clocking creativity

> At the end of each year, I send out a promotional gift. I've been asked how I figure out what to send. I guess I keep my eyes open all the time for things that inspire me, or that might trigger a great concept later on. Then I start like I do on any project: I determine what the message is, who the audience is, and what results I expect from the finished design. Then I start working, following my process, til along the way ideas resurface and creativity comes in (from its magical hiding place) to influence what I'm working on.

> Why am I talking holiday promotion now? Well, it's on my mind. When ideas come, they come. I keep track of them in a notebook to remind myself later, and sometimes they start to work on themselves in my head. Some designers claim to work better under pressure, but I don't mind starting the process a little early. Writer Penelope Trunk states, "...get out of your head that you work well under pressure. You don't. No one does. Not when you are promoting yourself. And it is a myth that creativity happens best under pressure." (http://blog.penelopetrunk.com)

> Don't misunderstand—I don't need a 6-month lead time on jobs. I'm a fast and efficient worker, and meeting deadlines is of utmost importance. But you can't force creativity. I take it whenever it comes—even if it starts working before I do.

art and letters

> I love to poke around in antique stores. Don't ask me what I'm looking for. I don't know...until I find it. I've come home with lots of treasures that I didn't realize I was collecting, until I find the "next" one that I have to have. It's more fun that way! There is one thing I know I cannot pass up: wood block type. I LOVE typography, so it's really no surprise to someone who knows me well. I've found that even though I have more than I can display, if I find some of the large display letters, (which doesn't happen often), I HAVE to buy a couple pieces. 

> I was at an art show over the weekend, and I found a type drawer. I have two others, but each is unique. So while I didn't come home with any art, I did buy that type case and will use some of the type I've collected over the years and will create my own work of art using the wonderful aged and inked block letters that I adore.

building bridges

> A common piece of advice after a spat with a college roommate, or a break-up with a boyfriend (it's me, it's not you!), is "don't burn your bridges". It's good for business too, and advice that I follow. I'm sure many people would find it strange that I'm still friends with my ex's, but I've never really been a bridge-burner. In fact, I'm just the opposite. I find every opportunity to build bridges. I've been fortunate to work with some really talented people, so when I have the chance to refer them, I do.

> Sometimes those relationships turn into something more permanent. A couple of years ago, I was hired to design a calendar and a historic tribute book for the First National Bank of Layton. The editor, project manager and I really enjoyed working together, and felt like we could target a niche market with our combined experience. So, we created a partnership, appropriately named "Tribute Book Partners", (branding: courtesy of mGraphicDesign), and we work on projects to gradually build this side business, while still maintaining our individual businesses. Being able to utilize and draw on each other's strengths, contacts and vendors expands our own individual abilities and competencies. Besides that, we really enjoy each other!

> Burn a bridge and you can only go back where you came from. Build one, and you never know where it can take you.

happy mothers day

> I went to high school in a small town and took all the art classes that were available. In my first semester of college, I enrolled in more. I wasn't sure what I wanted to "be" when I grew up, and while I loved art, this was back before computers made design and art something that people could do and make a living. I'm a cautious decision-maker, so I tested my choices. I decided to not take any art classes my second semester. My mom still laughs today when she recounts my explanation: I wanted to see if I would miss it.

> My mom always knew that I would do something creative. That somehow, I would find a way to bring art into whatever I ended up becoming. She knew, but had the wisdom to let me figure it out for myself. Thankfully, I did.

> Happy Mothers Day! Thanks for always seeing the vision of what I could become in my life.

(the above quote is from a book I designed for Gibbs-Smith Publisher, called "The Outhouse Reader", by Texas Bix Bender and Judge Roy English). 

lurking in the shadows

> Anyone who's been on a trip with me knows I take pictures of "weird" things. I am known to stop and photograph the ground, to move all around something to get the perfect angle, and I've spent afternoons taking photos in cemeteries.

> Some of my favorite "weird" shots are shadows. Especially when they make a better image than what's casting them. I like to see something that's not-so-obvious, then create a way for others to see it too. I guess that's part of what I love about designing—shifting the focus to the "shadow" of what someone else is looking at.

> Some clients give me their own ideas when asking for creative solutions. I prepare what they've asked for, then I shift to the less-obvious, more appropriate solution: the shadow of what they asked for. As a result, my clients get what they wanted, portrayed in a way that communicates their message better, and we're both happy with the final product. You may not know what's lurking in the dark corners of a client's mind, but searching the shadows is a safe bet.

go ahead: judge a book by its cover

> I'm a huge fan of "makeovers"—doesn't matter what kind. I just love seeing the transformation—homes, people, yards—everything! So, I thought I'd share a couple of my own design makeovers.

> Someone once said, "Don't judge a book by its cover." Putting a well-designed cover on a poorly-written book is dishonest and provides a disservice, just as a badly-designed cover hurts the potential success of a book full of valuable and wonderful content.

> Here are two book covers that I redesigned for a client. Both books are valuable resources in their respective areas. Now, each has a cleaner and more updated look by my use of beautiful, appropriate photographic images, and typography that appeals to a more sophisticated audience. They each convey the message that says "this book looks good from the outside, let's take a look on the inside." But don't take it from me, judge for yourself.

spending smarter money

> There are a lot of ways to cut business spending, but what about the services or products we need in order to keep business coming in? Well, there are ways to cut back there too. A couple years ago, a colleague lost a regular client because they hired an in-house designer. He was frustrated, not only because he lost some regular business for himself, but also because they claimed it was to save money. Did they consider the expense of paying a salary, on top of health benefits, vacation and sick leave, not to mention the equipment, software and supplies they'd need to provide? It was certainly more annually than they had paid him.

> Freelancers can be a great way to get top quality while paying only for what you need. In a web article, Joseph Cozens points out, "Freelance designers often work from an office at home. They don't have to pay for staff, or pay high rental fees for a commercial premises. Their overheads are far lower than [an ad agency or design company]. This means that they don't have to charge as much as the big name companies, and that means that you get a top quality job done for much less." 

(for entire article, go to http://www.articlesbase.com/internet-articles/save-money-by-using-a-freelance-web-site-designer-625424.html

> Before you hire a freelancer, check out their portfolio and ask for references, or get a referral. Big agencies have positive things to offer too, but if you're watching your spending right now, consider a freelancer as a smart spending alternative.