Recently, while a myriad of projects have been flying across my desk, some who deem their life's mission to criticize have been heard flippantly saying, "Design is easy, they just throw on a stock photo and some text."

After first hearing this blatant misspeak I was enraged. But then I laughed. Why? Because it's absurd. If a laymen REALLY thinks that's all there is to it, then more power to them, they should try it out sometime and see how they do. Chances are before long, they would start to realize that every piece they design would look exactly the same. I mean, with a "stock photo and text" how much variety can you have?

Recently I encountered one of these nay-sayers. Long story short, in the end, I was asked to design the piece as originally intended. Sometimes your client just may need a little "real-world' experience to see the reason why designers have to go to classes for years and stay immersed in the newest theory and changes of the industry to stay cutting-edge. It really IS more than just photos and fonts.

Had a similar situation? Remember, that their ignorance is not a reflection on your ability. It just means they don't value you yet. You may be able to stick it out, or you might want to move on, either way, you'll take your knowledge base with you. Keep designing and do your job. You'll be glad you did.

If you are a graphic designer you might mistakenly think that other designers are you competition. If you are a car manufacturer YOU might think that other car manufacturers are your competition.

That's just NOT the case.

Congratulations to our Grand Prize winners!

The First Place Entry belongs to Jordan Crowe:

Our Second Place Winner was Timothy Kirchoff:

Our Third place winner was Matt Esparza:

These winners received varying amounts of iTunes gift cards. Look for Guest Blogs in the future as student artists discuss their perspective on design.

I'll be posting more of the entries and the winners in each category in the next few days!

While I don't want to give up the "Design Everyday" challenge, I must admit it's getting even more challenging for me to keep up. This weekend alone I received more than a dozen new projects for my firms to undertake. In short the design business is good. In other news, here are the last 3 bookmarks that I've missed. The mustache bookmarks were SO much fun to create. I used a mustache brush that is available at www.BrushEezy.com. No design aresenal is complete without a mustache brush. Seriously. =P I will be continuing with the bookmarks. As I mentioned though, I also am happy to provide a download link for anyone interested, I just don't always take the time to upload the PDFs. Just drop me a line regarding which design you'd like.

The Student Identity Competition has been completed and the results are in! The Judges had some tough decisions to make as they looked over the entries.

The room where the judges sat for hours was silent. As judges, they were not allowed to discuss the pieces, simply grade the pieces based on the scorecards provided!

In the next post, I'll reveal the winners! Stay Tuned!

As a woman I should probably be offended. But as a marketer I can't help but to see the brilliance behind yet another Volkswagen ad from the 1950s. If you've followed this blog at all you probably already know that second only to Seth Godin I think the marketers, writers and designers that were behind the Volkswagen ads from the 1950s and 1960s were some of the most brilliant minds in the industry. Below I have included the full text from this ad I found on Vintage Ads.com.

Today's bookmark is inspired by the many cracks and potholes present in the Tulsa roads after a series of winter storms and sheets of ice. 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.

Student Identity Package Competition Deadline!

Get your entries in by 12:00 Midnight, to avoid late fees on your competition entry! For more details or information, check out all the rules, here.

Thanks to everyone who has already entered, and the many more that are flooding in today!

Recently, I was carefully thinking over  a new design for a client. I realized that as I rehearsed scenarios and applications for color in my head that the decisions I made in a matter of seconds would truly have an impact on how the piece came out. What seemed like a minor move, was actually an enormous piece of a dynamic puzzle that was being created by an artist. Namely me.

But the same principle certainly applies to every designer in every situation. Innately, we are gifted with certain talents that somehow connect our hands to our brain and our eyes, enabling us to create incredible masterpieces in every area of business, commerce and life. Man! Think about it. This design stuff is no small task.

The weight of the world may truly be on our shoulders. A bit dramatic? Perhaps. But think about it. On a daily basis society is accosted with images, advertisements and colors vieying for attention. What is the determining factor between something that is chosen and something that is ignored?

In a word? Design. Yep. The way it's laid out, crafted or arranged. Whether consciously or subconsciously, the design you see before your eyes will either draw you or cause you to repel.

Designers, the next time you set down before a blank canvas, a new document or behind the lens, remember that your decisions, no matter how seemingly unimportant, may have a huge impact on what others see and decide around you. Choose wisely.

I think the title of this one says it all. Got a migraine. =( 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.