What every freelancer ought to know about freelancing.

It's time to realise probably what you have learn in school days are nothing, but technical skills and technical skills.

It's been awhile since I started freelancing, and there are always lessons learnt in the hard way. Have you ever felt lost, didn't know what is the "right" way to handle certain things at the start of your freelance career?

For example, how much should you charge your client? What should you do to protect your rights as a freelancer, as well as making a win/win situation for both you and your client? Do you know what is the ideal way to negotiate with your client?

If you have been freelancing for awhile, probably like me in the past, believe that freelancing is a solitary activity. But in fact, that is absolutely wrong. You need help from alot of people to be successful, even in a freelancing.



I would have wished that I stumbled on this book when I started freelancing, but it did not exist. Now it is available. The Unlimited Freelance Ebook. Be it if you just started freelancing, or thinking of starting a freelance career, or even if you are a veteran freelancer pondering how to automate your business, this book is a strong recommendation from me.

Click here to find out more>> Unlimited Freelance Ebook

Graduates' Tea 2009

www.zanderstyle.blogspot.com graduates' tea 2009, originally uploaded by Zander Liang.

Graduates' Tea is an annual event for Malay/Muslim University and Polytechnic graduates, which has been held since 1995.

This year, Graduates' Tea returns on Saturday, 11 July 2009, with the theme of "Roughing the Edge, Making the Cut". Graduates' Tea 2009 will be graced by Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources and Minister in-charge of Muslim Affairs.

The above poster is not the final version that was provided to the client. I personally like this version because of the orange background, it injects a taste of joy and celebration. The final version is more of a cool blue version.

You can visit their website at this link: click here

Creating a Website with just Photoshop!

Have you ever wish that you can JUST design a website and it works without having to code/script it?

You don't need to know even the basics of HTML, CSS... You just need to know the basics of Photoshop.

No matter how simple or complex your design is. You can convert it into a fully functioning website.

For a designer like me who knows Photoshop but NUTS about coding and web scripting like Html, CSS ... This plugin is truly amazing. It can instantly allow me to start my own web designing business if I want to.

You can learn more about the Photoshop Plugin that I'm talking about at this link.
Check out their demo version and their web samples too!

Truly amazing.

Strings Blended VI: SMU Guitarissimo Concert

Guitarissimo is a guitar club comprising of a classical guitar ensemble, classical small groups, as well as acoustic guitar groups. Since its founding eight years ago, Guitarissimo has sustained its vision to provide the avenues for SMU students to learn and advance their guitar playing skills, and also to offer its guitarists a platform to showcase their skills.

I was approached by Steve and his team to design a poster for their upcoming concert - Strings Blended VI. Folk songs are the theme of the concert. After few rounds of conceptualization and mock-ups, Steve decided that the famous Indiana Jones poster would give the feel that best suit the concert. He provided me with varies necessary photos to work with, and here is one of the final drafts:

Strings Blended VI will be held on 20th September 2009, at National Musemum Gallery Theatre. Tickets are sold $15. For more details, email to stringsblended@guitarissimo.smusa.sg.

It was a pleasure working with Steve, and I wish the String Blended VI a successful concert!

Noise Singapore 2009

I found this email under my Junk Mail. To my dismay, my work has been selected by Noise Singapore for exhibition since 5th of March till 29th March and I only realized it on the 2nd of April!

Yo Noise Artist,

The Noise Singapore Festival Showcase has been on since March 5, and thousands of people have been to the exhibition at Far East Plaza, heard some of the Noise musicians perform at Esplanade and *scape, as well as browsed through the online showcase on www.noisesingapore.com.

In fact, if you've visited your profile page on www.noisesingapore.com recently, you would have noticed that some of your works have been highlighted in a special section only for selected Noise Singapore artists. This means that your works are among the 1,700 selected for the Festival Showcase, out of a pool of some 7,000 submissions!

Congratulations :)

Have you checked out the Festival Showcase exhibition at Far East Plaza Level One? If you have not, remember to catch it before 29 March 2009. Your work can also be found at the interactive table at Noise Store Far East Plaza Level One, #01-28. Pick up a complimentary copy of the beautiful Noise Singapore publication and CD before they run out!

We look forward to seeing your new creations when we call for submission around July or August this year!

Cheers,

Noise Singapore Team

www.noisesingapore.com

Below are the selected work for Noise Singapore 2009. You will be able to see them on their Website till probably the time when they decided to remove the event. Click here and proceed to page 25.

The first Shoe Design I've ever done. With only Black and Red markers. The shoe is not for sale, and solely for my own personal collection.

Vector Illustration. Based on the movie: Memoirs of Geisha. This artwork is my most favorited artwork on Deviantart.

An random theme challenge within a group of friends to come out with a Mecha Design.

My character design: AFRO TREES. Meant to explore the possibilities of an interesting Mascot.

Lately, I've been busy with freelancing. Will update some of the new works here soon. Meanwhile, I've got my Twitter account working again.

Do follow me on my Twitter!
My Twitter profile - http://twitter.com/Zander_L

Why your Logo doesn't cost $50?

