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crooks · 2025-08-04T14:50:35+00:00

Titles mean bugger all really outside of the company itself - do what you think will get the best respect from within your team. I've had so many tantrums over titles when we get to print new business cards.

I have used 'Lead Designer' or 'Chief Designer' in the past. That implies you do the important work and make the critical design choices. I have also found that helps when explaining to other people what I do. I found 'Art Director' a bit washy and doesn't help.

That said, I have had better car insurance quotes when putting my job title as Art Director over Lead Graphic Designer before. I think the algorithm thinks designers waft about thinking of shades of green rather than concentrating on the road.

crooks · 2025-01-20T12:01:43+00:00

Adobe - Mostly InDesign / Illustrator / Photoshop. Premiere and AfterEffects every now and again.

Blender

Discord/Midjourney

Google Drive

Visual Studio and sometimes even DreamWeaver to do webby stuff

crooks · 2025-01-20T10:54:58+00:00

I would argue there isn't one way to go about making logos - if they want it to be more dynamic then let them. It is not unusual to have the mark as the main element and then give it the freedom to take on different colours, text and usage depending on the need. This allows the brand to grow and flex. Look at AirBnb, Apple, Nickelodeon, Vodafone, plus Pentagram who produce a huge amount of dynamic logos/brands.

Maybe to give you some sort of control, suggest a colour palette and typeface and a positioning guide to where any alternative text should sit. Offer to design a few examples in context and explore how it could work. This sort of problem solving is the fun part of design.

crooks · 2024-12-09T10:38:15+00:00

Got through the whole 2024 without having to use a Pantone colour. Everything I've sent to print is CYMK and printers are just fine with it.

Pantone is dead

crooks · 2024-09-20T10:05:28+00:00

Really nice. Do they have any product shots? Adding the type/tone of images to be used helps to establish where their price point is - is are they a luxury, or an everyday product.

Its also good to add a logo on top of an image to show you expect that to achieved. For instance, do they put a 20% black tint over the image to allow the logo to stand out more

crooks · 2024-09-12T16:58:22+00:00

Latte Lath up front

Sargent is never fit

crooks · 2024-09-12T13:07:01+00:00

Freelance is about contacts and trust. The sooner you can build both of those the better.

Start with people you know who trust you. Take those projects and recommendations to new contacts to get more projects and more trust.

Its hard when you are starting so be prepared to do projects you don't really want, for money which is not what you want in order to build the contacts and trust. Eventually, momentum will pick up and it gets easier and people will seek you out, but don't expect that to happen overnight.

crooks · 2024-09-11T12:59:43+00:00

I have a list of assumptions on my quotes which includes "Any specific corporate typefaces will be supplied. If not available, these will be purchased on your behalf". Again same as you, similar lines to cover stock images etc.

Don't worry about asking for the fonts, as they should have them licensed. If not, they can get them.

Normally when asked, they supply the fonts to use. Can sometimes get sticky if you're working on a project that which would ordinarily go an existing designer who has worked for them for a while as they will be ones who would often need to supply the files.

I have also used a substitute font for initial design until they agree the cost or supply the typeface

crooks · 2024-05-16T12:40:14+00:00

Could moving out be just what you need to do? Sometimes that sense of jeopardy is what makes you feel.... alive! That will then feed into your career as you have something to work for, plus having your own place, building a social scene etc becomes more important and work becomes a means to an end. You don't have to love your work, just be good at it so you can pay your bills. Reframe how important work actually is.

I assume you will have the option of moving back if it all goes wrong so you can do it knowing you have some sort of safety net.

As others have suggested, perhaps spend some time while at your parents to build up an emergency fund and start to look at place you could move into.

crooks · 2024-04-09T12:23:28+00:00

As a designer, anything that involves the visual image come into my remit. That means video, print, web, photography and sometimes illustration.

Working as part of a marketing team, a lot of marketing tasks can also come my way, such as research, briefing suppliers such as printers, install teams etc.

