1. Infographics help patients see the bigger picture

When a patient can see what you are talking about, the material becomes more relatable. Infographics can be used for diagrams of the body, prevention tips, or creative displays of facts. These visuals can boost the content you share online as well as help out your patients and followers. Using infographics are a great way to educate, entertain, and engage your readers!

Image via Flickr

2. Infographics grab attention

The best way to stop someone from scrolling past your post on social media is to catch their eye. If you grab their attention, they are more likely to click through and learn more about your practice. Infographics present the opportunity for creative images, eye-catching colors and a visual for the viewer to remember.

3. People are more willing to share information if it is visually appealing

If a viewer finds your infographic appealing, there is a higher chance that they may share your post. This leads to more traffic on your social media pages. Staying on top of healthcare trends and creating content that your patients want to know more about will help ensure that your infographic is shared. According to Visually, “tweets with images (like infographics) receive 18% more clicks, 89% more favorites and 150% more retweets.”

Image via Flickr

4. Infographics are great for SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

In order to receive a high ranking on a search engine, your social media pages need to be active and interacted with. Infographics can help with SEO because they boost your company’s website traffic. You can use HTML format for keywords and embed codes to track their performance. Infographics can also lead to a higher authority if you brand them to your company and build awareness of the expertise you possess in the field.

Overall, infographics are a helpful tool when it comes to boosting online traffic for your medical practice. It also helps you stand out above the competition, who may not have a strong online presence. Today’s Business can help you achieve your digital marketing goals and provide all these benefits to your medical practice. Contact us today for more information!

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Career Advice from our Expert Graphic Designers

1. Whatever You Do, Be Patient!

Any form of creativity requires patience. There are many different tools inside of Photoshop, Illustrator and other programs that will take time for you to become accustomed to. Take it easy and remember it takes years of exploring techniques for you to find your specific way to design. If you’re ever feeling discouraged, know that feeling is totally normal, but do not allow yourself to give up! Instead, use it as motivation to create work that impresses others and yourself.

Remember that the best work cannot be made in a couple hours. While it may take a lot of time to complete a project, the time invested will definitely be worth it. You will also spend hours on a project and end up scrapping what you came up with. Instead of pulling your hair out, keep your sanity by taking a break. This will allow you to come back with the determination to make something better.

2. Work Smart, Not Hard

Of course you need to work hard to become an expert. But there are many shortcut keys in design programs to help save you time designing. These little shortcuts will become your best friend in becoming a faster, more productive designer. Becoming more efficient with your programs and exploring the different ways to execute tasks will undoubtedly help you. While it may take time to learn all of the different shortcuts available, being a more efficient designer will help you land a job over other candidates.

3. Find Helpful Resources

Other than school, there are many other resources out there that can help you in becoming a better designer. One of the most valuable resources you can have is a group of designers. Whether these designers are your friends, classmates, or part of an online forum, they can teach you new and easier routes to accomplish tasks. No matter how experienced of a designer you are, other’s opinions will help you take your work to the next level.

In addition to other designers, online design tips and tutorials are great resources you should take advantage of. Websites like Lynda, Envato Tuts+ and even Youtube easily demonstrate skills you are trying to learn. Other online resources include websites that offer interesting fonts, brushes and textures for you to use. These resources can help you develop your personal artistic style.

4. Keep Up with Current Trends

The world of design is always changing. From what colors are most popular to what fonts are in use and even to what website layouts are most sought after, be sure to do your research. If you want to stay relevant, you have to be open to new trends and to trying new ideas. Read up on popular blogs like GDUSA, Creative Bloq and Print Magazine to help keep you up to date in the latest design trends.

5. When Necessary, Find Inspiration

Every artist, whether you’re a writer, a painter or a designer, gets stuck in a creative block from time to time. As frustrating as this can be, one of the best ways to get back into your groove is to find inspiration from other designers! Whether you find other artists on popular blogs, social media or in your classroom, stepping away from your own project to admire other’s work will help you get your creative juices flowing. You can even find inspiration by evaluating work you have completed in the past!

Graphic Design Internship in New Jersey

Looking for more tips and tricks from our expert Graphic Designers? We’re always looking for excited and motivated individuals to join our internship program! For more information on how you can join the #TBTeam, please contact us today.

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Here are some messy branding fails that could have been averted.

