THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CREATIVE DESIGN

A lot of people are becoming aware and are interested in creative design lately due to its lucrative nature, especially print media but that’s a story for another day. People come up to me saying stuff like “I want to learn creative design and make money with it”, some even say things like “This looks like fun, I can do it”. I admire the ‘can do’ spirit, but here are some things one should consider before you start creative design.

1)    It isn’t easy:  Creative design is fun but it isn’t easy, the fun is in seeing the finish of your creation, a lot of people see this but don’t know the processes it had to go through to become the work of art that it is.

2)    Passion: You have to enjoy what you do. Every artist must be passionate about his work else it’ll just be work to him/her. When one has passion for their work then it’ll be fun and a good learning process as well.

3)    Make sure you learn new things all the time: one can never assume to know all there is about creative design because it is a vast discipline that requires constant practice in a specialized area. So if you want to do branding, publications, advertising, and art etc; then focus on that area and be awesome at it.

4)    Be open to criticism: art and creativity will always be criticized so don’t feel bad when someone says “I don’t get it” or “I don’t like it”. Remember that it was inspired from within and it is a part of you. Besides everyone can’t like your work so focus on those who get you.

5)    Don’t be afraid to charge people for your work: If they don’t want to pay you for your work then they are not the right client for you. There are many clients out there that love your work and want to add value to their business, the idea of creative design is to add value to business.

6)    People value things that cost something: Whatever we buy for a huge cost, we tend to put value on them. I’m not saying you should overcharge like $2000 for a line or a dot; that is not cool. Just as one would place more value on a phone you got for $800 than one you got for $50.

7)    Stop doing free work all the time: There are some misconceptions about doing free work like:

                    i.            Helps you gain experience

                  ii.            Promotes your work

Well that’s what we want to believe but the truth is that it destroys the creative community; it cheapens the value of our work. So next time you are tempted to help a friend out try to charge them a little, they’ll appreciate your work and it adds value to creativity. By doing so you are helping another creative designer and earn some money as well. Everybody wants to earn.

  8)    Always listen to the client and understand what they really want: As designers our work is personal to us so we don’t like being told that our designs are not desirable because we’ve put in a little bit of ourselves in that. Don’t get offended.

   9)    Learn to accept constructive criticism: We get criticized everywhere these days especially on the internet. This is a great way to grow and a necessary process.

I don’t expect people to always tell me “oh that’s nice” because they are friends or family who are trying to be supportive. I want people to advise me about my work and add value to it.

Do not listen to offensive people though; they only end up discouraging you and sowing a seed of bitterness and self esteem issues. Use the criticisms to build a better you.

   10)    Don’t give up:  our generation seems to have too many opportunities that we tend to give up on a lot of things whenever we experience any difficulty. We have the internet which provides us with a lot of free information that we could use to better ourselves. One can learn anything on the internet e.g. by using YouTube, Coursera, Lynda and any other online resources. There should be no excuses for failure, rather we should see opportunities. Believe in yourself and work hard to make a point. Block out the excuses and focus on the opportunities.

   

   11)    Avoid comparison: people compare themselves more now than ever before because the world is now like a global community where everyone is accessible online, so we see other designers’ works and compare with what we’ve done. We are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, of designers, and critics and so on.

E.g. we see others getting more followers or likes and we don’t measure up, or other designers getting more money for their work and we probably think we can do better than they.

When we compare ourselves to that it makes give up or want to give up because we are not there yet.

The process of growth is continuous; we never stop growing till we die. It also applies to our careers, there is no peak we just keep climbing, and there is always room to grow.

It’s like a game of golf; you don’t try to beat others, you try to beat your last score. Strive to be better than you were yesterday, be a better you by practising and being consistent; learn to motivate yourself.

 On a closing note never stop learning, the day you stop learning is the day you stop living.  Starve your distractions and feed your focus.

Issues to take note of in carrying out design jobs

·        Payment for services

·        Terms and conditions

·        Disagreement with clients

·        Knowing your strengths and limitations

·        Originality

·        Distractions

These issues will be addressed in details in my next post. Thank you for reading, will appreciate your feedback.

