MycroBurst.com is raising the bar again! We’ve achieved a new milestone in designer interaction, multilingual webinars!

Webinars are important for information gathering and bringing different views and opinions under one platform. Given our ever-expanding graphic designer community, which recently exceeded 35,000 registered designers, we felt it was necessary for us to utilize webinars in order to assist our designers. Since our talented community spans over 100 countries, we felt the need for multi-language sessions. This will help to convey our message more efficiently and to understand our designers’ points of view.

The First Two Multilingual Webinars

MycroBurst’s first two webinars were for the Indian and Indonesian community. Both were well received with over 40 interested attendees. For those of you who missed the webinar, here are the details:

Indonesian Webinar

Held on 24^th April 2012 at 8pm (WIB)

Panellist: Yosia and DiwiMoon

Translated Bahasa Presentation on Winning Design Contest Tips

India Webinar

Held on 8^th May 2012 at 4pm (IST)

Panellist: Rohan Vg

Translated Hindi Presentation on Winning Design Contest Tips

Here’s a brief agenda of what the webinars covered:

• Welcome Speech
• Presentation on Winning Tips for designers, including:
• Why Design for MycroBurst?
• Graphic Design Tips and Tricks
• Upcoming Big Projects at MB
• How to Build Your Portfolio
• How to Maximize Winning Chances
• Future Prospects at MycroBurst
• Q&A Session with the designers
• Closing

The outcome was phenomenal.  For us, it was a huge pleasure and a learning experience to get involved with the designer Q&A session. It gave us a great idea about what our designers are thinking, their concerns, and how they approach each project.

Coming Soon – More Webinars!

With two successful webinars behind us, there is no stopping now! MycroBurst will periodically host webinars different languages. Keep checking our blog or our facebook page for upcoming events.

From everyone at MycroBurst, we would like to thank all our designers for making the recent webinars a huge success.  We hope to see you at a webinar in the near future!

Staying competitive in today’s market is a mandatory requirement for all working professionals, graphic design is no different. Designers have to be on top of their game if they are going to survive in this cut throat job market. A very basic and fundamental way of staying competitive is by being on top of the latest developments in your field of expertise. In other words, improve your designer knowledge.

We are highlighting 5 very simple and cost effective methods that graphic designers can use to improve themselves as expert craftsmen. So without further ado, here they are:

1.    Follow the Gurus

Graphic design is a field where self proclaimed gurus don’t last long, which is good news for the average logo designer. There are a handful of big names in the graphic design industry who are worldly renowned for their craftsmanship, vast knowledge and practical experience. People like David Sherwin, Jacob Cass and David Airey are the heavy weights of the graphic design industry; they actively post content online and share their experiences. Follow them on social media websites and learn from their experiences. It will be worthwhile.

2.    Attend Webinars

Webinars are a great source of information and can expand a designer’s knowledge. Seminars are also a great option; however they usually cost money and only take place in specific locations worldwide. Webinars are mostly free and those that do cost money tend to be very affordable. The additional benefit of attending a webinar is that you attend from the comfort of your home.

3.    Graphic Design eBooks

The internet has completely changed how we do things today, particularly when it comes to learning. Buying expensive books and hauling them back and forth seem to be a thing of the past. In comparison, graphic design eBooks are extremely cheap (if not free) and easily accessible from the internet. Plus, you can carry them around in your iPhone or via USB flash drive. There are many websites that you can download free eBooks from, which are loaded with good information.

4.    Follow Graphic Design Blogs

You will find no shortage of graphic design blogs online but not all of them provide worthwhile content. There are only a handful of good ones that have established themselves over the years as an authority platform on the subject of logo and graphic design. Subscribe to their email newsletter or follow them on Twitter and other social media sites.

5.    Affordable Design Tutorials

This is one of the best methods to not only learn new things, but also to check and recheck your existing knowledge. YouTube is one of the best places to find affordable graphic design tutorials, along with various blogs and forums that provide such info. There are many Edu channels on YouTube for graphic designers and videos available online which you can easily benefit from as well.

