Hi there,

I just moved the entire kriszha.wordpress.com blog to kriszha.com. Hope you like the new color & design, its basically just a standard WordPress theme that I modified a bit to fit my needs.  Please, let me know your views. thanks.

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Every logo design is an art and a science. It is not purely art because it is need based, its a visual representation of the image of an organization, person or an idea.

For a prospective client and upcoming graphic designer here are some pitfalls to be avoided.

1.  Its not an exhibition of your font collection. So don’t use more than two different fonts.

2.  The world is neither multicolour nor monochrome. Avoid using more than three different colours unless you want a rainbow.

3.  If you are still using clipart or photo, then it means that you still use Windows3.2 with your dotmatrix printer , or else you come from the era when air was clean and sex was considered dirty.

4.  People love symmetry. Scientific study has shown that beautiful people have a symmetrical face. So avoid creating a visually imbalanced logo.

5.  A logo has 0.1 millisecond to make its impact on the customer. So avoid making unrecognizable company logos which are either mirrored, resized or inverted.

6.  Follow the golden rule of KISS( Keep It Simple Stupid) Avoid using symbols that are irrelevant or unrelated to the business of the client.( If your client is in nuclear business no need to show trees and children)

7. Some symbols are cliché, so avoid them. Like symbols of handshake, Globe etc.

8.  A Logo without a concept is like hiring masons to build a house without any engineer or architect.You will build a house in the end, but not many guests. Always better to start the logo design process with a brainstorming session with the client and sketch out your ideas with a pencil and papers.

9.  Imagine watching two different movies in two separate screen.  So unless your target clients are Siamese twins avoid using distracting effects over logo.

10.  Imitation is not the greatest form of flattery. Besides the legal hassle its also shows your company logo in poor taste. Only imitate logos if your client is into selling counterfeit products.

Wish you a happy new year 2009.

I wanna call this year as GREEN year for me, because I just wrap up a logo design assignment for a news portal focusing entirely on everything renewable energy, the site is not up yet may be my client is busy with organizing contents, for his privacy reason I’ve not shown you the logo and designs for his business. I’ll post those logos and designs later, when the site will be up.

As per my client, his site will focus everything about renewable energy in the news/media.

To get the complete Green environment feelings I watched couple of documentry movies like Al Gore’s anInconvinient truth and Lionardo Dicaprio’s the 11th hour.  This is the way I start my pre design research for each assignment.

And Hey! if you have time please watch these movies, our earth is really in danger, People are busy making cash, even I’m busy with my own survival strategies. Very few people are there who think about the Global warming, Climate changes and Green earth. I think its really 11th hour, We have to think about the green.

This year I want to dedicate 33% of my time to aware people for Global warming, Climate changes and other environment challanges, but I dont know where to begainwith

What your opinion, please share…

Thanks

Its tough to get a new assignment for newcomer freelance graphic designer and to complete the job within the deadline is even harder.  A single minute makes a huge difference. Few years back I used to switch off my phone, lock the door from inside to avoid friends and other visitors just to complete the job on the given deadline. Once you know, what time management is, giving priority to the works and full concentration is, then meeting deadline will be easier for you. Here are few basic things to avoid deadline rush. You shouldn’t be optimistic, don’t fix a deadline which you think you will not be able to meet. Commitment is good but you should be realistic with your deadlines. In order to impress the client or to get the project you shouldn’t lie to your clients. You should make sure that you and the client are in agreement with a specific deadline including time of days. While quoting for the project don’t quote 1day if you can finish the assignment in a day, rather quote 30 hours and delivery within 24 hours, this process will enhance your relation with client. Don’t take workload if you are already working with an assignment. Always speak the truth with client, never say your assignment is about to finish if the work is in pre-stage. The biggest fault of a designer missing the deadline is the commitment of handling more than what he can.

