5 Ways to Nail Your Design Projects in 2013
There are logo design trends that stay and there are fads which disappear within a matter of months usually. The year 2012 has seen much development in the field of graphic design so far. The means of finding work, interaction between logo designers and clients, following other designers, and learning newer techniques has improved by leaps and bounds. Logo design bliss is weaving its way through technology and the whole industry is in a mode of constant evolution.
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| It is almost the end of a great year, and with Thanksgiving on its way, many designers would start counting their blessings and success of this year. Many, still, would have to evaluate why they weren’t as successful as they had hoped at the onset of this year. But, what we all need to realize is that success is not permanent and failure is not final. It’s never too late to change your pace, try new stuff, educate yourself, and improve your profile, be it your personal or a designer profile. |
| There are, however, some key tips which can put any designer on the right track if followed properly. Let’s have a look at a few of them. |
Tip #1 – Learn to Draw |
| Drawing is an essential skill that can help you overcome many design problems which cannot be solved otherwise with only technology. Internet provides many useful sources which can benefit anyone looking for improvement in this basic skill. Online video tutorials, printable lessons, and applications that can be used on your iPhone or iPad, work as great learning tools for novices and professionals alike. |
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| Drawing is not just about making lines. It conveys a message, a feeling. The reason why this skill is important for graphic designers who mainly work on computers is that creating art on paper improves your visual perspective and sense of harmony. It is, sometimes, very refreshing to draw by hands, using only your imagination. |
Tip #2 – Do your Homework |
| Before you let loose on your imagination for the design, make sure you understand all requirements of the project. If the client wants inspiration from another decade, if he wants you to approach in a certain way, then it is your responsibility to understand all there is to know about that era or specific type of logo or design. Also, get to know your client better. Understand his work, vision, and how he thinks the logo would serve him in future. |
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| This practice might seem unnecessary at times, but it will ensure the success of your designs in the long run. Your logo designs will also be fully aligned with the needs of your clients. |
Tip #3 – Be Tech-Savvy |
| Don’t just limit your choice to what’s available on your computer or tablet. Find new resources for inspiration but also stay up-to-date about the online sources for free fonts, color schemes, designs, etc. |
| For colors, there are several choices available online for free such as Colorotate which has an interactive 3D pyramid where you can blend different colors together, Color Scheme Designer which gives a complete report on how any color can be used, and Adobe Kuler which gives you innumerable choices of combinations of colors. |
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| You can also find various websites offering hundreds of tags for fonts. You can find them listed on Google or read up on them on design blogs such as ours where there are many detailed articles discussing which fonts are currently in and which remain timeless. |
Tip #4 – Boost Productivity at Workplace |
| There are many ways to transform your work environment and stimulate energy to boost performance level. You can read books, hang paintings, use indoor plants, and fragrance to make the surroundings more conducive for creative work. More importantly, you should decorate the office with stuff that may come handy for your design work as well. |
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| There are many things such as design charts, color wheels, font library, etc. which you can hang or paint on your walls. You can frame your favorite retro and modern designs or use flipcharts to sketch ideas when you’re tired of sitting. |
| Here are some ideas how you can make your work spot more comfortable: |
| • Always leave space for pacing. Sometimes, the best of ideas are conceived while walking. |
| • Keep the environment clean and airy. |
| • According to research, fragrance boosts productive energy in an environment; especially, the cool and refreshing ones which will help you concentrate on your work. |
Tip #5 – Incorporate RIS Approach in Your Design Decisions |
| The RIS approach helps you gauge your own understanding of a design project. It is an acronym for a 3 step system of ‘Response – Imagery – Solution’ which is effective in coming up with ideas for complex design pieces. However, it can also be used to design logos. |
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| The approach consists of 3 stages: |
| 1. Response: Define the project to yourself and see what emotions your client wants to convey through them. Once you’re sure of the intended message or feel of the design, you will be in a position to formulate ideas to elicit the required response from the readers. |
| 2. Imagery: Decide on the visual elements which would help in drawing forth the response you need. Make use of all the colors, patterns, typography, and pictures that could create the perfect design for you and your client. |
| 3. Solution: Once you’re done with the design, ask other people if they get the intended feeling of the design. This gives you option to make appropriate changes wherever required. |
| If you haven’t started to get successful with your designs yet, then, it is probably high time to practice these traits of first-class designers. |
| Let us know which tips you already follow and which ones you need to learn in the comments section below. |
Source: logoblog.org
