Delightful Plush Toys
These plush animals are super cute! You can find them in the Etsy shop Poosac.
Showing posts with label design. Show all posts
These plush animals are super cute! You can find them in the Etsy shop Poosac.
What You Didn't Know About Graphic Design
Warning. This post is a bit long. Sorry. I have a lot to say on the subject.
In the past couple of years I have seen a lot of articles talking about the worst majors/jobs to pursue. Always, the arts are listed. Really, only arts are listed. And every time I am mystified by the people making these lists and wonder what the basis for these lists come from.
So, I thought I'd clear the air on being a graphic designer. I hope you can learn some things that you didn't know about graphic design.
- Let's start with the beginning. Is it worth getting a degree to become a graphic designer? The short answer: YES. If you look at job requirements of various graphic design jobs, you will see that most require a BA in Graphic Design or related fields. With the competition out there for these jobs, a degree gives you a foot in the door. After that, a portfolio sets you apart from all of those who have their college diploma in hand.
You CAN be a freelance designer without a degree, but getting started with a small portfolio is difficult, and a completely different ball game.
- Income. True, graphic designers can start with a humble salary. But the truth is, my starting salary was SIGNIFICANTLY higher in graphic design than my husbands starting salary in Information Technology (we had the same amount of experience in our fields). And a lot less money was spent on my college degree than his.
- Money vs Happiness. I could have gone into accounting and made a lot more money, more quickly. I also know that I could have gone into accounting and felt like I was missing something. When I have considered making a career change due to the economic state, I have found that I would be so unhappy, and I truly enjoy graphic design. It is worth giving up some things I'd like to have to stay in graphic design. It has also allowed us to experience God's provision in difficult times (more than once God has provided when we thought we wouldn't be able to pay our bills).
I could go on about careers that bring in a lot of money after years of school and student loans. Or careers that don't bring in much money, but are so important to scientific development.
I have, also, realized how often people think these creative careers are to get out of certain skills such as math, grammar, science and so on. So here are some skills you might not know graphic designers should possess:
- An understanding of how people think. First, you have to decipher what a client is looking for. Most clients don't know how to word it. They'll throw out some words like "energy" or "corporate" or "clean," then you have to figure out what THEIR definition of those words are. You, then, must consider what grabs the clients of your client. There is a lot of psychology involved.
• Along with that, there is an understanding of how the brain reads and deciphers information that designers MUST possess.
- Grammar. I have proof read so many things! I have to catch spelling errors, misuse of commas and split infinitives. (Please, don't use the writing on this blog to judge my grasp of english grammar.)
- Creative writing. Ok, that's a bit deceiving. I don't have to write whole stories, but I do have to come up with clever slogans, using alliteration, puns and a lot of silliness. It's a completely different skill from visual creativity. I have to turn on a different part of my brain for those.
- Knowledge. I don't know how else to label it. If you work for a variety of companies, you gain a lot of knowledge about engineering, oil (especially in Houston), healthcare, fitness, fashion, hospitality. If you design for one company a lot, you begin to learn a lot about their particular field.
- Time Management. I know. You're saying, "everyone needs time management skills." True. Have you ever had to come up with a concept for an ad, get all content (including photos) from different sources, stay on brand, make sure all info is correct and spelled correctly, and have it sent to thousands of people in 5 minutes? This is a real example, though rare. Usually you get an hour.
- Business and entrepreneurship. The direction of your career depends on how much you need to know about business; someone who is an in-house designer needs to know just as much as anyone else working for a company. BUT someone who owns their own business must have great marketing skills, be able to sell, schmooze, mingle, negotiate and cold call. Truthfully, I hate all of these things. I like people, but I don't like trying to sell to them.
And while artists brains tick a bit differently than others, many of us are good in other random subjects. I'm quite good at math, especially algebra; I would happily solve algebra problems all day. My best friend, who is also a graphic designer, has some skills and interest in the sciences.
I hope you feel enlightened, and not bored. I, also, hope you aren't considering a career in graphic design, because I don't want more competition. ;) The next time you see/meet a graphic designer smile at them; we stare at computers A LOT!
photo
A Little Bit About Make Up, A Little Bit About Branding
I don't like to wear a lot of makeup, because I hate the caked on look, and while I am not old, I certainly am losing any youthful glow I once had. When my cheap foundation was causing skin problems I had to make a change. So I decided to look at some better quality foundations.
I have loved Benefit Cosmetics branding for a few years now, so I wanted to try their foundation. I got a sample. I can say, I am super excited about it! It's not thick, it doesn't look like you've caked make up on, and it has an SPF 25. So. For those who care about it, it's worth the $36. Now I just have to go buy the bottle.