If you are hired for a project, don’t try to complete the project at one go, the outcome will always be a mistake. It will be far better if you try to tackle the project step by step. Just analyze the project break it into steps, then start doing it. You might have experienced that a client sometimes asks for a change in your design, what do you think is the reason for that? To me that is due a lack of communication with the client. When you get the project, don’t make a hush just ask the client properly until an unless you are clear with the clients idea, because you are designing for the client. He is the main priority at that point of time.

If you are not able to meet the deadline (probably you have overcommitted), just contact the client and try to fix another deadline. It’s much better to contactthe client to let go the deadline without any communication. It’s ok for only once that you haven’t meet the deadline, so for your future progress take a few minutes to analyze the reason or what went wrong that you were not able to meet the deadline.

If you want to have a productive schedule you have to maintain your own time like when to work, when to sleep and when to eat. Some people whenever they feel like working late they work late and when they don’t want to work they don’t. This is not a way o maintaining your schedule. You should sleep 6 hours maximum for your good health. A healthy body has a healthy mind and if you have a healthy mind you can concentrate on your work. You should avoid junk foods and start having a real food. After working for an hour or two you must take a rest of at least 10 minutes having a glass of water. It will make your mind relax and then you can make a good pick up on your work. Even if your deadline is coming near don’t stress on it, just be calm and try to concentrate on it. In that situation you shouldn’t concentrate on useless thing while you are working on your project.

If you are a new freelancer graphic designer, when you are hired for a project just try to make two deadlines. It’s just for your convenience only, so that you wouldn’t stress. Even if your client agree to give you 2 deadlines, it’s good for you. It depends on you that you finish the job before the 1^st deadline or the 2^nd. If possible don’t go for the 2^nd deadline, better to complete the project before the 1^st deadline.

As a graphic designer you always make designs, you may take it easily. Its ok… according to your experience you can act like that. But, personally I always take my work seriously and as a challenge which has always motivated me in my work. Because of this I have never crossed my deadline; I have always been able to complete the project on time.  
Thanks

In today’s world, business is on its height. Everyone is on rush and business of different types are competing each other. So, it is important to think wisely before making any designs or illustrations for any brands or companies. 

We, the graphic designers are also one of the important instruments in bringing the business & marketing in the height. A Graphic designer may need assistance of persons who can help out in different way- technically or in resources. But, it is the graphic designers individually, who should have the abilities and qualities to become a good designer. A professional Graphic Designer should have years of experience, with much experience a designer will surely have a knowledge in using the designing tools. 

Graphic designer should be responsive, on time and effective otherwise, it will be hard to maintain the productive schedule. Literally, Graphic Designers should have the attitude of making the customer service a priority. The Graphic Designer should have great creativity, creating graphics or designs of its own which is 100% original without using any free resources from the internet. Any common designer can create quick and cheap designs which are useless and a waste of time but an experience designer goes for a quality not for the quantity. Prospective Graphic Designer with marketing experience will surely have his/her site and portfolio well established and well designed.

Graphic Designer should know the cost and timeline of an assignment to designed and completed. And the most important is that the designer should not be a part-time worker, even if he can do a good job, will that designer be available at business hours or anytime? The answer is “NO”, so a designer should always be a full-time designer. Graphic Designer should have a good communication skill with the ability to interact with different people establishing a good working relationship. 

photo: (CC) Letizia Tasselli 

Have you ever seen a rainbow over a snows cape mountain? Its wonderful, feels like in heaven. Have you ever seen the color combinations? The Mother Nature has created it. Everyone please, look around what do you notice? The sky is blue, the leaves are green… the things you are wearing, you are using, you are eating, everything is in colors.

When you are out on the road driving, you will surely stop when you see a red light on the traffic. OR don’t you… ha just kidding. And you will start driving when you see green light. Just think if there were no colors then how you will know when to drive or when to stop. Simply we will have a road accident now and then. You have a concept that colors are red, blue, green…..etc. but have you as a  graphic designers tried to notice the true image of “what a color is trying to notify?” As being a professional graphic designer, we all use to play with different colors, different combinations… because we are earning our living with these colors with your little creativity in mind. So, don’t you think colors are important to you?  As myself think colors are important, so I have written below, “the importance of a color” which I think will help us….. Simply before going further I would like to tell you that playing with color is like a game full of fun.

