Hey Bloggees!
Back again with another technique for adding time to your day. I hope last week's article was a help in regards to developing goals outside of your head. This week, I want to deal with a technique that can help you determine how your time is used. Let's get crackin'!

Time Saving Technique #2: Just Say No!

This advice I had heard over the years from different sources. Recently, though, it's been through Sean McCabe on SeanWes TV that has brought this advice home. The idea is to say no to anything (even good things) that would take time away from the things you should be focusing on. Another way to view it is going for the great over the good. An excellent example would be saying "No" to a late night event, because you need to be rested up for the next day of work. You're saying "No" to something good (the event), so that you can do something great (be rested up enough to be your best at work).

This one can be a particular struggle. It's especially hard when you are afraid of losing friends or missing out on something. The truth is though, by limiting what you say "No" to, you can determine your schedule and what to say "Yes" to. Just saying "No" allows you the freedom to focus your attention on what matters (work / family / etc...). You don't need to say "No" to everything, just the things that would be more of a distraction, then a help.

 

In Action:

This one I'm still working on. Last week I saw what happened when I didn't say "No". I was working on one of my StarCars pieces and decided to turn on the Arrow television program on Netflix. Arrow is a great show and very easy to get absorbed into the story line. As a result, I watched multiple episodes. This resulted in me going to bed much later then I wanted to. The late night resulted in a slower start the next day. If I had said "No" after one episode, I could have gotten to bed at a decent time, gotten a full night's rest, and been better prepared for work the next day. Arrow isn't a bad show. Binge watching it though was a distraction from getting the well needed rest I needed to do my job. Thus a good thing (watching Arrow) was a distraction from a great thing (getting enough rest for work).

One More Thing...

I want to thank all of you who have been reading my blog since I started it here back in 2012. I have an opportunity to share my articles on another site. As a result, this will be the last blog post here on Blogger. Instead, I want to invite you to come check out my new home at medium.com. The goal is to continue to provide meaningful insight and advice from my experiences and misadventures in design. I hope you can join me in this new chapter of the jepegdesign blog. 

When was the last time you used the power of "No" for something better? If not, how do you want to apply this principle in the future? Do you even agree with this method? I would love to hear about this! Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think. Next week, I will continue on this time saving series with efficient ways of tackling big projects. See you on medium.com!

Hey Bloggees!
Time seems to be something people have little of. We're busy trying to juggle our careers, families, friends, and personal time. Wouldn't it be nice if there was a way of adding more time to your day? What if I told you there is a way? What if I told you that there were simple techniques that you can use that can give you that extra time? Well, good news! There are. I'm going to share with you over the next few weeks, some techniques I'm learning to incorporate into my day. You will probably notice an overarching theme to these methods (which I'll get to at the end of the series).  We begin with a simple technique that has helped me out...
 

Time Saving Technique #1: Write It Down!

This advice came from my Mom and my boss at High Resolutions. I know, I know. It sounds simple, right? Write down your items on a to-do list and work your way through it. But, here's the problem, we don't do it. We don't want to spend the time to slow down and write down the things that need to be done. We tend to keep mental notes in our heads of all the different things we need to get done. This gives us a sense that we are saving time by keeping it all in our head. However, over time, that mental list gets longer and more complicated. At some point, something important will slip through the cracks or you will become paralyzed by the mountain of items on your "mental" list and not get things done. As a result, that mental list will cost you time and, potentially something else (financially or otherwise). By writing it down, you are clearing out that mental list and focusing on what needs to be done. You will have a game plan to work through. It will give you a sense of accomplishment as you see items completed on that list. Finally, it will help you save time and money that would have been wasted from a forgotten item.

In Action:

As a graphic designer at a production company, it's easy to get swamped by the quantity of work that comes in. I used to try keep track of all the various projects that I had without making a list. I was reacting to client work and as a result, I was stressing out over what I had (or had not worked on) and letting the work determine the length of my workday. To solve this, I designed a project list (which you can see here) that I print out at the beginning of the week. I then write down the current projects that I'm working on and I keep track of the work I've done for the day. If new projects come in, I add that to the list. I check through the projects I have worked on and I try to make sure I go through each project once before going back and working on additional revisions or new projects. The list allows me to be proactive with my schedule, focus on the projects at hand, and have a sense of accomplishment on what I have done for the day. As a result. I'm not getting as stressed out about the quantity of projects and I have better control on how long my work day will be. As a result, I'm able to come home at a decent hour and have time to either work on side projects or to spend time with my wife.

I strongly encourage you to do this. Create either a physical list (like what I did) or a digital one for your device. It will be a time-saver. This technique alone can add valuable time to your busy schedule. 


I would love to hear how you have applied this technique to your schedule. Please leave a comment below and let me know how you incorporated this method and how it worked out for you. 'Till next time!

The Making of a StarCar

Welcome Back Bloggees!

