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Best Posts of 2010

Posted 03 Jan 2011 - 2 Gratefully received comments

I’d like to start this first post of 2011 by wishing everyone a happy and prosperous new year.

I’ve commented in the past that I don’t really appreciate new years celebrations. For me, it’s a simple marker in time that a lot of people use to set goals for themselves or change their habits in an effort to improve themselves, which is a great thing. Personally, I don’t need the turning of a calendar page as motivation to make changes. I guess I’m a bit of a new year Grinch!

I’ve got a lot to be excited about this year, the main thing being that I will be getting married! There are also a host of new personal and professional opportunities for me to work on. I have plenty to look forward to.

However, the one thing I do like about the new year is pausing to look back at the year that has passed. Every newspaper and TV channel takes this opportunity to make highlight compilations of the year. So I thought I’d conform to the norm and make my own highlight reel!

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What do you buy a Designer for Xmas? – Random Question #6

Posted 20 Dec 2010 - 2 Gratefully received comments

Here’s another opportunity for you to have your say, with another one of my random questions.

It’s that wonderful time of year when we all gather together and celebrate commercialism!

Of course I’m joking (a little). There are many reasons to celebrate Xmas, and the less cynical side of me appreciates how generous the human race becomes to one another at this time of year.

I know it’s corny, but as I’ve got older I have enjoyed giving gifts rather than receiving them. Plus with the advent of internet shopping I can get all of the gifts I need in between jobs.

There is one regular occurrence in the run up to Xmas in my family. I always get asked to write a list of things I might like. The reaction to this list is usually puzzlement. I’m not sure if it’s just me, or designers in general, but my tastes tend to veer off into the obscure. Any CD’s I like can’t usually be found on the high street and the books I like (design related or not) are limited runs or difficult to find. Luckily I like films, which can be an easy go to gift for the uninitiated!

So, what do you buy a designer for Xmas? Or if you are a designer, what is on your xmas list?

I’m only asking to make my life easier in the future. I can make a list and give my relatives a whole year to do their research and track things down!

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Interview on Dave Will Design

Posted 18 Nov 2010 - One gratefully received comment

A while back I was interviewed by Dave Williams for his blog. It’s now been published for your enjoyment (hopefully).
You can see it here.

Dave’s questions were really interesting and insightful. I hope my answers might be helpful to others too.

While you’re there take a good look at some of Dave’s other articles. He’s been busy producing some interesting stuff for the consumption of the blogosphere.

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Are you a Leopard or a Chameleon?

Posted 15 Nov 2010 - 4 Gratefully received comments

Design, like any creative pursuit, is all about individual style.

Some designers rely on it as their unique selling point, these are the ‘leopards’ that according to the saying …”never change their spots”.

Others adapt the style they work in according to the requirements of a project, like a ‘chameleon,’ they adapt to their environment.

For a designer or a client what are the advantages of each approach?

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A Successful Re-Brand – Comet

Posted 01 Nov 2010 - 2 Gratefully received comments

Last week I wrote my thoughts on how badly I thought GAP handled their re-branding. To balance my karma I thought I better shine a spotlight onto a company that, in my opinion, got it right. The electrical chain Comet.

I consider Comet’s re-branding a success due to the commitment they have shown in reinforcing the changes they have made to their logo by following through and making complimentary changes to the rest of their image.
This is the difference between a logo and a brand. A company doesn’t just change a logo because they are bored with the old one. There has to be very good reasons for a change in the first place.
A logo should project all of the important messages that a company wants their customers to know about them in a simple and powerful way. This is why logo design is such a challenge. However, a logo is useless if the company it represents does not follow through on promises a logo makes.
This is why a brand must compliment it’s logo and vice-versa.

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Mind the GAP

Posted 28 Oct 2010 - 5 Gratefully received comments

While I’ve been away what have I missed? I heard a lot of fuss about the GAP logo, but it seems they are using the same logo they were when I went to take my break?

This whole GAP saga has been very interesting to watch over the past couple of weeks, and I’m in two minds about what to think of it all. For me it raises questions about how businesses value design and how they react to public opinion.

But let’s take this step by step…

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Break Time

Posted 06 Sep 2010 - 2 Gratefully received comments

The wonderful thing about life is how things never seem to stop! Being busy is the most wonderful problem a freelancer, or any business, can have.
This means that because of time constraints over the next few weeks I will not be posting as regularly as I have been for the past year or so.

Change is always an exciting thing, I don’t really get people that fear it. So I’m very happy to be moving home in the near future. It’s not a big move, I’m staying in the same town, just upgrading my flat.

So in an attempt to juggle work, moving home, freelance clients and blogging, one of these activities will have to give way for a short time. That activity is my blogging, which is a shame, but it simply can’t be helped!

I plan a 2 or 3 week break, but hopefully it won’t be a complete void. I’ll leave you with one more comic strip on Thursday, then hopefully there may be one or two guest articles from other designers and freelancers until I return.

In fact if you have an article that you’ve been looking to get published somewhere online, feel free to submit it to me via my contact page.

As I mentioned previously I have been blogging for a while now so there is a sizable archive of content that you are free to browse. I’ve picked a few of my favourite articles from the archives to give you an idea of what you might have missed.

Blog-Ject #1

A while back I started a series of posts that would walk-through my creative process and business practices.
I’m about half-way through the series so far, about to embark on the real design work. You can catch up on the series so far here.

My Life as a Cartoon – Comic Strips

A collection of graphic design based comic strips featuring myself and others. There are over 30 strips to read through, more than enough to waste a lunch hour as one reader informed me recently!

7 Tips for Freelancers Arranging a Holiday

A post suggesting some tips how freelancers might prepare for a holiday.

The Great Design Myth – Exposure

This is an article where I outline my mistrust of anyone that requests cheap or free design work in exchange for that most elusive of things, exposure, and of course more work as a result of it! What are your thoughts?

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© Ken Reynolds Design