Why digital prototyping is rewiring the future of design

Photo credit: emercedesebenz.com

Photo: bakerbaynes.com

Digital Prototyping isn’t a new technology. There’s been talk of the benefits of Digital Prototyping for years, but until recently, the budget and tools required in building and testing a digital prototype meant that it wasn’t an option for most manufacturers. Traditionally, Digital Prototyping solutions have been expensive, customised installations for larger enterprises, while out-of-the-box 3D modelling software typically offers only part of the functionality required to build and test a true digital prototype. Today, though, the playing fields are starting to level out. Autodesk’s approach to Digital Prototyping is radically different from the traditional: it allows for a cost-effective and attainable solution that brings the power of digital prototyping to businesses that don’t have the budget to match. So, with such powerful software becoming viable for use by small and medium enterprises, what do smaller companies stand to gain? Digital Prototyping makes processes more efficient and cost effective For firms that have already adopted Digital Prototyping software, the results speak for themselves. The internet is awash with case studies and statistics about companies who have seen significant increases in productivity and profitability as a result of adopting Digital Prototyping. Because digital prototyping makes it possible for conceptual design, engineering and manufacturing departments to explore a virtual product in its entirety, the number of physical prototypes required before manufacture can be reduced dramatically. Not only does this mean that all parties involved across your entire firm have a unified idea of the project outcomes, but the costs of physically prototyping products is minimised, if not negated altogether. Say goodbye to siloed tools and disconnected workflows Some of the most common, and severe, hurdles in product development arise from miscommunication between siloes. Traditional workflows, in light of the software solutions available today, are restrictive in that they prohibit collaboration throughout your firm. With digital prototyping software, siloed tools are replaced with integrated ones. Your entire workflow is centred around a single, intelligent digital model, eliminating traditional barriers to collaboration and innovation. Aside from the obvious benefits to productivity and the reduced chance for error, bringing your firm together and giving them access to a single, detailed 3D model makes it possible for true collaboration to happen across departments. Innovation is one of the most valuable commodities at the disposal of the modern business, and any service that fosters it should be considered an important asset. Fewer physical prototypes makes your company more environmentally friendly Environmental concerns are a very real and pressing issue for companies in today’s marketplace. With fewer physical prototypes, the ecological impact of your business – as well as product and testing-related overhead – will be significantly reduced. Using digital prototyping software also keeps wastage of materials and resources to a minimum. As environmental responsibility is at the forefront of public consciousness, firms that adopt “green” thinking or environmentally sustainable practices are sure to be viewed more favourably. Digital Prototyping is being adopted across the board – why wait? Because of its integrated nature, digital prototyping software provides a holistic benefit to your entire firm. Each member of your team is kept informed about project progress, and as a result each individual is able to make the most meaningful contribution to the project at hand. On a project scale, objectives and requirements are understood across the board from the outset of the project, resulting in more well-defined goals and smoother operations from start to finish. For more information on the many benefits of Digital Prototyping Software and how you could be using it to drive better business, please download our complementary Digital Prototyping infographic. I came across this article this morning, it's pretty amazing how design in technology is revolutionizing the manufacturing and oil & gas industries.

To read the main article click in the link below.
 Courtesy www.bakerbaynes.com

For training in 3D simulation and prototyping software visit
Ace International Training Center 
Call this number: +2348177777327

My First Blog (Design is Life)

Nowadays everyone blogs or do something to achieve some level of fame at any expense, well I'm not going to say I'm different but I can surely tell you that this blog is unique in its own way.

We shall showcase designs from across the globe; and from time to time feature unique designs from other designers.
At Lucullan Enterprises we value design because design is life.

Everything has a design; from the house you live in, the cars you drive, the phones you use, the clothes you wear, even your body has a unique design. So try to correct me if you don't agree that "Design is Life".

Would appreciate your contributions to this blog, feel free to send in your designs (graphics, websites, fashion, engineering, etc)
We promise to engage you with some interesting content soon, but for now enjoy one from our portfolio and tell us what you think (negative or positive).

Please which of these designs do you prefer?

Sample A

Sample B