start. This is not a definitive list but should give you a good starting point and a glimpse into your clients mind. My suggestion is to take these examples and change them to suit your needs and customer base. Don’t forget to always leave room for any other comments or ideas that your client may have. I also use this opportunity to ask for contact details if I don’t already have them by prompting as part of the questionnaire. If you think it would help your client, consider adding some example answers after each question - this can help to make sure you get the type of replies you’re expecting.

32 Logo Inspiration Sources

Vicki Willingham — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:13:48 +0000

I've been through my bookmarks and compiled a number of sites that display logo galleries as a source of inspiration for those times when it just isn't coming from anywhere or anything else. My method of referring to these sites is to look through then leave the computer for a couple of hours (do dinner, clean the house, go for a walk etc) before returning to the project in hand. They all help to provide colour, style, shape and concept ideas which I find useful for logo design.

New: Web Designers – Outsource Your Graphic Design

Vicki Willingham — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:07:58 +0000

Outsource Your Graphic Design I am delighted to announce that I now offer outsourcing services. You’re a fantastic web designer, your latest site looks great, you made it compatible with every standard out there, it’s all perfect…except for one thing. That dodgy looking logo in the top left hand corner of your beautiful page. [...]

10 Premium Artsy Wordpress Themes

Vicki Willingham — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:11:39 +0000

At the end of January I posted 15 free wordpress themes that all had quite an artistic style and appearance. Now I'm following up on that by sharing 10 premium themes that I've discovered.

New EU Organic Products Logo Announced. Love or Hate it?

Vicki Willingham — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:45:25 +0000

Today saw the unveiling of the new EU organic products logo, chosen from entrants to a design competition. The competition was open to students from all 27 EU Member States. Entrants submitted designs to http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/organic/logo/competition/competition_en.htm which were eventually narrowed down to three final designs to be voted for online. The logo will be introduced to all pre-packed organic products from July 2010 and displaying the logo will be compulsary. The logo will show consumers that the product has gained a specific quality level to meet EU standards throughout the growing, manufacturing and packaging processes.

Convert your logo to vector

Vicki Willingham — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:04:59 +0000

Do you… Have a logo designed in Photoshop or any other non-vector software? Find problems like blurred and low quality logos when printing? Need to use your logo for large printed items such as exhibition stands, banners or billboards? Want to avoid a complete logo re-design? If yes, then you would benefit from having your current logo converted [...]

19 Amazing Hand Art Paintings

Vicki Willingham — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:09:57 +0000

Some of you may have seen these in an email already but I wanted to share these images for those who haven’t yet seen them. I was stunned by the quality and uniqueness of the work, all of which are creations of Guido Daniele, an expert body painter from Italy. I urge you to take [...]