SOPA: Control in the wrong hands

I am sure you all have heard about SOPA and its intent to stop online piracy. Honestly, this whole initiative disgusts me. I understand piracy and plagiarism is a serious problem, but you can’t punish the majority for the sake of just a few scenarios. The bill gives the government and major corporations the power to censor websites, and it gives the wrong people too much power. Imagine a world where the government or major corporations can control what websites can be shown and which ones are taken down.

Land of the free?

Don’t get me wrong, I am a patriot at heart. I have lived in the U.S. my entire life and I love the land of the free with all of my heart (My father fought in Vietnam), but this bill is taking away our … Read More »

avoid graphic design burnout

It can be tough owning your own business, and for designers it can be especially tough when you become burned out. Being overwhelmed or burnt out can really stifle your creativity. It becomes harder for you to focus and it can really have a negative affect on your productivity. You will actually get less accomplished when you are feeling burnt out. Here are some tips to help you avoid graphic design burnout.

1. Pace yourself. I know this sounds like one of those “Well no kidding!” type of tips, but some designers go full blast all day every day, giving each and every day all they’ve got, pulling 14-16 hour days in front of the computer, designing, researching, etc. This might last for a while, maybe even a few months, but eventually it will catch up to you.

2. … Read More »

Knoxville graphic design

Right now with the economy, it can be tough for anyone to find work. Jobs are scarce, and every job field is more competitive than ever. My focus is going to be on Knoxville graphic design and finding work. This can apply to designers that live in Knoxville, or it can apply to designers anywhere. These tips should generally apply in different situations.

The important thing to remember is that it isn’t what you know, it is who you know. This especially applies to Knoxville graphic design. You have to network with everyone that you can to get your name out there, and to create a positive buzz about you and your business. You could be the best designer around, but if you don’t meet new people to help spread the word about you, chances are that your business … Read More »

Here is a great list of tools for designers. You can do things much quicker, and these tools can help you to create colors schemes, help you create code, and more.

Buffer
Buffer lets you send out Tweets at different times and automates the whole process, so you can promote your links and articles, with hardly an effort.

WunderList
Wunderlist is a simple, but intuitive to-do list app for Mac, PC, Android and iPod, that you can sync across all of your devices.

EverNote
I love Evernote, because you can organize al of your thoughts and ideas, and you can sort all of your thoughts and links to articles and information. It works great and comes on mac.

Kuler
Kuler is great because it helps you create great color combinations and color schemes. You can search popular color schemes for your projects.

Color Scheme … Read More »

Design From a Distance

Graphic designers are usually local workers, and it is sometimes essential for the designer to be on site in order for a project to be completed. This used to be the case, but now more and more designers are doing freelance design from a distance. I have been experiencing this myself, as I am freelancing with clients from across the country.

Technology has intervened

A few years ago, no one thought that working remotely could be a practical way of working with clients. Personally, I have always enjoyed working face to face with my clients, because I enjoyed the interaction. I enjoyed seeing their eyes grow wide and I showed them what I have created, and how it delivered everything that they wanted, and in many cases, exceeded their expectations. Now, many of my interactions with clients are … Read More »