DTG Magazine Design Department

The design department brings graphic design ideas, tips and tricks and concepts for design, printing, photography and publishing of all kinds. Everyone is welcome, beginners and pros alike. The best place to start is with the latest issue of the Newsletter

Featured Graphic Design Articles

Feature interview: Decoding Maggie

Since this month is "Design Graduation" month, we knew new design graduates would like to get a little insight into how one person grew to become a world-class, celebrated design force. See some spectacular graphics, get a fresh shot-in-the-arm -- ladies and gentlemen, meet Maggie Macnab...

Soft Soap revisited

A year after our article on a certain self-promotion from the 1970s, one of the creators of that promotion, Ron Mabey of the famed Mabey Trousdell studios -- writes to shed some light on the original creation of that controversial promotional box called ... SOFT SOAP

Designing in Ceramic Tiles

At a time when creative services may be sliding with the economy, some niche markets continue to flourish. Follow along as Fred takes a look at the use of ceramics for business signage and architectural markings -- not only a lucrative side-line, but one of high-art and lasting durability... Designing in Ceramics

The 10 Commandments of Guerrilla Marketing Design

The Dean of Desktop Publishing, Roger C. Parker returns with some do's and don'ts about Guerrilla Marketing. However, we think these ten commandments are essential for any designer in any field! It's an attitude that emphasizes the efficient and memorable delivery of information... all part of his recent book Design to Sell The 10 Commandments of Guerrilla Marketing Design

Designers Share "BEST" products & the Holidays

This month designers reflect on holiday design and cite Vectormagic Vector your Raster images online; Yousendit.com for sending huge files online and Camtasia by TechSmith video screen capture as among the favorites from 2007.

Jump directly to the Fall Fonts Festival

What's My Font?

Author and Macintosh technical expert George M Engel -- with some rants, pet peeves, and favorite type faces -- and why (along with picture samples) as a continuation of last month's article. You can even download a whimsical font recommended by George in ... What's My Font

Brown without the Blues

Joyce Dalman, a Print Broker with her own company Joyce Dalman Printing Services knows what it takes to deliver reliable color to her clients in Southern California. And if you're delivering brown for a client like UPS, it can't be just any brown. She knows how to build Brown without the Blues

Type & Typography according to George

Author and Macintosh technical expert George M Engel -- talks about one of his long time passions, type and typography -- he shares some of his favorite fonts and hard-learned tips on making a better newsletter... My Typography Demo

Creating Typography with Character

Special guest author and designer, Maggie Macnab takes a look at today's typography. She provides some thought provoking insights into taking the right approach when designing with typefaces. See samples from some of todays graphic design authorities -- so you can learn how to create Typography with Character

Designers tell their stories: What do you do?

DTG quite frequently receives email and inquiries from readers or students asking what it's like to be a designer. So, here are designers in the field talking about their experiences in this continuing series: Designers share insights into their jobs...

Design Pro or Freelancer?

Each year we get a ton of inquiries from people who want to migrate into the design profession. They write asking questions about what it's like to be a designer. You can help us paint a picture of the Design Life by filling out our brief survey. We'll start an ongoing page which includes the best, and perhaps the worst, of your comments... anonymously of course. We'll also send out prizes to those who provide particularly insightful responses. So, help out by completing the Design Pro / Freelancer Survey

Predict CMYK Color with Confidence

Remember, we told you about Tintbooks last year... today, print manager Joyce Dalman writes about the comprehensive CMYK Graphic Design Tool for building the color you want using CMYK so you can Predict Color with Confidence

Color Palettes in Design

The art of color is a difficult art to learn, and apply. So many people today think they can design a pleasing color palette, but really cannot. But one thing they can do -- seek out the fabulous Art Nouveau design and ornament period for an unlimited wellspring of ideas for Color Palettes in Design

