With all the madness the design community has endured with the pilfering of my and others’ work in recent months, the thought inspired me to create a poster.
I’ve touched on this subject before, but I thought maybe a refresher was in order. Keeping a sketchbook around for jotting down ideas, pasting in notes or otherwise affixing your thoughts into a hardbound repository is an excellent habit to get into. It helps you organize your concepts, works out the visual cues and lets you refer to ideas that may be appropriate for your current project. Most of all, it gives your brain a rest so you can work on more pressing things, like finding your car keys.
Every once is awhile, you need to take a little inventory of the old portfolio. Usually, it happens whenever you get ‘forced’ to do it with an upcoming client meeting or an interview. You find the trusty book in your office or studio and gently blow the dust off of it and thumb through the work. Hopefully, you can find stuff that needs a little update and replace it with some new pieces. Many times though, I have looked at the case or book and thought that it might be time for a new look, you know, give it a bit more – oomph. And, unfortunately, it usually gets put off until the next time you have to get it out – reminding you once again.
Last week, a rather spirited discussion arose after there was an announcement by Chris Brogan saying that he was looking into launching a design contest on 99designs. Well, needless to say, a handful of designers were quick to react and try and educate Mr. Brogan about their surprise and disapproval of such an idea. After much back and forth, Chris posts the question, “Designers: so besides cost, educate a business person why one beats the other. Blog your answers? I’ll link to a few in my post.” It’s interesting that he would ask this question, because it appears that this isn’t readily apparent to the average business owner. Well, I am here to help.
With the recent launch of the much anticipated iPad, there has been a virtual firestorm of commentary, critique and speculation on the potential impact this device will have on our culture. Some are embracing the new technology and can’t wait to get one and others are ‘not drinking from that Kool-Aid’ and snuffing it as a fad item.
