Design Ideas for 2010
I thought I’d give you some tips and also some links today for design magazines and sources that give me inspiration when I sit down to design a project. First of all, I think it’s important to figure out when you feel the most creative during the day. For me, it is in the morning until lunch time. After that, I feel my creative edge wears down. If it is a project that is simple, I work on it later in the day, but if it is a cornerstone project, I work in the morning for the best results.
Secondly, many times, the first design is often not the best you can do. I will go back a few hours or days later and review my project and often, I make changes that greatly improve it. So, don’t despise doing something twice!
I do my best work when I have a “vision” for what I am designing. The stronger the vision, the faster and easier it is for me to be creative and come up with a great look. Tim is good at laying out the “vision” which is the big picture so to speak. When he turns to me and says, “Make it happen!” I can run with it if it is well defined. So, I think the next point is to have clarity of vision. This also applies if you are hiring a designer-he or she must understand what your vision is for your business in order to produce the correct style for you, so be good at sharing that.
Finally, just as a photographer gets better with practice, so does a graphic designer. I find myself growing every time I work on a project and it is exciting to see the progress.
OK, now for some sources of inspiration for you. The first one is absolutely FREE and is a catalog from J.Peterman, an incredible marketer. Some of you may remember him as the man Elaine worked for on Seinfeld. Anyway, his catalog is an entire lesson on emotional marketing, storytelling and great design. Get on his mailing list today and…ok, buy a few things! They are also incredible!
The other two magazines I subscribe to and enjoy are for Graphic Design professionals, but we can take a peek at what they are up to, can’t we? One is called HOW and I have gotten so many great ideas from it. Even the paper it is printed on is wonderful. The second one is a sister magazine and is called I.D. and profiles the products and graphics being designed today by the world’s top designers. Both should be named WOW-ha ha!
And…finally, for the first ten of you who write a response to this blog, I will send you my special teaching “7 Thoughts on Design” absolutely FREE! We will track who you are behind the scenes. The only way to get this particular teaching is to do our Coaching Community program. It is part of our Knowledge Base. So, get those fingers flying and have a great week!
Bev
Wonderful! Love your willingness to share!
I absolutely agree about walking away from something and looking at it a couple of hours or days later, it truly does help! Thanks for all your great ideas!
Great tips
Thanks!
Great ideas…thanks for sharing! Practice, practice, practice!
Love your blogs! I gain so much inspiration from them, keep them coming! I hope one day to be as great in “business” as you guys are!!
Thanks so much for sharing!! Great tips!!
WONDERFUL! THANKS FOR THIS GREAT INFO!
Thank you for sharing.
I think photographers — especially today — need to understand design. I get HOW, Print, ID and a few other design books. I went to art school for design at the Academy of Art in SF and in today’s business atmosphere I think all business owners should at least get HOW.
Having recently finished art school, these magazines are definitely part of my growth as a photographer and designer.
Love the Blog thanks for all your insights. I look forward to studying with you some day.
I too am most creative in the mornings. I find that getting up early before the kids allows me time to think while it is quiet. Then I can return to an idea during naps and see how it looks a second time.
Thanks for the great magazine links.
Great information………thanks for posting this. Love the background of this blog, too.
Love reading your blog - you always have great info! Thanks so much for sharing!!!
Thanks again for the inspiration. will go check out the materials you suggested.
Thanks for sharing. Love your work
Always great stuff Bev. Keep it coming! Tell Tim I said Go VOLS!
I love it!! You are a great inspiration! Great tips!!!!
Thanks for the info Bev.. I agree the vision is so important. But if you don’t have the right person to see it thru, it’s no good. That’s what makes you and Tim so special because you are both on the same page. One of my favorite magazines is Layers.. It’s great to show you how to take those ideas and make them real. My graphics person comes in every Saturday for 2 hrs and all we do is create new pieces and plan.
Have a great day
Martin
Thank you, Bev. I am doing more with portraiture now…it is really fun and as you said, it takes practice. This I am trying to remember
You and Tim really inspired me at the workshop and even now. Thank you.