BPOVIA Graphic Design

BPOVIA has seen young designers set lofty goals and impossibly high standards. Some wonder if they are setting themselves up for early disappointment. BPOVIA Graphic Design Service team would like to guide you through the real entry-level designer’s life, which has got a lot of left turns.

The Dream:

You have your gallery retrospective and published your monograph. At times you jet over to Europe to have a cup of coffee with some of the most renowned designers in the world. You judge the print magazine’s regional design awards; show up on the panel at several conferences; when you are not busy tending to the garden in Provence you do lecture circuit… it is when the alarm clock rings.

Reality:

You got yourself an energy bar at the newsstand for breakfast.

You pull up to a faceless glass office-park building. Tumbling through the revolving door, you remembered once again that this is the Midwest office of Acme Inc, where you worked for three years since graduation.

Soundtracked by unavoidable gossips from Sales which is one row over, you are sitting in a cubic office lined with outdated Post-it Notes. Your latest pay stub sat on the desk. And BPOVIA knows that you don’t want to open it at all; since the last round of payoffs your $35 salary hasn’t budged.

You are fighting with the IT department to get a 19” monitor and you are working with an aging, underpowered PC. The CEO has the latest desktop with 21” flat screen because he is CEO and nobody is allowed to have a bigger monitor than him.

He might need it for Minesweeper, you suspected.

Superstar, or Super Career?

To tell you the truth, BPOVIA believes that design superstardom is a very rare case. It is nothing more than the exceptions to the rules, discontinuity and a flashy attraction to of the media’s attention to novelty.

This focus on a selected, lucky few distorts the everyday truth of most designers’ work. We do things in a lengthy apprenticeship, lifelong learning, a craft tradition and becoming a mentor to all of the others are all par for the course. What we do is more related to a craft or profession. This implies to no instance rewards, nevertheless.

BPOVIA wants you to rest assured that you can earn a very good living by attending craft over time. If you are skilled, having good management skill and an ounce of vision, hardworking, you can even achieve a level of wealth. You are most likely not being rocketed into a six-figure salary until before you are well into your forties. The work will often times be repetitive, unglamorous and obscure. But you still have to do it and do it well.

You would be wise to heed the words of Michael Bierut: “Do good design every chance you get, and surround yourself with people – bosses, coworkers, clients – who feel the same way you do.” If you define success as in broader terms like a long-time career, this should be helping.

Parents and teachers are forever searching for new and interesting ways to give their children the skills they will need in the future. And BPOVIA think Graphic design is an important skill to teach kids. Since good design is needed for school newspaper, posters, websites and yearbooks. It’s also important in advertising, branding and in communications jobs. Graphic design skills are imperative for personal and business websites, in advertising billboards, brochures, product labels, newsletters, business cards, and in print publications. According to business author Daniel Pink, right brain skills, including graphic design are becoming increasingly important for nowadays workers. Since graphic design is so important, let BPOVIA walk you through the following 5 tips for teaching kids graphic design, which are summarized by BPOVIA Graphic Design Service team.

1. Starting from the child’s interest. Children love to play, they like new things, so at the beginning of several activities, BPOVIA suggests you try to provide some more painting tools, oil painting brush, brush, color pen, crumpled paper, watercolor paints, glue, handmade paper, lead and drawing paper, cardboard, newsprint, colored cardboard, old newspapers, advertising papers, etc., and playing painting games or hand games together with children. By doing this can attract children hands-on participation, and gradually adapt to the activities, enjoy the events, looking forward to the start of activities. Read the rest of this entry »

In the last article, BPOVIA introduced some ways to improve your working productivity. Are you ready for more?  In this article, BPOVIA brings more to you!  Enjoy!

6. Monitor your time. Designers at BPOVIA believe that it is much better to know how the time is spent during the work week. Time monitoring may help you to look for inefficiencies and methods to improve your productivity. If you hardly know how your time is spent, it is hard to know how you will be able to improve your time usage.

7. Always plan ahead the activities for the next day. Better be more aware of your things to do. Always take note of the things you listed in your to-do list, and you may check your list at the end of the working day to see whether you may have overlooked something. With this process, BPOVIA is sure that next day planning will be a quick method for you and you will know where you will start the next day and you will tend not to forget things altogether. No time is wasted since you are always prepared to do your tasks for the next day.

8. Get to know your distractions. In tracking your working time, you will be able to recognize the activities that are found to be distracting in your work. If you remove all the distractions, your efficiency will definitely increase. “But to achieve this you should first know and understand the different challenges that you encounter when you work productively.”said one designer at BPOVIA Graphic Design Service team.

9. Expectations should be realistic. There are graphic designers that are ambitious and they feel the pressure to get more things done that is physically impossible to finish given a certain period of time. It is obvious that there will be an increase stress and pressure, thus resulting to low work quality. According to BPOVIA‘s experience, expectations that are realistic will let you finish the things that are scheduled to do.

