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-CB
If you go back to the earlier post announcing the printing of the Bold is Beautiful design, there is a link to a flickr spread showing the process.
-Chad
I'm just as excited as everyone else for parts 2 and 3.
This has really given me a lot to think about as far as working is concerned. Some of the points mentioned were encouragin as I felt that I was on the right path. Typography for example.
I am 17 so I fall under the young, if not very young, designer catagory so alot of what you said hit home quite hard and I'm having to step back and really re-think pricing and not understanding apperal enough.
I really just want to say that I really appreciate all the help you provide for all of us and ,in all seriousness, I firmly believe that reading this has changed me as a designer.
Thank you.
Kilian McMahon
Speaking of typography, I'm really digging how for each section you put a general summary into a black box, and set a small arrow into the side, pointing to a concise summary set in a larger and serifed font. Very clean, nicely designed detail; especially that splash of yellow. Also an example that being able to handle type well does not necessarily mean you have to manipulate it point-by-point.
After a design is in the final stage, I do find it hard to give up the artwork that I agreed to provide.
Just a rant.
Thanks Jeff.
This is really useful info and not easy to come by for free, as stated above.
It takes most people awhile to acquire some of this knowledge,
so be aware, young designers, that you're getting a pretty handy freebie here.
I deal with SO many people on a day-to-day basis that have NO idea of what kind of effort goes into graphics for the apparel industry.
Very excited to see parts 2 and 3 - everyone could definitely use a good refresher once in awhile.
i also learned a lot. can't wait for the 2nd and 3rd one.
good job!
I will be back.
Floated.
I agree that most new designers don't take into account the printing processes, not only screen printing but also the various other printings processes also, and this is necessary in order for us to succeed in our industry.
I try to learn something new everyday I am here, developing my skills in every project I agree to work on or on those personal projects that are just for fun.
Excellent article.
When is the Go Media Designer's Bible coming out??!!
If the people at Go Media put together a book containing all their insights for designers I would most definitely purchase one.
you're unique in your openness and willingness to share the tricks of the trade
Keep it up! wish you success
Pricing too has been a bit of a tricky subject. Starting off, I charged nothing, just to get the experience. Then I began charging 10/hr, after work became overwhelming it raised to 20/hr. As of today I charge 40/hr, but still feel that I am giving away some of my projects due to clients who "would like to pay that much, but instead wishes to pay X for the project as a whole". Judging what a job might take for time is at times where I fail. I will charge for 5 hours, but it ends up taking 10-12.
What are your feelings of flat fees?
I am looking forward to the second part in the series. Cheers.
One critique though on being professional....would calling young designers "babies" be the right wording. It's kind of hypocritical (no offense)
thanks...awesome blog again can't wait for the next article.
learnt alot from it. i never really cared that much for typography
but i gess im gonna giv it a shot. ill be lookin forward for part2
peace man
I read this article here, then I was browsing QBN and saw a link there....you guys are all over then interweb!
I like your critique style at gomedia...no BS and it's real. You remind me of my college professors at OWU and myself. Later.
MK
On the production side of things, more and more it seems to me that some sort of "certificate" for certain areas of print production would be helpful. If one were "licensed" or "certified" for CMYK print production, screenprinted etc., might help to separate the wheat from the chaff.
These wouldn't be requirements, but rather ways for illustrators/designers to signify that they pass certain knowledge/educational requirements in certain non-creative aspects of the work. Similar to the 'Adobe Certified Expert' program, where you can test to be considered expert/proficient with a software application.
On the design side of things, well… I guess that is up to the client to decide of they liek the work. Some of the mistakes you mention just seem like they are so obvious to avoid. I think a lot of that is due to those "I've got a pirated copy of Photoshop - I'm a designer!" types out there. As I always say to that: just because you own a pencil, doesn't mean you can draw.
Thanks,
Matt
I am an aspiring as well as learning my way to become a graphic designer and i find that these information given are very helpful in a way for my future. I like to thanks GoMediaDesign for your tips and advice. But i would like to enquire, what would be a good printer to purchase for our designs?
The section where you say you're a firm believer in not being the artist and the color separator is a gray area I've argued for years. On one end, you're free to fly willy-nilly in the wind, designing whatever your heart desires. On the other end, the printer is cursing you for something near impossible to produce.
For the past 6 years, I've worked directly with 5 print shops, creating artwork for their walk-in customers. More often than not, the customer hasn't a clue what they really want; just a vague idea. From my experience, I lose work by creating something too technically difficult. All printers lose money by wasting time on tedious designs. If I consistently produce that, my pocketbook suffers as those shops go elsewhere. Of couse
On the same token, when I take on a customer directly, I'll steer them away from those same issues from the start by explaining the difficulties inherent with their "Get rich selling "Designer" tees on a budget" scheme.
