Join the Revolution

Some of you may or may not be aware that my main profession is graphic design, though I consider myself to be a graphic artist. A designer is pretty ordinary- he or she is good at following the rules of design, composition and typography and playing nice with the world of visual communication. A graphic artist, however, is a rare breed. He or she isn’t afraid to push the envelope, break a few rules and create pieces of art rather than your typical pieces of printed matter. I’m in search of a new full-time position since I was recently laid off from my job. So, I’ve ramped up my self-promotion efforts. Here’s a taste of my style and design and for those interested in seeing more of my work, head over to my design blog.

P.S. I need your help. If you know of any agencies or companies in the Triangle area of North Carolina (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) looking to hire a graphic designer/artist, please let me know! You can leave a comment or click the “about me” section at the top of the page to E-mail me directly. Thank you for your help!

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The Unemployed Diaries: “Don’t cry for me Argentina …”

Well, the (un)expected happened today: I was laid off of my position at work. I define it as (un)expected because as many have experienced with this economy and the job market, when you first receive word that you’re about to join the unemployment numbers, the first thing or phrase that probably comes to mind is “Oh sh*t.” But then, it’s not really shocking because when you look back, you see that there was a lot of hints and actions taken by the boss and those you work with that pointed to this sucky conclusion.

I’m upset and concerned over the money and where I’m going to get the money to pay the bills more so than being unemployed. Truth have it, I didn’t like my job. I’ve been working in this same position straight out of college, having served in this role and duty for over 4 years now. But I’ve never made tons of money – I was making below what many entry level people in my field make and there honestly was no sign of a big raise or upward mobility. I basically peaked in the position around year two or so. I put in a lot of effort into making the product unique; into making it better than what it was when I started. I could go on and on, and do as many do and totally rip the job and certain people who made it nearly unbearable but … why? Yes, you see, I’m feeling like Evita: “Don’t cry for me, Argentina!” I’ve been shockingly level headed and cool over the situation. When I weigh everything, I feel like I’m probably better off unemployed than working under the conditions that I was.

It’s an interesting situation to be in after watching and reading about many other’s experiences with being laid off and unemployed. I’ve never really heard anyone just shrug and say, “Eh, it’s okay, I’ll manage.” However, that’s where I am. And since I have that reaction, I feel that it’s very telling of where I was in the position: feeling more burdened and under pressure than happy and fulfilled; putting in more hours than necessary perfecting my work knowing I’d get no real recognition or praise for doing so; well aware that I was just another worker bee in the hive. In other words, I think I’m not having a big breakdown or negative reaction because inwardly I knew the job and position wasn’t really for me and that it was actually hurting me professionally more so than helping. I see this as a much needed “reset” button being pressed – I’d definitely become too complacent and accepting of being walked over, never demanding a fair wage or calling attention to my accomplishments. It’s a lesson I needed to learn and a collection of experience that I believe will definitely shape me in the future as I look for something better and steady.

So, what now? After tomorrow morning, I’m free of this job I’ve really disliked for a long time and knew I needed to ditch and am free to pursue something new. And boy, do I want something new. I’m looking forward to what tomorrow brings. While it’ll be the end of my time at this job that I’ve been at for 4 years, it’s also a big adventure full of new possibilities.

Going Postal: What’s Wrong With the U.S. Postal Service

How many people out there love snail mail?

Sigh. I remember back in the day when getting something in the mail – and I mean, a real mailbox that hangs outside of your door and not the thing called an Inbox that’s packed with snail mail and dozens if not hundreds of other messages you could have probably done without receiving – was a big deal. Nowadays though, what’s the point?

As a graphic designer, I have to admit – I love paper. I like having something that I can hold in my hands, flip through, write on, tear out, tear apart and save. Magazines for me are a bit of Christmas throughout the year – little books of information, pictures and the testament of someone’s (or some people’s) time and talents coming together to create something unique and worth spending a few dollars on. Beyond that though, I could really care less about ‘snail mail’.

Prince (the music artist formerly known as relevant) stated his disdain for the Internet recently during an interview with the U.K.’s Daily Mirror. In it, he proclaimed, “The Internet is completely over.” As a music artist dealing with leaks and fans spreading his music for free like wildfire without paying him his dues, I get his ire and disdain for the world wide web. Yet, I feel differently when the U.S. postal service completely screws over citizens and businesses relying on its service.

