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Showing Your Work
Showing your work can be an important part of designing. If for no other reason than to give yourself an idea of how you work and perhaps even how you think. Showing your work gives you insight to your processes (which you don't necessarily have to share with the client).
Showing Our Work: Taking an idea, sketching it out on paper (bottom) and then turning it into a digital design (top).
I keep a client journal on my desk. Basically, it's a Moleskine® where I write things down, old school. It typically contains a page or two I've written up during my initial telephone interview with a client. I ask a few questions, then listen to their ideas about the design, (the more passionate their ideas, the better). While I listen, I write down key points about shapes, colors, thoughts about their ideal customers, descriptions of the service or product, and even the feelings that it conveys. If a visual pops into my head, I will sketch it out as well.
When it comes down to the design process, I start with an initial concept, and then walk away from it. Leaving a project and then coming back to it later is a great way to give it a fresh look. The second look is then shared and discussed with a second pair of eyes before it goes to the client for review.
At the beginning of 2015, Rolling Rook Studio took on a photographer and design partner who often serves as a second pair of eyes and creative director. It has changed the way we work for the better. Having another visual professional on hand to offer input on projects, has proven to be invaluable, and greatly improved our work.
Affinity Designer & Photo Work
Here's a few things we've done since switching over to Affiniy software....
The Adobe Love Affair is Over
We're Developing an Affinity for Affinity
I've been using Adobe software for nearly 2 decades now. I've designed almost everything I've done in Illustrator for the past 5 years. This year, however, will be different.
I was going to renew the studio membership to the Creative Cloud this year, when I realized that last year's subscription was purchased at a discounted deal (about 40% off the regular price). I spoke with Adobe in a chat session online and someone offered me an even better deal, but when I went to speak to Adobe over the phone, they said it wasn't true. I then told them that I'd have to think about it.
We're a small business, just like a majority of the clients we serve. We break even (when we're lucky), but have high hopes and aspirations to do much more. We take pride in serving our customers, seeing them happy and spending what money we do make in the local community.
When a HUGE company like Adobe, (whose software hasn't even really changed that much in the past decade), wants to raise your annual rates, that's a major catalyst to start looking elsewhere...and we did.
Rolling Rook Studio has decided on a change this year, and we're sure that most of our clients won't even notice. We're breaking free of the "industry standard"! As of June 2015 we will be designing exclusively using Affinity Designer software... and you probably won't even notice!
We're going to provide our clients with the same, beautiful designs and the same types of files we've always provided. It will just be a new adventure, and small learning curve for our staff.
That said...We look forward to creating new and exciting designs for you this year!
Official Statement Regarding the "Religious Freedom" Restoration Act
Like many business here, in the state of Indiana, we are deeply concerned with the passing of SB101 today by Governor Mike Pence. It is a law that legalizes discrimination against others under the guise of religious beliefs.
Rolling Rook Studio has always supported the diversity in our employees and our clients. It has always been (and always will be) our policy to welcome and respect all, regardless of socio-economic backgrounds, religious beliefs (or lack thereof), race, gender, sexuality, or ethnicity.
We have signed up to be included in the directory at OPEN FOR SERVICE, "a campaign to celebrate businesses that oppose discrimination of any type". Thus Rolling Rook Studio is prominently and proudly displaying the following...
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.
Shout Out from Tory at Hoppy Hour
Tory of Hoppy Hour was so nice to give us a "Super Fan Toast" shout out during her latest episode reviewing some pretty great porters! Thanks Tory!
BRAAAAAAAAAINS!!!! (Publication Announcement)
We were recently delighted to find out that one of our illustrations just got her work into a comic book being published in the next month or so. The comic book, published by IDW is called "ZvR" (or Zombies versus Robots).
On a whim, Elizabeth submitted her comical drawings of a zombie "playing" chess with a robot. She just found out today that the comic book is going to publish one or both of her drawings!
Congrats!
Published illustration on the ZvR contest web page. (Click image to go there now.)
Original Pen and Ink Drawing for ZvR contest entry.
Lessons Learned: Project 365
Not long after ringing in the New Year, just past midnight, on what was January 1, 2014, I started a project with the following pencil sketch...
This project just popped into my head and I proposed to myself that I would create 365 visual projects for the year 2014. Ideally, a project would be completed every day. It didn't matter what medium or how good or bad the project turned out. The goal was just to do it.
Like Frederick Franck's 5th commandment, "You shall not draw with exhibitions in mind, nor to please any critic but yourself", each project had no audience in mind. Many projects were inspired from current events, news, articles, tweets, and things my friends said or did. Some were, shall I say, "uninspired", yet others were filled with passion and creativity.
"Can of Unknown" is some sort of mystery food from a video game that my friends play online.
There were days that I wanted to quit. Just like most human beings, I might feel overwhelmed, bored or tired. Some days I wondered what I was thinking on January 1st so early in the morning (affected by lack of sleep more than champagne). Then there were days where I was brimming with ideas and creativity, or inspiration inexplicably coursed through my veins. On those days, I might catch up on a week's worth of creative pieces or get ahead of the project entirely.
I'll admit, a few of the projects were design ideas or illustrations that my clients rejected. Being their creator, I had grown fond of them and thought they deserved a life elsewhere, so I went ahead and allowed them to develop. I often thought, if nothing else, it was good practice.
Rook
In the end, I have a project that no one really cares about, but me...a body of work... 365 images, designs, digital and ink illustrations, pencil drawings, and photographs. They are all mine and I made them. They prove to me that I can accomplish something, that I can stick with something (for better or worse) and in the process, learn from my mistakes, improve and learn. I have most certainly honed my skills in planning, design, composition, color, and execution. My knowledge of Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop have grown immensely. By posting many of these projects to social media, I've learned about who "likes" what and where. I've learned about hashtags and I've seen a keen interest in people wanting to get back to the basics (pencils, pens and paintbrushes, rather than pixels and vectors).
Would I recommend such a project? Most definitely! I believe in pushing yourself to see how far you can go. Just like when I'm out riding my bicycle and I hit 15 miles with 10 more left to get home. The thought occurs to me to quit, rest, hitch a ride, but I just can't. I just won't give up (even though, sometimes I probably should).
In the past 6 years I've ridden half of century (50 miles) twice. I've reached the point of exhaustion and feeling like I just couldn't keep going (particularly on the Hilly Hundred), but in the end, it's all worth the endurance (and the hot shower) for there is a certain joy that comes with knowing you can take something on and see it through.