aBLANK

2011-12-08T13:13:00.001-07:00

I was watching tv and flipped to the Judge Alex Show with a case already in progress. The case seem to be was between some kind of print company and a designer. The designer owed the company money but had a separate deal to create some logos for a group school sports teams. The designer point was that he didn't owe them money because he hadn't been paid for the 30 logos at $140 each. The company said they would never pay that much for logos especially when they could get the logos for FREE by searching for the artwork online. And that the logo banner only sell for $75 each. They then admitted to using around 8 of the logos.

The judge sided with the company since the designer admitted to owing them money but didn't have a written contract about the logos. This really upset me because the judge totally ignored copyright law. If the designer didn't have written contract on the price of each logo, the company also didn't have written waver of the designers copyrights. They admitted to using several of the logos and to have the others that they could use at any time.

I say to the designer get proof of the logos they used sue their buts for copyright infringement. Taking a percentage of their profits from said sales. Am I wrong to be angry? We designers have to look out for each other.

I believe this was, Season 7 Episode 48

Volusion Changes

2011-08-24T11:47:00.001-07:00

If you haven't already noticed, Volusion is making some changes. Exciting I know. One of these changes was to the product page. A page that is long over due for some upgrading if you ask me. The recent history section has had some changes, some good some not so good. One change is including product thumbnails, this was a great upgrade. But the another change was the placement of history off/on buttons. The new position next to the heading graphic can potentially cause some alignment issues for existing stores. If your heading graphic is too long then it will push content out of the frame. Causing your backhround graphic to repeat. When this issue was brought to "V's" attention. They decided that they were not going switch the buttons position back to the bottom. So check your product pages for anymore changes and for wonky alignment. There might be a new heading graphic in your future.

Blah Banners

2011-08-22T17:40:00.001-07:00

Is your storefronts homepage looking a little hohum? And your wanting to livin it up with some new banners? Consider using icons to add some interest. Icons can come in large formats of 254x254 pixels, and be quality mini illustrstions. Perfect for the adverage size banner. The best part is many of these icons are FREE! So check out an icon factory the next time you have sale banner to be made.

Keep It Simple Stupid...KISS!

2011-08-21T21:32:00.001-07:00

As I sit here working on remodeling a site I did awhile ago, I am reminded of K.I.S.S. Sometimes simple and clean is the best way to go. Leave all the tricks and hype behind and create a clean design. One that speaks for itself and to the viewers. Well back to the drawing board and remember to KISS the designer.

2011-08-18T14:56:00.011-07:00

Volusion & Mobil Combatiblity. Most of us are rocking cell phones with internet access. Which for you store owners mean more chances for people to shop. Well if you are worried what your new custom designed store front will look like on those little cell phone screens then worry no more. From my experience if your designer has done good job then your site will look great. It just requires a little more left to right scrolling. If thats an issue, you can also have your designer create a custom mobil version of your store front. Thanks to Volusion now supporting mobil sites. So take a look at your store on your phone and decide for yourself if you want a mobil template.

2010-03-11T12:43:00.011-07:00

It been some time since the Studio as posted, we have been extremely busy making the world a prettier place. We have felt its time to give a brief update on what we are doing and what the future is for us.

The Studio has been successful designing Volusion E-Commerce template solutions. Over the years we have done numerous Volusion sites and continue to be prolific in this field. Currently we are working on several such projects, including a custom bicycle parts site and a laptop battery site. We recently finish MKMdesigns.net a retail site for fine art prints for a conceptual artist Marcia K. Moore.

Another project we have created is for a portable generator store, Peak Power Tools

We also recently worked with the largest glass tile retail company, Glass Tile Store. We designed for them a clean modern site that looks like its floating on glass.

Most recently we were asked by a long standing client, Big Time Wireless to refresh the design we did for them a few years ago. We where only to happy to comply, while keeping the over all feel of the original design we feel we brought the site to a new level.

