James Gill / May 17, 2007
50 Ways to Become a Better Designer
Being a successful creative has a lot to do with the way you work. Sure, you can't teach good design, but it never hurts to learn a few new tricks, or simply make the most of your talents. So without further adieu, here's 50 ways to be more successful as a designer. Take 'em or leave 'em.
Don't get stuck before you've started: get some good ideas.
1] Metaphors.
Great ideas can stem from using themes and metaphors. Basing a site design around the idea of a school, for example, can open up a whole avenue of ideas. A great design works because the theme houses and conveys the content seamlessly.
2] Don't take all day to brainstorm.
It always helps to throw ideas around with a colleague or friend (as long as he knows what he's doing). Try to have a couple of short sessions of brainstorming rather than one massive one as ideas can quickly go cold.
3] Get off that computer!
Sometimes it's best to just have a break. Leaving the computer can seem like going on holiday in rush hour, but it usually helps if you just take a 10 minute break and get some fresh air. If you can't do that, try listening to some music, or taking your jumper off.
4] Join a forum.
A lot of creatives work from home, but that doesn't mean they can't talk to anyone. There are a lot of really helpful and talented people out there willing to have a chat about design, you just need to find them. Here are some of my favorite forums:
Graphic Design Forum (one of the oldest and largest forums on graphic design)
Smashing Magazine Forums
Layers Magazine
Designate Online
DevLounge (OK, it's not a forum, but it's a really decent site)
5] Think brand.
Try going to a few courses on branding, as brand thinking is vital to developing the way you think. Keep your ideas squeaky simple, and 9 times out 0f 10 they will work. Thinking in terms of branding means you can develop key words to stem your ideas from. Complexity just doesn't work.
6] Use a sketchbook.
I almost always start with ideas that I have scribbled down in my trusty sketchbook. Whenever I get an idea I just make sure I get it down on paper. This always helps as whenever you're stuck at a later date, you don't have to go out and buy another book, just refer to your own! Don't just keep it to ideas though, put URLs, book titles, words, and all the sketches down that you can. It will develop into your creative mind, on paper.
7] Get your specs straight.
Always ensure you know the media you're going to be using at the start of working on a project. Knowing that there's going to be photography involved means you may need to think about locating a shoot. 3D may mean getting some help to make it look that little bit better. Taking it to print in the last minute is also not advised: things never go to plan! Ensure you know the scale of production you're going to be dealing with, and research the printing processes you're going to use.
8] Draw a map.
I find it helps to visualise the brief. Highlight key words and phrases, and jot them down in your trusty sketchbook. Then see how these ideas could link up by drawing lines between them and branching out from those core ideas. Pretty soon you'll have enough on the page to sketch out some decent ideas.
9] Rough it out.
Once you have THE idea, and it's on paper, try putting it together at low res on the computer. This way you can see what you might need to rethink or improve to get the job done well. At this stage you don't need to worry about perfect dimensions or colours, just see how it goes.
10] Take a shower.
No, not because your odor is putting your colleagues off, but because (apparently) running water increases brain productivity. Try not bring the brief in with you, but spending time in a place that you feel really comfortable in can greatly help those ideas flow.
Getting into good habits is one of the best pieces of advice for any designer. But how?
11] Stay on top of the latest happenings.
Don't let yourself fall behind the times of design and technology: they're both fast moving industries. On the other hand, don't go following the latest fads just because everyone else is. Keep up to date by visiting sites such as Smashing Magazine and DesignIsKinky. However, our personal favourite for up-to-date design is this absolutely mind blowingly awesome site called Liquidicity 
12] Keep to web standards.
It always looks like you mean business when your site is 100% standards compliant. However, some browsers (cough *IE* cough) still don't always like to play ball. If it works and looks the same in all browsers then you have done your job, no matter how compliant you are. If there is one tool you're going to get to dramatically improve your web design standards it would have to be the Web Developer Toolbar for Firefox.
13] Make a library.
In most programs, you end up reusing something that you once made a while ago. It always helps to keep a well organised library of all your reusable files. This especially applies when you're working with Flash, where you can keep track of loops, buttons, timers, code snippets, and symbols. This centralised library can also help keep you're work consistent.
14] Save. Save. Save. Save again.
Are you getting the message? No matter how decent your computer is, don't leave yourself in a position where you could lose all of your days work in one flick of a switch. Sometimes it helps to have had a dodgy computer in the past, as I now save every time I leave the window I'm working in. Sometimes my Mac just won't play ball, and the only option is a reboot. Don't let a reboot ruin your day.
