Hello everyone!

Please pay attention to this message, it’s a big one. In about one week, Nov 11th, I will be taking this site in a new direction. This will mean that I will be removing all downloads, tutorials, and most of the articles. If there is anything you want or need, please grab it now!

As for the new site – well, I’m pretty excited about it. I’ve decided to combine FirgsFolio and DBF into one site that will contain information on my branding and consulting services as well as a new portfolio with new pieces to display. Included in the new site will be articles focusing on business tips and tricks for freelancers.

Although I will miss the old format, I know this is a great and much needed decision. I hope, when the new site goes live, that everyone else will see that too.

If you have any questions about the downloads or how to locate what you would like to have, please feel free to email me. The address is found on my About page.

Much love and thanks,

~Firgs

Editor’s Note: Well, as you can see, the proposed date didn’t happen. It seems that I have run into some technical glitches with the new design and it may take me to the middle of next week, due to pre-commited engagements, to get the issues resolved. So, while that may be bad news for me, it’s good news for you! There is still time to grab goodies before they are gone for good!

Here are some of my favorites if you haven’t seen them yet:

Alpha Typewriter Keys Brush Set – Retro Pattern Pack – Snowflake Shape Pack – Premium Layer Style Pack – 66 Bright Web Buttons – Wood Texture Backgrounds – Oblong Buttons – PSD: The White Out Portrait – PSD: Recoloring Black Clothing – Color Correction Quick Fix – Working With Typography I – Working With Typography II – Working With Typography III

Hey gang!

It looks like I goofed. My head has been so far into work, projects, and other such things that I missed it when OXP published my new article in JUNE! Whoops! Here’s the link so that you can check it out if you also missed it. It’s called “Three Simple Steps For Keeping Clients Happy.”

This is my fourth article for OneXtraPixel and I am so excited to be writing for them. Lucky for me, they feel the same way and would like me to write more! Yey!

But that makes me curious – What would you like to read about? What kinds of problems are you running into with your freelancing career? What do you need advice on?

Let me know in the comments and I’ll see what I can come up with. I would love to hear from you!

Thanks everyone!

~Firgs

David Airey is the author of the well known book Logo Design Love – a book that I just happened to review last week. To my surprise, David not only read the review, but also stopped to talk to me about it. He left me with the impression of being a real class act, so I thought I would see if I could talk him into an interview as well. Again to my surprise, he agreed.

———-

1. What is a typical day like for you when it comes to work?

I have absolutely nothing to complain about when it comes to a typical day at work. My time’s split between client projects/accounts (the priority), website maintenance and blog publishing (no quick task), and managing my inbox (approximately 50 emails per day at present). Not exactly hard labor.

Logo Design Love is one of the hottest books on the market for designers. There is a reason for this – it’s a solid book with good information and it has an amazing marketing campaign behind it. But, after reading it, I’m wondering if it’s really as amazing as the all of the hype surrounding it. The book left me with mixed feelings and kind of a 70/30 sense of what this review should be like. Usually, I either love a book or I don’t want to have anything to do with it. This one left me somewhere in the middle and not feeling strongly about either side.

70% Great!

So let’s start with the positives. First of all, let me just get one thing out of the way. This is the first and only technical book that I have ever read from cover to cover. Many times I have picked up books and quickly lost interest only to go find the information I needed via the Internet. But with this book, I read it all. Every single page. So, that right there should tell you something and I’d like to give kudos to the publishers for marketing it well enough that I chose to pick it up in the first place.

The book is very well written. Author David Airey does a really great job of talking TO his audience rather than talking AT them. He also has a way of getting his point across without the over-use of technical jargon or using the book to boast about his own achievements (and if you follow David, then you know that he has plenty to be boastful about.) Because of these things, the book is very easy and even enjoyable to read as David gives you a step by step guide of not only logo design but also of working business practices. David also spends some time talking about where he went wrong and covering what not to do along with what to do. I loved that. The personal stories helped me to connect to the book and the information being delivered.

Complimenting David’s writing, the book is scattered with multiple design image examples that help to illustrate points and the designs come from established designers and design companies. By using examples from these professionals, the reader can get a real sense of what it’s like to work as a brand identity artist. But, the real hook of the book, the reason of why I read it from cover to cover and why I believe this book is as popular as it is, comes in the first four to five pages of the first chapter. In fact, I think those few pages may have just messed with my head forever and I know that I’ll never forget them.

Here’s something else that I liked about the book – the information given was 100% solid. No fluff, no fancy extras, just real, to the point, get-in-get-out helpful information. Too many times I have seen technical books run off on tangents making you wonder how you got from point A to point Q and what steps you somehow skipped in-between. This book doesn’t do that. It’s well organized and doesn’t miss a single step which makes it easy to refer to should you ever need to go back over something.

