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Watch People in Other Industries React Hilariously to Being Asked for Free Spec Work
Architects don't give away their blueprints. Diners don't fork out free meals. Personal Trainers don't sign over their intellectual property on spec. So why are we as creative agencies signing away our ideas? In fact, why is anyone in any industry giving it away? We'd love to hear what you think.
An absolutely MUST WATCH! This is a BRILLIANT video from creative agency Zulu Alpha Kilo explaining why no one should be doing "spec work" and giving away their livelihood for free!
Architects don't give away their blueprints. Diners don't fork out free meals. Personal Trainers don't sign over their intellectual property on spec. So why are we as creative agencies signing away our ideas? In fact, why is anyone in any industry giving it away? We'd love to hear what you think.
I really wish they'd included a plastic surgeon and a plumber. 😏
Logo Design for Pawsitive Purrspective - Petcare
The evolution of the Pawsitive Purrspective logo...
Pencil sketch
Black and white vector image
Colors applied
Another Brilliant Talk from Mike Monteiro of Mule Design
Mike Monteiro: This is the golden age of design! …and we're screwed (Webdagene 2015)
Everywhere I look companies are hiring designers! Two hundred over here! A thousand over here! We need a lot of them and we need them fast. Finally! Companies have come to understand the importance of design in building successful products and services. Isn't that great? Except where in the world are we going to find a thousand designers? And how good can we expect a thousand of anything to be? And how in the world do you incorporate them into your company? Find out.
Emoji, A Closer Look
Just for fun, I recently posted a tweet (primarily in emoji) that describes a typical day for me in the studio. Strangely enough, it got a lot of favs and retweets.
It was early in the morning and I was browsing through twitter on my iPhone, when I had the thought...How much info could you put out in a tweet using emoji? I thought about what I did all day and was curious if I could find the right emoji to describe the ins and outs of my day.
Translated, the above set of emoji say this: I get up at 7am and read the news, then workout, take a shower, eat breakfast, make coffee and am at work in the studio by 9am. I then read emails, drink my coffee, work on the computer, write and/or respond to client emails, answer questions and find solutions. I work until about noon and then eat a healthy lunch. I'm then back at it. A client might disapprove a design element in an email. To clarify, I might give them a call so that we can work together to fix it. Then I send the design back, get an approval, work on finalizing the files, and do an email, call or two from other clients. When approval comes back, I invoice the work, get paid and send the files. At about 6pm, I call it quits, make dinner and maybe have a beer. Later that night, I might play a video game or read a book, but I'm usually asleep before midnight.
So I can write out 164 words, OR I can say this in, 57 emoji! (By the way, I just figured out that the plural of emoji, is emoji NOT emojis.)
I know...some people absolutely hate emoji. I really wasn't a big fan until it evolved past the smiley and frowny faces. I became an even bigger fan once they became graphics and were available on my desktop's OS. In the Character Viewer (Apple) you actually get a description of each one so that you can use them properly.
Let's face it, emoji are not only here to stay, but they are truly, the closest thing we have to universal communication.
Let's Take a Closer Look
I've been a big fan of emoji for the past year, but, until today, I never really looked at them, up close. Below I'm posting a few screenshots that show you some of the really neat details of emoji (Apple OS). I've pasted them into a text app and cranked the font size up.
Click for larger image.
Here are just a few interesting things about the emoji in the above image.
The mobile phone is not a generic looking phone. It is most definitely an iPhone.
The shower-head, the egg, the apple and the beer, all have quite a lot of detail that you probably won't notice until you blow them up.
The pink building with the heart is described as the "Love Hotel" in Apple's Character Viewer.
The game control, actually says "GAME" in the middle of it.
The tabbed pages, the book and the note being written all include part of the "Think Different" text written by Rob Siltanen with participation of Lee Clow, and it reads "Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can..." (Apple almost always uses this text (or part thereof) in any icon or emoji where text is represented.)
The newspaper title is "The Apple Times" with "lorem ipsum" as the text of the article. The image on the newspaper is the "volcano erupting" emoji.
The book volumes 1-4 are all written by John Appleseed.
The building with the "24" above it, is a 7/11 type of 24 hour convenience store.
Lastly...like it or not...the pile of poo...really just is...A PILE OF POO! 😳
Thrive Allen County - First Annual Pedalfest
A month or so ago, I was contacted by Thrive Allen County, (a client I've done some work for in the past), about an up coming cycling event they were calling "Pedalfest". I was very happy and excited to get to be involved in yet another bicycle-related project. I was even more delighted when I found out they wanted a female cyclist for the design.
Last weekend (September 12, 2015) was the very first Pedalfest, in Iola, KS, and Thrive Allen County was so nice to post photos on various social media platforms. Here are just a few they posted that included many of the designs I did for them.
As a designer, it's really cool (and somewhat rare) to be able to see your work in action. Especially so for us, since our clients tend to be anywhere but local.
If you're interested in Thrive Allen County and the Pedalfest, please visit the links below:
Portland Alley Pedalfest Designs by Rolling Rook Studio
The Design Process (Infographic)
Developed this infographic to explain the way we design at Rolling Rook Studio...
Showing Your Work
Showing your work can be an important part of designing. If for no other reason than to give yourself an idea of how you work and perhaps even how you think. Showing your work gives you insight to your processes (which you don't necessarily have to share with the client).
Showing Our Work: Taking an idea, sketching it out on paper (bottom) and then turning it into a digital design (top).
I keep a client journal on my desk. Basically, it's a Moleskine® where I write things down, old school. It typically contains a page or two I've written up during my initial telephone interview with a client. I ask a few questions, then listen to their ideas about the design, (the more passionate their ideas, the better). While I listen, I write down key points about shapes, colors, thoughts about their ideal customers, descriptions of the service or product, and even the feelings that it conveys. If a visual pops into my head, I will sketch it out as well.
When it comes down to the design process, I start with an initial concept, and then walk away from it. Leaving a project and then coming back to it later is a great way to give it a fresh look. The second look is then shared and discussed with a second pair of eyes before it goes to the client for review.
At the beginning of 2015, Rolling Rook Studio took on a photographer and design partner who often serves as a second pair of eyes and creative director. It has changed the way we work for the better. Having another visual professional on hand to offer input on projects, has proven to be invaluable, and greatly improved our work.
