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User is offline child_in_time 

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Posted 29 April 2010 - 02:59 PM (#1)

An idealist:


a request on requests
Don't know whether this 'rant' of sorts should be moved to general discussion or not.

As a person who wants a:
  • logo
  • banner
  • symbol
  • webpage
  • etc.

SOMETHING INVOLVING GRAPHIC DESIGN
I highly suggest, that next time you are requesting a piece of graphic design, that you be specific about what you're requesting. This benifits you, in that you get a logo looking closer to your requests, you will get it faster, and you will prevent the loss a few months of your graphic designer's expected lifespan.


In case you're wondering what this means, here are a few words/phrases that may give your designer an aneurism, and a short explanation of why

I don't care, i just want a logo/banner/etc.
No, you don't. Otherwise you would have opened MS paint and made a picture size 200x200 and save your bmp to your website. OR. If you 'just wanted a logo' you wouldn't mind having the starbucks logo in bright pink with flowers for your website deathmetalandannihilation.com(IMHO i think that'd be pretty metal in its own.)

Make it look good/nice/cool/poppy/interesting.
None of these words describe anything other than what you think they should look like, in one word, which has separate meanings for everyone. These also give no information on what context this is going to be used. Same thing as above with the starbucks logo, I don't know where my design is going, I don't know how you're going to use it, and I don't know who is going to be looking at it and saying whether or not it fits with my design.

Make it sleek/smooth/sharp/contrasty/cozy.
THIS is an improvement. It's describing something: lines, edges, and texture. However rather ambiguous in it's own, it's building up to something. Words like cool, interesting, and good, have little to no place in the world of describing/requesting art.

That looks nice, but could you change it a little?
Yes, i can. and you can tell me what you want to change.

Now, this doesn't mean that your graphic designer won't sooner or later get this information from you, he will usually ask you to join a chat session, see him in person, or over the course of mail, "converse about your expectations". So it is to say, your graphic designer will ask you what sort of colors, lines, text, shapes, texture, symmetry, etc. It's simply more painful than receiving an email saying
"Hi [designer(s)],
I'd like a graphic for my website, you can visit the website at www.[webs].com , it isn't finished though cuz i don't have a designer.
Thanks, [client]"

allow me to lay a certain weight upon this link here. If you don't know what they are, they will change your life.

Speaking from the little experience that I have, i would like to point out a few things that are more or less necessary for a graphic designer to receive before he actually makes you something.

What sort of graphic you would like, this can be a banner, a letterhead, an entire website, a fancy dropdown menu, anything graphic related, he can do the graphics part.
On that note, your graphic designer(unless stated otherwise) is a graphic designer and not a professional writer/company namer. "I don't know/care what my website is going to be called yet" gives your designer very little to work with.

What/where the graphic is going to be used; If it's going to replace an old graphic, at least knowing the old graphic's dimensions are extremely helpful. These are given in units called pixels, if you don't know how to tell what they are, send the old file to your designer, if he doesn't know how, find a different designer. This is sort of included in the type of graphic.

Do you want text? If you do, specify EXACTLY what text you want, if you want text you're adding a whole new league to your request, do you want subtle, plain, contrasting, with the background, do you even want a background? Things that also help are a general sort of font that you'd like, serif, spacing, kerning, etc. you can find what these terms are here(in the box labeled "Typography terminology") if you're really interested.

You want a graphic of some sort, simple? complex? organic shape? inorganic shape? If you have a vision, don't just say you have a great vision about this, describe it. If you're in person or know how to use a scanner. Drawing something on a napkin is enough to make your graphic designer want embrace you. Do you want an abstract design, something that looks like something in real life, something that resembles text, or something that blends.

In order to not be a hypocrite, here are words that are useful. (Use at least two words, if not more when describing how you want something to look)
Sharp, smooth, thick, thin, square/boxy, bright, contrast, subtle, simple, complex, organic, rough, natural, metallic, shiny, relfection, dull, embossed, colors(0xRRGGBB), gradient, fill, transparent, one color, two colors, with/without text, 3D, flat, light, dark, spikey, smooth, flowery, text-related, object, abstract.
The list goes ON and ON.

Having toiled over this many a time(emphasis on many and time), a fruitless rant though it is. There is much more to be said on this subject, even though it's friggin long as it is. I think i'll just leave it here for now.
If you think there's anything i've missed, lemme know.

TL;DR
Be more specific when requesting things from your graphic designer. And his job is a graphic designer, not a writer/namer.
http://en.wikipedia....#External_links
http://en.wikipedia....iples_of_Design

That is all for now. Thank you for your time.
9


User is offline Nick 

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Posted 29 April 2010 - 03:22 PM (#2)

I agree there is nothing worse than trying to help someone who doesn't know what they want.
Posted Image
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User is offline Olli 

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Posted 29 April 2010 - 06:30 PM (#3)

can i haz a logo sayin ilike2trawl?


No, but seriously when theres a request for a logo, or banner or something with just can i have this, it reaaaaaaaaaaaly annoys me, if they at least had some detail in it. i think i might love you. xD
Steam : Ollibreh


if you want to achieve greatness stop asking for permission
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User is offline Kyek 

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Posted 29 April 2010 - 09:32 PM (#4)

Holy sticky batman.
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User is offline BokTheGolem 

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Posted 29 April 2010 - 10:26 PM (#5)

View PostKyek, on 29 April 2010 - 09:32 PM, said:

Holy sticky batman.

