The topic of job descriptions came up in conversation with some colleagues the other day. Frequently cited was frustration with overly broad or ambitious job descriptions that read like an employer wish list of skills and expertise rather than an accurate picture of actual needs. Graphic design seems like an area where this is especially prevalent, perhaps owing to the many forms of design practice. While some may argue on the side of that being a valid recruitment approach... CONTINUE READING

A few weeks ago my poll article “What’s the Best Way to Build an Online Portfolio?” received quite a few comments and many voted via the poll. With the wide selection of template portfolio web sites available to designers, this result may not be a surprise, but it is to me, a print and web designer, educator and one who began coding sites in 1995. In fact, it was a bit shocking to see that 68% of respondents said... CONTINUE READING

The minimalist approach can go a long way, especially when you have a text only logo, meaning that it is free of any emblem or other distinct pictorial element. Text only logos can also include a lettermark. A good example would be the McDonald’s “M”. According to DesignCrowd, 8 of the top 10 brands - from Interbrand's Top 100 brands of the world 2009 - use a simple wordmark or lettermark logo. Also 51 of the top 100 brands... CONTINUE READING

It’s 8pm on a Friday and I’ve just looked through what feels like 200 billion (but is more likely about 45) of the most mind-numbingly bad portfolios ever to be submitted for a design position. When I started this process, it was 5pm on a Friday and the foolish me of two hours ago was brimming with optimism at the promise of finding a dream designer and leaving the office early. Then it was 7pm and the parade of... CONTINUE READING

A few weeks ago I wrote an article and posted a poll about following up after an interview and… the results are in! A whopping 88% of those polled believed that they should follow up an interview with a thank you note or email. Which is a number we were happy to hear. Because of the experience at our talent agency, the response to that poll question hovers right around 100%. (In other words, we think it’s a great... CONTINUE READING

Who says there are no second chances? For those who may have missed it the first time, Behance Portfolio Review Week is back! In May 2012, online creative platform Behance held its first ever Portfolio Review Week, where Behance members who may have only met previously online, gathered over seven days to “present and get feedback on their work, hear from experienced professionals, and meet their local creative community.” With over 153 reviews held in 43 countries around the... CONTINUE READING

Everyday I drive past a terribly offensive sign. It reads “Shaner’s.” The name of the business hardly offends me. It’s the prime mark holding the space where a smart (curly) apostrophe should be that sets me over the edge. It drives me absolutely crazy and got me to thinking. How much time do designers spend on choosing the best colors for a design job? Picking the perfect picture? Choosing the right font? Most designers agonize over these decisions. Of... CONTINUE READING

Many professional and freelance designers work from home: perhaps due to familial or personal restrictions, perhaps because the commute to the company office is too far, or perhaps that’s just the way they like it. Whatever the reason, once a designer finds his or herself in a situation where work is performed under the same roof as laundry, a few small actions can make all the difference in maintaining a healthy life-work balance and not getting caught doing homework.... CONTINUE READING

It is a difficult task for big, well-established brands to makes changes to their visual identity. Users of their products have their habits, and change is rarely welcome by them, thus large corporations have to be extra careful when redesigning their logo. The logos that were chosen for this article have sometimes been heavily criticized when released, despite being great rebranding, proving further that even a great redesign might not be good enough for the brand’s users. The DC... CONTINUE READING

The challenge in doing an audio broadcast about graphic design is that you can’t see it. But 99% Invisible, the bi-weekly podcast by Roman Mars, makes seeing design irrelevant. Using a voice-inside-your-head narration, Mars talks about the design of cities, of currency, copyright—huge topics that you could only begin to cover in a book or a lecture. But rather than trying to bring textbooks to life, Mars talks about how the design affects people personally—and finds interesting people to... CONTINUE READING