Every year the U.S. Postal Service haves an annual pity party where they complain about their failing business, how there’s a lack of money, how this or that isn’t working, how the Internet is killing their business. This bitch fest from the Postal Service usually ends with an annual announcement of a postal increase. So, just after our country celebrated Independence Day, they basically follow it up with their own taxation and rate increase that we really have no say so in. What is their proposal? Raise the price of first-class stamps by 2 cents (so we’ll be paying $0.46 cents per stamp). They also want to raise the amount it’ll cost businesses to mail catalogs by 5.1 percent, and raise rates for periodicals (those fun magazines you subscribe to) by 8 percent.  Oh joy.

Stephen Kearney, a senior vice president with the Postal Service, gave this explanation: “We’re doing this because the Postal Service really faces a serious risk of financial insolvency.” Hm. Okay, and … has the Postal Service not noticed that every business and most of the people they serve in the U.S. over the past few years has been facing a serious risk of “financial insolvency”? On top of rate increases, they also want to Congress to approve their recommendation to end Saturday delivery. Again, what the hell?

Listen, I understand. Like most businesses, they aren’t making the money they used to because of the big-bad “Internet” having moved in on their turf. Yet, I have to say – I don’t blame the Internet. The Internet could easily have been one of these fads that come and go, never really catching on. Yet, what has the Internet done for us? Whether you like it or not, it’s made life a heck of a lot easier. Remember when you had to pay all of your bills by sticking it in an envelope, counting how many days it may take for it to arrive at its destination and be processed? Remember what happened when it got there late simply because it wasn’t delivered by a set day or time or wasn’t processed right away? The Internet has streamlined it. We no longer have to rely on the unknown wait time and process of the Postal Service. With many businesses, it’s a matter of setting up an online account, hooking it up to your debit card or checking account and authorizing the money to be taken out each month. Not only do you save on time and potential late fees due to your piece of mail not arriving on time, you also save on the cost of postage and mailing all together.

For those who get magazines, this should bother the poo out of you, too. This is what’s hurting the publishing industry. Your favorite magazine doesn’t get put together for free. It relies on advertising. Advertising pays for the postage, the paper and in general the finished product. If not for the advertising, many magazines couldn’t or wouldn’t make it onto the newsstands or in your mailbox. This creates a problem because a magazine’s circulation (how many readers it has) influences an advertiser’s decision to run an ad or not, to begin with. So, raise postage, you raise the amount of money it takes to produce magazines in general, meaning you end up killing the publishing industry slowly by fees and rate increases. And, I don’t know about you but these days, magazines really are the main piece of ‘snail mail’ I get in my real mailbox. A lot of my bills are coming through my E-mail. Seems to me, with more and more people opting for online billilng, the U.S. Postal Service should be a bit more interested in keeping the costs of periodicals and postage at bay.

Last year, they started rambling how cutting Saturday delivery would save them a ton of money. Fine. They had said they really didn’t forsee any big rate increases if they could just cut Saturday delivery. Fine … but now they want to jack up the mailing rates and cut Saturday delivery. In my opinion, it should be either or. They’ve raised rates before and it only seemed to drive more people to doing their business online. Heck, why even send a letter to a friend when you can E-mail, Tweet, Facebook message, IM or text them? Even my 40-something mother’s gotten hip to the text generation and I know older people who, tired of paying almost 50 cents for mailing one piece of mail, are asking younger adults how to setup online accounts.

This idea of “let’s raise rates to save face” spill is getting rather old. If they raise rates, I want better, and more modern, service from the Postal Service. I want an exact delivery schedule. If you buy a first-class stamp, hey, here’s a way to track your letter. I mean, why the heck not when mailing one little thing will soon be half a dollar? Why is it that we still have no clue how soon, or how slow, something is going to reach its destination when we’re almost paying fifty cents for a first-class stamp? Here’s another novel idea: want to get people to use the Postal Service? Make it easier and more affordable than doing otherwise!  First of all, I hate going to the post office. There aren’t many locations, the lines are long, it takes forever for you to get through the line just to ask a question. I like FedEx: sure, you pay a bit more for some things but you get a number to track your package, a toll free number to call if something goes wrong, options to choose from on how soon or late you want it to be delivered … why is the Postal Service not up to date?

Here’s another bone I want to pick with the Postal Service. Every few months I see them wasting money on little flimsy postcards informing me and every other postal customer that they are going to re-evaluate the route and our delivery time could change. Why are they wasting money on telling us something we really don’t even need to know? Post a flier on a nearby mailbox or utility pole, don’t print out a card for every household and then whine they your institution is near financial ruin. It’d be nice if snail mail could be delivered at a certain time each day anyway but does that really ever happen? Some days it comes early in the morning. Others it’ll come late afternoon and sometimes even at 5 p.m.