You may recall in my recent posts about my trip to Circles, a design conference in Grapevine, Texas (you can read those posts below). While at Circles, I heard about James White's Star Kade series of 80's icons and designs. This inspired me to start doing a series of pieces based off of two of my favorite interests: cars and movies / TV shows. The result of that endeavor is Star Cars, a series featuring a new vehicle every week from the big and small screen. Today, I want to share with you the six-stage process I use in making a Star Car, featuring the Thorndyke Special from the classic Disney movie, The Love Bug. Let's get crackin'!

1 - RESEARCH

Before a new car is rendered, I go online and track down source photos for a particular car. In this case, I searched for photos for the Thorndyke Special (a 1963 Apollo 350 GT Sports Car). These reference photos allow me to figure out the shape, color scheme, and other details (like the racing number). Once I have a good idea of what the car looks like, I pull out the template.

2 - TEMPLATE

I devised a set of templates for cars, vans, and helicopters (not shown). These templates allow me to keep a cohesive feel with each vehicle for the entire series. The templates are saved to my computer and I print off a fresh sheet when I'm ready to draw a new car.

3 - DRAWING

After I have acquired enough source photos for the vehicle of the week, I draw out the car using the template as a guide (you can see the slight shape of the car template in this drawing.  This allows for quicker rendering the car and more time to figure out the look of the particular car. In this case, I've sketched out the line work for the car. The color and shading will be determined in the color stage.

4 - LINE WORK

Once the drawing is complete, I scan it into my computer and start working out the line work in Illustrator. This allows for fine-tuning of the actual drawing and making sure that it will be consistent with other vehicles in the series. At this point, I also add elements to add a level of detail to the piece. In this case, the racing number and stripes in the background. 

5 - COLOR

After the linework is complete, it is now time to add color and shading to the piece. I use a separate layer in Illustrator under the line work layer to add color. This allows me to lock the line layer and add color without messing with established shape of the car. The light / dark color design creates a nice sense of form without going completed complicated with multiple levels of tone (i.e. high light, light, mid tone, etc...) 

6 - RENDER

For the final stage of the process, The piece is brought into Photoshop for background color and texture. The texture in this case is a soft concrete brush. This gives the design a slightly distressed appearance, like the one that develops on a favorite t-shirt.

And there we have it! The Thorndyke Special is complete. This six stage process allows me to create these passion projects within a tight schedule. You can find the Throndyke Special and other StarCars pieces on my dribbble page.

Interested in doing a passion project like this, but you just can't seem to find the time? Well, starting next week, I'll share with you some techniques I'm applying to help add time to a busy schedule. 'Till next time!

Lesson’s Learned from Circles Part III

 
Hey Bloggees,

Back again for the final set of lessons from the Circles Conference. As I mentioned last time, this is summarizing some of the great lessons I came away with from the 2015 Circles Conference. Let’s get crackin’!

Learning from Your Mistakes
Food type design Danielle Evans shared her backstory of mistakes and errors on her journey in design. She recommended us to use our bad ideas as a springboard for future design. Danielle also encouraged us that mistakes and error are not the end, but an opportunity to develop our own style (which she referred to as a consistent series of calculated errors).

Design Advice
Young Jerks founder Dan Cassaro asked us what type of designer are you (serious with substance or style and light)?  He then explained the important elements in design in the form of nobility - Taste (which is king), Style (which is queen), and Ability (which the trusted adviser). These three elements develop good design. Lastly Dan encouraged us to work hard at not working hard.

10 Things in 10 Years
Design Duo Katie & Nathan Strandberg of Eight Hour Design gave us 10 bits of advice (representing the 10 years they have been working together). For example…

Surround yourself with good people
Known when to walk / run away from a bad job
and a great bonus one…
Don’t listen to us! Learn for yourself.

Made in the Middle
The conference ended with a great presentation from Tad Carpenter. He reminded us to take risks and that we get to do this work for a living. It’s easy to forget, in midst of client woahs and design mishaps, that we have a chance to do something that we love. It was a great message to rally the design groups to head back to the workplace.

Applications
These speakers have encouraged me in the realm of perseverance. When it comes to mistakes and botched job, I need to press on and learn for next time. In regards to my work load, it needs be a persistent balance of work and rest. When it comes to life, I need to keep learning and growing in my field. Lastly, in my focus, it’s the constant reminder that I get to do what I enjoy. Next time, I’ll  be sharing the process to my Star Car Collects. Thanks for reading the blog. Till next time!

Lessons from Circles Part II

 
Hey Bloggees,

Back again with more lessons from the Circles Conference. I realized that at this rate it will take a while to go through each session. Instead, I’m going to summarize the lessons over the next two blogs (beginning with this one). So, without further ado… Let’s dive in!

One Item = Multiple Solution
Creative tinkerer Kelli shared she has found multiple uses for paper. The key was thinking outside the conventional usage of the medium (i.e. can I make a functional camera out of just paper). The lesson here is that the medium shouldn’t challenge your creativity. Instead, use the creativity to develop the use of the media.

Check Your Motivation
Photography expert Helena Price gave some great advice on checking your motivation. This motivation ranges from the work you produce, the career path you take, and your interactions with others. Two things she shared stuck with me. The first was Don’t put work in your portfolio you don’t want to do again (advice from one of her teachers). The other was to get out to know people (as opposed to using people for future jobs).

