pretending

I know is off-topic, in a way, but it's something that has been roaming my mind for a while now. And today while having lunch at central park, nurtured by my tamari soy seasoned chicken with quinoua and collard greens, I saw too many people with that label on their bodies.

Good clothes make you feel good; a good, well paid job will do to; a partner who loves you even more. But creating something you are not to make people feel you are, is not good, healthy and in my own opinion, is SAD. Let me explain this to you visually:
(like designers do... we start talking and somehow a paper and pen are in our hands to explain things better)...
Well, I was sitting by the statue at lincoln center corner of the park and among all the people having lunch around me i noticed a guy with sunglasses and an opened shirt, combed gel hair, sitting on the border of the plaza; he was looking everywhere and I guess trying to find somebody to stare at and to "enchant" with his looks... it was funny, but then I realized some people around too were not "fitting in their persons"; I don't know how to describe that, but you feel they are not comfortable with themselves, and pretend to be something else. I soon though about people I know who have some characteristics like that, friends and acquaintances; I even thought about my own behavior in different situations: was I being pretentious or was pretending something I am not depending on the situation? Moreover.... Is it bad? if not always, where is the line?

I know I am a more-than-good designer on the way to be a great designer, I am not the best, but it doesn't bother me, it challenges me. Recently I replaced my old pair of glasses (metal frame, a bit round, artist'-beaten status) with a pair of brown thick frame glasses, like intellectual and designer look I guess.. dont know. But, was I pretending, I feel more comfortable now, they fit ME. so I guess I am not pretending... right?

You can be a good, average, great, outstanding designer; that doesnt mean you cant be the better; be what you are and aim for the next step, just dont pretend what you are not; because if somebody discovers you, it hurts.. and you may not be able to recover to that client/friend/contact to the previous status.

One more thing New York taught me I guess.

End of July - networking

so July is finishing, my clients are thank God cool people who usually become friends and we get to go out in group with my Latino and various friends. It is good I think to keep a network of clients and possible ones around. It is important to go out and meet new people. I have learned, and it was against my being-comfortable nature, that you need to be a sociable person, to engage in conversations and to follow up (VERY IMPORTANT) on people you meet. At least here in the city (=New York City) you can meet interesting people Everywhere, you have no idea where. Example:

The other day I was having tacos with a friend in Chipotle and she goes outside to talk on the phone; a drunk guy comes to my table and sits where she was sitting, his friend tries to pull him "he's drunk, I'm sorry" and the drunk guy starts talking to me, we chat for a bit, nice guy, was there with his and his friend's family, wife, kids, grammas, etc.. big Indian family. after some time my friend comes back and she is surprised, but all cool, we keep talking, then he goes back to his family's tables not before we exchange cards. I emailed him 2 days after, (he was vice-president of a networking company :D) and he emails back, we keep in touch from time to time... the coolest thing!

So it's always good—even more—,necessary, to keep your business cards with you at all times: Keys, wallet, metro card, business cards, cellphone. Necessary. when you go to play soccer, go to grab something to eat or to the restaurant, even more when you go out to a party or barbecue. Always.

Right now I have 2 clients going and 2 more on a "waiting for info list" but is ok. I should always have 2 clients at 1 time, apart from a 9 to 5 job. Which... hopefully will become a full time and have insurance again, and peace of mind, while I adventure myself in more fun and risky projects. as part of my organization process in my office/corner at home, I bought a mesh file cart at the Container Store, and a board. So many things I have on mind to organize and let my business grow tall and not from a small pot that would affect the growth..

Well, and also I Am keeping the colors for the brand on RED, bright green like the post side background, and dark (70%) grey. Now I only need to design the logo... mm.. and the site.. well, I have time.

that's all for now, soon to write more. too many things on my head have to be here. aviento.

its June already - clients in and out

there are a lot of things going on now. The plants/flower shop dropped their intention to make a website, (the other owner didnt want to spend money). I got a travel agency from Morocco to assign me to redo his website (and shoes discount being the same owner of a shoe store in Manhattan), not for so much but it's an interesting project.

One thing that happened reminded me that is very important to have the habit of keeping your clients updated on what you do, and reminding them that you are alive; is that I sent an email to a lot of newyorkers included friends and a couple of clients. This specific client wanted me to design his website—a catering and food service company—but never got the time to give me all the information. After the email he called me back and wanted a postcard to be printed in less than a week. We talked, he sent me the info and pics, I emailed him the layout and in 2 days and after mm..2 hours of work I got $120. Perfect deal. I even gave him a cheap price for a postcard.

