GraphicDesign.com Examines the Difficulties of Working from Home


Dallas, TX (PRWEB) August 01, 2012

Many graphic designers work from the friendly confines of their homes. And with a home office, a variety of challenges that can make working a chore come into play. This week, Sheana Firth tells GraphicDesign.com readers how to maintain a healthy work-life balance. The Poll Article can be found HERE.

Sheana Firth gets her feature article started by advocating for a dedicated workspace. “At the very least, you should have a specific area to work and be devoted to only performing work in that area,” Firth recommends. “This little trick helps the human psyche to distinguish from work and play subconsciously.”

While many designers adhere to their clients around-the-clock, Firth stresses working during business hours only. She explains, “Resolve yourself to working on client projects only during your regular work hours. By answering phone calls and e-mails only during posted hours of operation, you send a clear message that you are a bona fide business like any other.”

Graphic designers who work from home are encouraged to create a routine they can repeat every day. Maybe it’s getting up, showering, going for a walk, taking the dog out, and then “commuting” to the office. Firth points out the routine’s desired effect: “By creating a routine, you are again training your psyche to distinguish work-time from playtime.”

Anyone who works from home knows that distractions from friends and family can be major hindrances to a productive day. “By being honest and frank about your working hours with friends and family, you can avoid the hassle of constantly having to explain that you are not sitting around all day eating cheese puffs and waiting for something to do,” Firth notes jokingly. In essence, setting clear boundaries, especially during work hours, can help work-from-home designers excel.

Finally, Firth recommends taking advantage of a flexible schedule. Going out for lunch, getting some exercise, and breathing in fresh air can all help graphic designers get inspired, which can in turn make them more productive. She concludes with perhaps her most important message: “You have the freedom to make your own choices, your own hours, your own environment take advantage!”

In order to engage its readership, GraphicDesign.com poses poll questions in articles each week. This time around, Firth’s piece takes center stage and at its conclusion, members of the design community are asked three questions:

1. Do you find yourself working odd hours?

2. If you work from home, how many hours do you spend working “after hours”?

3. Do you charge clients more for after hours work?

The poll will remain open until August 12th at Midnight PT. Visit GraphicDesign.com to weigh in on balancing work life and home life. The article and poll can be found HERE.

About GraphicDesign.com

GraphicDesign.com is a product of Terran Marketing and a leading source of news and information devoted entirely to the graphic design industry. Employers, students, and freelancers come to GraphicDesign.com to read and discuss current news, information and events in the graphic design industry.

Contact:

Julia Wild

Terran Marketing

892 East Steger Town Road, Suite #206

Rockwall, TX 75032

Phone: (540) 908-2195

E-Mail: julia(at)graphicdesign(dot)com







GraphicDesign.com Examines Building an Online Portfolio


Dallas, TX (PRWEB) July 18, 2012

A brand new feature article on GraphicDesign.com emphasized, “Needing a professional, well-designed online portfolio is a must for graphic designers.” The piece, written by Marywood University Assistant Professor of Graphic Design Christine Medley, examines ways graphic designers can build and host online portfolios.

There are many content management systems (CMS) graphic designers can utilize for a simple or complex online portfolio. From WordPress to Tumblr to Behance to Squarespace, sites specializing in CMS exist in abundance and each has pros and cons. As long as a graphic designer has a little bit of technical know-how, Medley asserts, “WordPress is by far the most common platform to host various types of websites, including portfolio sites, with or without a blog.”

Medley includes screen shots of WordPress, Tumblr, and Behance to allow prospective portfolio builders to see the ins and outs of each.

She also outlined the benefits of Behance, saying it’s perfect for graphic designers: “The Behance Network site is very popular with the creative community, as it’s a network specifically for artists showcasing creative projects as part of a larger portfolio. It’s free, easy to build, and a good place to start getting your art seen, as you can follow and network with others and post seamlessly with Facebook and Twitter.”

Medley emphasized the importance of having a basic understanding of CSS and HTML, noting, “Graphic designers, especially ones just entering the job market, need to be able to understand basic HTML and CSS and build sites themselves through programs such as Adobe Dreamweaver or Muse.” Both pieces of software allow users to create websites from scratch, as opposed to using a CMS option.

What should graphic designers pay attention to when creating an online portfolio? According to Medley’s piece on GraphicDesign.com, content, functionality, and a simple design are three major factors to take into consideration. Overall, her editorial argues, “You can make the best looking site, but if your work isn’t good, then there’s no point in posting it. Pick the best, keep it fresh, and update often.” Content is king.

Three poll questions follow Medley’s article and allow readers of GraphicDesign.com to share their experiences with the community. The editors of GraphicDesign.com constantly seek to engage the site’s readership, so this week, readers are asked:

Which site do you use for your online portfolio?

Do you think a graphic designer should design and build a portfolio site from scratch using a program like Dreamweaver?

Do you have more than one online portfolio?

The poll will remain open until July 29. Visit GraphicDesign.com and weigh in today. The poll article can be found HERE.

ABOUT GRAPHICDESIGN.COM

GraphicDesign.com is a product of Terran Marketing and a leading source of news and information devoted entirely to the graphic design industry. Employers, students, and freelancers come to GraphicDesign.com to read and discuss current news, information, and events in the graphic design industry.

CONTACT:

Julia Wild

Terran Marketing

892 East Steger Town Road, Suite #206

Rockwall, TX 75032

Phone: (540) 908-2195

E-Mail: julia(at)graphicdesign(dot)com







More Graphic Design Press Releases