How fabulous is your new website?
I should be excited, but more often than not I soon get depressed. "I'm so delighted with my new website. I can't thank [insert name of the person who designed the website] for the tremendous work - it's amazing." Who doesn't love a new website? Fab looking images, some great typography, oh and lovely colour...
Website Image Filenames & Alt Tags
How do you name your website images? A: My camera names them for me B: I've never thought about it C: Who cares I've been looking at a client's website that requires a makeover. Their ex-web designer has vanished. Yes, it was a friend of Bob who retired from IT ten years ago. Here are...
Your brand is not your reputation
As a graphic designer, I can go some way to help with brand building, yet I am unable to build a reputation. There is a broad misconception that brand and reputation are one and the same thing. This also breads the misconception that your audience, customers etc are the ones that build your brand whilst...
Your logo is not enough
It was a typical enquiry. "Can you design a roll up banner for us? We have a couple of photos and our logo ready." "Sure, send them over and I'll take a look." My hopes are never that high. Logo, photos and wording arrived promptly. Vector Logo To my surprise the logo was vector drawn...
Image File Formats: Do you know your PNG from PDF?
Do you lose sleep wondering about all the different image file formats? Are you unsure which one to use for different requirements? Many people don't worry about them until comes the day and they ask me to design some leaflets, posters or roll up banners. Sure no problem, I say; can you send me your...
Printing with bleed – what does it mean?
Do you use Canva to design your business cards, leaflets, posters or other printing . . . ? I'm guessing you've all said yes. Everyone uses Canva right? And then you need to save your amazing artwork as a print ready PDF with 3mm bleed. Bleed? What's that all about? Do I need to worry...
Don’t set goals, set a mission
I failed last year. In January 18, I failed to set any new year resolutions. In fact throughout the year I failed to set any goals. Still, I made it through to December. Did I progress? Did I succeed? Did I get to where I was supposed to be going? I guess for all you...
How do you sell smell? The aspiration of aroma.
Unless you have smellyvision on your TV what’s the point of perfume advertising? Every year on the run up to Christmas I’m thoroughly bemused by the big-budget creativity that emanates from the perfumery industry. “They are selling smells on the telly!” shouts my cynical brain. “How much are all these glitzy ads costing . ....
Graphic Designers – What is the Future?
I bet you know how to use a pair of scissors, am I right? Well, now tell me you cut your own hair. I use this analogy when people tell me how fantastic such tools as Canva & Spark are for creating graphics and artwork. It’s a delusion to think these tools will make someone...