07 Jul 2015
Business, Design, NoSpec Permalink

NO SPEC: Why Design Contests Are A Bad Idea

July 7, 2015

Spec work. There is article after article about this subject. And for good reason! Spec work, design contests, and crowdsourcing are a huge problem in the design industry, and when it happens in our communities, it hits us a little harder.

What exactly is spec work? Spec work is work done for free in hopes to get paid for it. Spec work comes in different forms with a couple variations being design contests or a crowdsourcing effort. You’ll see them posted on Craigslist, 99Designs, or other design/logo mills, with a business or organization calling out to designers and artists to compete with each other to design a winning piece for this company. They choose a winner and pay that winner with exposure and $100 (or some typically small given dollar amount, or a product prize).
Read full article at Pyragraph

28 Jun 2015
#bettertogether, AIGA, Community Permalink

Thank you, AIGA.

June 28, 2015

AIGA, the professional association for design has been a big part of my career as a designer. Ever since I was a wee student and just coming into this industry to working within companies and later stepping into soloprenuership. I started with the AIGA Hampton Roads chapter and later connecting with the AIGA New Mexico chapter.

When I relocated back to my home state in 2009, I sought out AIGA New Mexico. My first event here was a workshop where I met some of the powerhouse Directors behind this chapter and started to inquire on how I could help on a board level. I officially joined the New Mexico team in early 2010 as their Communications Director, moving up the ranks pretty quickly. I took the Vice President chair from 2011-2013, followed up with serving as President, leading the chapter from 2013-2015.

Over the course of the years, I have worked side by side with so many brilliant creative and business leaders in this state. For that, I am eternally grateful for each and every one! The community has been amazingly supportive along the way as well, and over the past 2 years we have taken on some amazing collaborative efforts with other organizations, building a stronger community as a whole.

AIGA New Mexico 2015

AIGA New Mexico 2015

AIGA New Mexico 2013-14 Board of Directors & Volunteers

AIGA New Mexico 2013-14 Board of Directors & Volunteers

AIGA New Mexico 2014 Birdhouse Silent Auction Photo by: Alex Ignacio

AIGA New Mexico 2014 Birdhouse Silent Auction
Photo by: Alex Ignacio

AIGA New Mexico Showdown 2012 Directors

AIGA New Mexico Showdown 2012 Directors

AIGA New Mexico Showdown 2012 Board of Directors

AIGA New Mexico Showdown 2012 Board of Directors

What a blast! I have attended many events, met amazing people, and made great friends along the way. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone whom I’ve crossed paths with along the way. Without the individuals, the team collaborators, and the community, I wouldn’t have pushed as hard as I did. Also to AIGA National, for being so accessible with mentors, assistance, and guidance. You are all inspiring to me, and very encouraging! I will continue to be as supportive as possible to the AIGA NM chapter, and to the Board of Directors as an Advisor, along with being an active member of this wonderful chapter.

13 May 2015
Design Permalink

Recently Released: Trek for Tassels

May 13, 2015

Trek for Tassels is on it’s 3rd year running, literally. This is a 5K event held in Santa Fe, NM with a mission to raise scholarship funding for students pursuing a degree in medicine.

Design5sixty4 was asked to design a new logo for their event. The goal was to create a simple iconic look that captures movement, without working with a human figure, and keeping the imagery clear of clutter, or getting lost in too many elements. Working with the event coordinators, we accomplished all those goals, and landed here:

TFT-2015

Learn more about this initiative, sign up, and/or support!

30 Mar 2015
design break, unwind Permalink

Take a Break.

March 30, 2015

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One of many observations about myself, and of some peers of mine, we get wrapped up in being busy. And it seems to be the common response when you ask how someone is doing. “I’m busy”. We are pushers! And we sure do know how to push, don’t we?!

This weekend was beautiful in New Mexico. And we took advantage and made a break for it. We hit the trails. A short venture up into Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, we got explore the wonders of Kasha-Katuwe, meaning ‘white cliffs’ in Keresan, the traditional language of the nearby Pueblo de Cochiti. These rock formations, created during voluminous eruptions in the Jemez Mountain volcanic field 1.61 and 1.25 million years ago, are fascinating, and worth a good afternoon hike. There are some places that you’ll walk through, that will have you feeling like you’re on a whole new planet. Something similar to a scene from Star Wars, or Indiana Jones.

Here’s a glimpse into that experience from my lens. A mere peek into the adventure. I highly recommend that you go check it out for yourself!

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20 Mar 2015
Business, Design, Fear Permalink

Be Brave.

March 20, 2015

This morning, I watched Creative Mornings, with guest Chase Jarvis. The topic is about being vulnerable. Be fearless. Be brave.

How does this resonate with you? With me?! Fear is everything that I do as an independent contractor and designer. There are amazing designers out there, and I don’t necessarily categorize myself with them, but maybe that’s simply an insecurity. I’m the worst self-promoter… I’m aware of that. But I believe that we all share a common ground. We’re creative, and I know and follow many creatives who are self-employed. So with that, I have had great opportunities and am working with some amazing clients, which has all been a byproduct of how I’ve evolved as a business owner and creative. Ultimately affecting my own confidence in being my own boss, and challenging this fear that comes along with self-employment. I’ve learned a lot along the way, and am still learning on a daily basis.

Fear and I have a strange relationship. I hate her. Yes, she’s a woman. She tries to stop me from moving forward. And sometimes, I do stop and I think for a minute about my approach to whatever challenge is ahead of me. When I’m done obsessively pondering on my next move, I take her on! Sometimes with success, sometimes not. And then, I learn to love and appreciate Fear. Because where she once stood in the way, she stepped aside and let me grow. Even in moments of failure.

And then there’s that… failure. [sets pride aside] Failure creates growth and learning. We fall down, get back up, and dust ourselves off. And we learn from those moments, or failures. And sometimes, almost always, if it’s good enough and the fight is worth it, we find new ways around that challenge and it comes to light.

Moral of the story, friends: Be Brave.

Overcoming fear and conceiving this ‘art of more’ should be a fundamental practice in what it is that you do and make.

– Chase Jarvis