Interview: Sara Horowitz, Freelancers Union

Sara Horowitz founded Working Today to meet the needs of the new, independent workforce -- which became the Freelancers Union, to deliver benefits to independent workers in New York City's Silicon Alley. This interview courtesy of Sessions.edu Sara Horowitz, Freelancers Union

Selecting a Color Palette

It's not hard to persuade a designer that color matters. But persuading Fortune 500 companies? You might be surprised. Color consultant Leatrice Eiseman has carved out a major career in helping companies "make correct choices in colors that sell." ... Expert Advice from a Color Consultant

Gamefull Art

So, you think you'd like to get into Games development? Follow along as Sessions School of Game Art advisory board member Jolene Spry interviews Dave Taylor, independent video game producer and long-term veteran of the gaming industry in ... Gameful Art

12 most common eBook design mistakes

The Dean of Desktop Publishing, Roger C. Parker returns with this tutorial to help make your electronic publications attention-getting, attractive, and easy to read... all part of his recent book Design to Sell 14 most common eBook design mistakes

Questions for Designers

Anne-Marie "HerGeekness" Concepcion wrote about "Telling Questions" prospective design employers may ask the job applicant. Some of the questions are obvious -- others not so. So, we teamed up with Anne-Marie to find out if YOU can correctly answer these Questions for Designers. Then Fred took it a step further and challenges you to pass the freshman digital graphics test.

Going the Extra Mile in Design

Every wondered what it's like to hold a high-powered design position in the cosmetics and fashion industry? Enjoy this intreview by Industry expert and Sessions EDU instructor Laura Schwamb, and get a peek into the life of Lara Modjeski VP of Creative, Tom Ford Beauty

Celedy Software CeledyDraw 2

Can professional Windows users in the design field exist without Adobe Illustrator? Maybe not... probably not. However, most other Windows users can indeed exist nicely without Adobe Illustrator -- here's a robust, alternative for just about anyone... CeledyDraw 2

Seymour Chwast: icon of contemporary graphic arts

We have a short visit with Seymour Chwast during his recent visit to JMU... and take a look at some of the visual design and illustration that helped shape a generation of graphic designers ... meet the Left Handed Designer... Seymour Chwast

Designing For Print On A Budget

Thomas McKenna instructor for Sessions.edu talks about the never-ending battle of the limited print budget. If you don't have much money to spend on printing, here are a few of the tricks and techniques you can use when Designing For Print On A Budget

New Typography: What difference does it make?

With the new generation of desktop publishing software, it has become much easier to set professional quality typography. Design & publishing expert David Bergsland takes a brief look at the New Typography

Graphic Design: LOGOs back to basics

Dan Antonelli is back with another thoughtful look at logo design. In this article, Dan asks if we are over-designing logos, and demonstrates a low-cost, two-color approach that takes Logo Design Back to the Basics

InDesign: Grids into Complex Tables by merging

One of the common tasks desktop publishers encounter is the need to reproduce existing forms. Design & publishing expert David Bergsland shares this step-by-step tutorial for the best way to make Complex Tables in Adobe InDesign

Spiral Binding with InDesign

A Design Cafe reader was dealing with printing a pocket booklet that needed the binding moved from 'center' between pages to the top. We came up with a solution, but then got some good advice from Anne-Marie Concepcion, the Design-Geek for Spiral Binding using Adobe InDesign

Graphic Design: An effective logo is easy to grasp

Although Dan Antonelli is firmly grounded in the sign and display industry, his logos are unsurpassed, and his knowledge of pleasing clients while not compromising their identity is relentless. In this article, Dan discusses what makes a good logo, and shows some focused examples of how an effective logo is easy to grasp

The Apple Core vs. Linear Logic

Special guest designer, Maggie Macnab provides a thought provoking essay on symbols and modern man. This is essential reading for anyone in the visual arts fields -- particularly if you're designing logos and symbols. Of that discipline, Maggie is the ultimate authority. The Apple Core vs. Linear Logic