Here's some comic strips that illustrate the topic:
1) Comic Strip One
2) Comic Strip Two

You can buy things with money, but there is something money can't buy. Time.

Professionals in any trade value their time, so does designers. A $50 budget should not be expecting anything more than an hour's work. Needlessly to say time spent on changes to the sample, time spent on consultation, time spent on the execution.

Consider the amount of time spent in the designing process, if $50 is the budget, it isn't worth the time for the designer to even do it.

More Reasons why your logo doesn't cost $50:

1. A logo is the very first impression people get of your company.
2. A logo needs longevity.
3. A logo needs to be original.
4. A logo should look professional.
5. A logo should reflect the time and thought gone in to designing it.
6. A logo is the starting point of your whole corporate image.

Take a look at your logo, does it adheres to the above six pointers? If not, probably it is time to invest in a professional logo.

Simply email me ( designempire@live.com ) and state them you are interested to hire my service, and I'll send my questionnaires over to you.

Designer's Arsenal

Hope everyone had a great new year celebration. 2009 is here.
Here's something for the designers or even graphic designer wannabes:


1) Unable to create a decent looking vector graphic that like the pros?

2) Tired of making your own art, and looking for easy to use templates?

3) Do you want to save more time on your designing process?


You want to save time, save trouble, save the hassle, yet producing high quality vector artworks?

Here's how. Check out this link.

*ps. There are some freebies around.

10 Basic Steps Of A Logo Design Process

There is many ways a designer work. But here's my style: Zander Style - My 10 Basic steps for A Logo Design Process.

1) Writing a Design Brief -

Clients are to provide information, facts or even Company history. This ensures the designer have a narrowed scope to research on, saving time and money.


2) Confirmation to engage -

Contract(s) will be drafted and signed by both parties as a confirmation to engage. This serves as a protection for the client as well as the artist.


3) Research-

Research can take hours or a few days, depending on the accessibility of the information. The design brief helps to generate keywords for the designer to research on. The research usually includes competition, the industry and company history.


4) Visual Research -

Original, fresh logo, that is what all business owners would wanted. Having copied logo may get business owners into trouble. This is where visual research comes into an important play. Researching on the logo of similar companies, allows the designer to critique and better position their client. Visual Research is generally vital for inspiration and originality.


5) Conceptualizing & Sketches -

Pencil and papers. Lots of sketches, even the ugly ones. Choose a few inspirations or ideas and fully explore the possibilities.

It is advisable to work solely on a Grey scheme or a single color (maybe black) at this point of time. Worry about the colors later.


6) Prototypes -

Depending on the agreement, the designer will draft a number of prototypes for the client. These prototypes would have undergo the designer's filter and selection from the sketches before making the decision to complete them as prototypes.


7) First Presentation & Review -

My personal preference is to provide the prototypes in Grey scheme, and this allows the client to focus on the design of the prototypes.

Clients are to feedback and critiques on the design, and discuss with the designer how to further proceed. It is advisable to narrow the numbers of prototype to only one which is closest to the desired outcome.


8) Refining Process -

Refining the prototype and making changes. Note that often, if the changes are too drastic and involved a lot more time, the designer may consider additional charges to the project.


9) Final Delivery -

Once upon approval of the refined artwork, the designer will provide the completed artwork, along with necessary file upon request.


10) Maintaining Relations -

The relation built in the process of the whole project will not just end upon the final payment. The designer should maintain the relation and in any scenario should the client face problems with the artwork, the designer should be there to offer any help.

4 Reasons Why A Design Brief is Important

One of the most important element of the project - writing a good design brief for the designer, before the start of the designing process.

1) As the business owner, you made known to the designer what you want to achieve by the end of the project.

2) Providing a detailed design brief, allows the designer to save more time and rather focus on more important key words and elements that truly represent your company.

3) It gives the initial discussion more value and making it worth the time. Designer would be able to ask further questions to clear his doubts in a shorter time.

4) A good design brief will ensure that you get a high quality design that meets your needs, provided you have chosen the right designer.

I provide my own design brief questionnaires for clients before the start of any design project. It saves lots of my time and allows me to focus on researching the key elements in the brief.

What is logo?

1) A Logo is NOT your brand. It is representing your brand. ( It does not have to illustrate the obvious, just like how McDonalds does not illustrate that they have the cheapest and fastest burger in their logo.

2) A Logo should be simple and yet portrays the right identity.

3) A Logo should work well in both small and extremely large sizes. ( Should not blur or pixelate )

4) A Logo must be describable.

5) A Logo must be memorable.

6) A Logo must be effective without colour. ( in a black or white )

Above are the basic vital points of a logo. Often you can see how new small business start up companies put little emphasis on their logo, most of the time, doing it D.I.Y. It is important to remember a Logo gives the first impression to your customers, whether do your company looks and feels dependable depends on the logo on your business card.

They are the one who do the important silent job, which most of the time you won't hear it from the customers. An average logo will be able to attract your right customers. A great logo will impress them, and often a poorly designed logo will repel them. The impression usually stays for a period of time.

