tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79095883147984647372011-10-22T20:12:02.108-07:00Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.comBlogger711100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-38960712649271891812011-08-10T20:43:00.000-07:002011-08-11T08:28:08.651-07:00

Just recently, I finished these wedding invitations for a couple looking to throw a Monopoly-themed wedding. Property cards were chosen as the concept for the invitations due to their linkage in the game to location or destination. The key to making these invites a success was to ensure that they weren't an exact replication of the Monopoly graphic style but were simply inspired by it. Black

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-69811809761361094202011-05-22T11:08:00.001-07:002011-05-29T20:15:07.949-07:00

Since a young age, I was always snapping photos with my Polaroid. I loved to oogle over my dad's camera gear and spent most of my grade 12 year in the darkroom. Until recently, it never really dawned on me to turn this into a hobby since design had been the focus of my life for so long. Design was my inspiration. My hobby. My love. But now it's my day job so I need a new inspiration, a new hobby

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-87005862128040905192010-10-05T20:28:00.000-07:002010-10-06T07:45:26.652-07:00

Despite my cat's determined attempts to destroy my Speak Human book (& this blog post) I managed to make it to the end so naturally I like to celebrate that with a review.With most books of this nature, I tend to expect "this is how you run a business, this is how you sell your product"...bla bla bla. You can imagine my surprise when I found out it wasn't one of those books. It's as if I picked

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-5978310654264535322010-08-06T21:02:00.000-07:002010-08-06T21:16:40.136-07:00

InDesign Doesn't Mean IntuitiveInDesign is a lovely program. The learning curve is relatively minimal if you're familiar with layout programs.I have to warn you though, InDesign doesn't do any thinking or conceptualizing for you even though it may look that way. Think of InDesign as simply a 'tool' to bring ideas to life. Those ideas must be worked through before even touching a mouse which

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-88011102931252178382010-06-12T20:22:00.000-07:002010-06-13T20:59:28.940-07:00

Stop Using OS Fonts!OS fonts are any font that comes pre-installed on your computer. Or any of the fonts to the left.←Since these fonts are available on everyone's system, you can imagine how often they're used. Designers have an interesting reaction to these fonts; They're overexposed, overused, poorly designed, not to mention unattractive. We love to hate them! Ask any designer to use any of

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-60396682387844092312010-06-08T20:25:00.000-07:002010-06-12T23:33:31.725-07:00

Stepping into Aritzia, shuffling through shirts in search of a flattering piece of apparel, I felt a little strange. Not because it was a store I rarely frequented but as I was shuffling through shirts priced at $90, I noticed that they were on cheap plastic hangers and simple metal racks.Not that this particular 'way' of selling clothes particularly bothers me but in my minds eye, I had figured

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-81636562299547048322010-05-26T19:13:00.001-07:002010-05-26T19:41:12.863-07:00

Social media is a strange beast. It makes you visible to entire world. You can rub shoulders with the rich and famous, network with fellow colleagues, reconnect with old friends, and possibly even find a lover. The possibilities are endless really. It's like we've finally found a way to take control of the wheel of destiny. Who woulda thought it was that easy!I guess I'm a traditionalist in the

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-7472127339600255912010-05-15T19:12:00.000-07:002010-05-26T19:42:29.805-07:00

I've been getting some great feedback and constructive criticism on my new business cards. I've even been asked: "What IS a communication designer?"Well to me, a communication designer is a graphic designer that stretches beyond aesthetics to inspire, invoke action, spark dialogue, and provoke feeling. Whether it's for a great cause, a great brand, or simply for informational purpose, the message

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-19247347688271123182010-05-14T22:35:00.000-07:002010-05-14T22:38:48.508-07:00

Well, my package finally arrived.However, after many confused emails from them and a lot of 'beating around the bush' I was told i would get my 30% back on Monday. Have I seen a confirmation email about that yet? No. Still continuing with emails and waiting to hear back from the BBB.People can actually run a business this way? Ridiculous!Now on to a more positive note...smile and carry on :)

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-55495492259422405952010-05-01T11:10:00.001-07:002010-05-14T21:55:10.519-07:00

