" "Curiosity about life in all of its aspects, I think,
is still the secret of great creative people."

Optimizing Website Graphics and Photographs

How long do you wait for a website to load before clicking away and trying another URL? Most people won’t wait longer than an average of 8 seconds with a 56K modem. Although many things can effect the load time of a website, improper and overuse of graphics and images is one of the more frequent problems.

Optimizing website graphics involves discovering the balance between image quality and image size. To optimize your website images follow these three steps.
Resize the image
Reduce the colors used in the image
Save the image in a compressed file format

Step 1 – Resize the Image
Use an image-editing program to resize your photograph or graphic to the exact size that you will need for your website. For example, if you have a photograph that is 7” wide by 5” high or 504 x 360 pixels, but want it to appear on your website at 150 x 107 pixels do not place the larger image on your website and resize it using your web building software. The image will still load (slowly) at the full pixel size and force the browser to resize it to 150 x 107 after the image has loaded.
Always include the height and width attributes. This will tell the browser what size the image is going to be and allow for a quicker page load.

Step 2 - Reduce the colors used in the image
Eliminating unnecessary colors is another way to reduce your image size. A graphic saved with 2 colors is logically going to be smaller than one saved using 256 colors. Utilize your image editing software to experiment with different options to locate the optimal balance in image quality and size.

When the number of colors used in an image are dramatically reduced it will result in color banding. The gradations in areas where colors have been eliminated are filled in with solid bands of color.
Dithering can help reduce the color banding. Although dithering will increase your file size slightly, it can help the image quality by combining existing colors to replace eliminated colors in the banded areas. This actually tricks the eye by giving the appearance of more colors in your image.

Step 3 - Save the image in a compressed file format
Lets start with understanding the correct types of image files to use on your website. The two common file types that you will find on a website are Gif and JPEG.
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) pronounced Jif.

GIF files are loss-less compressed image files. This means that when the image file is compressed data is not lost, however the file is limited to 256 colors or less. This format optimizes images with large continuous areas of color. Since you will loose some color fidelity with a GIF image, use them for simple line drawings, shapes, small icons or other non-complex graphics.

When optimizing an image as a GIF you will need to determine how much image quality you are willing to sacrifice to obtain a smaller file size.

GIF files also allow you the option of setting transparent backgrounds. This is necessary if your image is being placed on a patterned or gradient background. Otherwise you will end up with a solid block of color surrounding your image. This does not look attractive or professional.

Use the interlaced option for larger GIF images. This will cause a blurry image to appear first which will then load to the final image. Although the load time will not decrease this does give the impression of a faster loading page, as the image appears gradually.

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) pronounced Jay-Peg.

JPEG images use a lossy compression technique. Every time you save an image as a JPEG it will loose some data. To avoid this, be sure to save your original image in a lossless format (such as PNG) for editing purposes.

A JPEG image is saved in a 24-bit format, which allows for millions of colors. This is why JPEG files should always be used for photographs or complex graphics that use many colors or gradations. Most image editing programs offer three levels of JPG compression. You may need to experiment to find the correct balance of image quality and size.
For larger images use the progressive option, again to allow the image to load gradually giving the viewer the impression of a quicker loading page.
Remember to reuse the same image as much as possible to utilizing the Cache (pronounced cash) feature on the hard drive. This way once the image has loaded, it will store on the hard drive and be readily available for the next request.
Written by Patrice Roarke, Creative Director of Artisan Design Studio.

This article may be re-printed on your website, newsletter or ezine

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25 Ways to be More Productive as a Designer

The truth is no one is perfect and no one will ever be perfect, but life is all about improving yourself and being as productive as possible with the precious time you are given. Work often consume our lives, but if we can become more productive at work and adopt good habits, our personal lives, in theory should improve as well.


This list was created to help inspire you to make the most of your work days, become more involved in your career and be a healthier and more productive designer and person. Feel free to add your own suggestions for being a more productive designer to the list below.


