Top Ten Graphic Design Tips

I was recently asked what advice I would give to someone studying to be a professional graphic artist. I had a whole list of things and I thought I would share with you. Enjoy!

1. Ok, I know those art school commercials say you don't need to be creative to be a graphic designer. FALSE. I strongly believe art/design/colors/layouts/fonts should all be something your passionate about. It isn't something you can just LEARN overnight. Yes, you can learn programs and how colors work but if you think it will happen magically without work and goals you are kidding yourself.  There were people like this in my college and it just took time away from the us, the students who seriously wanted to learn and succeed. 

2. An important tool to master would be the pen tool. It is one that I use all of the time... learn it, love it, own it. You'll use it a lot including one of my biggest pet peeves, cutting stuff out in photoshop. It's embarrassing for everyone involved when we watch people cut stuff out using the marquee or lasso tool. I mean those other tools work, just not as good and not as easy to make adjustments. It makes you look like a total nube or a lazy, just say'n.

3. KEEP EVERYTHING! Never use the eraser tool if you can help it. It's always best to mask your things out incase you need to modify in the future. Photoshop has layers and groups for a reason, use'em. Nothing is more irritating than opening up someone's files and finding everything low res and flattened. TEARS. 

4. SHORTCUTS. They hounded and hounded us in college to use shortcuts and I'm thankful for that. There really isn't any reason you should be mousing up to do things. I have worked with several designers in the past that didn't even know how to copy paste with shortcuts. RED FLAG, they ended up being horrible workers and they were horrible designers as well. Know your stuff, shortcuts are EASY.  If you aren't using them, please know we are all laughing at you behind your back. 

I'M TELLING YOU THIS BECAUSE I CARE.

5. Macintosh computers. Gosh I hate to bring this up again but seriously you should be working on a mac for graphic design. It's just meant for our programs. Don't be scared... once you go mac you wont go back. I'm serious.

6. Backup your work and hit save as much as you can remember. It's only a matter of time [especially on a pc] when your computer will bite the dust or freeze up. It has happened to me one too many times. I should know better by now. SIGH. 

7. When your in college design things that will work in a professional world too. You need to think about what potential employers will be looking for [DVD cases, posters, ads, business cards, logos, and packaging...ect]. I'm not saying to suck out all of the creativity and fun but just to keep in mind you will need good marketing portfolio items, don't make everything pink.

8. Networking. This is one of the biggest things in the design world. You have a friend that needs a logo, DO IT. The more people you meet and know the better off you will be. Plus, you'll have items to use in your portfolio. Try your best to be friendly, I've won freelance jobs just because I'm friendly [and they told me so, a feather in my cap!].

9. Design Fun. Make sure to venture out and do things for yourself. Make sure you have the coolest business cards, myspace profile, facebook icon, custom t-shirts, and custom artwork on your walls. Stay freshy fresh and creative. I notice when I design for fun it really gets my creativity going.

10. HIGH RESOLUTION. Make everything in the highest resolution as possible [including: custom shapes and smart objects] so you wont lose quality if you need to go back.  

I hope this might help any new designer looking for tips, or even an old designer that is looking to pump up the volume. It was fun to share some of my knowledge, it's second nature to me. 

Apple Computers vs. PC Computers

I'm 100% Team Apple. What a way to start off a blog, am I right?  Truthfully... I've been in many arguments regarding this topic in my days and I thought it would be fun to write about it.

Through the years I've come to love Macintosh computers over PC computers. It's been a long time feud though, I've gone back and forth several times.

My very first computer was the [I think] 1990 Macintosh Classic. I guess you could say I was a graphic designer in training back in 7th grade because I was always using this "high tech" program similar to Paint. Haha - Go ahead and have a laugh at that comment [I did]! I would make cool banners and print them off left and right.  *HEATHER'S ROOM* Either way, I loved my computer and thought it was the best thing since sliced bread! I played games, wrote letters, and made some AMAZING graphic design banners. Custom birthday cards here we come!

It was all fun and games until I went to a friends house and saw they had these crazy things called CD's that had better games and software that sure wouldn't work on my computer. Lets just say I was really dig'n these PC computers with their crazy power, CD drives, and color screens.

Well... down the road we got new PC computer... Then I got one of my own in high school that hooked up to the INTERNET. Wowza! PC's, Internet, and CD burners ----- OH MY! So, other than school everything was now PC wherever you looked.

Off to college! I got a brand new PC [Compaq Presario] with Windows ME! I really loved my computer but gosh golly did it break down a lot! Late nights calling a computer whiz friend to help you get back up and running. Headache Pain! Then there was always the friend who said they would hook you up with Windows XP. Oh wow! Didn't it look cool with it's glossy buttons? Of course they never got around to it... Stuck with a horrible operating system - Tears!  Even with those hick-ups I was still pretty content with my computer, making mixed music CDs and doing homework.

Now to Design College, where all of the magic happens. Naturally, the school was all Mac based running OS 9 at the time. Sometimes it was a headache to work at school and come home to my PC and it wouldn't be compatible. ERROR 7... ERROR ERROR...  This was about the time where my fellow classmates were updating to macbooks and powerbooks running OS 10.

As a college graduation gift I received a brand new powerbook [2004]. I've been running the same computer with ZERO problems up to this date - That's 6 YEARS. I've NEVER had a virus, I've never had crazy screens of death, basically up and running fast since 2004!  The hard drive did go out, but it was covered by applecare and the keys are wearing out but that is it - All wear and tear! No annoying slow stupid virus stuff. No late night calls to IT friends. I think the biggest problem I had was trying to hook up a wireless router to my mac. Nobody at Cox Cable had a clue how to help a mac person [skkk skkkk we are breaking up Ma'm... hello... apple what?? I'm in a tunnel...Thank you for calling...]. That is the only time I really needed a IT friend, but that worked out because that is how I met Adrian [We have been dating ever since -- Whoo Hoo to non-responsive wireless routers!] <3.

