Your Identity: Do-It-Yourself Logo Design Sites

There are quite a few “do-it-yourself” design sites for logo creation. They might charge anywhere from a few dollars and up to $99 (more or less). With most of these sites, you can have your logo in just one day or two to three days! Isn’t that great!?!?... NOT!

These cheap “do-it-yourself” sites (you) don’t do the research needed to make sure the logo you purchase is truly original and you usually get your logo as basically a JPEG which is not a good format for being able to shrink your logo for use on small projects to blowing it up for bigger projects.

Also, these “do-it-yourself” sites seem to be using images and clipart that has been originally created and designed by professional designers exclusively for that certain company that hired a designer. These designers DID NOT give their permission to have their work outsourced and/or used and sold to others through cheap “do-it-yourself” sites.

Why Hire a Professional

One reason to hire a professional is because a real graphic designer will consult with you to get an idea of what your needs are and will do the research to make sure that the logo you get designed will be exclusive. It will not be a copy of another logo.

When the time comes for your startup/company to get a logo, contract a professional designer to do it for you! The designer could be either a freelancer or one that works with a design agency.

Yes, it may take anywhere from a month, six months or more to get your logo through a professional designer, but in the end, the results will be credible.

Besides receiving your logo in JPEG format, your professional designer will deliver your logo to you in a “vector” format which is an editable and scalable version which you will be able to use in a variety of projects from placing it on, let’s say, a flash drive to a ginormous billboard without the logo losing its quality.

Also, in vector format, your printer will have no problem working with your logo with placing it on your product. Otherwise, they will tell you to come back when you have the right format.

Some designers might even be able to help you come up with a tag line or help you tweak the one you have. Ask your designer. Extra charges may apply.

The process that your professional freelance designer will go through usually involves…

• Consultation/Question Briefing (what is your product/service, who’s your target audience, do    you have a tag line, what colors are you leaning towards, how/where do you plan on using       the artwork (copyrights), do you have specific images, etc.)
• Contract Signed (will state your project details, payment, deliverables, etc.)
• Deposit (some may ask for a deposit up front (usually freelancers) or they may send invoices (usually small and large design firms)
• Research (competitors, what similar companies logos look like, what does the target audience like, etc.)
• Design (concepts, layout ideas, typography ideas, colors, collaborative working process with client, etc.)
• Artwork Approval form (signed by client once they have approved the final artwork)
• Final Payment (final amount of the payment is due to freelancers)
• Client Gets Final Project (in b&w and color and as JPEG, TIFF, PDF and EPS formats, and either e-mailed and/or on CD)

So, contact a REAL designer for your projects! And, don't steal other designers work by "doing-it-yourself". You really don’t know where the “do-it-yourself” site got the images/clipart that are posted on their site. Your logo may end up not being valuable and you won't have permission to use work that has been designed for others and/or for other companies.

Yes, it does take time to get a good, quality professional logo and you may pay hundreds of dollars or even thousands of dollars for a logo designed for you by a professional designer. That logo will be original and yours exclusively! It is definitely worth the time and the money!

Your logo should be unique to you and your business. It should evolve with your business. It will be YOUR IDENTITY!

Copyright Laws

If you buy a logo off a "do-it-yourself" site, you could be in trouble if you purchased a designers work without their permission (due to the designer not having given the site their permission to post any of their images and/or their work on such sites).

The designer owns all rights to the artwork they have created for a client unless they sign off on the contract or on a separate agreement that you (the client) have bought out the copyrights from the designer or the designer may “lend” the client a piece of their copyright.

For more information on copyright laws, you can view Copyright Basics for Graphic Designers on the AIGA web site.

Social Networking, It Sure Has Changed!

Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, You Tube and Google+, yes, they’re all social networking sites but, why do some people think they are all the exact same thing? I think they’re NOT the same! They could all work for you in kind of the same way, but they’re still very different. It almost seems like each site has its own personality because once you sign up, it’s really YOUR personality coming through! You sign up and you make it your OWN!

Before the above mentioned sites, there were chat rooms and instant messaging, more about those in a bit.

This is how I use Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, You Tube and Google+…

Facebook – It sometimes feels like there's a party going on or it can be a chit chat kind of feel (depending on your “Friends”). People post that they’re at Burger King right now (sometimes along with a photo) or that they can’t decide if they want pizza or a beef sandwich for lunch and they ask what do you think, what should I have? A lot of goofy stuff gets posted as well as photos galore.

