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Still kicking... and designing |
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Its been a while since I last updated the Iceblog... My bad. Lots of stuff happening, mainly due to my little girl taking up most of my time. Who would of thought that a 3 month old baby would effect a 40 hour plus work week. When little Caitlin arrived I really thought she signed the Floating Mountain. You know the one where you take your naps outside work hours and try not to poop yourself too much. I should of checked her references.
I have done some rebranding for Argar Networks. I have included the artwork in my portfolio under "Logo & Branding." Another great piece of design that I have done lately is the artwork for the Leonie Stanley Memorial Research Fund. The project was to create a new logo that would stand alone from the artwork of the parent company - Muscular Dystrophy Association of Qld (MDAQ). I was given a collection of old photos from the 60's and 70's, from that I was able to create an illustration which from there it was converted into a logo. The client really enjoyed the look and after a few minor colour we had a new logo. |
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Jan 3rd, 2008: Our Newest Team Member |
At FMD we try and recruit new people for fresh ideas. But this time I think I may of hired somebody too soon.
Caitlin Mary Connor Curtis was born at 11:01am on Dec 21, 2007 at 53cm tall and 7lbs 12oz.
She is the first born of my wife Cherie and I and she is adorable. We were supposed to pick up my parents at the airport but had to call on the services of Cheries parents. They picked them up at the airport and took them straight to the hospital. They arrived 25mins before she was born.
Needless to say, we are tired but having a baby so far has been great. she crys, hand them to a grandparent. She poops, hand them to a grandparent.. So on and so forth.
As soon as she can scribble I will scan in here drawing and turn them into brushes for photshop and illustrator. Now she is tax deductable :) (just kidding) |
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November 15th, 2007 : Two Many Options |
My very first paying logo design job was for a signage installer back in Toronto Canada. (Go Leafs GO) I remember working on it long into the wee hours for about a week. When it was done I passed the artwork to the client on a single A4 sheet. His reaction was "Wow, thats a lot of samples"
27 to be exact.
27 completely different logos, all printed into a grid. Looking back on it - that was a pretty stupid thing.
Clients like options. After all they are paying good money to have a corporate identity for their business. The only problem with this is that too many options can be a problem. Normally people like to have two options. Black or white. Up or down. Chicken or beef. Having two options make it easier to decide. Have you ever gone to a restaurant with a Libran? Not fun as they can change their minds several times before the waiter takes the order.
A good policy is to give a client 3 options. After talking with the client and getting a brief on what they want you can easiest give them three options. Usually one is too hard, another is too soft, but the last logo is just right. You know those bears were on to something. Also a client may look at all three logos and have a negative reaction to one which leaves a one-of-two choice. Thus making it much easier to decide.
Now this can be a problem. Most designers rarely design three amazing logos right off the bat. We start with one idea, sketch it out and brainstorm off that. When the idea finally makes it to the Mac it sometimes doesn't work so we start again. To get 3 logos, the process has to be widdled down from a dozen or so ideas. Who knows sometimes ever 27.
This process of directing the client into three options will save you and the client tons of time. I know you may feel that suppling many options is a "nice" thing to do but believe me, you'll thank me. Once they decide on a logo we can look at colors, especially since everything you have seen so far has been in black and white..... Oh I didn't mention that. :) |
Well its been another month and the work keeps coming. They always say that it takes two to three years to set up a business full time before you get ongoing repeat clients. Well it seems that I missed that boat. I have two clients that consently give me work that are always ongoing and always last minute. They keep me in a constant work mood and really takes away from my Daily Show and Colbert Report watching. Say what you want, it probrably gives the most honest view of world politics on tv today. Well Amercian point of view. But hey to them they are the world :)
I decdided with this website I wanted to keep it fresh and updated. So I got CMS website. What that means is that I have the ability to update it CMS = Content Management Software) The program is like a word document so its geared towards the greater public. The problem is that as a graphic designer it doesnt have the fine adjustments that I am used to in my other programs. But you get used to it. I think I need to design a logo for my Blog. My ICEblog. get it??? its a play on the word iceberg... (uuuggghh."I am going to be tasting that one for weeks" - Krusty the Klown)
I recently designed a logo for the Onetest Blog and they were very happy with it. http://www.answerstohr.blogspot.com/ I think I need to design something with a Iceberg in a fishbowl or something.
Anyway Thats all for now and we will speak soon.
Curtis
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Hey its September and I just returned from sbowboarding in New Zealand. I am sore from having a blast. Lets see how did I hurt myself this time.... Pulled my left arm out of socket on a quarter pipe. Feel on my right arm and knocked the wind out of me. My neck hurts from flipping over in the back country.
But I loved it. I love New Zealand. I reminds me so much of Canada with the scenery and the coldness. Fantastic wine there and the All Blacks are getting reading to win the World Cup. |
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