Basic skills that are of great reference value to design professionals

Core77 recently launched a new topic, called hack2work(hack2work:essential tips for the "Design Professional"), to provide some basic skills for designers, These techniques refer not only to "doing design", but to all aspects of the profession or profession, including the choice of green plants in the office, the suggestion of refreshments from office gourmets, tips for working with interns, notes on designing corporate blogs, and so on. A total of 5 categories, namely clients, OFFICE, STAFF, process and promotion, can be used when you work more quickly and intelligently, some are very valuable, and some are very interesting, and we'll take a few articles below to make some brief introductions.

How to make Your Client ' s logo bigger without making their logo bigger
How to enlarge the customer's logo but not really enlarge it

Michael Bierut's "last resort", but he has never used, the article seems to be not a serious experience guidance, more like the designer's mockery and self entertainment, but perhaps there is the use of this "last resort", the reason is that there is a sense of amusement, perhaps you imagine this situation will understand, The customer emphasizes "to enlarge a little sign", this is almost every designer can encounter things, you want to maintain the quality of the design and do not want to put a large number of customers, and the vast majority of customers will feel that the designer always put their own logo is too small, whether the plane ads or product nameplate, Perhaps sometimes this is not a problem but a right to be a client, which is often encountered, the other side of the criticism or modify the opinion is only because he is being served. When the client puts forward "to enlarge the logo", and you have no other way of the time, Michael Bierut's advice is to seriously obediently accept the comments, so that customer satisfaction, back to the whole of its 5 revisions, the 5 revision of the logo size only a small difference, small to distinguish, And the customer eats this one especially when you go to argue with him about why it's so big. The next time the proposal was made, it would be a word to expel the 5 revisions from the small to large, and then say to them, "we have changed their size from the original manuscript, and each additional number is a scheme to make the right choice." "And then the customer will be careful to compare (because the size difference is too small) and you can suggest" we looked at the number 5th is really too big, but 3rd and 4th is difficult to choose, "if the customer is more tactful he will consider your opinion, if not, he chose 5th, perhaps at this time you will suggest to look at the 4th number, But no matter what, you win. Because your number 5th is the same size as the last one, and number 1-4 is on the base of number 5th, and it's important that you don't lie (this can be done). But the point is, the last time do not leave them a copy, if it was detected, the intern to take out as a shield. see this in detail in the text . Like a list of options to influence people's choices, you can see a speech by Dan Ariely at Ted on idesign , "Are We in charge's our decisions?"

Dos and Don ' TS for designers dealing with Business
Some of the things that designers and businesses do and shouldn't do

Helen Walters at the beginning of the article that not everyone wants to be as obsessed with design as a designer, and the usual designer's narcissism is the outrage that people cannot realize that design is the only essence of everything in the world, The second is to pretend that you are a member of the elite can realize that design is the only essence of all things in the world and the people who can not understand the sadness. Clients are not all like Steve Jobs, so designers need to face the outside world in order to realize their great ideas. The recommendations made by Helen Walters are:

1. Don't treat customers as fools. "Customer does not understand" this is the designer to customer complain most of the words, but the design to understand to the customer is the responsibility of the designer.
2. Must understand the end (Bottom line) importance. It is not a sin to be better and more genuinely integrated into real business.
3. Don't forget to write. Good design speaks for itself, but it's not enough and you need to be clear about the great idea of design.
4. Remember that business is a team sport. The era of star designers is gone.
5. Don't sell yourself. Design can potentially change the world, proud, strong, adhere to ideals, not others do not understand and discouraged.

This is a detailed view of the article.

What to does when your Have nothing Better todo
Do something when you don't have anything to do.

Christopher Simmons's article, what you should do when you don't have anything to do or want to do outside of your daily work, the author's advice is to--work for free. Free work does not refer to spec work, this recent hot topic, spec work refers to those who for the benefit of the lottery with the type of work, such as what Wei Guest. The authors say that free work refers to the work of "Changing the World," which lists some examples.