25 Ways to be More Productive as a Designer

1. Make the most of your commute

If you have a long commute try making the most of your time. Read a book, get a laptop to start work ahead of time or plan out your day.

2. Keep a task list

Keeping a task list will ensure you remember everything you need to do. Organize your task list by importance and cross things out as you accomplish them, but accept the fact your task list will probably never end.

3. Become familiar with Adobe suite keyboard shortcuts

Learning essential keyboards shortcuts for programs such as Photoshop and Illustrator can actually end up saving you many hours in the long run.

4. Keep your computer software up to date, virus and spyware free

Since designers use computers on a daily basis, it is important to make sure they are running at their peak performance, so be sure to patch up your computer at least once a week.

5. Seek out sources of design inspiration

Inspiration is a huge part of any artistic career and there are plenty of places to find inspiration such as design shows, museums, online portfolios and graphic design galleries.

6. Become more involved in the design community

Joining design forums, commenting on blogs, writing articles and speaking at seminars are just a few of the ways to become more involved in the design community.

7. Go to design events, shows and learning seminars

Each year there are many design conferences, events and training seminars. If you work for a company they may even pay for you to go, so you can keep your skills sharp and network!

8. Read books on design history and theory

The number of books out on design are astonishing, so pick a topic that interests you such as design theory and get a few books to read in your spare time. One great book is “How to be a graphic designer without losing your soul”.

9. Read interviews on other graphic designers

Interviews are often extremely insightful and reveal many secrets and great tips about other successful designers. Its amazing how much you can learn from even the shortest of interviews.

10. Join graphic design organizations

Joining graphic design organizations can have many benefits and is a great way to get access to resources and network. The Graphic Artists Guild and AIGA are just a few of the organizations you should consider joining.

11. Learn to accept constructive criticism

This is a common issue with many design students and even professionals. The sooner you stop taking constructive criticism personally the sooner you will be able to improve as a designer.

12. Don’t be afraid to ask for help

If you don’t know how to do something, don’t waste time pretending you do. Kindly ask some one for help so you can get on the right track sooner.

13. Learn to outsource work and tasks to others

If you bit off more than you chew its often a better idea to outsource work to some one you trust then to stress yourself to death. The final project will often turn out better if you work as a team and delegate tasks to others.

14. Use Google Reader and follow design blogs

Google Reader is a great online RSS reader that will allow you to easily follow all your favorite design blogs.

15. Use Google Calendar to keep track of important events

Google Calendar is an awesome free piec eof calendar software to help your organize all your important events.

16. Set your email client to check for new emails less often

Checking emails every 5 minutes can be very distracting. If you check at set times you will get a lot more work done each day.

17. Create standard contracts ahead of time for clients

Its a good idea to have a lawyer help you create a set of standard contracts ahead of time so you are prepared ahead of time and don’t have to worry or waste time having contracts created later.

18. Create a standard invoice and estimate template

Having a nicely designed invoice and estimate template is professional and can be customized easily for any new client. be sure to print copies for yourself for filing purposes so you can refer back if needed.

19. Create mailing labels

Typing for so many years has really degraded my hand writing and having pre-made mailing labels not only takes care of my ugly handwriting, but it also saves time.

20. Organize all your paperwork once a week

Nowadays the paperwork can pile up fast and if you let it go, getting it back under control can be a nightmare. use folders in a file cabinet that are labeled to organize all your important papers.

21. Organize your computer files once a week

Organizing your computer files i arguably even more important then organizing your paperwork. You should have a folder and sub folders for each client and create backups of your files every day on multiple external devices.

22. Develop a standard computer file labeling system

Labeling your files in a specific way will make it much easier for you to navigate and search for files when you need them quickly.

23. Try to keep your weekends work free and relax

its easy to get consumed with work and keeping your weekends work-free is a good way to ensure you won’t burn out or have a meltdown. So don’t forget to enjoy life on the weekends!