If I had never sent the email I wouldn't have gotten that job. It is important then, to find a way to keep in contact with your clients; even if they are not in your current clients list. For that I printed some bookmarks with my info and a nice design on it. Now I have to get the address of my clients and put them on my address book. and mail them as a reminder.

Few hours ago I talked to a Peruvian guy I met in a friend's party, he has a adventures tourism business in Peru for americans; and wants to talk about designing his website. That is good, I like the topic. and matches the other tourism website for the Moroccan guy. Also it will allow me to publish the guide I did about Hiking in Cusco for a SCAD class in 2002. I'm excited about this. Here is the link to what i did:

hiking in Cusco

London 2012 Olympics Logo

2 weeks ago the London Olympics Committee released the new logo for the 2008 Olympic Games. i has had a lot of comments. As a designer I wonder where the limit on good design and effective design goes. This logo has generated so many negative opinions throughout the design world. So it is really interesting to share it with the most possible people. There is even a BBC website to design and submit new alternatives to the logo. All this also is because it costed US$ 796.000 and the studio is the same who did the Inspi(red) campaign (www.wolff-olins.com), but something happened in this logo... Or is it me?

progress

it's been almost a week since I wrote. One client is done, www.newoodinteriors.com, one more making designs and presentations for, another with changes to make on the website. Another more coming: a NY DJ, friend of mine who wants his website now that he is going to Ibiza to play for a couple of months. good luck Eddie!. Let's see what comes to deisgn is site. The one client I gave the proposal is making me wait, will stop by tomorrow to talk in person. Its always important to keep eyes open to get clients, I am keeping record of hours and budgets made for my clients in ACT, seems pretty interesting this software. I will also post this weekend a little ad on the Craigslist and apply for freelance offers, organize my web portfolio now that I have a cpl of webs done. Get more clients and if there are too many, will have designers work for me soon.. let's see...

organization 2

about this organization topic. I decided to move my desk/office from my bedroom to my living room, which be smaller, but for the amount of time I spend on TV.. is worth it. And also I can bring clients if necessary, and not worrying if they sit on my bed.. this weekend task... a big one will be. Here is the floor plan.

organization

I found out that when this monster will grow I could be consumed by the files, papers, information, etc that it will generate. I asked my friend Johana to help me out on that; we even talked on me having her as an intern, not yet I think. But soon I will need one. We realized that I have to start creating a system that can grow easily. Although at the beginning I started creating excel files and reports, utilizing my knowledge on this non-designer-oriented software, and it was ok, but for my budgets, written proposals, clients' time and meetings, it wasnt enough. There are 2 programs that I will try: ACT! and Maximizer 9. Let's see how they go. Both of them synchronize with Outlook mail, contacts and calendar, so that's a big help. Both are compatible with my cellphone that is a Motorola i930, with pocket windows, So I keep my calendar and contact info with me wherever I go. And also thanks to technology I can send emails since I already configured POP3 on it. Apart from the fact that I can radio (is that a verb??) my family and friends back in Peru for free.

I will let you guys know how it goes, and remember, wherever you go, bring your business cards with you, talk about your work to people you think can become clients, and LISTEN to them, so you can find their needs, then you can offer your help and solutions...

There is this very useful book called The E-Myth, and site (www.e-myth.com), that really helps you on lose that fear of creating your own company. Also, as designers I think we should be inspired, although sometimes our work becomes not so inspiring, you can't let down the inspiration fire that you have inside. Sketch, play around, collect information/images. Another great source is the podcast The Accidental Creative with its site (www.accidentalcreative.com). There are more, everywhere, is a matter to look, not to pay for a magazine all the time.

Now I have to make a proposal for a plants store I went to get some plants the other day, I talked to the co-owner and he needed a website, I needed clients.. so tomorrow will have that done and hopefully we'll do business. of course everything started with me asking if they had a site or they needed some design... just ask.. the worst that can happen is a "sorry, no thanks" for answer. Oh, like it happened to the massages place I use to go, to my friend Tony the owner. I asked him if he needed a website, (because if you think, in NYC right after work, somebody is tired and need a massage, will go online before leaving work to find a massage place near their job; and they will go where they find it). He said NO, he doesnt think he needed one.... he actually said he doesnt want to pay for one. He will rather give me $10 referral for every hour somebody I send requests. If he cant see the benefits of that, it's ok. Keep trying, keep meeting people... ok that will be another posting. that's all for now.