As freelance graphic designers we enjoy a lot of freedom; the freedom to work from home - in a comfortable environment, the freedom to work the hours that are suitable for us and the freedom to decline projects that we think just aren’t right for us.

One freedom I particularly enjoy, which I’ve never really noticed until now, is the freedom to wear what we want. From working at home in your favourite jogging bottoms or your fluffy pj’s to meeting clients in jeans and Led Zeppelin t-shirts, we have the choice to present ourselves as we see fit.

I usually dress quite smart, particularly if I am meeting a client (especially if it’s for the first time). It’s often the norm to find graphic designers, photographers and artists in a more casual dress code and I believe it is acceptable due to the creative industry we are in. I don’t think it compromises our professionalism or work ethic. I love the Mac vs PC adverts and think the difference in dress demonstrates the difference between a “creative” and “non creative” excellently.

(more…)

You can either love them or hate them, but you have to agree that without them you’d have no business and no money to purchase all those sparkly and wondrous things us designers like to purchase. Personally I love them I find juggling their juxtaposed objectives and messages intriguing yet challenging, and it makes my job all the more interesting, if not a little stressful at times.

Who am I talking about? well that’s our beloved clients. Unlike us they are new to the design world and can need reigning in or enlightening. Either way they can be known to request some things that drive us designers crazy. Here’s a couple of our favourites:

(more…)

What can truly be defined as a Graphic Designer? Are they merely simple folk who can create pretty pictures before your eyes or can you actually define what they are in a single sentence? I have decided upon two definitions of a Graphic Designer, an Artworker and an Art Director. 

Lets take a look at the first - the Artworker. The definition of an Artworker could be interpreted as someone who has either been given the art direction or intensely briefed by the client to the point that there is no room for thought or creativity, therefore the job in hand simply requires artworking - or just completing, and anyone who knows the usual design software tools can complete the project. However, these tools that are merely used to “finish the job” are often looked upon too lightly. It is sometimes very easy to point indignantly at a project and bellow “that this needs to be lighter and that needs to moved and re-jiggled”, but these skills are key, and to find an Artworker who can complete them swiftly and professionally is rare. Also in this day and age an Artworker can’t simply have one key piece of software, they need to be knowledgeable in a whole sweep; from Photoshop to Dreamweaver, from Illustrator to Flash, if these skills aren’t listed in an Artworkers portfolio it is definitely a black mark against them. (more…)