#designlecturer

From the questions in my inbox, it would seem that design briefs would be good for people to have a go at - so I thought I would put some on here for you!

An information graphics brief for Tripadvisor:

http://issuu.com/jamesydesign/docs/information_graphics

A packaging brief for Google:

http://issuu.com/jamesydesign/docs/google

A branding project connected with Boxpark:

http://issuu.com/jamesydesign/docs/boxpark

So, how do you design a decent logo?  

Here are a few tips that will hopefully give you a heads up on some good (and maybe obvious) points to consider when starting out designing a logo.

I've seen this before... You should design a logo to suit the needs of the project or client. Don't fall back onto a logo you've designed before - the logo and branding of a company go hand in hand, your responsibility as a designer is to create something memorable and unique for your client!

What is it...? Every logo should convey a message to the viewer.  If potential consumers know or understand nothing about your client after looking at the logo, you have failed as a good designer (sorry).

WHY IS MY LOGO ALL PIXELLATED?!  Your logo needs to be scalable so put down Photoshop, use the right tools for the job - Illustrator is pretty much the program you need to be using - never use Flash to design a logo (or Microsoft Word....)

I have a gold membership on Stockphoto... Steer clear from anything expected. Remember, your logo should be memorable for the customer.  By adding cliché, clip-art  images, your logo will look unprofessional and be quickly thrown on the rubbish tip.

What is it? Some designers complicate their logos by adding lots of detail, too many words, taglines, colours etc.  Keep it simple. You’ll be more memorable - think Nike.

I found the filters on Photoshop - I couldn't decide which to use...so I used all of them! For the most part, you should avoid excessive bevels, shadows, textures, filters. This will allow your logo to be used across many mediums - not to mention won't be rubbish.

Typography Issues. There are a number of common mistakes that are frequently made when designing a logo. Consider some below:

The Spacing. Fonts are built a certain way for a reason. Excessive spacing between letters or very narrow spacing can really affect the readers interpretation of words (or cause confusion)

Predictable Fonts. Helvetica is a brilliant font - but don't use it for everything. Research new fonts, design your own! Just try to use something that isn’t predictable or the default.

Crazy Fonts. Don’t use fonts like Party Let or Papyrus or Jokerman to create your logo. Try using simple, professional, legible fonts.

Don't use Comic Sans. Period.

Ultra-thin fonts. Many extremely lightweight fonts may look nice on the computer screen but they may be difficult to use when trying to print on paper, screen on fabric, or embroider. Lightwieght fonts are also hard to read from far distances.

Too many fonts. Try to stick to one font-style (maximum of two) in your logo design. This rule is especially true when you are doing JUST the logo design and not any of the other design work.

What do you think? Excessive input from your client, his Mom, the secretary, your dad, your postman, the guy who sweeps the road outside your house and anyone else who will give you the time of day is well, excessive. Keep the design pure and clean by only involving those who absolutely need to be involved in the design process.

Unable to be used in grayscale. One important thing to remember about logos is that they frequently will be used in strictly grayscale circumstances. (Faxes, copies, one-color prints) Make your logo as powerful in both color and black & white.

Non-scalable. This is one of the most common tips around for creating logos.  Make sure your client can scale their logo. Most logos  should be usable in anything from a giant billboard to a tiny web icon.

Not made for all mediums. People often design logos without taking into consideration their future use. Be sure to deign your logos with the intent that they can be used on the internet, in print, on a street sign, embroidered on a backpack, and screen printed on a t-shirt.

Look at MY design. Don’t design a logo with the goal in mind that it will make your portfolio look great.  The first, and most important, goal of any logo design should be to help your client reach their target audience more effectively.

Too abstract. While an abstract logo can be very professional-looking for a company, what does it really say to the customer? “We weren’t really sure how to visually represent what we do or how you will benefit from our services, so here’s a square with a swoosh”.

Copy Cat Logo. BE ORIGINAL.

Bad combination of colors.  Try to match the colors to your target audience, think about using complementary colours - neon green and red is never going to be a good look - be sensitive to the clients wishes, but design with consideration.

Sketch it out first. Don't just jump on a Mac - research and sketch out some ideas first - not many good logos are born out of an instant jump on the Mac session!!

The first annual Design Lecturer Design Awards are coming!

After discussing, we have felt it wise to open the awards up to anyone in a full time degree or HND programme, or have graduated from one within the past two years (2011)

It is free to enter the awards and no charges will apply whatsoever!

Call for entries are open now - please read through the rules and lets get some good entries!! (There will be a physical award, hence why it is only UK entries at the moment - sorry guys!)

