Recycling Ideas

           Recycling ideas is something I'm beginning to see is beneficial to design. Not as a way of being lazy because you can't think of anything else though. To clarify what I mean, imagine you just got done with a big personal project, but you weren't satisfied. So, next project, you take ideas you liked, and improve upon them. Another example is changing an element mid-designing because it doesn't fit, but still looking for a place to use the first element. Just because something fails, doesn't mean you can't fix it up.

             I know not all ideas are going to work, and some will eventually need to be scrapped. Be that because it was insensitive, not convenient, or just forgotten. So do keep in mind what you want to reuse. Just like with actual recycling, there will be need of some disposal, you can't save everything. That being said, we still recycle because in the end, this will save us so much in the future. 

 Just some images I was recycling.

               

             I mainly came to this after hearing how some of my favorite writers reuse ideas they couldn't find a place for in past works. As if they needed a change of scenario for how the events will play out. I also think about how you can do a twist with an old concept to get audiences offguard. Whatever the case, as long as you aren't rehashing ideas, you should be good!

            With that, I once again thank you for reading. Apologies for not blogging last week, but I needed time to decompress. Anyways, make sure to comment your thoughts, and stay tuned! Also make sure to recycle any of your own ideas that you liked!

Microsoft Office

           Once again, I am changing classes! This time, I will be learning about Microsoft Office 365, and all the options I can do for alignment in there. Now, you might be wondering what this has to do with Graphic Design, again.... Well, it's a good way for me to practice new tools and techniques. Get me used to when I can't or don't need to rely on Adobe you see. On top of that, it's a way for me to get better at orientation, and structure.

My new book

        In all honesty, even the most basic of structures can be good graphic design. As long as it serves its purpose of conveying the message. So, as long as the flow charts I soon make convey a direct message to the audience, I'll have made a good one. Granted, I will have to be more grounded when it comes to this. No time to pick out the best color and shape combos, but still enough to find a good one. So, in a sense, this will help me exercise my balance skills as well.

            With that, thank you once again for reading my blog! I'm hoping to put my best into this class, and keep delivering good results so I can be good at graphic design. So, no better time than now to practice, even if I don't plan on keeping this. That being said, this business is always changing, so I may come back to it at one point. Once again, thank you for reading. Make sure to comment down below, share your thoughts, check out and critique my work, and stay tuned.

Bigger, but Better?

          So, is bigger always better? That's the question that has plagued humans for so long. Make the burgers stack higher, make the cars more like tanks, the coffee cup needs to hold a gallon of the stuff! However, you then start to realize maybe you can't handle the size of it. As of you put too much together, and now you regret tackling this.

             That isn't to say not every big thing doesn't have it's benefita, or isn't good, just that it can be too much. On the other hand, it could also feel like too much of a hassle, or be less memorable. The reason I bring this up is because one day, I was watching a ProtonJon stream. In this stream, he was playing the game 'BatMan Arkham City'. While he does say it is a fun game, he states that he prefers the first game, 'BatMan  Arkham Asylum ' , as you're more than likely to complete everything before getting bored.

 Images courtesy of GameSpot and MobyGames respectively.

              Now while I do understand that this is his opinion, I feel like it does set a good argument against bigger things. Just because something is more vast and packed with things to see and do, doesn't mean it's perfect.  Think of a restaurant with an oversized menu, but not enough workers. Chances are, it's going to be a mess. Compare it to the other way around, chances are it'll be a better experience.

              With that being said, thank you once again for reading. Thank you as well ProtonJon for being the inspiration for this post. That being said, as always, make sure to comment, read more of my posts if you haven't, and stay tuned! I'm always looking forward to what anyone has to say about my work.

Different Views

           So, I would say today has been pretty good for me. Originally, I never intended on writing a blog this week. However, after learning about different views, and realizing how it relates to design, I had to! You see, people may come to general conclusions, but everyone has a separate frame of reference. They each like a unique flavor of ice cream if you will!

             Imagine you look into a telescope, and you see an island off in the far distance. You then hand it to your friend who has poor eyesight. Instead, they just view a blur because they can't use the telescope as well. That's more or less what I mean. To build off my post, 'The Power of A Symbol ' not everyone will see what you see. Even if it may be a similar result, it won't be The same.

https://h8l0v.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-power-of-symbol.html

           What does this mean for graphic design though? Where exactly am I going with this? Well, since everyone views things differently, you need to do your best to interpret your thoughts. You need to show what you want them to see. Caution in showing is highly advised, even if there won't be sure conseqeunces. If only because we each look from a special angle. So, we need to help others see from ours, and try to see things from theirs.