Grand Brand Theft

Susan Kirkland is back with another insightful essay, this time on Brand and Logo knock-offs... guess who are the biggest brand hijackers? Guess who is the biggest logo hijacker? She bars no holds in this knock-out piece we'll call: Grand Brand Theft

12 most common newsletter design mistakes

The Dean of Desktop Publishing, Roger C. Parker joins us with a tutorial to help make your newsletters attention-getting, attractive, and easy to read... all part of his new book Design to Sell
12 most common newsletter design mistakes

Education of A Designer

Gary Dickson is back with a thoughtful look at learning to be a designer and what it means to be a designer... who I am, as much as what I do...
A Designer's Education

Building Colors on Uncoated Stock

Tintbooks Introduces Tintbook Uncoated -- Remember, we told you about Tintbooks last year... well, they've now completed the first comprehensive CMYK Graphic Design Tool for printing on Uncoated Paper. See the latest TINTBOOK...

InDesign CS2

Author and Macintosh technical expert George M Engel -- a die-hard PageMaker user -- found Adobe's InDesign a bit of a pain to get used to... but now he's found some new features that he really likes in the new Adobe InDesign CS2

Readers talk about racism in Design

An outpouring of response from DTG readers presents a wide range of Letters to the Editor regarding previous articles about Racism in Design

Form Follows Function... or not?

Gary Dickson is back with another of his thought-provoking articles. This time he's searching for any truth to the new theory that this is no longer the information age and that Function is Dead... Long Live Function

Adobe InDesign CS2 Speed Tricks

Here's another round of great tips from the Adobe Experts... * The Secrets of the Quick Apply command -- make your formatting more efficient! Also: * A highlighting pen effect for type; and * Collecting footnotes InDesign Speed Tricks

Designing the Holidays

Each year I like to share some of my favorite design projects perfect for holiday promotions or greetings... here are four easy techniques for your own self promotion... Unique Greetings with Fantastic Folds

Self Promotion: Soft Soap

One of the all-time best self-promotions comes from the 1970s and the Mabey Trousdell studios -- reminding us of the top four prerequisites for a squeaky clean self promotion ... SOFT SOAP Let the boys do your work!

How to design a logo of letters

Are you known by your initials? Turn those letters into a terrific signature! Desktop Publishing icon John McWade joins us this month to share some tips and tricks on getting the most out of letterforms for logos and monograms... How to design a logo of letters

Stock Layouts for CorelDRAW

For graphic designers and business publishers who need to produce professional-looking brochures, newsletters, flyers, postcards, ads, business cards, letterheads and more. For CorelDRAW Graphics Suite versions 9 through 12

Creating for Today's Print Workflow

Printing industries expert Gretchen A. Peck reports that as many as 90 percent of the digital files printers receive from customers are in some state of disrepair. Designers today must be prepared to accept new responsibilities, and think beyond design aesthetics -- Creating for Today's Print Workflow

Color Wrap: Designing with purpose

See how careful planning of the photo shoot can save money on great shots, and then how printing and folding a single sheet solution can save a ton of money. Trace a catalog project for a small business that delivers all the collateral materials they need on a very limited color printing budget... Color Wrap: Designing with purpose

Design Cafe Logo Critique

So, the Design Cafe decided to have a logo contest and let listees propose a new logo. Many submitted and these 16 finalists get the once over by other Cafe listees and some special graphic design celebrities... Cafe Logo Critique

Designing Logos

Gary reflects on designing logos, dispels some myths and shares anecdotes on what a logo really is; how some clients never learn, and what Paul Rand had to say about them. Gary says Logos are magic, but there's Nothing Up My Sleeve

InDesign CS2 Classroom in a Book

Author and Macintosh technical expert George M Engel takes a look at the latest Classroom in a book from Adobe; the experts in the tradecraft of image editing and layout design -- InDesign CS2 - Classroom in a Book