RED

Red is a strong color. It really attracts the eye and stimulates the mind. It is known for its aggression and high energy. This color indicates leadership. It is a color which can easily attract a persons mind. It draws a certain kind of attraction and it’s a kind of accent which can focus attention of other things.

The color red:

* Increases enthusiasm

* Stimulates energy

* Encourages action and confidence

* A sense of protection from fears and anxiety

BLUE

Blue is my favorite color. Blue is the color of higher thoughts. This color seems dependable, committed and trustworthy. It shows patience and devotion. Blue signify creativity and artistic. It is a “gender specific” color, having equal appeal to both men and women.

The color blue:

* Calming and sedate

* Cooling

* Aids intuition 

GREEN

Green is the color of nature and is refreshing. The color green is always considered a good sign and is capable of healing. Green is a strong energy and attracts a lot of positive power, it is the shade of peace and harmony. It is the color of honesty and truth. Green is the main color in natural world and we are used to seeing it everywhere. Green is considered the color of peace and ecology.

The color green:

* Soothing

* Relaxing mentally as well as physically

* Helps alleviate depression, nervousness and anxiety

* Offers a sense of renewal, self-control and harmony

YELLOW

Yellow is friendly and cheerful. It shows action and warmth, and is also the color of intelligence. It shade social energy. Yellow is not the color of a leader, yellow prefers to follow. The color yellow also represents curiosity and the desire to make things better. Shades of golden yellow carry the promise of a positive future.

The color yellow:

* Mentally stimulating

* Stimulates the nervous system

* Activates memory

* Encourages communication

PURPLE

Purple represents the energy of the quest. It is the color of things dedicated to seeking and finding the answers of life’s mysteries. Purple is also the color of royalty, self confidence and ego. Purple is luxury and carries the power of big profits.  Purple is a color often well liked by very creative or eccentric types and is the favorite color of adolescent girls.

The color purple:

* Uplifting

* Calming to mind and nerves

* Offers a sense of spirituality

* Encourages creativity

ORANGE

Orange is a sun color and is full of energy. It shows things that move fast and that have great strength of purpose. Orange is a wealth of the mind and knowledge. Orange represents the energy that enjoys giving to others. It can indicate all growing things and new beginnings. Orange color has a shade of broad appeal.

The color orange:

* Stimulates activity

* Stimulates appetite

* Encourages socialization

BROWN

Brown is the color of the earth and shows a firm and definite vibration. It represents the practical side of things. Success comes by steady work. It does not show energy that soars, but rather a secure and slower force. Brown indicates things that work hard. It is the color of endurance. Brown color represents all the all things natural or organic.

The color brown:

* Feeling of wholesomeness

* Stability

* Connection with the earth

* Offers a sense orderliness

BLACK

Black shows a great feeling for form and for social events. It represents a formal and rather reserved energy that also shows an uncanny insight into human affairs. Black is the color of strong drive and purpose. Black is authoritative and powerful; because black can evoke strong emotions too much can be overwhelming. A classic color for clothing possibly because it makes the wearer appear thinner and more sophisticated.

The color black:

* feeling inconspicuous

* a restful emptiness

* Mysterious evoking a sense of potential and possibility.

WHITE

White is the strongest and most pure, clean and neutral of all the color. It is the color of perfection and pure light energy. It represents good and fair judgment and shows the path of the spirit and surrounds a safe and happy home.

The color white effects:

* aids mental clarity

* encourages us to clear clutter or obstacles

* evokes purification of thoughts or actions

* enables fresh beginnings

Gray

Gray is timeless, practical, and solid. A longstanding favorite suit color, gray can mix well with any color. Although well like and often worn, people rarely name gray as a favorite color possibly because Gray also is associated with loss or depression.