5 Branding Mistakes and What to Learn from Them

1. The Met

Over its nearly 150 year history, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has maintained a brand that has only ever encouraged discovery and humanity’s connection to the past. The museum’s impact on art culture across the globe is indisputable. So when the Met announced their new logo and branding earlier this year, people were mostly surprised then disgusted to find that it doesn’t carry the same beauty or history that the establishment deserves.

The new logo has been called a “typographical bus crash” by New York Magazine’s Justin Davidson, with most of the criticism falling on the strange white space that’s created between the disjointed ligatures.

2. Uber

Uber’s quick rise to fame has mostly been due to quick decisions, and good decisions at that. Unfortunately, their branding choices have not been so successful. A series of updated logos were released earlier this year that aimed to freshen up the company’s image and expand their vision. The results were befuddling to almost everyone.

The new shapes and icons, representative of bits and atoms, are meant to inspire a more personal identity, but not everyone is on the same page. The general consensus seems to be that the lengthy videos and walls of text used to explain the new look prove that the process was a product of over thinking. Who has time for all that sciencey stuff?

3. Internet Explorer

Let’s face it; Internet Explorer has been the Comic Sans of browsers since the beginning of time. That lowercase “e” has been and remains a nightmare for web developers and is an ominous symbol of the past (a dark past, haunted by slow service and the squeal of a dial up modem). Which is why I’m sure with Microsoft’s announcement last year that rebranding for the browser was commencing was a cry for help to try to hold off extinction.

The result was a new name, “Microsoft Edge,” and an unforgettable new logo mark. Unfortunately, it’s a mark that people are trying to forget. Regardless of the browser’s performance (which is not as gut-wrenching as some would have expected), the fact that Microsoft refuses to break up with their old image means that they’ll have to haul the stigmas of their not-so-great past with them.

4. Deviantart

As someone who uses Deviantart daily, I’ve been fascinated to see a lot of responses about the site’s rebrand in 2015. Previously, the site featured a forum-like structure with a lovable mascot to boot. With such a heavy user base and a comfortable interface on the line, Deviantart’s rebrand was a risky thing.

Immediately nostalgic users cried at the loss of their lovable character (which the site claims is still in use but sightings are sparse) as well as to the confusing logo that hacks off both edges of the site’s abbreviated namesake. (Not to mention the debate of plagiarism involving someone else’s logo.) The interface also took a hit with an infinite scrolling vibe that caters to Pinterest users. But we don’t go to Deviantart for recipes; we’re here for art!

5. Freeform

The addition of “Family” to ABC’s existing logo nearly 13 years ago was little more than slightly inspired (maybe). It certainly did enough to directly reference the target market, a move that has proved successful throughout the channel’s history – until recently. With some major new shows expanding their target market, the station’s family friendliness has been questioned. Execs took this into account and accepted that it was time for an update.

The drive towards a broader, younger demographic may have been a little…fast. The epilepsy-inducing teaser that was meant to visually introduce and explain the new brand is filled with snippets of the new cluttered logo and an extreme amount of target market stock footage. The flashy new feel is fresh, but one can’t help but feel that you’ve been handed an explosive amount of pop culture and you better love it because it’s so flirty and young and edgy and you’re all those things, right?

We’ve all seen some hilarious social media fails, but unlike Twitter posts that can be deleted, these bad branding decisions are here to stay. Which one do you think is the worst of the bunch?

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1. Know your content

From photobooks, to graphic novels, to actual novels, you should understand your content from cover to cover before there is a cover. Understanding how your project lines up with the market that’s out there will help you make some important design decisions. Take a look at how others are presenting their information. If your book is mainly text-based then a smaller size may be more suitable, as opposed to a larger option which may work better for your coffee-table photography collection. These are some typical* book sizes that you’re going to run into during your research:

• 6”x 9” is a pretty common size for most books and considered ideal for text-based projects. Different companies are going to offer different sizes but 2:3 is considered a good ratio for page size.
• 5” x 11” or 8” x 12” books often work better for image-based projects or workbook-style endeavors. This is a great size for portfolio projects too!
• 25” x 8” is a great size for longer books and lends itself well to novels and memoirs.
• Square books (10”x10”, 7”x7”, 5”x5”) isn’t a typical size for books but that doesn’t mean it’s the wrong choice! Unconventional proportions may be the best way to get your portfolio noticed.