In harmony with my last identity (fusing design with purpose), it was only natural for me put my money where my mouth was and seek a 'green' printer for printing my new business cards. Little did I realize that I would be losing more than just my carbon footprint.After finding Green Printer Online in a Google-search and noticing they had a Vancouver office, I ordered a small amount of business

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-55312837230921115652010-04-29T20:03:00.000-07:002010-04-29T21:59:11.282-07:00

And so ends, another great design conference (and my 'fast' from social media).Many topics were covered by the roster of talented speakers, who spent their time infusing us with insight and perspective. From the architectural wonders of Peter Busby to the romantically illustrative works of Marian Bantjes, there was an abundance of awe-inspiring work (and words) to absorb.Design Is FeelingThe

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-26835382949106839232010-04-18T18:46:00.000-07:002010-05-14T22:34:54.058-07:00

For the past few months I've been yearning to get outdoors more and spend more time with my mother...Nature, that is.Today I got the opportunity to spend the afternoon at a beautiful lake, trail blazing with a close friend. The location is somewhat remote despite the fact that it's just a 15 minute drive from civilization and the scenery is divine; Mountainous, vast amounts of trees, fast-running

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-57805443803183537932010-04-07T20:02:00.000-07:002010-04-07T20:30:33.871-07:00

Well, it has definitely been awhile hasn't it?It may seem like I haven't been doing much but really I've been busy settling into a new job. No sooner did I get my layoff notice at the end of February, I was getting a call for graphic design positions. Lucky for me, I saw the layoff coming and started job-hunting right after Christmas. Sneaky-me! I am now part of a fabulous, hard-working, creative

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-23411033330701362282010-03-06T20:27:00.000-08:002010-03-06T23:06:07.211-08:00

As promised, I introduce you to my latest endeavor; A new logo and website design. You like?I have also officially changed my title from graphic designer to communication designer as I believe effective design starts and ends with great communication.The goal for this new identity was to develop one that focused on that very concept while also showcasing my design style and personality. '

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-75198080824502042112010-02-15T18:49:00.000-08:002010-02-17T09:33:16.268-08:00

I'll admit...I never liked designing logos. When briefed on designing one, it always felt like I was being asked to climb a steep mountain without any gear. However, the more logos I've designed, the less intimidating the process has become, even though the process never changed.What attracts me to designing them is overcoming that challenge, finding a solution that allows the logo to speak to

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-10136962245829284392010-02-09T10:45:00.000-08:002010-02-15T19:51:34.782-08:00

Graphic design is all about visually communicating messages and giving those messages meaning. It's also about grabbing attention, making a statement, standing out, educating, and inspiring its target audience.When I was a young designer, I used to think design was just about making things pretty. I'd design something that pleased my own eye and thought my work was done. There were countless

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-50443537024870892832010-01-11T15:23:00.000-08:002010-02-02T14:19:20.399-08:00

Although my efforts to prioritize & organize throughout the year are great in some areas, there are other areas where they seriously lack. So one of my goals was to bring these back-burner issues to the front burner, if you will, and deal with them head-on, right now. And so it's time to face the dragon of finances.Some, like me, cringe when they think of investing, RRSPs, equities, stocks, bonds

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-20494339154042076442010-01-04T10:13:00.000-08:002010-01-05T15:33:40.664-08:00

Well it's back to the grind; More politely known as the official start to my new working year. It's my first day back and everything is just as I left it, except for my hair.Nearing the last week of 2009, I decided that rather than compile a list of cliched resolutions for the upcoming year, I would put all my new years wishes out there for the world to see and unleash my creative beast with a

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-68891652450050606382009-12-02T19:23:00.000-08:002010-01-01T19:22:16.794-08:00

*sniff*The last month of 2009...I can't help but already start early on some new goals for the new year.While I'm doing that, here are some more desktop wallpapers from Smashing Magazine. I'm a sucker for anything that's Christmas- or snow-themed so I chose the snowmen for my desktop.Can you hear the sleigh bells in the calm silence of the snow?