15] Collaborate.
We never let things go before we're completely happy about the final version. Working together means you can share your ideas as mentioned before, but also give critique to one another before finalising the design. These friendly, supportive criticisms can save you from harsher comments later on from your boss or client. Working together is also a whole lot more fun.
16] Do it right first time.
It's not always easy, but ensuring you have tested your site across browsers thoroughly before putting it out in the open will ensure your customers and clients are a lot more happy. This sort of service is what a lot of clients will look out for when choosing someone to design (or redesign) their site.
17] Save your repeated actions
In a lot of applications you can end up doing the same tasks over and over again. For example in Photoshop you can save repeated procedures as "actions". If you happen to be a Mac user and have OS X Tiger, you can use Automator to run repetitive aspects of your work flow for you. To be honest, I have never really got on with "Auto", but I know a lot of people find it really helpful.
18] Your assets' greatest asset.
Keeping track of your assets can be a challenge, but it's important you keep them how YOU want. Everyone has a different way of working. For example, when working on a site, I keep all of my full res and vector images in an entirely separate folder to the site, and when it comes to getting final composites ready for the web, I export at a compressed size to the respective folder of the site. One of the reasons why I like Illustrator so much is because there's no need to worry about starting off at a large resolution, due to the vector based design. This is important in Photoshop, where it's always best to start off big, and scale down when you need to.
19] Simplify.
Striving for simplicity may not seem too tricky at first, but when you have a wealth of ideas, it's important not to complicate and distort your original message. If you are using a lot of complex visual elements, try to keep the colours simple, and vice versa. This way, your colours and design won't compete with each other.
20] Experience is everything.
The longer you have worked in design, the more experienced you become. Spending more time focusing on the applications you use can really speed up your production, making you more efficient and more knowledgeable of their feature sets.
Don't be a bad workman and blame your tools. Ensure you know your applications like the back of your hand.
21] Naming Files.
Often overlooked, but naming your files in an organised and consistent way really helps you see how things have progressed, and what file belongs where. Never EVER attach "final" to a filename, because you will always go back to it and change it. Eventually you'll have a folder full of twenty newer versions of that "final" revision. I have got into the habit of naming my work and putting "01", "02" etc after it so I can see how many revisions I have made easily, and recall an older one to compare quickly.
22] Gradients in Flash.
The default green to black gradient in Flash is evil. Don't use it. Ever.
23] Another layer of Photoshop Cake.
Always try to use as many layers as possible when working in Photoshop, avoiding merging them together. The worst thing possible is doing an amazing composition and thinking "actually, I think I'll change that" and realising you merged those 2 layers. What's worse is if you have gone past its history state, meaning even if you undo the last 50 changes you have made, there will still be nothing you can do!
24] Use a pen and paper.
In this day and age, it's getting less and less common to use a pen and paper (I hope you remember what they look like). Try sketching a few images out and scanning them in. Bring them into Photoshop and play around for a bit. This can really help you build a more organic and original feel to your work.
25] Play with Colour. Like no other.
After creating your image in Illustrator, or whichever application you use, try modifying the colours slightly by pulling it into Photoshop. This can really help you to unify the final colour of the composition.
26] Buy a new computer.
Call that a tip?! Well, it's often forgotten, but the apps on the shelves today are getting faster and faster. To be honest, if your computer is more than 5 years old it's time to consider an upgrade. Obviously your requirements are going to be unique: 3D animation is a whole lot more demanding than print design, but never the less, the faster your computer, the faster you can work. Many designers prefer Macs (I do), but PCs can run all of the applications that Adobe provide, and a few more. The PC vs. Mac argument is entirely up to you.
27] More RAM.
Just bought a new computer? Time to buy more RAM. Can't afford a new computer right now? Buy more RAM. All the small jobs, like working on a couple of images, writing on your site, and playing back previews in Flash build up to devour any RAM you have. It's as simple as this. Buy more RAM and you'll be able to work faster.
28] Get more plug ins.
No matter which application you use, there's almost always more plug ins available. Getting new filters and effects for Photoshop can greatly help you improve and speed up your work. Adobe's own site is great for Photoshop plug ins.
29] Gradients in Photoshop.
To avoid the horrid "banding" that occurs when printing gradients in Photoshop, add a little noise to the layer. Obviously the amount of noise varied depending on canvas size and resolution.
30] Learn more.