*Every print company is going to offer different variations, but they will generally stick to these trim sizes.

2. Find a printer

It’s important to pick a printer before you start a project, or at least keep it in mind as you design. Some companies may offer templates that you can download beforehand, or they may require certain design specs that can be a pain to change once you’ve finalized your project. The following are a few print companies that I’ve used in the past:

Shutterfly can be a great start for beginners who don’t want the hassle of expensive programs or too many options. They literally advertise their services to be as easy as 1. (Add photos), 2. (Create), 3. (Order). Accessible on-site interfaces along with drag-and-drop templates (which can be adjusted) make it easy to upload those gorgeous family vacation photos and grab a great book that you can share (and brag about) with your friends.

Blurb has a fantastic lineup of products and sizes: Photobooks, trade books, magazines, and Ebooks. Just keep in mind that all of the work is off-site which means you’re going to need a design program like Adobe inDesign to make your project happen. Blurb also offers a wide range of sizes, paper variations, and cover options, which can be great for those control freak designers who want to make sure their work is precisely as they had envisioned. Another plus: If you already own the program, Blurb offers a free downloadable plug-in which you can access right from inDesign’s interface that allows for a hassle-free transfer from desktop to Blurb and off to the printer.

If Blurb presents a ton of options and Shutterfly cuts the clutter, then Lulu is a happy medium between the two. With a conservative interface and a great variety of options Lulu might be a good choice for dedicated creatives who are short on time. (Again, the work needs to be uploaded so be sure to prepare your files accordingly with a desktop design program.) A great inclusion with this company is the option to upload Microsoft Word documents right to the site which is definitely a time-saver if your book is text-based.

All three of these sites offer seasonal coupons! It can be worth it to sign up for their email newsletters as you work on your project to receive discounts that can save you a bunch.

3. Involve other people

Creating a book means investing a lot of time and possibly money. If you’re like me then you want each project that you put together to be worth both you and your reader’s time. If your project looks like it’s going to be long-term, then getting others excited about what you are doing and leaning on them for support when you hit a creative block is a great way to stay on track. You don’t have to be the collaborative type to let others in on your process, but it’s never a bad idea to discuss realistic timeframes and your creative project goals with people that you trust. (Also, an extra pair of eyes to proofread never hurt anyone.)

Ready to start your book project? HALT! Sharpen up your design skills beforehand and learn what NOT to do.

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Learning keyboard shortcuts means less time using your mouse and more time actually designing. You can use the preset shortcuts that come with the program or you can customize the ones you use the most! Go to Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts to set your own shortcuts or change already existing ones to your liking. For example, I use Smart Objects a lot in Photoshop so I replaced the shortcut to open in Adobe Bridge with the keys to open a Smart Object without having to double-click the layer! I use an Mac computer so if you have a Windows computer, you can interchange Command for Ctrl, as shown below.

Image via Photoshop Training Channel

Here are some other shortcuts not shown above:

• To lower the opacity of a selected layer, you can use the number pad on your keyboard! For example, 1 = 10%, 2 = 20% and so on! If you press a number quickly and twice it will make it more specific, for example, 11 = 11%, 25 = 25%, etc.
• To close the tab of a window in Photoshop you’re working in, press COMMAND + W. Super useful when editing a smart object in your file, so you don’t have to close the tab manually.
• To scale text up and down using your keyboard, select all the text you want to scale, and hold SHIFT + COMMAND + < to make smaller and SHIFT + COMMAND + > to make bigger.
• To exit a text box you’re editing, press COMMAND + RETURN. If you press escape you’ll lose the edits you made in the text box (yeah don’t do that!)
• To decrease or increase your brush size, with the brush tool open, use . Play around with it and you’ll get the hang of it.
• To group layers, select all the layers you want to organize and press COMMAND + G. It’s as easy as that!
• Flip between the foreground and background colors, using X.
• To go to the Hand Tool while using another tool, hold spacebar, click and drag with your mouse to move around your canvas.
• To duplicate the layer you’re working in, press COMMAND + J.

There are hundreds of other keyboard shortcuts available, so be sure to check out the link above.

2. DEFAULT SETTINGS IN LAYER STYLES

If you use layer styles often and you find yourself using the same color, drop shadow settings, or any other style, customize the settings then click the button that says “Make Default.” The next time you open that specific layer style, your default settings will appear! This will definitely save you time trying to perfect the drop shadow (which you should only be using sparingly by the way!) If you want to make sure you’re not committing any other design sins, read our other blog about the 7 Deadly Sins of Graphic Design!

