Searching for the right words.
So, It’s been a while since I’ve last posted anything, and even longer since I’ve taken the time to write something. Lately, I’ve been in a daze. I’m done with school, which is a major accomplishment, and I’ve been trying to decide what to do with myself.
I’m exercising my logo-muscle at the moment, and am trying to pick up clients. So far, no luck in the real world, but I’ve managed to occupy myself placing bids online for logo work. The more I do it, the more honed in I am on my strengths and weaknesses.
In March, my partner moves down to San Diego, and we’ll launch our own freelance design business which will focus on branding, layout, and package design (with a little bit of web, once we shake the bugs out of our coding skills). I’m excited, but also nervous about this road we’re about to head down. I see the potential to turn some heads, and win over local businesses, but I can also foresee a lot of hassles, mainly dealing with people who cannot understand the value of good design.
I’m searching for the right words to share with people who need a little convincing as to why they should refuse to take the cheap, on-line, crowd-sourced design route, AND choose a more expensive, person-to-person designer who will oversee their project from beginning to end. I know this will be tough, because to some people: any design is a good design, but I think that especially now, consumers are beginning to disagree with this, and they expect to see a higher level of design. We’re so interconnected, and have access to so much information, so many stories and images, that the average person’s design savviness is increasing. In order to meet the increasing needs of the consumer, a business owner needs to invest in themselves, and seek good design.
Design is a service; but how could I relate the kind of service that a graphic designer provides, to someone who doesn’t understand the ins and outs of the field? What are other services that people are more familiar with?
Then I thought: Strippers and Tattoos!
Designers are not strippers, and your logo is not a lap dance. You can find a cheap lap dance practically anywhere, and with a little imagination, it will surely do the trick. But that’s not how you should approach design, because your logo is more like a tattoo, because it should be well-thought out, so that you don’t end up getting something you’ll regret later. You could shop around, and settle for the cheapest tattoo artist in town, but they’re probably the cheapest for a reason, and no amount of imagination will save you from looking ridiculous to other people. You don’t have to get the world’s greatest tattoo artist, but please be smart about tattoos and design. And tip your stripper well, no matter how cheap her dance may be.
con amor,
R.Calderon.
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