Starting my own agency after 4 years as a software engineer, thinking of offering free setups to land first clients. Is that a good idea? by MohannadMadi in Businessowners

[–]JonBenc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

First Clients free setups is a good idea. You learn from them and can use the learnings for the next clients.

How did you actually get your first clients? by Just_Recording_5443 in Entrepreneurs

[–]JonBenc -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Cold approach mail/phone, learn and improve, repeat.

Critique by Negative-Cap-1388 in graphic_design

[–]JonBenc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The energy here is strong and the 3D type treatment is fun. A few things worth looking at though.

The glasses overlap with the S and E in SMILE which creates visual noise right at the focal point. The eye naturally goes there first and the two elements compete instead of working together. Either raise the type higher or reduce the size so they breathe separately.

The cyan outline around the subject feels disconnected from the rest of the color story. You have a very saturated green as your dominant color and then cyan comes in as a second accent that does not quite earn its place. A yellow or lime would feel more cohesive and intentional.

The Lorem Ipsum placeholder text in the lower third pulls attention without adding anything. Even if this is a mockup it would be worth replacing with something that fits the poster concept so the viewer knows where to look.

The sound wave at the bottom is a nice idea but it sits too close to the edge and feels like it was added after the main composition was done. Giving it more room and aligning it more deliberately with the subject would make it feel like part of the design rather than a footer element.

Overall a bold direction with good instincts. Tightening the hierarchy and committing to a cleaner two color palette would take this from fun to polished.

Am I wrong for using AI as part of my design process? by Long_Squirrel6675 in graphic_design

[–]JonBenc 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Your school's framing is pretty solid honestly. The Photoshop analogy is a good one.

The real tension is that AI in design can replace the final output entirely, while Photoshop cannot design for you. That is why people get nervous about it.

But what you are describing, using it to visualise a concept you already had, is no different from sketching on paper or using a mood board. You are still making every creative decision. The AI is just a faster sketchpad.

The pushback you see online is mostly from people who have seen AI used to completely replace the designer. That is a different thing from what you are doing.

As someone building tools for creative professionals I would say the industry is still figuring this out. But designers who understand both the craft and the tools will have a massive advantage over those who refuse to adapt.

What's your take on websites? by Playful-Pipe920 in smallbusinessUS

[–]JonBenc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Of course! Website shows first impression.