Zander's Christmas theme for 2008

Had some problems uploading these pictures. They look perfectly fine on the computer, but when uploaded, the resolution was horrible. Managed to solve it by saving it as .png instead of .jpg. However, the same problem still unsolved when I uploaded to Facebook. I wonder why.

A idea for X'mas theme: I decided it to be Recession 2009. Not a very merry issue to touch on, however i thought of it as a realistic approach to this year's X'mas. I wonder how will Christmas be for the Western Countries now. Well, I guess its global, no one will be spared somehow.

Another version of the postcard. A longer one.



Feel free to download the wallpaper.

An early greeting, Merry Christmas 2008.

Calendarfly Namecard Design

Name card design sample for Calendarfly. You can visit their website at www.calendarfly.com. The Logo design is by another artist. I only did the namecard design and layout.

Calendarfly is a website that works something similar to an organizer. I did not do a thorough walkthrough in the website to try out the functions, as it needs registration.

Euphoria Effects Design

A concept which I'm currently working on. I like the word Euphoria. It is commonly used, but not Euphoria Effects. It is obvious that this name card is designed to target more of business firms. Designs for the business firms. An Euphoric design to boost your company's visual aids and how the public see your corporate identity.

Rosemont

Rosemont, a wallpaper importer that sells the market leader children's peel and stick range and medium to high end designer wallpapers.

Though, it is not necessary to build the new logo design on the old one, I feel the advantage of giving the their clients a familiar look rather a total face lift.

Name card design and other stationary designs

What's a logo worth?

"A company without a logo, is as good as a businessman without a namecard."

I read a interesting post by various designer's blog regarding how most people underestimate the worth of a professional design. For most designers, chances are, there are times when a businessman requesting artwork at a far low rate then you can imagine. For example, spending $50 on professional services for a logo should not expect anything more than one hour's work.

Initial start up on any business, usually comes with tight budget. However, being in business doesn't always means cut costs, save money. Consider how much it cost for a poor initial identity, and spending much more for a re-branding.

A logo design can be a huge asset to a company.
- It makes a company look more professional -- and trustworthy.
- It can become a powerful symbol recognized by the masses.
- Great logo design makes your business memorable for your clients.


What do you think of a logo's worth?

Online Profits

ONLINE PROFITS.com, is a company dealing with online internet marketing. And here are my sample logos.

Another Web 2.0 Logo Style.

Brighthouse Labs

Brighthouse Labs Inc. is a company that does a lot of things, most of which are online projects. The brand has to be open to anything and not specific to a niche industry. They are young innovators looking for any opportunity to grow their business in many ways.

Above is a concept sample, in my own vision interprets a message that can goes well with the company direction.

Corporate Identity

Logo design, Business cards and other stationary. Above is a sample done for Laser Source.

Laser Source is a 20 year old computer service company specializing in laser printer supplies and services.

The namecard at a closer view. Alexander Bricks is just a random name used, so are the information on the card itself.

Logo Designs

More recent Logo Designs:

Web 2.0 Style Logo.

Logo Design for a Health & Fitness Company

Design for a client who wants the logo to be OPERA.

Anibal Esteban

Product/Services: Jewelery & Fabrication
Target Audience: High End Jewelers

First Proposal

Anibal Esteban, according to my research online, the name itself has quite a noble meaning. Anibal; grace of the gods. Esteban; the crown.

The first design derived from the meaning of the name itself.

Second Proposal

Using the initials A & E to form the X icon. The idea was to create a fashion icon such as famous brands like CHANEL, GUCCI etc.

Lady White

An attempt to create photo-realistic portraits using Adobe Illustrator G-Mesh. This artwork is considered a break through for my personal achievement. But definitely, yet to reach where I've been striving at.

The brushes are not created by me. I chanced upon it on the internet, and it was real great stuffs. Without them into my arsenal, this artwork would not have become as "completed" as this.

The Initial Portrait & The Outlines

G meshing is a fantastic tool to create photo realistic artworks. I did my research before starting this artwork, but unfortunately, there isn't much tutorials on using G-Mesh for human face. It's more complex and especially when the contours of a human face makes controlling of the G mesh difficult.

Furthermore, I face problems trying to create realistic hair. The duration of the artwork took too much time than I have plan for. There was couple of ideas running in my mind, but I decided to put an end to it.

Imperium Sample

Not an official poster design for Imperium Event.

This is a sample i did for a client, there is more design i wanted to put in. Unfortunately, the client has yet to get back to me, thus I've cease to spend more time into this poster.

In the weeks to come, I will touch up on this piece, and place it into my portfolio.

Disillusion

An artwork to celebrate the launch of ZanderStyle blog-folio.

Adobe Illustrator CS 2

It have been awhile since i last created such vector illustrations. Definitely yet to lost touch, in fact through the process of reading other designer blogs and tutorials, it's a great learning lesson for me.

www.altimatre.deviantart.com
All my old previous works can be seen there.

New artworks, work in progess, sketches, scrap, but most importantly of quality art will be featured here.

First Launch

The blog style portfolio of Zander Liang

I'm a self employed graphic designer from Singapore,
specializing in Vector Illustration and Creative Design.

Make yourself at home.