International Design Firm Wins Awards for Excellence in Web Design and Graphic Imaging - by Chanie Cunningham

Sage Media, a small graphic design firm based in Canada’s capital city, has been recognized for excellence in design for web development and corporate branding creative work. To celebrate this achievement, they are offering a 25% discount on all services for the month of October. (PRWEB) September 25, 2005 — Sage Media, a small graphic design firm based in Canada’s capital city, has been recognized for excellence in design for web development and corporate branding creative work. To celebrate this achievement, they are offering a 25% discount on all services for the month of October. An up-and-coming company still in its first year of business, Sage Media has taken the corporate design market by storm. Backed by highly experienced industry experts, including the firm’s owner Chanie Cunningham, Sage Media’s exposure has grown by 460% in the past six months. Noticing a lag in the market when it came to customer service, Cunningham now attributes Sage’s success to their policy of “treating every client as if they were our best client. We noticed that several graphic design firms wouldn’t even respond to quote requests if they didn’t feel like it; not even if the project was lucrative. Customer service seems to be an outdated notion - we just decided to bring it back.” Using a highly personalized approach, Sage assigns all new clients their own dedicated lead designer. And in an industry where back-door basement value outsourcing is common, Sage stringently does all of their creative work in house. In September, while working remotely from Whistler in British Columbia, Cunningham received notification that Sage Media had won not one, but two DesignFirms awards for excellence. The first award recognized the firm’s own website, http://www.sagemedia.ca, created by Cunningham herself. The award letter announces that sagemedia.ca had “been found as one of the best on the Internet”, and was judged by a select panel of experts on a wide array of strict design and coding excellence measures. Accompanying this letter was another award notification, recognizing the corporate logo created by Sage Media for Ella Ruth Finest Cashmere. To celebrate the first of what is anticipated to be many awards, Sage Media is offering a 25% discount to all new clients for the month of October who mention the awards. In a flooded market, Sage Media stands tall as a modest master of many trades, offering upscale solutions for web design and development, branding, marketing materials, product packaging, brochures, corporate identity packages, advertising and corporate presentations. If your business needs web or graphic design of any kind, chances are Sage Media can deliver.

Industry Honors TRIMSPA Designs - by Chrissy Kulig

Peruse a clothing catalog for the latest fashion trends, read a brochure on the latest advancement in orthodontics, or grab your favorite box of cereal to read ingredients and nutritional values. All of these materials have one thing in common “ they have been created by graphic design artists to get your attention and provide you with the critical product information and differentiation. Unbeknownst to many, however, is that today™s great packages and marketing materials are created by in-house graphic designers. Cedar Knolls, NJ (PRWEB) May 5, 2005 — Peruse a clothing catalog for the latest fashion trends, read a brochure on the latest advancement in orthodontics, or grab your favorite box of cereal to read ingredients and nutritional values. All of these materials have one thing in common “ they have been created by graphic design artists to get your attention and provide you with the critical product information and differentiation. Unbeknownst to many, however, is that today™s great packages and marketing materials are created by in-house graphic designers. This year Graphic Design USA, a premiere printing, graphics & commercial arts trade publication sponsored the American Inhouse Design Awards to commend talented in-house graphic design and communications departments for their enormous contributions to their organizations. The contest was developed to assure recognition of these professionals not only by their own company, but also by their graphics colleagues and the greater creative community. From more than 3,000 entries, TRIMSPA™s Marketing Department was honored among the top 15% and was chosen to receive awards for four of their design pieces: the TRIMSPA Anna magnet, TRIMSPA Anna Chopper hero card, TRIMSPA August mailer, and the TRIMSPA 30-count power chute display. Contest categories included brochures and collateral, logos and identity programs, corporate and annual reports, package and P-O-P projects, publications, and sales promotion items. The winning pieces will be published in the June 2005 American Inhouse Design Awards issue. About TRIMSPA, Inc. TRIMSPA Inc., headquartered in Cedar Knolls, New Jersey, is the maker of TRIMSPA® X32„¢, a leader in weight-loss supplements. TRIMSPA® X32 is the Official Weight Loss Product of the Hawaiian Tropic®, Mrs. America® and Mrs. World® Pageants. TRIMSPA Inc. is a supporter of various high-profile celebrity events, such as the American Music Awards, Critics Choice Awards, and more. TRIMSPA, Inc. is an associate sponsor in the NASCAR® Busch Series racing circuit through Braun Racing.

Hummingbird Creative Group Ranked As A Top Graphic Design Firm - by Patty Briguglio

Hummingbird Creative Group has been recognized as one of the Triangle™s top graphic design firms in the Triangle Business Journal™s Book of Lists 2005. Raleigh, NC (PRWEB) March 25, 2005 — Hummingbird Creative Group has been recognized as one of the Triangle™s top graphic design firms in the Triangle Business Journal™s Book of Lists 2005. Established in 1995, Hummingbird Creative Group specializes in corporate and brand identification through the utilization of strategic planning, creative problem solving, and leading-edge technology. We are honored to be ranked among such great graphic design firms. This is a wonderful opportunity to express my gratitude to our valued clientele for their continuing support of Hummingbird Creative Group, said Wendy Coulter, President. About Hummingbird Creative Group: Hummingbird is a creative services firm specializing in building brand identities. The firm serves as a partner with their clients to provide unique, award-winning design, advertising and marketing services, including: logos, branding, marketing strategies, advertising, web design, public relations, and promotions. For more information, please call 919-854-9100 or visit the Website at www.hummingbird-creative.com. Media and Press Contacts: Patty Briguglio MMI Associates, Inc. 919-233-6600 e-mail protected from spam bots MMI Associates, Inc. 7406-H Chapel Hill Rd. Raleigh, NC 27607 (919) 233-6600 ¢ (919) 233-0300 (fax) e-mail protected from spam bots Contact: Patty Briguglio (919) 233-6600

