Wednesday, August 31, 2011

How to get more design work done in less time | You The Designer

How to get more design work done in less time | You The Designer

Link to You the Designer

How to get more design work done in less time

Posted: 30 Aug 2011 08:30 AM PDT

I've been freelance designing for a few years now and there's one thing I never seem to have enough of:

Time.

And since I know for a fact that there are only 24 hours in the day no matter where you live on the planet, I bet you've run into the same problem I have now and again.

Today, I'd like to touch on how to get more design work done in less time. Why? Because if you can get more done in less time it leaves more hours in the day to relax, spend with your family, and do whatever else is on your list of things to do.

So here are a few ways I have found I can maximize my design time in order to get more done in less time:

 

Don't be afraid to say 'no' to a potential client.

One of the most important lessons I have ever learned about getting more design done in less time is to say no to clients who I know will be time-suckers.

It can be tempting (especially when you're just starting out) to accept any client that comes your way. But as you avoid clients that will need more hand-holding than usual, you can focus on the clients that let you streamline the design as much as possible, thus saving you time for client-hunting or any other task you've been neglecting.

 

how-to-get-more-done-in-less-time

 

Outsource projects you're not skilled at.

Outsource has become a bad word. But all I mean by this sentence is that designers should hire and work with other people who might be more skilled at certain tasks.

If, for example, you aren't very good at logo design, but your client wants a new web site with a new logo, perhaps you can work with another designer to design the logo, take a small percentage off the top, and then design and code the web site for your client.

Don't waste time trying to be good at something that you're clearly not good at.

Create design automations.

Another quick way to speed up the design process is to create automations. Photoshop, for example, will let you automate certain actions. If there's a gradient effect that you'll be using on multiple elements throughout the design, create an action in Photoshop and then simply click to apply when you've got a new element that needs to match.

Other automations that streamline the design process can include learning keystroke shortcuts for design programs, starting with wireframes, and similar techniques.

Close your browser (and remove any other distractions)

The biggest cause of getting less work done is being distracted. It's easy to get sucked into looking through blog post after blog post learning techniques, getting inspired or learning how to freelance.

In order to get as much done as possible, remove all the distractions you can. Set aside a certain amount of time each day or week for these sorts of activities and then, when it's time to work, just work.

How do you get more done in less time?

Surely, I've left out some tips for getting more design done in less time. What resources or techniques do you use in order to get more done in less time? Share them with me by leaving a comment.

 

preston-lee

About the Author

Preston D Lee is a designer, internet marketer, and entrepreneur. He founded GraphicDesignBlender.com where he and other designers blog about the business of design: freelancing tips, client advice, and business strategies for designers. Connect with Preston on twitter at @prestondlee or Google+.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

54 Unique Pocket Folder and Office Stationery designs | You The Designer

54 Unique Pocket Folder and Office Stationery designs | You The Designer

Link to You the Designer

54 Unique Pocket Folder and Office Stationery designs

Posted: 29 Aug 2011 08:00 AM PDT

In order to find a unique brand identity, it is ideal for a company to use authentic office stationery. This way, not only are you able to create effective marketing tools, it also makes your company look more professional in the eyes of your clients.

Brochures, business cards, promotional CDs, letterheads and other documents that bear the name and logo of your company are considered office stationery.  To be organized, these office stationery are often placed inside special containers called presentation folders or pocket folders. While we often see pocket folders used by people working in the field of sales, they can be used for so many different purposes such as academic prospectuses or for detailed lists of hotel/resort services and amenities. Like a book’s cover, a pocket folder’s design will be scrutinized by clients which makes it arguably the most important tool at least for presentation purposes. By all means, it should look attractive and should encourage potential clients to find out more about your brand or services.

We have collected 54 unique samples of pocket folders and other office stationery  for your design inspiration. Get ideas from these works so you can find the perfect design for your own office stationery.

 

Pocket Folders

 

Pocket-Folder-01

Pocket-Folder-02
Katerina Gavrikova
View Source

 

Branches Catering Corporate Identity

Pocket-Folder-03

Pocket-Folder-04
Lacey Ackerman
View Source

 

Promotional Materials for Event Planner

Pocket-Folder-05
Jerry Lund
View Source

 

Passaic Bergen Water Softening Identity

Pocket-Folder-06
Enzo Creative
View Source

 

Liberty-izone Limited – A4 Oversize Folder with Pocket

Pocket-Folder-07
etchtank
View Source

 

Hersheys Press Kit

Pocket-Folder-08

Pocket-Folder-09

Pocket-Folder-10
Tiffany Valdez
View Source

 

