DUN DA NA NAAAAA!!! TIME TO TALK SUPERPOWERS

OOH YEESSSSSSSS-After all these years it is true-we mere mortals indeed has superpowers!!! Sure, they may not be the ever popular flight or invisibility, but they nevertheless can make a lasting impression & could quite possibly save you from the impending doom of unemployment.



Here are a few powers you can start developing now:

1. WEB DESIGN

Web design is probably the most valuable skill to have as a graphic designer. It will open up a large new client base for you, allow you to create and update your portfolio site and much more. Being fluent in web design and multiple coding languages will not only make it easier to keep steady work from home, but will make you much more attractive to potential employers who are looking to cut costs by finding multi-talented designers.

2. ILLUSTRATION

Designers often have backgrounds in fine art such as drawing and illustration, but end up putting their focus on commercial graphic design which can create a disconnect from their fine art origins. Keeping your illustration skills sharp or becoming a better illustrator will allow you to create more creative designs, do freelance illustration work and even sell stock illustrations online! Plus you can save money doing your own illustrations for your graphic and web designs.

3. ONLINE MARKETING

Online marketing is an essential skill for anyone looking to make the most of their freelance design business. Knowing the latest marketing tactics will help you gain exposure, name recognition and more clients. There are dozens of easy ways to increase traffic to your portfolio site and not taking advantage of them would be a very big missed opportunity!

4. SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION

This is an often over looked skill for any business. Anyone who has an online business presence should research search engine optimization and even if you pay some one its good to know what its all about and how to do it correctly. Bad search engine optimization tactics can hurt your site badly and produce no results, but good SEO can provide you with a steady stream of new clients and really take you to the next level

5. BLOGGING

Starting a blog is probably the easiest and best thing you can do to increase awareness of your portfolio. Knowing about web design, online marketing and search engine optimization, which we mentioned above will help you turn your blog into a powerful and useful tool as opposed to a waste of time. You need to research blogging before hand, optimize your blog, post regularly and promote your blog posts in order to achieve maximum results.

*additional abilities & must haves
include networking-do you attend seminars??-sales, marketing, accounting, tax strategies, database management.

HAVE SOMETHING THAT SETS YOU APART FROM THE PACK!

(powers c/o youthedesigner.com)

Don't Be Dispensable

If you are going to be some type of advisory middleman-make sure you're a good one & have a reputable name for yourself. (If you don't work on making one & make it dependable).

In his blog Mr. Godin observes that, the once lucrative, agent position is dwindling down & outright disappearing. Why? Because most are "anonymous and interchangeable and virtually worthless". Most nowadays equate to a ten minute google search. Great agents provide "differentiated service that is worth paying for" and "hyper-specialize".

To thrive in a world of self-service, agents have to hyperspecialize, have to stand for something, have to have the guts to say no far more than they say yes. No, you can't publish this book. No I won't represent you. No, don't take that flight. No, I won't sell this house, it's overpriced, list it yourself

It also correlates with who the agent is selling to. What's the market? Godin believes when markets change, agents can lead the way, not follow along grudgingly.

*cough...that goes for designers too...cough*

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Class Happenings: We're Engage...ing

At this point-it's time for the infamous powerpoint!!!!-DUN.DUN.DUN!

Tips from dr.k:

1. prepare a story-the presentation should be engaging

_well...that's pretty much it. besides individual class directions (which would be not to wait until our actual device is finished to start the powerpoint.)

now if you would excuse me.

David Rockwell Does The Oscars

I saw this video about a week before the Oscars and IMMEDIATELY got excited. This year the Oscars will be under the creative direction of David Rockwell and Michael Giacchino. Set design & music direction has always been a secret love of mine. I fell in love with their talk about storytelling creating an environment to be shared by the audience and performers.

This year it was all about revamping old classics-whether it was taking an old hollywood movie theme and playing it in a new style to creating a new world that was reminiscent of the golden days of tinsel town. This was a very complete and beautiful design thought process. Which in turn, I think, produced the best Oscars I have ever scene.

When it comes to spectacle, David understands how to design the experience. Broadway sets, restaurants, hotels, malls, the Kodak Oscar interior--he gets it. Check out his book with Bruce Mau, Spectacle, about spectacle around the world and the human need for ritual. It's awesome. The design of experience is critical. Now we have to redesign the learning experience.

Nussbaum on Rockwell

LOGO SKETCHES

Here's a peek into some ideas I have for my logo for my mobil device.
I'm going with a rounded logotype with the free standing s as the final logo

NAP IN A HAT

Milano Furniture Fair: The Sleepy Beanie Share
The Sleepy Beanie Project that was excibited at the MIlano Furniture Fair in 2005.

The Sleepy Beanie is designed for the modern urban explorer. Wear the google beanie to be fully protected when exploring new exciting places or wear the Sleepy Beanie to be able to take a nap without beeing disturbed by your sorroundings (and people)