2009-06-26T13:23:00.004-07:00

The Studio, has been doing very well, and it is time to expand. I am looking for interns to help with the transition as well as some design work. Since we are a virtual design studio, a regular intern program might not work. Interns will need to work in their home office and have access to high-speed Internet connection as well as the necessary design software. I can promise plenty of real world experiences will be had.

We are also going to updating our image, as design studio we should do this often to show our talent to the consumer. Fortunately for us we have been so busy with clients we haven't had the time to take care of our site.

Hopefully with these additions, we will be able to keep on exploring the ever changing face of aBLANK Studio.

Coming Soon... Updates on recent completed client projects!

2009-05-18T04:08:00.002-07:00

It has been almost 2 years since my last new post. I am sorry for that it was not intentional. I am glad to say its because the Studio has taken off and we have been really busy. So I thought I would write and give a brief update.

The Studio has found great success at designing Volusion templates. So if you have stopped by the site and/or blog and thought we where gone, NO were not gone. Just so busy designing other peoples website that we haven't had time to work on or own. A matter of fact I am currently looking to take on an intern to do the updating for us.

Here are a few highlights of projects we have been working since you last heard from us.

http://www.marilynelectronics.com

http://www.saltysupply.com

http://www.stuffedsafari.com

http://www.bigtimewireless.com

2007-08-29T16:01:00.000-07:00

Today, its the two year anniversary of the Katrina tragedy. I once again stray from the topic of design to write about my feelings as of today and give an update from my earlier post. First I want to assure everyone that my uncle is fine, it turns out that weeks earlier he had left New Orleans and went to visit is daughter further north in Louisiana.

The people New Orleans and Mississippi today aren't much better off then they were two years ago. The suicide rate is higher along with crime, there are still entire neighborhoods with no homes. There are people being poisoned to death by the formaldehyde soaked walls of their FEMA trailers. Trailers that weren't intended for long term usage, especially in such a humid climate. Yet only now the government has moved to start removing people from them.

Some people that think the people of New Orleans are looking for hand outs, that if they had better educations or the wherewithal they wouldn't be in that situation. But those people are wrong, Katrina and the flooding of New Orleans is a litmus test to how our government will handle national tragedies in the future. It wont matter how high our educations or incomes are, we too will be left out in the cold. The survivor's of Katrina and the flood are not crying for hand outs they are crying for a hand up.

So how am a feeling today? I am still sad & angry, but I am also hopeful. That as a people we come to understand that in order for history to not repeat itself in our neck of the woods, we must act now. Call you local agencies and governments and find out if they have a plan in place. A system setup to not only solve these issues but to inform the citizens of the necessary steps to take to limit the damage during the situations and after.

I don't mean to sound preachy or tell anyone how to live their lives. I just hope that we all take a good long look at this issue and ask ourselves, "what would I do."

2007-08-14T00:58:00.001-07:00

I cant believe how long its been since I have written here. The Studio has grown in leaps and bounds over the recent months. All these new clients have been a welcome, and a relief. So of course I am going to share my recent projects here, since I never seem to have the time to update my portfolio. There have a wide variety of projects from lingerie to Land Rover parts.

Exotic Touch Lingerie is a combination of Victorian boudoir and Lady Marmalade.

CartOutlet sells Flammable Cabinets, I used blocks of color to represent the products.

The next site I worked on, Rover Renovations has a minimal look. It incorporates colors directly from Range Rover and design from classic British license plates.

Geeks on the GO has a simple design with vibrant splashes of yellow and incorporates a binary code pattern.

Most recently I completed SteakBrands, I fun site that uses colors of smoke and fire.

2007-04-01T17:47:00.001-07:00

Its been a very busy few months for me and the Studio, but I can't complain. I have been very lucky in having great clients. As well as working on great projects, my most recent being a Lingerie website. I wont show it yet because even though the design is complete the inventory hasn't been added. When it has I will show the site some example of the template right here.

