2012 Reading List

Jan. The Power of Small by Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval • 01092012

The Legend of the Monk and the Merchant by Terry Felber • 01122012

Feb. Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs • 01272012

Mar. See You at the Top by Zig Ziglar • 03042012

Stepping Up by Dennis Rainey • 03212012

Apr. Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi • 04212012

Design Is A Job • 04302012

May. Stat With Why by Simon Sinek • 05172012

One Small Step to Change Your Life by Robert Maurer • 05262012

Jun. Platform by Michael Hyatt

Jul. Lie Spotting by Pamela Meyer

Aug. Influence by Robert B. Cialdini 

Sep. Selling to the Affluent by Thomas J. Stanley

Oct. Coming Soon

Nov. Coming Soon

Dec. Coming Soon

 

What I didn’t learn in school...

This post goes out to all my readers who are designers like me. Web and or print design, I don’t discriminate :)

If you went to school to learn to be a designer, what were you not taught that you would have liked to learn?

Let keep this deign related folks. I want to know what information you should have been taught in tandem with your design curriculum.
What would have sped up your success tangent in this design industry in which we work?

Please post your helpful comments and let me know what you think. Thanks for reading, and thanks for your time :)

“Going freelance has been the best decision I have ever made for myself.”

Danb

That tweet came from none other than Daniel Blackman. Vist his site here: http://dblackman.com/

Daniel was recently featured as one of How Magazine’s 8 Young Creatives to Watch: http://www.howdesign.com/design-creativity/projects-profiles/8-young-creatives-to-watch/

After reading his tweet I wanted to know more so I emailed Daniel to get the full story.

Before Going Independent:

• What did you do for a job?
I was a Senior Design at a shop called 160over90 here in Philadelphia.

• What convinced you to make such a drastic change in your life and career?
I kept wanting to make time for myself and do my own projects, but it never seemed to happen. Quitting gave me the time I needed to get the ball rolling.

• What did you worry about that turned out to be totally untrue?
That I would go nuts from the loneliness.

• What was the hardest thing about going independent?
Finding jobs seems to be an ongoing struggle..Down time makes me go crazy.

• How did you prepare to go independent?
I didn't really.. It was a bit of an irrational decision. One week I just decided it was time and went for it.

When you left your "job" and went independent:

• What went easier that you expected?
Getting started. Finding a couple jobs and make a few contacts.

• How did you find client work?
Just by networking. I am always letting designers from agencies know that I am open. Also I try to write one email a day to a random person or business.

• What would you like to have known before you became and independent designer?
How much money I owe the government.

• What positive life change did you experience as a result of going independent?
I am a lot happier now. Not nearly as negative

Now that strangers ask you for interviews:

• What would you say to encourage other designers to go independent?
I'd say to take your time. Believe it or not spending years in an agency that works you long hours is a must! It teaches you good work ethic, but also how to run a business.

• How do you continue to find work?
Just old fashion networking/

• What can most small business learn from one of your biggest successes?
I wouldn't say anything yet. I hope to one day start a business of my own.

• What can most small business learn from one of your biggest failures?
Keep in contact with people. If someone says "Email back in a couple months" dont let it fall off the radar.

Want to follow Daniel? Find him here:

How low can you go?

Esd-inspection-stamp
Or rather, how small can you make your logo before it loses its clarity? In the design world we hear the ubiquitous “make the logo bigger” so often that it’s fun to mess around and do just the opposite and see what happens.

It’s been a fun experiment to answer this question about the logo for my own business. It took a little retooling but eventually I decided to go with the above image for a tiny stamp (3/4"). 

I dig stamps so I got to work right away. I’ll be sure to post a pic of the results when my stamp arrives from http://www.rubberstampchamp.com/category.aspx?categoryID=762

Cheap + Neat = stuff designers like. That equation usually signals a new trend in the world of graphic design. I dunno, I might be wrong, I’ve been wrong many times before. Time will tell :)

So, what about you? How small can you get your logo? Please post your helpful co
mments and let me know what you think. Thanks for reading, and thanks for your time :)

Eye-say-biz-card-chip-board

12/9/2011

So here’s that update I promised you. I’m in between business cards at the moment so I made these last night to bridge the gap. Cut chip board, stamp and sharpie :)