Tag Archives: professional

Link love for August 3

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The Perfect Backup Strategy for Your Mac.

Stats of the Union tells health stories in America.

Sound Cells – Universal iOS App Creates Generative Music.

Aphonium – App Creates Generative Audio and Visuals.

SunVox – Multiplatform Modular Music Creation Studio.

Surprise Surveillance Theater: An Experimental Drama with Unwitting Stars.

Japanese artist Eiji Watanabe cuts butterflies out of printed field guides and sets them free, covering the walls and ceilings of installation spaces.

15 Shopping Rules of Thumb.

Every individual needs emotional and intellectual support from her creative tribe to sustain a positive, thriving and aspiring practice.

Hidden is an app that lets you spy on the person who may have stolen you laptop.

Urban Quiver camera bag from Blackstone Bags.

2008 How Design Conference Notes: Design Matters

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Debbie Millman, host of Design Matters, interviewed Michael Bierut, partner at Pentagram. (original description)

[this was an engaging interview, so I didn't take many notes as I was busy listening]

Three things he’s learned

  1. Most clients are scared you’ll embarrass them and not listen to them: diligently listening will take care of a lot of their concerns
  2. Let them tire themselves out
    • ala Muhammad Ali’s ‘Rope-a-dope‘
    • show them something to let them work their energy off, then pull out the better option
  3. Understand the cast of characters in a meeting who have their own politics, agenda

Business Development: send out 15 copies of a favorite project

  • 5 to the press
  • 5 to current clients
  • 5 to people you don’t know but think might be interested

2008 How Design Conference Notes: Tips for Productivity

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presented by Scott Belsky, founder and CEO of Behance (original description)

Behance Network is not about creativity but productivity

  • distinguish urgent vs. important: have 2 lists
  • generate ideas in moderation: they can be addicting
  • spend energy on staying organized: creativity * organization = impact
  • organize with a bias to action
  • the action method
    • action steps
    • back burner items: must review regularly or you may never do them
    • reference items: pile up, usually don’t get used again

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2008 How Design Conference Notes: Financial planning for solo designers

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presented by Shel Perkins, author of Talent is Not Enough: Business Secrets for Designers. (original description)

  • you need to have adequate startup capital to cover the first two years
  • most start with savings and personal loans
  • most only last about three years
  • essential to work with a CPA
  • because you’re self-employed, you need to make quarterly tax pre-payments

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