          So with that, thank you again for reading. I'm really loving this class so far, and I hope it continues to help me in my goals. Other than that, please comment below. If not, I hope you at least share this around, or still offer feedback! Tell me what you thought, check out my other posts, and as always, stay tuned! 

Speech Class

                   So it's been awhile since I've talked about my classes. At least since the start of the year. I'm sure judging from the title, you're wondering why I'm even talking about this one? It's speech, words, vocality, what does that have to do with Graphic Design? Well, mostly it has to do with getting yourself out there. Blogs, good work, and applications aren't enough. You need to make yourself presentable.

           What do I mean by this? Well, I am a normally shy person. I have trouble putting myself out there, I don't like to talk, and I'm generally scared of other people. Usually, when I see someone else walking on my side of the street, I will do what I can to leave. Bee it then around, go to the other side, or just hide until they leave. As you can imagine, this isn't healthy, and it's clear my confidence is lacking. So in order to improve my confidence, I need to take this class.

             Not only that, but I stumble on my words sometimes. If I am to convince a potential client I'm ready, I need to be a better speaker.  So a speech, whether it be two minutes or two hours, can be important for graphic design. It's the thing that helps you find friends and clients. It's what helps you develop good relationships. Not to mention, if you were to just talk to an audience, having one prepared will make you look good.

               So once again, thank you for reading! Hopefully after this class is over, I'll be making better blogs as well. However until then, comment below, tell me what I should improve on, and stay tunded!

Confidence is like a tree.

The power of a symbol

           So what is a symbol exaclty? Well, according to most dictionaries, it's a mark or character used to represent a person, thought, or object. This could be a common interpretation like a restaurant logo. It could also be uncommon, like ink blots. Really, anything could be a symbol, it just depends on how much balance there is to the design.

             Before we go any further, I want to tell a story. I'm 1984,the movie 'Ghostbusters' had mainly advertised itself with this logo.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

        

           The reason for this was due to legal issues with the name. There was a show called 'The Ghost Busters', and Columbia had not gotten the rights to the name yet. So, instead of changing the name, the symbol above was used in most, if not all marketing. This would cause audiences to get excited for the new mystery movie, and inspire future films to market the same way. No name, just a picture to excite people.

              Now while that didn't stop the aforementioned film from dealing with legal issues, it was enough to make it a success! So with a way to convey a message to an audience, it's safe to say symbols are excellent for any purposes. Now again, let me remind you not everyone will see them the same way, especially when things get abstract. That being said, it's interesting to hear what people have to say about those.

              With that out of the way, I'm going to share this image now. I want you to try and interpret the symbols I made, and see what you think of them.

           With That out of the way, thank you once again for reading! Make sure to comment below, share this around, and check out my other posts. Most importantly though, stay tuned!

Price Needs To Be Right

                 

Dollar of price!

                  So the price of art, or at least anything art related, is a bit of an odd topic. By odd of course, I mean as complicated as rocket science. You see, there's a lot to balance when you want to set a price on works. How much you've learned, how much time you spend, what resources you need, and what the end result is. Every answer to this question is going to be different for separate creators.

               As for me, I've made my commission prices clear... For now. I still don't think I'm that good yet, and I might need to retool these, but here they are if you're curious.

https://h8l0v.blogspot.com/p/money-listings.html

               Please do keep in mind, I am not taking commissions at this moment. Again, these will probably change, or be negotiated upon. Also do keep in mind that work with more professional businesses will be different, based upon what the contract is.

              At the end of the day, I'm mostly saying this since I've seen some people under value their talents. Not only does that not get them enough money, but it also keeps them from getting more work! The pricier you are, the more people will think you're good! That being said, I've also seen people overvalued their talents. So much so that I'm shocked they're able to get away with it legally.

             So once again, thank you for reading! If any of you have a different take on what my prices should be, or have creatively advice, let me know! I'm always looking for feedback on these blogs, just haven't gotten it yet. So, like always, comment below, share this with your friends, and stay tuned!

In Over My Head?

