How Graphic Designer's Can Get Organized

Many 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.

How to Approach Designing a Logo

I 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. 

Why Hourly Pricing in Not the Best Way to Price Your Services

I 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:

Six Designer Mistakes You Can Avoid

I 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, and I was ready to design it. I enthusiastically started by buying materials and putting it together by hand. I built it using cut Pantone papers, sticker lettering, and some paint. Then I gave them the final hand-crafted poster design. They loved it. 

How 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?

Why 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.

Why 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.

What’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 problem can be overcome.

Neat 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.

Want Great Design Faster? Then, Slow Down.

Mitchell 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 even sustainable. (Probably not.)

3 Simple Steps for Dealing with Criticism

Last time, we looked at reasons why criticism can be difficult for designers. But criticism can also be valuable. It’s an opportunity to grow. We need feedback to shape our growth. And honestly, we aren’t perfect and we need prodding sometimes.

So, here are 3 simple steps to start receiving and benefiting from criticism:

5 Reasons Criticism Can Be Difficult for Designers

As designers, we get our fair share of criticism. It's a central part of what we do. We are always presenting our work for critique. We make edits, and we make adjustments that fit the client's needs (and sometimes wants). That's what we do.

But sometimes receiving criticism is just difficult. Here are five reasons why:

Four Things Design Can Teach Us About Life

After I finish a project, I sometimes reflect on how much the design is like life. The drama, the anticipation, the expectations, the limitations, the thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat. Even though projects don’t always have these elements, the design process involves life-like decisions and perspectives.

Here are a few ways design is like life:

Good design requires white space.

There’s a lot to be said about leaving white space in your layouts. A well-designed document or website needs room to breath, so comprehension is easier and comfortable. Some non-designers think that using white space to share more information is effective. However, according to research by Wichita State University, comprehension is lower with less white space than with more. White space helps with comprehension.

Life is no different. When I jam my life full of activity, it starts to lose meaning and comprehension. However, when I simplify my life with margins of time, I find that I can think and plan much better. And my life is more purposeful. Creating margins of time provides me with adequate rest and the room to be more creative.

Good design requires empathy.

Design is not about decorating a client’s message. It’s about connecting with an audience emotionally. Good design helps them to identify with and act on the client’s message, not just admire the looks. Therefore, the designer must empathize with the audience to do this well.

In life, I realize that just saying something isn’t the same as effective communication. I often have to spend time observing and listening before speaking, so that I understand the perspective of the other person when I communicate. In this way I will be able to help them identify with my perspective. Listen first before speaking.

Good design requires supporting content.

Designers take their craft very seriously. But design can only do so much. It can’t make a bad message good. On the other hand, with good content, design can make the content more persuasive. Designers love it when clients have a professional writer produce content. It makes our jobs easier and more productive.

In my daily life I often need similar support. I can’t do everything. There are times when I lack the time, the ability, or the patience to do certain tasks. And just because I know how to do something, that doesn’t mean I should. Although I don’t always do this, I need to let other people help me. I need to be honest and humble enough to ask for help when I need it.

Good design requires intentionality.

Whenever a designer starts a project, she follows a process. And every step in the process has an intended objective. These objectives add up to an effective design.

When I go about life in a haphazard way, I really don’t achieve desired goals. But when I live with intentionality I have better results. So, I need time to consider what I want for my family, career, health, friendships, spiritual life, and so on. (And I can do this, if I have proper white space in my life.) With this knowledge I start to live life with a clearer purpose. Decisions become a whole lot easier too. I can say yes to the right things.

Design has other facets that remind me of life like the importance of beauty, how every element contributes to the whole, romance, and simplicity. But, I could go on for days.

Anyway, I hope this was helpful to you as a reader. If so, perhaps I’ll pursue this some more. Let me know.

5 Tips For Handling Clients Who Don't Know What They Want (Until They See it)

"If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there."
—Lewis Carroll

It takes little effort, thought, or time to request an expert to fix your problem. However, it takes effort, thought, and time to really understand what the problem is. And when the problem isn't clear, the possibilities for solutions are endless and directionless.

Why You Need a Professional Graphic Designer

Let's be honest. Design professionals run into people who think graphic design can be done by anyone. There are business owners and leaders in all sorts of organizations — whether for-profit or not-for-profit — who think they can do graphic design themselves to avoid the expense and time.

For those of you who think this way, you are not a graphic designer. I'm not saying that you are not creative, don't have Photoshop, haven't taken some training courses, or don't admire good design. It's just that you are not concentrating on that as a career choice. It's not what you do.

Organizing Photoshop Files

Last time I talked about how you can organize computer folders to work more efficiently.

Here is a great resource I've referred to often for organizing Photoshop files and naming conventions. Make sure to bookmark this:

Photoshop Etiquette

Organize the Way You Work

A great way to start the year off as a designer is to get organized in the way you work. A great way to to get started is to work with a consistent folder structure on your computer.

How to Think on Your Feet as a Designer

"Who am I? Why am I here?"

Funny. But not the type of response I want to give in the immediate moment.

Frankly, I don't like giving impromptu responses publicly. I prefer to have time to prepare something to say, rather than be put on the spot. But, as an in-house designer and as a freelancer, I often find myself having to give introductions, share my opinions, or give justifications for my design choices when asked. I used to hate this. Even now, I still don't like being

Using Stories to Create Gorgeous Logo Design

It seems like every marketer is into brand stories and storytelling these days. But brand storytelling isn't a new phenomenon. Just our awareness of it, and how we use it is new. I would suggest that understanding a brand's story is crucial for professional logo design.

Creative Brief for the Sistine Chapel Presentation

Here's a presentation by Steven Stark that I feel is thoughtful and insightful.

The Brief For The Sistine Chapel from Steven Stark