tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-148360142024-03-13T00:23:37.086-04:00Evolution of Intelligent DesignThoughts and observations on the roles of graphic design careers and business communication in the 21st century.Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.comBlogger390125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14836014.post-12419097440023912132022-03-29T19:12:00.002-04:002022-03-29T19:12:54.089-04:00Your Church Brand in ActionPhoto by cottonbro from PexelsLast time we talked about what a church brand is. Doesn't matter if you are aware of it or not, or even if you believe in it or not. You have a brand. You are who you demonstrate yourself to be, and what other people experience. So, you are better off being wise in how you act toward outsiders and take it seriously. (Colossians 4:5-6)The way to take Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14836014.post-50139388013442033212022-01-15T17:30:00.001-05:002022-01-15T17:30:25.926-05:00Your Church is a BrandPhoto by cottonbro from Pexels All church communities have a brand. Have you ever considered yours? And I don’t mean your visual design (at least not at first). Let's think about branding like a relationship. People are cautious of strangers (people they don't know). Can they trust you? Do they even like you? How do you reassure people who don't know you well? Be friendlyKerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14836014.post-31905167479186312092021-09-21T09:42:00.001-04:002022-03-09T10:25:37.775-05:00How Graphic Designer's Can Get OrganizedMany years ago I talked about how to organize computer files so graphic designers can work more efficiently. I think this is a good time to update my suggestions. I've been using this method of organization for over 20 years and still has served me well.When it comes to graphic design project management the three most important objectives are to:Be able to search past projects and find digital Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14836014.post-48152417592712307942021-05-17T10:29:00.005-04:002021-06-01T12:59:56.848-04:00Breaking Rules is Not Required to be CreativeThere's a natural resistance to keeping rules. It's part of the human experience. Although we want people to obey our rules, we resist their rules on us. Designers are no different. We might even be worse. Our desire to be creative can drive us to stretch or ignore the rules of design, or the client's wishes. However, the goal of good design does not require breaking rules.Understanding and Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14836014.post-33205660667965076922021-04-22T10:37:00.000-04:002021-04-22T10:37:32.225-04:00The One Thing You Must Do To Break A Bad HabitReplace it with a good habit. Easy, right? Well, it depends.When I was a kid, I had to deal with overt racial tension in school. So, life wasn't easy. I had learned to cope by waking up every morning before school to ruminate on how the day would go. I believed that if I could imagine the worst, it will help make the day go better.But, what eventually happened was that this practice cultivated a Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14836014.post-42708712373594355562021-02-22T03:00:00.000-05:002021-02-22T11:06:32.511-05:00How to Approach Designing a LogoI need to make a distinction here. When I talk about designing a logo, I'm not talking about branding. Branding may include a logo. But, a logo is a component or artifact of branding. Even branding style guides are more a part of the logo and brand design, than it is branding itself. Branding is about positioning and reputation management. This is done through communicating a brand's values,Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14836014.post-62988271787450391372021-02-06T12:34:00.000-05:002021-02-06T12:34:30.908-05:00Why Hourly Pricing in Not the Best Way to Price Your ServicesI overheard some designers talking about charging hourly rates. (It's still a debate, apparently.) And the designer gave some good points as to why he still charges an hourly rate.He made the point that having an hourly rate is:Easy to track and and easy to itemize along with expenses. Workable with a scheduled payment plans. Makes visible (for designers and their clients) how time is Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14836014.post-18136683111312497052021-01-04T05:00:00.003-05:002021-01-04T05:00:08.635-05:00Six Designer Mistakes You Can AvoidI was in my sophomore or junior year in college when someone came to campus to get a design student to design a poster for them. I thought it would be great to get some real world work in my portfolio, so I jumped at the opportunity. They wanted to promote an aspect of the Kwanza celebration of Umoja — which is Swahili for unity.They discussed with me how they wanted it laid out and the colors, Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14836014.post-85441359530854770172020-11-10T04:00:00.001-05:002020-11-10T04:00:09.461-05:00The One Skill Every Designer Needs to be a Better Communicator
There are different soft skills today that designers can use to be better designers. Skills such as storytelling, empathy, and listening are just a few of the skills that make designers more valuable.