We hope that you will find the above given information helpful. If you are a graphic designer, you should already be practicing these methods. These approaches are meant to set you apart from the competition and give you an edge over other designers who are also competing for the same projects as you are.

Every profession comes with its own code of ethics, rules and regulations that must be adhered to at all times. Graphic design is no different. In fact this is one of those rare fields where ethics and moral values are just as important as artistic skill and creativity. There is no room for logo theft or plagiarism whatsoever; such practices are fiercely looked down upon.

The Curious Case of Derivative Design Concepts

Lack of skill and imagination in any field will lead to shortcut approaches. The same is true for the graphic design arena and derivative logos are one example of a shortcut. These designs are the end results of designers using clip art, images and other people’s work as their own. Designers who do this usually deny doing so and say they were only using these images for “inspiration.” However, fact of the matter is that derivative logo designs are usually caught, leading to trademark infringement and a bad reputation for the logo designer.

A good logo designer should have enough depth in his creativity and thought process to never resort to such tactics.

Why Designers Should Avoid Derivative Design Concepts

The very fact that this approach carries a high risk of trademark infringement should be enough to keep all logo designers at bay. One significant indication of derivative concepts is that when people see your work they are instantly reminded of some other work. Recognition is a vital factor behind a designer’s thought process. The last thing s/he wants is to be remembered for creating something that has great visual aesthetics but was also someone else’s work.

Good for Instant Recognition, But Bad for Long Term

Remember the logo from Jonathan Mak which he revealed just after the death of Steve Jobs as a tribute to the Apple Co-founder? He became a celebrity overnight. However, a few weeks later it was revealed that another designer, Chris Thornley, had come up with a same concept months earlier. He even posted the image on his blog. This created a huge controversy and lot of critsism from thousands of people around the world; many of whom blamed Mak for ‘ripping off’ an original design.

Don’t let this happen to you!

Good Designers Don’t Steal – So, what should Designers do?

• Push your creativity to the limit and come up with your own, original stuff.
• Feel free to take inspiration from other work, but ask yourself what you can do to keep it completely unique.
• Do extensive research about the logo you are about to design, including studying the client’s industry, their competitors and other important aspects.
• Take your time. It can take days for something cool to spark. Don’t rush into projects and allow yourself sufficient time to gather information by researching thoroughly.

Being unique and creative are two of the best compliments that every logo designer wants to hear and strives hard to earn. When it comes to graphic design, it is always best to take the longer approach because in this field slow and steady win the race.

As a general rule of thumb, a good graphic designer should ask as many logical questions as possible about a particular online design project. The more they know beforehand, the better off they will be in producing a concept that the client will appreciate.

The very first step is to seek answers by gathering information. An elegantly laid out design brief will take care of most of these questions. However, designers should always keep their creative trait active and inquire about subjects that may or may not be covered by the client in the project brief.

In this post, we will highlight the questions that designers should ask before entering a design project. The answers to these questions will determine the direction of your design, while broadening your knowledge arsenal.

1. Who Is the Target Audience?

Aside from design specs, having a thorough understanding of the target audience can help a designer greatly. It could give them an idea of what color schemes to utilize in their drafts (unless already specified by the client). A younger audience will respond to bright colors whereas, an older, more mature audience might be keen on sober color schemes. The target audience can greatly impact the style, content and theme of the online design contest. Therefore, it is extremely important to identify who the audience is.

2. What is the Message?

Graphic design is an art and every piece of art carries a specific message. It is absolutely imperative to know beforehand what that message should be. The message can be very simple and straight forward, from celebrating a milestone to creating a powerful brand image. The way the message is delivered is also important. Clients are likely to tell you what they want to communicate through their design. In case they haven’t, do contact them and ask about the message and feel the design should portray.

3. Are there any other Design Specifications?

Every design project will have a design brief, but sometimes it will not have everything you need and that’s normal. A good designer will take the initiative to ask questions based upon the information provided in the contest brief. For example: If it is a logo design project, a few important areas to inquire about would be:

• Background color to use.
• Color schemes for the logo.
• Tagline to go with the logo.
• Specific symbol or image to use.
• Symbols or images to avoid.
• Simple design or abstract?
• Are there any other special considerations?