Buy a few books, and visit a few of the websites that have been created to teach you how to use the software you own. For example, when I was learning Flash, the first thing I did was go out and buy a book. Sams Publishing run a great series of books claiming to teach you [app name or programming language] in 24 hours.
A good designer checks his work. A great designer double checks it.
31] Ask your friend.
Get a friend or someone nearby to give their thoughts on your work. Even if they're not a designer, it always helps to get another perspective on your work.
32] Do some Acrobatics.
If you have to send a piece of work for printing (gasp), check, double check, and triple check everything in Adobe Acrobat Professional. Things you should look for are overprints, spot colours, trapping, and knock-outs. Doing this simple step thoroughly will save a ton of time, and money.
33] Add texture.
To give pieces a more organic feel, consider adding hand made gestures, and bringing a texture to your work. Don't over do the organic additions, though, ultimately you should know when the work is complete.
34] Bring a little shade in.
Adding a few shadows, and darker areas can really enhance your work. These little touches can really create a flow in your work, especially if using vectors, as they bring a little smoothness to an otherwise sharp composition.
35] Take a Break. Then Stare Until your eyes hurt.
Once you are nearing completion of a project, try taking a break, going outside, and looking at other things- anything, for a few minutes. Then come back, and stare at the project again, for ages, looking for anything that could be changed for the better. Specifically look for colours that could be made stronger or weakened in images. In sites, look for the simple things that you would assume are correct, like links. There's almost always at least one link where you have forgotten to put "http://" beforehand.
36] Stop. STOP!
Knowing when enough is enough is an essential skill. As time goes on you will get better at knowing when a piece is at its peak. Not every cake needs a cherry on top.
37] Print finishes.
Once your work leaves the computer, it doesn't have to stop having any creative input. There's a whole universe of ways you can dramatically enhance your work in print that are just impossible when it's on screen. For example, you could try using metallic inks, foil blocking, embossing, and die-cutting. These effects can even be used together to create a really unique and inventive composition.
38] Prepare yourself.
When working with motion projects and animation you need to be prepared. Compressing clips early on in a project will eventually grow into a noticeably poor quality shot. Don't compress anything until the final cut, and even then, keep a full, high quality version somewhere safe. Just in case.
39] Proof read.
They always said so at school: check your work before handing it in. Always ensure you re read work, and then pass it over to someone else and then someone else again. Get as many people to read your work as possible, ensure it all makes sense, and you'll be fine.
40] Return to the brief.
Once you feel you've finished, give the project back to the team. Ensure everyone likes (maybe that's a strong word, shall we say "doesn't hate") it. This is where you need to evaluate whether or not it meets the original brief, and if you have kept closely to your original idea.
Don't dwell on your mistakes. Learn from them, and move on. (Heard that before?)
41] Never ever rely on the spell checker.
I really can't emphasize this enough. Ensuring your text has no mistakes will not guarantee you more work, but letting work go out with mistakes will guarantee you being unpopular with your clients.
42] Work with clients, not against them.
Your clients may seem to be the ones holding you back, but they're the ones that you need to listen to. Think of them as the ones who will lead you to the starting post and get you off in the right direction.
43] Re re read.
Again, it's all about checking. Especially when writing emails, for example, don't fill in the address bar until last. Not only does this avoid accidental sending of an unfinished email, but it also forces you to write it in full, and to think twice before sending it. Re read your own emails at least twice. You can't just "undo" a sent email. If only...
44] Stick to the brief like honey sticks to toast.
A lot of companies try very hard, in fact too hard to win a pitch, and come across to potential clients as desperate. Just ensure you do what it says in the brief, and no more. This way you will save time and money.
45] Specifics.
Just ensure you are specific about what you are offering. If a client asks for something you are going to find difficult, make it clear that they will either have to give you more time, more money, or just leave it. Simple as that.
46] Do what you do best.
Don't try to win clients who are going to demand more from you than you can offer. If you're an amazing web designer, don't go trying to dabble in professional 3D animation because it just won't work. Stick to one thing, and show everyone else how awesome you are at it.
47] Keep a back up of everything.
Too often, I have lost files due to a disk error, or over written a folder by accident. These sorts of incidents are even more common with web design, when several members of a team have access to upload any files they want to the server. However, when running a site, you can also avoid loosing online files by ensuring everyone makes a copy of all the files on the server on a regular basis. You can even get scripts that will run a daily backup for you. For back up on your local machine, there's already a plethora of options, but in OS X Leopard, the next version of the Mac OS, there will be a new back up utility called Time Machine, which will ensure everything is constantly backed up to an external hard disc. It can't come soon enough.