1.1 Free Postcards. Your design work is slow, indicating that your client is in a slump, that many people are looking for a job, and that as a designer in print publishing, your layout will have some spare time, rather than wasting it, using it to Craigslist. posted an ad saying that a free 1000 postcards (advertising version) was given to the person looking for a job, then screened and designed for it, perhaps finding a job. And it is not limited to print media, it can be network media.
2. Design for the neighbourhood. Now some big nonprofit organizations have good visual design, but shrinking local, shrinking small organizations usually fall vertically, so you can help them, whether it's a poster, a newspaper ad, a website, as long as you say you care, you can offer them a free service.
3. The cause of the disturbance. Usually a designer is considered to be a problem-solving situation, but it doesn't mean that you can't raise the problem you want to solve, the law does not stipulate, the author cited an example of a T-shirt to trigger the local people's concern about homosexuality.

This is a detailed view of the article.

Check please:how to Learn about Your Clients from their Table manners
Liz Danzico's article, by looking at the customer's table habits to know them, article see this .

Shower people with Gifts
Alissa Walker's article, as a designer, should give the customer what gift is the best, the article see this .

How to look bigger Than for you Are
How to make yourself look like a bull

Allan Chochinov's article lists a few suggestions:

1. Company name. Put "the" in front of the last name, followed by "Group"
2. Voice telephone. Get the extension.
3. Call yourself in the plural. We
4. When the client wants to come over to see the leak upstairs, let's find a café.
5. Business Card. Don't write the word "design" everywhere.
6. About the page. Do not write your life, write some ability and as soon as possible to pull to the customer list (this good to do, your friend's customers can also become your customers, as long as you and friends to negotiate), a fatal move, the client list of URLs are done on the link.
7. Credit card. Write the company name in the second column of the credit card.
8. A direct question. For example, "How many people are there in your company?" Like making movies, we gather when we need them, we pull the best people together ... But now the economic situation, we really ... But ... "

This is a detailed view of the article.

Your work Mesa is not bad,Feel Better about Your Desk

On being t-shaped
Become a T-shaped talent

Tim Brown's article, Tim Brown, speaking from a previous design for a woodworking machine factory, said that if they were to do the design, they would ask a lot of questions in addition to simply asking their future products, exploring the possibilities of innovation, making their products more competitive and meeting the latest needs of consumers, To provide products that are not pure but are accompanied by services and knowledge, or even turn to other industries. Tim Brown mentions that and the T-shaped talent they recruit, the so-called T-shaped talent, is a vertical representation of a deep analytical ability, a cross refers to the horizontal comprehensive ability and knowledge background to adapt to different problems. The same is true for designers, Tim Brown from his personal experience as a T-shaped designer, the most challenging thing is how to integrate the mechanical and business rules, at first he confused the business to make innovation difficult, until realized that business is a design problem, start to consider the cost and efficiency of innovation, Or think of business rules as the parameters of design, no longer regard them as enemies but materials, although sometimes discouraging people at the time can at least see them as an element of innovative thinking. Instead of being a contemporary Leonardo da Vinci, it has become the key to the success of the T-shaped talent in the already expanding contemporary design industry.

6 Tips for Working with Your interns
6 Tips for working with interns

Sarah Nagle's article, people often complain about working with interns on various problems, the author gives their Smart design some suggestions:

1. float or sink. Get along with them like a regular employee.
2. Introduce them to the customer. Get them to contact their customers as early as possible, whether it's a meeting or a phone call, they can also provide a young person's perspective.
3. Encourage self projects. They can also bring inspiration to the design studio by exercising themselves.
4. Bring them into the scene. For example, research, not only can be a handyman and provide another pair of eyes and ears.
5. To agitate their brainpower. Can start a discussion on their school projects.
6. Spread Love.

See this for a detailed article.

Books Every Design Professional Should Own
All design professionals must have 19 books, which are specifically found in the list.