Always resist the temptation of getting too much work done, and concentrate more on doing the best work that is currently being done. If you focus in this area, your productivity will increase by outsourcing some tasks.

10. It is advisable to get enough sleep the previous night. This is very important as you are productive if you are well-rested. If you lack sleep, the tendency is you always struggle to keep up on your toes to do all of your tasks for the day.

11. Strive for a more comfortable working environment. BPOVIA knows that when employees are happy and relaxed in their work areas, they will be more motivated to finish all the work assigned to them! So BPOVIA‘s office is equipped with furnishings and fixtures that are not only functional, but can minimize the work stress as well.

12.Eat plenty of healthy foods. Foods are the fuel of our body in order for us to keep going. BPOVIA always believes that you are what you eat. If you eat junk, it will be detrimental for your body whereas if you eat healthy foods, you will reap the benefits of it eventually.

What do you want to say after reading this article? BPOVIA welcomes your comments！

People often have plenty of tasks for the improvement of the work, and bear in mind that no single process will work for all. In this article BPOVIA will cover some of the lessons that designers in BPOVIA Graphic Design Service team have learned through their own experience. For BPOVIA graphic designers , productivity is a constant goal, and always interested in finding new ways to get more out of their time. Hopefully some of these things will help you in your own work.

1. Make a list of tasks for the day. If you set a goal of what you need to do, you will find it is much easier to work throughout the day. Just make a to-do list so that you will be able to keep track of your tasks. For designers at BPOVIA, there are many different things to do in a day and all of these things are helpful in their business in some way. But even so, some are not as important and urgent as compared with others. If you go through the day without a task list, you will have the thinking of producing plenty and benefiting your business. But in the end, you will find it hard to focus on doing the right tasks first and not finishing the full tasks for the day.

2. Prioritize Tasks. If you have made a task list according to what BPOVIA suggests, it is likely that you will just have a few things that need to be done at the end of the working day. For such reason, it is just as important to prioritize the task items to finish, aside from making a list of tasks. Every task is different every day, and there is a probability that you will have just a few vital things that should be finished. Other tasks vary depending on the urgency and its importance. Set first the tasks that need to be done and then make a list of the other stretch goals for the day. These stretch goals have less urgency than the main to-do tasks. If you finish all of the most important things for a particular day, then you may be able to move forward to the stretch goals.

3. Know the Strongest Times of Your Work Day. Some people work best depending on the time of the working day. Some work best during the mornings, while others in the evenings or afternoons. All of us have times of the day that are stronger than others in terms of productivity and focus. So BPOVIA suggests you do tasks when your mind is at its best. While at the other time of the day, you may just check your emails, clean it out and moderate or even respond to your blog comments, or just about anything that needs time requirement but definitely not much need for mental focus. By using this approach, BPOVIA is sure that you will be able to be more productive during the least productive time of the day, and thus the best hours will be saved for more demanding tasks like article writing or working on a client’s blog or website. There are always many different things to do that needs to be done that also requires various intensity work and focus levels. You will definitely get more out of your day if you will really have a good combination between your best work times with the most demanding tasks, and your very least productive times with the tasks that are done routinely.

4. Get things done in a bulk of time. There are so many different tasks to do and you may divide your working time into short period of time for such specific tasks. BPOVIA thinks it is better to make use of bigger time blocks to get same tasks finished all at the same time. You may just try to check your email two or three times all throughout the day instead of checking your email many times during the whole day. You will be able to save more time if you follow this method. You will be able to get more out of your time as compared with writing a blog post here and there if only there is available time.

5. Be flexible. It is vital to be flexible with the prioritized tasks on hand so that you will have some room of flexibility for yourself. Understandably, there are days that will go unplanned and also when you do not feel like to do anything in other days. So BPOVIA thinks it is better to allow yourself some flexibility to make a change according to different circumstances.

BPOVIA will introduce more ways for you in next article, please stay tuned!

For graphic designers, clients are the chief source of revenue and client criticism is part and parcel of their work. So, it is important for graphic designers to deal with these criticisms. BPOVIA think it’s always better to be proactive than reactive. Here BPOVIA Graphic Design Service team will share 6 steps with you about how to handle client criticism in a proactive manner:

1. Become an active listener:

One of the best techniques of remaining proactive is to become an active listener. When graphic designers are tackling difficult clients, patience is virtue. BPOVIA suggest you learn to listen more and speak less. That way you can avoid a tussle with the clients who mete out insults and verbal assaults. Even if the client is criticizing without a concrete reason, let him. Sooner or later, he will eventually become worn out of the arguing. There is no point in quarrelling over a discussion that has no end to it.

