Feb

3

Free Font of the Month helps graphic designers build their font library and design attractive ads, brochures, logos, newsletters, & websites

Filed Under Graphic Elements, Typography | Leave a Comment

If you’re a graphic designer, here’s an easy way to build your typeface library of attractive fonts for free by visiting the Font Marketplace website each month and downloading their Free Font of the Month. Each free font you download improves your ability to design attractive ads, brochures, logos, newsletters, and websites.
Each month a selected […]

Dec

18

E-mail tip: tiny URL’s save space and can improve the appearance of your e-mails

Filed Under Graphic Elements, Websites | Leave a Comment

Tiny URL’s, like those you can create for free at http://tinyurl.com can improve the appearance of your e-mails and eliminate problems when long URLs wrap to additional lines. Tinyurl.com is just one of several  free online locations where you can enter a long URL–perhaps to a particular page of your website–and reduce it’s length.
Compare:

BEFORE: http://blog.publishedandprofitable.com/2008/12/create-a-social-media-marketing-planning-calendar-worksheet-for-2009/
AFTER: […]

Mar

8

Free tips for platform-building success

Filed Under Branding, Content, Graphic Elements, Newsletters | Leave a Comment

A platform is a marketing process based on frequent messages, low-cost distribution, and control. Platforms help you inform your market and keep in touch until your prospects are ready to buy.
The first question that publishers ask authors, for example, is often: “What’s the size of your platform–how many potential buyers for this book can you […]

Feb

20

Use thumbnails to plan your design success

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I always encourage my participants in my graphic design workshops to begin the design process by turning off their computers, or at least their exiting Microsoft Publisher or Adobe InDesign.
Design ideas flow freely when you design with a pencil and paper, creating rough thumbnails that indicate the location and size of major graphic elements like […]

Feb

4

New website simplifies complex software

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If you’re frustrated by conventional approaches to learning new software programs, you’ll love Tom Cone’s Screencast Central. It’s precisely what’s needed these days.
Screencast Central helps everyday people perform everyday tasks using today’s often convoluted online and offline software.
Each software program, operating system, and online tool has its own learning curve. Learning can be time-consuming and […]

Jan

23

Jumpstarting creativity on new projects

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Here’s an easy way to use the printed samples in your “inspiration file” to jumpstart your creativity when starting a new project like a brochure, e-book, or newsletter.
Place a thin sheet of paper over the original, and–using a soft pencil–trace the outlines of the major design elements, such as the title (or headline), text columns, […]

Jan

13

Choosing the right format for your book

Filed Under Books, Graphic Elements | Leave a Comment

I have been spending a lot of time recently with Jim Krause’s Type Index. It’s a great book with great writing and great visuals. It contains over 650 illustrations and over 150 different typefaces.
The book’s format brings up some interesting graphic design points. For example, one of the appeals of Jim Krause’s “Index” books–other […]

Jan

9

AARP redesign shows the power of choice

Filed Under Direct Mail, Graphic Elements, Page Layout | Leave a Comment

The recent redesign of the AARP Bulletin, introduced in the January, 2007, issue, displays the power of choice as applied to publication design.
Instead of a single, “take it or leave it!” choice of a single featured article, the front cover contains a tasteful display of 12 different articles and the benefits of reading each […]

Jan

4

Outstanding letterhead graphic design idea

Filed Under Graphic Elements, In the news | Leave a Comment

The latest issue of John McWade’s Before & After contains a creative marketing and design idea John calls a Dual Purpose Letterhead.
John’s letterhead design idea is based on a perforated legal-sized sheet of paper. The top portion contains the message, the bottom contents a removable “leave behind.” This area can be used for an order […]

Oct

24

Looking for a new corporate identity?

Filed Under Books, Branding, Graphic Elements | Leave a Comment

One of the best places to begin examining logo and letterhead design options is Letterhead & Logo Design 8, prepared by LA’s Top Design Studio. You’ll find numerous examples of logos in action, many created by the Top Design Studio.
I’ll be presenting with Peleg Tom, the head of Top Design, at the AWAI Graphic Design […]

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