As I discussed in last week’s blog post, “Owning Photoshop Doesn’t Make You a Graphic Designer,” design is about much more than knowing the latest software. The real meat of this profession is in knowing how to use the tools effectively to communicate visually. A friend’s husband recently finished a six-month course in Adobe CS4 and wanted some objective feedback on his portfolio. The following is an edited version of the message I sent after reviewing his work. All names have been changed to protect the innocent, as well as the criminals. ~~~ Dear Newbie, While I appreciate the fact that you’re taking steps to improve your technical skills, it is clear you haven’t been exposed to the basic principles of graphic design. Here are a few things you can do right now to improve your chances of landing a job in the design field: But first, are you experienced? I see a good bit of pro bono work in your future. Research non-profits in need of a logo update or website revamp. Hit up your friends for gigs jazzing up their Twitter backgrounds. Take any opportunity that presents itself to practice, practice, practice! You should be having dreams of…

I own exactly 2 tools: a hammer and a screwdriver. Fortunately Mr. Weenie has nails and a saw, so I’m pretty sure I could build a house if I wanted to. Now that I think about it, I also have a box of pens and an art degree, so I’m fairly confident I could draw up a set of blueprints as well. Wow, that would really save us a lot of money! So how many architects/builders/potential neighbors have I insulted/terrified so far? Probably the same number of graphic designers living in constant fear of the CEO’s Macbook-toting nephew, Zach. Having a kitchen full of pots and pans doesn’t mean I can cook (just ask Mr. Weenie), and owning Adobe’s Creative Suite doesn’t mean you can (or should) whip up a company logo on your day off. Having the right tools for a job is important, but using a tool without the skill, knowledge and experience to back it up only leads to inferior work (and possibly an unexpected trip to the emergency room). Some tools, such as computers, change over time (The hammer? Not so much.), but the purpose for which we use them generally remains the same. What used…

Okay, so I’ve been sitting in front of a blank screen for about 20 minutes (or a year and a half if you want to be literal), trying to think of something earth-shatteringly profound to say in my first blog post. I have an irrational fear of blank space—the beginning, the unknown. All the possibilities leave me, well, speechless. I’ve been like this for as long as I can remember. Even in high school I’d find myself staring down a piece of loose leaf paper like it was my mortal enemy. (For those of you born after 1980, that falls somewhere between the stone tablet and a touchscreen.) I have the same problem when I’m about to start a new design project. Sitting in front of a blank monitor kinda freaks me out, so I use a trick I picked up when I hit a brick wall of writer’s block while working on my graphic novel, “The Talking Horse,” in the 2nd grade. I walk away. That’s right, TeenieWeenie knew something most folks take years to learn; that sometimes the best decision is to go do something else for a while. Granted, in 1974 that “something else” may have involved…