As someone who likes magazines, I definitely am concerned with the postal service’s twisted logic of fixing a problem by making it the customer’s problem. I think these rate increases are going to end up making print magazines least popular. Soon we’ll see more and more magazines shifting to online or electronic formats just to save on the costs of printing – and that bothers me. Reading something on a computer screen, a phone, an iPad or nook or whatever the heck it is just isn’t the same as seeing it in print, on paper, printed in ink. It’s the same as a letter: there’s something thrilling and exciting about someone taking the time to write, by hand, with a pencil or pen, a note to you rather than going to easy way of texting or E-mailing you.

U.S. Postal Service – we all feel your pain, really, we do. But wisen up – rate increases, eliminating delivery days and high priced postage stamps aren’t going to save your ailing business. It’s going to kill it because the Internet is doing what you should be doing: figuring out a way to make life a whole lot cheaper and less hectic for the public.

‘Material Girl’ – Vector Illustration

Vector Illustration by Antoine Reid, May 6, 2010

A vector illustration I created of Madonna. Based on a photo by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott featured in Interview Magazine’s May 2010 issue.

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Color Me Red: How To Irritate A Graphic Designer

When it comes to being a graphic designer or graphic artist, I think people outside the field really have a hard time ‘getting’ the designer. You think that being a graphic designer is (for some odd reason) glamorous, fun, thrilling and exciting! We graphic designers are rebels- we’re all artistic, we’re a bit off our rockers, we despise anything professional and business-like and … and … Yeah, no. Sure, we are some of those stereotypes but people forget that graphic designers are professionals and though we may deal with design and art, we are far from slackers and have to regard our work just as you do – it’s WORK. We have deadlines, we have to approach our work with a certain level of professionalism, we have to deal with clients and teams and b the end of the day we’re just as worn out and tired as the next guy.

I’m going on four years of being a ‘professional’ designer – meaning one who has a steady job and position post-graduation. I’ve encountered many design tasks, clients, personalities, issues and what seems to get me each time is how little regard people have for graphic designers or graphic artists. Here are a few things I suggest you consider if you’re dealing with a graphic designer if you’d like to keep them on your good side:

1. Don’t tell a designer “Be creative!” Whenever someone gives me a long list of things they’d like, or changes, or are asking for advice and a mock-up, nothing sets me off more than the final line that usually reads, “Be creative!” Why? Because graphic designers HAVE to be creative with each project or task that comes to them. Most of our work is recycling the same project or idea that’s already been done before and figuring out how to design it and spin it to look new and fresh. If you’re dealing with a graphic designer or artist who has been out of college for a while and has a portfolio of work demonstrating he or she has obviously worked on a variety of projects or has a style unique to them, then hey, guess what … they’ve demonstrated they’re creative! Telling an artistic type to be creative is like telling a cop to go out and save a life, or telling a firefighter to put out a fire. Just don’t do it. Ever.

2. “Uhm, I don’t know, just do something.” Okay, look, we love work, really we do. Not because we enjoy being busy or having every hour of our life accounted for. Because work for a graphic designer means money, and money means we can support ourselves and pay the bills. Please, if you’re coming to a graphic designer with a request for them to help design something for you … know what you want! It gets me when a person seems to just brainstorm and they’ll present random, unrelated thoughts and a list of things they like to me and will expect me to take random thoughts and wishes and turn them into a thrilling reality. This is not ‘Medium’ – we cannot make some psychic connection to you and just know what you want. If you’re paying a graphic designer to do something for you, take the time to really know what you want and present that to him or her upfront. Which brings me to my next point …

3. The graphic designer’s world does not revolve around you. It really gets me when someone calls you up or E-mails you with work they’d like done and they want it done NOW. Sure, they have no idea how they’re really going to use it or there’s no real need for the work to be done right away but hey, graphic design is like fast food, right? You make your order and you have it in hand a minute later. Right? AAAANK, wrong. Graphic designers are working professionals – we have a million different things going on at once, some are just freelancers meaning they have full-time jobs to attend to first – stop thinking the world orbits you and for some reason your work or job warrants full attention. It doesn’t. These days, many aren’t really willing to pay much for a graphic designer to even do a proof for them let alone put their entire life on hold, skip eating and sleeping, just to deal with you. Be reasonable with your requests and turnaround demands.

