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	<title>LogoDesign.org &#187; For The Freelancer</title>
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	<description>Logo Design Inspiration and Ideas</description>
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		<title>Beginner Logo Design Blues</title>
		<link>http://www.logodesign.org/2011/06/30/beginner-logo-designer-blues/</link>
		<comments>http://www.logodesign.org/2011/06/30/beginner-logo-designer-blues/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Jun 2011 18:16:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gabe Teoli</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[For The Freelancer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[featured]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.logodesign.org/?p=566</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Follow these simple instructions and you’ll be a millionaire in no time!]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Bill Jones needs a logo designed for his auto-body shop. Today is his day off so he decides  to devote it completely to getting his logo done. First, he makes a list of what he wants in a logo, it takes only about fifteen minutes. Pretty easy, now all he his to do is search and find a good logo designer, simple huh?</p>
<p>He sits down at the computer and hits the power button.</p>
<p>Bill isn’t too fond of computers, mainly because he has little experience with them. His thick calloused fingers are accustomed to working on cars, not typing on a keyboard.<br />
As the computer warms up, Bill tries to imagine what it would be like to be a full time logo designer; sitting in a stuffy office all day, trying to come up with good ideas, when… when one could be out working on a car or something.</p>
<p>Maybe, Bill ponders, that’s why logo designers charge so much for there services…because it’s such a horrific job…</p>
<p>His thoughts are interrupted when the Google homepage finely comes up. Bill simply types “logo design” into the search bar and hits enter.</p>
<p>It takes only a few seconds to load but when it does Bill is shocked at what he sees. The results show about 298,000,000 , way more sites then Bill wants to flip through. He took a day off to spend getting his logo done, not a month. And to make matters even worse, they all proclaim that they are “The best logo design on the market”.</p>
<p>“Put the coffee on, it’s gonna be a long night.”</p>
<p>After about half an hour of flipping through firms, Bill gets used  to the process of going through websites quickly. He goes to one website and sees how it looks. If it seems promising, he bookmarks it. If not, he simply goes to the next. The cycle continues until he stumbles upon your logo design website. The exact circumstances in which he came across your site I‘ll just leave up to you to imagine.</p>
<p>The homepage reveals a picture of a smiling man in a sharp business suit; the look on his face almost says, “Give us a try, you won’t be disappointed”. And that is, in fact exactly what the text below the photo reads.</p>
<p>Almost convinced already that you’re the answer to his prayers, Bill navigates to the page entitled “testimonials”, He is impressed but not surprised by the good reports that he sees, after all a company that has such a professional looking website must do an equally good job designing for there clients, right?</p>
<p>He of course, doesn’t stop to think that perhaps you made sure to post on your website only the “good” feedback, of which was few and far between, while keeping the rather negative comments from the eyes of the public.</p>
<p>Convinced now that you can do anything, he places the order with a confidence that won’t be short-lived. After all, you can do anything… Can’t you?</p>
<p>I think there is nothing more frustrating for a client then committing money and time to a designer only to find out that the “Professional Designer “ they thought would make them the logo of there dreams is just another idiot who seems know little more then them about logo designing.</p>
<p>Often such clients walk away with a bad impression of freelancers.</p>
<p>Many designers feel the important part of logo design is bringing in the clients by looking professional. After that, they say, “It’s a peace of cake”, when in fact it is quite the other way around.<br />
As Grandpa used to say, “quality is better then quantity” and really that is true. But many designers shun Grandpa’s good advice, pocketing it for “better alternatives“.</p>
<p>Am I saying that all freelance logo designers are greedy, money-grasping jerks? Absolutely not. I’m saying that there are many designers out there that seem to think looks are more important then getting the job done right.<br />
They boast about how great there concepts are when really most of their designs are just copies of some other logo in a different form, of worse, clipart. True, there may be some “original designs” in their  name, but those are rare at best.</p>
<p>In short, It would be better to only have a small number of clients to work with and truly do a good job, then numerous customers and do poorly at your work.</p>
<p>Now you might be saying, “I still don’t see how what your saying applies to beginner designers.”  or “Are you calling me an idiot then?”</p>
<p>Slow down, hold your horses…</p>
<p>…Thanks for the breather, now let me explain:</p>
<p>Beginners are often tempted to try and overcome their “not so good” skills by making themselves look like they’re pros when they’re not. Oh sure, you’ll probably get a lot of customers, but you will find that many of your numerous clients will walk away feeling like they’ve been ripped off. And is it really that far from the truth?</p>
<p>Please don’t get me wrong. Of course looks are important to some extent. You obviously need to look good to get any clients at all. What you don’t want to do is to try to make yourself look like someone you&#8217;re not.</p>
<p>For instance, if you said that you would provide 4 concepts, don’t try to “weasel” your way out of the deal by saying “well, I only meant<em> up to</em> 4 designs”.</p>
<p>Also, make sure that your description depicts your services. If you can’t do it, there’s no reason you should say you can.</p>
<p>When all else fails, crowdsourcing may be your best bet. It’s one of the best ways for a beginner to build a portfolio. It’s also a great way to learn from more experienced designers. The disadvantage of crowdsourcing is the competition. Since there will be so many designers competing over the same project, you never know when you will lose favor in the eyes of a contest holder. They might love your design one minute and then ditch it for a superior concept the next.</p>
<p>The thing to do is just don’t give up. Try focusing all your efforts on one project until you’ve either won the contest or it has ended, instead of trying to do many projects a once.</p>
<p>As well as crowdsourcing, there’s also the option of advertising on online market places such as eBay. But like I said before, there will be competition. Keeping your adds simple, easy to understand, and just being straightforward will give you the jump on your competitors. Clearly explain the logo design process, payments, policies and so forth.</p>
<p>I suppose the best piece of advice I can give to beginner logo designers is just to get out there and design. After all, there’s no better teacher then good old experience.</p>
<p>And who knows? Maybe you will become a millionaire some day.</p>
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		<title>Are logo designers really as smart as they think they are?</title>
		<link>http://www.logodesign.org/2010/07/27/are-logo-designers-really-as-smart-as-they-think-they-are/</link>