Again, a gray area, but one worth considering when creating that 6 color, simulated process design with two spot touch plates and a splash of glitter on the neck of a pull-string hoodie...
I am not saying that designers should just design whatever they feel like without regards to the limitations of screen printing. That's just silly. If a band has no budget and can barely afford hiring me to design something, I'm not about to do a full color design and just tell them to deal with it. I'm going to do something low color because it works better with their budget. Common sense.
However, when a client tells me "We can print full color, foils, all over prints, etc" I'm going to go all out. I do not know how to prepare the artwork for print because I honestly have never had to. You can call me ignorant, and that's ok. But when you're working with capable printers who HAVE the staff to get it done right, then its all good.
Obviously, I'd like to learn from a pro the ins and outs of color separation. But until then, I will design according to the specs of the client's budget and the printer's requirements.
Also don't forget that all these bands and apparel companies you design and illustrate for rely on the 15 year olds to buy their products. Lets face it, those of us without a full time job have much more time to find out about the more underground bands that get their chance in the spotlight. So if we can be the target market, why can't we be the designers?
Thank you and looking forward to read the rest.
I'm also 17 and I would say I felt the same at the start of reading the unprofessional behaviour section but I began to understand where Jeff is coming from (or at least I thought I did). Look at the general population of the internet and all the flaming that goes on in forums, by numbers I'd say it would be the younger denomination that are responsible for all that crap.
I should add that I don't count myself among them and have always hated the fact that I was being associated with them.
"However the common view that just because you are under or of a certain age (in this case 15 and having access to the internet) That you aren’t qualified as a designer"
Do you honsetly believe this to be true?
Fair enough there might be that one prolific genius child that can but in general you can't be experienced enough to be called a qualified designer at the age of 17, I should stress the word experience. Experience comes with time and nothing else, which means that you will not have come across the problems and solutions you will need to deal with by the time hit 20. I completely disagree with quoted statement and I know that it will take me a very long time until I feel like a "qualified designer".
To me this is not an attack but a , to coin a phrase, reality-check. We need to see that we are infact learning and not as good as these people, YET.
To sum my somewhat rant-ish post, we're young, mostlikely talented but in-experienced. Give yourself some time.
Decorating tees is no different than going to the grocery store, buying a pre-baked cake, taking it home and decorating it with canned frosting (that maybe you colored yourself) and calling yourself a master pastry chef.
As usual No Grey Area (B.S.)approach, thats like a mantra in my studio
Im a designer in my 40's, scary saying that out loud, but I have just gone through a few of the things you mentioned. I spent 6 years in another industry and have returned to my first love 2 years ago. I strongly believe that we learn of each other, as designers. I had to play catch up after 6 years away and I did this by looking at other peoples work and what they were producing and how... Im also happy to email them and tell them how much I liked it...
I have just put up my rates, sent my clients an email to explain and followed that up with a phone call. You have to make things personal. To my surprise they were all fine with it. Like the article they all said, "thats cool, we'll stick with you because of the work & service we get".
Im happy to take on the bread and butter stuff. It may be a bit boring but it can also allow you to spend more time on the creative stuff you like to design for some of those clients that like to experiment a bit..
Honesty is a big part of my business and I have a loyal client list that like my approach, no grey areas... I think that our industry is seen as a bit flakey sometimes... so many times I get enquiries where the first line is, Oh I ask this designer to do this job but..???... Dont take the bite... have a positive response and don't get dragged into bitchin... I never looks or sounds good.
Being a professional is a must, this is a competitive industry, young designers should know that it could also be the difference it getting that dream client. Clients want to know that you can take care of biz and communication is paramount. Like the designs we produce, the aura and confidence you exude gives YOUR EMPLOYERS a feeling of ease...
Could ramble on for ages about this stuff.
type & design, I agree, spend the extra time to make it work together..
love the article
Glenn
That is the most insane thing I've ever heard. We are tee designers and what we do IS part of the apparel industry.
I guess you need a dictionary definition of apparel, so here ya go!
ap·par·el
–noun
1. clothing, esp. outerwear; garments; attire; raiment.
2. anything that decorates or covers.
If you need more clarification, feel free to visit your local library to read up on apparel.
Do we make a pattern and stitch the shirts together ourselves? No.
Are we designers? Yes, in every sense of the word.
Is what we do part of the apparel industry? You betcha!
