Whether you are an in-house designer in a large corporation, a partner in an agency or a sole proprietor, you're in customer service. All that we do as commercial artists is to serve our clients to the best of our ability. So what happens when you're crazy-busy, facing looming deadlines, and you get … [Read more...] about How not to treat your clients
Making unique personal holiday cards in PowerPoint
This post comes from my buddy Peter Zvirinsky, co-founder of InfoDiagram.com. InfoDiagram is your source for premade, editable PowerPoint graphics for all manner of applications and audiences. The site is loaded with inspiration and freebies. Check it out! Did you know you can use PowerPoint … [Read more...] about Making unique personal holiday cards in PowerPoint
The easiest way to animate PowerPoint slides
Having too much stuff on a slide all at once can be frustrating for the audience. They have to divide their attention between the slide and the presenter, a needless distraction. If you're guilty of putting too much on a slide, maybe it's because you think animation is difficult or too time … [Read more...] about The easiest way to animate PowerPoint slides
Watch those pop culture references
Have you ever made a reference to popular culture in conversation only to have it land solidly on the floor with a dull thud? If you have kids, you know exactly what I'm talking about. (You: "Good night, John-Boy!" Your kid: "Who's John-Boy?") You might also have experienced this when talking to a … [Read more...] about Watch those pop culture references
Does free to download mean cost-free?
It's so easy to download photos for free off the Internet that a child can do it. In fact, mine often do for their classroom PowerPoint presentations. Hopefully the fact that they're minors and that the inclusion of these images in their assignments constitutes fair use will keep them immune from … [Read more...] about Does free to download mean cost-free?
How to name your files the RIGHT way
A huge problem exists that anybody who has ever put out a call for file submissions has experienced at least once in their career. I've seen it from my early days as a newspaper layout production artist to my current position as a presentation coach and Cheater of Death by PowerPoint. And it has … [Read more...] about How to name your files the RIGHT way
Do your pictures speak the RIGHT thousand words?
You've probably heard that "a picture speaks a thousand words." This means that rather than spend time trying to describe something, you can communicate more quickly and efficiently with an image. This instant communication occurs whether you want it to or not, so choosing the right images for your … [Read more...] about Do your pictures speak the RIGHT thousand words?
Exclusive offer, but not for you
Creating a sense of exclusivity can be a very effective marketing tactic. Check out this copy from luxury goods providers Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Singapore Airlines, and Mikimoto: "Bespoke is Rolls-Royce" "Our Singapore Airlines Suites…provide the distinguished few with their very own haven of … [Read more...] about Exclusive offer, but not for you