I feel like i have to write this...
Graphic Designers are not mind readers.
Too often people say "I want this, here's the money, let me know when you're done." No information, no brief, no chosen colors, fonts etc. Wow... we're not mind readers, we don't know you, therefore we have no chance of getting it right for you. Give pointers, give information and you'll get a piece of work that's more 'you'.
Graphic Designers do have a life.
We're not on the computer 24/7. We do have family and friends to spend time with also. If a certain turn around time is mentioned or if the client pays for an order to be completed quicker/jump the que etc then fair enough but if we haven't completed the work on the time you want, that's not our fault. Especially if you didn't ask about turn around time.
Graphic Designers do get ill.
Yep unfortunately. We also can get run over by a bus. If we haven't been in contact with you or made any contact via status', bulletins etc then we may have fallen very ill or what not. Most of the time i'm sure we'll try to contact you however when you're ill you know its hard to be sat infront of the computer, nevermind actually having to use a brain that's basically dead.
Graphic Designers are not miricle workers.
Yes programs allow us to do a hell of a lot but a 500x500 pixel picture cannot be turned into a 1500x1500pixel picture just like magic, with no grains, pixel loss etc. So of course photoshoot quality pictures are ALWAYS best, camera phone pictures will be turned down unless you have the 8mega pixel camera on it. Also I dont want to get technical but DO NOT give a picture with less than 150 DPI on it! 300DPI + is always best! If you're serious then you should have a press kit which contains a photoshoot anyway.
Graphic Designers are not slaves.
"Do me some work and ill promote you" erm... no thanks. I don't care if you're Jesus, you're not getting free work from me. If you don't have a budget set out for artwork then you're not serious, goodbye.
Graphic Designers are generally nice people.
Don't piss us off for no reason. Haters, we love you because you promote us without even asking for free work. All publicity is good publicity.
Graphic Designers need to be careful with other designers.
By all means network with others, we can help each other. But seriously I see designers who are usually beginners with a top friends space (myspace) full of other designers. I mean seriously... do i have to tell you why that's just stupid?
Saturday 22 November 2008
Design is so unappreciated
The thing which made me want to write this layout is because I saw a comment on a clients myspace page (which I recently did the layout for) asking about who did the design for it. That person then left another comment saying something like:
"You have to pay? F**k that i'm not paying for a layout"
That and the stupid amounts of emails/messages I get everyday asking for free work just makes me think about how people take design; which is all around us, for granted. They actually think that the people who sit there, racking there brains coming up with creative ideas, then putting the hours in behind a screen actually should do all that for free.
I mean all these people who ask me for free work are nobodies. Fair enough they're making music or whatever, giving out free music AND trying to sell mixtapes with covers I wouldnt wipe my arse with for over $5. Not worth it mate. You're not going anywhere as a musician for a few reasons.
1. You can't handle business
2. You take take take without giving
3. You try to bribe you're way through
4. No matter how good your lyrics are, I doubt anyone would pick up your CD at a store for the simple fact that it looks worse than used toilet paper.
5. People click the X when they go to you're myspace because YOU think that filling your profile with 1000 videos, 500 pictures, makes you seam good and don't realize that a slow loading stretched page is complete and utter BS.
6. And because you're a complete and utter dip shit because you haven't realized the following things.
Hah. I'm not speaking about every artist. I have worked with many unsigned/indie artists who are good at business, know that style/swagga now includes the internet not just prada and gold, and actually have decent music on offer.
I can't imagen the amount of messages, these pro designers get, off the low lives who think OUR TIME COMES FREE. Hell no it doesn't, at least most designers actually have tallent whilst 70% of the urban music scene is complete balls.
If you're serious in getting heard within the industry you will already know, to make money you gotta spend money. If it don't make dollars it don't make sense, therefore spending 5 minutes on paint doing your own cover that looks like crap won't make eyes pick it up, but spending some cash on a properly designed cover will catch those eyes who wouldn't normally look. Think about it.
"You have to pay? F**k that i'm not paying for a layout"
That and the stupid amounts of emails/messages I get everyday asking for free work just makes me think about how people take design; which is all around us, for granted. They actually think that the people who sit there, racking there brains coming up with creative ideas, then putting the hours in behind a screen actually should do all that for free.
I mean all these people who ask me for free work are nobodies. Fair enough they're making music or whatever, giving out free music AND trying to sell mixtapes with covers I wouldnt wipe my arse with for over $5. Not worth it mate. You're not going anywhere as a musician for a few reasons.
1. You can't handle business
2. You take take take without giving
3. You try to bribe you're way through
4. No matter how good your lyrics are, I doubt anyone would pick up your CD at a store for the simple fact that it looks worse than used toilet paper.
5. People click the X when they go to you're myspace because YOU think that filling your profile with 1000 videos, 500 pictures, makes you seam good and don't realize that a slow loading stretched page is complete and utter BS.
6. And because you're a complete and utter dip shit because you haven't realized the following things.
Hah. I'm not speaking about every artist. I have worked with many unsigned/indie artists who are good at business, know that style/swagga now includes the internet not just prada and gold, and actually have decent music on offer.
I can't imagen the amount of messages, these pro designers get, off the low lives who think OUR TIME COMES FREE. Hell no it doesn't, at least most designers actually have tallent whilst 70% of the urban music scene is complete balls.
If you're serious in getting heard within the industry you will already know, to make money you gotta spend money. If it don't make dollars it don't make sense, therefore spending 5 minutes on paint doing your own cover that looks like crap won't make eyes pick it up, but spending some cash on a properly designed cover will catch those eyes who wouldn't normally look. Think about it.
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