On Facebook, I have a ton of “Likes” so; my news feed is filled with all kinds of information relating to Graphic Design, Web Design, DJ’s (music), etc. In between, I have the “… going to the zoo tomorrow”, or “I had to wait 45 minutes just got my oil changed”, or well, you know, the silly stuff! LOL

One thing I like is that you can create lists. So I’ve created a few lists from my “Likes” where each list is related to one topic such as Adobe Software, Tutorial Sites, Recruiters/Staffing, etc. It's nice to be able to go to a certain list and see news feeds from my certain "Likes" lists.

Facebook does have a character limit. I can’t recall what that is.

Update: September 28, 2015 - Ok, at this time, Facebook no longer has a character limit of 500. Since bumping it up a few times in the past years, it's now over 63000 characters. Well, I guess you could say there still is a character limit but, it's quite larger than it was.

LinkedIn – My background consists of Graphic/Web Designer, Marketing Assistant/Coordinator & Administrative Assistant. I use LinkedIn to connect with others in my same field (but, it’s not like I’m not connected to other people that are not in my field because I am).

They have some great forums created by LinkedIn members in all kinds of fields and topics (you can create a forum too). You can ask questions and get some wonderful advice and/or you can answer questions and share your expertise and knowledge. Once you’ve joined about 55 forums, that’s it! You can’t join anymore. That’s a lot of forums. I can’t join anymore; I’ve maxed out my limit.

You can ask for and (hopefully) get a reference/references from people you already know from, for example, class mates or instructors, friends, co-workers and supervisors from past or present jobs. Of course, these people have to be in your LinkedIn network to write and post a reference on your profile. Well, you have to accept what was written first, then you can have it posted.

If you post that you’re seeking employment, you never know when one of your connections might see your post on their feed and contact you with some great job info and/or introduce you to someone who is looking for someone like you.

What better way to connect with hundreds and thousands of persons in your field. It’s like a great rolodex of like-minded professionals.

Twitter – It's all about who you're following and who is following you!

It seems to have started out as people posting what they were having for breakfast, that they are now watching such and such on TV, that they just got home and are tired, that tomorrow they have a dentist appointment. With only 140 characters though, you can only say so much! So, u mite have 2 rite in short code.

In the past few years, Twitter seems to have changed and has become more topic/news related. I mostly follow people/companies that are in my same field like graphic designers, web designers, or company’s like Adobe or restaurants and stores, etc. The people/companies I follow post news articles, software tutorials, restaurant info, etc. You know how it is.

Depending on who you’re following, your feed can contain anything from A to Z. Of course, there are still people out there posting their dinner menu; that they’re going on a bike ride; that they just got home from swimming, etc. So, like Facebook, there’s always someone posting silly stuff too.

You Tube – You can network through You Tube by having your own channel and by subscribing to other’s channels and/or becoming friends with other You Tubers. Everyone likes it when you leave comments and/or messages on their channels.

On my channels, I have posted multimedia projects that I have worked on at school in my multimedia class this last semester (of 2011). I would like to post more projects, but that will have to wait till I can buy my own camcorder so that I can record stuff. In the meantime, I'll be searching for channels to subscribe to.

Google+ – True! It is somewhat similar to Facebook but then again, I really don't think it is. One nice thing is that you don’t have character limits like you do on Facebook and on Twitter. On Google+ instead of News Feeds you have a Stream.

You create “circles” to put your friends, family and others in which helps keep them organized and categorized. You can make as many “circles” as you like for example, I have one for Graphic/Web Designers, one for Multimedia People, one for LinkedIn Connections, and others. Whatever fits your needs is what you create. Also, you can put people in more than one “circle” and, you don’t have to put people in a “circle” if they have you in one of theirs.

You can also start a “Hang out” or you can join one (no more than 10 people per “hang out”). The “Hang out” is just chatting or, it could be a meeting too. It’s business or pleasure or a combination of both.

CHAT ROOMS of the 90’s vs. TODAY’S SOCIAL NETWORKING

Years ago, back in the 90’s, chat rooms were the big thing. Just a few of the chat sites that were popular back then were Yahoo Chat, Excite Chat, Talk City, AOL, you could chat through MIRC, and others. Some of those may still be around.