Here’s an example of the layer styles panel, where you can set your default color overlay color!

3. ORGANIZING LAYERS

Layers, layers and more layers! That’s what a non graphic designer may think when they first open a photoshop graphic design file! A file with a minimal amount of layers is easy to manage and navigate through. When you have to start scrolling down to reach your last layer that’s when you should start think about organizing them. Start with naming your layers when you first create them. Then you can design. One thing I’ve found to be useful, is using “Auto-Select” and after you finish a part of your design, select all your elements and press

COMMAND + G to group those layers, then name it!

AND if you no longer need those elements, make sure to lock it!

4. UNLIMITED # OF UNDOS IN PREFERENCES

We all love how Illustrator lets us go back in history an unlimited number of times, but unfortunately Photoshop’s history does not have the same default. Fortunately enough for you, there is a way to change that, go to Preferences > Performance > History Cache and then there will be section called, History States. This will change how many times you can go back and can be increased all the way to 1,000. Yay!

5. SAVING WORKSPACE LAYOUTS

Most designers will just stick with whatever layout Photoshop opens with but you can change the way your workspace looks, by arranging your panels, menus and tools that better suit your needs. On the top right of your Photoshop workspace, it probably is default to “Essentials,” there is a drop down menu where you can change which one you’re working in. If you want to save your own, arrange the workspace to your liking then return to this drop down menu and select “New Workspace” to save what you’ve done. Then it will appear like it does below for example, “matts workspace.”

6. USE OF SMART OBJECTS

If you have never used a Smart Object before, you are so missing out! Smart Objects preserve an image’s source with all its original characteristics, allowing you to edit the layer and not be destructive to the original file. This is really useful transforming images, applying adjustment layers, etc. To convert an image or a layer to a Smart Object, you can right-click the layer and select “Convert to Smart Object.”

You can edit the contents of the original image by double-clicking the thumbnail of the Smart Object. It needs to be saved in order for the changes to be reflected in the file you’re working in. The keyboard shortcut I’ve customized for converting into a Smart Object is SHIFT + COMMAND + O and to edit the contents is SHIFT + COMMAND + E. This definitely saves you time when designing graphics using Smart Objects.

7. ALIGNING ELEMENTS

If you don’t want to create guides and move elements to make sure they’re aligned, you can try this neat trick! Select all the elements you want to align and press COMMAND + A, then these options along the top of your photoshop workspace will appear. If you hover your mouse over each it will tell you which alignment it is. When you select and align your elements you can press COMMAND + D to deselect and continue designing.

8. ARRANGE MULTIPLE FILES IN WINDOW

When comparing and editing multiple files it can be useful to utilize Photoshop’s multi-panel feature. To see more than one panel at one time, navigate via Window > Arrange, then choose a layout that best suits your project.

We hope that these tips help you become more efficient in Adobe Photoshop CS6. It definitely takes some practice to master these, but you’ll be a natural in no time!

Like this article? Read these!

• Three Steps to Creating the Best Facebook AD
• How to Design and Keep Your Sanity
• How to Design a Great Facebook Cover Photo

The post 8 Efficient Tips for Adobe Photoshop CS6 appeared first on Today's Business.

Visual Hierarchy

Design theory for traditional is not much different for digital design. Visual hierarchy between all elements, text, images, and negative space, is very important. The user should know intuitively where to look next, based on the layout and ultimately end, on the main call-to-action, if there is one. When all else fails, a big flashing red arrow pointing at your contact form can’t hurt (as long as it matches your branding)!

User Experience is Everything

As a young graphic designer in this career I am a heavy user of websites and social media, and I’m always judging and considering design choices. Not only does it make me more confident in my design skills (*pats self on back*) but it also helps me pick out others’ mistakes so I don’t make those in my own work.

When designing for the screen, the user experience has to be a main priority! User experience is about practicality and focus – not what I’m having for lunch or what I’m doing that night! I should be considering the user’s scrolling habit and points of interest. There should be text, images, negative space, etc, but the user should never doubt what the most important area of the advertisement is, whether it is print or digital. My consistent question when a client asks for a printed poster or a Facebook graphic: “What is the goal of this graphic?” This helps me to focus on what the client wants from the customer. Every design choice that I make should work to accomplish this singular goal.

