Simple Tutorial – Creating a pattern brush in Adobe Illustrator
Is this the craftiest banner ad?
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32 Logo Inspiration Sources
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Convert your logo to vector
In this, my first ever video tutorial, I will show you how to make a simple brush in Adobe Illustrator. This is invaluable and comes in useful in so many more ways than you can imagine. As this is my first video tutorial, I’d like you please to be kind!
I was just taking some time to look at the designs over at LogoPond when I accidentally opened another graphic design web site from what I mistook for an innocent LogoPond link. This very clever web ad invites the viewer to select from a variety of design styles or items – business cards, logos or websites.
You can see it here, beneath the actual LogoPond navigation with three ‘options’ in green and the rest in standard black/white. Now as someone who has made a huge number of web banners in the past I have to complement the designer on his/her style, very clever, albeit very crafty!
Click on the image to view it in full size
It’s prompted me to keep a look out for other sneaky web ads. I’d love to see some others, please share some that you have seen.
I have been thinking about font costs lately and am starting to wonder how other graphic designers approach the purchasing of fonts.
Are you a bulk buyer taking advantage of packages?
A person who buys only when you need a specific item?
Someone who impulse buys when they see something nice because ‘it’s bound to be useful in [...]
Clients. They all know exactly what they want, don’t they? We’ve all been there, you’re asked to create a logo to a certain style then when you present your draft it’s just not right. You spend a further 10 hours and numerous revisions tweaking, re-drafting, and emailing back and forth to ensure you’re on the right track.
Save yourself and your client time and frustration by asking the right questions before you start. This is not a definitive list but should give you a good starting point and a glimpse into your clients mind. My suggestion is to take these examples and change them to suit your needs and customer base. Don’t forget to always leave room for any other comments or ideas that your client may have. I also use this opportunity to ask for contact details if I don’t already have them by prompting as part of the questionnaire. If you think it would help your client, consider adding some example answers after each question – this can help to make sure you get the type of replies you’re expecting.
I’ve been through my bookmarks and compiled a number of sites that display logo galleries as a source of inspiration for those times when it just isn’t coming from anywhere or anything else. My method of referring to these sites is to look through then leave the computer for a couple of hours (do dinner, clean the house, go for a walk etc) before returning to the project in hand. They all help to provide colour, style, shape and concept ideas which I find useful for logo design.
Outsource Your Graphic Design
I am delighted to announce that I now offer outsourcing services.
You’re a fantastic web designer, your latest site looks great, you made it compatible with every standard out there, it’s all perfect…except for one thing. That dodgy looking logo in the top left hand corner of your beautiful page. [...]