You can ask any questions here

and you can submit entries here

Why should other people care about design if you the designer doesn't?

Do you spend that extra half an hour in the studio or college, to maximise your potential, or do you skip off into the sunshine?

It is incredibly hard balancing lecturing, designing and life, but you know, I just manage to do it. I expect that any student wanting to pursue a career in design should treat the time they have in the upmost respect, using the studio, using my knowledge, using other students knowledge to help them develop as designers.

Design is a funny subject, the more insular you are the worse a designer you become. With no one to critique your work, to tell you how bad or how good a typeface is, or to tell you that red and blue spots are not the best idea for a corporate banking client - it makes you rely on your own judgement. Whilst we are all professional, we are also majorly modest in our own heads - most things we do are amazing, and it is just a blip that Pentagram haven't been on the phone offering us a job! We need other creatives around us to drive our own imagination and designs forward.

I am just about to embark on a creative month working collaboratively with another graphic designer/lecturer to take up the 30 days of creativity challenge starting on 1st june. 

This is a brilliant opportunity to work with someone that has very different, yet very similar design styles as I do myself. I am excited in the thought of learning new techniques and creating a dialogue between each others creative process.

We sat for a couple of hours last week talking about the design world and how we both find excellent creative opportunities in our jobs and how we can develop the learning our students partake in day to day. In fact she is going to come and talk to my students to discuss the trials and tribulations of freelance designing - i'm sure they will take a lot more notice of her stories than mine as sometimes it is very difficult for them to see me as a freelance designer too.

One thing I do know, is that today lots of students have really valued my opinion about their projects and have developed their concepts accordingly - the fact that students as young as 16 are willing to take constructive creative criticism and use it in a positive way shows me that I am doing something right!

Anon asked: why do you think the is a lack of or lack of popularity for female designers? --- it's just they don't seem to make it 'big'

Do you know what? I hadn't even thought about this until it was asked! I've never really recognised the fact that there may be less female designers than male designers, I mean I think back now and every design firm i've worked with have been male dominated - how strange?

I think if we were looking at the creative industry as a whole, with those 'popular' designers at the forefront it would seem that it is a male dominated industry - but perhaps it could be for a few different reasons. Before I go any further, I must say I know lots and lots of female designers, and they are amazing (and some of my favourite designers are female) but I shall try to make this as in-depth as I can, without wanting offend anyone.

These can't be designers.....they're wearing suits......

Now a lot of people I have worked with in the design industry have been lovely, but there are a wealth of people who are so arrogant it defies belief, and men are just fabulously better at that than a lot of girls. It can almost devolve into a real 'boys club' type atmosphere. But perhaps it is more specific than that - perhaps generationally, girls will tend to not take the step into the industry after university.

I know many girls that decided to take their career into a different path after university, staying within the creative realm, but moving more into marketing and PR rather than staying purely within the graphic design industry. Now this isn't everyone, but I can count more that took that path than the other in my mind and within my contacts, and it may be something (sweeping generalisation here so beware) to do with the fact that girls are much more organised than men!

Also, a bit controversial here, but I think that just like in life, girls mature quicker than guys and this can have an impact sometimes in a negative way when you get to uni. You see, being a guy I can let you all in on this, you see I didn't take any form of education seriously until I was about 19, I did minimum amount of work, with minimum effort. Most of my friends were the same, especially the ones who followed the same path as me - all of us scraping b's c's - our girl friends - A*'s all the way through school, but when we all went to uni this really flipped. It has been the subject of much study, but there really is an understanding of that the school system is weighted in a way that girls find it easier to achieve than guys - mostly due to maturity and course structure. At uni this is flipped, guys start to get interested and have an impetus to succeed, where girls have been doing this all their life, it can almost cause them to educationally to burn out. (Like I have said, this is a generalisation, not everyone will be like this)

Also, in uni, girls and guys tend to fall in love and have a serious relationship, and after uni psychologically girls will tend to follow their partner in relocating for a job - society has it ingrained in many that the male will be the main earner and the female will make the sacrifice in their career. It is not always the case, but in many it is true. (not something I agree with, just observations made in studies)

It also could be as simple as the fact that most 'well-known' and "famous" designers out there at the moment are the sort of designers that have come from the "street scene" - the graffiti kids etc, and it tends to be more guys doing this than girls.

I have no idea really, (as you may have already been able to tell....) and it would be great to get other opinions on this!

My final point though is that in my eyes, no matter your gender, age or experience if you can design, you can design - and I would never choose a person for a job or course etc based on their gender (in my experience girls are generally harder workers when the going gets tough!)