Static vs. Responsive Design

After I find out the goal of the advertisement or the design, my next question is “Where is the graphic going to be implemented?” Is it a poster that the client will put in their waiting rooms? Will it be posted on their social media platforms? Or is it a slider on their fancy new website’s homepage? Designing for digital isn’t as simple as finding out what size an advertisement needs to be in inches or how much bleed should be included around its edge. With digital advertising comes the challenge of responsive design. Website graphics and social ads are meant to be seen on various platforms (mobile vs. computers) and will be move around based on the view port size. This extra dimension of design can add a little more challenge to my job but it’s nothing a little graphic design magic can’t fix. My graphic design goal is to make that ad successful no matter where it is seen!

1. Website sliders, look great on a wide iMac screen, but when you scale the page down, it shows a bottom part of the slider so I have to prepare for that as well, so it looks awesome regardless of the size of the screen!

Color is different! RGB vs. CMYK

I know those are a lot of letters but they actually mean something, I promise. Any type of graphics that are seen digitally use RGB colors, which stands for Red, Green and Blue. It is also known as an additive model, where these colors are added together in pixels to create what we see on a screen. These type of graphics are made of pixels, where light is projected through them, blending the colors on the eye’s retina to create the desired colors.

Traditional printed graphic design uses the CYMK model, which stands for Cyan, Yellow, Magenta and Black. It is considered a subtractive model, but that fancy word just means that instead of pixels, this process prints tiny little dots in those colors. So when you look at a printed design, they blend together to the eye to appear the colors we want.

How does this affect your work? You just need to keep in mind that RGB colors are not going to appear precisely on paper as they appeared on your screen because the RGB model is comprised of light, where designs that utilize the CMYK model are comprised of ink.

Image size and format matter!

If you spend one day in our office, you’ll probably hear me say something about the importance of “horizontal pictures or high resolution images”, more times than you can count on one hand. High-resolution anything makes me happy; logos, photographs, illustrations etc. When designing for print, the resolution of photos and vectorized logos is super duper important. The optimal DPI (“Dots Per Inch”) for printed material is 300, which means that any images you are including in your design that have less than that is going to make the final product quality suffer.

When designing for digital, screen resolutions are set to 72 DPI, so there’s no point of including all those extra pixels because it won’t do you any good. In fact, working with images on your computer that are larger than 72 dpi may slow down your workspace significantly. There are specific file formats that are generally accepted online, such as JPEG and PNG. PNG files support transparency and JPEG files do not, so if there is negative space without any color, white is automatically saved.

Oh and horizontal pictures! On Facebook, horizontal photos look the best based on a golden ratio of pixels, between a page’s timeline and a user’s news feed. Vertical photos might look good on mobile, because of the orientation of the news feed, but on the desktop version of Facebook, it just leaves an awkward empty space next to them. So if my fellow TB Teamers, non-graphic designers remember anything from my blog, it should be this! #AlwaysHorizontal

Social Media Platform Design

Speaking about social media and their rules, the digital world is constantly changing. So I have to be on my toes at all times. From one day to another, Facebook could have changed how cover photos looked while distracting me with cute pictures of dogs and delicious food. Since things always changing, it’s important to stay up-to-date on all the updates made by these popular social media platforms:

There’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin, Google Plus, Pinterest. From one little update, Instagram now allows users to upload any orientation of an image without cropping it to a square! Sounds silly at first for a non-designer, but it is HUGE for any marketing strategy because now you can use any image that fits your branding and doesn’t have to be a square. Being a graphic designer is a huge part of social media marketing so even these little marketing changes can make a big difference to designers.

In case you’re also curious on how to design a Facebook cover photo and a 20% Facebook graphic so you can boost it, you can check out my other design blogs!

The post Transition Between Digital and Print Design appeared first on Today's Business.

1. FONTS

When first beginning a project to design, we suggest putting all your text and any images you want to use, in your workspace. When choosing which font to use, limit how many. No matter how big the project, you shouldn’t ever use more than 3 fonts! A font for your header, any sub headings and a simpler font for body text is all you need, we promise.

