I had to upload these designs I did for Fairuz Modelling Studio in December for a “Photogenic Model 2007″ at Atlantis Bistro, Waterfront, KK. Fairuz Modelling Studio approached me to design 5 streamers for their finalists and 1 banner for advertising purpose of the event.

The designs concepts were to represent the beauty and the colourful ethnicity of Photogenic Model 2007. I proposed and designed them with the following designs finalised. A fine shade of colours isn’t it?

(Click on designs for a better view!)

Mayuri House of Art and Learning is a new art school that is recently opened at Iramanis Centre, Jalan Kelombong, Kota Kinabalu. Mayuri House approached me to re-design the company logo, a new design for business cards, flyers for distribution and also a banner because they would be having a soft opening on the 2nd of March, 2008. First and foremost, the logo’s primary purpose was to act as an identifier for the art school.

The name “Mayuri” is a Hindi expression meaning “Peacock”. Some of the services they provide are lessons for oil pastel, pastel, water colour, oil painting, acrylic painting creative art projetcs; craft work,etc.. which offers children and also adults to enroll their quality art lessons.

Here are the samples of the designs - (click for a bigger view)

Business Card Design

Four main colours were used in the logo to represent a colourful vibrant image as a creative art school and colours green/ yellow/ blue/ red /black combination was the client’s preferred choice. The font used in the design is Garamond Premier Pro.

Flyer Design

Banner Design

Time was the essence for this project as we had 2 weeks to complete everything but the conclusion is Mayuri House was gladly satisfied with the designs and also the number of people that came for the soft opening after we did flyer distributions around targetted areas. I hope to upload more pictures of the opening event soon.

What do you think of the designs?

Deffjoint is a company whom supplies DJs around top clubs in Kota Kinabalu such as Bluenote, Cocoon and Shenanigans. I had the honour to design their logo, business card and also t-shirts to promote thier company.

I wanted to represent the logo with a DJ console look and a fresh look on the branding of the company image.

Here are a few ideas I had before finalising on the designs.(click on pic for a larger image)

Deffjoint logo

The finalised logo by the client is the top huge red mark which is more simplistic yet the image will achieve recognition
that is directly to the company services.

Personally, I prefer the top right logo symbol for my personal taste. Which logo is on your mind?

Deffjoint T shirts

After the logo is done, I had to design 3 sets of tshirts for the company which is the black and white ones and the red t-shirts are complimentary for the deejays which are coming down for our February event in Bluenote (click here for more info on..) All of the logo printed on the t-shirts are embossed.

Which would be your personal favourite? Tell me what you think.

As a graphic designer, I have passion and love with what I do. I was inspired by many designers I read and kept up to-date on websites, articles, blogs & design forums. We, as designers create solutions; how a design is perceived and influenced by consumer choices. Graphic design is not only an art; but it is actually a visual communication for commercial success. Up to this day, many of us are ignorant of an issue that is harassing the design industry; it is being ravaged of its value.

Most of us have studied for it and have worked to understand the processes and the psychology of designs. Design itself reflects an image, the value of products & services. Think about the products you buy or the stores that you shop at. Have you ever hesitated on a purchase because of the way it looked?

I have observed many designers underestimating industry prices and giving clients rights as they want just to ensure they secure the project. Even on freelancer forums & sites where designers “bid” the best price for projects/ jobs like $50 for logo design or $100 website. Why does this happen? Desperation! I cannot imagine how you can get an original logo designed which truly reflects your corporate image with such a flimsy logo design fee. I think this gives a clouded view to the design buyers who shape their budgets around a faux value.

I sincerely believe that there are a few factors why we are experiencing this disastrous event. In the first instant, now is the dawn of the computer age where design softwares used by unprofessional people think that as long as they can use Photoshop to manipulate pictures or layout a design with no effort, creating a so-called good design, instantaneously makes them think they are a designer. Wrong! The programs we use are tools just as a builder with their hammer and nails to build a great structure. You wouldn’t want your 12-year old to build your house just because he knows how to use a hammer and nails. It is not about knowing- but understanding. In design itself, we have design rationales, colour theory, typography, elements and most importantly - concept.

Why does design now viewed as a commodity rather than a service? It is not! My professional view is that there is a lack of education and exposure especially fresh graduates from design schools, not knowing that what they charged is a meager sum just to secure projects. Ridiculous! I, myself as a designer was not aware of this until I looked further into this matter and understood that many do not understand the value of designs. A lot of sites offer cheap solutions especially to those that are underselling the industry. How are our clients supposed to know the true value of our services if all they see are these freelance type sites and low-balling designers?

I would greatly appreciate if we all could make a stand and create awareness that designs have got specific values. I would not sit and let the industry crumble to dust with this mortification. I am proud to be a qualified graphic designer.