How To Make Art School Work For You - by Michael Long

When I was in school I had a graphic design professor - a very smart individual who graduated from Yale and whose expertise was fonts. I spent two hours a day for an entire semester building fonts with a pencil and a clipboard. As the professor did not know how to use a computer, he did not require any of his students to either. This class was boring, but what was worse is that it was completely useless.
Rarely is a real company going to pay for a font. They are going to pay for business cards, logos, web sites, CDROMs and commercials but not a font. Many professors at prestigious schools with good reputations are relics of a past age. Graphic design requires technology, and technologies change and adapt. Oftentimes those that teach graphic design remain stagnant and enforce archaic concepts and methods. Academic graphic design is much closer to fine art than commercial graphic design (the type that makes money).
Avoid classes with names like “The History of Byzantine Graphic Design,” “The Stencil as Design Tool” or “Dimension in Design.”
You should design your schedule around your portfolio, your web site and your resume. The best classes are those that teach software and can provide tangible art that employers will want to see. Look at the want ads and then look at your schedule. If the class teaches or requires Photoshop, Adobe Premiere, Flash, or HTML then take it immediately. Look for teachers who have worked in the world of graphic design and understand concepts like deadlines, client needs, and real world application.
The most important way to jumpstart your career is by establishing a web site early and constantly adding to it and improving it. Your web site should be the crown jewel of your arts education. If you can improve the site each year by adding flash animation or streaming video then you will have a job magnet when you are ready to graduate.
A college degree is a wonderful thing to have, but sometimes software certification is more important for finding a job. A Flash developer certification from Macromedia can lead to a job much faster than a graphic design degree from even the best university. Software certification can open doors that a degree cannot. You have four years of art school to learn and improve yourself. You will never again have the time and resources to pursue certifications. The best part is that you can probably receive academic credit for anything that you do if you just fill out a little of the correct paperwork.

Michael Long seattle flash designer currently works in Seattle WA. Sponsored by: Indianapolis Art Schools Digital

How To Get A Graphic Design Job After Art School - by Michael Long

After four years of art school and countless portfolio reviews, late nights in the computer lab, and enough espresso to kill an elephant, I made the worst mistake of my life. I graduated. Most art schools make it appear that your degree will immediately lead into a fulfilling career in which you can make your own hours, explore your artistic passions and collect a sizeable paycheck. Art schools perpetuate this myth because it makes them money - your money. The truth is that graphic design is a highly competitive field and only those with both talent and the ability to market their work will have any chance of achieving their dreams.
Many talented graphic designers get discouraged, as they are turned away from jobs that they want. Unfortunately, most design schools do not provide the real world experience.
Graphic designers are hired through online portfolios.
In ten years of graphic and web design I would estimate that I have found 90% of my jobs online. I have often heard young designers complain about the time and energy that goes into building a great web site. You may be reluctant to invest the effort when you could be sending out resumes instead.
Would you hire someone who has never driven a car to fix your car? Why would anyone hire a web designer that doesn’t have a web site? An online portfolio is easy for recruiters to use and they will usually ask to see your work before you can get an interview.
Develop skills that complement graphic design.
Take a look at the graphic design jobs in the paper. You will see words like HTML, Microsoft Office, _Javascript, and copywriting as required skills. It takes time for talented graphic design students to become talented graphic designers. Employers hire to fill needs and solve problems. If you can fill multiple needs and solve multiple problems then the employer will often take a second look. Because design is so competitive, employers are often quick to hire and quicker to fire. Employers rarely fire someone they can’t live without. Make yourself indispensable. If you are the only one in the office that knows how to use a spreadsheet or change the web site then your life span could be a lot longer.
Software skills pay bills
“Photoshop, Flash, Illustrator, Freehand, PC, Mac” - these are the most common terms in graphic design want ads. Software is the lifeblood of any modern design company and companies need people that know how to use multiple software applications. Even if you are not creating comps for the client you will still have a job if you are the only one that knows how to put them into Flash for the presentation. Computer skills are of equal importance to artistic skills.
Do the job even if you can’t get the job
When I started out, the two phrases I heard the most were “under-qualified” and “inexperienced”. So how do you handle this type of rejection? If you really want the job, then ask for three days to work on part of the project. If the employer really needs a great flash presentation for an auto site then bring one that you created with you on your next visit. Even if you don’t give the employer exactly what they want, they will be impressed with your effort. Everyone respects hard work, initiative and dedication.
Look for the back door
Every company has a back door to the design department. It may be an administrative assistant job or stuffing envelopes in a corner office or a file clerk. If you can get near the graphic design department and make friends, then sooner or later you can lend a hand. Volunteer for the job that you really want in your free time and eventually you will have the job that you really want.
Get over yourself
Art school is a very different place from an office building. At art school you can make a statement, become political, and follow your dreams. These same attributes may get you fired in an office building. I’ve interviewed talented designers who told me in interviews that they have some reservations about working in “corporate America” and would prefer a small environmentally conscious company that supports indigenous rights and vegan dietary needs. Maybe somewhere deep in the Amazon there is a group of graphic designers making $50,000 a year with full benefits, but I’ve never met them. If you don’t want the job then don’t apply for it. Most companies are not going to hire someone who lectures them in interviews.

Michael Long seattle flash designer currently works in Seattle WA. Sponsored by: Indianapolis Art Schools Digital

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