4. Show me the money. Unless you approach the designer stating that you want them to do spec work and they agree to it, don’t try to skip out on paying for the work you’ve had done. I’ve had more than a few clients who’ve asked for a lot and then just because of poor planning on their part or never really knowing what they wanted, they decide they want to go in a different direction – or to another designer – and they shouldn’t have to pay you a cent. It kills me. Then there are those who don’t want to pay anything upfront or provide you with anything more than an E-mail address so you can’t track them down. Then there’s the promise of being paid at the end … but they want the finalized work first and it takes weeks if not months to get anything out of them. Stop. How’d you like to go to work, do your job, deliver your results and have someone say they’ll pay you ‘later’ with no set time or that they see what you’ve done but have decided on something different so thanks for the wasted hours but they have no intention of paying? Doesn’t sound all that great, does it?

5. John Doe Project, Take 366, Action! Look, revisions are all a part of the job. What’s not part of the job is for a project to be strung out and for it to linger on for weeks or months because the client decides to change the copy a million times or sends revisions spread over weeks instead of everything at once. This goes back to the issue of time, thinking the world revolves around you, not knowing what the hell you really want out of the design and money. Come to a graphic designer with a clear idea – know the concept, the copy, what imagery you want, the style. The more you bring a designer at the start the better end result you’ll get. Plus, you’ll save time and money by cutting down all of the unnecessary revisions and changes and you’ll also keep the designer happy and willing to work with you in the future.

Etiquette for Graphic Designers and Clients

I have to say it and it may be unpopular or a faux pas but since the economy in the U.S. has tanked, so has the cordial relationship between graphic designers and their clients. I came onto the scene a year or two before things started to go downhill and remember the somewhat ‘good ole’ days’. Graphic designers seemed to be recognized for their special skill sets and knowledge; clients were well aware, or willing to acknowledge, the quality of the designer’s work. There was friendly banter and attitudes between the designer and the client. Nowadays, that doesn’t seem to be the case.

As a graphic designer who occasionally freelances, I’ve witnessed some pretty unsavory behavior mostly coming from the side of the clients looking for graphic design talent. Huh? Isn’t that unfair and wrong of me to say? Well, having dealt with tons of potential clients, I’m coming down hard on those who are continually looking for graphic designers to do work. Some of the problem is a lack of communication. Graphic designers are often so fixated on the computer and keyboard that taking the time to be a customer service rep is almost panic attack-inducing. When we’re approached by a client over the phone or via E-mail, we don’t always communicate or hype our own talents and business. Freelancing, if you’re a serious graphic designer (or even writer or whatever you freelance in) is just that – a business. Imagine if a corporation like Apple never responded to an E-mail or communicate with their audience and clients what their skills and business has to offer?

That’s where I think a lot of graphic designers go wrong- we try to take on too much. Not every graphic designer is capable of doing everything. Not every graphic designer is good at illustration; good at designing an advertisement; good at programming and designing a functioning Web site. Yet, what happens? We put out there that we’re a graphic designer, or a writer, and then we receive inquiries asking us to do something outside of our realm of expertise. The result? Often, the freelancer takes on the work because of the promise of money but the end product is far from great and the client has wasted his or her money. The true end result? That client takes that one experience and uses it as precedent for all future designers they work with.

This will sound ludicrous considering today’s job market but when it comes to freelancing, I actually turn work down. Over the past two years, I’ve come to understand that with a full-time gig, freelancing is more like a part-time position and if I let it get out of hand, I’ll burn out quickly. I am an at-large graphic designer; I’ve designed advertisements, brochures, entire magazines, posters, t-shirts and more. Yet, what am I good at? I’m a graphic designer whose talents and emphasis are in illustration. It’s a very minute and limited market, but it’s what I do. So when freelance work comes up, I do choose to take on projects that’ll expand and test my skills as an illustrator because in the future I’d like to see more come from my illustration side.

I don’t feel bad about turning down work. It’s giving work to someone else who probably needs it more. I think it’s polite to other designers to pass on the work if you know someone in need, or simply informing a client that while you appreciate the inquiry, your specialty is _______ and therefore you wouldn’t be the best fit or match for their particular need. It’s simple communication and honesty and there’s nothing wrong with that. Here are a few more things graphic designers should keep in mind when dealing with clients:

1. Have an idea what your prices are. Some designers like hourly rates, which is fine, but in my experience it makes some clients (especially in today’s money-strapped economy) very uneasy because it gives them the impression you’re going to drag your heels and hand them an outlandish bill. So if you do charge by the hour, look back on the projects you’ve done and give a quote that includes the average of the final total. State that it’s an estimate but that it’s the average final price for that project. I think clients will be more inclined to work with you having a better idea what they could be paying you in the end.
2. Document everything. When dealing with a client, save every piece of communication from them that comes your way. You never want to lose track of a client or have them refer to something they E-mailed you and for you to embarrassingly realize you’ve lost or have deleted. Plus if there’s ever a conflict or disagreement, you’ll be able to whip out an E-mail or refer to a conversation and feel confident that you know what you’re talking about, even if they don’t.
3. Never do any work before you have a signed contract and part of the money upfront. Different designers work differently but for me, if I’m dealing with a new client, I don’t even start a sketch or design without having received a signed contract that states the price, has outlined terms (including something about copyright, right of ownership, expected payment schedule) and is returned. This lets your client know they aren’t dealing with a friend or buddy, you’re a business and need to be treated as such. If you do work without any terms written down and agreed upon, I’m sorry, but you’re setting yourself up for a disaster because nothing but a word or handshake is obligating the client to honor your business arrangement. Here’s the contract/new project form I provide to the client with a quote: Click Here To View.
4. Always get the contact information. Get the name, name of the business (if applicable), mailing address, office address, E-mail address and phone number for each project. There will be times when you’re unfortunately going to have to put aside that designer cap and put on the customer rep one. And there are times when you’re going to have to go from being nice and pleasant to being the annoying bill collector.
5. Above all, communicate and be able to describe your business! Have a business plan and model. I’ve encountered few designers who can do it all. If a client is asking you to do something you know you’re not capable of pulling off without it looking elementary or like a class project, pass on it and politely provide a reason why. If the client tells you they only plan on paying X amount for a job and you find that a bit low, politely explain why. There’s nothing worse than selling yourself short as a designer. Did you go to school and get a degree in design or whatever you’re freelancing in? How much did that cost you? Are you still paying the student loan back for that? Thought so. Short selling yourself isn’t doing anyone any favors.

Now, a few things for clients to consider:
1. Treat designers like professionals and not short order cooks. Nothing is more offensive and off-putting than a client who approaches a freelancer with a list of conditions and demands and wants everything done in a short turnaround (we’re talking 48 hours or less) and say they only want to pay an amount that’s double digits. Yes. I’ve had it happen on more than one occasion since the economy’s decline so it’s worth mentioning. More clients today seem to think graphic designers are on the same level as Burger King or McDonald’s staff: you want fast-food design; cheap and quick. Sorry, graphic designers are professionals and this is a business. Don’t be surprised if your inquiry isn’t responded to if you do this.
2. Have a budget but understand that the designer also has a budget. As a designer, I’m well aware of the economy and that people are hurting in the money department. BUT you’re asking a designer to help you do something that’s going to profit and help promote your business. So why are you going to devalue the work the designer is doing by asking them to do something you’re incapable of doing on your own at dirt-cheap prices? Be willing to work with the designer on a price that you both are happy with.
3. The promise of future work is no excuse to underpay. I’ve heard it all before. “I only have $30 to budget but that’s because I have 20 or 30 more projects like this for the RIGHT designer to do so you could make a lot in the future!” Sorry pal, unless you’re willing you sign on a dotted line and pay half of that future project cost upfront, you’re better off paying fairly for one project than flaking out and having not intention of following through.
4. Be mindful of your time needs and be mindful of the designer’s schedule. I’ve encountered more and more clients who apparently all of a sudden need something done the same day, within a few hours, by the end of the week. Sorry to sound like your mother but wisen up and plan ahead. There’s nothing more frustrating than dealing with a client who needs something done immediately but then has a dozen revisions and wants quality, flawless work. You wouldn’t want someone rushing you to do your job so don’t rush a designer to do his or her best work on your behalf.
5. Know what you want and what type of need you have. It amazes me that so many people will rush toward a graphic designer with a list of needs, a time schedule but really have no idea what they’re asking for. Not all designers are created equal: not every graphic designer is a web designer; not every great web designer can provide you with a graphically stunning website; every graphic designer is not a great artist. Don’t be surprised if your design needs call for more than one designer and don’t be surprised if you’re asking a designer to do the job of 2-3 people that their prices are going to be higher.

Above all, for both designers (or at-large freelancers) and clients: respect one another. Most designers have busy schedules and are pressed for time; they have projects on their list, full-time jobs, family obligations and a life. The same goes for clients. Both need to come to the table willing to negotiate, compromise and work with one another. If we can get back to treating one another like business professionals rather than online acquaintances, we’ll truly be able to make beautiful work and designs together.

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Self Portrait – American Graffiti

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