Be Excellent To Each Other

There are a few graphic designers among us, so I thought it would be nice to share hints, tips, tricks and tales of our lovely geeky art craft

I had a funky project this week to design a multi-purpose book for a training workshop - portrait to start with so participants could read through like a text book, make notes etc., but then half way it turns landscape and stands up like a calendar so they can use it as a flip-chart to teach other people in their teams! Good fun Setting it up for print, however, took rather a lot of concentration

Show us then.

No can doodlies, alas, confidentiality and all that jazz. Could sketch it though!

Right.

Graphics thread with no pictures.

I DRAWED AN AWESUM THING! IT WAS SUPABESTEST!

NO ALLOWED TO SHOW! SOZ!

It would be nice to have some miniscule amount of design ability. Came in this morning to a rush need to produce a presentation in an hour. I know the content inside out, so I know full well it will take me 3 minutes to write the content and 57 minutes to fight with making it not look like 10 pages of poorly aligned bullet points in Powerpoint.

Yeah - I have basic design skills (I can do grid layouts and shit, and I know the theory) but I can't draw in any way whatsoever.

I shall try do redacted pics *blows raspberry*

I'm the exact opposite. Would have sat pondering the content for 57 minutes, re-written in about 10 times, still not been happy with it, then spent 3 minutes turning it into a PowerPoint Monet.

So between us... We couldz take over the world. Or something.

Just before Christmas I had to make a card that folded into/through itself three times. A bit like a Jacobs ladder toy.

Absolute arse setting it up, had to be hand finished at the printers but it turned out well.

Here's the artwork as I had to lay it out:

Here's the finished version:

Three sided card

I much prefer white background, black text, default formatting PowerPoint if the alternative is someone trying to make things look nice.

Most of my PowerPoint presentations are full screen pictures with bare minimum text

Hey, that's dead clever. Do you think anyone you sent it to figured it out?

I guess some will have just ripped it apart trying.

Really cool!! Bet the printers loved you

Ta.

It was actually 4 sided. There's a Christmas message with signatures on the spread I've forgot to take a pic of.

Ok blank page version allowed by boss - not as exciting as the content was really pretty, but oh well!

Starts portrait bound journal, turns into flip chart calendar style!

Or not, given my inability to put photos on the right way around!

A polar bear calendar!

Sorry, I'm sure it looks wonderful.

Today's project - create a fake city in photoshop!

I sent a few drafts to the client last night, and I'm very happy that she's chosen the one that looks like I played simcity and took a screenshot

So... did you?

No, but I was very tempted! Would have been a completely legit gaming-at-work afternoon

Can we see it?

You're really not getting the point of this thread are you? NO pictures. That's final!

I know how infuriating it is to do work your can't show people or talk about...

Dirty boy.

Well yes, but that has nothing to do with my Job....

it's even more depressing when people laugh.

Yup, drives me totally insane.

But, that's what happens when you sign a confidentiality agreement! I've had it my entire design career - mostly because until now I've always worked for a financial institution, and boy are THEY serious about not taking photos.

These guys are a little less ridiculous about it, but it's still very important not to share anything that gives away our clients, or IP that they've directly paid for.

Still sucks not to be able to share everything

Might be allowed to show you the city thought - once I've actually finished it! *gets back to Photoshop*

Some of the locations I go to, I am not even allowed my phone.

Still, they let you out after six months for good behaviour.

Wow. That's pretty serious.. Who on earth do you work for?!

Oh wait, you probably can't say...

I work for HP (no not the sauce company).

The projects are for the Government.

That was the only project I did not work on. I did not fancy going to the prisons. Worked on the Court Services one, got to go under the old Bailey.

In fact we put a server room, in unused Judge's wine cellar.

I was nearly forced to go on an assignment at Porton Down, really glad I didn't get that particular job.

Why? It's not like you'd be on the wings or anything.

Not having my mobile or indeed an office number is something that can be quite frustrating sometimes.

How do you survive with.. with.. NO PHONE?!

*passes out*

I know, I have to find work to do to distract me.

I do have phone access, and people could get hold of me in an emergency, but it's not the same.

Fuck that, i get a cold sweat if i'm on a client site with no unrestricted wifi

Yeah, the restricted internet isn't much fun either!

My place doesn't give me a mobile phone you know. They give you a car, but not a phone. How odd?

Not that I mind. It just means that people can't get in touch with me while I'm out.

Now draw a picture of it.

ALL OF YOU.

How's that?

Nice solution.

I freaked out and almost left the pub the other night because my battery died.

Yeauch *shivers*

Sweet! Ta