		<comments>http://www.logodesign.org/2010/07/27/are-logo-designers-really-as-smart-as-they-think-they-are/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:35:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gabe Teoli</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[For The Freelancer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[brainstorming]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[illustrator]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[logo design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[smart]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stupidity]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.logodesign.org/?p=549</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Read this article or your business will suffer severely.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As I sat at my desk busying myself with the usual “odds and ends” of a logo designer, the familiar “New Email” tone suddenly struck my eardrum. Upon further investigation I realized that it was a reply from a logo design client that I had emailed several days ago. They had first emailed me requesting that I design a logo for their company; In response, I sent them an questionnaire email asking a few simple questions regarding the basic layout of there design. Their reply was simple; something like, “Heck, I don’t know. Why don’t you come up with something?”.</p>
<p>Sounds familiar?</p>
<p>This is not only one of the most common “pickles” logo designers find themselves in, it is also one of the most frustrating.<br />
Although I admit these clients aren’t quite like “The Clients from Hell” (see George Ryan’s post), it still can be quite frustrating trying to please a client who has no clue how they want their logo designed.</p>
<p>Although clients like these will always roam the earth, don’t give up, there is a solution to the problem:  Imagination.</p>
<p>The definition of imagination is ability to visualize: the ability to form images and ideas in the mind, especially of things never seen or experienced directly.<br />
And that’s just what we need when we find ourselves in those sticky situations.<br />
It’s our imagination that makes us good logo designers, not how “smart” we are.<br />
Don’t be afraid to try really weird designs that you come up with; these strange concepts can sometimes be the best.<br />
Also, look for ways you can make your logo unique, eye catching; a dull, uninteresting logo is very unlikely to excite a client.</p>
<p>It’s amazing how much time you can waste just sitting there at the computer biting your fingernails,  trying to figure out a good design scenario.<br />
Do something else for a change; rake the leaves,  something to clear you brain.<br />
You wouldn’t believe how many times I just couldn’t come up with an good concept and when I just got up off the computer and started doing something else, the ideas came flooding in.<br />
So much so, that I had to stop what I was doing to get back on and see how they worked.<br />
Try it, and if nothing else, at least you got something done.<br />
Also, when thinking up concepts, remember that your logo should be designed in such a way that it is unique and memorable while it also reminds one of whatever service or product your clients business or organization provides.<br />
For example:<br />
Let’s pretend you were designing a logo for JS Bait &amp; Tackle.<br />
Ask yourself a few questions: What kind of things are related to fishing? Worms, hooks, fishing poles, ect…  How can you cleanly incorporate these ideas into your design?<br />
Use your imagination when trying to piece things together like that.</p>
<p>Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to say that imagination is everything in logo design, only that every graphic designer needs it.</p>
<p>Speaking of imagination, try to imagine where all the logo designers across the world would be if it wasn’t for powerful graphic design programs like Adobe Illustrator?<br />
I can tell you, we’d be out of business; as a matter a fact we wouldn’t have been in business in the first place.<br />
But you must remember that even if you know Illustrator like a pro, are you really smarter then someone who doesn’t?<br />
That is a question that deserves careful consideration, however I think we can come to a reasonable conclusion:<br />
Even with the best imagination, Graphic designers could go nowhere without design software.<br />
But on the other hand, the best software is useless without a brain to use it!<br />
It is sort of like a vehicle: What is more important, the gas or the vehicle?<br />
No vehicle could run without fuel; but what good does the fuel do without a car to put it in!</p>
<p>Do you get my point?</p>
<p>I didn’t think so.</p>
<p>Let’s just put it this way, every designer needs good design software,  but more importantly needs a good imagination.<br />
And I suppose the only question remaining is how smart we really are.</p>
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		<title>How much should you charge your clients?</title>
		<link>http://www.logodesign.org/2010/05/04/how-much-to-charge-clients/</link>
		<comments>http://www.logodesign.org/2010/05/04/how-much-to-charge-clients/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 04 May 2010 17:57:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jamie Miller</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[For The Freelancer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[billing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[charge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[client]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fees]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.logodesign.org/?p=502</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Having trouble figuring out that magic number? This article can help.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>How much should I charge my client? A question many beginning freelancers are always concerned with.</p>
<p>If I could just say, &#8220;You only need to charge this for this,&#8221; I would. Unfortunately it&#8217;s not that easy. I do however, have some nice little pointers for you to follow that will make the whole process much easier.</p>
<p>Now some people like to charge an hourly rate which is fine, but to me it&#8217;s not very effective business wise. It can overcomplicate things with the client later in the project, especially if you end up adding extra hours. I believe clients like to have a nice solid up front price from beginning to end with little to no changes. So if you like the hourly rate, but are still having trouble, try Freelance Switch&#8217;s <a href="http://freelanceswitch.com/rates/">hourly rate calculator</a> for some guidance.</p>
<p><strong>The Pricing Elements</strong></p>
<p>For starters, you need to know what project you have. So after the brief is all filled out, you&#8217;ll need to assess how much work you will have. What is your time and effort worth to you for this project? If a client came to you for work, they obviously have some faith in your abilities, so don&#8217;t sell yourself short.</p>
<p>You&#8217;ll also want to figure out how much your experience is worth. If you just started, you don&#8217;t have much experience, so your cost will be lower in this area compared to someone with a few decades under their belt. If you are in high demand, you&#8217;ll really want to add a little more money. Let people know your worth.</p>
<p>The size of the business that came to you also matters. If they are a giant company like a fortune 500, then you will naturally charge a lot more than a small business.</p>
<p>The time it will take to finish a project is a big deal too. If you have a lot of time that&#8217;s good, but if the client wants something in a few days, you will probably want to charge more. This is because you will have to but off other projects just to focus on the one. You will also be putting all your efforts into the one so you can get everything done on time.</p>
