What do websites, street signs and public restrooms have in common? Icons, of course!...
Jenna's Latest Posts
Why I Don’t Trust Your Company
Do your current customers trust you? Clearly they must, or they wouldn't be doing business with...
How Zappos Puts Itself in the Customer’s Shoes
Take a lesson from Zappos’ marketing strategy, customer service that is approachable and incredibly charming.
The Art of Visual Deception
Deception is generally associated with the lying teenager, the cheating spouse or the corrupt politician. Is it possible to deceive in a good way? Ask any graphic designer and the answer is sure to be a very definitive “YES.”
New Year, New Colors
Choosing a good color palette is important for any design project. There are really great sites online to help with this task, but color combinations can also be inspired by the things that surround us every day if we just take the time to notice them.
We’re Graphic Designers and We’re Sorry!
So, you found yourself in the presence of a graphic designer? Congratulations! (or apologies?) I’m sure you’ve noticed we can be a little odd and neurotic.
Have Your Designs Expired?
You know it’s time to change a light bulb when you find yourself sitting in the dark. You know it’s time to throw out food when it’s past the expiration date. Unfortunately we don’t get such obvious signs when it’s time for a design to be replaced. There’s no alarm that goes off, so it’s important to keep a close eye on your company’s branding, web design and other marketing materials to make sure they stay fresh.
A Design Roadtrip Guide
Everyone loves an occasional road trip, right? Sometimes it’s nice to just hop in the car with friends or family and travel to a new location. I know plenty of people who have gone on road trips to see natural parks, historical sites and even breweries. But I know far fewer people who have gone off to visit some of the country’s great graphic design destinations.
Are You an Industry Imposter?
Why do so many professionals, especially those in creative industries, feel like imposters? Knowing there is always someone out there who is quicker and more skilled can be really frustrating, but it’s possible for Imposter Syndrome to be seen as a positive thing.
Design in the DIY Era
Every time I turn around it seems there's another site or app making it easy for just about anyone...
A Glimpse Through Client Eyes
I recently had a rare glimpse of what it’s like to be on the other side of the designer/client relationship while working on a freelance project. I wish I could say I had a wonderful experience and everything went perfectly, but unfortunately that was not the case.
Stock Photo Clichés to Avoid at All Costs
You’ve been told not to use stock photography in place of more realistic imagery in your marketing a million times. You may have even gotten really defensive over it, because “stock photos are so clean, so perfect, so BLUE!” (seriously why are so many stock photos the exact same shade of blue?)
You may have convinced yourself stock photos are the way to go because of the price tag. You’re right, it’s entirely possible to fill your website with stock photos for less money than you would spend hiring a photographer. But there’s some bad news. You’re not the first to think this way, and there are thousands of other businesses getting images from the same stock site as you. This is how clichés are born.
Tales of Lost Design Files
It’s a great day! Your branding project is finished and you’ve given your graphic designer final approval. You’re excited about the results and will be able to grow your company in the coming years using your brand new aesthetic.
But what do you do now?
Hopefully your designer is putting together a brand package for you. A good designer will do more than email you one image file and send you on your merry way. Usually this will happen without you asking for anything specific, but in order to make sure you get the most out of the process, there are a couple things you should do once your designs are finalized.