Author: David Airey
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The WordPress plugins I use
I limit the number of plugins I use so load times aren’t bloated, but there are a few I’ve found useful enough to keep.
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How to convince your clients they need a brand, not just a logo
Written by London-based brand identity designer Andrew Sabatier. Explain that you should be employed to find a brand idea that will form the basis of all the company’s branding (and perhaps even future business decisions) of which a logo should only be one expression, an idea that is likely to form the basis of a…
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Best use of a shop window postcard space
The finalists for the Chip Shop Awards have been selected. Here are a few entries from the past couple of years in the “best use of a shop window postcard space” category.
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Forth Rail Bridge
14 kilometres west of Edinburgh, the Forth Rail Bridge is such an imposing construction that it’s easy to capture a good shot.
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Olympic pictograms through the ages
Designer and AIGA medalist Steven Heller commentates on Olympic pictograms through the ages in this short video from the New York Times.
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The myth of constructive criticism?
You’ll have heard of the need for criticism to be constructive. Something like, “That’s no good because [insert reason] but here’s how to make it better.” The “feedback sandwich” is similar — “This part’s great, here needs some work, although I also like that.” But just how necessary is criticism? What if the sole aim…
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How I became a self-employed designer
I’m often asked how I made the switch to self-employment. Here’s a snapshot of that time in my life in 2004/05. In 2002 I started working for Myeloma UK, an Edinburgh-based cancer charity. I was responsible for print design, buying, and web management. For quite a while I’d been thinking of travelling the world to…
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How pro bono design improves your portfolio
You’re a design student with a portfolio full of fictitious projects. You want to work with clients to build your experience, but you need to develop your portfolio to get those jobs. That’s when pro bono design can be a massive help. Pro bono publico (usually shortened to pro bono) is a Latin phrase that…
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Philip Bloom’s five days in Dubai
I’ve read a lot about Dubai that paints a sad picture, but Philip Bloom makes it easy to look beyond the dark side and witness the undoubted beauty of the man-made surroundings.