<p><strong>The Technicals</strong></p>
<p>After you are done figuring out a cost, present it to the client. Don&#8217;t get negotiated down. If this is what you believe you&#8217;re time and efforts are worth, you shouldn&#8217;t feel like you need to change the cost.</p>
<p>No matter what, you should always accept some sort of down payment before you start a project. This is to make sure that the client is serious about the work, and that if something happens, your time was not wasted. Some designers take 50% of the total cost, but it&#8217;s really up to you. I divide my total cost into plans sort of like a lay-a-way.</p>
<p>One of the things I like to do is divide up the payments with the parts of the work I do. For example, I need the first payment to start the work, I need the second payment after approval of the sketches so I can start on revisions, and I will need the final payment to send final work and files. Whatever you work out is up to you, just make sure you get that first payment before you start anything.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s also a good idea to convert the cost if you client is in another country. That way if the value of money fluctuates from one place to another, the agreed upon price is solid.</p>
<p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p>In the end, the price still remains up to you, but at least now you have a little more insight. One thing you want to keep in mind is that you don&#8217;t want to under or over charge. If you under charge, the client may think your work is cheap and not worth it. On the other hand, if you over charge, a client may say something bad about your work versus costs. It&#8217;s really up to you though. With time and practice, you will find a solution that works for you, and that&#8217;s all that really matters.</p>
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		<title>The most important second ever.</title>
		<link>http://www.logodesign.org/2010/04/27/the-most-important-second-ever/</link>
		<comments>http://www.logodesign.org/2010/04/27/the-most-important-second-ever/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:04:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Robert L. McMann</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[For The Freelancer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[branding]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[powerful]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[quick]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.logodesign.org/?p=489</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You have one second to make an impact. What are you going to design?]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 20pt; font-family: Georgia;">I</span></strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">f you were given 1 second or 1 minute to make an  impact on someone, how many people would take the latter? I’m going to  say a vast majority of you would take 1 minute. Why not? One minute can  mean an eternity in comparison to 1 second. Heck, 1 minute may as well  be an hour. 1 day. 1 month. Well, you get the picture.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Well, the fact of  the matter is, in today’s society, you don’t have a full minute anymore.  People barely have time to be stuck in a <span id="lw_1271173732_2" class="yshortcuts">drive thru</span> before being stuck in traffic on  our way to work. Or, stretching ourselves between soccer, piano, karate,  <span id="lw_1271173732_3" class="yshortcuts">yoga</span> and all the  other activities that we seem to be caught up in, in a single day no  less.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">So, what do we, as  designers, need to do for our clients? Here’s your chance, I’ll give you  a second to think about it.<span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Your second is up. Now, what’s your answer?  Guess you weren’t given long enough. Here’s the simple solution, be  memorable.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Society has  developed intolerance for attention. So, have a look around you. Whether  you’re on your couch, at your desk or in your vehicle, there are  designs and logos all around you. But, what you don’t really think about  is what you’re looking for, or at for that matter. You are so used to  seeing everything on an everyday basis; you don’t need to think about  it. You can glance at something and just know what it is or who makes  it. That’s being memorable. You’re in your car driving down the road and  start to get hungry. You see the “<span id="lw_1271173732_4" class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed #0066cc; cursor: pointer;">Golden Arches</span>”. Instantly, you know that  there will be food there, so you pull in. You go shopping for new  running shoes and go straight for the “swoosh” or “3-stripes” because  you know there will be quality there. We don’t even think about these  things but we do it because we know these iconic logos. That’s brand  recognition.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Your client wants  that. Who wouldn’t? To have a product or service that people just  “know”. Logos, business cards, billboards, email, shirts, whatever you  have your design on, or what the client wants the design on, has <span id="lw_1271173732_5" class="yshortcuts">one second</span> to capture the  individual receiving it before it’s retained or forgotten. There’s a  famous billboard company uses this frame of thinking every time they go  to promote their own business. You may have seen it. “Gotcha!” or “<span id="lw_1271173732_6" class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed #0066cc; cursor: pointer;">Made You Look</span>.” Well,  they did just that and I remembered it. Now, if anyone, me included,  needs to advertise on a billboard, guess who we would be going to.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Designing logos,  website graphics, business cards, et al., take a moment to pause. Think,  ‘if I drove past this, would I actually remember it’.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">When you only have that second to gain the  interest of someone, why would we create something so busy that it  defeats the purpose of what it is set out to do in the first place,  which is being memorable.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">More and more,  businesses are losing the type font of their business names and going to  a just a logo, a recognizable image of who they are. Businesses that  have never even had a logo are starting to have them pop up, (i.e.: <em>WalMart</em> and  the introduction of the 6 yellow “spokes”). <span> </span>The  automotive industry is a shining example of this. In </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">North America</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">, if you see a “blue  oval”, “bowtie” or a “ram’s head”, you know exactly who they are and  what they do. Even by the mere shape, you know what you’re looking at.  The clothing industry is the same way. You see an intertwined </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">LV</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> or a small green  crocodile, you just know. They don’t need to plaster their image or name  everywhere because you already know it. And, usually, they are the  simplest of things.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">So, the next time  you’re working with a client, help them become the next iconic image and  not just another blend-in-the-background company that you just randomly  choose out of the YellowPages. Help them become the different company  that they want to become by coming to you as a designer.