In love with Lynda

I was told about this site in a recent tutorial, and then again during our flash re-cap class. It is fantastic!

At the moment I have only completed some of the free tutorials but I will be signing up soon for some intensive courses.

I know my software skills need improving and although the Vis Com course has taught me loads about design (Grids, layouts, typography, colour etc) I don't think they've taught enough software skills. Of course, the argument is that students should use their own initiative to discover more and develop their own skills, and whilst I agree with this, I think the course could have done better than 2 x 1 hour lessons on Photoshop and Illustrator in the first year. And lets not mention the infamous Flash lessons!

Anyway, this is exactly what I've been looking for. An invaluable way of learning, and as someone who likes to learn visually, for me, it's perfect. I really feel I can now put all the theory of my course together with the practical skills from Lynda.com to push my skill set as a designer.

A wise investment?

A little bird told me that this book is an absolute beauty. A real essential for anyone in design. The grid is the most important yet least visible part of design. I felt like I could do with a little help in this area so I decided to invest. It's apparently quite hard to find, so when I saw it at the bargain price of *cough £36 cough* I grabbed it.

I'd like to say I found in a small independent shop in London, at the back of a dusty bookshelf, patiently waiting for me. But I didn't. It's not a very romantic way to buy books, but you can't beat Amazon for prices!

Looking forward to delivery.

More Panda For Ya

Stationary pack for Panda On A Bike is coming along nicely.

This is an early draft for some headed paper. We decided to not over cook it too much as it can look a bit desperate, like we are trying too hard.

Simple and clean was the idea and I think we are pretty much there. The type at the bottom needs to come down a couple of point sizes (currently 12pt) and the postcode is actually incorrect! We are thinking of putting a watermark of the logo in the centre of the page too, but it could look too busy.

Typeface is Myriad Pro for both the logo and for the address details.
Colours are:
Green: Pantone 13-0650
Grey: C:49 M:40 Y:44 K:5
Both at 90% Opacity

Panda graphic is 100% black at 85 % opacity

We will get some trial prints done next week before completing a compliments slip.

PPRD - Panda a go go

I recently met with my friend to start designing the logo and stationary pack for Panda On A Bike (POAB). He wants the logo to be literal, so he actually wants it to show a panda on a bike - shame as I wanted it to be typographical only but I got over ruled. That's what creative directors do.

So I went away and came up with some early ideas.

I went back to show him and found that he had already bagged a client for an advertising job. Good news and bad news. Good news; it's a client. Bad news for me because it's a TV advert and therefore no graphic design needed to be completed. Bad news also because we need to send them an invoice for the time that we (the royal we) have spent doing it. Which means no more messing about in Illustrator with the logo, we have to go with what we've got, which is ok as we're both happy with it. I am now trying to get all my Uni work done for the hand in this Friday, and produce a stationary pack (or at least an invoice sheet) as soon as I can. No stress then.

The final logo will look something like this.

PPRD - Brief

I was asked recently to go into business with a friend of mine who works in advertising and wants to start his own advertising agency. He has asked me to be the designer and to work with him on any future projects he gets.

My first task is to design a logo which will then be used on business cards, letter heads etc., and also on a website. He has asked me to come up with some ideas for the website too, templates and designs with a view to building it for real next year.

The agency is called "Panda on a bike" and I have already met with him a couple of times to discuss early ideas of what he's looking for and will post any future meetings and outcomes here.

How a graphic designer works

Is this what the future holds?

Will I be having conversations with people like this soon?

Graphic Designer Vs Client

Or maybe I should go into Web Design?

Designer Vs Client: Make my Website for free

(Contains strong language).

Loving TED

I'm not sure who Ted is and not really bothered either to be honest, but I got pointed in this direction by Sally in my last tutorial and lost most of Sunday afternoon to this web page. I enjoyed the Phillipe Stark talk, very flamboyant, not too much sense being spoken - very French. Sagmeister has a couple on there too and I have a new found fondness for the Austrian now. I liked his work but never really "got" him, but "Stefan Sagmeister What He Has Learned", was a great insight to him and and now I soooo "get" him. Fantastic! Inspiring and interesting. Oh, and its free!

Something here for everyone. So many talks, not enough time, but if you do have time, I recommend this from Rory Sutherland.
Vice Chairman of Ogilvy Group and one of the best Ad men this counrty has produced. Follow his blog here