30% Not So Great

Ok, so here’s where I’m getting hung up. There is not a single piece of information or advice in this book that was new to me. This left me feeling a little uninspired and a little disappointed. Now, I’m not saying that I know everything there is to know about logo design. Far from it in fact. But that’s why I picked up this book – to learn. So, I read the book, only to discover that there was nothing in it that I wasn’t already doing or hadn’t already read somewhere else. Now, that does not mean that the information might not be relevant to someone else. But since this is a one-sided review, my side, I just didn’t get that much out of it that I could use. What I would love to see is a “Logo Design Love 2″ book that covers the things that designers don’t discuss too often like contracts, an in-depth look at the research process, how to negotiate for brand expansion designs (ie. business cards, stationary, etc.), design principals that make for outstanding logos, how to find out if the design you love was already designed by someone else, and working with internet based companies that often times want a more complex design. This is the book that I would find to be most helpful and I think the two books combined would be a powerhouse of information for any designer. Sadly though, this book doesn’t exist and I am left with a great guide… for beginners.

The Bottom Line

If you are a beginner, go out and get this book. Make it your logo bible. If you are not a beginner, borrow the book from a friend because it’s still worth the read but not worth the purchase. If you are an expert, skip this book and please write me a book that I can learn from.

————————-

If you own this book or have read it already – I would love to hear from you!

What do you think of Logo Design Love?

Recently, I met a woman that was trying to collect soap for a shelter. Not food, not money, not even volunteers. Just soap. I was confused – “Why just soap?” I asked her. She went on to not only tell me the answer that I seeked, but also to open my eyes.

“I work for a local shelter called Care For Real. It’s actually not to far from here, just a few miles up that way. I don’t really work as their employee, but the work I do is FOR them because the work they do is for thousands of others that really need the help.“

She went on to explain that the shelter had increased from 700 clients, to over 4,400 clients within the last year and within that number contained over 1000 families, most with young children. When she saw my jaw drop at those staggering figures, she said “wait – that’s not the worst part.” Continuing, she told me that almost everyone was awarded food stamps to have their needs met, but those stamps left much to be desired. For some reason, one that baffles me and that I can’t explain, the food stamps would allow for the purchase of beer but would not cover the purchase of toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, body wash, laundry detergent, toilet paper, facial tissues, diapers, baby wipes, baby powder, feminine hygiene products, shaving products, or even – you got it – just a bar of soap. To top it off, the shelter always received donations of clothes and food, but almost never donations of these much needed items.

How basic. How simple. I thought. Then, I thought – How  absurd! How ridiculous! You can buy beer but not soap?!? The very idea made my blood boil. Would you want your kid to have to take a bath in Budweiser?!

Later that week, that conversation was still on my mind as I was riding a bus home from an appointment. I wanted to help. I wanted to do something for those 4,400+ people that didn’t have access to these basic necessities. But what? How? I couldn’t afford to shop for all of them. I looked up from the book that I wasn’t reading. To my surprise, the answer was staring me back in the face. The bus was plastered with advertisements for a new website – and I swear I’m not making this up – Soap.com. What was more, was that the advertisements were offering free overnight shipping to anywhere in Chicago.

Now, I’m not in the habit for asking for things from my friends. Nor am I in the habit of using my website to raise funds for charity. But, when I started to think of what my life might be like without soap – good, clean, sweet-smelling soap – and all of it’s hygiene grocery store brothers and sisters, my vivid imagination failed to deliver. I just couldn’t, and didn’t want to, picture a life like that.

So I decided to write this, and to ask – can you afford to visit Soap.com and donate a hygiene product to:

Care For Real

6044 North Broadway

Chicago, IL 60660

and help me help them? Please? And can you share this with others?

Thank you. Every bar of soap counts.

Editorial Correction: It seems that the lady I talked with had misinformation about being able to currently buy beer with food stamps, although it was legal at one time. However, she was not misinformed about not being able to buy soap or paper products. After some quick research, I have found the official list from IL Legal Aid:

The SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program) allowance can be used to:

• Buy most food that you find at a grocery store
• Buy food at a farmer’s market
• Pay for meals provided by the Meals-on-Wheels program

You cannot use SNAP benefits to buy:

• Prepared foods from a grocery store
• Alcohol
• Tobacco
• Soap
• Paper products
• Pet food
• Other nonfood items

If you break these rules, there are strict penalties (see “Intentional Program Violation”).

Over the weekend, tragedy struck when David took a nasty fall that left him with broken bones in his feet, hands, and hip. It is no doubt that he is facing surgery and a very long and painful recovery. My heart aches for him. However, I have a feeling that this is not the last we will see of David. Passion for his craft runs deep, far, and wide, within him. If you don’t believe me, read the article he posted to his website just before the accident took place.  It’s an ironic, and yet pointed piece about how all passion comes with some risk, and sometimes, most of the time, the risk is well worth the trouble.

Knowing David and reading that as the accident happened he was begging people in the group to take pictures, I am sure that not only will he recover and get back to his passion, but that he has no regrets. From this he will rise and make the most of it. Something even tells me that he is passing out photography tips to nurses and doctors from his hospital bed as I write this.

