If you've been anxiously awaiting the results of the 2nd annual In Search of Identity Student Design competition, your wait is almost over! The judges arein the final stages of judging and the winners will be announced officially on February 1st, 2010. This year, we've seen a tremendous growth in talent and professionalism among our entrants. If you weren't able to enter this year,get started on your 2010 entries! It's never too early! Thanks for participating, and we look forward to seeing this year's winners!

Tonight's bookmark is a guest post by @lydizzle an up and coming designer and student. Follow her on Twitter! Her bookmark design is fun and fanciful as paint splatter and dripped all over the card. Enjoy! You can download it here: Smashing Magazine issued a challenge to designers for the new year, and I’m on board! I tried to decide what type of design I’d want to do and could stretch my boundaries as a designer. So in answer to this Challenge, I will be designing and posting a new Bookmark design each day on this blog. The Designs will link to a downloadable file that you can feel free to download, print out and share as desired.

Each day it seems technology changes. For the professional designer these changes must be embraced or your profession will soon move on without you. Lets think for a moment about the eight track tape. Depending on your age you may not even know what I'm talking about. and let me assure you they were before my lifetime as well.

Chances are you've at least heard of the over-sized cassette tapes. Cassette tapes? Oh yeah. That was next and finally in my lifetime. I remember as an elementary student when those flat Frisbee looking discs came out for music looking proudly at my cassette collection and thinking happily, "No, those things will never catch on. I'll be fine."

How wrong could I be? Now years after CDs finally became popular our newer way to listen to music are intangible MP3 files. We buy them, but we can see them. We can't feel them. And yet we think nothing of it.

Hopefully by now you catch my drift. As a designer a lot of the mediums we're used to are being replaced. Direct mail is often substituted by email campaigns. Newspapers are replaced by interactive and user driven Web content. And now with the introduction of Amazons Kindle and Apples iPad devices we know that traditional books will soon be going the way of the buffalo.

So what do we do about it? How do you handle seeing pieces of your job security being transferred to intangible prices of technology?

the answer is simple. You LEARN and EVOLVE or head for home. There really isn't another option. While I'm not preaching doom on those of us that love the smell of a new ream of paper I do think it's important to learn WITH the changes rather than struggling against them. As such I have embarked on becoming an expert at eBook conversion.

For the past six months I have read every article, every trend forecast and every bit of information I could grasp to be ready for the revolution.

In the next few weeks as my busy work and client schedule allows I will begin to write yips for ebook and typeset beginners that I've picked up along the way! See you on the other side of technology!

Did you realize that designers and fine wines have something in common? They do. They both get better with age. At least that's what they say about wine. I only know it to be true about designers. But this is a point that one certainly can't overlook. If you're a good designer, then when you look at something you designed last year, last month or last week, you should always think, 'Man, I could make that look better." If you don't feel that way, then you've become stale and complacent. Sorry to break that to you. The bad news is, that that feeling will get worse. Look at something you did 3 years ago. Now 5.

Case in point, that's why a strong portfolio should be constantly updated and refreshed, removing old stuff and adding new. The good news is, as you mature and grow in your talent and abilities your design will grow with you. Why? Because you are getting more and more familiar with your tools. You no longer have to hunt around and figure out "what were those key strokes to transform?" No, now it's become second nature. It's muscle memory, reflex and automated response.

Don't misunderstand, a thorough knowledge of Photoshop does NOT automatically make you a good designer. However, a lacking knowledge will hinder your pieces. One cannot fully make use of their tools if they don't know them thoroughly and without that knowledge you cannot be truly creative.

So what about your design "style" how does it grow and develop? By watching others. Learning. Listening. Gleaning. We see design all around us. The good, the bad, the ugly. But what we choose to do with that knowledge is up to us. While you are on that constant journey seeking current designs, trends and new concepts, don't forget to intentionally feed yourself good design.

On that note, I'm going to list some of my favorite sites for seeking that rejuvenation:

All Design Types:

Whoever said, "the best things in life are free" was probably referring to Word of Mouth advertising. Few things go farther and have a bigger impact that a positive referral from a client, colleague or friend. As a designer/web designer it's important to me that my clients always feel like they can refer me and my work to their friends.

So far, so good. Since I've been in business, I've spent very little money on advertising, instead I'm constantly receiving a steady stream of clients through "the grapevine". Someone in Oklahoma knows someone in Alabama who knows someone in England. Yep! Word of Mouth advertising is so powerful that it even crosses the big pond!

Everybody, myself included, talks about what to DO with your logo. Perhaps we are leaving out the most important part: What NOT to DO.

While I would love to share some examples, I'll refrain, so as to not call anyone out. But when you are assessing your current logo or deciding if you need one, keep the following DON'Ts in mind as well!

DON'T try to add too many details. One of the worst things you can do is try to combine to many elements into the same logo. Working in a lot of ministries and Christian environments I see this occur way to often. So many times the client want to incorporate all the "standard" Christian icons. They want a sword and a dove and a cross and an open Bible. Rather than conveying the heart of the ministry, this often conveys confusion, chaos and screams "amateur".

DON't use a photograph as a logo. In it's truest sense, a logo is simply a "tease" of what the company is about. Think about some of the best brands out there. A logo can be something as simple as a wordmark, meaning words or letters arranged specifically. Let's look at Coca Cola. Their logo isn't a coke bottle. Their logo is simply the words.  As more and more brands are on the market it might prove difficult to create a logo that is solely a wordmark that will stand alone. If that is the case, the addition of a vector symbol, icon or simple graphic may be the best way to close the deal.

DON'T use a rasterized format like .PSD. Logos should be simple and created as vectors to ensure their ability to scale up or down as needed.  To be a flexible element that you can sink your money into, a logo should be fully scalable and able to reside in a variety of formats and pieces. To achieve this, good logos are created as vector images.