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></p>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">How will you and  your client use your second?</span></div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse;"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 20pt; font-family: Georgia;">I</span></strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">f you were given 1 second or 1 minute to make an  impact on someone, how many people would take the latter? I’m going to  say a vast majority of you would take 1 minute. Why not? One minute can  mean an eternity in comparison to 1 second. Heck, 1 minute may as well  be an hour. 1 day. 1 month. Well, you get the picture.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Well, the fact of  the matter is, in today’s society, you don’t have a full minute anymore.  People barely have time to be stuck in a <span id="lw_1271173732_2" class="yshortcuts">drive thru</span> before being stuck in traffic on  our way to work. Or, stretching ourselves between soccer, piano, karate,  <span id="lw_1271173732_3" class="yshortcuts">yoga</span> and all the  other activities that we seem to be caught up in, in a single day no  less.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">So, what do we, as  designers, need to do for our clients? Here’s your chance, I’ll give you  a second to think about it.<span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Your second is up. Now, what’s your answer?  Guess you weren’t given long enough. Here’s the simple solution, be  memorable.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Society has  developed intolerance for attention. So, have a look around you. Whether  you’re on your couch, at your desk or in your vehicle, there are  designs and logos all around you. But, what you don’t really think about  is what you’re looking for, or at for that matter. You are so used to  seeing everything on an everyday basis; you don’t need to think about  it. You can glance at something and just know what it is or who makes  it. That’s being memorable. You’re in your car driving down the road and  start to get hungry. You see the “<span id="lw_1271173732_4" class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed #0066cc; cursor: pointer;">Golden Arches</span>”. Instantly, you know that  there will be food there, so you pull in. You go shopping for new  running shoes and go straight for the “swoosh” or “3-stripes” because  you know there will be quality there. We don’t even think about these  things but we do it because we know these iconic logos. That’s brand  recognition.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Your client wants  that. Who wouldn’t? To have a product or service that people just  “know”. Logos, business cards, billboards, email, shirts, whatever you  have your design on, or what the client wants the design on, has <span id="lw_1271173732_5" class="yshortcuts">one second</span> to capture the  individual receiving it before it’s retained or forgotten. There’s a  famous billboard company uses this frame of thinking every time they go  to promote their own business. You may have seen it. “Gotcha!” or “<span id="lw_1271173732_6" class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed #0066cc; cursor: pointer;">Made You Look</span>.” Well,  they did just that and I remembered it. Now, if anyone, me included,  needs to advertise on a billboard, guess who we would be going to.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Designing logos,  website graphics, business cards, et al., take a moment to pause. Think,  ‘if I drove past this, would I actually remember it’.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">When you only have that second to gain the  interest of someone, why would we create something so busy that it  defeats the purpose of what it is set out to do in the first place,  which is being memorable.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">More and more,  businesses are losing the type font of their business names and going to  a just a logo, a recognizable image of who they are. Businesses that  have never even had a logo are starting to have them pop up, (i.e.: <em>WalMart</em> and  the introduction of the 6 yellow “spokes”). <span> </span>The  automotive industry is a shining example of this. In </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">North America</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">, if you see a “blue  oval”, “bowtie” or a “ram’s head”, you know exactly who they are and  what they do. Even by the mere shape, you know what you’re looking at.  The clothing industry is the same way. You see an intertwined </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">LV</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> or a small green  crocodile, you just know. They don’t need to plaster their image or name  everywhere because you already know it. And, usually, they are the  simplest of things.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">So, the next time  you’re working with a client, help them become the next iconic image and  not just another blend-in-the-background company that you just randomly  choose out of the YellowPages. Help them become the different company  that they want to become by coming to you as a designer.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></p>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">How will you and  your client use your second?</span></div>
<p></span></div>
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		<title>Pro Bono work can provide a valuable portfolio boost</title>
		<link>http://www.logodesign.org/2010/04/20/pro-bono-design-work/</link>
		<comments>http://www.logodesign.org/2010/04/20/pro-bono-design-work/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:30:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jamie Miller</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[For The Freelancer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[portfolio]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pro bon]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.logodesign.org/?p=497</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In the design world, nobody will hire you without something in your portfolio, but how do you get that portfolio if no one will hire you? ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In the design world, nobody will hire you without something in your portfolio, but how do you get that portfolio if no one will hire you? One great way to give your portfolio a little boost is to take on a pro bono project. Doing design work pro bono basically means you&#8217;re volunteering your services for free as a public service. In most cases a designer will take a job form a non-profit organization.</p>
<h2><strong>Thinking About Non-Profits</strong></h2>
<p>If you are fresh from school or just getting started in the design world, taking on a pro bono project can really get you started in the world. By working for a non-profit, they will greatly appreciate your work and efforts, and you will be donating your services for a good cause. The best types of non-profits for you to aim at would be small to medium sized ones. The larger ones will have more than enough resources for all their design needs. All you have to do is search online or make some local phone calls to get started.</p>
<h2><strong>Making It Happen</strong></h2>
<p>Once you have a good idea of the places you want to try for, take time to contact them. It&#8217;s normally better to talk to them in person or by phone, but if you have to, try an email. This will give you a lot of practice as a designer, and you can get some first hand knowledge on how things work.</p>
