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Break free of print conventions with PDF publishing
In PDF printing there are no right and left pages
Readers expect website addresses in digital documents to be links
A lot of our clients are moving to PDF-only publishing for at least some of their documents, if not all. But there's more to digital publishing than hitting the "save" button. PDF documents offer many opportunities for an enhanced user experience—and a few pitfalls—that you might not be aware of.
see inside »How long does a website redesign take?
Quick turnaround websites aren't over when they're over
Discovery is the most important phase of the process
Every design has tradeoffs which must be weighed and discussed
The most common issue that comes up when companies come to us for a website redesign is schedule—the site needs to be live in four or five weeks, but we believe it will take twice that time (or longer). Why so long? I hope this article will answer that question.
see inside »Pros and cons of freelancing
As a freelancer, you automatically get more respect than you do working for someone else...
... but there's always the danger of becoming isolated, hidebound, and out of touch with your industry.
It used to be that having a job meant security and that freelancing or starting a business was the riskier choice. Given the last two years, though, you might be wondering if it isn't safer to be your own boss. After all, if you don't have an employer you can't be laid off, downsized, terminated, made redundant, or whatever cheerful euphemism the corporate world is calling it today.
see inside »Request for bid form
Need to get an estimate on offset printing but not sure what to ask for? I've created a downloadable PDF form with all the questions you need to answer to get an accurate estimate from your printer. Even better, I've put together an instruction sheet that explains terms of art, how to spec like a pro, and insider tips on how to save money.
see inside »How to start a peer advisory group
I had a vision of thousands of solo designers like me, struggling with same issues, cobbling together our own unsatisfactory solutions
In 2006 I made a coffee date with a designer I met online. We were in the same situation: working by ourselves and feeling cut off from colleagues and peers. Little did I know that was the first step in creating a peer advisory group—one that's grown and flourished and sustained me through many ups and downs as a business owner.
see inside »The killer app of 1910
Hoosier has clearly understood that women working at home wear a lot of hats.
Great usability isn't just for software and websites. In the early 20th century, an Indiana furniture company designed a kitchen cabinet that employs the best practices of what today we term "usability"—the ease, elegance, and clarity with which products are designed for human use.
see inside »Business cards for the 21st century
What's on your card can say quite a lot about how savvy and connected you are
Business cards are so 20th century, right? Surely, any self-respecting modern company would have ditched the paper rectangle by now in favor of ... well, what, exactly?
The fact is, even the most technology-savvy consultants still carry business cards.
see inside »The perils of marketing
Several months ago I decided to sponsor a local technology networking event, to raise awareness of my company and hopefully make some good contacts.
see inside »Value pricing: The dirty little secret of graphic design
The value pricing system is an anachronistic trap that designers need to free ourselves from.
Imagine if your plumber charged you more to fix the toilet than the sink—even though it took the same number of hours—because a working toilet has more value to you. Or what if your mechanic quoted you a higher price than usual for a tune-up because you told him you were about to drive cross-country?
Believe it or not, this is how many graphic designers charge for their services.
see inside »Why you need to be on Twitter
When was the last time you were contacted personally by an airline representative after you experienced a late flight or lost luggage?
I recently tweeted a link to an article I'd written and within two days had received ten times as many hits to the page as my newsletter had generated
Okay, you don't need to be on Twitter. And sure, in a couple of years it'll be superseded by the next new hotness. However, those who dismiss it as a frivolous time-waster are way off the mark. Twitter's not going to replace other forms of communication, but it's a good indicator of how information is going to be disseminated in the coming years.
see inside »