I can show you my prior work to date from my last update. In case anyone hasen't noticed I have worked on several Volusion Shopping Cart websites. In fact I am starting to get a reputation as an affordable option for customizing the free volusion templates for a relatively reasonable fee. To date I have completed 14 volusion template remodels, with additional work done on 3 other volusion sites.

The California surf Company site is a modern minimal take on water and fun in the sun.

The Crystal Images Technologies site has a corporate look with a little flair.

Sawyer Pond Outfitters site has a familey friendly company, with a emphasis on nature and the great outdoors.

2006-12-18T12:15:00.001-07:00

Happy Holidays from the Studio!

Its been an extremely busy time for me lately, which is why I haven't found the time to post anything new here. But I have managed to find some spare time now, and thought I should share some thoughts and give you all some updates on the Studio.

What had started as some website template work for a new company has progressed into my largest client base. When RNR Inc came to me to work on there new Volusion cart based website I new very little about Volusion, but with each new site m knowledge and experience has grown. People started to notice my work and I started getting more clients.

In my last post I talked about Floppyeargear.com, since then I have done another website for RNR Inc. called StylenHome.com. The site features home decor items and is doing very well, take a look for yourself.

My next client was PureAcelleration.com a motorcycle parts retail site.

I was then contacted by Inkuprint.com to create a corporate friendly site for this printer ink company.

From there I moved on to handbags with Level21Inc.com, this site has brought me some attention and new clients.

Including the Humidor Vault, a website for the Discriminating Cigar Aficionado's.

From there I went to the chapel with new client BridalStuffOnline.com, they retail anything you need to make a wedding exceptional.

My next client was Able Kitchen, an enormous kitchen supply company that sells everything you could possibly need in your residential or commercial kitchen.

My latest client saw my work at Able Kitchen while shopping there and contacted me to work on there site, Crystal Image Technologies. Which is in he final stages of completion, along with some other projects you can see I have been busy.

Its been a great year for the Studio, I have been very lucky to have great clients. So to all my family, friends, and clients Happy Holiday's. I wish you all a great new year.

Floppyeargear.com Is Here!

2006-05-21T03:14:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I last posted something, thankfully I have been busy with clients. One of them being RNR Inc., I mention them in my last post. Well as I mentioned in that post I was working on a new site for them called Floppyeargear.com. It has been finished for a while know and has turned out to be as successful as Rocknrebates.com.

Floppyeargear sell all things pet related, at a reduced price. They have great products, so if you are a pet lover go check the site out, here.

NEW CLIENT!! ROCKNREBATES.COM

2006-03-15T21:07:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in a while because I have been very busy with a new client. Rocknrebates.com is a brand new website offering an outstanding selection of electronics at amazing prices. Then on top of a great price they give you an automatic rebate. They came to the Studio to customize a standard template to fit there "rockin" company image. Since the completion of the site they have had rocket sales and great feedback. One customer said, "...my initial impressions have been very good, especially with speed that the order shipped." He went on to list what he liked:

Good, clean website design
Great pricing
Fast shipping
Good email status with the order
Good background info on the staff
Based in Phoenix (for some reason, most of the firms I hear the worst about are all based in New York)
Easy to remember company name
Cool logo

Here is a look of what the final work.

I am happy to say RNR Inc has made the relationship with the Studio long term, with the soon to launching of another great site. Stay tuned!