I have more to add about the awesome-ness of the new Apple computers vs. PC computers.  Ok, like I mentioned before my little powerbook was from 2004.  It hasn't been the "newest computer" for several years but it still ran like a champion, better than any PC! At my previous employer they had the "state of the art" PC computers with chips and rams filled to the top.  Might as well of been chips and DIPS.  I don't know if it was the security software, servers, or just lack of IT knowledge but these computers were SLOW and almost always broken. For about 2 years I would get this error message that popped up every-time I started up my computer. Virus infections... Slowness... Photoshop Freeze Drama... There was in no way possible you could run Photoshop, Illustrator, and Quark all at the same time... without a lot of freeze action.  I couldn't even pull open 10+ photos into Photoshop without a horrific freeze if not a whole computer shut down freeze of doom. BLAH! Don't even get me started on my attempt to run iTunes...

MEANWHILE, I would come home and use my 6 year old mac and I would zoom all over the place with ease. I could have all of the programs open... no worries.  A folder of photos open in photoshop, YOU GOT IT! I'm sorry... but I don't think I would ever like to own another SLOW virus prone PC ever again.  I mean it's as clear as night and day in performance.

I'm not really a "gamer" and most games are for the PC... So, I mean that doesn't count in this argument. 100% I think for designers - If you're not on a mac... your computer is gunna make you slack.  I know Macs are more money, but it is well worth it! No headaches! Plus, you'll make up for it in the time not spent on dinking around with virus weird stuff.

I also think mac is so easy that it is humorous. Sometimes it's so simple I cannot figure it out. Haha! I think macs would be great for people who aren't as computer savvy. It is sure easy on the eyes and mind, that is for sure!

Summing it up: Macs running OS 10 and higher really rock my socks off.  Not only is it beautiful, it's a strong stable OS, and it's so simple I think everyone can use them.  You can say whatever you want about Macs... but I'm a believer in the product as far as computers go.

PC Lovers, try to argue yourself out of performance! What? You enjoy viruses and drama? Be my guest!

Ha! This is why many of my friends say I would be a PERFECT candidate to work at the Apple Store. I could convert people left and right! The product could sell on it's own, but I'd be sure to aim people in the right direction. Yeah, working for apple would really be a dream come true for me. Not to mention, iPhone discounts... yum yum!

LONG LIVE MY FELLOW MAC HEADS!

PS I haven't really used Linux, so it wasn't included in my article. From what I can see... It isn't too bad! The only problem I've heard from people is it's hard to get drivers and the wireless internet to work. I've also heard that Mac OS 10 is based off of Linux... So, I'm pretty sure I'd like Linux too! Wow, someone is nerdy tonight... I think I should go watch Star Trek now. 

Heather Kant attends Flash Camp Phoenix

On January 29th I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to attend a full-day event focusing on the Adobe Flash Platform [Flash Camp Phoenix]. I was so excited to go to Flash Camp Phoenix to learn cool things about Adobe Flash and other design software. 

My friend/coworker Scott and I carpooled over to Tempe early to make sure we had everything ready to go. Who knew if the traffic was going to be terrible or not!? We sure did luck out, we even had time to stop at McDonald's for some de-lish breakfast.  What a great time! I was also ever so grateful to be a passenger instead of a driver on that packed freeway, thanks again Scott!

The event was hosted at a Design College [University of Advancing Technology] in Tempe, AZ. It was so fun going into a design college. It made me remember the good ol' days of working all day on artwork without a care in the world. Also, getting to use other design mediums like markers, paint, and clay.  I suppose when we all get older we get busy in our daily lives and forget doing cool stuff like actual painting and drawing. I suppose when you sit at a desk all day photo-shopping away you forget about your beginnings. The artwork on display at this school was phenomenal! It looks like this school has a major focus on game design, something I'm not too familiar with but it sure looked cool. My hats off to them! I SHOULD have taken some photos with my phone of this adventure, I apologize.

I'm not going to lie, this event was a little hard core and was focused more for developers vs. designers. But I was able to follow along as good as I could, it was neat seeing another side of websites and programs. I like learning new things and I really think the speakers did a great job of being descriptive enough for me to catch on. The amount of people to network there was overwhelming... There were people there from Adobe [Who gave away 2 copies of the CS4 Suite - druel] and a lot of other great people too.

On a side-note: They didn't really talk about Adobe Flash at all, it was all about Flex and air... They should have called it Flex and Air Camp Phoenix. Haha.

There were a lot of developers there who had personal websites they invented that are doing great. The guy who invented www.runpee.com was there and he was kind enough to offer to his fellow designers/developers if we had an idea he would put it on his homepage to help. I thought that was about the nicest thing I had heard in a while.  I'm so used to everyone being so cut-throat. I'm not sure I will ever need to use his website, but I will sure let people know how nice he was to all of us. If I ever make it big, I will do what I can to publish him on my homepage as well.

All in all I really enjoyed my day at Flash Camp Phoenix. Yeah, I wish there could have been more design professionals giving cool presentations on photoshop or illustrator tricks... But it was still really fun and eye opening. Very Refreshing!

NOTE: In-case you didn't know. Designers are the folks who make the graphics, designs, and layouts of websites/programs. Developers are the folks who take those designs and make them a real working website/program.