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-29567298970139370952009-11-29T19:26:00.000-08:002009-12-08T14:54:37.127-08:00

Yesterday was my last Art of Fonts class at Emily Carr. To date it's been my favorite and I had a lot of fun exploring and experimenting. In my opinion the course was a little on the short side but luckily my teacher (Kara Pecknold) is teaching a full typography class starting in Spring 2010 so if you're interested, take a peek at Emily Carr's latest course offerings. You won't be disappointed!

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-56259215894972155372009-11-10T11:47:00.000-08:002009-11-10T11:53:18.710-08:00

Has anyone been a couch potato lately? If so, you've probably seen this commercial created by DDB Toronto. My boyfriend actually told me about it and got me to watch it with him. When I finally figured out what was going on, boy...did it ever make me want to get out of the house! Especially since I knew what a Snuggie was. (Did you know they have Snuggies for dogs now? Now that one REALLY made me

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-75502686453351929092009-11-05T20:17:00.000-08:002009-12-08T14:53:06.992-08:00

I had a fabulous change of scenery today attending a morning lecture put on by the GDC called "The Future of Selling Design" presented by Blair Enns.Blair Enns is the founder of Win Without Pitching and a business development consultant to marketing communication agencies.When Blair began his presentation, the first thing that I was impressed by was his public speaking skills. I've never been

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-75334494743607785272009-11-03T20:01:00.001-08:002009-11-03T20:06:27.476-08:00

Another month gone by...whew, what a fast one it's been.Only one more until the end of the year. What goodies will the new year bring?In the meantime, here are some goodies for your desktop.A lot of them are themed around the up-coming Thanksgiving holiday but because I'm Canadian, that holiday is long-gone for me. So in keeping with my own status-quo I chose something fun and colourful instead.

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-22996895859655462752009-10-19T19:27:00.000-07:002009-10-20T08:43:49.003-07:00

What is success?What is failure?More importantly, is there such thing as either?I used to believe them both as black and white - you either succeeded at something or you didn't; Failure brought shame and success made you king/queen of the world. This way of thinking wasn't serving me any good and was a terrible way of looking at things. Why I made it so hard for myself, I don't know but if the

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-62276279581065892112009-10-10T12:44:00.000-07:002009-10-10T13:10:22.947-07:00

I received an exciting call last week from the GDC congratulating me on my licentiate status. I am now a full-fledged member. I'm so excited to finally be a part of this great community of designers.

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-51058990324877035532009-10-02T18:59:00.000-07:002009-10-02T19:17:17.393-07:00

I was super excited to fall upon the latest desktop wallpapers from Smashing Magazine.There's quite a few Halloween themed ones this month, naturally, but I'm not one to be drawn to clichés so I was tempted to choose something out of the ordinary just in spite of that.But, in the end, I chose one that was went beyond the Halloween theme and told a story, letting my imagination run wild. Looking

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-11750822620880273632009-09-30T20:19:00.001-07:002009-09-30T20:48:14.562-07:00

On my commute home today I had an interesting conversation with some ladies about technology and the good ole days of rotary phones, snail mail, and plain old meet and greets. We also touched on how much closer families would be without Blackberries, how much more book-savvy young ones would be without computers, and we even went as far as imagining a society without it all; Simpler times where

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-73374841206342847072009-09-14T20:13:00.000-07:002009-09-15T07:02:41.573-07:00

I've been so delinquent in my blog posts, I almost feel criminal. It's funny how that happens. You get so wrapped up in being 'active' at all times that it feels weird to step away. You wonder what it is you may be missing or what you're leaving behind.But a leave-behind was exactly what I was aiming to do as I've been productive designing one - you know a 'leave-behind' portfolio?When I first

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-64599975134365981672009-09-09T20:07:00.000-07:002009-09-10T11:22:17.891-07:00

I can't believe it's September already.Man...did summer ever go fast!And with a new month, comes new desktop wallpapers to keep your desktop looking alive.The one I chose this month was reminiscent of my bookshelf with the inclusion of falling leaves and birds flying south. The colours of burnt oranges, deep yellows, and umber keep things warm on those cool breezy nights.Speaking of which...time