48] Never assume anything.
Never *ass**u**me*: it will make an *ass* out of *u* and *me*. Too many times, people make assumptions and then kick themselves when it's too late. For example, sending something off for printing, assuming the colours are all correct without a pre-print mock-up.
49] Justify yourself.
If you want to make a statement, or do something a little differently, many clients will say outright "No." Try giving them a persuasive and valid reason for the decision, however, and they may feel more inclined to let you go with it.
50] Don't over sell yourself.
Be up front and clear about what you are able to do. The last thing you want to do is make the client think you're the best thing since sliced bread, and let them down at every stage of the project. Treat clients as they deserve. That's all I'll say.
Man I need a coffee.
You might also like: CSS Help Sheet, Colour, 165 Vector Icons (for free)
Joel Laumans said,
May 17, 2007 at 3:15 pm ()
Great list, if i had to add anything i would say:
51) Dare to make mistakes, it's the best way to learn
52) Learn from the best, go out and look at top designers and study their methods. Never hurts to try out new tutorials and so
tezet said,
May 17, 2007 at 4:43 pm ()
great steps, great ideas, great way.
Janis Lacy said,
May 18, 2007 at 4:51 pm ()
Great list, guys.
Couple of my own:
To keep up with my software skills, I do at least one tutorial a day in one of my applications.
As a solo freelancer, it's hard to work in a vacuum. So I have a great network of colleagues I sometimes pass my designs by for their comments before I sending it off to the client.
BTW, I also read a similar article was published a year ago in Computer Arts.
http://www.computerarts.co.uk/in_depth/features/50_ways_to_become_a_better_designer
gianmoenia said,
May 22, 2007 at 9:11 pm ()
Thanks!
About Web Developer (in 12] Keep to web standards) i suggest to use even -or only- Firebug at http://www.getfirebug.com.
Kieran said,
May 22, 2007 at 9:30 pm ()
Great list.
CHIKE said,
May 23, 2007 at 1:17 am ()
THANKS MAN!! CHEERS
son said,
June 2, 2007 at 9:29 am ()
I love you
Karthik.P said,
June 5, 2007 at 10:10 am ()
This is very useful for Designers. Very Good
Ehab said,
June 10, 2007 at 2:19 pm ()
Learn, Learn and Learn - thats the best way to get into things. Right now - reading this whole 50 points is "learning" itself ! ..
No matter what you do - take 1 hour every day to read and ofcourse - to "See" other designers works. Go over to those flashy CSS design galleries and forums and check out what others are making.
CD Designer said,
June 16, 2007 at 2:38 am ()
That's some highly condensed, straight-up, unsweetened, finely distilled goodness for the design mind! Mantras of practicality for all levels.
Well, back to #35...
duluoz said,
July 3, 2007 at 2:37 pm ()
great list!
FM said,
July 3, 2007 at 9:51 pm ()
Awesome tips, dude.
much appreciated.
Buzz said,
July 4, 2007 at 8:44 am ()
The best one is 22. Green to black gradient. Awesome tip!
jate said,
July 4, 2007 at 11:59 am ()
GREAT ARTICLE!!!
Anthony said,
July 5, 2007 at 1:46 pm ()
I had a teacher who once told us "perfection is not when there is nothing else to add but where there is nothing else to remove" - always thought it was a great design tip!
Cheesepipe said,
July 5, 2007 at 2:07 pm ()
Pretty good list, and actually one that the author should also follow. In tip number 41 the reader is told to never rely on a spell checker. In tip 14 the author shows why this is true: spell checker will not detect when grammar is used improperly. One doesn't "loose" work, one "loses" work.
coda said,
July 5, 2007 at 3:00 pm ()
Of course you can teach good design.
A dog A said,
July 5, 2007 at 4:03 pm ()
51) Make your clients read this list.
Typo said,
July 5, 2007 at 4:35 pm ()
"To many times, people make assumptions and then kick themselves when it’s too late."
"Too many times...".
Great article. Many thanks.
Simon Hibbs said,
July 5, 2007 at 4:41 pm ()
Also, don't focus on more than a handful of priorities at once so you don't get overwhelmed.
gene said,
July 5, 2007 at 4:55 pm ()
Great list. I also find inspiration from the street art. Having digital camera at all times helps. All you need to do is look around and keep your eyes open.
