Pretend your designer is a chef — So you’ve hired a designer to create a new logo for your business or non-profit. Great! If they’re a professional, they will at some point be asking for your feedback on their logo concepts. But what is a “logo concept” and how exactly do you evaluate them? In my experience…

What to expect from a logo designer — When you hire a professional designer, it’s nice to know what to expect from the relationship. But for many people, graphic design — and logo design in particular — is a bit of a black box. Everyone sees the finished product when it’s polished and neatly packaged, but you rarely…

Six examples of getting the gig just by asking for it — Before I was self-employed, I got all of my best jobs just by asking for them. Looking back, it feels like I had a secret weapon! Because I’ve learned in the years since that not everyone knows about this simple tactic. Consistently asking for what you want is one of…

Five minutes in the evening can save you hours in the morning — One of the tools in my productivity toolbox is the simple practice of writing down my priorities for the following day each night before I “clock out.” I usually aim to spend five minutes identifying five priorities. My brain, I’ve learned, is wired with an inherent need to always be…

In an entertainment landscape dominated by independent content creators, micro-subscriptions are the future — Depending on who you ask, cable television is either dead or dying. Personally, I’ve never lived in a house with a cable subscription. I don’t even own a TV — it’s just not where I get my entertainment. Why is cable falling behind? Because the internet has democratized and fragmented…

Five user experience techniques to exploit — People say “content is king,” but who has the time to actually do good work? If you’re anything like me, you’re sick of making stuff for your website that people will care about. Luckily, there are tons of ways to design a user experience that obscures and distracts from your…

Rising above the ordinary during the extraordinary — As a creative services professional, I’ve been thinking a lot about the best way to spend the extra time I have right now while business slows down due to the coronavirus pandemic. After talking with friends, reading what others are saying, and consulting my own to do lists, here’s what…

There’s never been a better time to hunker down and make something. — With more cancellations and confirmed cases by the day, the coronavirus outbreak is grinding most things to a halt. No matter who you are, employer or employee, things are probably looking a little grim. But it’s clear at this point that there’s little we can do to stop the virus…

The Emotions That Can Save Us From Plastic Pollution — I stepped out of the plane’s cargo hold and was immediately flooded with blinding light and surrounded by disembodied voices. Exhausted, I didn’t know where I was supposed to go or what I was supposed to do. Eventually, I was whisked away into the warm midnight air on a stretch…