On the Creative Freelancer Blog lately, Dyana Valentine, who will be conducting the workshop on creative collaboration on the first day of the Creative Freelancer Conference, has been offering up some tips on how to prep so you do the best connecting you can at this conference — or any conference for that matter.

First, she suggests taking a box of 500 (even if you end up using 30) business cards, then she offers three tips for what to note about someone on their business card. Read them here:

Also on the blog last week, Nettie Hartsock, writer and PR blogger, is looking for insight into what creatives are grappling with, thinking about and even reading, so she can take the message out there to other creative communities via some sites she writes for. Take a moment now to share your wisdom with her — and the world — here:

The final early bird deadline is Thursday, July 31st, so if you’ve been thinking about attending, now is the time to take advantage of the $60 discount. Sign up here:

Those of us who missed this film’s theatrical release last fall can now enjoy the captivating feature-length indie in the comfort of our own lap top as the movie has just become available for download on iTunes.

“Helvetica”, which is directed by Gary Hustwit, looks at the proliferation of one typeface (which celebrated its 50th birthday in 2007) as part of a larger conversation about the way type affects our lives. The film is an exploration of urban spaces in major cities and the type that inhabits them, and a fluid discussion with renowned designers about their work, the creative process, and the choices and aesthetics behind their use of type. Interviewees include Erik Spiekermann, Matthew Carter, Massimo Vignelli, Wim Crouwel, Neville Brody, Stefan Sagmeister, Michael Bierut, David Carson, Paula Scher and many more.

Although the subject may seem geared towards font nerds, the film is unexpectedly universal. The Chicago Tribune’s review stated that “The real achievement of the picture is the way it sharpens your eye in general and makes connections between form and content, and between art and life.” Sounds like the perfect inspirational recharge.

Designboom, together with partners DA Design Association of Japan and Tobu Department Store, is calling for entries for their international Green Earth graphic design competition. The competition is divided in two themes, and you may enter projects in one or both categories. The first theme is called ‘Green’ and competitors are asked to create a graphic artwork that illustrates environmental protection and how human beings and nature could coexist in a greener world. The second theme ‘Earth’ is based on the idea of giving the gift of a greener world at Christmas. Entries should be a graphic artwork that creates a link between this festive time of year and a call to help our planet’s survival. Use of iconic Christmas motifs such as rein deers and trees are allowed and encouraged.
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How can you, an enthusiastic, creative solopreneur, not give away all your ideas in the first meeting with a potential client?

1. Listen more than you speak. That will help you restrain your enthusiasm (or desperation) PLUS you’ll get more information, which you’ll need to do the project.

2. Offer a paid, 1-hour brainstorming meeting instead of a free interview or portfolio review. To do this, explain how your prospect will benefit much more from a brainstorming session than a mere portfolio presentation. Then, even if you decide not to work together, they’ll walk away with some good ideas and you will have been compensated for your time.

The Project M Lab

Part 2 of the report from Project M’s work in Greensboro, Alabama

Project M 2008 was to set to officially end on July 1st. Nine young designers, a couple dozen or so advisors, and John Bielenberg all headed to Greensboro, Alabama to explore ways design could be used for social good. After spending a month fully immersing themselves in the town, culture, community, and heat, the team packed up and headed back to their daily lives. Well, sort of.

You see, the 2008 M’ers took a slightly different approach than in past years. They didn’t key in on a specific problem or challenge to solve. They won’t be walking away with a neatly printed book or artifact. Their journey revealed a different challenge that required a different solution. As I stated in my earlier post, these young designers seemed to understand that the solution was not about them or even design, but about the needs of the community. So, they looked to the people of Greensboro to guide them. (more…)

Image: Watercolor by Brockett Horne

How to Avoid Damage in a Downturn, a recent podcast by David C. Baker, provides significant insights for design managers and studio leaders.
Listeners will appreciate his honest presentation, built from his own experiences of guiding creative teams through unexpected economic instability.

Four main points in the presentation seem insightful to me no matter what the economic circumstances. There were presented as temptations to avoid in a downturn: (more…)

Illustration by Von Glitschka

History itself is replete with examples of human ingenuity showcasing it’s creativity when faced with restrictive resources. So much so that a popular saying has survived a millennium and is still in use today to describe such situations. You have probably heard it.

“Necessity is the mother of invention.”

When I first started out in this industry I thought the most creative assignment you could possibly have is one that had a huge budget affording you to do anything you wanted. You know, the sky’s the limit and all that. Unfortunately that didn’t prove itself to be true. (more…)

Steven Heller and David Womack (more or less)

Steven Heller and David Womack are two of the most important and knowledgeable writers, thinkers and talkers on design today. They recently collaborated on the book “Becoming a Digital Designer: A Guide to Careers in Web, Video, Broadcast, Game and Animation Design”, which offer an insightful overview of the contemporary digital design industry, as well as interviews with top designers. We thought it would be interesting to get their take on the good, the bad and the ugly in digital design today. So we gathered one afternoon in Steven’s office, as they unleashed their opinions and expertise (along with some friendly banter). (more…)

As we get ready for the Creative Freelancer Conference in Chicago, August 27-29, we are simultaneously building a resource web site for freelancers that will live well beyond this first event. (BTW, early bird deadline was extended to July 31st. You can still get $60 off the registration.)

So even if you can’t make it to Chicago, take advantage of our research. Here’s what we found to help you build your business:

Articles about marketing and other business issues for freelancers here:
Helpful links for freelancers of all types here:

And be sure to check out our growing list of sponsors, which includes HOW Magazine, Lynda.com, FunctionFox.com, Freelancers Union, Artisan Talent, SalesKite.com, Freelance Switch, OddPodz.com, MyEmma.com, Graphic Artists Guild, The Creative Group and more to come.

The British Council’s initiative Creative Economy, which aims to help establish global networks in creative fields, is announcing the launch of its new UK Young Design Entrepreneur award. The purpose of the award is to create networks between young design entrepreneurs and the design industry in emerging economies. The three finalists of 2008 will travel to India to meet leading industry figures and participate in meetings, tours, talks and workshops with the goal of establishing future collaborations. (more…)