On the surface, a graphic design job interview should be easy. After all, you're talking about the subject you know the most about—yourself. But when anxiety, pressure and nerves get in the way, you might give answers that don't exactly paint a lovely picture of you as an employee. While there's no miracle cure for being nervous, it helps to make sure you're prepared for any question the interviewer throws at you. We've compiled a list of some of the most common questions that graphic … [Read more...]

Of the 27,397,260 business cards printed every day, 88% will be thrown out in less than a week. But that doesn't happen because business cards are ineffective as a marketing medium. In fact, it only takes 2,000 business cards to increase a company's sales by nearly 3%. That's a shockingly high return for just one marketing resource. So why do so many cards end up in the garbage? The fact is, a lot of business cards have crummy designs. No one wants to hold on to something that looks and feels … [Read more...]

Creating a personal logo is the easiest task you'll ever undertake as a graphic designer—and the hardest. The good news is, you can be as free and expressive as you like. After all, you are the brand in this scenario, which means you know more about it than any other client that you'll design for. But that means expectations are high, and the pressure is on. As a graphic designer, your logo isn't just the centerpiece of your brand identity; it also doubles as a sort of portfolio piece that … [Read more...]

Letters are very strange creatures. They're the building blocks of our entire system of written communication, but when you get right down to it, they're really just pictures. They deliver a direct message to the reader, but they're also visual elements that can vary in color, shape and personality. This makes them especially popular when it comes to the look of a company's logo; just a couple letters can convey a world of meaning. But it also makes them very tricky to work with. Though it has … [Read more...]

When a client's corporate brand and personal name are one and the same, you're not just designing a logo for the company. It represents the individual behind the brand. One wrong move could tarnish your client's name—literally. The best personal logo designs turn an individual's name into a cohesive brand identity (instead of just something their parents picked for them when they were born). To get you inspired, we're sharing some of the best examples of personal logos. You can browse them all, … [Read more...]

If you think that cropping a photo is just as simple as cutting it down to the size you need for your print layout, then you're missing out on all that the crop tool has to offer. Think of the crop tool as an invisible frame that draws the eye towards the most important aspects of your photo. Making the right cuts in your photo can have a drastic impact on the visuals and can even manipulate the way the audience engages with it emotionally. If cropping has only been an afterthought in your … [Read more...]