I would gladly hope to hear a few feedbacks on this matter.

Thank you.

Technorati Tags: design, marketing, business, personal

1. The client doesn’t understand the publicity process. PR folks need to better educate people about how publicity works. The first thing many clients ask is, “Can you get me on Oprah or the front page of the Wall Street Journal?” The answer might be “yes,” but the process to get to the “yes” may take months or years, and may first include a series of smaller placements.

2. The scope of work is not detailed and agreed upon by both parties. Here’s a typical example: a client signs an agreement to spend $3,000 per month. Client expects to get three publicity placements per month. PR person expects to work 20 hours, regardless of the outcome. The inevitable disconnect leads to customer frustration and the feeling of being “burned.”
3. The client has not been properly trained on how to communicate with the media. Proper training for interviews is crucial; otherwise, key messages can be misconstrued, and even negative stories can result. Clients seldom blame themselves when this happens.
4. The client and the PR person or firm are not a good match. Example: Client hears about a local PR person, meets and likes the PR person, and figures it’s a good match. Or the client chooses the lowest price PR option. And the PR person, instead of referring the client to another practitioner who is a better fit, decides to take on the client—and the money.
5. The client has not gotten results quickly enough and ends the relationship too soon. Client should plan on conducting a campaign for a minimum of six months. And even that is aggressive. A year should really be the bare minimum to commit to PR The media works on its own timetable, which is usually much longer than the client’s.
6. PR people don’t explain the kind of publicity placements a client will most likely receive. Every client wants a big profile of the company on the cover of a major magazine or newspaper, but most stories are about a “trend,” several companies, or some recent news with quotes from experts. Profiles are few and far between. Yet, instead of explaining this, PR people often tell potential clients what they want to hear, in order to get the business.
7. Clients don’t realize that what happens after you get the publicity coverage is sometimes more important than the actual placement. My smartest client didn’t care if he got a quote or a profile—he just wanted to be included in major media. When it was time to get an agent and publisher for his book, he handed them a list of all his media placements, and this clinched the deal. The agent and publisher figured that if all of the major media was willing to include him as a source, then he must have something important to say.
8. Clients refuse to be flexible on their story angles. One of my clients once said to me, “We only want profiles.” When the media wasn’t interested, they refused to consider other story angles that the media was interested in. Now I make sure clients are willing to have us pitch three to four angles.
9. Clients get upset when the media coverage is not 100% accurate or not the kind of coverage that they wanted. One of my former clients said, “That TV segment on me was only a minute long.” When I explained that length of time was impressive in TV Land, she refused to understand.
10. Clients won’t change their schedules for the media. Clients need to drop everything if the media calls. This may be inconvenient, but the media waits for no one. If you want to be a “media darling,” then you need to make yourself available at any time. Those who do will reap the best benefits and placements.

read more on link

Technorati Tags: marketing, PR, business

Have you ever noticed how a phone conversation can change simply by your posture or environment? I caught myself walking around the office while I was on the phone yesterday and thought about why and more striking, when I do this.

Three examples:

• When I’m on business development calls, brainstorming or pitching ideas, I’m standing or walking around. It opens my mind for creativity, helps me listen and react on the fly.

• When presenting, speaking, or hosting a demonstration over the phone I find myself sitting forward with my elbows on my knees. It makes me focus and stay on task.

• When I’m taking personal calls my feet are on the desk, I’m leaned back in my chair and often watching the sky that I can see outside my window.

How do you think this type of positioning changes my tone? Is my tone over the phone more creative and welcoming of ideas when I stand, more commanding and serious when I sit and lean forward or more relaxed and comfortable when I lean back? You know this makes an impact on the other end of the line and can lead the conversation in one way or another.

What are some of your “on the phone” characteristics? Say a big client just rings in and catches you off guard, what does your body do to prepare you for what they might say?

Technorati Tags: marketing, business

What did they have in mind?

As boasted by Lord Sebastian Coe unveils the logo for the 2012 Olympics in London claiming:

“It reaches out to young people in new and creative ways and uses the language that they understand and all the technology that is familiar to us.”

The brand logo, designed by Wolff Ollins, has been targeted at the young people the organisers hope to get involved.

“We have produced a brand which is appropriate for London, but it has an international character as well. This is different absolutely.”

For the first time, the logo will be used for the Olympics and Paralympics. I read that the brand itself is worth £400,000! London want to use the graffiti-style design, which took a year to complete, to engage with children already connected to the new media world

Honestly for me, its very unprofessional and would be one of the worst logo i have ever seen.

What are your thoughts on it? A good or bad design?

Technorati Tags: design, logo, logotypes, marketing