Updated Articles and Resources

From Eric Miller, Former About.com Guide

Share Your Experience - How to Find Out Your Client's Budget Created: Monday, November 09, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Finding our your client's budget without providing them with an estimate first can be difficult. If your client does reveal their budget, however, it can improve your relationship with them by avoi...
Client Red Flags - 10 Early Warning Signs of a Bad Client Created: Monday, January 11, 2010 Updated: Wednesday, May 02, 2012
It is often the case that designers are competing for projects, and the client is selecting who to work with based on experience, rates and many other factors. At the same time, however, designers ...
Business Budgets - How to Find Out Your Client's Budget Created: Monday, November 09, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Finding our your client's budget can save a lot of time and aggravation. By simply asking, or researching, how much a client can spend you can often determine not only if you can take a job, but wh...
Business in a Bad Economy - How Has the Economy Affected your Design business? Created: Thursday, October 29, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Chances are, the economy has affected the way you do business. Having a business in a bad economy can be very difficult, and some clients may have reduced their budgets for design work or cut out t...
Dealing with Difficult Clients – When a Client Thinks a Task is Simple Created: Monday, March 30, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Working with clients is a necessary, and sometimes frustrating, part of being a graphic designer. Without clients, however, designers don’t have much business. Therefore, it is important to l...
How To Design a Website – The Steps to Designing a Website Created: Thursday, October 30, 2008 Updated: Wednesday, May 02, 2012
A step by step guide to designing a website, from research and brainstorming to creating wireframes, developing the website and promoting it.
What To Do When a Client Will Not Pay Created: Monday, August 25, 2008 Updated: Wednesday, May 02, 2012
In a perfect world, clients would always pay on time and in full. However, over the course of a graphic design career, it is almost inevitable to come across late paying clients.
Stay Organized - How to Organize Your Business Created: Monday, September 28, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Staying organized is extremely important when running your own graphic design business. Share your advice and experience on keeping your business organized so you can focus on design.
Dealing with Difficult Clients – When a Client Thinks a Task is Simple Created: Monday, July 13, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Working with clients is a necessary, and sometimes frustrating, part of being a graphic designer. Without clients, however, designers don’t have much business. Therefore, it is important to l...
What To Do When a Client Will Not Pay Created: Monday, July 13, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, May 02, 2012
In a perfect world, clients would always pay on time and in full. However, over the course of a graphic design career, it is almost inevitable to come across late paying clients.
Creating Your Online Portfolio - How to Get Started on a Portfolio Website Created: Monday, July 06, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Tips and advice from our users on how to create an online website portfolio.
How has the economy affected your design business? Created: Thursday, October 29, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Chances are, the economy has affected the way you do business. Having a business in a bad economy can be very difficult, and some clients may have reduced their budgets for design work or cut out t...
Red Flags of a Bad Client Created: Monday, January 11, 2010 Updated: Wednesday, May 02, 2012
It isn't easy to identify a difficult client before signing on to do a project. However, there are warning signs to look for, and sometimes they can help you turn down a job that would otherwise be...
Graphic Designers Directory - Community Directory of Graphic Designers and Design Firms Created: Monday, February 22, 2010 Updated: Wednesday, May 02, 2012
A directory of graphic designers, design firms, freelancers, interactive agencies, web designers, web developers and design studios from the about.com graphic design community, added by our readers.
Reader Stories: Your Design Firm Logo Created: Monday, February 08, 2010 Updated: Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Design firms, agencies and freelancers are often creating logos and identities for their clients. They also have to create their own brands, which can be a complicated and rewarding process. Share ...
Design Firm Logos - Share the Logo Design for Your Design Firm or Business Created: Monday, February 08, 2010 Updated: Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Design firms, agencies and freelancers are often creating logos and identities for their clients. They also have to create their own brands, which can be a complicated and rewarding process. Share ...
Business Plans - What Are Your Plans for Your Design Business in 2010? Created: Tuesday, December 29, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, May 02, 2012
What are your plans for your design business in 2010? What will you do differently than last year? Share your business plans and give advice to others entering the new year.