Any header fonts should be eye-catching and draw the viewer’s focus there first. You can do this by increasing the size of the text, making it bold, or making it a different color that matches your design. However, do not, I repeat DO NOT, EVER, use a script font in all caps. If you must use a script font, use it sparingly and in sentence case. Avoid using decorative fonts for your body text; it makes it very hard to read. For body text, stick with a serif or sans serif (EX. Times New Roman, or Arial) or something that is branded for the project you’re working with. You can find free fonts to use for your designs at www.Dafont.com, and https://www.fontsquirrel.com/.

2. HIERARCHY OF ELEMENTS

The arrangement of certain elements is very crucial in a design. This is where you have the power to direct your viewers to look in certain places first. If you have a header, subheader or some sort of call-to-action and then body text, then organize it in that exact order. The header or most appealing visual element should be on top to draw the viewer in and get their attention. A great hierarchy in your design will get the audience’s attention so that the viewer will be interested in the rest of the content. So when in doubt, if you squint your eyes and you can still recognize the hierarchy without being able to read the text, you’ve designed successfully!

3. COLORS

Adding colors – or lack thereof –  to a design can be the defining feature of a good or bad design. It can help distinguish a hierarchy of titles, or separate them by using shapes and/or background colors. However, too many colors can make the piece of work confusing and an eyesore, while no color  can make it bland and boring.  Limit yourself to three complimentary colors.  When using color, keep the text in mind and make headers different colors. Or, use a different color background than the body text. This will help the text stand out, and help direct the viewer’s eye to more important parts of the design.

4. WHITE SPACE

Negative space is your friend! Even though you have a ton of space, it does not mean you should use every pixel! A good amount of whitespace can help the viewer focus on one thing at a time. Filling up most of the space will create tension and make it hard for a person to focus on one single thing in the design. The negative space is much more important than most non-designers would think because it provides legibility and sense of tidiness which helps deliver a clearer message to the viewer. However, if your eye keeps moving to an area, and it seem’s empty, then you should probably put something there.

5. TYPOGRAPHY (AKA: TEXT)

Other than how many fonts to use and which styles of type work best, there are many other tips that can help a non-designer. The way the type is presented can either make or break the project.  As seen in the email blast on the left, the “miss!” and “tissue!” are alone on the line leaving a lot of awkward space on either side of them.  This is known as a “widow” and is a big NO-NO when dealing with text. Instead, organize the text like the email blast on the right so that there is no awkward space and the content looks organized. The edges of the text in the email blast are almost even, but making the paragraph margins uneven and irregular looking is another rule that one should be take into consideration.

            BEFORE                                            AFTER

Another thing is to never ever EVER break one word into two different lines by hyphenating it. Instead, just bring the entire word to the next line if it doesn’t fit on the first line.

BONUS TIP: Keep in the mind the space between lines known as “leading.” If the editing software allows you to control the leading, be sure not to make it too tight or too loose. The following image gives you more of a visual representation of how leading works!

If you’re a beginner, and want to get your feet wet with graphic design, be sure to learn How to Design and Keep Your Sanity for your future designing help!

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…While their antics may puzzle you, getting the graphics that you need from your designers doesn’t have to be a wild adventure. Take note of these tips to sharpen up your communication skills and effectively complete a project while strengthening your relationship with your design team. (Just don’t get too close.)

1. What Not to Say: “Make it more vintage! Make it more modern! Make it more summery!”

Your design team strives for excellence! But shooting off fancy, indistinct adjectives like it’s New Year’s Eve doesn’t really do any good for anybody and you’re probably not going to get the picturesque graphic you had envisioned. Why? Well the confusion arises when misinformed directions become misleading. Are we talking 1800s vintage? Art-deco vintage? 2003 vintage? Your designers aren’t mind-readers. The fix: Give your team examples! Shower them with hyperlinks! Provide them with free candy and images of previous projects so they can instantly get a feel for what you’re looking for. This will cut any confusion to a minimum. (Plus, graphic designers are crazy about images so there’s that.)

2. This shouldn’t take very long at all to create…Right?

What may seem like a simple fix for you is more likely not a simple fix for a graphic designer. Nothing irks the artsy-folk like assuming what they do is easy. Your design team is capable of getting the job done in a timely manner. The fix: Instead of tossing assumptions onto your designer’s desk, explain what you need concisely then ask for a realistic time frame. Creating graphics is still an artform, and while putting together a successful ad shouldn’t take as long as writing a full-length novel, there are pieces which may take time to put in place. Rearranging text and images involves design principles like hierarchy and motion which should always be considered when finding the best solution. If a task is due within a short time-frame don’t play down what your designers can do. Instead get them what they need and encourage them to get it done right.