<p>Design for them the way you would as if you were getting paid. You want to get a great experience out of this, so don&#8217;t think that just because you&#8217;re doing it for free should change that.</p>
<h2><strong>Conclusion</strong></h2>
<p>Having some pro bono work in your portfolio can get attention aimed at you if you never had any real work experience yet. You can also feel free to take risks with your design skills that you normally wouldn&#8217;t take, such as designing a web site if all you do is logos. This is a great way to grow as a designer without the pressure of wasting the clients money. After you are done you can proudly show off your work in your portfolio.</p>
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		<title>The top 10 mistakes experienced designers make</title>
		<link>http://www.logodesign.org/2010/04/13/the-top-10-mistakes-experienced-designers-make/</link>
		<comments>http://www.logodesign.org/2010/04/13/the-top-10-mistakes-experienced-designers-make/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:20:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Robert Kerr</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[For The Freelancer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[designer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freelance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freelancer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mistakes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stupid]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.logodesign.org/?p=477</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Some of these will surprise you!]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Can you remember when you first started out? </strong> It feels like just yesterday you were scraping around for work. Today, you strut with some coin in your pocket and a few satisfied clients to boot. Things are looking up and fixing to get a lot better.</p>
<p>It’s safe to call yourself a pro now. That’s right! You are now entering the ranks of a professional freelance designer.  Don’t get too excited, there is still refining to be done. Take a look at the top ten HUGE mistakes that professional freelance designers make and how you can avoid them.</p>
<h2><strong> 1.  Cocky </strong></h2>
<p>Don’t mistake arrogance for confidence. Your clients certainly won’t. Sure, the tables have turned and you can now pick and choose your clients. The work is piling up. However, some designers take it too far. I have run into quite a few fellow designers that not only bad mouth their clients’ lack of knowledge but they act like they are doing their clients a favor by drawing up their designs. Appreciate your clients and they will return the favor.</p>
<h2><strong> 2. Slacking </strong></h2>
<p>You made it, so can you slack off now? No. More than ever, it is vital to keep things moving fluidly. We all know what happens when we slack, the work piles up and we miss deadlines. Any professional designer can tell you that slacking is one of the easiest ways to sabotage yourself. How many excuses can your clients digest before the ugly truth comes out that they didn’t meet their new product launch date because you caught some re-runs of Jerry Springer?</p>
<h2><strong> 3.    Maximum Overload</strong></h2>
<p>I know that one reason you became a freelancer was to try and make some good coin but also remember that you did it for the freedom. Taking on too much work will only stress you out and, like slacking, you will start to miss and push back deadlines. Creativity does not blend well with stress and frustration. Your design quality will suffer.</p>
<h2><strong> 4.  Where is my designer?!</strong></h2>
<p>I am not talking about smearing your contact information all over the place. That’s something you should have done already. I am talking about hiding out on your clients, not answering their emails or phone calls promptly. Switching your MSN or Skype to busy when they come around or staring blankly at their messages for days.  I know it can be scary telling them that you lost their files or that you can’t meet their deadlines, but you got to do it. What about those crazy spamming clients? You can refund them or grit your teeth and get through the job then raise the rates. But DO NOT leave them in the dark. Believe me, things will only get worse and so will your headache.</p>
<h2><strong> 5.     Referral Policy</strong></h2>
<p>Many established designers can tell you that the majority of their work comes from referrals. Newly established designers may feel that it is unprofessional because it seems a little bit like begging. Maybe they are so high on cloud number 9 that they forget to ask for referrals. This is a crucial step to building up continual work. We don’t want to be looking for our next contract when one finishes, now do we? We can’t use freelancer.com forever and we don’t really want to. If you forget about referrals, you can forget about good paying projects.</p>
<h2><strong> 6.  Lacking Multiple Income Streams </strong></h2>
<p>Freelance designing (especially web design) opens up a huge avenue of income streams. You could suggest that your client uses Host Gator or you could send them over with an affiliate link to rake in some dough. You could even setup your own reseller account or server and offer the service yourself. Why not pocket some of those monthly payments? There is an affiliate program for just about anything. They need prints, hook them up and grab some change!  Do not overlook the many methods to diversify your income.</p>
<h2><strong> 7.    Missing Opportunities </strong></h2>
<p>In the world of design, everyone is a potential client and I do mean everyone. Every existing design potentially turns into a redesign project.  Occasionally, when you see a website with an awful layout or an awful logo, drop them a quick line and offer to update their design for them. Go ahead; make them a deal they cannot refuse. Even if they don’t accept it at least you are on their radar.  I have also used my designs in exchange for advertising, services and even products. Not only do I save cash, but I earned myself a potential long-term client.  Try to pay with your skills before using your cash. Be proactive and think about how you can use those highly sought after skills outside the box.</p>
<h2><strong> 8.     You’re Being Watched </strong></h2>
<p>As previously mentioned, everyone you converse with is a potential client. So think twice before you decide to bash that other designer who stole your designs openly on the forums. What you say may be true, but a client may see it as a lack of professionalism and give you a miss. You would be surprised how many designers rush into head-on debates with someone because they think everyone will side and sympathize with them. Try to handle these matters privately or with an anonymous alias. We are professionals now and we should act like it if we want new clients.</p>
<h2><strong> 9.    Get Help </strong></h2>
<p>This issue ties in with a few previous issues. When the work is pouring in and you are biting off more than you can chew, then it’s time to expand. I know, I know. Taking the plunge into full-time freelancing was a big move and you’re not sure you are ready yet. Now I am going to tell you to expand?! I am going to take a wild guess here. One of the big reasons you became a freelancer is your entrepreneurial spirit, right? Big business is growth and expansion. Outsource the work or hire employees and turn it into a company. Supply and demand baby. You can’t do it all alone. Why try?</p>
<h2><strong>10.     Where’s the Party?</strong></h2>
<p>This is one of those tips you probably won’t find many places yet it’s so simple and so very important. When you got that big first contract, did you celebrate? I don’t mean doing a little dance, I mean doing something really memorable. Well, why not? You made it happen and most likely made it happen virtually solo. Freelancers are among the most passionate and self motivated people in the world. It’s so very important to reward yourself and keep your motivation high. You did it, you are a success! So go out and celebrate!</p>