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-28894432182721704002009-08-19T20:52:00.000-07:002009-08-30T12:12:46.044-07:00

Every morning on my way to work, I amuse myself with a read from the 24Hour paper.Well actually I find news quite depressing on the best of days so I wouldn't really call it amusing but none-the-less there are some days when I come across a little nugget of joy that makes me smile, making it all worth it.Today a reader had been having a rough start to her day and wanted to write in to this

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-50682231626177064482009-08-11T19:00:00.001-07:002009-08-12T21:38:21.858-07:00

I read a great article a couple of days ago that outlined finding your creativity and being creative in order to find it. (Quite the catch-22)I know at times my creativity goes A.W.O.L. and I'm left with a lot of empty space in my head. It's quite frustrating, especially when I'm in the mood to create but my right brain is not; it can be quite the battle. When that happens, I tend to completely

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-40403158177279460152009-08-10T20:02:00.000-07:002009-08-10T21:12:41.346-07:00

Every now-and-then I like to be a tourist in my own city.Just today I was talking about the amount of times I've been to Victoria (a stones throw away from Vancouver), on holiday or on a field trip in my younger years, and for the most part, did the same things. Over the past few years, I had made it a point to do something different each time. One year my love and I really stepped out of the box

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-81808682813852371302009-08-08T18:26:00.000-07:002009-08-10T14:34:34.526-07:00

With the exception of the cauliflower, these food items are all green. (Anyone disagree?)But, the question IS, do they all taste the same?Well of course not. We wouldn't expect them to either because we're not comparing two of the same kind. So of course we're going to get different flavours, different shapes, varying shades of green, and different prices. Nothing is absolute here.I think this

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-6970599665677937172009-08-07T18:37:00.000-07:002009-08-07T22:51:25.603-07:00

For the past few days I've been making sure to keep my karmic freebies close at hand.Monday I printed a set and left the house determined to find somewhere to plant one. At first, I didn't think I would have much of a chance to hand them out but as the days went by, I've been pleasantly surprised to see that I actually have more opportunities than I thought.The bus drivers I encounter on a daily

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-55066605373247226272009-08-03T00:41:00.000-07:002009-08-09T19:00:06.289-07:00

Lately I have been thinking about how to reinvent this karma project of mine to make it less like a "shop" and more like a community.After roaming the internet for some-hours searching for inspiration I came across quite a few sites that sparked some excitement. There was a site in particular called Operation Nice that I was really taken in by. I felt I could really relate to the project and the

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-84447202270114391892009-08-01T13:27:00.000-07:002009-08-01T14:14:43.451-07:00

I just realized that I totally forgot to post wallpapers for July! Here they are in case you want one without the calendar.Good thing I caught August before it whizzed by!My favorite (and chosen) wallpaper this month is the memory design mainly for it's vintage colouring and the essence of world-travel.What's your favorite?

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-46453215624503653392009-08-01T13:03:00.001-07:002009-08-06T10:54:46.883-07:00

Have you ever heard of the phrase: Ready, Aim, Fire?Of course you have! But I'm not talking about firearms here.*Story time!*For most of my creative career (all 5 years of full and part-time experience) I thought I had this ready, aim, fire theory down-pat. If I sought a new job, I went for it without a second thought. This pattern repeated for some years until I realized it wasn't working. The

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-4227969205205175032009-07-20T19:02:00.000-07:002009-08-01T14:13:41.834-07:00

I find the current state of television shows depressing, exploitative, and not entertaining at all. To name a few that really fit this profile: Toddler's and Tiara's, Paris Hilton: My New BFF, and every news channel there is.What will networks think of next to get viewers to tune in? Is there any hope?I sometimes wondered what would happen if a society was overwhelmed with positive media for a

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-16478675006383443842009-07-10T20:13:00.001-07:002009-08-01T13:01:57.667-07:00

Well it was my last class today and it was a bit sad to know I wouldn't be going back for another few months. Being at Emily Carr was an experience I couldn't possibly get tired of. Emily Carr is like my mother ship.For the last class today we discussed page layout and working with a grid. This was something I never learned in my diploma course which is very strange but I learned it eventually

