Featured Article
How To Think Like A Great Graphic Designer
Debbie Millman
We all wonder how a great designer thinks. Now is your chance to get into the mind of one of the greats, James Victore. Debbie Millman graciously shares the entire James Victore interview with us from her book How To Think Like A Great Graphic Designer.
What are you selling, really?
by David Parrish
Before you can hit the pavement and "sell, sell, sell", you need to understand what it is you really are selling. Business people often get caught up in the service or product they are pushing, when in fact, as David points out, we really need to understand the emotion or situation that is the underlying product.
Four Easy Lessons and a Simple Truth
by Pam Bryan
As we've discussed before on Graphic Define, dealing with clients can be a difficult and daunting task. Consultant Pam Bryan gives some insight into the behavior of a client and what their true intentions might be in various situations.
How to Green Your Office and Stay in the Black
by Jennifer Blais
As a follow up to her previous article on Going Green, Jennifer has offered some of the key ways you can take your office green right now.
Focused?
by Eric Karjaluoto
As creatives, we tend to become scattered and follow wasted tangents that lead to nothing. Eric Karjaluoto points out some of the misconceptions that he's seen happen first hand to design studios as they grow their business. His words ring true with his own anecdotes and confessions that make this article both inspirational and insightful.
Catalytic Creativity: Brand Promises Can Change Lives
by Florence Haridan
"Practice what you preach". We've all heard the saying but how often do we take it to heart. As a designer, your brand should be one of the foremost business elements always on your mind when interacting with any client. Florence shows us what brand promises can do for your business and your peace of mind.
Tool Cards
by Chuck Green
Are you handing out a plain business card to your prospects or are you handing out a tool card that your prospects can actually use, will always want handy, and will be eager to share with others? Chuck Green shares some ideas of how tool cards can help your new business efforts and the essential ingredients you should consider for putting one together.
Your Creative Collective
by Steven Gordon
Steve Gordon explains your Creative Collective as "a real-time, living reference guide to just about everything". We think you should heed his advice and hear what he has to say because once you start helping your network succeed, it will come back to you ten fold.
What to Do When a Prospective Client Doesn't Respond to Your Proposal
by Ilise Benun
We've all been there. You meet with the client and they love you. You create a great proposal and put your heart in it. Then you play the waiting game to hear back from them. One week. Two weeks. Three weeks go by and no peep out of the prospective client. Ilise gives us some of the things she uses to help guide her through this process and also offers some advice on when you should cut your losses and move on.
Are Consultants in Your Future?
by Emily Cohen
Running your business should be a fun and exciting experience, but when should you look for professional help to guide you through the rough spots and how can you qualify these professionals. Design Management Consultant Emily Cohen sheds some light on these answers and also offers up some of the essential things you need to know before hiring a business consultant.
Publishers Notes
August 9th, 2007
In this issue we have a very exciting treat for Graphic Define Magazine readers. Designer, writer, and educator Debbie Millman has been kind enough to provide us with a chapter from her upcoming book How To Think Like A Great Graphic Designer to be published in November 2007. In this excerpt, Debbie interviews the great James Victore, a self-taught graphic designer based out of New York City and whom often needs no introduction.

This month we also have several great articles on client relations and marketing/self promotion - be sure to read them through and use some of the little gems of advice that they give.

Lastly, we have teamed up with the Flash Forward Conference & Film Festival as a media sponsor and are ecstatic to show them our full support for Issue 4. For those of you who don't know, Flash Forward is the largest Adobe Flash user conference in the world. This year's conference will be held in Boston, MA from September 19-21. The conference has a great lineup of speakers (including yours truly), exhibitors, and some great opportunities to meet like minded designers, programmers, and entreprenuers. If you attend, feel free to say hello to me at the conference and show your support for GDM.

Graphic Define Online Magazine is all about encouraging professionals in the graphic, web, and interactive industries to share their tips and experiences that have helped them in their business endeavours. if you would like to contribute to the next issue of Graphic Define send an email to contribute@graphicdefine.org and let us know more about yourself and what you would like to share.

Enjoy!


Daniel Schutzsmith
Editor & Publisher


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