Graphic Design Report

Five easy projects to help you build your portfolio.

2012-01-08T15:27:00.000-08:00

Clients are always looking for fresh talent.
As an artist, you simply want to be able to convey your style but also appeal to potential employers.
If you happen to be a recently converted Graphic Artist or simply starting your career on the field, here are a few project ideas to get you started on building a stunning and attention-grabbing portfolio:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fractor/2928566807/sizes/m/in/photostream/

LOGOS
This is the easiest way to start your portfolio.
Create a logo for your company or a friends business.
Talk about the main concept and try to come-up with a very simple yet clever message to rely with the image. Sketching the design and then replicating the drawing on Illustrator, that way you can teach yourself how to use both methods.
Use non-traditional images that would still convey the same message, like an OK hand gesture for an environmental company.

T-SHIT DESIGN
Design your own t-shirt.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ocularinvasion/3634851319/sizes/m/in/photostream/

This is a great idea if you're an artist with both illustration capabilities or simply like how fashion and function interact with each other. It can be a nice digital octopus drawing or a modern architectural rendering, as long as you practice your layout capabilities, you're set.
Take this free template to use as a guide for your t-shirt design.
If you happen to love your creation, then go ahead and submit it into Threadless. Who knows, you might already be working towards making some dough.

PRODUCT AND PACKAGE DESIGN
There's a world of specialties for Graphic Designers and product and package design are very specific niches with high demand.
Product Designers usually go for a degree in Industrial Design, which is really more focused on sculpture and functionality.
Package Designers on the other hand, still focus most of their work on layout with also some degree of functionality and a very strong Marketing background. For this, many companies look for strong portfolios with great product and package designs. Start with something simple: get an extra chinese food carry-out box and cerate a cool design.
Then try to replicate it later on with your own cardboard cutout.
Have a great idea for a product? Then try sketching it and then create a digital version of it with Google Sketchup.

ILLUSTRATION
Love sketching characters or have more of a fluid/artistic side?
Then perhaps you want try creating a section of your portfolio dedicated to Illustrative work.
Start by creating your own versions of popular children's stories like Snow White (which happens to be super popular right now, by the way) or a made-up character for a children's book.
Many clients are also looking for artist that know how to draw cartoonish game characters, so go into your favorite website or check out the game store to draw some inspiration.

Hope this article has been helpful. If you're wanting to go back to school to get your degree in Graphic Design, feel free to visit this easy scholarships to apply for article. It's full of great resources and information to help you get started.

Creativity workout.

2012-01-01T18:32:00.000-08:00

If you're an artist like myself you probably already know how unpredictable and yet fascinating creativity is. One moment you'll have a huge surge of ideas and then another be completely out of ideas.

Some on my most inspiring moments are at night, when I'm about to go to sleep and have to write-down my ideas before I loose them in my slumber.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chromatic/261701001/sizes/m/in/photostream/

So I did a little research and came across a few good ideas and exercises to inspire creativity. Here are some of them:

1) Invent your own language.

Come up with your own symbols for the alphabet. Make them as intricate or simple as you wish.

2) Play with clay.

This encourages a motor-brain connection and opens up the creative center of your brain.

3) Play some of your favorite music.

And if you happen to like classical music live Beethoven, then even better.

4) Look at other portfolios.

This helps you get some ideas and inspirations you can work with. Many portfolios can be found at the AIGA website.

5) Go for a run.

Research shows an intense and quick workout can help trigger creativity.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/netsnake/4022801992/sizes/m/in/photostream/

6) Go to a local bookstore and browse through magazines and books on a variety of subjects, not necessarily in your field.

7) Hang out with kids.

Kids always have plenty of imagination to share. Try to develop some cool games to play and see how everyone's creativity expands.

8) Sketch, paint, sculpt. Look for objects you can sketch and try different approches. Look for textures you like and replicate them. Create patterns and shapes.

9) Go into nature: Take a hike at your nearest park and be surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature. There's always plenty of inspiration to draw from nature.

