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What You Can Learn About Freelance Web Design From Disney Princesses

10/05/2012 Featured, Inspiration No comments
princess_150

Have not blogged in two weeks. You can give me the shame face. I will try harder to keep up with the blog pace of one post a week.

So the Disney throwback occurred when ABC Family decided to have a Disney movie night and broadcast Aladdin while I was eating dinner. There was mas histeria because I haven’t seen this movie since high school. Jasmine is one of my top favorite Disney princesses (Mulan is my all time favorite … Asian power) and I love her for being an independent woman and telling it like it is.

It inspired me to create a blog post to my two interests: Design and Disney Princesses.

Read more

9 Must Read Blogs for Freelancers

09/19/2012 Featured, Tools and Resources One comment
freelanceblog-150x150

A budding freelancer myself, thought I would share a couple of my daily go-to blogs that I read on more than one occasion. Coming from a business school (heavy on accounting), keeping up with the latest and greatest can be daunting. Thank you to the powers that be for RSS Feeds, right?

All are great starting points for newbies to check into to see if the freelance route is the right path. Let’s not forget that being constantly up to date with design news will score majorly in the long haul.

The first few are freelanced focused on getting your business off the ground, tips on sales, and finding time management – basically everything you need to know to dance in the freelance. The rest are geared to offer you the latest news on design, the hottest web design tutorials, the greatest pieces of inspiration, and the best tech to bring into your life that will save you time and bring in money.

Don’t believe me? Pursue for yourself to your hearts content. Eat it up, folks.

Read more

12 Ways to Break Out of Your Creative Block

09/12/2012 Advice, Featured No comments
12 Ways to Break Out of Your Creative Block

Having trouble finding that right color for your client’s new logo? Switching back and forth from project to project because there is not a single drop of creativity flowing from your brain to the sketchpad? Can’t even get started on a project because the thought of paying your bills or putting food on the table is getting in the way? You, my friend, are suffering from a block. It’s one of the worst types too – the creative block.

Creative blocks. They suck. Sometimes we have such an overwhelming block that these unwanted events happen:

  • Getting stressed too easily
  • Feeling too emotional
  • Avoiding responsibilities for the rest of the week
  • Yelling at the next person that walks into the room

And here we are. Read more

Tips to Build a Great Design Resume and CV

09/05/2012 Advice, Featured 2 comments
Steps to Build a Great Design Resume

There has been a lot of debate about the importance of the resume, especially in the design field. Some believe that digital resumes will eliminate the need for print, while others still hold importance to the old-fashioned, physically-in-your-hand resume. Well luckily, you need both.

Designers need both a physical and a digital resume to sell themselves as a brand. Everyone just needs to jump on the fast train to technology land and accept that everything digital is here and it is not going anywhere. At the same time, a lot of employers want to see and touch a physical representation of your credentials because not only it shows that you came prepared to the interview, but it also gives you a chance to show your creative side separate from the portfolio.

Why is the portfolio not enough? Read more

5 Design Thoughts While Hanging Upside Down

08/21/2012 Featured, Inspiration 3 comments
Upsidedown

Many people have different design processes when handling a new project. Mine is finding a clear mind when doing something out of the ordinary during your routine. Most people end up probably following suit when they get a design block or need some inspiration. Alas, I was doing unordinary things only because I was a little bit angry at the time and needed to clear my head.

This is when I just decided to hang upside down from my bed. It is the simplest thing you could do when you are annoyed or frustrated – and it works wonders.

I was thinking about everything that I have read, seen, done, and had on my mind that it made go into this deep thought about design. Read more

What You Can Learn About Freelance Web Design From Disney Princesses

10/05/2012 Featured, Inspiration No comments
princess_150

Have not blogged in two weeks. You can give me the shame face. I will try harder to keep up with the blog pace of one post a week.

So the Disney throwback occurred when ABC Family decided to have a Disney movie night and broadcast Aladdin while I was eating dinner. There was mas histeria because I haven’t seen this movie since high school. Jasmine is one of my top favorite Disney princesses (Mulan is my all time favorite … Asian power) and I love her for being an independent woman and telling it like it is.

It inspired me to create a blog post to my two interests: Design and Disney Princesses.

Read more

9 Must Read Blogs for Freelancers

09/19/2012 Featured, Tools and Resources One comment
freelanceblog-150x150

A budding freelancer myself, thought I would share a couple of my daily go-to blogs that I read on more than one occasion. Coming from a business school (heavy on accounting), keeping up with the latest and greatest can be daunting. Thank you to the powers that be for RSS Feeds, right?