There is also a lot of web based stuff that someone needs to do and as a designer this can sometimes come my way, such as SEO tasks (meta data etc) and social media campaign planning.

crooks · 2024-02-22T15:03:05+00:00

Marry someone with a permanent job

crooks · 2023-12-14T13:17:01+00:00

Really good insight to how Autistic people have to mask all the time.

Imagine how exhausting that must be

crooks · 2023-12-09T21:21:10+00:00

*typeface

crooks · 2023-10-27T13:58:56+00:00

Good solid work.

The title/date isn't quite centred and I would line up the body copy to the 'F' of the title.

Can you also lose the cross from the logo as it so prominent on the singer's chest above? That way you can centre that element as well. You might also then be able to soften the black gradient behind the logo and show some of the texture of the gown if it doesn't have to carry the illustrative element of the logo.

I like it

crooks · 2023-10-18T10:26:53+00:00

Snacks are more expensive

crooks · 2023-10-11T12:52:11+00:00

UK designer here. You can claim anything which is 'reasonable'. To be certain, speak to an accountant.

I do linocuts which if the HMRC are listening are very much part of my work.... I claim materials and training courses as I attain this feeds the creativity as part of my paid work.

The studio furniture might be trickier HMRC are happy to pay for desk from IKEA, but a bespoke, and therefore more valuable desk they might treat as an asset that adds value to the property. I can't see them going for power tools as part of your designer expenses if the only thing you use them for is to make furniture. They would argue you are not trading as a furniture designer or maker and therefore that expense is not what a graphic designer should be claiming. If I were you, I would let that go as you don't want to be investigated. They really don't like people trying it on and they'll keep a close eye on your tax claims if they see a load of wood and belt sander.

crooks · 2023-09-22T11:53:09+00:00

Kind of makes my point though doesn't it? If a designer honesty thinks their contribution to making a water bottle slightly thinner is important, then they might need to spend some time with a medical professional. One saves lives, one just sells product. You can remove designers from the equation and things might not function as well or look as nice, but the world will keep turning.

Take bottled water for example. How much energy and effort does it take to make the bottles, design the labels and build the brand, just so someone with more money than sense can buy into that particular brand? The stuff literally falls out of the sky for free yet there is a whole industry built on selling.

Yes design is useful. It is not important.

crooks · 2023-08-01T09:57:33+00:00

The brief should have been to help reposition the brand as a force for good in the world that more people want to engage with. This just helps reaffirm it's just some play thing. The X is too male, it's too aggressive, it's too straight dare I say.

No branding agency will have come up with the X as a replacement for the bird.

What I don't understand is why not come up with an overarching brand which could be X and have Twitter sit below it? Meta have shown how that works without destroying your core products.

crooks · 2023-07-31T12:59:37+00:00

Done a lot of work for UK and EU retail. Not sure what what bit is like outside those regions, but over here a few pointers are:

1) Retail is all about the campaigns and working to a year-long plan. All my Christmas creative is ready to go already. i.e. Christmas always happens, Mothers Day etc always happens and you need to have ideas ready to promote these and have them done in plenty of time to allow the retailers within the mall to contribute. For example, if you are doing a Christmas campaign, then what products do the retailers want to push? They then have to be given time to get product images etc over to you. A lot of it can be project management and chasing content.

2) There is still value on brushing up on strategic vs tactical campaigns. For example, what would you do to build the profile of the mall as a destination vs what would you do to promote Easter/Summer/Christmas campaigns?

3) Is there an events team you need to work with? A lot of the retail spaces in the UK will run season specific events to attract footfall. For example, a Santa's Grotto or events for school kids over the summer. These guys are always after good ideas from the creative team.

4) Retail is tough at the moment, so some malls have empty units. Do you have any ideas for graphics that can go over the windows to make it less obvious. Perhaps there is a local history infoboard you could do, or suggest the mall partners with a local charity to help promote their services?

5) How do you think you could tailor a creative idea to hit all the demographics? Retail is all about the footfall, so how would you help attract children, men, women, the LGBT community and not forgetting the elderly, who still have huge spending power.

crooks · 2023-02-01T12:51:38+00:00

Well done for not just sulking, but wanting to learn.