24. Exercise on a regular basis and go out for fresh air at lunch

This one always makes it into the productivity lists, yet many people still don’t do it. It can be difficult to fit in, but even 20 minutes of exercise 3 times a week can make a large impact in your overall health.

25. Do hand exercise every few hours to help combat carpal tunnel syndrome

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25 Graphic Design Career Preparation Tips

The Graphic Design Career is a fast growing career that is becoming more and more competitive with every passing day. People are realizing how much money is available and how flexible the graphic and web design career really is. You can work full-time in house in a small studio or large agency. You can earn extra money on the side, you can freelance full-time from the comfort of your own home or you can even use your skills in design to you accomplish business projects.


The bottom line is its a great choice for creative people looking to express themselves and earn a decent and comfortable living at the same time.

In order to survive in such a fast growing and competitive field though it is essential you do everything you can as early on as you can. I started in college, but I know people who are freelancing and running businesses and websites at age 14 and even younger! The age aspect should not discourage you, but should rather inspire you to get your butt into gear before other graphic designers leave you in the dust!

So no matter what age you are or what stage you are in, we have created a list of things you can do to get your dream graphic design career going in the right direction.

Graphic Design Career Preparation Tips

1. Major in Graphic Design

Going to college and getting a graphic design degree is an outstanding accomplishment. Many employers weigh this heavily and you will have a much better chance of getting a full-time job with a degree in design, but there are always exceptions. If you have an extremely strong portfolio, good references and freelancing experience you can still get a great job, but if you can get the degree go for it!

2. Figure Out Your Specialization

Many jobs in graphic design tend to be specialized, such as identity design, packaging design, magazine design and so on. Its good to find the specialization you like best and work on it, but also make sure you are well rounded and multi-talented designer.

3. Plan Your Credits Carefully

Lets face it, college can be a pain in the butt, especially when it comes to planning out your classes. You need a certain amount of credits to be full-time, core classes, required classes, electives and you are trying to get a decent schedule so you can hold a job at the same time! Planning your credits out carefully and registering as soon as possible will help ensure you get the best schedule possible so you can complete your degree quickly and have free time to work and relax.

4. Take Advantage of Your Counselor and Teachers

Your counselor and teachers are incredibly valuable assets while going to school. Get your counselor to help you plan out your schedule and keep you on the right track. Ask your teachers for extra help when needed. Most teachers are available outside of class and will critique work for you. Your teachers have years of experience and knowledge of the field so tap into it.

5. Take Advantage of Career Services

Career services is an often overlooked resource at most schools. If you are looking for a job, projects, help with your resume or anything else, take a trip to your career services department if your school has one.

6. Become Involved in School Events

My school had many great events, and when I look back, I wish i had taken more advantage of them. There were trips, get-togethers and incredible guest speakers. We even had our own museum on campus! So if your school has similar opportunities make sure you don’t pass them up.

7. Develop Friendships With Your Classmates

You are all working towards the same goal, so developing friendships is an excellent idea. Not only is social interaction healthy, but as friends you can help each other out to achieve these common goals. Plus most of you will be working in the same field in the future and you never know when a friend could come in handy in a bad situation.

8. Get an Internship

Internships are just as important as freelancing experience and many schools can help you find an internship. Even if you don’t get to do much design work, its a great way to network, get your foot in the door and become comfortable working in an office environment with other people.

9. Get a Certificate in Graphic Design

If you don’t have the time or money to attend a 4 year school, there are many schools which can give you a great crash course in design in one year or even online. I still recommend the 4 year school over this, but getting a certificate in design or individual programs can help a lot if you have no other schooling.

10. Practice Your Photography

This is a talent I plan on mastering in the near future. I love photography and its also great if you are a graphic designer. Having the ability to shoot your own projects in real life can give you a real edge when it comes to displaying your portfolio. Great photographs of projects can go a long way and its another super skill to throw on your resume.