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-58777403254070454322009-07-09T21:02:00.000-07:002009-08-01T13:02:36.516-07:00

In today's class we discussed logos, identity, and branding. What was really interesting was the fact I totally missed something in the FedEx logo that I should have really picked up on earlier. It's very subtle but it does exist for a reason; very tricky. Can anyone tell me what it is?We then got into the creation of an identity and applying standards across letterhead, business cards, etc. Our

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-90730448139291357862009-07-08T20:03:00.000-07:002009-08-01T13:02:21.075-07:00

The topic of the day was typography. What a juicy topic!Typography to me is like reading a mystery novel. You kinda have a sense of who dunnit and why but then as the story progresses, it reveals more details and throws more twists and turns in the plot, making you go "hmm!" or "aha!"I know typography is an extremely complex area of design which was why I was excited to discuss it today. We

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-69663084721330422542009-07-07T17:58:00.001-07:002009-08-01T13:01:32.091-07:00

Today's class was another fun one. Working in groups yesterday really helped the class get a little more dynamic so the critique of our homework today was really fun. Some symbols were harder to express (and interpret) than others but it was a great exercise which further emphasized how something so simple can be so challenging to communicate. The teacher had to laugh at symbol I came up with for

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-63642843597952403652009-07-06T20:04:00.000-07:002009-08-01T13:01:48.976-07:00

It almost felt rebellious to wake up this morning and not go to work. *snicker*It was a really nice change though, especially since I've waited so long to find an appropriate course (and school) to attend. I had also forgot how much fun it was to go to art school. If only I could get paid to do that :)I left myself lots of time for travel, to find my classroom, and a nearby coffee shop to grab a

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-8412821150890587222009-07-05T18:55:00.000-07:002009-08-01T14:11:48.207-07:00

Sketchbook...checkPencils...checkCreativity...checkLooks like I'm all ready to start my class tomorrow.I'm a little nervous but I think more excited than anything. I'm really looking forward to learning, meeting new people, and going to a school I've always wanted to attend. Hopefully I can sleep tonight!Stay tuned because I'll be blogging every day until the end of the week to give you the

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-39755497325554186592009-06-25T22:07:00.001-07:002009-08-01T14:11:27.860-07:00

I was shocked to hear the news of Michael Jackson's death.Watching old videos on tv today, it reminded me of when I was young, mimicking Michael's every move from his Moonwalker movie. The talent and brilliance he was as an artist, amazing.Smooth Criminal, my favorite music video.Here's a dancing clip from his Black or White video.

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-43788709376457409662009-06-25T20:51:00.001-07:002009-08-01T14:11:11.936-07:00

Whether you're a graphic designer, a singer, an athlete, a teacher, or a stay-at-home mom, I believe everyone needs a mentor or a coach.Now when I say 'mentor', I don't mean someone to do the hard work for you or someone that tells you what to do and when. I mean someone who can help you find your own way to success. Someone that allows you to develop and hone the skills you were born with

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-17286229823736895682009-06-06T11:04:00.000-07:002009-08-01T14:10:30.646-07:00

Last night I went to Best Buy to purchase "He's Just Not That Into You" coincidentally featuring the Mac guy :)...ok I don't love Mac THAT much...Walking around the store I took a peek at some other things and asked about the price for Leopard, thinking I would have to save for months to buy it so I better find out how much it's worth so I can start now.Surprisingly, at $129 (compared to Windows'

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-8285209533774011132009-06-04T18:44:00.001-07:002009-08-01T14:09:37.070-07:00

This month Smashing Magazine has some pretty colourful desktop wallpapers for you.My choice is the World Environment Day design. It reminds me of a dream I once had...