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		<title>Design software &#8211; should you go with the free stuff?</title>
		<link>http://www.logodesign.org/2010/03/16/free-logo-design-software/</link>
		<comments>http://www.logodesign.org/2010/03/16/free-logo-design-software/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:36:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gairick Mukherjee</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[For The Freelancer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[design software]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freeware]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[illustrator]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[photoshop]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.logodesign.org/?p=450</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Yes, it may say "free", but how much does it REALLY cost?]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When starting their career, most freelancers are  faced with a problem, money. Money in the pocket always seems to be a little less than what is required. The list of things that require money is always very long. Hardware, software, furniture, advertisement and so on. Though money cannot usually be saved on hardware or furniture, some money can really be saved on software.</p>
<p>Now days there is a free software program for every kind of work that we do with computers,  whether it is basic word-processing for home users or graphic designing work for professionals. There is even free software for professional video editing work,  the only exception being 3D software. Although there are a few free software programs that can do basic 3D work,  there are none in the professional arena.</p>
<p>Some of the pros and cons of using free sofware are listed below :</p>
<h2>Pros :</h2>
<p>·    <strong>It&#8217;s free.</strong> Yes, you don’t need to spend anything to have it.<br />
·    <strong>Flexible</strong>-  You can use it or not to use it. You have the freedom of using it. You can start using it whenever you like and can stop whenever you wish.<br />
·    <strong>No charge to test drive</strong>. You can always give it a try to see if it will work for you, and there is no time frame for how long you can try it out. Some paid software provide fully working demo versions, but they are time limited, and the ones that are not time limited may only let you try a few features.<br />
·    <strong>No rush </strong>– Learn at your own pace. You can acquire the software and learn it at your own pace. There will be no time limit bugging your mind.<br />
·    <strong>Use more than one program </strong>– Use it with other software. You can use free software along with a paid one. You can profit from the unique features of that software without adding to the cost.</p>
<h2>Cons :</h2>
<p><strong><br />
·    The future isn&#8217;t always bright</strong>:  Sometimes free software is discontinued after a few versions. The reasons can be not getting enough developers to work on the project or the software itself not getting enough response. It is the worst thing to happen, its very difficult to switch to another software after spending lots of time in mastering one. And if you need to buy new software, then?<br />
·    <strong>Again, the future isn’t always bright</strong> -  Sometimes paid software can be changed to paid ones, though this is a rare case but this can happen. Due to dearth of funds sometimes a free software needs to be changed to a paid one.<br />
·    <strong>No support.</strong> Though there are a lot of users of free softwares, and the users help each other, you will rarely find any official support from the developers.<br />
·    <strong>Less learning material.</strong> Learning materials for these softwares are very rare. The user base of some the free softwares is very large, despite that there aren’t many good learning materials available in the market.<br />
·    <strong>Bugs, bugs and bugs.</strong> Most of the free softwares have lots of bugs and as there is rarely any official support, it can sometimes be very annoying.</p>
<p><strong><br />
</strong></p>
<h2><strong>Choosing the right software:</strong></h2>
<p>Now, the question arises, can the free software be compared with the paid software. The answer is more yes and less no. In terms of features some free software can come very close to the paid ones, only a few high-end features may not be available. But, before you start using free software take into consideration the following points. These will help you choose the right software :</p>
<p>·   <strong> The tools &amp; the features </strong>: It&#8217;s not just what kind of tools or features there are in the particular software that is worth knowing but its better to know if these features are really required, i.e. are you really going to use these features. Some software comes with a lot of tools, but these are of no use to professionals. So, first make a list of features and tools that you’re going to need and then compare it with the features and tools of the software.</p>
<p>·    <strong>Familiarity with the particular software</strong>:  Though most of the free softwares are easy to learn, an unfamiliar software can take a lot of time to learn. Even after you learn a software it takes lot more time to master it and time is more precious than money.</p>
<p>·    <strong>Take other people’s opinion: </strong>It’s a good thing to read the opinions of other users of that software. By doing so you can easily come to know about the pros and cons of that software. Just search about that software in the internet.</p>
<p>·    <strong>Read the license agreement of the software:</strong> Before using a software always read the license agreement of that software. Some software allows you to use them any way you wish. But there are some which allow you to use them freely for personal purposes but charge a fee if you are using them for professional work.</p>
<p>Last but not the least; my suggestion. If you are new in the design arena and also a little cash starved go for a free one. And for others there’s nothing wrong with giving it a try, after all its free.</p>
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		<title>Want to kill your design career? Don&#8217;t take this advice.</title>
		<link>http://www.logodesign.org/2010/02/19/want-to-kill-your-design-career-dont-take-this-advice/</link>
		<comments>http://www.logodesign.org/2010/02/19/want-to-kill-your-design-career-dont-take-this-advice/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:38:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jamie Miller</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[For The Freelancer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[design advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trends]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.logodesign.org/?p=428</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Yes, you heard it, your career may DIE unless you read this article!]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>What does it mean to be trendy? It&#8217;s defined as being fashionable and up to date. The thing about trends is that they get outdated really quick. Do trendy designs make for a good end product? Is it okay to use the trendy ideas to implement your logos? You may have to decide for yourself what&#8217;s best for you and your goals.</p>