11. Learn HTML, XHTML and CSS

Web design is mixing more and more with the graphic design career. I have seen many graphic design job listings ask the designer to have at least some web design experience and many jobs require you to know how to code a site very well. So this is a great skill to pick up and will help you with your own portfolio site and landing a job in the future.

12. Take Some Business Courses

Taking one or two business classes can prepare you much better for freelancing and running your own studio if that’s one of your dreams. All knowledge is good knowledge and the more you know about business the better off you will be financially.

13. Master the Adobe Suite

As a graphic designer you will be using programs such as Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign on a daily basis. Mastering the programs will make you a more productive and creative designer. Most jobs also start you at running speed and don’t have time to teach you how to use the Pen Tool! Be sure to master keyboard shortcuts as well.

14. Stay in Touch With Your Roots

Its easy to become totally wrapped up in the computer and lose touch with your roots. By this I mean its important to sketch things out on paper once in a while and think outside the computer box. Don’t be afraid to pick up a pencil and use the environment around you.

15. Express Your Creativity

Design can be very “corporate” and restricting at times, and designers are naturally creative people. This is why its good to express your stretch your creativity muscles once in a while. Create personal work, non profit work or other projects that will allow you more creative freedom so you don’t feel constantly trapped and restricted.

16. Create a Portfolio Website

Time is precious and the web is becoming more of an industry standard. This is why you need a web portfolio. Many employers don’t even have time to look at print portfolios and will ask for a website URL or email with a PDF of your work. If you plan on freelancing, your website will be even more important and the sooner you get it up the better off you will be.

17. Create a Print Portfolio

Even though a web portfolio is becoming arguably more important, don’t under estimate the power or importance of a print portfolio. In additionl to your main portfolio you should have some disposable print portfolios you can hand out to potential employers.

18. Create Your Own Personal Identity System

Having your own business card, resume, letterhead and so on will give you a professional edge and show you really care about your career. Spend a lot of time on your identity system because its a direct representation of yourself and your skills.

19. Create a Resume and Cover Letter

You will need this sooner or later so you might as well start working on it now. A well-written and nicely designed resume is going to be a great ally in your job finding battles.

20. Research Job Requirements

Job requirements are changing constantly and every job has unique requirements. Some require more than others so its important you have a good idea of whats expected of you. How can you prepare yourself properly if you don’t know exactly what employers demand skill wise?

21. Start Freelancing

Freelancing builds up incredible experience, especially when it comes to dealing with actual paying clients. You will quickly learn how to deal with clients who have different personalities, how to protect yourself, how to muti task and so on. This is where the business classes come in, but with a little planning and research before hand there is no reason you cant jump right in and start freelancing early on. I landed my first paying freelance gig while I was taking my first Photoshop class!

22. Take Advantage of Design Contests

There are tons of design contests on the Internet; many of which offer incredible prizes! This is a great way to gain exposure, build up your portfolio and win some sweet swag and money in your free time! Following design blogs is a great way to learn about up and coming design contests.

23. Build Up Your Vault of Free Design Resources

The web is filled with an insane amount of free resources including, free fonts, vector artwork, textures, patterns, design elements and so much more. Start downloading, check the usage rights and keep all your graphic design resources organized, because you never know when you might need them.

24. Get the Graphic Artist Guild Handbook

This is a fabulous book for any designer that is packed full of great tips and resources; especially for designers interested in starting their own business or freelancing career. They releases a new version every so often, so be sure to get your hands on the latest one.

25. Start Networking

Networking may be 25 on the list, but in terms of priority its probably number 1. The more people in the business you know the better off you will be. Keep in touch with your network of contacts. Don’t consider some one in your network if you never communicate. A phone call, business lunch, or email once in a while is required.