Flooded Family

2005-09-02T13:37:00.000-07:00

This post has nothing to do with design or my work, but I feel the need to vent about the recent tragedy in the south. My family is from Mississippi, and the tragedy has hit very close to home.
When my immediate family and I heard about the incoming hurricane we started making the calls. Trying desperately to find and remember all the relatives numbers in both Mississippi and Louisiana. I come from a huge extended family, my mother is the youngest of 18 kids and that's just on my mothers side. I spent the night before the storm searching the internet for my families phone numbers... An uncle in New Orleans, cousins in Baton Rouge. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc all over Mississippi. I found myself weeping as I scrolled through the list of potential family members who share my name. Are they related? Are they safe? And then the footage of the storm start coming on TV and I am further depressed.
As the days go by am find my self shifting between utter horror and sadness to fustration and anger. Where is the help? Why aren't being helped? Even as I write this I wipe the tears from my eyes so I can see what I type and I am angry. I am angry that we are one of the richest countries in the world and are responsible for some of the most influential inventions of our time. And yet we cant seem to figure out how to get food & water, medial supplies, HELP, to hundreds of thousands of people slowly dying from lack of shelter and water.
I watch the news and they talk about people shooting at rescue helicopters, and I say to the screen, "They aren't shooting at the helicopters, they are trying to get the copters attention in order to get help." It's not like flare guns are standard issue in homes. I watch police stop people from looting stores at gun point. Police who were taken from the rescue mission in order to protect stores full of food, water and diapers that people need. What about all the perishables going to waste in those stores, that those people in need could use. I am disgusted! I don't condone theft but in a desperate time like now can you blame them from taking what they need? I don't.
To my family in the south... We hope and pray you are well. May the Lord bless you and keep you. We love you.

Not All Logo's Are Created Equal

2005-08-13T22:25:00.000-07:00

Creating the proper logo can be challenging at times. I recently was asked to create a logo for a band. At first I thought that isn't too difficult, but then I started realizing it involved more than meets the eye. Band logo's have to be used an multiple medias and work well in them all. For example, a logo that works for a business card and letterhead, might not work on a T-Shirt. A band logo is required to do just that, its got to be clean and simple enough to read small on a business card. Graphical enough to work as a t-shirt image that recognizable and cool.

Band logo's have to work as product branding, corporate logo, and uber cool graphic image... That not too tall and order for a simple logo. NOT! I know I now have more appreciation for the band logo. Take a look at your favorite bands logo and you will see what I mean.

The Crafting of a Font

2005-07-18T11:26:00.000-07:00

My recent client has me making fonts, something I have never done before. I had thought about trying it but I thought it would be too difficult and time consuming. I was really wrong! Making making is really quit interesting. I have enjoyed making fonts so much I am going to start offering the service to my clients. I think it would be very useful for Corporate Identity packages and Logos. By creating an original logo the company would be able to use it on forms, signage, etc.

Here are some links to tutorials for creating your font.
http://vinterstille.dk/fontographer-tutorial
http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/twm/makefont/
http://www.sketchpad.net/fhglyph.htm

Recent Design Work

2005-05-24T02:52:00.000-07:00

I am working on a website for a yoga instructor, it's definitely been a learning experience. There's a lot more to yoga then getting foot behind your head without passing out and requiring medical assistance. This is one of the many things I love about design. I get to explore so many different subjects in order to give my client the best work possible. I like to think being a designer is part artist, part therapist, part psychic. I have got to know what my client whants even if they dont. I have got to work through issues, and then I have to put it all together in a way that works and is asthetically pleasing. And when I get it right, and the client is excited. It's the best feeling!

Now I have to get back to the yoga?... asana?... astanga?... Well I didn't write I was an expert!

No Memory No Video

2005-05-24T02:31:00.000-07:00

So I decided to upgrade my Mac's memory and video card, I figure I can find a great deal at a online auction (you know who I am talking about). I bid, I win, hooray! The memory and video card arrive on the same day, which is a bonus because my Mac model can be difficult to get into. So 30 minutes later memory and video card installed, and I start my computer... Or should I say I attempt to start my computer. Nothing, Nada! After another 45 minutes of messing around I decide to remove the memory. Yes! my baby starts... but I am staring at a black screen. Darn! Video card doesn't work either.

Am I angry? Yes. Am I going to buy again? Yes. So my question is, has this happened to you?

My First Post

2005-05-21T23:24:00.000-07:00

I figure the best way to start a blog is just to start typing. I have been interested in starting a blog for a while, but it took a clients interest in adding their to their website to get me to start my own. I am a graphic designer, and intend to write a great deal about design and my life as a designer.