These are more focused on just getting into what we perceive as good habits, and its always best to egt into good habits from early on! Some of these are somewhat obvious, maybe even dumb but its easy to forget the simple things. Hope they help.
1) Ensure that your client is pleased with what you have produced. Testimonials and thorough feedback is key to this. It gives the client the opportunity to feedback on your work and also how you were to work with. This will help you resolve any dips in your own performance that may not necessarily be in your work but in your business mentality for instance.
2) Do not copy, be overtly influenced, re-create another designer’s style. Forge your own looks, techniques and approaches. It is the only real, lasting interest in your work. Be original. You must discover and find out what your own USP is.
3) Where possible, make sure you are given credit for the work you have done. i.e, if you have designed a website, ask to have your link in the footer or on the credit page. This will lead to more traffic and interest from others who want work in a similar vein.
4) Deadlines. At all times produce work to the agreed deadline; unless you have agreed an extension. If you realise the deadline will be missed or is not possible, ask for more time before you take the job; or as soon as you realise into the job that the deadline is unworkable. If you spot problems, resolve them early on is the lesson.
5) Print work. When you design for print, try and chase up copies of the finished product. Your client, should be happy to let you have two or three copies free of charge. These make for a more complete portfolio.
Anyone have any other random tips?
Reference:
Creative Image Making (Zeegen, Lawrence 2005)
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Always think to propose multiple options to your client ! even if you don’t have the time to finish them well, but you need to be pro-active !
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While I understand the reasons behind having a link in the footer of a website, I think it makes the site look cheap. If you look at the work done by ad agencies, they never have a link to their site in the footer.
Sure, a footer link gives you free publicity, but it is also a “scarlet letter” for lower paying work. If you are going after bigger clients, I’d suggest leaving the link out.
Ethan Gardners last blog post..How to Plan for a Website Redesign
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I’d like to elaborate on tip #1. As designers, we are taught to choose colors and fonts, the placement of elements, etc., with a purpose in mind. When a client requests a change in the layout, the entire balance could be thrown off. I think it’s important to share with the client the reasons for making the design decisions and to offer other aesthetically pleasing solutions. But, ultimately, it’s important to ensure that the client is happy with the final product, even if that means putting our pride (or even a potential portfolio piece) aside.
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I couldn’t possibly imagine where to begin: Everything you know, you will learn in your internship and on-the-job, not in school… Learn the basics, read the basics, use the basics… Recognize that which came before you, understand the rules that apply, then break those rules from that standpoint… Don’t even mess with Quark, though you may need to be familiar with it… “Friends don’t let friends use PowerPoint”… After a certain point saying “It is what it is” helps. Red, Black and White and 9 over 12 is a good start. Make something dominant, make things align, and don’t stretch type. Ever.
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This article should be titled: “5 Little Tips for High-School Designers”
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I'd like to elaborate on tip #1. As designers, we are taught to choose colors and fonts, the placement of elements, etc., with a purpose in mind. When a client requests a change in the layout, the entire balance could be thrown off. I think it's important to share with the client the reasons for making the design decisions and to offer other aesthetically pleasing solutions. But, ultimately, it's important to ensure that the client is happy with the final product, even if that means putting our pride (or even a potential portfolio piece) aside.
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