LH said,
July 5, 2007 at 6:03 pm ()
Good list, but another suggestion: design your website for everyone's display. I have a 12" screen, and this website uses absolute sizing and positioning, so I have to use the horizontal scroll to read it...
LAX said,
July 5, 2007 at 7:39 pm ()
Um...
"I really can’t emphasize this enough. Ensuring your text has no mistakes will not guarantee you more work, but letting work go out with mistakes will guarantee you being unpopular with your clients."
From the article:
"...Pretty soon yo’ll have enough on the page to sketch out some decent ideas."
"...Often overlooked, but naming your files in an organised and consistent way really helps you see how things have progresse, and what file belongs where. "
bootcat said,
July 6, 2007 at 2:54 am ()
Nice collection . And yeah most of ur techniques really work because i have experimented em on my own :)
Toni said,
July 11, 2007 at 11:41 pm ()
I really like num. 10 ! It works ! My admirations about the post !
You mentioned using more plud-ins , I have posted a lot of free vector brushes for photoshop and illustrator - http://vector-art.blogspot.com/search/label/Brushes
raid said,
July 12, 2007 at 11:25 am ()
GREAT POST !!!!
Steffen Böhringer said,
July 16, 2007 at 12:25 pm ()
I used some of your advices to "create" a logo. Check the page and look at the logo :)
Thanks!
Samuel Grolli said,
July 23, 2007 at 6:11 pm ()
Fabulous post!
Can I translate to portuguese and post on my blog for people who don't understand english?
Obviously citing you like the author, and link your post/blog.
It wold be a great aid to Brazilians designers.
Jakob said,
July 31, 2007 at 3:34 pm ()
This is exactly what I expected to find out after reading the title o.us poetry. Thanks for informative article
Abhishek Singh said,
August 17, 2007 at 11:24 am ()
After reading these 50 Ways to Become a Better Designer, i feel that i get designer skills
Thomas said,
August 21, 2007 at 5:55 am ()
Wonderful. Even If there's hardly anything really new: One feels so flattered when reading a tip and thinking: heheh, that's how I work anyway.
I repeatedly laughed my head off.
Buy a new computer... Yes, how many "Old School" Designers stick to their old Mac because they can't afford a new one - well I don't want to convert you to PCs. Yust buy a new computer. It's a whole lotta fun.
sbyhair® said,
September 6, 2007 at 4:44 pm ()
;)
Zoltan Sasvari said,
September 7, 2007 at 4:04 pm ()
Thank you... for this GREAT Post!
jorgegoyco said,
September 16, 2007 at 3:15 pm ()
Good stuff. I'll try the shower thing.
The file naming thing is huge for me. I don't know how many times I've had clients ask me to go back to last weeks version with the blue header, or whatever.
Great list. Thanks
jorge
Nico said,
September 16, 2007 at 5:00 pm ()
#51: Learn the difference between "your" and "you're".
Sorry, I had to! 0:)
ZERO said,
September 16, 2007 at 5:48 pm ()
#52: Stay up to date with design trends, but don't go off the deep-end trying to look Web 2.0.
JerseyGuy said,
September 17, 2007 at 12:37 am ()
Thanks for this list. I heard a great quote from Larry Summers recently (on the Charlie Rose show) that I also like to remember...
"When we've made errors, have our errors been errors of vision or errors of timidity?"
veerendra said,
September 17, 2007 at 8:36 am ()
Awsome article ...
Phil said,
September 20, 2007 at 11:31 am ()
I am so printing this.
Bassie said,
October 2, 2007 at 7:29 pm ()
It says it all, so the next will be gettin' rid off all those wannabe's who are still thinking you make a perfect website in frontpage
they should shoot'em
ehsoftdy said,
October 7, 2007 at 9:50 pm ()
Good site!
Bill Smith said,
November 8, 2007 at 9:28 pm ()
I would suggest condesing your list. Usually I don't look at websites that have a list greater than about 20 becauseI just can't be bothered... as you said in one of your tips - simplify...
Chris Coyier said,
November 8, 2007 at 10:50 pm ()
Nice list! =)
I love the design of this site too, good work.
PiticStyle said,
November 8, 2007 at 11:04 pm ()
:) nice post~
Reba said,
November 9, 2007 at 12:05 am ()
Thanks! This is great! Everythig is something I needed help on.
Advise-Art said,
November 9, 2007 at 2:21 am ()
GREAAAT LIST !!!!!!