JP Projetos

Pocket-Folder-11
Sisson Studio
View Source

 

Arabella Papers: Varsity II

Pocket-Folder-12

Pocket-Folder-13
Cassandra Johnson
View Source

 

Urban II

Pocket-Folder-14
Cassandra Johnson
View Source

 

#23

Pocket-Folder-15

Pocket-Folder-16
Aitor García
View Source

 

Loeb & Troper

Pocket-Folder-17

Pocket-Folder-18
Christina Weissman
View Source

 

Orlando Magic Pocket Folder

Pocket-Folder-19

Pocket-Folder-20
Tucker Brooks
View Source

 

NetSignature Stationery

Pocket-Folder-21
serso
View Source

 

Michigan League for Human Services

Pocket-Folder-22

Pocket-Folder-23
Chrissy Greenough
View Source

 

CBCO – folders

Pocket-Folder-24

Filipe Rocha
View Source

 

FOTOS + DESIGN: Folders para o Grupo BTM

Pocket-Folder-25

Pocket-Folder-26

Diretorio de Filmes
View Source

 

LG Electronics – B2B Salesfolders

Pocket-Folder-27

Oliver Funke
View Source

 

Web, Sistemas e Externa

Pocket-Folder-28

luizsorriso
View Source

 

Capa Proposta Técnica CDHU

Pocket-Folder-29

gabriellehorvath
View Source

 

Misc. Folders

Pocket-Folder-30

 

Pocket-Folder-31

Devlaur Design
View Source

 

Office Folders

Pocket-Folder-32

 

Pocket-Folder-33

Devlaur Design
View Source

 

Article XIX | Global Campain for Freedom of Speech

Pocket-Folder-34

Pocket-Folder-35

Gabriel Menezes
View Source

 

Kit Folders Destinos

Pocket-Folder-36

Tau Fernandes
View Source

 

SwitchIt

Pocket-Folder-37

kuvisualcommunication
View Source

 

Kavaleriet

Pocket-Folder-38

genspejl
View Source

 

Lugo

Pocket-Folder-39

Pocket-Folder-40

Kerr Vernon
View Source

 

itaca wine brokers

Pocket-Folder-41

Pocket-Folder-42

Grace Chao
View Source

 

 

Office Stationery

 

Devil Penguin Stationery Set

Office-Stationery-01

devil-penguin
View Source

 

Matjaz Cuk Visual Identity

Office-Stationery-02

Matjaz Cuk
View Source

 

The Sweet Spot

Office-Stationery-03

Kayd Mustonen
View Source

 

 

MTV Networks Stationery

Office-Stationery-04

Office-Stationery-05

DMCI
View Source

 

Blueprint – Stationery

Office-Stationery-06

grvision
View Source

 

Business Cards, Envelopes & Letterhead

Office-Stationery-07

Steven Jockisch
View Source

 

Sticks + Stones Stationery Company

Office-Stationery-08

Kathryn Chase-Levin
View Source

 

Llama Bean Ranch Stationery

Office-Stationery-09

Kerry Scott Jenkins
View Source

 

The MINE Stationery

Office-Stationery-10

Isaac Arthur
View Source

 

Untitled

Office-Stationery-11

Emma Rogan
View Source

 

The Pretty Post

Office-Stationery-12

LisaBohnCreative
View Source

 

Untitled

Office-Stationery-13

julieyeem
View Source

 

Alpine Valley Station

Office-Stationery-14

nikki
View Source

 

business stationery

Office-Stationery-15

sophiastupperich
View Source

 

arthouse

Office-Stationery-16

pixelmunch
View Source

 

Classic Bag

Office-Stationery-17

Eggs and Logs
View Source

FNM_MAM

Office-Stationery-18

Piotrek Chuchla
View Source

 

Branding & Stationery

Office-Stationery-19

Örgüt Çayl?
View Source

 

The Office of Michael Clinard

Office-Stationery-20

 

Office-Stationery-21

Tim Lahan
View Source

 

BIPC Corporate Stationery

Office-Stationery-22

cooluani
View Source

 

Glow stationery

 

Office-Stationery-23

samerwagdyhalim
View Source

 

Business Stationery Zoom

Office-Stationery-24

VosjeE
View Source

 

JBC Concept 2

Office-Stationery-25

daveycoleman
View Source

 

Refresh – Logo and Stationery

Office-Stationery-26

ayamsuhayam
View Source

 

GhostTrap stationery

Office-Stationery-27

MathiasLM
View Source

 

Earth2Class Stationery

Office-Stationery-28

vortiss
View Source

 

Willow Dental

Office-Stationery-29

Siew Ling Chow
View Source

 

Blog Archive