The last two weeks have been devoted to working a brochure for a new customer. This is the first project we’ve done with this customer, the product is brand new and the sky is our limit. Normally when I begin a new project, I typically do one of two things. I browse though design annuals for ideas or I take a trip to Barnes & Nobel or the local cool flower shop hoping that the new environment will spark an idea.

But this time around I decided to try something new. Sketching. I know, it?s a ground breaking idea. But over the years I found myself getting further and further away from sketching. It seemed quicker to just jump on the computer and start design away. Everything is at your finger tips after all, stock photo resources, fonts, etc. Who needs to sketch when you can do it all on the computer?

Well, what I found out is that I need to sketch. And more than that, I enjoy it!

I was skeptical at first. I thought it would add MORE time to the project, just like stopping at Starbucks on my way to work adds more time to commute (but it?s totally worth those extra few minutes!). But to my chagrin I found that it made the entire process faster, more efficient, and ? dare I say it ? resulted in better designs. Why haven?t I been doing this all along?!?

Thinking back, I used to sketch ALL THE TIME. It was drilled into me in college. Before we could even look at a computer, we had to submit sketch books for critique. I think that being forced to do it for so long, my rebellious streak too over and demanded ?NO MORE SKETCHING!? And so I stopped, and it seemed to be working. That is, until I went back to it.

All of a sudden sketching opened up this whole new world. It was like I was living in a pitch black cave and suddenly the lights were turned on to reveal that the cave is actually a stunning rain forest. Before I even got near a computer, I picked up my pad of paper, some design books, competitor literature, my thoughts and went to work. And an amazing thing happened. Instead of using only what was available to me on my computer, I thought more closely about the project and what the best solution for it was. Not just what would look good, but what would be the most effective way to sell the product and reach the target market. And I sketched?and sketched?and sketched until my mind was empty, my body was exhausted and my creativity was tapped out. But it was worth the effort because I had tons of ideas and I was able to quickly weed out the ones that would not work. So when I finally did make my way over to the computer, the comp-ing stage went much smoother and more efficiently than before.

What did I take away from this experiment? I?d like to say that I will never again begin a project without first sketching. But let?s face it, habits are hard to break and sometimes you have a clear enough picture in your head that going straight to the computer will work. The biggest lesson that I?ve learned is sometimes you have to take a little more time at the beginning of a project to produce better work, and to sometimes it even saves time in the end. So many times it?s ?go, go, go!? without stopping to question is this the best solution that I can come up with? Is it the best solution for the project at hand? I’m going to slow down, spend more time brainstorming, researching, and especially sketching. And if I?m working away at the computer, struggling with a layout or logo concept and nothing is working, I?ll step away from the computer, sketch book in hand, and see what ideas start to flow when I spend some quality time with the project.

Do you need a creative team that takes the time to think about your project? A team that learns it inside and out? Visit our web site to learn more about what we do, and how we can help you.

Did you ever truly love something and had no idea why? This ?thing? you love doesn?t match your personality or your normal genre of interests. It might even be something you?re embarrassed of (for instance, I love the movie Princess Diaries ? I am NOT ashamed!). I didn?t say ?like?, as in ?I like tofu? or ?I like brownies? or ?I like to watch Ashley dance? (and I do like all of these things, a lot). I?m talking about L-O-V-E. Well, that is what web programming is for me, an odd love in a dirty-laundry-list of odd loves that make me so, um, (fill in the blank). Make sense? Let me explain.

Graphic designers are visual people, some entering this field to make money as an artist (or maybe that?s just me). It is mostly visual beauty in the form of colors and fonts and textures, and tactile beauty with papers and coatings. Programming code doesn?t appear to fit the typical artist mind. (I get to this conclusion from talking with my fellow designers about code?you?ve never seen a person?s eyes glaze over so quickly!) Now, before anyone get?s all unhinged saying that programmers can also be amazing creative artists (which they can), let me be clear: I love the code. Yes, all those lines of numbers and letters and symbols often morph into a beautiful collage of working art. (This beauty does not extend to entire files of code that are one solid chunk of run-on sentence without bathroom breaks.)

Programming, for me, was a secondary thought after I was already working as a designer. I fell into it several years ago, wanting a job that required the ability to program (which I may have stretched the truth a bit about my skills to get), and I am forever grateful for this turn of events. Since then, I?ve taken classes for programming, but truly learn the most from just doing it. Finding websites I think are interesting, and looking at the code or finding tutorials and trudging through them. But it?s my love for the code that keeps me coming back time and again.

It makes me weak in the knees to know I get to program a website, using tags and CSS and maybe a function or two. I love taking the static files of the site layout and bringing them to life. I love figuring out how to get all of the details to work, details requested by people who don?t have the first clue on whether it?s easy to code or not. I love getting websites to work in all the different browsers. (Ok, maybe that last one is just something I tolerate for my art.) The point is, I love it. Love love love it. And when you love something, you are always striving to learn more and be great.

If you want to find a good web programmer, find one who LOVES to program. People who love what they do, weather it be a baker or mechanic or designer, will want to create something great doing what they love. Just look for the L-O-V-E. You are almost guaranteed to get your money?s worth?or more!

At Moxie, we are here to serve our clients, to help YOU SUCCEED!
www.thinkmoxie.com

? Post written by Cristy Wiza.