Freelance Design Blog - 19.11.08

I have finally accepted that this is now becoming a monthly blog but I hope everyone can carry on reading and sending their opinions which I really appreciate.

November

I was in Rotterdam at the start of this month for an event called Full On Ferry which was at the Ahoy, it is a dance event with around 10,000 people in attendance. While I was there dancing I went to there to get a drink and to my amazement just as I got the bar I saw a girl wearing a T-shirt with one of my prints! It is one I did for istock, the problem is you don't know where they go or who uses them as long as they buy the right license, so they can end up anywhere in the world. I was more surprised at the coincidence of me being in Holland for the first time amongst 10,000 people and to meet that one person at a bar at that moment! Sometimes you start to question coincidence. I politely asked to take a picture (I'm not sure the boyfriend was sold on the 'I designed your T-shirt' line) and she kindly let me which I have posted below. I have also included the original illustration below that.

Work in brief

My brand development for bankcareersdirect went live on their website, this was designed for Curve Corporation a London based digital design agency. I felt the logo should have a more corporate banking feel to it while retaining a link to the company's original colourway and features typographical modifications. It was also the first time I had to write some brand guidelines which allow the designer to maintain a level of quality after it leaves his or her hands. I recently saw a logo I designed where a web designer had put a white stroke around it completely destroying the impact, this wouldn't have happened if there were guidelines. I did mention it to my client and they agreed to have it changed. Phew!

I completed another brand development this month for start all over this was also designed for Curve Corporation. The square icon was originally designed as a circle but the client really wanted to have it as below. I designed it so the arrows show an anti-clockwise motion to signify to go back and to start a-fresh reflecting the companies recruitment angle while featuring typographical modifications and a modern colourway.

I have just finished work on a micro site for a new social and music network which looks quite modern and I am looking forward to seeing the final development. Although I tend to stay away from websites when a brief comes in that is interesting and can be approached from a more graphic angle I will usually say yes!

I have had a chance to slim down my website and focus it on graphic, packaging and branding (removing furniture products and visualisations) as well as refining my own identity which you may notice is no longer 'work in progress design'. I initially thought it would be a good idea to build a company name rather than my own but recently felt that it leads to confusion and wanted to promote my name instead. I now own www.richardbaird.com and www.richardbaird.co.uk which I was delighted to find available. I would definitely recommend that freelancers use their names, yes it is cool to make up quirky pseudonyms but from a business perspective it makes more sense that people can relate to you on a personal level as well as aiding word of mouth. People also tend to think that individuals will provide a more direct service and can be more cost effective, pseudonyms will give the impression you're a company and may be a turn-off for new businesses.

I recently got some packaging samples back for a new product which uses a brand new opening solution. It's one of those great moments when a designer gets a step closer to having a commercial product on the shelf. It has taken a while to get to this stage with a lot of revisions but it is finally coming together, as a designer patience is paramount never rush things!

Well that's everything that I can actually talk about, check back next month as I should be able to post a link to the micro site. Thanks for reading.