This article I've linked to is a very touching, revealing, inside look at the complicated side of schooling and working with a child with high-functioning autism. How many readers out there have worked with children with autism? How many know a person with high-functioning autism? Please read this article - all monies paid for this article have been donated to the National Autism Association.

http://www.helium.com/items/1420905-helping-autistic-children-succeed-in-school

Introducing TheCompass.biz!

I'm introducing everyone to TheCompass.biz, a website that can help you get your domain name registered, set up an SSL certificate for online transactions, e-mail, and other web solutions! Check 'em out!

http://thecompass.biz/

Great customer service!!

OK, Phoenix Arizona: When you need your vehicle serviced, go see Chrissy at Peoria Kia! THEY ROCK! I had the best customer service I've ever experienced from a car dealership - no joke, they have my future business (and, since I have two teens ready to drive, guess where I'll be helping them get there cars from!). Chrissy made sure they took good care of my van, and got it done in one-half day. TOTALLY great experience!

The DEC wants to know: What was the best customer experience you ever had? Details, please - we really want to know!

What graphic design ISN'T

This was a great article picked up on my Twitter page from a member of the graphic design industry. I'm reposting his link here because it really does hit home as to what exactly graphic designers do, and more importantly, what they don't do. After reading Grady's blog, share with me your comments and perceptions on what a graphic designer does or should do.

http://www.traceygrady.com/busting-the-myths-what-graphic-design-isnt

Don't Fear Networking!

This is a good A/V presentation by Dr. Ivan Misner, giving tips on how to overcome the fear of networking: http://www.yourbusinesschannel.com/syndicatorpanel.aspx?sn=BNI&spk=689&pp=false

How many people really are afraid to walk up to someone and start a conversation? I know there are times I still get butterflies in my stomach, but I think it's more from excitement of meeting someone new rather than a fear of meeting someone new. When we meet someone, we present our 30-second elevator speech, stop, and listen. The elevator speech should never be about a sale; that can make someone feel defensive or put-off. Instead, the elevator speech should be an ice-breaker, as a chance to get to know someone better. If viewed this way, this should take away most of the fear of networking.

Special thanks to both Dr. Ivan Misner for making his presentation, and to Dave Sherman, The Networking Guy, for his tips and insights.

Website Marketing Turnoffs

Here's an interesting article about what not to do when contemplating website marketing techiques — straight from entrepreneur.com and Mr. Guy Kawasaki:

http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2009/june/201614.html

Your Website, Your Brand

I just read this great article about web design. I agree, there is so much more that goes into putting together your web site besides just the outside skin. Keep in mind that your web site is the first "person" that people meet when they google your name or your company name. No more than you would want a rude, sassy receptionist answering your phone, you don't want a web site that is difficult to navigate, hard to read or understand, and has no focus. Would you agree?

http://www.womenentrepreneur.com/2009/04/your-website-is-your-brand.html

What's a recession?

Dr. Ivan Misner wrote a great article on why he's not participating in this recession (what's a recession, anyway?), and why we, as business owners, should not participate either. Follow his article here: http://www.referralinstitute.com/main/news.php?N1=37

What the font?

In the past couple of weeks I have seen font choices for print that were less than desirable and even harder to read. Here are my thoughts:


1. Be careful using serif fonts in reverse. A serif font is a typeface used either bolded in a headline or within the body of text, such as a textbook. The typeface has little marks on the baseline of the letter called serifs. Some popular serif fonts are Times New Roman, Georgia, and New Baskerville. These fonts have a thick-thin style to the lettering, which is why using these typefaces in reverse is not always a good idea. If you have to use a serif in reverse, make sure it has a bold member of the family and use that in reverse; if you don't, the surrounding color will "dissolve" what's left of the letters, making them more difficult to read.


2. If a font is cute, should I use it? This is not an easy question to answer because it depends on what the cute font is and its application. For example, if you are using Curlz as part of a headline in an ad for a salon, then by all means go for it! However, if you are using Edwardian Script ITC in reverse on a business card for a realtor, then it's a bad idea. Why? Script fonts are very cute and pretty (yes, they are) but their uses should be limited. In this case I saw a business card with this particular font on a realtor's business card. The problem came in when the realtor decided her contact information should be put in her cute font. Take out your own business card for a moment, and think about the size of your contact information. Got it? Good. Now, take that same size and apply it to this cute font. See the picture? It's too small to be effective, too small to read. Bad move.


3. Why can't I use my script font in reverse? Answer: Most script fonts do not have a bold member of the family, and because of this a designer may decide to add an outline or stroke to this particular font. The catch becomes when the text moves into a lighter area on the card and suddenly may disappear, simply putting an outline around it won't make it suddenly re-appear. Indeed, in the example above, it not only made the text appear rather muddy (her print shop overprinted the black), but because the outline was rather thick in proportion to the actual size of stroke of the lettering of her cute font, it was very difficult to read her contact information. Remember, she's a realtor, selling real estate. If you can't read her contact information, chances are you're not going to call her home office and ask for her. That blows a potential sale, making her business card ineffective as a marketing tool.


4. Using all caps on serif or san-serif text is a no-no! Well, let me back up just a sec. If you need to use it for emphasis in the headline of an ad, great! I use Impact for such effects on my flyers and ads, especially in reverse! Gloucester MT Extra is also great for this effect and in reverse. What I'm talking about is using all caps all throughout the ad, business card, etc. Bo-ring, very hard to read, and thanks to our IM lingo, you may come across as yelling your services rather than introducing them.


Keeping these simple rules in mind when using type will make the difference between a nice-looking piece of marketing material versus an amateurish piece. If you have any questions about font usage, or if you would rather not stress over your marketing material, please e-mail us at deseyns@deseynerseyecreations.net and we'll put it together for you.

New look

First, I apologize for my recent absence. I have been very involved in several projects and was unable to post until now. I have decided my current blog theme is rather dull and boring, so I am working on a new design as well as a new design for my web site. Any thoughts or suggestions (constructive and nice, please) as to what I could try to design? My thoughts are a tad tapped out so I am turning to the audience as my creative think-tank. I do like my green and will stay with that coloring.

On DEC will have a new Weekly Graphic Design Tip in the next couple of days, please stay tuned! I am also adding a new section for Networking Tips, but this section will encourage participation from others as folks may have had better experiences with their methods than I may have had with mine, and I would like to post those for all of us to consider. The more things I have to post, the more I may turn this into a weekly or even daily rather than 2x/month or less.

Question: What has been your WORST experience with networking, and how would you have improved that situation?