PMS186 said,
November 9, 2007 at 3:54 am ()
Great list; thank you for putting it together. However, I disagree with you on number 44.
Yes, you should always present work that incorporates all of the key points in the brief.
However, I am of the belief that you give the client what they want and then you present them with something unexpected. I have found even if they don't pick this option; it show cases concept/design abilities outside of what they expected.
It can't hurt; only help.
Dustin Boston said,
November 9, 2007 at 6:02 am ()
I think all of these really add up to having a lifestyle that is conducive to creativity. It's fun too, because once you start doing some of these things regularly you really get to this fun spot where you're "in the zone." In fact, I've found that typically I am able to maintain a high level of creativity for longer periods of time due to these types of exercises.
Rachel Goldstein said,
November 9, 2007 at 6:10 am ()
Wow - One of the best design articles that I have read in a long time. Nice post. :-)
Rachel
http://www.allgraphicdesign.com/
Perth-Printing-Web-Design-Australia said,
November 9, 2007 at 6:13 am ()
Great reading. Many thanks.
Francois said,
November 9, 2007 at 8:40 am ()
Link - http://creativebits.org/50_ways_to_become_a_better_designer
Webice said,
November 9, 2007 at 1:34 pm ()
Thanks for your suggestions.
It's worth considering all the ideas.
Kristin said,
November 9, 2007 at 3:43 pm ()
One thing I would add is to save or print copies of drafts that aren't quite right. As I work through a design problem, I often want to go back and draw from something I had been experimenting with earlier.
Ben said,
November 9, 2007 at 3:59 pm ()
Establish a personal brand. Not just visually but emotionally, spiritually and physically. Use this as the basis for your design "journey".
I disagree with #42 to some extent. I've had numerous clients that have held not only me back but the company I work for. Two biggest culprits: indecisiveness and lack of respect for design in general.
Atkinson Middle School said,
November 10, 2007 at 12:39 am ()
Hey!...Thanks for the nice read, keep up the interesting posts..what a nice Friday
Nadja said,
November 11, 2007 at 4:31 pm ()
Nice Post! It's very encouraging.
Do you have any post about "Don’t over sell yourself"?
Ways how to get the "it" project?
I would really love to read it. Thanks
Ravi said,
November 12, 2007 at 10:05 am ()
Excellent lists...
I am very much impressed......
Emily said,
November 12, 2007 at 12:16 pm ()
SOFTWARE ISNT GETTING FASTER AND FASTER.
I think software is getting bloated!(Vista is a great example) If anything programs should be designed well enough not to require the top most spec's of the latest computer. **except for games but thats another barrel fish.
Your average computers cant keep up with rate of your softwares requirements.
Its the same as websites that cant open when my internet gets capped to 64k.
G said,
November 12, 2007 at 6:15 pm (Administrator)
OK, well what we mean is software is requiring faster and faster machines to run on. Apps are doing more calculations per second, and needing more processing power to carry them out.
Your internet gets capped at 64k? Unlucky!
Dave Birch said,
November 18, 2007 at 1:43 am ()
Great list...and I'll add one that's been great for me.
51) Print out a proof. Sometimes just staring at my monitor for hours I can't see the forest for the trees. Doesn't matter if it's a website or a brochure; sometimes holding a printout in your hand gives you a fresh perspective of your work. It's also real helpful to me for noticing typos and any other errata.
Xstamper said,
November 20, 2007 at 7:20 pm ()
Nice post! Thanks for sharing!
Whatever-ishere said,
November 21, 2007 at 5:01 pm ()
thanks for the GREAT post! Very useful...
Grammar Guru said,
December 21, 2007 at 9:25 pm ()
Super cool post!
Mchilly said,
January 7, 2008 at 7:33 am ()
Thanks for sharing this, informative and helpful. I learn something it refreshes my mind lol
Color Experts International (CEI) - A Clipping Path Service Provider said,
January 19, 2008 at 10:53 am ()
That's a great article and glad to see that avoids common suggestions that most designers know. Therefore, I think it will very useful.
I liked your words and tips regarding assumption. "Never *ass**u**me*: it will make an *ass* out of *u* and *me*. "
However, sometimes assumption can help you in get a list of alternatives, which can be tested and you always can provide variations in print. I am saying about always having Plan-B ready, but in situations where you have to assume.
Free CSS Templates said,
March 3, 2008 at 4:57 pm ()
Hey,
[linked ;-)]
I'm going to keep all the suggestions on this list in mind and try to follow them when i make my next design.
