David Airey

WHAT? you say? A feature of David Airey, you say? Again?

Actually, no. And I’m just as surprised as you are.

Yes. I’ve featured his new blog, Logo Design Love with I LOVE Logo Design Love. But I’ve never written a true feature of David Airey, the blog. I swear!

And if you are unfamiliar with David Airey’s blog, you might just be glad I waited. Why? Well, for starters, because it’s grown into one of the top design blogs focused on running a business. Way ripe for a feature.

And if you are a designer looking to run your business out of a blog, then you can’t go wrong by checking out David Airey’s style.

But before you go running off to copy his methods bit by bit, one suggestion. Come up with your own ideas, your own twist to running a design blog wrapped around a business. Trust me on this. You’ll be glad you did (yeah, David Airey clones are getting easy to spot).

Ok, I’m running late getting this out so let’s take a quick dip into David’s top nav.

Hire Me >> Portfolio >> Testimonials >> Articles >> Contact

HOME is obviously where the guts of the blog sits. David generally blogs on subjects important to his readers as well as clients (handy, some readers are also clients). In the blog posts you’ll find information on graphic and logo design as well as his latest project announcements.

HIRE ME is simplicity at its best. After a brief blurb, it goes straight into an easy online questionnaire. And if the potential client needs more, there’s also the option of a downloadable pdf questionnaire, as well as the ability to copy the questionnaire text direct.

PORTFOLIO shows his latest projects (most I’m familiar with). Just enough to give the picture. Not enough to overwhelm.

TESTIMONIALS are again brief. They also give the clients added publicity. Not too shabby.

ARTICLES compiles the meat of the site into an easy browse. And as this site aims to get clients, logically David has Dealing with designers right at the top. A smart move.

CONTACT is again brief, listing all the ways to get in contact with David. Skype. Email. Online form. LinkedIn. Facebook. Twitter. del.icio.us. No excuses.

I chat with David quite a bit so I do know a little about him (although I didn’t know his first word was logo). So what I wanted to do was see if I could find out anything new. And what’s the best way to do this? Online interviews.

Interviews with David Airey from around the Internet …

Freelance Folder: Interview With David Airey – Graphic Designer And Blogger

Freelance Folder: I know you’ve been blogging for almost a year and a half now, how is blogging helping your business? Do you find it’s a useful tool and do you find clients through your blog?

David: The vast majority of my clients arrive through my blog.

Web Designer Interviews: DAVID AIREY: “The logo is… an identifier”

Web Designer Interviews: What advice would you give to designers who are planning on specializing in logo design?

David: Read as much as possible on the subject, and pay particular attention to typography. Regardless of whether print products are on the decline, and if the ‘paperless office’ will ever arrive, logo design will always be needed, so go for it.

The Beta News: Show Me Your Desktop, David Airey

The Beta News: Do you have any tips and tricks on how to get the most out of your computer or blog?

David: Be sure to dust your computer from time to time. Especially if you have an allergy.

Inspiration Bit: The Naked Truth About David Airey

Inspiration Bit: How and why did you decide to get into blogging?

David: I didn’t really know the value of blogging, but heard great things about WordPress, and was curious. I wanted to develop my 5 page static portfolio site into something bigger, more useful, so headed to WordPress.com , and set-up one of their WP-hosted blogs.

Vandelay Website Design: Web/Graphic Designer Group Interview

Vandelay Website Design: How do you typically start a new project?

David: By asking as many client questions as possible. No-one knows their business like them, so I never presume to create an effective design unless the client has a large input in the process.

So, did you learn anything new about David Airey?

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Logo Design Love Awards

Well, this was exciting reading. Ten weeks ago David Airey embarked on the Logo Design Love Awards series. He put a ton of work into it, and it shows.

Several days back, he posted the Logo Design Love Reader Appreciation Awards.

Then, several hours ago (and right when I was rushing off to dinner), he posted the Logo Design Love Awards judges’ verdict.

The comparison between the readers and the judges is quite interesting. (Note: below is the category comparison. The placement from the judges have been added where they fall).