4. What is the Client’s Competition?

If the client doesn’t mention their competition, there is no harm in asking about it. Looking at the competitive companies’ designs will give you an edge and help you understand the client’s business better. This way you will know what your client is up against and will be able to create a design that will stand apart from any competition.

5. Are there any Specific Instructions?

It is always helpful to get a sense of creative direction from the client themselves. Ask them about the features that they would like to see or how they want their design to be perceived. Some clients are keen on incorporating certain elements or attributes that symbolize their company, brand or product. Therefore, this particular information is extremely valuable.

If you are about to undertake a design project or are participating in an online design contest, the questions mentioned should get the ball rolling. Bottom line, you should be aware of these things when starting a project. If the design brief does not provide you this information, then ask your client. The more you know, the more likely you are to produce something dazzling that the anticipating client will surely appreciate.

Everyone loves free stuff. After all it’s free right? Well, sometimes these freebies can end up being extremely costly. Take graphic design for example. Logo designers can easily find dozens upon dozens of graphic design brushes and symbols on the internet absolutely free. They’re great. They’re fun. They make the creative process easy and save designers time. With so many advantages, it may seem like a no-brainer to use free graphic design symbols when designing professionally, right?

Wrong. In fact free graphic design symbols and brushes come with potentially career ending risks that many designers ignore, overlook or underestimate. And that is the risk of trademark infringement.

Don’t Design a Nightmare Scenario for Yourself

Trademark infringement. These are the two words that keep every graphic designer up at night. It is a scenario no designer wishes to be confronted with because even such a simple allegation can bring a designers career down tumbling.

Graphic Design Brushes – Limit Your Use

Free design brushes are NOT trademarked; meaning that anyone can use them in their designs. This is why graphic design brushes should be avoided. However, if needed, these should be used scarcely and only as a supporting element. Don’t heavily depend on them. Instead, only use them for giving slight touches or adding effects in a logo. Your overall design should be unique in every sense. Graphic design brushes can be used to provide the finishing touches (if you will) to further compliment your design.

Graphic Design Symbols – Avoid at All Cost

Brushes are one thing. Graphic design symbols are another. These should never be used. Period. Graphic design symbols come free with any licensed graphic software thereby creating a false impression among some designers that the symbols are licensed as well. This is not the case. Every graphic design software comes with the same free symbols by default. Using them is an open invitation to copyright infringement.

So What Should Logo Designers Do?

What you should be doing in the first place is to come up with your own designs, symbols and your own brushes. This will give your design drafts the one element every designer strives to achieve – uniqueness. Avoid free brushes and symbols all together. Using them can lead to a bad habit of taking short cuts and utilizing and manipulating existing design patterns to your advantage.

Graphic designers must always remember that there is no place for free symbols and brushes in professional graphic design. Designers are encouraged to browse samples, experiment with certain brushes and symbols and then come up with their own unique ones to compliment their work. Being unique is worth its weight in goal and should be second to none.

There is a saying that if you want to be good at math, you’ve got to know your formulas. In that same context, if you want to succeed in graphic designing, you have got to know your colors. Colors are the buildings blocks of any artistic design and graphic designers must know how they work, what impact certain color schemes can have and which color combos should they use for various businesses and industries.

Being a good designer means you must be aware of color standards. These are color scales that are used for various printing and digital viewing purposes. They are known as the RGB, CMYK and Pantone color modes.

RGB – RED, GREEN, BLUE

RGB is the native color display mode of CRT monitors, LCD screens and plasma displays. Cameras and scanners also use the RGB mode. Website designs are designed in RGB. This color standard is best for designing website designs, digital images, blog templates and online brochures.

CMYK – Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key

CMYK is a four color mode that is used especially for printout purposes. Whether it is a billboard poster, a greeting card or magazine print, all make use of CMYK colors. Black cannot be produced in RGB, and for printing, it is one of the most essential colors. The K in CMYK stands for KEY (black). This color standard is best for business cards, stationary designs, t-shirts and other marketing collateral.