          I'm going to be honest..... So far, these blogs have not been doing well. Not many comments, little viewing, it's just sort of getting to me. Don't get me wrong, I don't have any intention to stop yet, I'm just starting to feel the drain. A little dumb when I made posts not to long ago about pushing myself but... It's been a weird past few weeks. So I want to address why I think I'm in over my head.

Unwarranted ego

      

      First off, I've been a little busy with my life. Looking for a new job, classes in college, that sort of thing. That being said, I haven't looked towards any creative courses I could do. I also have not really been building things like I think I should. Yet, I also want to keep at my pace right now. Just focus on that stuff later. Sorry if this sounds frustrating, I'm a little fed up as well.

               I'm just worried I won't be The designer people want me to be. I'm also worried I'm not putting myself out there enough. I don't know, maybe things will improve? Maybe they won't, can't say for certain. At the end of the day, I'm just feeling lazy, or at least, like I haven't lived up to my potential. I mean, these blogs haven't really been using my images lately.

             So, what will I do now? Well, I'm going to try and put these blogs out there more, and hope more people read them. I'm also going to give myself more time to design when I get the chance, getting many things out of the way first. It's going to be a long process, but I will improve. Sorry if these blogs slow down a bit, but it might just happen. With that, thank you for reading, comment below, and stay tuned.

Adding some original contest this time.

Licensed Nightmares

              Now at this point in time, it should be obvious how licensed material needs to be handled. Always ask for permission before using it, and credit the original source. If you somehow can't ask for permission, still credit the source, and don't use the material for monetary gain. If the case is drawing a character for a commission though, I'm sure you'll be fine as you created it, and you're not exactly pushing a brand with it. Simple process, should be easy to handle.... But not apparently not everyone thinks that.

         Now please keep in mind I'm giving a brief summer of how I believe this is to be handled. That being said, it's still amazing how some companies and people get away with what they do. For example, I once saw someone share a neat animation, then make people pay for the link to the creator. Another case, people who play full shows to react to them, and then offer little to no reaction. Then charging to have others see it.

       

             However, then there's the issues of internal conflict, where things really get juicy! Take this commercial for Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NvDzjy4j0ZI

              The song used is 'You're So Cool' from the movie True Romance. Nintendo for permission to use the song for the ad, then we're sued in June of 2008. Turns out the studio behind the movie forgot the gaming company got permission to use it, and somewhat embarrassed themselves.

         

               If you thought that was weird, how about this? Turns out the movie It's a Wonderful Life is public domain, but the story isn't! So for the longest time, TV channels were playing the movie before the owners of the story stepped in, and stopped that. Thus, the movie became a Christmas classic where, if you have a the right set of skills, you can rearrange clips into a new story!

            So in conclusion, treat licensed material right. Look up what it's status is, respect the original creators, and double check if someone has permission to use your work. If things go well, you might just even see a great fan piece based around it! With that, thank you for reading, comment below, and stay tuned!

Crowd-funding: Before You Start

                 

              So, you got a new project ready, and want to get into crowd-funding! Seems simple, right? I mean it seems to be the new thing independent creators are doing nowadays. Well....... Do you know what you're doing though? After all, just because it's an easy way to get money doesn't mean it's an easy way to do the work.  

            First off, it is required the platforms you do it on take five percent of what you earn. This is so they can make money, and keep their site running. So you could have a goal of one-thousand dollars, and they would need to take fifty. So you must plan accordingly! Not just for that, but for the entire goal you'll have.

             Something else you'll need to worry about is rewarding your backers. I wouldn't say that it's a requirement, but I do think it'll help greatly. Make sure to give them perks, and rewards. So, that's another thing you need to budget. In the long run, it's best to get some financial advice from several sources.

 

             Now, should your crowd-funding plan fail, what do you do? Well with me, I would just apologize, explain what went wrong, and refund every backer. If I can't, then I would find a way to make it up to them as soon as possible. They can't be blamed for your failing in this one, and it's important to keep a positive image. Don't just sleep on things, and not respond.

               So in conclusion, know what you're doing. I've seen so many of these campaigns fail after reaching their goal, simply because they either didn't have enough, or they didn't keep motivated. Other times, it just feels like a scam. So keep your wits and dignity about you. Thank you for reading, make sure to comment below, and stay tuned!

      

The Present

      So, first off let me say sorry for taking a break. Life just sort of got busy in the moment. Secondly.... The present we live in is looking very scary. I'm not going to go too in depth, but there's been anger, fear, and some eye-opening stuff. I don't know how to best put it really, but I do know where I stand. That is that for too long have things been going this way, and just recently the last straw had broken the camel's back. No, not broken, but insulted the injury that had previously been sustained.

