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.