I used to chat all the time through Talk City (the Chicago room). A friend and I used to hold chat room parties at dance clubs in different Chicagoland suburbs to meet and get to know those we were chatting with. It was fun and it was something to do. Chat rooms back then were more just being silly and shooting the breeze. I have pictures.

Through those chat rooms you could chat with people from all over the world and through some of them you could also have one on one web cam chats. There were also a lot of bots in some of the chat rooms. It was really annoying.

Back then, you were either on a PC or on Web TV (which they used to call the poor man’s computer). Only business people had PDA’s and they couldn’t do then what can be done today with a mobile phone. Technology sure has come a long way.

Good bye bots!! And these days, hello SPAM!! (Ok, spam has been around a long time, not just the canned SPAM, but e-mail spam).

INSTANT MESSAGING

Instant messaging is an earlier form of social networking but it has always been referred to as chat. Some of the popular IM clients were and still are Yahoo, AIM (AOL IM) and Windows Live Messenger. With texting though, I don’t think many people are on IM that much anymore. Whenever I login to Yahoo IM, (which is every once in a great while) there’s hardly no one on anymore.

IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU!!!

Each of the sites mentioned is so different and there’s so much more to say about them. In the end, these sites are all about YOU! It’s about one's experiences and expertise. It’s about sharing your knowledge, your stories and networking (which is big these days). You all have something to contribute. So what makes today’s social networking sites is YOU, all the people of the world, our family, our friends and our neighbors.

Who would have ever thought (many years ago before chat rooms) that you would be able to meet other people from more than half way around the world in an instant with just the click of a mouse!

Welcome to the world of SOCIAL NETWORKING. How you use these sites, is up to you. You can use them to your advantage or just for fun.

KEEPING UP!

For me, social networking is somewhat on the informational side such as subscribing to career related articles and news, job hunting, following someone to get creative tutorials and creative news articles and topics, keeping up with family and friends that don’t live right next door or live just five minutes away and of course networking.

I just wish I had the time to be able read each and every article that comes my way.

E-Portfolio... In The Design World, You Need to Have One!

The following is a Web Design Class assignment. We were to answer questions regarding E-Portfolios and list a few references.

WHAT IS AN E-PORTFOLIO?
An E-Portfolio (electronic portfolio) is a web-based site, which showcases design work as well as a resume, blogs and anything else you’d like to add. These portfolios are also known as an Online Portfolio or a Digital Portfolio.

This type of portfolio is used a lot by creative people such as graphic designers, web designers or freelancers to show their design work and achievements to colleagues, employers, clients, family, friends, etc. on the internet. Many Photographers, Writers, Actors, Animators, Interior Designers, etc. also use E-Portfolios. Depending on your field, it is good to have one.

Some people might sign-up for an account that hosts online portfolios through sites such as Coroflot, Behance, Carbonmade, DevianArt, etc. With these sites all you have to do is basically fill-in the blanks and upload samples of your design work, resume, etc. A good thing to having an account with one of these sites listed is you can join their forums and communities and make connections really fast.

Others, if they’re able to, will design their own E-Portfolio site. This process can take anywhere from about a month to a few months depending on how simple or how elaborate you want your online portfolio to look.

If you design your own online portfolio, that in itself is one example of your web design work. Your online portfolio can be one page or multiple pages. But of course, you must keep in mind that less is more and you don’t want to overdo it.

An E-Portfolio is also good for creative people who just want to network and to build business type relationships. In most fields it is necessary these days to have an online presence. For example, you never know when an excellent job lead might come up (even though you’re not looking for one) from one of your network connections. You can then e-mail your online portfolio to whoever it needs to be sent to or if you’re face-to-face give that person your portfolio address, preferably your business card which has the link on it. Sure you can write out your information on whatever piece of paper you happen to find at the time but, it is best to look and be professional.

No matter what, just like your resume, you should form a habit to always keep up your online portfolio. It is an ongoing process. Visual communication is very important these days. It’s your digital identity.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF AN E-PORTFOLIO?
An E-Portfolio is designed to show your web site design work and/or your print work. And, if you have any, you can also show your animation work. Animation is not something you can show to its fullest extent such as with a book portfolio.

One way some creatives use their E-Portfolio is to find employment and/or freelance work. Besides samples of your work, an E-Portfolio can contain your resume which names/lists companies that you have worked for.