Ewww, I'd like to see a banner with THAT on it.
Also this is very helpful, doesn't a MUST read. Although no ones coming to me for help it does bug me when people request extremely vague things.
"You can't make me look! I'll just shut my eyes."
"Oh, you'll open them. You have to breath sometime. "
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User is offline Nick 

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Posted 30 April 2010 - 10:06 AM (#6)

I think if child_in_time cleans it up a bit and shortens it slightly (cutting out repetitions) this will very beneficial for newbies :P


or Change the topic title to have something like: Read before posting in it too :P
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User is offline arronhunt 

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Posted 02 May 2010 - 10:30 PM (#7)

"I like the design, but can you make the logo bigger? I was thinking a different font, maybe Comic Sans? My nephew does some cool graphic design in MS paint and uses that a lot. Also maybe the background should be bright red or orange so it stands our more! I'd also like it to have more ZING if you know what I mean, a little more POP and appeal. But it also has to be profesional. Could you add a shadow, some glow and make it more vibrant?"

"Oh and one more thing, I think the .png files your sending me are too big. Could you save them as .bmp files or even better put them in a Microsoft word document and send them? Thanks!"

EDIT: Kyek....wow....just wow ;)
DO NOT OPEN THIS

Spoiler
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User is offline inkjetcanvas 

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Posted 05 May 2010 - 02:52 PM (#8)

http://clientsfromhell.net/

^- How to NOT ask for web/design/anything work. ;)
kristi.theresnobox.net | inkjetcanvas.us

"I'm just a dweeb invited to the cool kid's party, hoping she doesn't get found out before the beer is gone."
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User is offline arronhunt 

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Posted 05 May 2010 - 09:11 PM (#9)

View Postinkjetcanvas, on 05 May 2010 - 02:52 PM, said:

http://clientsfromhell.net/

^- How to NOT ask for web/design/anything work. ;)


Dude I just spent an hour reading those and laughed at every single one.
DO NOT OPEN THIS

Spoiler
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User is offline Dae 

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Posted 04 June 2010 - 05:19 PM (#10)

I'm sitting here reading and imagining this the entire time: http://theoatmeal.co...ics/design_hell

It's on a broader subject, but hits on some of your key points. My chest locks up every time I read it (partially from laughing, partially from sobbing at the thought of being in such a situation).

Quote

I don't care, i just want a logo/banner/etc.
No, you don't. Otherwise you would have opened MS paint and made a picture size 200x200 and save your bmp to your website. OR. If you 'just wanted a logo' you wouldn't mind having the starbucks logo in bright pink with flowers for your website deathmetalandannihilation.com(IMHO i think that'd be pretty metal in its own.)


^This was my favorite part.
While you're busy coding I'm in your living room turning all your furniture upside down.
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User is offline Sephern 

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Posted 04 July 2010 - 09:03 AM (#11)

"...I like it, but can you make it more colourful?"

=.=
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User is offline Nico 

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Posted 07 July 2010 - 10:34 AM (#12)

"I don't know what I want, but I'll know when I see it".

Clients from hell is awesome! I suggest following them on twitter too.

http://twitter.com/clientsfh
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User is offline KiNG 

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Posted 08 July 2010 - 01:37 PM (#13)

Wow...really helpful!
I wish someone write something similar with more web related things...! Posted Image [As you all know, my English is not so good and I can't write long posts like this ;)]
I have a lot of these clients (from hell!) Posted Image maybe I'll show this post to them!
Kind Regards,
Shahab [KiNG]


مهاجرت به کانادا - طراحی سایت


I Love Iran

* I really rarely visit wdR these days. If you want to contact me, send me a pm.

* Are you curious on what is :-" ?! Here it is: Posted Image
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User is offline JoelyDesign 

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 12:47 AM (#14)

As a Designer, EXPECT to do at least one revision, but be thankful they're willing to pay you because they are the minority
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User is offline Glitch 

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 08:49 PM (#15)

View PostJoelyDesign, on 06 December 2011 - 12:47 AM, said:

As a Designer, EXPECT to do at least one revision, but be thankful they're willing to pay you because they are the minority

Necrobump?
It's been over a year since the last post
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User is offline TheEmpty 

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 09:32 PM (#16)

View PostGlitch, on 06 December 2011 - 08:49 PM, said:

Necrobump?
It's been over a year since the last post

It is a sticked post.
Reserved.
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User is offline arronhunt 

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 11:36 PM (#17)

View PostThatRailsGuy, on 06 December 2011 - 09:32 PM, said:

It is a sticked post.


^ this

This topic makes me lol.
DO NOT OPEN THIS

Spoiler
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User is offline Lluvia 

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Posted 04 August 2012 - 04:48 AM (#18)

This topic makes me want to cry! I have a graveyard of good designs that were wasted for reasons like the ones above :(
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User is offline saimgee123 

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Posted 23 March 2013 - 05:08 AM (#19)

i don't know what you want to say in this post and waste time to reading this story. Just say in short cut your point of view. Anyway try to say to the point.
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User is offline SapporoGuy 

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Posted 23 March 2013 - 06:16 AM (#20)

Yeah, it's taking over 3 years to get to point ;)

Correction: Almost 3 years!
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