The color gray effects:

* Unsettling

* Expectant

Thanks, enjoy the true colors.

Due to over-work, I became mentally and physically restless so I thought of taking rest for a week or two. During those days, I was having a cup of coffee with a cigarette sitting on my lawn. Suddenly, my eyes revealed the simplicity of the logo of Marlboro on the cigarette packed. At that moment, I thought, “Who designed this logo?” so I turned on my system started looking for it. In that procedure I came through the “Millward Brown’s top 100 most powerful brands” in which I found the top 10 brands. So, I started looking for the history of logos of the top 10 brands and below came are the result of my thoughts…

Google

The current official logo represents the name “Google” in logo type based on the Catull typeface and was created by Ruth Kedar. Every once in a while, the company uses various features of the logo which compliment and refer to birthdays of famous personalities and holidays. These modifications have become known as Google Doodles and were first created by the fondaters of the company in 1999. The doodles are currently designed by Dennis Hwang who has created over 150 doodles since the year 2000.

GE (General Electrics)

The entire logo is used to convey the meaning intended and avoid tarnishing or misrepresenting the intended image. The logo is a size and resolution sufficient to maintain the quality intended by the company or organization, without being unnecessarily high resolution. The image is used to identify the organization General Electric, a subject of public interest. The significance of the logo is to help the reader identify the organization, assure the readers that they have reached the right article containing critical commentary about the organization, and illustrate the organization’s intended branding message in a way that words alone could not convey.

Microsoft

The Microsoft logo is the ultimate example of “style meets simplicity”. The logo perfectly indicates the company’s mission of offering high quality products to its customers. The 2nd version of the Microsoft logo was fea fanciful lettered O in it. In 1987, Scott Baker adopted the current Microsoft logo. As it was designed in Helvetica italic typeface, the new logo had a slash between the o and s and featured the slogan ” Where do you want to go today?” As in 2006 the logo changed its tagline below the main corporate name into “Your potential, our passion.” In spite of all the transformations the Microsoft logo and its main message has remained largely unaffected.

Coca Cola

Who doesn’t know “coca cola”? its one of the worlds most recognized logos, the Coca-Cola brand started from the back 1886, where initially it was very famous in Atlanta Georgia because the city was the subject of local alcohol prohibition at the time. The signature used in the logo was sketched by their Publicity Director at the time, Franc Robinson.

China Mobile

China mobile ltd. is china’s domain mobile service provider; it is the world largest telecom by subscribers count. The company was registered in1997 under the name china telecom (Hong Kong) but changed its name in 2000 to china mobile (Hong Kong). China mobile has its head office in hung Kong and is a subsidiary company of china mobile communication.

IBM

The International Business Machines (1956) trademark of Paul Rand’s was developed from an infrequently used typeface called City Medium, designed by Georg Tromp in 1930. In the 1970s, Rand updated the logo by stripping it to unify the three forms and evoke scan lines on video terminals. During the late 1950s, Wilot Noyes IBM’s consulting design director sought “to express the extremely advanced and up-to-date nature of its products. To this end we are not looking for a theme but for a consistency of design quality which will in effect become a kind of a theme, but a very flexible one”.

Apple

As the Company name is “apple”, they selected an apple as its main form of branding. The first logo of the company was a small apple shape sitting under a tree with Apple Computer Co set into the frame of the picture. The first logo was hard and complex to view, so Regis McKenna after some years later added a “bite mark” to symbolize the concept of seduction of the customers. Afterwards it was replaced with the rainbow-colored logo as in the Biblical story of Adam and Eve the apple represents the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. The logo was considered lucky for the company as it did encourage business and customers to consider the apple brand for the first time and was successful in generating increased profits.

McDonald’s

McDonalds is the largest and best-known chain of fast-food restaurants in the world. They have more than 23,000 restaurants in over 100 countries; The Golden Arches logo was created by Jim Schindler in 1962 to look like new arch shaped signs on the sides of the restaurants. They called the logo Golden arches firstly, to input the idea that owning one McDonalds franchise is like having a gold mine. Secondly, the arches symbolize a place to hide under, to escape. McDonalds logo have been seen more broadly as a symbol of capitalism or globalization, since they are the most famous American corporation to go global on a grand scale.

