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Thinking Outside the List

Features: Written by Matthew Flaming on May 2, 2008

Want to think and communicate more clearly in a wide range of situations? Try mind-mapping.

The Tricky Side of Photo Model Releases

Features: Written by Dan Heller on April 21, 2008

You may think that model releases aren't necessary for photos used in editorial contexts, but the truth is actually much more complex. Read this in-depth exploration and you'll know exactly what to do to sell your shots without worries.

HerGeekness Says: Screen-Share with Your Clients

Features: Written by Anne-Marie "HerGeekness" Concepcion on March 2, 2008

Letting far-flung clients see your screen makes online proofing as good as in-person proofs and online collaboration a cinch. Recent technology improvements free you from worrying about routers, firewalls, computer platforms, or browser compatibility.

Scanning Around With Gene: Pay Up, or Else!

Features: Written by Gene Gable on February 20, 2008

The current economic slowdown has resulted in many people having to stall on paying some bills. Gene Gable takes a look at collection stickers from days gone by and wonders just what motivates someone to break down and actually mail that check.

What to Do When a Prospective Client Doesn't Respond to Your Proposal

Features: Written by Ilise Benun on February 18, 2008

Persistence is welcome -- a pest is not. Here’s how to stay on the right side of that line.

The Fine Art of Linking In

Features: Written by Dave Awl on January 18, 2008

When you know how to work it, LinkedIn can be a great resource for new assignments. Here are seven tips for getting the most out of it.

Control and Creativity: A Match Made in Heaven

Features: Written by Mark A. McGuinness on December 12, 2007

Organization, structure, and habit aren't threats to your artistic freedom. In fact, they're tools that help you carve out the time you need to let your creativity fly.

Organize Your Business with an Intranet

Features: Written by Kevin Arthur Ryan Thomas on November 30, 2007

Do you lose opportunities or duplicate the efforts of your coworkers because you don't have a central place to track activities or store contacts? How easily can you judge performance and perform costs analyses? An intranet may be the answer.

Cut through Advertising Clutter with Archetypes

Features: Written by Shaun Crowley on November 14, 2007

Advertising has changed a lot over the decades. What started as "Here's the product, now buy it!" ads in the 1950s have turned into "Here's a feeling, now feel it!" ads, in which products appear as personalities, metaphors, and emotions. Psychological theory can help you tap into archetypes that appeal to people at these deeper levels.

Desert Island Reading

Features: Written by Terri Stone on November 5, 2007

Last month, I received an email message from someone setting up a new graphic design department at a university.

Become a Brand Sponge

Features: Written by Kevin Arthur on October 22, 2007

What is the key to successful design -- design that doesn't just look good, but speaks for the brand itself? Three case studies from the interactive firm Firstborn hold the answer.

Online Marketing Tools for Creative Pros

Features: Written by Ilise Benun on October 5, 2007

Social networking, blogs, email campaigns, portfolio sites -- it's all so confusing. Which of the new options is right for your business?

The Art of Business: Logo Lessons

Features: Written by Eric J. Adams on October 1, 2007

What makes you stand out in a competition? Eric J. Adams reports from the other side of the designer-client divide.

What to Do When You're Out of Ideas

Features: Written by Mike Rohde on September 14, 2007

You can't always count on instant answers when you're tackling a design problem. Make iterative design part of your workflow, and you won't have to.

The Art of Business: Learning to Love the Panel Interview

Features: Written by Eric J. Adams on August 29, 2007

If you think meeting with a single potential client is nerve-wracking, imagine walking into a room with five people sizing you up. Here's how to keep your cool and come out on top when facing the dreaded panel.

Year-Round School

Features: Written by Terri Stone on August 27, 2007

Thanks to the Internet, back-to-school time isn't limited to the fall anymore. These online resources can help you improve your skills and invigorate your creativity.

Buzz Marketing -- the Easy Way to Generate Word of Mouth

Features: Written by Ilise Benun on August 12, 2007

Take these four steps to strengthen your business.

Why the Adobe/FedEx-Kinkos Deal is the Best Thing that Could Happen to the Printing Industry

Features: Written by Gene Gable on August 1, 2007

Gene Gable is a man with strong opinions. This time, his opinion is that it's time for printers to grow up and get off Adobe's Back.

The Art of Business: Price Wars

Features: Written by Eric J. Adams on August 1, 2007

Your bids are undercut by newbies, overseas creatives, someone's brother-in-law, and the high school kid down the street. How can you compete -- and profit -- in an industry gone price-mad?

Getting Design Done

Features: Written by D. Keith Robinson on July 27, 2007

Here's how to apply the principles of a well-known productivity system to your creative process. The resulting creative habits can boost your design skills while they reduce stress and free your mind to tackle big problems.