I recently picked up a new client. A ministry in Michigan. Currently, we are in the process of converting all of her old cassette tape messages to CD series. This has given me  a great opportunity to do some rather challenging design work for them on a pretty quick turnaround basis.

Another challenge that I face working with ministries specifically is the abstract nature of the titles. It's always a stretching activity to come up with another cover for "Christianity, Faith or Healing."

Every design we create serves a purpose. Is it up to us to determine that purpose? Or does each piece innately have a purpose?

Well, unfortunately I think there is truth in both. Our job is to amplify the innate purpose for each piece. Confused? Don't stay that way, let's examine the pieces we create on an everyday basis and the function they should serve.

The Business Card.

Part salesman, part reminder, part secretary. The business card created correctly can accomplish all these tasks in a single stroke. Often the most used piece of identity branding, too often businesses use a cookie cutter design and expect customers to take notice. Does it work? Maybe if your business is Office Depot. But if you're a designer branding yourself or a client you want to think outside the box to make a business card that will really get the attention it deserves.

I like to think of the business card as a pocket sized billboard. It should scream at the consumer and burn a hole in their pocket!

As the designer it's up to you to decide which information should be included and HOW it can be included to best represent your client and provide as the Heath brother's (Author's of "Made To Stick") would phrase it, "Stick-Ability" in the mind. (You want the customer to remember it!).

Chuck Green lists a Business Card Checklist that you might find useful to help you determine WHICH of the following bits of information is most vital to your client. Remember, you can't possible include EVERYTHING. So you'll have to pick and choose:

Business card checklist

Here are some of the many details you might include on your next business card.

PEOPLE
Name of person
(Nickname)
Title
Affiliations
Professional/academic designations

PLACE
Pronunciation of unusual names
Department/division name
Organization street address
Floor/suite/mail stop
Alternate P.O. box address
City/state/state abbreviation
Zip+four/postal code
Country
Home street address

COMMUNICATION
Voice phone/extension number
Toll-free phone number
Mobile phone number
Pager number
Fax phone number
Home phone number
E-mail address
Web site address

DETAILS
Office hours
Time zone
Appointment fill-in
Map/directions

ORIENTATION
Name of organization
Mission statement/business description
Product/service categories
Resource info
Special offer
Invitation
Illustration/photo
Logo
Organizational affiliations
Sponsorships

Once you've determined WHAT you're going to include, try to think about ways to include it that will make a statement!

Have you designed business cards you're proud of? Email them to me, and I'll showcase them in an upcoming post with links back to your site!

If you travel as much as I do and you're as committed to keeping up with your work as I am, then you might be interested in some of the self sufficiency tips and toys I've acquired over the years. Internet Access. As a Web designer it's not possible for me to go TOO long without an internet connection. To make sure I have what I need on business trips and traveling adventures I use a broadband aircard. The card I have is from Verizon, but it's my understanding that there are more companies that carry them today than when I purchased a few years ago.  The aircard works much like a cell phone, generally requiring a 2 year contract and a monthly connection fee. But for me, it has been well-worth it. Case in point. Tonight I'm blogging form the back seat of my mom's Jetta as we are taking a road trip down to Dallas, TX for the week. Vehicle Power Supply. Car, truck, van or SUV I can always plug in. I use an AD/DC adapter that I plug my Mac power cord into for continual power streaming to my machine from any available power outlet or cigarette lighter. These  adapters normally run about $35 and can be found at most hardware or electronic stores. External Mac Battery. Power outage? No problem. I recently added a Hyper Mac external battery to my "on the road" arsenal. With it, I have an additional 12 hours of 'no-plug" time. The best part is, I don't have to ever sit and seeth about wasting my time anymore. Because no matter where I am or what I'm doing, I can be fully connected to EVERYTHING in a matter of minutes.

You're a student.  You're an artist.

If you dream of someday owning your own studio or would like to work for a big agency, you know how important it is to begin getting your name out there. As a designer, your reputation means everything.  If you're ready to GET NOTICED, this competition is your opportunity to take the first step in making your dream a reality.

The Prizes:

1st PLACE: One 1st Place winner will receive:

$100 iTunes Gift Card

Certificate of Award, suitable for framing

Artwork will be featured on www.InSearchOfDesign.com

Guest blog on www.InSearchOfDesign.com

Opportunity to Intern at Paige1Media.com a Tulsa Design Firm, and sister company of InSearchOfDesign.

2nd  PLACE:
$50 iTunes Gift Card

Certificate of Award, suitable for framing

Artwork will be featured on www.InSearchOfDesign.com

3rd  PLACE:
$25 iTunes Gift Card

Certificate of Award, suitable for framing

Artwork will be featured on www.InSearchOfDesign.com

Entry Guidelines:

Each entry must contain a student-produced Identity Package including a letterhead, envelope and business card sample. "Mock Ups" are acceptable but must be to scale. Online entries must be submitted in .jpg or .pdf format.  For Tips and Tricks on creating an award winning identity package, click here.

Entry may be submitted online or you can mail your entries to:

In Search of Design Competition
12350 East 138th Street South    
Broken Arrow, OK 74011

When mailing your entries  please be sure to  include the Student Identity Package entry form and a $10 check or money order made payable to Paige1Media.  Download the form here.

Entry Fee:

The student design competition entry fee is only $10.  Online applicants may pay by credit card or Paypal. For those mailing in the fee, please make checks payable to Paige1Media.

Entry Deadline:

All entries must be postmarked by January 1, 2010. Any entries received after that deadline will not be eligible for the competition.

The Judges:

Entries will be judged by a panel of 6 creative professionals. To read about more about the judges and their experiences click here.