1203 · Visuals

Lately I have been completing a lot of projects for clients which consequently has caused me to want to update my portfolio. For a number of my pieces in my portfolio I have been using mock-ups. Mock-ups are a way to take your 2-D designs and present them in a three-dimensional way. The result leaves you with something that is photorealistic and tangible. Mock-ups are especially effective when you want to present work to a client and show them how the true end result will appear. This is especially beneficial to those who design for product packaging.

In my search for free mock-ups I stumbled upon PSD Covers- a website devoted to Photoshop actions that will easily transform your designs, with just a bit of preparation, into a truely finished product. They have mock-ups for bottles, cans, tablet and phone devices, a household cleaner bottle and even a laundry detergent bottle. Once installed, Photoshop Actions are simple and easy to use- all you have to do is press play. It is as simple as that.

Visit psdcovers.com and transform your designs for the better!

In the spirit of Black History Month, I wanted to pull a logo design piece that I completed last February for the Black History Month events at my alma mater Fairleigh Dickinson University. I found that looking at the logo design process is helpful to understanding how to take an idea from concept to concrete and understanding different techniques professionals use. I typically do not document my design process, but I wanted to return to the project and analyze what I had done.

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There are hundreds if not thousands of social media icon sets online that a designer or anyone looking to publicize their social media accounts can use. Today, I wanted to recommend this bundle by Picons that I have been using for my projects. The set includes the most recent icons for Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest and beyond. The icon bundle comes in a variety of raster (.png, .psd) and vector (.ai, .eps) file formats which makes it customizable to any color or size for web and print. Did I mention that it is FREE to download?!

In recent years kinetic typography -or moving type- videos have taken off in popularity. It seems that almost every major artist is releasing a lyric video in anticipation of their more official video debuts. Katy Perry, Rihanna, and Ke$ha are just a few artists who have hopped on the lyric-video bandwagon. Designers have also set type to films' most memorable monologues from movies like Fight Club, Pulp Fiction, Full Metal Jacket and the Batman Trilogy.

Kinetic typography is a form of animation that centers mostly on moving type. When done properly, these animations can be incredibly complex. Designers have to be meticulous, getting every word to pop up in sync with the narration. Command of the overall design layout is also important to know how you want text to flow, what direction you want the type to move in and what orientation the type will present itself in. What really makes kinetic typography work, is how the designers capture the feel of their subject by adding those subtle symbols. It engages the audience in a way that connects words to emotions. Below I have put some of my favorite kinetic typography videos from the past few years.

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In between blogging about design, I also work on designs for clients. Most of my clients are individuals or small business owners looking for logos and other graphic content. In our symbol-centric society, having a graphic designer can be they key to your business' success. A designer will help to develop your business' identity and consistently convey your image across every aspect of your business from web content to marketing materials. Here are some reasons why every small business needs a graphic designer.

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At some point or another in our lives we have probably heard the phrase: "Less is more." Recently, I stumbled upon Subtle Patterns, a community-based resource for seamless tilable backgrounds for designers. Every pattern is **drumroll** subtle which is perfect for minimal design. Each pattern comes in either a dark or light tone and is fully customizable for color in Photoshop. But I know what you are thinking: if less is more why go subtle over solid? Good question.

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Today, Americans across the nation are celebrating Martin Luther King Day by paying tribute to Dr. King's legacy as a champion of civil rights. This morning, Google continued its practice of creating an illustration, known as a "Google Doogle," to celebrate holidays, anniversaries, and the lives of famous artists, pioneers, and scientists. Today's doodle is Google's 9th doodle commemorating MLK Day. The first MLK-themed doodle appeared on Google's homepage in 2003, took a brief absence for two years, and re-emerged in 2006.

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Having studied politics and now working in politics professionally, I am always interested in how the two seemingly unrelated fields intersect. As our President is inaugurated for a second term, I decided to take a look back at the Obama campaign logo. The blue "o" featuring three red stripes is often regarded as one of the most successful political logos of this design era. In a 2008 interview by VSA Partners, Inc., Sol Sender, who spearheaded the logo development for the 2008 campaign, discusses the design process.

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Social networking has given us a multitude of ways to network and do business. But even with sites like LinkedIn, the business card remains one the most important tools for exchanging contact information- just ask the Japanese! Gone are the days of dull black and white designs. Today, professionals are making more of their first impressions by utilizing innovative designs and printing styles. Below, I have organized a short list of impressive custom styles that are easy to order for print. Not to mention, they would make Patrick Bateman sweat.

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This year the European Central Bank is introducing a redesign of euro banknotes known as Europa. If you look at currency around the world, our greenbacks seem to fall flat when it comes to design. At Richard Smith's Dollar ReDe$ign Project dozens of designers have submitted entries of their version of our currency. I flipped through the site and organized some of my favorite facelifts below.

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