Graphic Design

Graphic design is the child of art and commerce.

It is not pure art, yet it requires visual sensibilities to attract and engage. It is not transactional, yet it requires product immersion—be it physical or metaphysical—to confidently sell.

Graphic design, at its fundamental function, assists Party A (the client) to communicate and persuade Party B (the client’s audience). By that definition, an effective graphic designer is one who inherently serves her client, and not so much herself (such as an artist who may only answer to himself). To be successful, she must not only excel in her function as a designer, but also achieve her client’s persuasive goals.

Web Design

The tectonic plate of online experience was irrevocably shifted, and there has not been any signs of it settling. The tremors continue to unseat all things conventional as they etch an undeniable virtual—yet quite real—landscape.

Online experience has shifted drastically over the past years where an exponential number of users consumed information and shop on mobile devices. A one-channel desktop web site—especially a static one—is not only perceived as behind-the-times, but is also a crutch for any business. Without responsive design to serve the mobile audience, a single first visit to the web site may as well be the last, with no practical chance of a revisit.

Mobile Fact Sheet*

(Abridged.) The vast majority of Americans—95%—now own a cellphone of some kind. The share of Americans that own smartphones is now 77%, up from just 35% in Pew Research Center’s first survey of smartphone ownership conducted in 2011.

The Pew Research Center data above reveals an existing adoption by 2007—and high and steady increase in the past decade—of mobile usage. The data also points to an undeniable preference of mobile use by those in higher level of education and those of certain income brackets: this segment of users are well-informed and have healthy spending power. Despite tale-telling data, however, other researches show a path to the imminent saturation and plateau of adoption in mobile use. Regardless, mobile use is a way of life not just in countries with better-educated and higher-income consumers, but usage is also commonplace in poorer and developing countries.

Art / Creative Direction

Creativity and vision are a given in art/creative direction.

An even more important aspect that determines the effectiveness of this discipline is the ability to see the practical big picture. This ability allows the art director to see not only the scope and breadth of branding or a campaign, but also the long-term effects. The questions ever-present in any creative director’s mind are always: is the branding of an identity flexible and agile for future implementation; or is the campaign modular and adaptable to work in various reach media?

Whether strengthening a brand or marketing and advertising a product and/or service, the creative direction can dictate the company’s outreach success through research and thorough immersion. Furthermore, in the era of hand-held e-commerce capabilities and viral social media virtual reality, the understanding of technology and readiness to react cannot be ignored.

Art Direction: Integrating Graphic Design & UX/UI

Art/creative directors are no longer the masters of, and restrained by, print medium. The expectation demands a greater awareness and a moderate level of expertise that crosses over into the technical: responsive design, HTML5, CSS3, CMS, and usability are but a few invaluable do-or-die know-hows needed to fulfill this now catch-all role.

Project Management

The success of project management directly correlates to the effectiveness of managing expectations.

Top 10 Qualities of a Project Manager

The role of the Project Manager is crucial for a successful project, but what qualities does he/she need to ensure effectiveness?

Vision An effective project leader is often described as having a vision of where to go and the ability to articulate it.

Communication Project leadership calls for clear communication about goals, responsibility, performance, expectations and feedback.

Integrity The project manager’s actions set an example for the rest of the team members, and is ultimately responsible for setting ethical standards for the rest of the team.

Enthusiasm / Passion Enthusiastic leaders are committed to their goals and express this commitment through optimism.

Empathy / Compassion A good project manager needs to understand that there is life outside the workplace and that people are not machines without emotions.

Composure When leaders encounter a stressful event, they consider it interesting, they feel they can influence the outcome and they see it as an opportunity.

Team Building A team builder can best be defined as a strong person who provides the substance that holds the team together in common purpose toward the right objective.

Problem Solving An efficient project manager should be capable of solving any or all problems, either with the team or the project itself.