Manjusha Athani said,
March 18, 2008 at 11:59 am ()
it realy nice.. i can impliment few of them in my art also.... nice thoughts...:)
Dharmesh Nakum said,
March 19, 2008 at 7:39 am ()
This is too good and helpful to all designers
Thanks
Clipping path Tracing- SBL UK said,
April 1, 2008 at 4:50 pm ()
That are better ways ...Good effort ...let it be tallied with the hard work and creativity ...making these steps perfect...
Regards SBL- Clipping path tracing
clipping path service-SBL said,
April 2, 2008 at 6:53 pm ()
Nice blog and nice matter....got new tips on designing ....nice work
Regards,
clipping path service-SBL
Chuck Madere said,
May 17, 2008 at 5:59 am ()
Hey!,
Cool
I enjoyed them.
Chuck
Photo restoration, retouching Services said,
May 17, 2008 at 7:23 am ()
Thanks for sharing this, informative and helpful.
Regards,
Photo restoration and retouching Services
Image restoration service said,
May 17, 2008 at 7:36 am ()
Great work!
It was very helpful
Thanks
2KLiX said,
May 17, 2008 at 9:26 am ()
Clear advise that should lead to cleaner designs
Thanks
silverfire said,
May 27, 2008 at 1:25 am ()
Nice clean design, and wonderful tips. Thought for the end-user and experience went into them, and it shows. I send a huge thank-you to you for taking the time to put out some quality tips for budding, and experienced designers alike.
All the best,
Silverfire
G said,
May 27, 2008 at 1:42 am (Administrator)
Thanks for the comments.
Showing appreciation for hard work makes it all worth it.
Cheers,
The GoSquared Team
John Brown / Free Online Games said,
June 19, 2008 at 3:50 pm ()
Super cool post!
elizabeth hughes said,
July 16, 2008 at 3:09 am ()
i`m ten years old but i`m really good.if you could just see my desighns.
trupti.kondia said,
July 19, 2008 at 7:34 am ()
this is wonderful man lovely................
i just love it. great ideas and when i tried them they really worked well for me. thanks a lot....cheers
GRAPHICS@SBL said,
August 15, 2008 at 6:42 am ()
I saw the work.It is really informative.
Regards,
GRAPHICS@SBL
GRAPHICS@SBL-Clipping Path services said,
August 18, 2008 at 5:21 am ()
Wery helpful one....
It was fine to get such a thing here.
Nice points and techniques about designs and designers...
Regards,
Graphics@SBL- Clipping path | Image masking Services
webdesignuk326 said,
August 22, 2008 at 7:39 am ()
Very nice post. its too much helpful for all the web designers who want to give quality work to their clients.i got lots of information about web design through this blog.
Charl said,
December 16, 2008 at 10:01 am ()
Awesome list—all I can ad from the "printing-side" of design: if your work needs to go for special treatment (let's say printing with die-cutting & embossing) just simply contact the company doing it, and ask for there preferences in terms of how they need it(best setup for their technique)… Can't say how much time & butt-skin that saved me!
Vuongot said,
January 3, 2009 at 4:45 am ()
Thank you man, if I could met you, I will give you 50 cup of coffee :)
Very, very great work and useful for me.
One more time, Thank you very much!
Mido said,
February 8, 2009 at 5:58 pm ()
hello every body ... i hope that some one who is expert read this and help me out
iam working as a designer in Dubai..but i used to be a cartoon artist and animation director ...
so now iam forcing a great deal of hardness in my new job not coz i can't deal with cs's softwares but it's
just that i can't design like the boss wanna me to do i use effects and he doesn't me to do .etc...help me plz...this is my email .....soscaller@hotmail.com
Eric said,
March 8, 2009 at 1:49 am ()
Great list, I can see that you've out much time and thought into this.
Ashley McFarland said,
March 26, 2009 at 3:40 pm ()
This is a great (and really inclusive!) list for designers and students like myself. Simple bullet points, but they can really change your work day or work life! Thanks for these!
Melanie said,
May 27, 2009 at 8:20 pm ()
DUDE. Do not rely on a spell check. 'Their' is a word, but it may not be the RIGHT word. I definitely need to re re read my work more often.
I also think the RAM is a good idea. We owe it to ourselves to work on a computer that works for us.
Great post to getting back to basics! Thanks
Rob said,
May 27, 2009 at 9:22 pm ()
Not to nit pick, but I happened to click on several links in the article and so far 4 have not worked... What about that re reading, proof reading, and double checking?
