New Site, New Theme for 2018
Published: January 1, 2018
In: Design | Web | WordPress
It’s been a goal of mine for a very long time to completely redesign my WordPress theme from scratch. Finally, that goal is a reality! The first time I built my own site, back in (I’d guess) 2013, I used Adobe Muse, which was a good fit for my lack of skill at the time, but […]
Five Ways to Become a Better Designer (That Aren’t Design)
Published: February 4, 2017
In: Design | Quotes and Advice
There’s vast world of design learning and opportunity right in front of us constantly. All we need to do is take the time to notice it and learn from it.
The Five Things I Wish Somebody Had Told Me as a Design Student
Published: February 21, 2016
In: Design | Personal | Quotes and Advice
Your worst instructor as a design student will lay out clear goals and expectations which will not change; this is not a given with clients.
Why Designers Shouldn’t “Fix” Other Designers’ Logos
Published: September 4, 2015
In: Branding | Design | Logo Design | Personal | Quotes and Advice
No matter how simple the end product, design is hard work. To come up with something that looks good, something somebody likes, is at best tangential to the main point. Whether the result of all of that work is something anybody likes is all but meaningless. The question is, does it succeed at meeting the project goals?
And you don’t know the answer to that question.
8 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Student Design Portfolio
Published: August 20, 2015
In: Design | Quotes and Advice
If your portfolio cost less than $20, is so large it can’t fit on a small table when open, is jammed full of huge illustrations and uses Helvetica all over the place, this is something you might want to read.
Profit is Not a Value
Published: August 5, 2015
In: Branding | Design | Quotes and Advice
Any executive or business owner will say their company values integrity, and virtually every company claims that they reward and value their employees exhibiting their brand values.
But is that really accurate?
I’ve heard of a lot of CEOs being fired for failing to turn a profit, so where are all of the CEOs, executives and managers who lost their jobs for failing to adequately exhibit and execute the brand’s core values?
File Types, Compatibility and Clarity
Published: June 11, 2015
In: Design | Web
If you’re like me, you’ve probably spent some time wondering (and Googling) about the differences between various popular format types commonly used for graphic design applications. So I decided I’d create a resource that’s hopefully a handy reference on the matter of discerning file type supports and behavior.
Design Advice, My Story, and How AIGA Nebraska Changed My Life
Published: April 16, 2015
In: Design | Quotes and Advice
The person sitting across from the interview table can see how good your portfolio is. They can see how good the work of all the other applicants is, too. What they can’t see is how you turn up when and where you might be needed, how you build relationships, interact as a member of a community, seek out challenges, reach out to and work with new people.
How being a part of something bigger than yourself is meaningful enough to you to personally take the initiative to make it happen.
Pantone®, Color, and What I Wish I Had Known
Published: April 1, 2015
In: Design | Logo Design | Quotes and Advice
One of the most difficult things for me to learn in my transition from the classroom to a professional branding agency was how to properly handle color output. Sure, I knew how to find the Pantone swatch I wanted, but how to properly utilize that swatch and ensure consistency across all media—this was new to me.
So I decided to write this post in the hope of saving you some from some of the pitfalls that I failed to avoid.