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Graphic Design Branding
By Eric Miller, About.com

Filed In:Education > Career Paths

To create a “brand” for a company is to create their image, and to promote that image with campaigns and visuals. Working in branding allows a graphic designer or design firm to get involved with many aspects of the industry, from logo design to advertising to copywriting and slogans. The goal of a brand is to make a company unique and recognizable, and to project a desired image. Over time, a brand can make a company a household name, and identifiable by a simple shape or color. To create a brand for a company, a designer needs to fully understand the goals of the organization, the industry as a whole, and working with design to create the appropriate materials to represent that company.
Type of Work

When working in branding, a designer can expect to work in:
Logo design 
Business card design 
Letterhead design 
Packaging 
Copywriting 
Writing slogans 
Advertising design 
Typeface design 
Research 
Marketing 
Examples of Branding

Examples of branding are all around us. The NBC peacock, the UPS brown truck and Nike’s “just do it” are some of the most famous examples. They are so recognizable that we don’t need to hear a company name to know what they are. Online brands such as MySpace, Facebook and YouTube are more recently developed but now just as recognizable. Logos on your favorite products, the packaging they come in, and the slogans that represent them are all examples of branding.

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Working as an Illustrator
By Eric Miller, About.com

Filed In:Education > Career Paths

Illustration, while often closely related to graphic design, is for many a separate profession. It is common for a graphic designer to do illustrative work and for illustrators to incorporate their work into graphic design, but there are also those who work solely in illustration, often being commissioned to create works for larger projects. An illustrator may be called on to create an image for a magazine cover, and that image will be passed on to a design to complete the layout. Similarly, an illustrator may create a logo, but not develop the business cards or other materials featuring that logo. Most commonly, illustrators work in software such Adobe Illustrator or Corel Painter, and often incorporate hand-drawn elements into their work.
Type of Work

When working in illustration one can expect to create:
Logos 
Images for books and magazines 
Icon sets 
Packaging graphics 
Getting Illustration Work

Illustrators will often work with an agent or representative that helps get them jobs. An agent allows the illustrator to focus on the creative side of their work, and collects a percentage of the fee earned in return. Agents will often have a focus on a particular type of work or industry, and greatly increase the potential workload of an illustrator.
Protecting Illustration Work

Illustrators should always attempt to retain the rights to their work. The details of an illustration job should be clearly spelled out in a contract, as the illustrator should own the copyright and be compensated for use beyond the original agreement. An understanding of copyright law, work-for-hire and other legal issues are important in any design career, and especially in illustration.

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Working as a Web Designer
By Eric Miller, About.com

Filed In:Education > Career Paths

Website design, while a relatively new industry, is now an essential part of a company’s image, brand, and advertising, marketing and public relations campaigns. The side of web design that would be considered graphic design is the creation of the actual look and feel of a website. Many web designers are also involved in web development, creating the functionality behind a working website. Even if someone wants to just focus on the design side, an understanding of the technology behind websites is essential to create designs that are both attractive and functional.
Type of Work

Work for web designers can include:
Designing websites to hand off to developers 
Designing web banner ads 
Creating animated flash websites 
Creating mockups and site wireframes 
Understanding web technologies 
Understanding browser and operating system differences 
Working closely with web programmers 
Software Used in Web Design

For someone working on the design side of website, Photoshop is the most popular software. Often a designer will create one or several layouts in Photoshop and hand them off to a developer, who will create a working site based on them. For those continuing into the development side, products such as Dreamweaver, GoLive, and countless HTML and CSS editing programs can be used.
The Technology Side

There are often differences between web designers and programmers, each with their own goals in mind. Web designers are looking to create the most beautiful site possible, while programmers want something fast and functional. Being a great web designer means understanding both sides, and creating websites that look good and that are designed with function in mind (therefore avoiding these differences). While the ability to code by hand may not be necessary, it is important to know what types of layouts are feasible, how they will appear in different browsers, and what typefaces and color combinations work well on screen rather than on paper. These types of questions make web design an interesting and challenging profession.

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