Depending on the purpose of your E-Portfolio and whatever it is you plan on using it for, in the end, you want to put just enough information on it where they will then want to speak with you further to find out more information about your design skills and goals. You want to get them to call you! It is all about promoting yourself… branding and identity!

Also, if you’re seeking employment and/or freelance work, it is good to have a separate e-mail account just for that purpose. It is also good to utilize your online portfolio link as part of your e-mail signature. That way, you don’t always have to type it in.

Once you have your site designed, hosted and ready to go, all you have to do is to add (copy and paste) your URL address (link) to an e-mail. Of course, the link should be posted on your business card too.

E-PORTFOLIO BEST PRACTICES
Should contain
• Full name
• Office/Business Address
• E-mail Address
• Phone Number (with proper voice mail message)
• Fax Number
• Site Name

Depending on how you are using your E-Portfolio, the following is
optional or should be listed
• Social Media Site Links: LinkedIn, Blogs, etc.
• Home Address (for freelancers if they don’t have a business address)
• Resume (if you’re searching for employment)
• Client or Industry List
• Services Offered (if you’re a freelancer seeking employment)

Page Layout
• Appealing
• Consistent
• Not Cluttered
• Good Navigation
• Organized Content
• Easy to Read Text
• Fast Download
• Common Header and Footer

Color and Graphics
• Consistent Color (throughout site)
• Subtle Color
• No More Than 3 Different Font Types
• Optimized Graphics
• Image Alt Tags

E-PORTFOLIO SITE INFORMATION
Web designer wall – Visited March 31,2011
Web Designer Wall: Single Page E-Portfolio Sites

Freelance Folder – Visited March 31, 2011
Freelance Folder: 20 Inspiring Personal Portfolio Sites You Should Explore

DesignM.ag – Visited March 31, 2011
DesignM.ag 50 Excellent Designer Portfolio Sites

DesignM.ag – Visited March 31, 2011
DesignM.ag: Inspiration, 101 Awesome E-Portfolio Sites

Back to School.....

I've been trying to find a job as a Graphic Designer (Print) and it seems that these days, employers want employees with a combination of Graphic Design (Print) AND Web Design knowledge. So, in order to keep up with the times, I'm hoping to accomplish what employers want and I'm going BACK TO SCHOOL!! I'm also doing this for myself!!

I'm excited, yet scared. Excited because I'm going to learn some new things and I'll be updating my skills and knowledge, and scared because with a mortgage to pay, I have to find a job (NOW) that will allow me to work AND go to my classes.

DOES YOUR COMPANY VALUE EDUCATION?

Do any companies out there send their employee's to classes anymore? And/or, do employee's have to pay for udating their own education? I guess it all depends on the company, the supervisor and the job.

To me, it seems like there are some companies out there that don't value education. It's like, they're not going to hire someone who is taking classes during working hours/days. And, that's partly because they don't want to pay someone what they're worth. Even though they want someone with all the skills and knowledge in the world they are only willing to pay low wages. They just want to get by with an employee who has barely the real experience that they would like an employee to have. Do you now what I mean?

As a current job seeker, I've seen tons of job advertisements that want it all, but don't want to pay the wages deserved (for someone who has the skills and knowledge). It's like, they want you to have the most awesome Adobe CS skills, PowerPoint skills along with some Administrative skills and you'll have to do this and that, etc., and you need to have a Bachelor's degree but they're only paying that?...Hahaha, that's funny!!

Then, there are those companies who will work with you and let you attend classes AND pay you what you're worth. That's what I want to find, a company who will work with me while I'm working towards updating my education. In the long run, it will not only help me out, but it's good for the company that I end up working for. I've seen some job ads with great pay for the job posted (of course, you do have to have the skills and knowledge for the job).

GRADUATION IN THE YEAR 2012?

Currently, I have two Associate degrees and if everything goes as planned, I will have three Associate degrees. My third degree will be a Web Design Associate of Applied Science degree. Since I have most of the class requirements (from when I received my Computerized Graphic Design degree), all I need are about 5/6 classes. In that case, if all goes well and there are no interruptions such as classes canceled due to low enrollement, etc., I should hopefully graduate in the year 2012.

MY CLASSES

The classes I will be taking in the spring 2010 semester are Introduction to Digital Design and Introduction to Multimedia Design. I can't wait to start and especially to buy books and whatever other supplies I need.

One of the instuctors I've had before in the past and the other instructor will be new to me.

