The Poster.

Part advertisement. Part display piece. All information. The poster when created correctly can accomplish all these tasks in a single stroke. Sometimes the most overlooked piece in a marketer's arsenal, posters are often assumed to be present but denied the forefront of attention. Why? Maybe because they ARE common. But if you’re a designer working with a client you want to push the limits of your poster design while STILL providing the basics that are required. As the designer it’s not always up to you to decide which information should be included but it IS up to you to determine 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!). Let's examine some of the basics that will need to be included SOMEWHERE on your poster for it to be informationally effective.

If you've enjoyed our posts related to marketing yourself via Social Media then be sure to head on over to the Kindle store and pick up your copy of "Market Yourself: A Beginner's Guide to Social Media" No kindle? No problem. Market Yourself is also available as an PDF eBook or in paperback format on MarketYourselfTheBook.com.

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.

It's finally here! A book that was birthed from a course curriculum I was preparing for a class at the local University that I teach at, has FINALLY been released! And whether you're a student, a designer or just someone interested in taking the next step with Social Media, this book is for you!

Rather than talking "about the book", I'm going to include a short excerpt for you to enjoy:

Cut. When creativity fails, I turn to the custom shapes in Photoshop. Sounds lame, but I've been pretty pleased with the results. 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.

People ask me what the best part about being a designer/marketer/wearer-of-all-hats is—normally I stare at them blankly through a lack of sleep and coffee induced haze—however, when I do have time to formulate a response it’s generally this: the profession is always learning and as a professional I am always learning.

That’s it in a nutshell. Regardless of how long you’ve been designing, how many products you have successfully marketed, ultimately, you will never get to stop learning. So, if you’ve never liked school, bow out now. But, if you love a good challenge and like pushing the envelope, you’re in the right place.

Last week I was asked to speak at a conference. The conference, specifically a Tech Fest, was geared towards programmers, developers and system support gurus, but there I was teaching two sessions in the Design track. Between my sessions, I looked forward to attending a “Tips and Tricks” of Photoshop class. The room was full, attendees were beginning to fidget and I realized the speaker was AWOL. As the only approved conference speaker in the group I felt a responsibility to step up and do something.

After checking with the event coordinator and confirming that they could not in fact, locate the speaker, I was asked to step in. YIKES. Not, that I haven’t been using Photoshop for years. Even back before there was such as thing as “Creative Suite”, but to approach a room full of Photoshop users armed with questions was a humbling assignment. No prep time. No prepared files. No idea what I was going to talk about.

I announced that I would be filling in for the speaker, who was MIA. I invited the attendees to leave and check out another session in one of the other tracks. To my astonishment, only two people got up and left. I asked if anyone had any Photoshop tips they’d like to share with the others. No one said anything.

So, I did the unthinkable: connecting my laptop to the overhead projector I opened Photoshop CS5 and asked if anyone had any questions. A few timid hands came up. And then in rapid fire succession questions began coming from all over the room.

If you’ve ever tried to work with someone over your shoulder, you’ve probably experienced a very common designer ailment: STUPIDITY.  Try as I might, with my screen broadcast before the entire room, the shortcuts my brain had memorized didn’t want to work. I did the only thing I could—laughed it off and used the menus for EVERYTHING. From questions ranging about resolution to text paths, we covered a wide gamut of Photoshop quandaries in that hour and a half.

Did I have all the answers? Certainly not. In fact, I even walked away with added knowledge about Photoshop that I didn’t possess previously. ALWAYS LEARNING.

This would be a good place to insert that old adage, “If Life Gives You Lemons—Make Lemonade” but instead I’ll leave you with this. In the creative industry, we can never afford to think we have all the answers. As soon as we do, we’ll be asked to do the unthinkable— and in front of witnesses no less. Regardless of your level of competence you can always learn from others. That’s what truly makes this profession so great. We’re ALWAYS LEARNING.

Among some of the most creative and impressive marketing moves of all time, chances are you will hear tales of early Starbucks. While trying to increase brand awareness, they hired people to drive around with a Starbucks cup glued to the top of their car just above the driver's door where it would be found if the driver had inadvertently sat it down while getting into the car.

Brilliant? Not yet, it gets better. As other drivers and those considerate enough to marvel at how he had gotten this far, and motion or speak to him regarding the cup, they were given a coupon for a free coffee at their local Starbucks. Now, it's brilliant. Not only did it raise brand awareness but also drove new potential customers to the store who had the potential of being turned into loyal customers

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.

We've talked about how great a well designed bookmark can be for author promotion in the past, but tonight I wanted to share a recent bookmark I have designed for a client. Enjoy! You can visit his site here.

If there is anything that bonds designers, writers, programmers and other freelance careers together, it’s the “C” word. CLIENTS. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. We’ve all had them. They come in varying degrees of trouble or joy, but ultimately when we are dealing with others, we’re always in for some surprises along the way.

Can we do anything about it? Short of moving to a deserted island I don’t think so. But, the thing that we can do is watch for the warning signs during meetings and along the path of a project.

