Author: David Airey
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When small is good
Just because you’re smaller than the businesses you look up to, doesn’t mean you can’t still delight your clients.
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A short course in audio branding
Sound branding (also known as audio branding, sonic branding, acoustic branding, or sonic mnemonics) is the use of sound to reinforce brand identity.
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Chinese proverbs for the design profession
While they mightn’t relate directly to what we do as designers, with a little translation, Chinese proverbs hold some solid advice. Proverb: “Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.” Translation: Even when lacking in execution, design with a solid idea will be infinitely more memorable than a bland design that’s polished to…
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I wish I’d known that
What advice would you give a design graduate? Chris Arnold, founder of Creative Orchestra and former creative director at Saatchi & Saatchi, offers his pearls of wisdom. Image via Thinkstock It’s tough. Very tough. And there is a truth in the fact that only the toughest survive. The lazy ones fail. You need to be…
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Qualities to achieve in identity standards
Worthwhile qualities that designer Jerry Kuyper aims to achieve when creating identity standards.
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Recommended UK commercial printers
It takes time to find a reliable commercial printer, so here’s a head start — UK print companies vouched for by some of the UK’s top designers and studios. Helen Jones of The Partners recommends: Orchid Print, London — 020 8986 8969 Screaming Colour, London — 020 7549 3400 Katie Morgan of (the late, great)…
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Ten principles for good design
606 universal shelving system, 1960, manufactured by Vitsœ, designed by Dieter Rams Good design is innovative. Good design makes a product useful. Good design is aesthetic. Good design makes a product understandable. Good design is unobtrusive. Good design is honest. Good design is long-lasting. Good design is thorough down to the last detail. Good design…
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Noisy Decent Graphics
There are very few design blogs I’ve been reading since starting my own in 2006. One of them is Noisy Decent Graphics, written by London-based designer Ben Terrett of Really Interesting Group.
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You don’t always need to show the product you’re selling.
A brand name with a suggestion can sometimes suffice. Agency: TBWA Praha, Czech Republic Agency: Publicis, Paris, France Agency: Euro RSCG, Singapore Agency: Publicis, Paris, France Agency: Saatchi & Saatchi
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Self-employment advice for designers
Looking back after five years in self-employment, here’s the advice I’d give my younger self. Wood type photo credit 1. Look at the big picture Creating a modern business plan will help you think through the hard issues. 2. Tell your friends and family about your self-employment You never know what contacts they might have,…