But there's one skill that underlines all the others. It's a skill that designers must have to even begin to make their other skills relevant. That is the skill of persuasion.
Designers Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14836014.post-13741921137882210372020-08-20T11:48:00.002-04:002020-11-24T10:46:16.368-05:00The One Thing You Need To Find A Graphic Design Job
What do you think is the most important thing you need to find a graphic design job?
Experience? It's very important most of the time. But sometimes experience isn't necessary when you apply to certain entry-level positions, or when the potential employer is a relative or close friend.
Emotional intelligence? It's true that a well-adjusted individual is more desirable to potential employers Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14836014.post-62865971746104174512020-05-18T05:00:00.013-04:002020-05-18T05:00:00.189-04:00Coronavirus (COVID-19) Bromides, Cliche's, and Catch-Phrases
Weird times produce weird behaviors. Since when has it become acceptable to
run away from on-coming pedestrians while shopping in masks like robbers?
Now we also have a rash of emails, commercials, and mass media bombarding us
with similar-sounding messages. These messages are geared to illicit fear and
assuage fear at the same time, because government, medical professionals, Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14836014.post-85256887069566178122020-04-27T06:00:00.000-04:002020-04-28T10:00:16.704-04:00Getting Paid as a Designer
One thing I wished I'd known after coming out of school as a graphic designer, was that I encouraged potential clients to think cheap. What I mean is that I didn't know I was contributing to the perception that they were paying for my design labor. Although clients want a designer to get something accomplished and relieve a problem, I helped them think they were negotiating my time to get theirKerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14836014.post-15042206207549540752020-03-19T08:07:00.001-04:002020-03-19T14:57:32.093-04:00Why Measurement is Not a Design Solution
Here's a true saying that deserves full acceptance.
Not everything important can be measured. And not everything we measure is important.
Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara placed a lot of trust in data. So much so, that he based his recommendations for how to win the Vietnam war on them. As the story goes, he grossly miscalculated factors that are not easily measured and proved to be Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14836014.post-84365399090382876592019-12-30T15:03:00.000-05:002019-12-30T15:03:45.977-05:004 Things I'm Resolved to Do in 2020
I don't make new year's resolutions. I don't want to make promises I can't keep. When I promise something, I plan to do it even if it hurts. However, when I resolve to improve something it isn't quite the same as a promise to accomplish it. It inherently assumes imperfection and mistakes on the way to growth.
Therefore, I resolve to improve in these areas:
1. Do some creative side projectsI Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14836014.post-14985505020776941952019-10-28T07:30:00.000-04:002019-10-28T07:30:05.647-04:00The Mature Graphic Designer
My daughter asked me a good question. “Daddy, other than age, what makes you an adult?” Fortunately, I had been thinking about this issue for some time. So I shared my conclusion: “An adult is someone who understands their appropriate responsibilities. And takes them seriously.”
I went on to explain how I came to that idea. I considered the difference between an immature person and a mature Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14836014.post-31266903007309899522019-07-15T10:26:00.001-04:002019-07-15T10:26:30.287-04:00How to Overcome the Challenges to Creativity
There are some interesting movies coming out this year: The Lion King, Toy Story 4, Aladdin, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, and Spider-Man: Far From Home just to name a few. It seems like sequels and remakes dominate our current culture.
So, why are these types of movies so popular to make?
They don’t require as much risk to create and sell. There is a built in audience and market to Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14836014.post-62135040396377472182019-03-25T07:00:00.000-04:002019-03-25T08:44:45.138-04:00Boundaries for Graphic Designers
I generally have good boundaries as a graphic designer, but not all the time. I don’t always clearly express what I want, what I want my process to be, or how I want my time respected. I’m a bit of an introvert in this area. That doesn’t mean I am afraid to be assertive. It means that I tend to be less clear in my communication when I’m not consciously putting in the effort to be clear.
I Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14836014.post-22182794684735218642019-01-28T07:30:00.000-05:002019-01-28T07:30:06.655-05:00Why Justifying Design Decisions May Not Solve the Problem
In the era of iterative design and agile workflows, there’s an inherent misunderstanding that can arise.
Designers may be required to give justifications for every design decision.
Most non-designers — team members and stakeholders — do not understand the design process and how the Gestalt theory of design affects design decisions. Designers make design decisions in according toKerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14836014.post-57104659482331628232018-11-26T15:28:00.000-05:002018-11-26T15:31:37.788-05:0010 Gift Ideas for Designers — Most Under $50
If you have friends or family who are designers, here's a list of gift ideas they would love to get. (Ahem. I know I would.)
A Book Apart, Writing for Designers $8
The Design Deck by The Design Deck on The Bazaar $23
'A Guide to Typography' playing cards (Limited stock) by DesignTAXI on The Bazaar $23
UX Flowchart Cards (Worldwide shipping included!) by UX Cards on The Bazaar $33
Lightcase #Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14836014.post-86993343019562363062018-10-22T07:00:00.000-04:002018-10-22T07:00:01.374-04:00Why You Need a Style Guide and How to Create One
There is no real way to manage a brand visually unless everyone represents it consistently. To do this the client and those who work with them need to be in agreement on the visual language, standards, and instructions on use. And one the best ways to do this is documenting what the elements are, and how they are to be used.
This documentation is called a style guide or brand guidelines.
How Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14836014.post-72471404176767259872018-08-22T16:57:00.000-04:002020-01-11T15:23:12.588-05:00What’s a Well Designed Church Website?
I’ve been looking at different church websites recently. Most of what I’ve seen troubles me a bit. As a designer, I feel churches are missing an important opportunity when they don’t care enough about their website to do it well. In fact, 80% of new visitors check out the website before entering a church building. That's a lot of people to ignore. But, with good planning and thinking, this Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14836014.post-20093908779598856962018-07-16T06:00:00.000-04:002018-07-16T06:00:03.138-04:00Neat Trick to Create Donut Pie Charts in Illustrator
Sometimes I use Illustrator to make quick charts and graphs for infographics I'm building. Here's a quick way to create donut charts and keep the data intact within Illustrator — which allows me to edit at will.
Create a pie chart using the Pie Graph Tool (J)
Use the Direct Selection tool (A) to select and enhance portions of the pie chart. In my case, I created a color gradient Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14836014.post-70934823070526540632018-05-26T12:10:00.002-04:002018-05-26T12:10:14.856-04:00My List of Useful Graphic Design Sites
Over the years I've developed a modest list of websites I use on a daily basis. They help me with my graphic design work and with my skills. In this article I wanted to share this list with you, hoping it would be helpful in your work. Let me know if you find this helpful, or if something else would be more helpful.
Useful sources for images
Free
Unsplash.com
Pexels.com
Pixabay.com
Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14836014.post-43237609774880816952018-04-16T08:00:00.000-04:002018-04-16T08:00:03.951-04:00Want Great Design Faster? Then, Slow Down.
unsplash-logoMitchell Hollander
Everyone wants great results faster. We designers are asked to produce design projects faster and faster. And we are being asked to come up with more creative, innovative, and effective design. The demand is never satisfied. It seems like we are only as good as the last project. And there seems to be no signs of abating. I wonder sometimes if this expectation is Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14836014.post-37083207185414199942018-03-22T07:30:00.000-04:002018-03-22T09:09:31.349-04:007 Habits of Clients That Designer's Love
Designers are naturally wary of bad clients. Bad clients take a lot of mental, emotional, and physical energy to manage. So, we designers prefer to avoid them. And as a result, we pay careful attention to any signs that a potential client may be harmful to work with.
But how do we spot the really good ones?
Before we answer that question, we need to get past the obvious signs of a bad Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0