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-83189792195355983562009-05-25T21:07:00.000-07:002009-08-01T14:08:55.703-07:00

Here's a perfect game for print design nuts and all those press operators out there. Press Check, a game that focuses on the art of print plate alignment, challenging your speed and accuracy. You can also compete against virtual press operators worldwide with the international leaderboards.Download to your iPhone or iPod Touch.Thanks to GDC for the original posting and for FORMation Alliance for

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-30294760597563299432009-05-11T10:01:00.000-07:002009-08-01T14:08:26.698-07:00

I've been out of school for almost 10 years now and never thought I'd ever go back. But with the advancement of technology and the general progression of graphic design, I was starting to feel like a "Classic Mac" in a world full of "Mac Pros". With that, I decided it was time to go in for some upgrades.My first plan of action into a higher education was to see what was in demand. A graphic

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-38317980051667575632009-05-05T15:43:00.000-07:002009-08-01T14:08:03.968-07:00

The GDC twittered today about a business magazine (of all things) holding a design contest for their 25th anniversary cover. Read all about it here.Now me being an advocate for all things good and being a graphic designer trying to make it in this world, I got a little upset so I wrote them to let them know that spec work should not be supported and is an unethical business practice for many

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-67661898786227681352009-05-02T13:57:00.000-07:002009-08-01T14:07:31.366-07:00

Here are May's desktop calendar wallpapers.I chose the astronaut wallpaper this month for my own desktop as I loved the use of colour and the feeling of 'space'.Which one did you choose?

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-42869266221834693022009-04-26T10:45:00.001-07:002009-08-01T14:06:35.285-07:00

My day at Justified West was really awesome. It was unfortunate that the speakers only had 1/2 hour to talk about their work as I was intrigued by many of their stories and presentations. Here's a quick recap of my day.Marian Bantjes was the first speaker and I have to say was inspired by her whimsical, abstract, yet detailed approach to her typographic illustrations.Tom Phinney explained how his

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-50088458050880105942009-04-16T19:33:00.000-07:002009-08-01T14:06:12.041-07:00

Over the past 5 years, I've really taken up a love for reading whether it be fiction, non-fiction, documentaries, or reference books.I always read as a kid and a few books really stood out in my mind and has stuck with me to this very day. However there are some books that I have read, that didn't stick. Even though I am, or was, truly interested in the subject matter and had many AHA! moments

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-12732511285941748822009-04-01T17:34:00.000-07:002009-08-01T14:05:25.458-07:00

Here are April's desktop wallpapers.This one my fave for being so fresh and breezy.

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-59932133879249136292009-03-30T18:31:00.001-07:002009-08-01T14:03:47.496-07:00

For us creative's, doodling is like our coffee break...well atleast for me it is. When boredom comes knocking or when I'm caught up in too much thought, I enjoy turning to pen and paper to release some tension and keep my brain alert.Little did I realize doodling had a higher meaning so I went searching for some answers. Here is what I found:-------------------Doodling allows the

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-84796764157688156902009-03-28T21:31:00.001-07:002009-08-01T14:03:25.685-07:00

Well I have to admit, that I'm a bit disappointed with this year's Earth Hour. For as much exposure as 'the hour' seemed to receive, I was expecting a little more from my city. Most people didn't bother shutting off and the lights still blared from most of the major shopping centres. Some people were good, but I had to laugh when I saw people watching tv with all the lights off.For me, Earth Hour

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-1483013614630997562009-03-27T18:34:00.000-07:002009-08-01T14:01:39.049-07:00

I got curious today about my brain and wondered which side I used more since sometimes I feel very right-brained and other times I feel very left-brained.So to feed my curiosity I conducted an online creativity test to see how far "right" I was.And so much for that!Turns out I cut very close to being right down the middle but my dominant side is my right.I investigated a little further to see

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-56878967262751272112009-03-26T13:48:00.001-07:002009-08-01T14:00:08.562-07:00

I'm excited...I just signed up for Justified West happening in Vancouver on April 25th.An all day event about typography featuring some key speakers: Marian Bantjes, Stephen Coles, Si Daniels, Zara Evens, Shelley Gruendler, Michael Hernan, Richard Kegler, Kevin Larson, Emily Luce, Thomas Phinney, Geraldine Wade, Jim Rimmer.Should be a good day!For more info, go here.