The only thing I'm not happy about is that out of the five classes I have to take, only one class is either in the evenings or on Saturdays (so, of course I'm taking the evening class). All the rest of the classes are sometime in the morning hours. I've always attended my classes during evening hours and now (at least this coming semester) I'm going to have one class that I'll have to attend during morning hours. They don't even have online or hybrid classes (which would help alot).

NEW SOFTWARE

Hopefully, I'll be able to update my software. As a student, I will be able to buy the latest software at really low prices at school. I really need to update my MS Office Suite and of course, my Adobe CS Suite. What I have now (MS Office XP and Adobe CS2) still works for me, but it will be great to be updated.

A NEW JOB

Now, all I need is employment. If there is a company out there that is a great company I can grow with and needs a great worker with great attendance, an employee who is always on time, a fast learner, etc., let me know and HIRE ME TODAY!!

I have a lot of great graphic design, marketing and administrative skills and knowledge. It's not like I'm new to the working world.

You can view my online portfolio at www.coroflot.com/egallegos

Also, join me on LinkedIn: Elvira

Interview's Next Week.....

I'm so tired of being unemployed looking for a job. In a way, it's nice to be home, but since I don't have any extra cash to spend, I can't go out and do anything. I mean, it's not like I'd go out and spend like crazy. I'm talking about going out every once in a while for lunch somewhere reasonably priced or anything else to get out of the house.

What I basically do everyday is I'm on my PC job hunting on CareerBuilder, Craigslist, Creative Hotlist, and other job sites. I'm on my LinkedIn account, etc. I should say, I'm stuck to my pc...LOL.

One thing though, I sure am looking forward to next week, the week of September 21. I have a meeting with an office products company on Tuesday, September 22 for a possible freelance graphic design project and, an interview on Wednesday September 23 with an actual company for a permanent, full-time job.

FREELANCE PROJECT

The freelance design job consists of cover sheets that will go on top of the product, then the product will be shrink wrapped or put into a pouch. The cover sheet, besides the company logo and line art, will state the name of the product, a discription, an item number and a bar code.

Also, I think they will have a couple other projects too such as an e-mail letter. I'm thinking he's meaning an e-mail blast and I can't recall what the other thing is (if there is one). If I accept this project and he accepts my quote(s), I'll have a few extra dollars which, of course, will go to pay utilities, groceries, etc.

PERMANENT, FULL-TIME POSITION

The permanent job is for a Senior Administrative Assistant position. The cool thing about this job is that they also want this person to have some Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign knowledge. So, I'll at least get to be a bit creative (if I'm the one to get the position). I'm so excited, I can't wait till next week!

The drive to this job, for now, would be about an hour away. The good thing is, they're moving closer to my way. That's supposed to happen sometime before this year is up. In that case, the drive may be some 40 mins (give or take) and that's not too bad. They say an average commute is 30 to 45 minutes.

What would be really nice is to be able to work from home. Maybe one day if and when I get VISUAL XPLOSION, my graphic design business going. Dreams do come true, huh?...LOL.

OTHER POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY

Also, I received an e-mail from another company (who had e-mailed me a couple of weeks ago) regarding a position that consists of Marketing, Administrative and Graphic Design.

The only thing is that the drive to this job would be an hour each way. During the winter, on snowy days and even on stormy, rainy days, you can bet it will take an extra 45 minutes or more each way. I don't know if I could really handle that after a while. I wouldn't mind if I could take the train and the ride was an hour. I've taken the train to downtown Chicago and depending on the time of day and how many stops the train has to make, it can take up to an hour each way.

THE WEEKEND(S)

Weekends are no fun! Now, I just have to get through this weekend (and every weekend for that matter). I really despise weekends and holidays because HR is, of course, not working. Not many new jobs get posted.

So, I sit at home on weekends, on my PC reading news headlines and articles that interest me, chatting on chat sites and/or IMing. What I SHOULD be doing is designing some new mock pieces for my portfolio such as brochures, ads, post cards, newsletters, etc. And, I SHOULD be reading up on and learning more about HTML, CSS, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Web Design, and more! I really need to get on it NOW!! Time is just passing me by.

Oh yeah, another thing I need to really get going on this weekend is to type out some questions for both the freelance project and the interview. Well, I do have tonight (Friday) and the next three days to work on that. I surely don't want to end up doing it at the last minute...LOL