<h2><strong>Trendy Trends</strong></h2>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p>A lot of designers like to fall into the trends of logo designs.  You will see the same clean looks, or the same circle patterns. There&#8217;s swooshes, leaves, faces, hands, wings etc., and they all seems to follow the current trends. What we want to do is recognize a trend and then not follow it. Try to be unique and be your own individual. If you do a search for &#8220;logo trends&#8221; you will see what I mean.</p>
<h2><strong>Thinking Back</strong></h2>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p>Think back to when you first took an interest in drawing or art. Almost all of us started out copying something someone else did. As we grew, we learned how to develop our own ideas, but still may have copied the same style. Then there was that point in time where we had our own style and way of doing things. When did we start copying styles again?<strong> </strong>I guess it&#8217;s natural for most people to do the popular thing. Throughout our lives, we  notice that if something gets positive attention, we want to do it too. To move from the follower to the leader, there are steps that need to be made.</p>
<h2><strong>Take Your Creativity Back</strong></h2>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p>One of the steps that&#8217;s necessary to breaking through the pack is to just have fun. I mean really have fun! Make up a weird idea off the top of your head and just go to town. Think of it as your own little project. Think of a monster and add a story to it. Do your own thing without looking online at all. Maybe redraw something from your childhood, or recreative something you did when you first started out. Maybe even take a logo you don&#8217;t like and remake it in your own way. See how much creativity you can put into it now.</p>
<h2><strong>Stand Above</strong></h2>
<p>Look around at some of the great memorable brands. Just pick one like Apple, Nike, GE, Coke, etc. They are solid and memorable, and they are at least 10 years old. The goal of a logo is to make sure it can withstand time. If you follow a trend it just won&#8217;t. It will blend in with the crowd, and won&#8217;t stand out in anyone&#8217;s mind. Have you ever seen someone dressed so weird that you couldn&#8217;t get it out of your mind? That&#8217;s what you want to do with your designs. Since trends are trying with a valiant effort to take over in design, now should be easier than ever to stand above the rest. Be different, fresh and maybe a little daring.</p>
<h2><strong>Research</strong></h2>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p>This may be like listening to a broken record, but research is really important. Like I&#8217;ve said before, the internet was made for this sort of thing, so dedicate maybe an hour a day to looking up the trends. See what&#8217;s popular and try to do better. Be clever and inventive with your ideas. With effective research and brainstorming, your idea will be as unique as possible.</p>
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		<title>How to deal with that incredibly controlling, completely stupid client</title>
		<link>http://www.logodesign.org/2010/02/13/dealing-with-controlling-clients/</link>
		<comments>http://www.logodesign.org/2010/02/13/dealing-with-controlling-clients/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 13 Feb 2010 23:11:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jamie Miller</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[For The Freelancer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[angry clients]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[craziness]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.logodesign.org/?p=399</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[No, don't use a gun. Follow these simple suggestions and you might just finish that project.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Let&#8217;s faces facts. Every now  and again, you&#8217;ll come across that one client in your designing career,  that really believes they know more about design than you do. You&#8217;ll  think things like, &#8220;Why did you hire me&#8221; and &#8220;You don&#8217;t know anything at  all&#8221; which can be understandable, but some of us take it a step further and tell the client  why all their ideas are dreadfully wrong.</p>
<p>Here are a few tips on how to survive a situation like the one described above:</p>
<h2><strong>Keep Your Cool</strong></h2>
<p>One thing we all have to do  is keep our cool. If you tell the client that their ideas are bad, they  may just decide to hire someone else. Nobody who thinks they have a  great idea, likes to be told it&#8217;s not great. Especially since this is  their company and they ultimately have the final say in the design.  There are a few ways you can let the client know that their idea isn&#8217;t  the best, without jeopardizing all the hard work you do, so take a deep  breath and try them out.</p>
<h2><strong>Show Them What You Mean</strong></h2>
<p>One simple way to let the client know their idea  isn&#8217;t the best way, would be to show some logos and designs that  weren&#8217;t successful with the same concept. You could also go ahead and do  what they ask, and then tell them why it won&#8217;t work. For example, a lot  of clients like to use cool swooshes in a design, but it&#8217;s so overused  that they wouldn&#8217;t stand out in a crowd. Simply do what they request,  then throw a bunch of logos you find with the same idea all around it.  Tell the client to find their design within 5 seconds. Sort of like a  logo I spy. Everyone learns through example.</p>
<h2><strong>Try To Reason With Them<br />
</strong></h2>
<p>Maybe the client should know  just how experienced you are. Simply explain why something won&#8217;t work  without being cocky about it. For some reason, people will assume that  designers think they know everything, and can come off as snobby, so try  to be polite. It can be a touchy situation, but try your best to let  your view be known. If the client wants an overly complicated logo, let  them know that the public needs to remember it in about 2 seconds.  Another good thing to tell them is that if they can&#8217;t draw it from  memory, or explain how it looks to another person, then it probably  isn&#8217;t a good idea to go with that logo.</p>
<h2><strong>Will It Work In Print?</strong></h2>
<p>If a logo is too complicated  or too detailed, it most likely will look bad in print. This is  something the client must know. Sometimes work can be overwhelming for  them too. They hired you because you know something they don&#8217;t, and they  count on you to relay this information to them. So if they have you  doing a logo that will not even look close to good in one color, or if  there&#8217;s just too much going on, bring up how it could look in print. The  same applies for sizing. If you shrink it to 1-inch, can you still  recognize it?</p>
<h2><strong>If All Else Fails: Give it a Try</strong></h2>
<p>There are some cases where it might just be a  good idea to try what the client likes. Actually, you should always  give it a shot. No one person can hold the perfect idea all the time, so  trying other ideas can expand your horizon. You would really come off  as snobby if you&#8217;re not even willing to try other ideas. Who knows, the  client may just teach you something you never knew.</p>
<h2><strong>In Conclusion</strong></h2>
<p>Even though you want to tell  the client that their ideas aren&#8217;t so great, you should try them out  anyway. If they are really bad ideas, be polite and explain why things  won&#8217;t work. You want your logos to be simple, clear, and easy to  remember, and by showing examples of why their idea won&#8217;t work can  solidify your explanations.</p>
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		<title>How to survive creatively as the only person in your office</title>