Before I started designing tees I worked as a print/web designer. I AM a designer. Now since you've made your statement, feel free to post up some of your work somewhere for us all to see. I'm assuming your tee designs are incredibly better than all of ours or else you wouldn't be making that statement.
Sorry to be a downer here, everyone. At any rate, Kathleen, feel free to post up some of your tee designs.
"Are you serious? These aren’t designers and this isn’t the “apparel industry”."
Curious who "These" refers to.
Seriously?
Decorating tees is no different than going to the grocery store, buying a pre-baked cake, taking it home and decorating it with canned frosting (that maybe you colored yourself) and calling yourself a master pastry chef.
tee's are our canvas. if you want to make paper, that's fine, but at the end of the day no one goes "wow, that paper is really put together well!" they say "WOW That design/illustration is totally ace!"
there's a difference between graphic design and clothing design, i think you found the wrong blog.
Decorating tees with frosting? mmmmm frosting...
A decade ago I did some work in apparel - I charge $50-75/design. Thing is it often too 6-8hrs/design. No way to make a living - right? Thing is, when you REALLY know what you are doing you CAN make a living at it. I recently finished another run in the garment biz. I produced better quality work in a tenth of the time. Producing 80-90 designs a week. (with 2-3 variation of each) at $100 each. Practice makes perfect.
My suggestion for budding designers - LEARN - LEARN - LEARN! Go to a print shop, see how it's done - EVERY step. Learn to use simple effects rather than overly complicated techniques. My 2 pennies.
Perhaps that may be one of your mistakes to come! :-)
Based on information found in the link you provided us with, you are a fashion designer with a published book. So, one might understand your anger towards those who create imagery for the apparel industry. It certainly isn't as tedious or delicate as the art of sewing, and those of you who design and execute a successful piece must rarely steep in the glory that these talented people enjoy regularly.
But as a designer, one would think you'd have more appreciation for their process. They, too, work under the constraints of a budget and deadline, suffer creative blocks, and feel pressure to follow or break the "rules."
Regardless of your definition, it's the blood, sweat and tears that make someone a designer. It's the precision, the planning, and the ability to step back and recognize what's working and what isn't.
I'm sure most of those who create tee designs have nothing but respective for those in the fashion design industry. I hope you can find it in yourself to do the same for them, because like it our not, they're in your family.
Anyway, thank you for the very good piece of reading. I really appreciate it.
I need help with a particular issue - and any supplied will be greatly appreciated by anyone reading this.
I’m a freelance designer, worked for the last 5 years in South Africa, and recently moved to London hoping to do the same. In SA i’m experienced in the industry and know what to charge, but I don’t know London’s industry very well yet.
Does anyone know the basic going rate for a freelance / contract based designer in London? What can I comfortably charge per project / per day / per hour without overcharging or underselling myself?
Thanks!!!
I think you just did the same with all pros who are writing articles in magazines on topics like "how to be designer" and are getting paid for that.
To me they do pay the bill but they are not always right which is why they come to you for guidance in the first place otherwise they would do it themselves. Sometimes you have to educate the client and prepare them for exactly how much things cost, If you work too cheap you might aswell dig yourself a grave, I can also appreciate that costs are looked at with a horrifying view from a clients position, depending on the work involved you have to educate them that it is an investment in their business, therefore it should not be seen as a direct cost.
A piece in the article talks about sparks of creativity coming in phases is totally true, when the creativity does come around then you do go with the flow and you can work hours and hours more once you get into the zone but there is no way to keep at it consistently. I feel it is the duty of the designer to educate their clients on how designing is not some 1 or 2 hour job that can be done at any time, this is not possible no matter how good you are.
Spacing rules, this I feel should be down to the designer putting down rules for themselves so that they look at spacing as a matter of habit, always giving plenty of whitespace where needed, margins etc.. If you have rules that you keep repeating to yourself as as part of your business ethos and as you design they just become a natural part of incorporating the spacing of sections, type or parts of the design rather than trying to force it in, separating sections is one of my favourite ways to keep spacing in check.
One other thing regarding designs for clothing is customers have a distorted view on how much these things cost right from the start and often expect you to do the whole work from design to handing them the clothing and all for a small price, when you factor in all of the things that are needed to get to that result you can never recoup the cost.
It is very hard to for an aspiring designer to get jobs if you always charge high rates.
And what about building a portfolio? Isn't this very essential for me?
I never, and I mean never give away free work to coroporate stuff, but when it comes to an indie band and I know their budget is very limited, is it okey then?
If author would answer me on email, it would be awesome!