designMara

so i’m an on-line salesgirl

designmara — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 01:51:25 +0000

Now what? I will be telling you how and why I opened my “shopfront” on cafepress.com and how it’s going. If you want to do it, expect a huge time commitment up-front, and adding to your designs regularly. But the literal payoff is that email saying “you made a sale.” I’ll be looking into how to get yourself into search engines, and pass it along. As I continue to learn, so can you.

digital or purist : what makes you good?

designmara — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 01:38:08 +0000

Well, of course “good” is a matter of opinion. But you’ll find out that I certainly have opinions!Not just anybody can be a professional, despite the quality of cameras and computers out there. It takes more than a tool, but also the mind and experience to use it.Just like you need more than a computer and software to be a graphic designer. Can you believe help wanted ads where they want an applicant to do front reception, accounting and design? Those generalists. Specializing is the only way to be really good. Oops, back to photography.You learn by doing and with proper education. I like that I started with film and in the darkroom. Learning composition, lighting, all the true aspects of photography. Only now have I appreciated my ability to transfer that to the digital world. I wish others would get it! Just get it already!

my musings on what makes truly good design

designmara — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 01:27:26 +0000

I think it’s all about branding, which means keeping your image as consistent as possible through everything you show to the world…Of course, I think there’s such a thing as good taste and a good client, though no one will ever be the perfect one. So sad. The best client respects your advice and doesn’t over-edit your wonderful work. He or she should know that you are the expert, and you will create the best solution for their needs. Really.

let’s talk shop

designmara — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:13:35 +0000

I’ll be ranting and amusing myself, and maybe you, with my opinions and views about what I do for a living and why. Perhaps you can find some wisdom or some knowledge for doing it yourself. Or you can tell me just how wrong I am!