Business blogs
Judges: Joe Urban | 1st place (12 points)
Readers: Big

Entertainment blogs
Judges: Vulture | 2nd place (6 points)
Readers: sk*rt

3rd place: Undies Drawer

Miscellaneous
Judges: Simply Recipes | 4th place (4 points)
Readers: Karly Barrett

Personal blogs
Judges: Dooce | Joint 5th place (3 points)
Readers: Kristin Östblad

Joint 5th place: Found Gallery Blog, Diseñorama, Dumb Little Man

Design and photography blogs
Judges: BrandBerry | Joint 9th place (2 points)
Readers: Just Creative Design

Environmental blogs
Judges: EcoGeek | Joint 9th place (2 points)
Readers: EcoGeek

Technology blogs
Judges: Uncrate | Joint 9th place (2 points)
Readers: Boing Boing Gadgets

Joint 9th place: POPSUGAR, De Ouro, TreeHugger

Joint 15th place: FontStruct, Just Creative Design, sk*rt

Health and self-development blogs
Judges: CalorieLab
Readers: Emergiblog

Marketing and PR blogs
Judges: Idea Sandbox
Readers: Hubspot

Political blogs
Judges: Democracy Now!
Readers: Democracy Now!

As one of the judges I found the whole process rather interesting. As the entries were varied in subject and such, I decided to keep pretty much to The Six Universal Attributes Of a Great Mark.

Well, except for a few points. I took out one. Distinctive. And added one of my own. Memorable.

Below are the other judges donating time and comments to the awards:

• Megan Patrick, Senior Editor at HOW magazine
• Armin Vit of UnderConsideration LLC
• Adrian Hanft of Be A Design Group
• David Pache of dache
• Steve Delahoyde, Co-Editor of UnBeige
• Alissa Walker, previously of UnBeige, and now Gelatobaby
• Jeff Andrews of Design Inspiration and Sugar Frosted Goodness
• John Martz of Drawn!

David deserves a standing ovation for doing a bang-up job on the logo design awards. Dontcha think?

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Logo Design Love Awards

Hey all! Time is running out if you aim to enter the Logo Design Love Awards. Or if you want to suggest a favourite blog logo, not yours.

DEADLINE for entry: 01 March 2008

It’s completely free to enter, or to submit an entry on behalf of a blog you think should win. The only requirement is that entrants must have their logo displayed on their blog header between February and April 2008.

As I mentioned in a previous post, David Airey, asked a range of designers (as well as yours truly) to step up as judges.

Knowing the time for action was soon, I queried David on how it’s going:

“The interest so far has been fantastic, and thanks again to the judging panel for agreeing to help out. It’s not too late to have your logo featured in the awards, but you need to be quick!”

So there it is. Be quick! Or be not. But whatever you do, be there when the time comes to vote. That’s right. You’ll have a say.

As well as an outright winner decided by the judges, you are also invited to vote by leaving comments on the individual category posts. There’ll be an additional Logo Design Love Readers Award, and both winners (if different) will receive a special design feature of their own.

See you there?

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Logo Design Love Awards

Logo Design Love Awards now open:
Last week, David Airey (of the popular blog of the same name, David Airey) launched Logo Design Love. This week he’s announced the Logo Design Love Awards.

“It’s completely free to enter, or to submit an entry on behalf of a blog you think should win. The only requirement is that entrants must have their logo displayed on their blog header between February and April 2008.”

And just check out the line up for the judges. All good.

• Megan Patrick, Senior Editor at HOW magazine
• Armin Vit of UnderConsideration LLC
• Adrian Hanft of Be A Design Group
• David Pache of dache
• Steve Delahoyde, Co-Editor of UnBeige
• Alissa Walker, previously of UnBeige, and now Gelatobaby
• Jeff Andrews of Design Inspiration and Sugar Frosted Goodness
• John Martz of Drawn!

Oh. Then there’s me amongst that great bunch – Cat Morley of Creatlive Latitude, NO!SPEC and Business of Design Online.

One of the main reasons I agreed to sign on as one of the judges is because David is a class act. Everything David does is well thought out. As well as well designed. I like.

So if you have a blog logo you love (after reading the criteria of course), why not put it forward to see how it goes?

If not, you can always contribute your opinion by voting during the Logo Design Love Readers Award.

Enjoy!

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David Airey

Logo Design Love

It’s always lovely to have a new launch. And what’s better than a launch ofLogo Design Love?

Please stop on by David Airey to see even more love. Comment love that is. Nice.

