Calling cards

I've mentioned before about the challenges I've had coming up with a logo. Now that I've settled on one (I hope), I'm starting to go through all the headers, avatars and related stationery to try to get everything as similar as possible... all part of a branding strategy I'm trying to incorporate into my business.

I've got a new header on my Etsy store, a new background for my Twitter page, I'm working a new banner for this blog - along with a new placeholder design (placeholder because I do own nisseworks.com, just don't have the funds to actually have the site hosted yet)... and then there's the business cards.

Like I said, logo's no problem. I like my logo - a nice combination of fonts and a nifty use of a brush shape in Illustrator (I'm still using CS4... CS5 is a very, very, VERY distant purchase)... it's how I'm going to use it to effectively sell my brand that's the problem.

This was the very first business card I did up, back when I thought I could actually be a freelance graphic designer in a city that has an odd plethora of freelance graphic designers. Ignoring the logo, it's not terrible. Simple, clean, easy to recognize... because it's pretty damn bland. Looking back (six months), I can't believe I thought this was how I wanted my potential business portrayed - especially as a graphic designer. Eep.

The second go-around. An improvement, if only because it wasn't so bleh as the first one. This is the card that I came up with when I launched nisse.works as a handmade crafts enterprise (hence the tag 'Handmade crafts & designs... smart, eh?). If there's one thing I've learned in my many years in graphic design and journalism, it's that sometimes, less is more. I liked this card, but because I'm trying to keep expenses to a minimum, I print my cards at home (on my lovely Epson that I picked up on sale and don't use enough). And because I'm not a major print shop, those thin pink, green and brown stripes on the left side don't always turn out right. Or at all.

This is the most recent version of my business cards. Even simpler than the previous one, but not as mundane as the first. It's got the info I want right where I want it (I'm a fan of justification - left, centre, right... I don't care, as long as it's all justified) and looks pretty damn good on the metallic cardstock I've got. But as with most things I design for myself, I'm not as keen on it today as when I came up with it, so this whole branding thing couldn't have come at a better time.

I have no idea what the next round of cards will look like - I will be doing them myself and printing them from home to save on the costs, so there's no need to use the local big box office supply store's standard offerings. Simplicity, yet creative and unique are definitely going to have to play a part, but I don't want them to look like someone made them up in Microsoft Paint. I shudder at the thought...

I've collected a few websites that have some pretty kickass samples of business cards that I can hope to one day emulate (not duplicate). Take a look through them and marvel at how awesome - for lack of a better word (it is after 10pm here, so...) - these cards look. Especially when you consider the old standby design of 'logo in the left corner, name and title centred, bolded and in 12pt Times New Roman, office address and information below that in 8 pt TNR as well'. Blah.

100 Fresh Creative Business Cards
100 Refreshing Black & White Business Cards
The Basics of Business Card Design
Business Cards - a set on Flickr
Cool Business Cards

Diamond in the rough

There's a folder in my bookmarks where I've saved links to sites that I've become a regular reader of over the years. When I'm bored - or, more likely, procrastinating - I go to that folder so I don't end up constantly refreshing my Facebook or Twitter for an hour straight, or re-reading the headlines on Bourque for the umpteenth time.

One of my favourite sites in that folder is The Canadian Design Resource. I really should visit it more often than I have been lately... it's a fascinating collection of (mostly) Canadian design in every kind of format imaginable. I'm a big fan of the travel/transportation-related submissions, as well as the historical ones (especially the WWII posters). It's nice to see people actually appreciating the fact that we can actually produce designs that can compete with the ones the U.S. media throws at us all the time.

The massively-wide variety of designs on the site is impressive too... not just graphic, but fashion, ceramic, architectural, industrial, textile, paper... just, wonderful. 

It has to get better

You know that feeling you get when you think you're making progress, and then you find out that no, in fact, you're actually just digging a deep, deep hole that you may never get out of?

That's how I've been feeling for the majority of this week. I thought I was going to be able to start listing my finished product on Etsy this week, but no. No, I have to get working on my business license application for the city before I get nailed with a massive fine. I'm kind of okay with this because it gives me a bit more time to finish up my work, perhaps even throw together a few more things, and get properly organized. On the other hand, grrr... we're a one-income household right now and the sooner I put stuff out there to sell, *hopefully* the sooner I can bring in some extra money.

We're (Keith and I) are trying to see this little/somewhat big setback as a positive. Extra time means better product. Or, at least, I hope so.

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On a much happier, organized note, I've been a fairly faithful and regular visitor to craftgawker for the last few months. I like ending my day on the computer with their daily updates, seeing if anything can inspire me to create. I especially love to see the photos people have submitted; as an amatuer photographer who is still learning how to use her camera, I like looking at photos that not only inspire me, but also make me happy, for lack of a better term. Maybe not happy in the traditional sense, but a kind of glowy. Yeah, that doesn't really make sense, but you get what I mean.

I'm going to try to take advantage of some of my newly found free time this week and try to set up some kind of easy-to-follow schedule for what I'm trying to do. I know with a 13.5 month old schedules are pretty risky, but I've got a pretty helpful partner in Keith and he wants me to succeed (and be happy) so maybe I will be able to set aside some time every week to filter through overflowing folders and scattered scraps of paper and fabric.

Or not. We'll see.

Setting the table

One of the things I want to use this blog to do is highlight 'finds' - blogs, collections, photo galleries, individual pieces of creativity - that I come across. I have an iPod Touch (16GB) that rarely leaves my side. I've also got a 13-month old who I'm quite fond of and like to spend a lot of time with, but - and I'm not ashamed to admit this - when Handy Manny's on, I tend to drift away and use my iPod to check email, Facebook and check my favourite sites.

So, in keeping with the plan to post links to things I 'find', here's the first - AIGA Design Archives. I've come across collections from AIGA quite a lot over the years (thank you, StumbleUpon), but this is the first time I've seen their design archives. Astounding to say the least. I used to be (am still?) a graphic designer, working mainly in newsprint, building ads. This collection - Print Ads of the Year - is, by far, my favourite, if only because it shows how advertising has evolved so much in 30 years. And I'm a sucker for text-heavy ads.

I'm also reading The Age of Persuasion, by Terry O'Reilly and Mike Tennant, the two men behind the CBC radio show of the same name. Keith got it for Christmas, but I stole it almost immediately and have been chipping away at it, page by page, for a month or so now. It's an interesting look at the world of advertising and how it affects our lives (and influences) on a day-to-day basis. Great pull-quotes and info boxes sprinkled throughout, too.

I'm not sure how frequently I'll be able to post new 'finds' or even post anything, but I'm aiming for at least once a day. But I am a habitual procrastinator with a 13-month old and attempting to get a business off the ground... or maybe this blog will be one of those ways I can take a mental break and help spread the word about some amazing designs and works. Guess we'll find out ;)