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-40796052502733260682009-03-25T07:39:00.000-07:002009-08-01T13:59:22.139-07:00

Some of you might think I'm totally crazy, but I have to admit, just recently I started implementing 'Do Not Design' days in my life.Why?Well, since I'm so passionate about design I get wrapped up in great ideas, fun books, brillant concepts, and dreamy visions and tend to forget there's a whole world happening out there (and right in front of me).I work full-time in an unrelated field, so I can

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-24869882576252031792009-03-12T21:08:00.001-07:002009-08-01T13:55:06.129-07:00

A few years ago, I came across a Canadian-based design magazine called "Design Edge". I'm sure some of you have heard of it, but for those who haven't here's a quick run down:Design Edge Canada is print magazine that is published six times per year with the highest circulation to professional graphic designers of any publication in Canada. Regular departments include News on Design, Trendspotting

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-36989416241931521902009-03-03T19:00:00.001-08:002009-08-01T13:53:57.624-07:00

New desktop wallpapers for March are available here.Enjoy!

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-60696667986780531382009-02-25T07:14:00.000-08:002009-08-01T13:50:50.326-07:00

It hit me today that this recession (whether it's psychological or not) is no longer affecting select group of people in certain industries, its affecting all of us. Last week a company I know very well, had some mass layoffs. This week a magazine I used to work for has stopped publication and is taking a hiatus. And I have to admit, the past month or two has not been banner months for my

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-18782661782082385932009-02-16T19:38:00.000-08:002009-08-01T13:49:08.386-07:00

I took a lot of colour theory in my school days. It was, and is, one of my favourite subjects. Learning how certain colours harmonize or clash, how they can alter your mood or even remind you of something or someone.Through one of my resource sites, I found a site for colour lovers everywhere. Learn about colours trends, patterns, palettes, and more!And for some more insight on how to best

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-27858215614568321702009-02-06T10:04:00.001-08:002009-08-01T13:53:49.530-07:00

Here are some desktop calendars for February.Ok, ok I'm a little late, but none-the-less, enjoy!

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-76722569976676342012009-02-05T20:32:00.000-08:002009-08-01T14:02:45.558-07:00

When you think of "great thinkers", who do you think of?Confucius? Einstein? Newton?I came across an article the other day that was referencing "great thinkers" of history and I got to wonder what happened to "thinkers" in our current reality?Throw yourself into the future for a moment...let's say 2125...and look back at this time on earth. Who would be in the history books of the twenty-first

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-73008114181624139222009-02-02T21:13:00.000-08:002009-08-01T13:46:08.485-07:00

After many years of hard work and diversifying my portfolio, I've finally applied to become a GDC member. I'm currently only an "Associate" since I have to still go through the portfolio review process, which only happens once every quarter.Time to prepare!

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-29018502803057773612009-01-26T18:43:00.000-08:002009-08-01T13:49:36.583-07:00

I was walking home after work tonight, cutting through a mall parking lot, pondering life's questions, when I look ahead and see what appears to be a large bird, flying quite low, heading toward me.I wondered what such a large bird was doing hanging out in a concrete jungle with so many people and so many crazy drivers.Upon further inspection, I realized it was a spotted owl.Since photography is

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-51340302961607399792009-01-21T19:03:00.000-08:002009-08-01T13:52:13.864-07:00

I was browsing on one of my favorite graphics resources tonight and found some fun desktop wallpapers for January 2009.I think they come out with one each month so you can check back next month for more.Check it out

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-48396091983395341252009-01-18T11:25:00.001-08:002009-08-01T13:49:21.599-07:00

A quality designer is like a good foundation to any house. Without it, the integrity of the house is compromised. So you can see why it's imperative to spend the time to find a good one.In the article below I have outlined a few important points to help you find a quality graphic designer.I have also given you some red flags to look for, so you can prevent potential headaches.--------------------

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909588314798464737.post-28075823565573333182009-01-16T23:14:00.000-08:002009-08-01T13:49:14.323-07:00

The world of design is filled with many obstacles, many lessons, and many tests, especially if you live in a hyper-inflated market of designers like Vancouver.I know because this career path has personally challenged me to the point of exhaustion, frustration, and full on tears. It has been a career that has truly kicked my ass!Every where I turned I was trying to prove myself, not make the same

Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350594166023522133noreply@blogger.com0