PMS – Pantone Colors

Pantone colors are vibrant and solid, which makes them perfect for logo designing. In fact company policies of Logo Design Guru strongly stress that logo designers submit drafts only in Pantone color standard. This is mainly because Pantone offers true solid color which gives the flexibility to convert them into RGB or CMYK, as needed. This saves precious time and money. The best part is that colors will appear the same in print form as they do on screen.

We hope that now you have a much better understanding of colors standards. Knowing which color standard to use is one of the most fundamental steps that many graphic designers get wrong. The information mentioned above will prevent that from happening and ensure that you start every project on a positive step and in the right direction.

If you don’t know about colors, you’re going to have trouble becoming a professional designer. It is crucial for designers to understand the meaning of color and its impact on design. Lack of an understanding can result in undeveloped and redundant color combinations which can label you as an amateur designer. As a graphic designer you must study, research and find ways to use color to bring your designs to life.

Various Color Representations in Logo Design

Here’s a brief look into the emotions represented by the ten most common colors and their use in logo design for specific industries.

Black

Represents: Authority, Power, Mystery, Boldness, Elegance and Sophistication

Black is used to commonly target youth and a high-end audience. It creates a mystery while representing power, authority and elegance in the logo.

Red

Represents: Passion, Love, Anger, Hunger, Health, Excitement and Life

Red has the power of attraction and is one of the most popular colors. Used mostly in food, health, beauty and entertainment logos, it grabs the attention of the consumers. Several red foods, such as red peppers or red wine, are known to help increase metabolism.  This is one simple reason that some restaurants prefer to use red for interior décor.

Yellow

Represents: Happiness, Warmth, Innovation and Caution

Yellow is a warm color that invokes the feeling of happiness, warmth and relaxation. Generally it doesn’t play a central role in logos and is sparingly used to highlight important features of a logo. Used alone in bright shades, the color can be overpowering which is why it is a difficult color to use. Yellow is most commonly used by the automotive and food industries.

Blue

Represents: Professionalism, Trust, Authority, Power and Loyalty

Blue is used in corporate logos as it creates a sense of security while showing loyalty and professionalism. This color is used by various businesses related to software, finance, pharmaceutical industry, government and banks.

Green

Represents: Harmony, Natural, Healthy, Renewal and Plentiful

Green is mainly used to represent eco-friendly companies or businesses revolving around agriculture, recycling, landscaping, gardening and solar power. It is the color of nature and gives a calming effect while representing growth.

Orange

Represents: Vibrant, Playful, Happy, Artistic and Energetic

Orange is another beloved color of the food, art and the sports industries. While in one sector it evokes an appetite, in others it suggests playfulness, creativity and energy. Being bright makes orange the favorite color for industries dealing with kids’ products and foods. Some creative industries also love using orange to help them stand out and show off.

Purple

Represents: Royalty, Luxury, Celebration, Education and Elegance

Being a color of royalty, purple is mostly used to represent religious institutes and educational organizations.  It is seldom used for commercial services, unless it can clearly represent the main essence of the company it stands for. Chocolate is one food which is often represented by purple logos. There’s no need to shy away from purple and limit it to represent feminism, luxury and beauty only.

White

Represents: Pure, Peaceful, Spiritual, Clean and Goodwill

White is a neutral color that implies purity. It is also the essential color in negative spacing logos. The FedEx and the Adobe logo make the best use of white. FedEx has a white arrow while the ‘A’ in Adobe is designed in white over a red background.

Pink

Represents: Feminism, Innocence, Youth and Beauty

Pink is often taken to be a feminine color, which is why it is popularly used in logos related to beauty, fashion and others. It is also used for companies dealing with children’s clothes and accessories. Because it is playful and innocent, it is not suitable for the corporate or industrial unit.

Brown

Represents: Reliable, Solid, Masculine and Earthly Aura

Brown is a neutral color that is reliable, solid and dependable. This color is most commonly used for agriculture, construction and legal industries. Some food related products like coffee and chocolate are also best represented by brown.

Colors play an important role in giving your logo life. If you want to create a winning logo design, play with colors, experiment with various shades and see which of them best represent the essence of your client’s company. Be sure not to forget the target audience and how they will relate to the colors in the logo design.