Also have to agree with #22 - the width and absolute positioning is a problem.
James said,
May 27, 2009 at 9:34 pm (Administrator)
Thanks everyone for the appreciation - makes writing this stuff worth it!
@Rob, apologies for some of the broken links, it's been a while since we viewed this post - if you look it was written back in May of 2007 and we weren't expecting Smashing Magazine to send us so much traffic at such a random time. We an see the links that are broken and will remove the ones that are no longer active and change them to some better, more current sites.
For anyone wondering, PixelSurgeon sadly shut down last year and Pixel101 used to be a great forum, but also ceased to be sometime last year.
Thanks and apologies again while we sort out the messed up links.
Michael said,
May 28, 2009 at 6:07 am ()
Learn the difference between "lose" and "loose".
Lose is the opposite of win.
Loose is the opposite of tight.
Gastón Rojas said,
May 28, 2009 at 7:42 pm ()
Excelentes tips!
Felicitaciones desde Argentina-
fullFx said,
May 29, 2009 at 4:58 am ()
I am not a full time designer. But taking a shower has helped me big time in the past
-- fullFx
jokr said,
May 30, 2009 at 12:40 pm ()
A really nice and elaborate article . . .great job! I didn't have time to read it all but looking over it there is one thing that caught my attention:
#4 Join a forum. -> Smashing Magazine Forums (Probably my favourite) ... I find the smashing forum as a very young and pretty inexperienced community in great need of professional moderation ...
I have no doubt that this will grow up to be a very representative forum in the design world . . .but at this time I have to say it's NOT even worth mentioning.
James said,
May 31, 2009 at 5:27 pm (Administrator)
Made a few more little updates...
@JOKR I listed Smashing Magazine's forums as an update as the previous list of forums was out of date - most of my old favourites have since ceased to exist. Smashing Magazine's forums are growing, but as you said, they still have a way to go. So I've added GDF in there for good measure.
@Michael loose and lose - silly mistake, and now fixed. Thanks for pointing it out.
Internet Marketing, Web Development, BPO Service said,
June 2, 2009 at 5:12 pm ()
I am not actually a designer but business promoter. Even then this article helped me a lot to get our business website enhanced.
Janet said,
June 3, 2009 at 8:01 pm ()
Great list. Have to add: challenge the brief. Ask yourself, why should the customer care? How will it make their life better/faster/more cost-effective, etc. If you don't feel great about the answers to these questions its quite possible that the brief is, well, incomplete at best and pure crap at worst. Be ready to challenge the author in an appropriate 'it's all about the customer' spirit.
Steve said,
June 8, 2009 at 10:27 am ()
Great post, Thank you for the tips!!!!
peter said,
June 11, 2009 at 11:36 am ()
i'm printing this out as we speak..
skipZero said,
June 11, 2009 at 6:15 pm ()
Great list! Love the title for 44! Toast is yummy! :)
Fuad Ahasan Chowdhury said,
June 18, 2009 at 10:52 am ()
Thanks a lot for these type of great pathways.. great share.. these tips will help a lot for newbies to pros.. :)
Cheers
Fuad
clippingimages.com
Clipping Path International said,
July 16, 2009 at 4:12 am ()
Great list, thanks for this type of tips
Clipping Path International said,
July 16, 2009 at 6:54 am ()
its great
M M Ruhul Kuddus Sagor said,
August 7, 2009 at 10:23 am ()
i think this is very useful and effective for a great designer.
stone said,
August 18, 2009 at 4:49 pm ()
Thats a really good and help ful list...Thank you for being so kind....
Larissa said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:41 pm ()
Great list. I would like to add good typography to being key in becoming a better designer. There is a great article called "13 Signs of Badly Designed Type" http://ljdesignstudio.com/104-13-signs-of-badly-designed-type
James Gill said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:48 pm (Administrator)
@Larissa Typography is absolutely essential too - I think we could write a whole article on "50 Ways to Become a Better Designer through Typography Alone"!
That's a really interesting article you linked to - thanks for sharing it with us.
James
Firose Ullattil said,
August 28, 2009 at 10:11 am ()
It's a great stuff, Nice post! Thanks for sharing!
Kartika Angkawijaya said,
November 3, 2009 at 4:09 pm ()
Thanks for the list! It inspires me :)
Trackbacks said,
November 12, 2009 at 3:53 pm ()