Fantastic Folds: Part Two

Now we take a look at designers' unique expressions of creativity in folding for greeting cards. The first two show some savvy design -- and extraordinary inventiveness in "Designing Cards"

Fantastic Folds: Part One

Where do you look for creative ideas in crafting a unique, creative holiday greeting and promotional mailing? One of the elements of print media is folding. It comes along with the job, and if you incorporate a unique fold, your piece will be truly memorable. Here's the first part of our series on "Designing with Paper Folds"

Inspiration in a Bottle

Discover sources of inspiration that may just take you to the next level of creativity! Designer/Author Gary Dickson asks: "Where does your inspiration come from?" ... then shares his experiences of Inspiration in a Bottle"

Picture Perfect Holiday Postcards

It doesnt take a lot of time, money or effort to create, print and mail a postcard. But when done right, postcards can be enormously effective

Babel Color Brings New Color

The BabelColor Company has rolled out the second version of "BabelColor", a color comparator and translator software designed for the Mac and Windows platforms. Babel Color Color Comparator

Patriotic Art & Design

This three-page essay takes a star-spangled march through the lives of noted patriotic artists and how their styles and talents served to define a people and their country; Patriotic art is a part of everyone's history. Here we glimpse just a few of the forms of Patriotic Art, then celebrate the lives and times of James Montgomery Flagg and J.C. Leyendecker

Airman Magazine: Patriotic Design

Airman Magazine takes to the skies with powerful photo journalism and commanding design styling... excellent lesson in Patriotic Design

Easy Single-Sheet Booklet

This favorite from the "Creative Layout" seminars shows you a neat little trick for making a complete 16-page book from a single sheet of paper!

Postcard design that works

It doesnt take a lot of time, money or effort to create, print and mail a postcard. But when done right, postcards can be enormously effective

Creative Envelopes

Someone asked how to mass-produce custom envelopes quickly by hand. It reminded us of this 1998 article in DTG about Handmade, Custom Envelopes

Publication Design Standards

People always ask for design "standards" of some form or another. So are there rules we can design by. Of course. Here's where our Newsletter Makeover Clinic tackles Publication Design Standards

Publication Design Covers

Part II of the series looks at designing nameplates and banners for publications. Nameplates & Banners, and then in part III we look at how Parade Magazine builds flexible, dynamic spreads based on moveable grids!

How to be Creative?

Clare Warmke, acquisitions editor for HOW Design Books takes a moment to reflect on "Creativity" in her article: A moment of white space

Help for a nonprofit newsletter?

Sure... when this local organization wanted to improve their newsletter we said "You need a Newsletter make-over clinic"

Brochures: Creative Folding

When you really have to get attention, look for ways to break out of the boring 8.5 x 11 three-fold concepts -- involve your reader and bring new life to that old brochure

Designing with Art Nouveau

Look back over history and never overlook the visual powers of Designing with Art Nouveau

Designing for Promotion

We've run several articles on scratch pads as promotional ideas for designers. Here we visit a designer from Sir Speedy Promotions

Designing with Ceramics

When we run across a unique sign in our travels to New Mexico we have to send this report on Ceramic Signs

The Designing Business

Although this is part of our Business department, designers can learn a thing or two in How to Hire A Designer

Unique Design Layout...

One of the more popular layouts we've presented over the years is the Digital photo tent display

Using Color in Design

(From the Photoshop Department) Designers must always remember the powers of color. Sometimes you need a little help Using Color to Harmonize Photos

Sure-fire Techniques for Creative Thinking

Take this step-by-step tutorial and see if you don't get a real surge of Creative Thinking

Generating Creative Ideas

A frequent problem for graphic designers is falling into a creative slump. Here's a whole page to help you sharpen your creative edges

Making your graphics work

Of course creating graphics is only part of the challenge. Getting them to print requires a bit of output file wisdom

Unusual Design Layouts

If you need to stand out, then do something different... Design: Skinny Layout Templates.

Other Favorites

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