3. Wanna do some extra graphic design work on the side (for free)? You’ll get lots of exposure on my !

Designers want to be cherished or else they wilt. Taking valuable time from them in exchange for “exposure” or “more followers” is detrimental to their creativity. If they offer a valuable service of which you are in need then do the right thing and let them know that you value their work by offering to pay them upfront (with money).

4. Can you give it to us so we can make the edits in ?

NOPE. Asking anyone in your design team to hand over an unfinished piece with the knowledge that it very well may be butchered in Microsoft Word then dipped in clipart is traumatizing to say the least (our design team members have nightmares about this.) Those advertisements are your designers’ children and (weird as it sounds) it’s hard enough for them to take that brave final step and send their babies away in an email to the printer. If you can’t trust your designers to get the job done or if the task is taking longer than expected, chances are there’s a bigger problem at hand. Instead of tearing away the one thing that designers enjoy (and get paid for), try to understand why there might be issues with the design or offer to mockup what you are looking for in a word document or on paper. A clear example can be a great start to an even more successful ad.

-The TB Design Team

Design isn’t just about communication and free candy! Look back and learn more about some of the DOs and DO-NOTS of graphic design.

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1. Familiarize Yourself with Your Creative Process

Everyone works at a different pace. Understanding your own artistic rhythm and gauging the time and energy it will take you to complete a project is essential to completing tasks promptly and ensuring that you’re not a pile of little graphic design pieces in the end (I’m talking to you freelancers). I know it sounds hokey, but writing down your creative routine will give you a clearer understanding of how you work (and to an extent – how you can charge your client). When you can recognize a pattern in your process, that pattern builds trust, and self-trust builds self-confidence. Who doesn’t need a little confidence now and then? Write that stuff down and give yourself a pat on the back!

2. Surround Yourself With Inspiration

One thing I thoroughly enjoyed about most of my art and design classes was the inventive, inspiration aspect. I loved that my professors pushed me to grab a hold of design that inspired me and to learn what my strengths are by reflecting on the greats. I’ve definitely lost a little bit of that drive now that I’ve established a work routine. Maybe you have too? Maybe it’s time to peruse your favorite illustrator’s portfolio and purchase a print or two – hang them next to your desk at work! Get a tumblr and follow some up-and-coming designers! Be aware of how you are pushing your own art and design work in reference to how others may be using the tools they’ve been given. No more standing still for you (and me)!

3. Don’t Take it Personally

I’ll admit it – I cross my fingers when I send anything to a client. I think one part of me is hoping that this will be the “last revision” and another part of me is trying to remember if I used spell-check before saving. But there’s a third little part of me that gets zipped and attached with whatever I send. That’s the part of me that hopes the client will be totally floored by what I’ve created – and more times than not there will be revisions and more times than not they won’t be thrilled, but more times than not I’m okay with that because I’ve learned that although they may not be in love with what I’ve designed, I can rest well knowing that I put everything I had into making it look awesome. And I know that revisions can easily grate on one’s little designer-heart, but bear in mind from the start of a project that the client has the final say and they’re not really going to understand your perspective because they’re not a designer, and some things just can’t be communicated efficiently. The right perspective from the start can mean the difference between a workplace meltdown, and a less frustrating production experience.

4. Find Some Distraction (The Good Kind)

In light of #3, I think it is important to have some sort of outlet that is not entirely work-related. Finding a hobby can be a simple distraction from the rush of the everyday office work. But more than that, I think what hobby you pick apart from design-work can really say loads about how you communicate and how driven you are during work hours. One of my favorite professors was obsessed with tennis. Her kids went to tennis camp, she would go to games during her sabbatical, and she would read tennis players’ autobiographies between classes. I thought it was a little odd, until she explained that the reason she enjoyed the sport so much was (a) it allowed her to really pull away from her computer and experience something at a much more interactive level and (b) because it physically mimicked the back and forth of the feedback one might receive from a client or coworker during the creative process. That is something that’s always stuck with me and ever since I’ve been aware of how my free time affects my work-time and vice-versa. If design work seems daunting then try your hand at illustration (and get away from that screen)! Maybe switching up your music selection during runs will help your designs find a new rhythm. Being a creative type can be pretty draining if you’re not distributing that artistic energy throughout other areas of your life.