The other day, over lunch a designer friend and I were swapping stories. Before we knew it we had developed a “Quiz” for clients. No, this is not something I’d really give a client, but I can attest that ever question on this “quiz” is based from a real life client experience. Things that are hard to believe, but true.

The good news is, for all the bad clients out there, there are also great clients out there. Just for grins, join me now for “The Client Quiz”.

Communication

1. When your designer tells you they require the project communication to be conducted via email you . . .

A. Call your designer at 8 AM
B. Text, because you don’t want to be rude by calling too much.
C. Email, but then you call them to confirm they got your email.
D. Email your designer and wait for their reply.

2. When composing an email to your designer you. . .

A. Ignore ALL punctuation because this is casual communication and write the entire thing in ALL CAPS to add emphasis.
B. Use random punctuation, change your text color to red, Capitalizing OFTEN with lots of exclamation points because you are excited!!!
C. Use texting slang and avoid punctuation creating an entirely long run-on sentence of sorts.
D. Compose a well written, intelligent email to your designer with your request.

Concepting

3. When requesting a quote from a new designer you . . .

A. Keep details vague yet pressure the designer into quoting it.
B. Confuse the designer and change your mind several times during the initial conversation.
C. Provide the designer with a ‘mock-up’ you created in Word.
D. Give the designer clear, concise information on what you’re looking for and leave the details to them.

4. When looking at other designs for inspiration you . . .

A. Email your designer with the link to what you want to be your new website, just with your logo instead of the current one.
B. Call your designer with the names of 20 websites you want to copy.
C. Email your designer scanned pages out of your niece’s coloring book colored with “the best color combinations” you’ve ever seen.
D. Send your designer several links of the style and colors you would like and ask for their feedback.

Finances

5. When discussing project budget with your designer you . . .

A. Show up in a Rolls Royce and explain how you will pay no more than minimum wage for this project as it’s “just fun for the designer”.
B. Make a point of letting the designer know that you have a lot of other bills and prefer to work on a “cash” basis (and don’t need a receipt).
C. Carefully scrutinize every dollar figure on the contract and repeatedly ask, “What does this cover again?”
D. Show the designer the courtesy of respecting their time and efforts
by offering to pay them well for their work.

6. When you receive an invoice you . . .

A. Ignore it and call to discuss a new set of changes you are sending.
B. Put a “check” in the mail that happens to get lost.
C. Send a check on the day the balance is due.
D. Send your payment to arrive on or prior to the date it is due.

Revisions

7. When you determine that you want to change a project you . . .

A. Send the designer new directions demanding changes immediately.
B. Subtly send the changes in a series of emails as if they were part of the original agreement.
C. Apologize for the changes but ask that they “bear with you”.
D. Send the changes and ask what the revision fee will be.

8. When you come across a picture of your great-great grandparents, but discover your grandmother’s face has worn off you . . .

A. Send a scanned version of the old photo and ask the designer to touch it up and replace your great-great grandmother’s face.
B. Email a scanned version of the old photo and then a photo of your grandmother right before she passed asking the designer to “go ahead and rebuild her face”.
C. Ask the designer to come meet you to pick up the photo so they can touch it up.
D. Send your designer a scanned in version of the photo and ask them if they can touch it up.

General Ethics

9. When you meet with a new designer at a coffeeshop for the first time you . . .

A. Wait awkwardly for them to offer to buy your coffee and then order the most expensive drink in the shop.
B. Refuse any coffee or drink, because you only drink “folgers.”
C. Allow the designer to buy your drink but thank them and order a moderate size
D. Insist on buying the designer’s coffee as you appreciate them taking the time to meet with you

10. When  you discover a problem with the final design that you didn’t catch you . . .

A. Call them screaming, ranting, and firing personal insults at them
B. Write them an email in all caps (because you ARE angry) and threaten to not pay them the balance, blaming them for the problem.
C. Call your designer and demand they make the adjustment and pay any extra costs
D. Email your designer, inform them of what you have discovered, and see what your options are.

Bonus:

A dog runs out in front of your car. . .

A. You speed up to try to hit it
B. You start screaming and swearing at it to get out of your way
C. Wait until the very last minute to swerve out of the way almost hitting another driver.
D. Hit the brakes and pray you don’t hit the dog!

What Can You Expect?

A’s. A designer will say, “I’m sorry but we will be unable to fulfill your needs and requirements for this project.”

B’s. A designer will say, “I’m sorry, at this time we just can’t take on any new projects. Let me give you the number of. . . .(muahahahaha).”

C’s. A designer will say, “We will be sending you a quote with a built in fee for the therapy we will need if this project takes a turn for the worse.”

D’s. A designer will say, “Here’s my business card please email me the specs of your project and we will get you a quote!”

Like what you see? Tell others about this post or feel free to refer to it on your own blog. All I ask is that you refer to this post and send readers here for the download.

Thanks for reading and good luck with your clients!