Nokia

The first Nokia Company logo. What is the story about the fish? Salmon in the river near the Nokia factory? Nokia, Finnish Rubber Works Ltd. In addition to footwear and tyres, Nokia Rubber Works also manufactured rubber bands, industrial parts and raincoats.

The Nokia “arrows” logo before the Connecting People logo.

The Nokia “Connecting People” slogan was invented by Ove Strand berg.

Marlboro

Marlboro is a brand of cigarette made by Philip Morris USA and by Philip Morris international. IT is famous for its billboard advertisements and magazine of the Marlboro man. The brand is named after great Marlborough Street, the location of its original London factory.

I have referred many sites but still I can’t find who designed the logo of Marlboro. If someone knows who designed or where I could find these then please share it with us all.

Last night after completing a couple of assignments, I thought of making a camera lens and later got engrossed in transforming it into a camera. This is how a simple thought converts into a complex drawing that, actually, pacifies, my mind which would initially be oozing with loads of “don’t know WHAT”. Yes, drawing vector graphics, satisfies my inner desire of continuity in a picture. It means more then meditation to me.
So, here is how it went.
1. Firstly, I visualized how the final drawings would look like. I would consider this to be the test of one’s creativity, because if you are a reasonable designer then the final drawing would be a replica(or something close) of your thoughts (no wonder sometimes novices can prove more creative, unintentionally though ).

2. Filling colors can be a little tricky. You have to be realistic in choosing colors and apply them with caution as a simple misjudgment can ruin the final picture.
What I did on the lens was filled the inner circle “SOLID BLACK” and “FOUNTAIN FILLED” the outer circle.

3. Application of effects (Or creating them) involves skills as well as creativity. Please notice the difference the circle within the outer grey circle has made and also while working with the camera the angle of alignment of the circles(WRT the center of course) need to be taken care of.. you can go by your instincts(not recommended for novices) or stick to geometrical calculations, that is always recommended even if you are an expert.(I went by instincts )

4. Here I used two transparent semi circles and a circle with fountain transparency. Finally
(phew!) and I hope you can figure out a camera and a lens from my drawing.
It still needs a few more hours of polishing.

A designer would never say his/her design is complete, would he ?

And Hey !!! don’t forget to watermark it….

If a well-intentioned guest arrived at your annual gala wearing sweatpants, ratty shoes, and clearly had not put comb to hair, what would your impression be? Not so good, right? “But wait,” this guest might say, “I really mean well. I really contribute to society.” Too late. Your impression is already formed. This subtle dynamic is exactly what is at play when organizations think they can save money by designing something without the services of a graphic designer. The piece may be functional, but it may leave a negative impression, or worse, may not even be read. “You get one chance to make a good impession,” says Joe Rademan, of Rademan Design. “There is no better way to do it visually than through quality graphic design.” We live in a culture in which we are bombarded constantly by information and commercial messages. Every company, for-profit or non-profit, clamors to rise above the bombardment. Quality graphic design is one way to help put the odds in your favor.

Why is graphic design important?

Quality graphic design improves your marketing materials in many ways. First, a well-designed piece, whether that piece is printed or media, like your web site, will support and enhance your message using visual language. We perceive information on many levels, both verbally and non-verbally. Graphic design conveys a sense of your organization in a visual and non-verbal way.Graphic designers also enhance the readability of your materials. They will select colors, typefaces, sizes of text, and imagery, then lay out these materials in a way that guides the readers eye through the messages. “It’s packaging,” said Philadelphia-based graphic designer Sharmi Patel. “An organization may have great ideas and great goals, but a graphic designer can put them together in a way that is appealing, that enhances consumer perception.” How do you know if the design is good? When you work with a graphic designer, usually he or she will present a couple concepts to meet your goals. Deciding which one is best is rather subjective, but your best guide is your own instincts.