2. Control your anger:

Whether you work in the field of graphic design or not, there is one thing that we all need to be careful about. Professionalism demands control over your anger. It is a known fact that whosoever has let their anger get in the way of their professional dealings have been unsuccessful. While BPOVIA knows it is easy to say and difficult to implement this, we need to realize that whatever criticism we hear in our professional careers, there is nothing to take personal. That is why graphic designers at BPOVIA particularly like the saying, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”

3. Distinguish good and bad criticism:

The first thing that you need to know while handling client criticism is to distinguish the good from the bad. BPOVIA find that some criticisms are for the graphic designers’ betterment and improvement, while some are just mere arguments for the sake of argument. There are some common statements that client say which can help identify the negative censure from the positive feedbacks. One way is of finding out is through bilateral communication. Try to clarify the intentions of the client and not presume what he meant to say.

4. Convince the client with your intellect:

There are two ways that a human body is administered. Either we do what our brains tell us or we listen to the heart. Although our heart helps us through many grave situations, but it is not very useful when someone is aggressively criticizing you and your work. This is the place where a calm and collected mind comes in handy. Instead of reacting brashly, BPOVIA graphic designers prefer trying to convince clients using their intellect and brain power. Outwit the client with your knowledge and dexterity by giving logical and rational explanations.

5. Never panic:

Sometimes, clients can come up with outrageous suggestions and unfeasible deadlines for their project. This aggravates graphic designers who suddenly panic when they listen to these impractical things that clients ask them to do. “The key here is never to say die. “ A graphic designer at BPOVIA said so. A competent graphic designer never backs down from challenges. If you are given an unachievable deadline to complete a project, don’t panic. Simply accept it and clarify the client the minimum time required in the entire procedure.

6. Be self-motivated:

The ultimate step to handling design criticism is to be self-motivated. Negative censure and verbal insults cause a graphic designer to lose enthusiasm in his work. It reduces the designer’s motivation level. Obviously, dealing with client objections and criticisms isn’t every graphic designer’s bag of tricks. BPOVIA encourage you to learn to be self-motivated constantly. The key here is to believe in yourself! If you think that you are right, then no amount of criticism can impair you.

Understanding copyright law is a crucial part of any graphic design education. BPOVIA can imagine that you may think it is boring. Yes, but you’re an artist–and knowing how that little “c” mark works can help you protect your original stuff and protect yourself from an infringement lawsuit. Clients often ask BPOVIA some questions about copyright and here are some typical questions that BPOVIA Graphic Design Service team received. Today, BPOVIA will give you the answer!

1) What is a copyright, anyway?

BPOVIA: A copyright protects “original works of authorship,” meaning any literary, dramatic, musical, or artistic thing you create. Poems, movies, novels, songs, paintings–even software and architecture can be protected.

When your work is copyrighted, that means you own the rights to reproduce, create adaptations, distribute, sell, display, or perform that work. Graphic designers are usually most concerned with the rights to reproduce or adapt designs, photos, and illustrations.

2) So when is my work protected?

BPOVIA: The moment you create something, it’s protected. You don’t even have to register with the Copyright Office, although doing so can help you prosecute someone if someone is infringing on your rights.

3) Awesome! But what about stuff I do for clients?

BPOVIA: Well, if you work for an agency or company, you usually sign over rights to any work you produce there. It is the same for freelance clients. They’re buying the work, and the rights to it, from you, so it’s technically not yours to reproduce, sell, or display anymore.

4) How to make sure I’m not stepping on the law’s toes when I use work from another artist?

BPOVIA: Well, under fair use laws, there are ways you can legally and fairly use someone’s graphic design work. Using someone’s copyrighted material is cool if you’re using it as part of a parody, a critical review, or for an educational purpose.

But before you go lifting an image for your next graphic design “parody,” make sure you understand how the law determines if material was fairly used. Again, the rules are vague–and every case is determined individually by examining 4 major criteria:

1. Purpose and Character of Your Use: Did you make significant changes or improvements to create something new or give the original new meaning?
2. Nature of the Copyrighted Work: Are you disseminating facts and information (better) or borrowing from fiction (worse)?
3. Amount and Substantiality of What You Used: Are you using just a small portion or short quote? Is that borrowed piecing (however big or small) the heart of the work?
4. The Effect of the Use on the Potential Market: Is your work depriving the original creator of income or are you now making money from what you borrowed?

As you can see, there’s no solid rule about what or how much you can legally borrow. And even if you think you’ve used something fairly, the owner of the copyrighted material can take issue at any time.

So how do you avoid infringing on someone’s copyright? Well, BPOVIA think the simple and direct answer is asking for permission to use the material.