Tips and Advice from a Professional recruiter
Why did the design company use headhunters to recruit people, how do designers use headhunters, articles to see this .

Consider freelancing or coworking
Compare singles or a common play, the article see this .

Why does the Firm Own Everything I do? Intellectual Property &
Why does the company have everything I do? You and intellectual property. This article answers some common questions in more detail.

5 Keys to successful design
5 Key to successful design research

1. Embrace the participants ' worldview. Some of your ideas cannot be consciously or unconsciously applied to the participants, for example, you cannot introduce your own terminology to them, and perhaps a word such as "notebook" will change some of the ideas involved.
2. Be careful about the objects you want to talk about.
3. Plan well for the site. For example, to make a list of photos to be taken.
4. Be prepared to sift through your data to find the best possible target. Some of the immediate emerging results are usually your competitors have already got.
5. Remember that design research is an ability that requires practical practice. While the main behavior is dialogue, it's like writing more than typing, designing more than just manipulating pencils, and research is not just video and watch, it puts design research and other work on the same requirements.

See this for a detailed article.

are Social design sustainable (and Can It being profitable)?
is social design sustainable and can it be profitable, see this in detail.

Consider the 4-day workweek
Four-day working system

A year ago, the American Utah State had an experiment in which government workers changed from a 5-day job to a 4-day work system, and the day's working hours grew to 10 hours, and the results showed a win. The author, Sarah Rich, has been impressed by the days when they were having fun (or intellectual intelligence) on Fridays, and the four-day work system has also eased pressure on the environment, as detailed in the article. 37signals is a four-day working system.

Social Media + design:how to Work Your network
Social media + Design: How to work with your network, see this in detail.

Hero Shots, Shots and Process pages:how to Present Your Work
Highlights, feature features, process pages: How to show a more visually appealing work

Show to the customer, how can impress him.

1. The Hero Shot. Wonderful close-up, shocked others.
2. The money Shot. Feature close-up, let others see.
3.The Process Page. Process close-up, a bit to be sure. (such as your workload, design ideas, etc.)

This is a detailed view of the article.

How to Win a design competition
How to win a design competition

1. Unless design forklift or air terminal, do everything possible to provide design in kind.
2. If there is a mechanical structure, provide good batteries and wiring, so that the judges can start it. If it is food, to seal ... Wait a minute
3. Provide concise and clear statements.
4. If multiple catalogs are available, the decision is not judged by the same judge.
5. If the same directory provides many works, the opportunity is equal, the judges are moved by your insistence and have no courage to return all the work you submitted.
6. Submitted to the catalogue of the least number of winners in history. Some unpopular areas are less competitive than consumer products.
7. The design that is capable of shocking any person who has the slightest sense of consciousness is presented.
8. Note that you did not win prizes in many other competitions with this legendary design, and the jury found no originality.

See this for a detailed article.

Dos and Don ' ts for Your design Firm Blog
Some things to do and not do for the design company blog

The blog address in the company homepage link, let each visitor read the latest and best information. Don't just get stuck in text, consider adding pictures, videos, painting. Use your own voice, personalized, blog is about people talking. Don't be afraid to make yourself famous. Use Twitter to promote articles. Don't talk about other designers ' gossip. Show your place of work. Do not use gallery pictures, please. Everyone in the company is invited to write a column from CEO to intern. Do not write anything related to it unless you have a client's permission. Link to another Web site, in the article or sidebar. Do not waste, can not insist on simple one thing, how to make people believe that can complete the work of new customers? Write about the non-design company, but pull it back. Don't be afraid to become interesting.

This is a detailed view of the article.

How to Pitch Me
How to cast me well

Linda Tischler Some suggestions from the media people's point of view, the object of the media contribution to the publicity. Provides 10 suggestions, while understanding that the media will never be missing contributors but always lacks good materials for good design. This is a detailed view of the article.

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The above is a part of our choice to make some summary, more detailed see core77 hack2work.