I entered a competition through one of the networking groups to which I belong. The winner will receive a free ‘facebook page’. In case you are not aware of this, there are three types of facebook pages, the personal page which allows up to 5000 friends, the fan page, which is now called just a ‘facebook page and the latest, hottest way to promote one’s business, and the group page which has very specific restriction as well as advantages and disadvantages.
The contest, which I entered, requires critiquing the designs of facebook pages a social media designer has done for several of his clients. My comments were mostly very negative and critical, based upon my ‘sense of design’ from years of training in architecture and environmental design, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in Design. It also includes my many years of experience not only as a graphic designer, as well as a web designer but also working in other areas of the arts, both fine art and crafts.
I suspect that as with other forms of creative expression, what is considered ‘good taste’ or ‘good design’ is very subjective, generational and changes just as much as fashion as well as all other types of design. Be that as it may, what follows is the gist of my comments about the facebook pages designer’s work:
“First of all, and overall, I find your designs chaotic; they do not have consistency in the placement of information, there is a lack of grids intended for that purpose; there is the use of too many type fonts, random use of colors and poor color combination.
My reactions so far may be generational as I was weened on such typefaces as Helvetica, which is very clean, neat, easy to read and the official typeface of the NYC Subway System. I was also taught to limit the number of type faces used in a project, i.e. no more than one or two preferably one with an italic or bold version of it for emphasis. I see none of this adhered to in the Fan pages.”
I continued, “As I also mentioned, there is no grid pattern to organize the visual and verbal information so the pages appear chaotic to me, hard to read and as a result, make me dizzy. Perhaps, that is your intention and intended style.
“From my understanding of the use of color, the situation is similar. It seems random, unmatched, and is distasteful to me. But this may also be purposeful on your part to create a feeling that some may perceive as appealing and good design; but I feel it violates all my aesthetic senses.”
I actually received an answer from this designer and I have to say he was not only a good sport but quite a gentleman in his responses to what otherwise could have been received very hostilely. He explained that his priority is to provide his clients what they want. And the traditional types of designs were might have both been raised on did not excite his clients. As all business owners know, ‘the client is always right’. I was very impressed by his answers, the time he took to explain things to me and sincerely hope I will be able to continue to be in touch and meet this social media expert.
Yesterday, by no co-incidence, I received an e-mail from a prestigious graphic design magazine that is one of the few traditional ones in the industry that remains in existence, Graphic Design USA. Learn more about the magazine at the following link: http://www.gdusa.com/.
It reported the results of a survey on type design; here is the link to that report. http://www.gdusa.com/eblasts/2010/100506-veer/msg.html
I suspect that most people who consider themselves ‘graphic designers’, ‘web designers’ and especially ‘web developers’ do so primarily because they can navigate through the template programs or work with codes that have made anyone who can use them a ‘desktop publisher’ or an ‘internet based program developer’.
They most likely have never heard of type design; in addition, they are like children who have only lived in cities and consider fallen leaves garbage. I also suspect that these ‘designers’ never realized that someone actually designed the myriad of typefaces from which one can choose to create their ‘art’. Or that any of what I have mentioned even matters; but rather that it is superfluous to their message or mission.
The survey from the magazine includes a link to a well-known company in the graphic design industry that offers stock photos, illustration and typography or type faces for purchase; the company is called veer. Here is a link to their site: http://www.veer.com/
The on-line article about the typeface survey includes a slide show of a newly designed typeface, Brownstone. Here is that link: http://www.veer.com/ideas/galleries/brownstone/. Go to it and click on the slide show.
This is a must see! It is elegant, entertaining and very much to the point that there is still such a thing as ‘type design’, ‘good design’ and in my opinion, ‘good taste’. They are all still in existence, alive and very well but require a client with a certain design sensibility to make them come to life.
You network often. You have a stack of other people’s business cards that could fill a file cabinet. Yet, you don’t seem to be getting much business. Could it be that you have not learned how to do THE NETWORKING DANCE: 6-Steps 4-Networking 2-Success?
Step One in the Networking Dance
Step One: THE ‘ATTEND A NETWORKING FUNCTION’ STEP
Make contact with ‘your partners’ by chatting with them, listening to their needs and getting their business cards. Bring a pen and plenty of your business cards so you can give cards to all your partners. Make notes on the back of their cards including where and when you met, details about their needs and any other pertinent info. (That is why it is important, when you design and print your business card to leave the back blank and unlimited to have plenty of space and be able to write notes).
Step Two: THE ’FOLLOW UP MEETING’ STEP
(This is also known as the F/U Step). Follow up with your networking partners either by phone, personal note or e-mail to remind them of your meeting and to indicate your interest in reconnecting with them, preferably in person.
Step Three: THE ‘ESTABLISH A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP’ STEP
(This step is often called the ‘One-on-One’ Step). Meet over a cup of coffee, breakfast or lunch to get to know each other better. At this point, you still want to listen more than talk to get to know them personally and to find out common interests and other aspects of your lives where you both connect.
Step Four: THE ‘ESTABLISH A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP’ STEP
Once you have built up a bond of trust and ‘good feelings’ about each other, then it may be time to start feeling out the situation to learn more about their business needs and how you can help them.
Step Five: THE ‘DO BUSINESS’ STEP
You feel their pain and show them how you can help alleviate it with your products and/or services. You do business together.
Step Six of the Networking Dance
Step Six: THE ‘MONEY RAIN’ STEP
You receive financial compensation for your work. Remember to follow good, clear business practices so that you are both on the same page and know exactly what each is getting from and for the ‘6-Steps 4-Networking 2-Success’ dance.
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