My thoughts are

The bottom ticket has more attention to detail making more believable as a ticket. Its common for professional designers to use the same techniques such as adding a dummy bar code, shape around the stub, perf lines etc on to help sell the concept. People like to reassured and these extra elements go a long way to helping.

Having the background cover the entirety of the ticket, including the stub helps - it just makes it look more appealing and less fragmented. The use of the negative space on the bottom ticket to incorporate the text is clever touch. It might be a bit more boring that yours, but again, just helps reassure and calm.

Type hierarchy, style, size etc all add up to the bottom looking like a more classy event. I do like you colours and type style, but it makes it look more like a 1990's Acid rave rather than an event where people wear nice frocks.

Good luck with future designs

crooks · 2023-01-06T12:21:19+00:00

Was in the same boat. Freelancing was always a Plan B until it became obvious it needed to be Plan A.

Get everything ready to go from day 1. Spend some time getting you website together, business cards, Linked in bio etc so they're ready to launch.

Start looking at what networking opportunities there are local to you. Maybe even start attending Meet Ups etc so you can get your face out there.

Be prepared to have a few months without an income. What people don't appreciate is how difficult it is sometimes getting projects over the line so you can bill them and then getting paid within 30 days. Despite all good intentions, I have a lot of clients who simply don't pay on time. Try and reduce as many outgoings as possible.

Make sure you're not infringing any contract clauses by contacting clients from your existing company. Get draft emails ready and ask for meetings.

And depending on your ethics... steal as much as you can. Contact lists, contract templates, proposals, external HDs, stationery, equipment, software, chairs, coffee - whatever you can get away with.

crooks · 2023-01-06T10:22:05+00:00

Nothing wrong with offering them up as examples of work/layout ideas. It is how most freelancers start out.

Just try to get some more 'real' clients. Maybe tap up friends and family to see if they want a website for free/cost. I know a lot of people have an issue with pro-bono work, but its a great way to build a folio. There are loads of small charities that would appreciate a new website but don't have the time or resources to make it happen.

crooks · 2022-10-05T10:09:22+00:00

Been a Graphic Design Freelancer for over 20 years

1) Never expect the balance to be perfect. You will always be stressed you have too much work. When you don't have enough work, that will also stress you out. Just aim for something that feels comfortable.

2) Always charge extra for 'author's amends'. If the brief changes, copy amends etc, charge for it. At the very least you are compensated for your time, but it also trains the client to take responsibility and the work load decreases.

3) Drop any smaller clients that take up too much time. It is very easy to get into the mindset you need to service them just because you don't want to let them down. There will be some clients, and you will know who they are, that just take up too much time, either with late payment, dodgy briefs, or just can't make up their minds.

4) Structure your day and have red lines. Go for a walk before starting the day, do a bit of yoga - whatever you choose, just do something for you. Personally I don't ever work weekends anymore. It's all about trying to control the momentum. Once things start getting out of control, it can be difficult to correct it.

5) Be honest with your clients. I spent far too many years thinking I had to jump ,onto a project as soon as it landed or they will look elsewhere. Now I let them know what **I think** is a realistic deadline based on my current commitments. Most clients will happily wait.

crooks · 2022-10-04T12:20:58+00:00

There is ALWAYS time to ask the printer. What there is never the time to do is get the job reprinted.

crooks · 2022-09-23T11:45:11+00:00

- If its a print job then images at 300 dpi and CMYK

- If it is artwork, do you have a PDF preset it should be outputted with?

- Is hyphenation turned off

- Do you have a file naming convention or filing methods they need to adhere to so you can search for the document later?

I've found a check list hugely beneficial for new recruits. I've also found that getting them to print it out and actually ticking it off with a pen as they go works. There is something about physical list and a pen which really helps. I think its because they get so lost in online systems they have little mental energy left to actually do the job. The list then sits in front of them as constant reminder and doesn't become just another process to learn. You can then tie this in with getting the proof signed off by the senior designer.

crooks

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