Reader Submissions: What Are Your Plans for Your Design Business in 2010? Created: Tuesday, December 29, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, May 02, 2012
What are your plans for your design business in 2010? What will you do differently than last year? Share your business plans and give advice to others entering the new year.
Custom Greeting Cards - Share Your Custom Greeting Cards Created: Monday, December 21, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Creating a custom greeting card for the holidays or New Year's is a great way to show off your design work and check in with clients at the same time. This is often an effective marketing tool and ...
Reader Submissions: Your Custom Greeting Cards Created: Monday, December 21, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Creating a custom greeting card for the holidays or New Year's is a great way to show off your design work and check in with clients at the same time. This is often an effective marketing tool and ...
Reader Submissions: Graphic Designers Directory Created: Monday, February 22, 2010 Updated: Wednesday, May 02, 2012
A directory of graphic designers, design firms, freelancers, interactive agencies, web designers, web developers and design studios from the about.com graphic design community, added by our readers.
Photoshop Crop Tool - How to Use the Photoshop Crop Tool Created: Monday, November 05, 2007 Updated: Thursday, April 12, 2012
The Photoshop crop tool serves two main purposes. The first is to crop, which means to cut out an area of an image by selecting the area that you wish to keep. It is also handy for quickly resizing...
Choosing a Domain Name – How to Choose a Website Domain Name Created: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 Updated: Thursday, April 12, 2012
Choosing a domain name for you or a client can be a long and tedious process. With so many names no longer available, creating a new one or finding the right one requires research, creativity and s...
Mac vs. PC – Choosing between a Mac and a PC for Graphic Design Created: Saturday, February 02, 2008 Updated: Thursday, April 12, 2012
One of the most common ongoing debates in the computer world is whether to get a Mac or a PC. Macs, produced by Apple, have often been used in the design world, with the PC (running the Windows ope...
Graphic Design Credit Lines – Get your Credit Line on Graphic Design Projects Created: Monday, November 12, 2007 Updated: Thursday, April 12, 2012
Getting your credit line on your work is a great way to spread word-of-mouth on your business. It is satisfying, and lucrative, when someone sees your work and contacts you for a project.
Examples of Successful Website Layouts Created: Sunday, September 23, 2007 Updated: Thursday, April 12, 2012
Successful website layouts depend on many variables including consistent navigation, proper balance, use of space, and clear delivery of content. See examples of successful layouts in a variety of ...
Illustration Gallery - A Gallery of Featured Illustrators and Illustrations Created: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 Updated: Thursday, April 12, 2012
An illustration gallery featuring illustrators and illustrations highlighted in the graphic design blog.
Holiday Fonts - Where to Find Holiday Fonts Created: Monday, December 14, 2009 Updated: Thursday, April 12, 2012
The right holiday font can complete your holiday or New Year's card. A holiday greeting is also a good opportunity to use some of the more fun or unusual typefaces that you may have avoided for cli...
Billing Clients – Business Billing Solutions and Options for Graphic Designers Created: Monday, August 31, 2009 Updated: Thursday, April 12, 2012
There are many options for billing clients. Billing solutions include a flat or hourly rate, working on retainer, and setting up payment schedules.
Website Domain Names – How to Buy a Website Domain Name Created: Monday, November 10, 2008 Updated: Thursday, April 12, 2012
Domain names or website addresses, such as google.com or facebook.com, are available for purchase from many website services or registrars. While of course the names mentioned above are far from av...
What to Include in a Website Proposal - How to Write a Website Proposal Created: Sunday, November 02, 2008 Updated: Thursday, April 12, 2012
A website proposal contains many aspects different from other graphic design proposals, in that technical elements must be addressed along with creative ones. While print proposals do address items...
Free Fonts from Dinc Type - Download Free Fonts from Dinc Type Created: Monday, April 27, 2009 Updated: Thursday, April 12, 2012
Dinc Type offers a great selection of free fonts for download. While a much smaller selection than other free font sites, the Dinc Type fonts are interesting and well-designed, making the site a ni...