All are great starting points for newbies to check into to see if the freelance route is the right path. Let’s not forget that being constantly up to date with design news will score majorly in the long haul.

The first few are freelanced focused on getting your business off the ground, tips on sales, and finding time management – basically everything you need to know to dance in the freelance. The rest are geared to offer you the latest news on design, the hottest web design tutorials, the greatest pieces of inspiration, and the best tech to bring into your life that will save you time and bring in money.

Don’t believe me? Pursue for yourself to your hearts content. Eat it up, folks.

Read more

12 Ways to Break Out of Your Creative Block

09/12/2012 Advice, Featured No comments
12 Ways to Break Out of Your Creative Block

Having trouble finding that right color for your client’s new logo? Switching back and forth from project to project because there is not a single drop of creativity flowing from your brain to the sketchpad? Can’t even get started on a project because the thought of paying your bills or putting food on the table is getting in the way? You, my friend, are suffering from a block. It’s one of the worst types too – the creative block.

Creative blocks. They suck. Sometimes we have such an overwhelming block that these unwanted events happen:

  • Getting stressed too easily
  • Feeling too emotional
  • Avoiding responsibilities for the rest of the week
  • Yelling at the next person that walks into the room

And here we are. Read more

Tips to Build a Great Design Resume and CV

09/05/2012 Advice, Featured 2 comments
Steps to Build a Great Design Resume

There has been a lot of debate about the importance of the resume, especially in the design field. Some believe that digital resumes will eliminate the need for print, while others still hold importance to the old-fashioned, physically-in-your-hand resume. Well luckily, you need both.

Designers need both a physical and a digital resume to sell themselves as a brand. Everyone just needs to jump on the fast train to technology land and accept that everything digital is here and it is not going anywhere. At the same time, a lot of employers want to see and touch a physical representation of your credentials because not only it shows that you came prepared to the interview, but it also gives you a chance to show your creative side separate from the portfolio.

Why is the portfolio not enough? Read more

22 Unique Business Cards for Inspiration

08/29/2012 Inspiration 4 comments
Patrick Bateman American Psycho

Thinking about American Psycho, I had to blog about business cards. From food to razors, designers were not limited to the cotton stock or print color ink. We will go out of our way to make an identity out of anything. Print with anything. Hand-make stuff if necessary. To satisfy the client and the creative juices, stepping outside the box definitely is, and forever will be, an option. The accountants and investors stuck with the little details (simple text placement, raised lettering, different versions of white) that it drove them crazy. Look at Patrick Bateman obsessing about Paul Allen’s business card:

Look at that subtle off-white coloring. The tasteful thickness of it. Oh my God, it even has a watermark … [drops card in a sweat]

I have had my fill of that side of the business world. Read more

5 Design Thoughts While Hanging Upside Down

08/21/2012 Featured, Inspiration 3 comments
Upsidedown

Many people have different design processes when handling a new project. Mine is finding a clear mind when doing something out of the ordinary during your routine. Most people end up probably following suit when they get a design block or need some inspiration. Alas, I was doing unordinary things only because I was a little bit angry at the time and needed to clear my head.

This is when I just decided to hang upside down from my bed. It is the simplest thing you could do when you are annoyed or frustrated – and it works wonders.

I was thinking about everything that I have read, seen, done, and had on my mind that it made go into this deep thought about design. Read more

7 Tips on How to Prepare for Your (Design) Job Interview

08/17/2012 Advice 3 comments
Interview Tips

It is post-grad time. Summer is basically over and all the friends you had in college that were a grade or two below you are ready to go back to school. It is is hitting you after getting a callback from one of your top companies to work with and they want you to come in for an interview – welcome to the real world!

After scheduling the date and time to meet with your potential employer, now you’re wondering “What now?”

PREPARE. Even designers looking for a steady job must be ready. Follow these 7 tips and your interview will go smooth and easy.
Read more

Kit Kat Pancakes

08/13/2012 Baking, Recipe 3 comments
Kit Kat Pancakes

First Blog Entry! Woo! This is an exciting time.

As a first time blogger, I was pondering about the subject of my first blog entry. I was also debating what type of overall subject I wanted my blog to entail. As a designer, I should stick with design related topics, correct?

As I continue to think and debate with myself, for now you will get a pancake recipe ^.^

I love making pancakes, especially when I make them for other people. Read more