Masters of the Universe
Harnessing his love for the 1980s, designer / illustrator James White, shared how he combined his childhood memories with his artistic talent to create pieces that he loved. These passion projects have led to paying projects.

Application
These sessions have inspired me to make some changes in the way that I do design. When it comes to creativity, I need to be open to different solutions to a problem. In how design work is done, I need to focus on work that I want to do and to treat people as people. Finally, James White’s talk has inspired me to start creating car pieces (which you can see on my Dribbble account. I’ll be back next week with more lessons from Circles. Till next time Bloggees!

Circles 2015... Lessons Learned Part 1

Hey Bloggees!

After a long hiatus, I'm restarting with the miniblogs. A week ago I got the opportunity to go to Circles, a design conference held in Grapevine, Texas, just outside of Dallas. It was a great chance to catch up with friends I had made at Creative South, a chance to hear some great speakers, and, to be honest, a chance to take a small vacation from the chaos that had become my life... I was letting myself get overwhelmed with my work and struggling to find the balance between it and home life. The conference was just what I needed. It gave me the chance to clear my head and get a fresh perspective of my job as a graphic designer. Over the next few weeks I'll share some of the lessons I've learned and am planning to apply to my life.

Creativity is a Fight
Online Writer Shawn Blanc started off the conference with a session entitled "Fight to Stay Creative." His message resonated with my work struggle and creative burnout. To help out the rest of us, Shawn gave us a strategy to fight the good fight...
   • Showing up every day.
      Having the discipline to show up mentally and creatively.
   • Rest well and take time away from the screen.
     Take time out to clear your head.
   • Set clear goals and celebrate success.
     Have daily goals and rewards to celebrate completing those goals.
   • Have fun while you create.
     Relax and enjoy the creative process.
   • You are not alone.
     Stay connected with the community.

Application 
Shawn's message made me realize that I wasn't alone with my struggle. His guidelines made me realize that I didn't have to be bogged down by this mental load. Instead, I plan on using his strategy to fight for creativity and learn to enjoy the process. Till next time bloggees!

Learning to Step Away...

Hey Bloggees and a Happy Belated New Year to you.  Once again, life decided to happen and the blog got set aside for other things.  During that time I’ve been doing a little bit of house keeping (narrowing down my decent size T-Shirt collection, reworking my home schedule, etc).  I’ve also been reevaluating how I prioritize my time and how I use it.  Two things that I spend a lot of time on are “design” related activities and  tech (watching Netflix, Social Media, etc…).  Now, before you think I’m going to denounce my design interest or use of tech and go live as hermit, that is not where I’m going.  I enjoy design.  I enjoy sitting down and enjoying some great shows on Netflix.  Where the issue is how I use those things and why.  For this post, I want to be open and honest about letting go of design and tech, and what my game plan is for a more balanced usage of both…

A major use of my time is design, or should I say, design related activities. That includes perusing Pinterest for ideas, designing side projects, and studying up on design related news.  This doesn’t sound bad, and to be honest, it isn’t.  Where the problem has been the heavy drive in this area and why.  You see, I feel like I need to do something “productive” (i.e. design related), otherwise, I’m wasting time.  What’s worse, I feel like that design is my identity (something we guys struggle with).  I identify myself by what I do, not who I am as a person.  This drive and personification has resulted in me desperately working on something design related to feel complete.  This dependance on design goes right into the next area, tech.

I enjoy technology.  I like the fact I can catch up with friends and family on Facebook, laugh at a great show, or catch up on art and design. The question arises though, am I a master of the technology I use, or a servant. Am I so dependent on being entertained that I miss out on life.  These points were brought home from two completely different sources.  The first came from an article in Communication Arts by Ernie Schenck (you can read the article here).  In it he shares how, if we are not careful, technology could effect creativity, but can cause us to lose “awareness of the real world”.  In essence, technology, if used incorrectly, will cause us to miss out on life, not enjoy more of it.  The second came from our Church’s youth pastor.  His message, which you can hear (here) made me think of how dependent I have become on it (and not in a good way).  So, how do I get these two areas sorted out?  By learning to let go and step away.

Learning to step away from these areas is tough.  I’ve come to be dependent on both areas for major portions of my life.  I have to do this though for a couple of reasons.

1. My identity is not jobs or possessions, it’s who I am.  It doesn’t matter what I do or if I’m aware about the latest gossip.  What matters is what makes me unique (personality, interests, hobbies).  Most importantly, my identity, as a Christian, needs to be Christ.  My identity (who I am) needs to be found in Him.

2. Too much of a good thing can be harmful.  My over-obsessed drive for creative could be hampering my ability to create new ideas.  My tech driven focus could cause me to miss out on quality time for myself, loved ones, and God

Here’s my gameplay for stepping away…

Design - Limit my at-home design time to no more then an hour in the evening and remember that it is okay to rest and enjoy…

Technology - Limit my TV intake daily and to unplug from all tech entirely for a day or two each week.

I hope my honesty is an encouragement to you.  I’ll keep you posted on how this goes.  ‘Till next time Bloggees!