A well-designed flyer can provide a great marketing tool. “Imaginative and compelling design, combined with efficient, targeted distribution, can make Flyers a cheap but effective element of a marketing campaign.” Said a designer at BPOVIA Graphic Design Service team.  Despite the emergence of e-mailers, mobile phones and other new media forms of communication, flyer design remains a useful skill. Here BPOVIA provides a few tips aimed at designers who are new to creating Flyers:

1.Decide on Your Creative Concept
The creative concept is the main theme that will flow throughout your publicity campaign. So, BPOVIA suggest you that it must balance the need to catch the attention of viewers with that of promotion/selling your product/idea.

2.Make It Eye Catching

We are bombarded with advertising everyday—so you need to ensure that your design leaves an impression.
First, you should analyze competitors’ efforts, and identify what stick out and makes you focus on that particular design.
Secondly, if you are promoting a recognizable product/service, then a prominent photo of the topic is a good way to start.
Thirdly, BPOVIA always advocate simplicity. It is better to choose simple designs for your flyer, as complex illustrations can make your flyer design look too busy.

3. Emphasize the Selling Points of Your Product

BPOVIA suggests you identify what sets your product/service apart, often called Unique Selling Points.

• A well know brand that will sell itself?

• Separate the features from benefits and focus on the latter

• Offers something new/original?

4. Wording is Key

We usually unwarily put too much information on a flyer. But people typically have very short attention spans, thus a word heavy flyer may put people off reading it. You may ask:” what should I do?” Don’t worry! BPOVIA Graphic Design Service team will help you! Try to express selling points concisely

• Use imaginative, exciting, punchy, catchy language

• Phrase your message using “you” opposed to I or we. People want know what the flyer is offering THEM

• Create a “call to action” – persuasive words that hook the interest of readers. These can be as simple as “Order It Now” or “Call Today”, or alternatively a provocative headline/question may also be successful

5. Create a Professional Impression
Font Choice

• Try limit the number of font types used to 2

• Use easily readable font-types for critical information (telephone numbers / web address / etc)

• Limit the number of logo’s displayed

• Avoid using all capitals, as these can be difficult to read

Layout
Give consideration to the printing process – e.g. leave bleed space (don’t place text or vital information too close to the edges of the design as these may be omitted during the printing process)

Paper Choice

• Choose your stock carefully – paper weight/density / paper size / after-effects such as gloss laminate

• Heavier weight, finished/coated paper can help to achieve more “up scale” aesthetics

Have you learned something about flyers design? If you still have any questions, please feel free to tell BPOVIA! We always by your side!

A majority of graphic designers are spending a considerable amount of time in the home office, so BPOVIA wonders if it is possible to make the working more relaxing and less stressful. The answer is a “yes”. Improving your mental and physical health, creating a relaxing home office can help you make working more enjoyable, reduce stress and produce better work. You can follow the following tips put together by BPOVIA Graphic Design Service team to create a more zen-like home office and working experience. Do not hesitate to share any tips of relaxation tips in the comments or pictures of your own zen-like office.

Tips Towards a more zen-like office

1. Your Desktop Wallpaper

It may sounds simple to you, but think of how many hours are your eyes locked on your desk-top screen! BPOVIA suggests you add a nice relaxing image as your desktop background. Some of our designers prefer landscapes because the view of an ocean or a beautiful forest can be the most relaxing thing in the world. For some people it could be something cute or a photo of the loved ones, or even something you want such as a cutting-edge electronic gadget, which can be your motivational or relaxing imagery.

2. Find a Room With a View

Why do people in the corporate world always dream of an office with a view? BPOVIA Graphic Design Service team has its own explanation: compared to a cubical wall with papers stuck on it, it’s far more relaxing to look at flowers outside and bees flying around. So just go ahead and relocate your office in your house and you’ll get a nice view. One of our designers has spent years working out of a basement with no window or natural light and believe him, it is neither FUN nor relaxing.

3. Get Some Green

You can still do some gardening even if you are indoors. BPOVIA believes you can make yourself more relaxed, make the air better and make the place look great by adding oxygen-generating plants to your room. You can decide how many plants you get, no fake ones! Plants can thrive with a little sunlight and water and you’ll be able to do the same with their help.

4. Fresh Air

Working in a hot stuffy office may be the worst thing ever happened to you. Like BPOVIA designers, you can turn off the fan or air conditioner to save some energy and open your window on windy days to let in some fresh cool on windy days. No other season is better than fall to enjoy the relaxing and fresh breeze courtesy of Mother Nature.

5. Burn Some Incense

Many of our senses can make us feel more relaxed, which is a blessing from God. BPOVIA guesses you may need a little experimenting, since difference senses work for different people. One of the most popular choices is Incense, which has been used for many years as a way to enhance relaxation and medication through smell.

6. Fresh Coat of Paint

BPOVIA Graphic Design Service team has been reading some articles on how people are made relaxed by certain colors. Repainting a room can be def worth years of improved relaxation and can be done in a day for very cheap. Your eyes would appreciate it!