How do you feel about each concept?
Is the concept visually appealing?
Is it clean and uncluttered?
Does the information flow?
Is it organized and easy for people to read?
How do the colors feel to you?
Do these concepts reflect your organization?

Patel suggests: “Do you want to pick it up and read it? What is pleasing to your eye?”
Once your organization establishes its visual look or identity, it’s important to be consistent. “Create graphic standards,” said Michael Nix, creative director and professor at Baruch College in New York, “and don’t reinvent the wheel for ongoing pieces, like newsletters, event calendars, and letterhead. Having a signature look is critical.”

What are the best ways to work with a graphic designer?

When you hire a graphic designer, review with him or her: the goals of the project the desired action you need to achieve from the piece who the target audience is your budgetary parameters what components, such as copy, photography, illustrations, charts, required logos, are available deadlines how the piece will be mailed and most importantly, how you want your organization to be reflected.Your organization’s marketing communications materials need not win design awards or even breakthe budget to be effective. Well-designed pieces, however, will get attention and response.

By Gail S. Bower

Web 2.0 logo are the most up market logos.They are basically compatible with web2 technology.

Web 2.0 style logo is the fastest growing styles for logo design. There is no translation of what a web 2.0 style logo should look like. Like it or not web 2.0 designs has had a brilliant impact in the field of designers. Ever since web 2.0 has made its fling in 2003, it had turned the prospects of many websites. Modern websites mostly prefer web 2.0 technologies that demand user interface and hint to an improved form of World Wide Web. It supports technologies such as weblogs, social bookmarking, wikis, podcasts, RSS feeds (and other forms of many-to-many publishing), social software, Web APIs, Web standards and online Web services to bring a significant change in web usage. Designs made with web 2.0 versions are yet simple but professional. The designs have a large text with lots of white space in the content area and the designs are in large type and feel open and relax. The text has a brighter color and lighter background with web 2.0 styles.

Simplicity is probably the main factor determining if a Web 2.0 logo is nice. To contribute to simplicity combination of font colors and style plays a major role. Fonts need to be blatantly big with smooth gradients and its utmost important to get the right font style, else it’ll just don’t look right. In a nutshell, good font style with the combination of the right colors made up a good Web 2.0 logo.

But among all that, some designers have failed to maintain the consistency and proper concepts in designing a logo, while some designers have created a fabulous design. A designer by hobby is wasting time, energy and resources. Even if he/she creates a design, no one will buy it. According to me,” designer without creativity is dejection”.

I hear the phrase “web 2.0” thrown around very loosely, with different meaning. It seems like each designer has their own idea of what it means. Web 2.0 is not a style it’s a mode of designing sites that are more interactive, have better functionality and are dynamic. The term “web 2.0” is often unknowingly misused by those who use it to mean a graphical style. The term “web 2.0” actually refers to certain technologies (Ajax, Ruby.etc.). I can really say that there’s a new trend in graphic design, the web 2.0 design?

If I have a mouse, and a clicking finger is A-o.k., then I can create images that will be the envy of all my visitors and onlookers. With web 2.0, I can create a design without wasting lots of time. I know that creating a design takes a lot of time, money and lots of patience. If I follow any tutorial, use graphic editors of any sort, I will become over-qualified but broke, time wasting internet graphics designer just like the countless others out there. The best solution is the use of web 2.0 versions in creating my designs.

The characteristics web 2.0 logos have are, they have bright colors, color levels, cute, icons, 3D effects, shiny surfaces, shadows and reflex ions. The fonts are simple and most of them rounded. In some cases the color levels, shines and 3D effects are also applied to the lettering. These effects must be used very carefully, because we have seen countless cases where the logo designer uses these elements to make la logo look good but neglects to give the concept the necessary attention it deserves.

I create that glossy, refection, single gradient, double outline, shadowed and really cool image in less time with a few simple clicks of the mouse.

I hope most of you agree with me so far.