If you’ve been stuck in an artistic rut, or feel like you’re about to blow your stack, then keep those pointers in mind. You’re definitely going to need your heart and your head in tact if you’re going to be one of the greats. Don’t let anyone shove you in a box or take away what made you design in the first place, and you’ll be on the right track.

Enjoy this blog? Think you got what it takes to be an awesome designer? Check out our other design-related posts and bulk up your design know-how!

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These are the 7 deadliest design sins:Just because you have a lot of information to work with, doesn’t mean that you can’t keep things simple. When working with an abundance of text or imagery let your inner neat-freak organize the information consistently. Use grids and guides to keep things balanced/clean and utilize negative space to cut the mess to a minimum. Even just the smallest bit of consistent white-space can balance things efficiently. .Every day millions of fonts are added to databases like Dafont.com and Fontsquirrel.com. In some ways this can make things a lot easier for us designfolk who may need a free Helvetica look-a-like in a pinch. But as the wise Uncle Ben once told Peter Parker, “With great power comes great responsibility.” (He was obviously talking to us designers by the way) we need to exercise a little (or a lot) of restraint when we are given leeway with fonts that are on the fancier side. A majority of fancy/decorative/script fonts are very difficult to read, especially when used in abundance. The fix: When a decorative font is necessary, use it as a header, as opposed to a body copy, so that it is still legible.*Taps foot and looks at you over glasses* I’m lookin’ at you folks who adore gradients and drop shadows. These things have their place but it’s time to give it a rest. Since the skeuomorphic design revolution (Thanks Apple!) flat, sharp design has taken a front seat while flashy gradients and drop shadows have moved to passe. Check yourself when using these elements and consider alternate choices that will make your design bolder and your message more effective.This is more of a general sin that extends beyond the design world, but it’s deadly nonetheless. Nothing screams “unprofessional” like a big, fat spelling error. Luckily most design tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign have built in grammar add-ons that will offer a little peace of mind. Knowing that your design was checked and double checked (by computers and humans alike) is a comforting thing. o.We’re all a little crazy about something. Designers are kind of crazy in general but we are specifically paid (hopefully) to go bananas over the little things – like how much space there is between letters. Spacing characters evenly is a basic rule of design and shouldn’t be neglected. Don’t commit this sin before it’s too late (i.e. before it gets printed or chiseled onto some monument and you have to live with it forever.) When working with any kind of typography it is imperative to keep your tracking, kerning, and leading (yes they all mean different things) in mind. Otherwise, your designs will suffer. You can practice up on your spacing skills by giving the Learn to Kern game a go. It’s a quick resource to keep your skills sharp!Multimillion dollar companies have millions of dollars (as evidenced by their “multimillion dollar company” status) to sink into branding and design. Often before a logo is seen by the public, a company will spend these millions of dollars to arrange focus groups, perform intensive design research, and consume copious amounts of coffee. All of this is to ensure that when the final logo is seen it will produce the proper emotional response from its audience without any prompting or context. SO, let’s be kind to those designers! Let’s celebrate that intensive research! And should we let all that coffee consumption be for naught? Of course not. You can do your part by leaving that logo alone. That means not stretching it, recoloring it, or giving it a reindeer nose for the company Christmas newsletter.When Pocahontas told us that we could “paint with all the colors of the wind” I think she’d be a little disappointed in how some designers throw their paint (or pixels, in most cases) haphazardly throughout their designs. Remember those little color wheels you painted on paper plates back in kindergarten? Well the principles you learned then still remain: Keep your colors straight and pare your palette down. Too much color can overload your audience while too little may bore them. Utilize complementary tones to keep your design consistent, but engaging. Take note of each color’s position on the wheel and give your scheme extra thought before dipping it in a multi-gradient puddle (a big no-no…).Design may be about communication/advertising but at its heart it is still an art form and it is still all about being creative. It’s okay to make mistakes and it’s okay to experiment – that’s what creativity is all about! By avoiding these “sins” you can avoid revisions and perfect your own creative process, ensuring that each graphic you produce is communicating more effectively than the last!

Great design is only half the battle! Learn more about how to harness the power of social media to get your great design the exposure it deserves!

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