Snowballing Ideas...

So the website redesign is turning into a complete re-branding of my freelance image. I always find it harder to design for myself. I'm so indecisive...

Almost up and running.

I've been working so much I haven't had time to post in almost a year. Here's the short version:

1. A new site design is coming.
2. So are work examples. Lots of ideas, so little time.
3. New blog design as well!

More soon...

Block.

I've hit a bit of a creative block. I can't think of new projects that I want to work on or find the motivation to complete some of the ones I've already started. This sucks.

logo design.

I've decided that I really like design contests. I think the competition drives me to do better work. It's just the push I need to really bunker down and put a lot of thought into projects. IUPUI's Student Design Organization is holding their annual logo design contest. The winner gets $50 plus their design gets distributed all over the place...its more about the exposure than the prize money, personally.

I'm really excited about this one. The deadline isn't until March 22, but I already have 6 designs mocked up. I'm not sure which ones I'm going to submit yet, though. Logo design is such an intriguing field. So many different elements go into them yet they have to be simple enough that they don't look cluttered, messy or ugly. Definitely the art of minimalism with a message.

I'd post the ideas I have, but I'd rather keep them under wraps until the contest is over. They'll get posted once they decide the winner. Hopefully it's one of mine! :)

CGS Contest!

I've decided to enter the new CGSociety contest. It's a design contest based on the "B-Movie" theme. I'm planning on creating a movie poster. The concept is still in the idea stage. I'll get everything ironed out this weekend and then move on to collecting my materials for the composite. I'm planning on doing this old-school with an actual photo shoot of a model in make-up for starters and then compositing that with other originals for the scenery and effects. I foresee many hours staring at Photoshop.

Here's the link to the contest: http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/b-movie

Lots of Work + Procrastination = Site Uploaded!

I finally got around to uploading my new portfolio site. You can see it here. I still need to tweak a few things, but having it online makes me feel like I've finished something in the past week.

I have a tendency to "take on the world" when it comes to projects according to someone I know. In the past week I've accepted a Flash freelance project, finished coding my site, and started to play with kinetic typography and/or After Effects.

Is it bad that I only seem to be interested in pursuing ideas when they aren't paying the bills?

Why?

I wish people would stop giving idiots copies of Photoshop. Granted, it is great fun to see what they come up with, but there's also this cultural phenomena that gets created.

Example:
I was contacted awhile back to design a 4"x6" print flyer for a concert a local band was having. "Sure, no problem. Do you have photos or do I need to take some?" "No, we'll email some to you." What I received was a blurry, dark, grainy cell phone image. Upon asking, with just the right amount of tact, "What the hell is this?" They told me to just "fix it in Photoshop". I'm sorry. Photoshop is not your mother, it can't just make things better by kissing it on the forehead. If you start with a blurry, dark, grainy image, all you're going to get back from Photoshop is a blurry, dark, grainy image possibly lightened and saved in a different format. That's about it. Try making a steak dinner from a chicken breast. Doesn't work.

Do everyone a favor and take the extra 5 minutes to take a proper photograph. It saves everyone a lot of frustration and headaches.