      Now I will acknowledge that there's flaws all around, and that I shouldn't generalize one side over the other. That being said, I also acknowledge I can't just play the middle man here. I can't just sit by, and let things escalate the way they have. At least, not with my conscience telling me what I need to do. I apologize if this is coming off wrong, but this is the best my words can go.

     Usually, this is a blog that talks about graphic design, and art. It still is, for I think these events will make all of us want to learn how we can better ourselves, and our crafts. The present has certainly showed me where I need my morals to stand. So, I'll leave this link here, so you can donate your money where you best believe it belongs. Now, stay safe, and I urge you, please learn about what you can properly do to better yourself. Racism won't stop until we realize that we need to work harder to stop it.

https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co

Black Lives Matter

Public Figures

         So, this should go without saying, but don't be a jerk. I know that's generalizing things, but my point is, your image matters. Sure, you might not care what people think about you, but you'd be surprised at how much this affects. Namely, when you're in public, and representing a brand. If by chance you're a person who acts rude, then the brand can let you go. That ladies and gentlemen, is my topic for this week.

          Now, I understand that not every complaint to someone's character is valid. In fact, it's easy for most people to tell which are valid, and which aren't. My point is, even if you're a freelancer, the design business wants to make sure they aren't hiring someone rude or lazy. You have to keep up an image of yourself that tells clients 'yes, I can do the job!' Honestly, this isn't that hard to do, or at least it shouldn't be.

           Now that being said, I think there are public figures who are to important to a brand. The ones where, no matter how much they screw up, have put way too much in the business. One example is Shigeru Miyamoto of Nintendo. Not only has the man created two of the company's most famous franchises, but he's also been the one taking charge of new ideas, and trying out new features. That being said, there's a lot of fair critique against him. Namely, he's had a habit of butting into games in development, and just interfering when not needed. That being said though, he's already put too much time and energy to leave the company, and I can understand hating it when you're hired to... Oversee papers and not create.

Image from Wikipedia

             Even then though, with as high as some people are in a company, they can't just do what they want. Being a public icon, whether fictional or real, takes a lot of self-maintenance. Thankfully though  it can pay off ing you know what to do. Thank you once again for reading ladies and gentlemen. Make sure to comment down below, and stay tuned.

 

Overlooked Classics

              What would you consider an overlooked classic? Would that be a movie that did bad in the box office? Could it be an artist that worked mostly in magazines? Perhaps you're thinking of third entry in a trilogy, forced to follow-up a phenomenal second act? There are many things and people that for this category. In terms of design, you sadly see it much more than you should.

 

            I find some of the best designs or artists to unnoticed because of their position. Maybe they stick to InstaGram and put everything there, or stick to only designing for an ad agency. A sad fate for some, but if they're happy, and they're getting what they want, well then good for them. They shouldn't feel forced to share with the world because they were told to. At the end of the day, I would rather be secure financially, and doing small drawings as a hobby. It's the better option over fishing for attention everyday, in a place you won't find it.

  

             So, I believe sometimes it's better to go overlooked. You can still keep your identity, but work professionally in the design business. That being said, I would like to share some classics in this category. Not because I'm forcing them to be noticed, but because... I want to share my interests with you.

First, we have the movie Rock & Rule! A musical about a post-apocolyptic future, that went through studio problems to say the least. Somehow though, it came out as a trip that I think should be experienced. Thank you Retro Rerun for putting this in YouTube for the world to see.

https://m.youtube.com/watchv=knenwlh0ffa

Next, we have the game Deadly Premonition. I've talked about this game before, as it helped inspire my music poster. It should be said however that it really is a fascinating playthrough. May not be the most well-polished experience, but I loved it all the way through! Credits to Wikipedia for the image.

Finally, we have the man, Richard Williams. Animation director for Who Framed Roger Rabbit, contributor on several other animated films, and the mind behind The Thief and The Cobbler. I bring him up here as I feel he's just a guy who doesn't get enough attention. That and the aforementioned Thief and the Cobbler went through studio problems too, and was his main dream. Just thought I'd give the guy a shout-out. Image courtesy of Wikipedia again.

Well, with that, I am done for today. Thank you for reading, comment below, and stay tuned!