Matt Harrison

Sorry, I just get frustrated on this site. Always feeling like I'm justifying my own existence. I do enough of that with clients.

The business card design includes providing various options to the client, having him give feedback and then implementing the resulting revisions. It's not a cheapo digital vistaprint job. They're going to be 2 spot colour letter-pressed and die-cut cards on 500micron stock. The client gets 100 as a sample including the mag plates for any future runs. 2 days billed work isn't unrealistic for this, sorry. I'm not a student either. I work in one of those 'trendy and expensive agencies in Manchester'. They charge 3 times what I charge for a designer's day rate.

You get what you pay for

If you're in illustrator use -> effect -> artistic -> film grain

The only way to get a free and legit version is to download a 30 day trial or buy a machine with it already installed. Or maybe work for or know someone who works for Adobe.

Good answer.

Hi, I agree with what you're saying. It makes complete sense to me. I wonder though; with clients who maybe wouldn't make such a strong distinction between proficiency in design and proficient use of features in a software as you or I would. It could be a slight factor for those with weaker portfolios and less clued-up clients. Obviously portfolio should be the single most important factor and if you have a great portfolio, an exam would pale into insignificance. Matt

I'm new to the freelancing game after just getting out of uni. I'm balancing my time between finding freelance work and looking for full-time employment. Do you think certifications like the ACE are worth the money? Do they impress employers/clients or are they just another smart money-spinner for Adobe Systems? It'd be really interesting to hear you thoughts. Matt

Depends how much you'll be making. The more you make, the more you'd save by going limited, but the more records need keeping. If you just trade as a sole trader, records can be rudimentary. Just have a separate bank account (use a personal current account to save the charges) and track all incomes, business expenses (HMRC ) and capital expenditure on a spreadsheet, with a separate column for private drawings (money you take out for yourself). Also put away around 30% of profit in a instant access, savings account for Tax and NI (better still start paying NI by direct debit when you begin). At the end of the year while you file your self-assessment you'll probably have a bit left here as treat If you do see an accountant, it wouldn't need to a regular thing. They could just tell you what to claim (portion of your utility/phone bills etc) and file your return at the end of the year.

Hey Guys, I'm designing brand identity for an agency who provide web and mobile design and development. We've narrowed down choice of typefaces to the five here (please see attached PDF). After consultation and questionnaires, the client decided he most wanted his brand to be associated with the following words: The 4 most important words: Professional Fresh Knowledgeable Modern 2 quite important words: Talented Caring Integrity It'd be great to get some feedback from other designers out there. Which typeface do you think best fits the perception desired by the brand? Please vote in the poll or post your thoughts below. Many thanks, Matt P.S sorry for the weird colouration on the reversed Adele. faces_WDF.pdf

Sorry, I think you've misunderstood the question. Perhaps I was unclear. I actually meant within my Web Designer Forum profile. There is a section named gallery under my profile but I don't see an option to upload images into my gallery. I'm not after someone building me a gallery for a website. Sorry if this wasn't clear. I just wanted to upload examples of my work to share amongst the community.

Hi, I might be being dumb here, but I can't find how to create an album. I only seem to be able to add to existing albums (e.g. logo design etc). Is it possible to create a personal album (for portfolio) or can we only contribute to the pre-made galleries? I checked the help section but I couldn't find this out. Thanks, Matt

You should slow right down and go back to basics. don't be implementing whole new templates daily. Work in increments, like building a house: You start with the foundations and then the walls and add details and finishes like doorknobs later. Get one thing wrong and everything you do later is marred. Check out out dribbble too, to see what design looks like in 2011.

Looks more like this side of 2000 for sure. I'd lose the hazard stripes. It says 'warning ahead', apt you might say Also pixelated images are a no no. If those swirls are your creation, do yourself a favour and create them as vectors then save the correct size png for the placeholder. Keep at it!

Thanks Gerry, The client had never heard of letterpress printing, and when I showed him some samples he decided he wanted to go that route and was willing to pay the extra in this case. I would never force this upon a client just because it's a passion of mine. As for the travelling expenses, I cycle so it's purely the time I'm charging for here. But I see your point nontheless. I'll definitely bookmark your suggestions for next time. I think a more through design proposal would have helped to identify a proper timescale/charging method. Would you be willing to share an example quote/invoice of your own? With personal data obfuscated of course. Thanks, Matt