About Logo Design Love:
Logo Design Love is a website devoted to logos. It’s authored by me, David Airey, and I’m a self-employed graphic designer in Edinburgh, Scotland. I was born in Northern Ireland, but moved to Scotland initially for studies, and now to work and enjoy the surroundings.

Interesting Posts:
15 wonderfully simple logo designs and Forums for logo design feedback

Found at Logo Design Love:
dache The visual works of David Pache

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Jeff Fisher

Identity Crisis!

Jeff Fisher of Jeff Fisher Logomotives and bLog-oMotives has created a blog to launch his latest book, Identity Crisis! There are not many posts yet, but the ones present are of high quality (no surprise there).

He came up with the idea for Identity Crisis! from our very own Alina Hagen’s Graphic Makeovers column at Creative Latitude.

Jeff also has a column at CL aptly called Logo Notions so please be sure to check it out if you are a fan.

If you are in the market for design books, Jeff’s bookstore is where you can find either books he’s written or been involved with in some way.

Tooting my horn here, I’m in Jeff’s first book, The Savvy Designer’s Guide To Success: Ideas and Tactics for a Killer Career. I was disappointed to bow out at the last minute on Identity Crisis! due to a client crisis. More on that later.

(Jeff, I immensely enjoyed writing “his latest book” and can’t wait to read about your next one.)

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David Airey

Creative Design

First thing in the morning, before the tea has kicked in, I wake up slow by checking out DWB’s stats using Site Meter. I have other stats programs in place (Awstats and Statcounter) but Site Meter works better for the quick cruise.

And I don’t have to think when using it. It just is.

Creative Designs has been appearing, well, I wouldn’t say a lot. Just enough for me to be able to enjoy it on occasion. Enough so that I thought it’d already been featured.

Checking back in my memory, I have a niggling that I’d already planned on how to present his banner. And I may have put it to use. Dunno. I’ve searched. But Searches are not always exact. Not first thing in the morning anyway. As half asleep as I am with the over-work shags, it may have already been so.

But no matter if it’s a first or an again, I bring you Creative Designs and David’s Logo of the month, Sinkit. Sinkit was designed by Peter at smashLAB. Nice. Needing no introduction, SmashLAB starts out their selling spiel with “you aren’t going to like us”. Ok. I can relate.

David’s comments on Sinkit:
I enjoy the anticipation of the ball (dot on the) waiting to drop into the hole (negative spaced). All great logos should work in black only, without the need for colour. This is a point that’s missed on so many logos I see nowadays.

I do agree. When I first saw that logo, I had a wow moment.

Working in black first. Another agreement from this end. Without colour to get in the way, potential problems with the design are right THERE, not masked.

Jason Santa Maria uses the same concept with his Grey Box for putting together a web site design. So simply logical. So “why didn’t I make that leap?”

Another post on Creative Design to check out is The fragile magic of paper . I now have title envy. Nice.

David’s Website: David Airey :: Creative Design :: Edinburgh

Creative Design is by: David Airey

So, there it is. My first (admitted) half asleep posting. With the project I’m swamped under, there may be more of these. Or not. Or a combo of too brief or too brain dead. It might be interesting. Or not.

Shagged out posting R Us.

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Brand New

About:
Brand New is a Speak Up spin-off displaying opinions, and focusing solely, on corporate and brand identity work. It is a division of UnderConsideration.

Check out:
The Colonel’s (Brand) New Clothes and The Windy City Blazes in 2016

Found at Brand New:
G2

Discovered via: Speak Up

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Jeff Fisher LogoMotives with bLog-oMotives

bLog-oMotives has been featured on Creative Latitude: Cat’s Fancy: Designers who blog.

From the about:
Jeff Fisher is the author of the book “Savvy Designer’s Guide to Success: Ideas and tactics for a Killer Career” published by HOW Design Books.

Fisher is a member of the HOW Magazine Editorial Advisory Board and the HOW Design Conference Advisory Council. In addition, he often writes for sites such as CreativeLatitude.com and Commpiled.com, as well as speaking about various aspects of the design profession to high school classes, college students and at industry organization events such as the HOW Design Conference and University & College Designers Association activities.

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Clever Logos blog

From the about:
The logos I post are those which made me smile and think, the ones I wish I had thought of first! I like it when logos take me by surprise, either with unexpected associations or playful ideas.

The Clever Logos blog is by: Denis Radenkovic

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