		<link>http://www.logodesign.org/2010/02/07/how-to-survive-creatively-as-the-only-person-in-your-office/</link>
		<comments>http://www.logodesign.org/2010/02/07/how-to-survive-creatively-as-the-only-person-in-your-office/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:39:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jamie Miller</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[For The Freelancer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freelance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[surviving]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.logodesign.org/?p=379</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Working for yourself can be a wonderful thing. But working ALONE can be tough. Here are some tips on how to survive as a freelancer.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>
<p>If you&#8217;ve ever been on a  team, you know it can be fun and encouraging. You have a collective of  different minds with different thoughts and points of view. It&#8217;s almost  like there&#8217;s no end to the ideas, and brainstorming flows effortlessly.  So what do you do, when you have to go it alone? How can one mind come  up with enough different ideas to actually brainstorm successfully?</p>
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<p><strong>THE IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH:</strong></p>
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<p>The first thing you&#8217;ll want  to do is research the industry the logo is for. You want to know as much  as you can about it. How else will you be able to think up all your  brilliant ideas? I suggest first looking into the actual place and  figuring out their way of working. Then look up the competition and see  what they do similar and different. Make notes of everything you think  of, especially the types of logos you see. If they&#8217;ve already been done,  you don&#8217;t want to do it.</p>
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<p>It can also be helpful to look into the names or  anything interesting about the company. Maybe you could play off the  name, or maybe do something ironic and funny? Look up words and find the  definitions to get a better understanding of what you&#8217;re working with.  Don&#8217;t be shy, after all, it&#8217;s only you.</p>
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<p><strong>CONSIDER BRAINSTORMING?</strong></p>
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<p>Brainstorming alone can feel  restricting. I mean, you&#8217;re only one person with your own thoughts.  First write down anything and everything that comes to mind when you  think of the logo you&#8217;re designing in about 25 minutes. The weirder the  better. These are ideas that unique and clever logos are made from. You  can also try using a mind map.</p>
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<p><strong>MIND MAPS:</strong></p>
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<p>I personally think one of the strongest tools for creative  brainstorming is a mind map. Most of you may know it as a spider  diagram. One site that allows you to use this is <a rel="nofollow" href="https://bubbl.us/beta/" target="_blank">https://bubbl.us/beta/</a> but nothing beats pencil and paper. You start with one central idea or  title, and go outward from there writing down major information about  the central idea. These can be extremely effective at organizing your  thoughts and ideas easily.</p>
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<p><strong>SKETCHING:<br />
</strong></p>
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<p>Sketching out all of your ideas is another  great way to figure out your path to greatness. Get all the ideas out,  even if they are the same. Try to get 5 unique ideas out, and then do  variations of those. Anything goes in this brainstorming phase. If ideas  just aren&#8217;t flowing, here are some other ideas.</p>
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<p><strong>MUSIC:</strong></p>
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<p>It&#8217;s already been proven  that music can stimulate your mind, so why not give it a shot. Try  thinking about the logo and listening to your favorite music. If that  doesn&#8217;t work, try listening to an online music station. Sites like imam,  jango, pandora, etc. have random stations that play, so you&#8217;re bound to  hear different things that can help your thinking process.</p>
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<p><strong>THE WEB:</strong></p>
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<p>Take to the internet to get  some ideas. Remember that the whole reason the internet exists is to  transfer information from one place to another easily. Some sites I look  to are:</p>
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<p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://forum.howdesign.com/" target="_blank">http://forum.howdesign.com</a></p>
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<p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://identityworks.com/tools/index.htm" target="_blank">http://identityworks.com/tools/index.htm</a></p>
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<p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://logolounge.com/" target="_blank">http://logolounge.com</a></p>
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<p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/" target="_blank">http://www.smashingmagazine.com</a></p>
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<p>These places can help get  those brain cells moving. Read what others are saying about design. Try  not to think about the trends that others are using. Just think about  ideas for the logo that you will be designing. Get involved and try to  critique other designers&#8217; work and read critiques from other designers.  You can teach yourself by teaching others.</p>
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<p><strong>ELIMINATION:<br />
</strong></p>
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<p>Now that you have managed to  get some ideas down and sketched, get rid of at least the first 5 unique  concepts. Everyone would have thought of those ones, so you&#8217;ll want to  be more creative than that. Your best ideas will show uniqueness and  relate to the company. If you&#8217;d like, try to rate your ideas from 0 to 5  based on how well it goes with the company your designing for. Shoot  for those 5 star ones. If you don&#8217;t think anything is working, try  brainstorming again.</p>
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<p><strong>REVISIONS:</strong></p>
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<p>You&#8217;ll want your ideas to be as simple as possible  without losing the point. Logos aren&#8217;t meant to be as complicated as the  ideas they spew from. If you want to design a clever, awesome logo, you  have to think really hard. Your brain must get the workout of a  lifetime. After you get your pretty logo designed, try submitting it for  critiques across the web.</p>
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<p><strong>FINALLY</strong>:</p>
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<p>It takes at least a month to get great inspired ideas.  All the time, research, and brainstorming you do will definitely pay  off. You will have a great portfolio piece too. Remember that you can&#8217;t  look at this as work. Think of it as expanding your knowledge. Research  suggests that brainstorming in a group can be counter productive because  of all the people together talking. So don&#8217;t give up when you&#8217;re going  it alone. You can be more productive and come up with more solid ideas  and concepts all by yourself.</p>
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