If you don't care about make up. Check out the great branding Benefit Cosmetics uses. They know their target group!
The Eames
Life would be so beautiful if everything was designed with the sensibility of Charles and Ray Eames.
Many of their designs are part of my dream furniture. Especially the Lounge Chair and Ottoman below. It's on my amazon wishlist.
If you are unfamiliar with the Eames, you should look them up! They are a fascinating creative couple, designing during the mid 20th century. Their product design is iconic of mid-century modern.
You can find their products here.
Redesigning
I redesigned my Mallory Nicole Design & Illustration logo today, refreshing my portfolio and resume as well. I feel better. I've also been working on a wedding invite.Today's February Photoaday prompt was "sun," but I forgot about it until the sun set. So, in honor of my missed photo, here are a couple of West Palm Beach photos I recently edited.
Photo Shannanigans
The Wiese side of my family took photos on Thanksgiving day. I was put in charge, and super excited...it's fun designing something personal to you.
This is the final Christmas cards, though the colors are a bit washed out here.
Some of my other favorites are below.
My favorite part of the top photo is probably Mom and Dad Wiese.
Yes, my husband is the one doing some sort of weird "model" pose. If you were to expand this frame to the left you would see me making the same face as my SIL Amy.
And last but not least, the Wiese brothers. This is my joke Christmas card, the Wiese brothers at their finest. This photo was inspired by awkward family photos. :D
Next week I'm going to make Dan take photos with me...using a remote to shoot. It'll be interesting...
Hope you had a Thanksgiving as fun as we did!
A Quiet Focus
I've been quiet. At first I was lacking inspiration and motivation, but since I've been illustrating. It's been good. I'm going back and forth on a poster design for making pumpkin pie. I have focused on illustrating the ingredients and have not worked on an actual design yet.
Yesterday and today I'm working on Christmas cards. I'd really like to design for specific people, but in the mean time I'll work on ideas in my head. I have a plan for my family's card, but I need to scope out a place for a photo.
Eventually I will show you a graduation announcement I created for a friend. I need to take some photos of it.
I hope all of you are getting ready for Thanksgiving and excited for a very full December.
Do you have favorite traditions?
Running Thoughts
Looking for a job these days is hard enough, but when you decide to become a freelance designer you can be at a loss. How do you find contract work when your one of your previous employers is asking you for volunteer work, and the other doesn't pay vendors? How do you use your contacts when you mostly know teachers? I'd be lying if I said I have complete confidence in what I am attempting. I have goals for the next year: buy a car, go to the Mediterranean, make extra payments on my house, and many others. And I'm not one to have debts, so when I consider all of these thing, a tightness fills my chest.
In my 6 weeks out of work, I have remained calm, kept worry at bay, but it's starting to haunt me. But I have faith that God provides and He will provide enough for us to eat and live. So, I push that worry away not to disappoint Him.
If you need a wedding announcement, baby announcement, invitations, or anything creative...a piece of art you'd like created...you can contact me. My portfolio link is to the left, check it out!
top-left: A drawing I created based off of one of my favorite books/movies, Howl's Moving Castle.
top-right: A series of drawings I create for Daniel, each a different version/style of us. Zombies, Anime, so on.
bottom-left: These are Munny, you can paint them, draw on them, glue things to them. They are going to spell
out W-I-E-S-E...I need three more...and will go on our mantle.
bottom-right: One of our tray tables (unfinished). They need a bit more flair and personality.
For the past few weeks I've been thinking about the definition of design. The fact is the rules for design change as our generations change. Bauhaus deemed certain qualities as more desirable than others. Postmodernism went the exact opposite way.
I've concluded that design is personal. So design for your life.
Since I have design experience and believe that handmade elements are important in design, I have spent time making my home a representation of who Daniel and I are together.
I realize that not everyone feels they're capable of making something their own. That's why designers get paid to help visualize. If you ever hire a designer, they should make sure the piece reflects you (or your target audience, if that's the case).
These little photos are pieces of me.
top-left: chalkboard wall in my studio
top-right: stripes I painted on my Ikea dresser. I'm really happy about the added personality.
bottom-left: word wall. Inspiring words that speak to me are added onto this wall. It is something I plan on
adding onto as words come.
bottom-right: the pink lady.
We were made uniquely, and we insult a creative God if we hide under expectations.
So this weekend - Express YOURSELF!
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Mallory Nicole is a Texas based photographer raising her small family and dreaming of travel.