10) Enjoy a nice cup of coffee. Caffeine is definitely a good friend: waking up your mind and therefore you creative thinking.

These are just a few tips I can suggest and have personally found successful.

Hope they help you get into a more inspiring and creative zone.

Happy new year!

Graphic Design trends of 2011

2011-12-25T15:44:00.000-08:00

As this year closes, it's time to look back at some of the strongest influences in graphic design for the year 2011:

-Minimalist Design
Some of the best and most efficient logos have always been the minimalist yet powerful symbols created by a very basic type. Helvetic Neue has been one of the more popular types for many designs.
So clear, clean-cut lines are still some of the prevalent and most used graphic types yet.

-Organic shapes and patterns
Organic patterns like molecular/ cell grids, flower and tree patterns, flowing plant shapes and feminine silhouettes are some of the most popular backgrounds for identity and many other backgrounds and even patterns used for decoration.

In addition, there's also a trend to combine these two styles: Minimalist type along with a pattern background.

-Hand-drawn illustration and type
There's a growing demand for more original work: commissioned illustrations for products, characters, animations and even hand-made type are among some of the favorite original work that is commonly requested. Most of the fashion magazines now have many or plenty of their commercials with classic fashion illustration.
The video game industry is always looking for original work by video game designers.

-Architectural and city landscapes

Many more motion graphic arts are layering minimalistic architecture and complicated city landscapes.

This has been a growing trend for years now.

One of my favorite songs and videos Animal by Miike Snow shows this nice interplay of the many trends I mentioned in the blog:

-Volume / 3D or different types of dimensionality.

All the new Social Media Icons are made this way: like they are 'coming out ' of the page, almost tactile.

Wonder how to become a Graphic Designer?

Just visit the link and read over some of the most interesting information to get your degree online.

Image sources:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/typoatelier/6108948388/sizes/z/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cowgummy/612375038/sizes/m/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatielle/2641287607/sizes/m/in/photostream/

Paper Craft: A tool for self-promotion

2011-12-05T08:01:00.000-08:00

Designers are now starting to find inventive new ways for self promotion.

Considering creativity is always a standard, many freelancers in the Graphic Design field are wanting to stand out with new uses for business cards, brochures and portfolios.

Folding magic

A good point to start your campaign.
Creating a Business card envelope containing paper and instructions attached to make your own origami sculpture it is surely a way to stand out. You're not only introducing your company with an interesting design, but also engaging the prospective client.

http://burstoid.com/2008/11/10/origami-business-cards

Interesting Shapes

A very easy way to bring an original twist to your presentation is to "custom- shape"your business card into a fresh and new look.

http://designrfix.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Creatice-business-cards-46.jpg

Some go with easy and direct, others with a more abstract concept: a card shaped like a lens for a photographer, or a uneven polygon-shape card.

Layout Concept

Sometimes, there's no need for special effects. There are many ways to bring your essence to a business card without having to shape, cut or mold.

http://www.coated.com/google-me-unique-business-cards/

Many Designers are starting to "inject" more subject-driven messages into their identity, like the Google Search Bar at the front of their card with their name (or company's name) as a search query.

Edible Cards

Nowadays you can even find cards that are printed on cookies, chocolate, brownies, fruit and many other edibles. Of course, one has to always make sure the paper wrapper includes a non-edible version of the content.

http://businesscarddesignideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/chocolate-business-card.jpg

Interested in making an impact by creating your own identity (business card, portfolio, letterhead)?

Stand out by creating your own custom design and conveying the idea of what your strengths are. Are you more on an illustrator? Then perhaps you can focus on color and layout more than the shape of the card.

An Industrial Designer? Then you might want to devise a more creative 3D design that implements your creativity as a builder.

Not sure where to start as a Designer?

Then start your college or accredited online colleges research and build your dream Graphic Design Career.

Graphic Design Report

Five easy projects to help you build your portfolio.

Creativity workout.

Graphic Design trends of 2011

Top Five Tutorials for Graphic Designers

Paper Craft: A tool for self-promotion