But all of this makes me wonder – am I as passionate about my career as David is for his? Could I put my life at risk for it? Some may say that I already have with the multiple herniated disks in my spine that I have received from sitting so much. But would I stand on the edge of a cliff for it? Would you?

Think about it.

It’s a jellybean and it’s happy to see you! In this download you will find a PSD file with each jellybean on it’s own layer, ten jellybeans in all. Colors and size are shown above but are approximately 125×125 pixels. Great for Easter promotions or for use as an avatar. Not great for printing projects – these are designed for web use.

Download Here >>>

These buttons are included as a PSD file compatible with all versions. This set can be used as actual web buttons or as just part of a design. Included in the set are ten jelly styled buttons, five with reflections, five without, in various colors shown above. Actual sizes shown above. All buttons are on separate layers and presented to you on a black background for better viewing.

Download Here >>>

How do I know this? I speak from experience. My community is the National Association of Photoshop Professionals or NAPP community, but more specifically, the NAPP Forum community and it’s one that I think more people aught to know about. In order for me to introduce you to my community properly though, you are about to see something that has never been done before. I’m going to give you a sneak peek at what really goes on in the NAPP Forums without you having to sign up for membership.

*Please note that I did get special permission from NAPP staff for this post! NAPP is aware of the images I am using and they are behind me 100%.

The NAPP Forums are divided up into three major sections – Photoshop Discussions, General Graphics and Media, and Departments and Services. Each major section is then divided into multiple more specific sub-sections. Within each sub-section are threads posted by the members that relate to the assigned topics of the sub-sections. With the overwhelming amount of NAPP members there are, you can imagine just how much valuable information gets exchanged on a daily basis in this one place. For any person in the design or photography field, it’s a goldmine and I can honestly say, I wouldn’t be where I am now had it never entered my life.

Welcome to my community.

Let’s begin with Photoshop Discussions. Below is a screenshot taken directly from the forums of the entire Photoshop Discussions section. Under each sub-section title you will find a short description that I hope you will take the time to read.

The sub-sections that you will find me in the most are General Photoshop, Web Design with Photoshop, the Tutorials, Tips & Tricks Room, and the Photoshop Battleground. My very favorite is the Photoshop Battleground. Once a week there is a new weekly battle posted by one of our moderators – better known as the Mod Squad. The weekly battle starts with a random free stock image and then it’s up to you to put your Photoshop skills to the test and come up with something fun using the image. There are also special themed battles and vs battles. When I have the time, I love a one-on-one vs battle! There is just no better way to learn a new trick than by picking apart an opponent’s PSD file. I learned a lot about lighting in my first one-on-one and to this day, I’m still putting those tricks to use. It also lead me to giving my very first tutorial on how to create a newspaper which you can still find in the Tutorial Room if you look hard enough.

Next is the General Graphics and Media section.

It’s no surprise that the most popular part of GGM is the Digital Photography sub-section. Any question you have about photography either has been asked, is currently being asked, or is about to be asked in this room. Guess what – the answers are there too! In Digital Photography there is also a weekly Show&Tell thread where you can show off your latest work and get honest and helpful feedback. I have met many a photographer who’s work has improved just because of this thread alone. If you’re lucky, you might even see one of the Photoshop Guys pop in as they too like to visit the forums.

Now the word “feedback” may leave you questioning just what kind of feedback you’d be getting as some forums can be, how shall I say it.. not so kind? But this is another reason why I love the NAPP Forums so much. The people there are some of the nicest, most generous, and truly caring people I have ever met. Many of them have become my great and dear friends and even <gasp> co-workers! It’s a safe place and we all work hard together to keep it that way.

Lastly, we have the Departments and Services section.

It’s been my experience that most forums that have a Customer Service section.. well, it tends to get a little ignored and dusty. But not here. Our resident Customer Service responders, Linda and Larry, are well known and highly appreciated and respected throughout the forums. Any question or concern that you have, they will answer because they visit the forums daily just to make sure everything is ship-shape regarding all areas of NAPP, PSW and Kelby Training membership.

Ok, so there you have it! A never before seen-in-public sneak-peek look at the NAPP Forums – or as I like to call it, my second family. There is, however, a lot more that I didn’t show you, because that stuff is strictly Members Only! But no worries! Our door is always open and new members are always welcome!

If you’d like to become a member of this great place and come hang out with me, now is a great time! The Photoshop World conference is about to kick off at the end of March and all NAPP members get a discount on their tickets. Tie that into the Early Bird special and we’re talking one heck of a discount! Want a discount on your membership? No problem!! Just tell them I sent you by typing in the promo code FIRGS when you go to sign up and you’ll get $10 off as well as a free training DVD.

Once you’re there – come find me under the screen name datchicfirgs!

I’ll introduce you to all of my kindred cousins.