I know I’ve been trying to get Graphos Playing Cards to market since last year in November 2009. I’m still in the process pursuing the same thing and I’m getting more and more excited because I know it’ll be soon. I can almost see the finish line! I was faced with some difficulties but that was also the time I’ve realized how badly I want this!!!

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR! Looking forward to a fabulous year. Wishing everyone good health, wealth and happiness.

Like a logo design, the name is one of the most identifiable elements for the brand. I came across naming my own brand for my product line, which includes t-shirts, stationaries, postcards, calendars, etc…and when I felt like I’ve got the best name, Google tells me it’s taken. It happened about…hmm..10 – 15 times. It’s more difficult than naming a pet or child because it’s okay to have the same name with another pet or child. While I was in the process of naming, I’ve followed a worksheet from WOW! Branding.

Now I have my name: “mei ideas” = my ideas

Reason:
- Letter “m” is one of my favourite letters in the alphabet
- The word “mei” in Latin means “my, mine”
- The word “mei” exists in my mom’s name
- The word “mei” in Chinese means “beauty”

This week, Graphos Playing Cards is being mentioned on commarts.com on the News section

How are you going to spend your $5.00 today? Please donate to the Haiti earthquake victims.

It has been a while since I’ve updated my blog and Bill who commented on one of my posts said “a new year, but where are the new posts?” (ha-ha) I’ll do my very best to update it more often. I have been doing freelance ever since I’ve graduated and wow..it’s tough, especially since I’ve just started. I’m redesigning my portfolio and once that’s done I think it’s time I apply to different design studios. It’s nice spending time with my pug, Mocha but he sleeps most of the time in the afternoon anyways. Recently, I was watching a video about how to get your clients to say “yes” and I’ve learned something very valuable – remind your clients that when they are reviewing the designs, it’s actually not designed for them, but designed for their clients. Therefore, next time you shouldn’t ask your clients “what do you think, or what do you like”, but instead “what do you think your clients like”.

Designing is definitely not an easy career; clients are not only paying for our designs but a huge chunk of our brains. To keep myself motivated I always push myself to design more personal projects. If I only design for my clients, I won’t find it as enjoyable because let’s be honest, clients can ruin our days sometimes.

Below are designs I’ve done this week about A Designer’s Job

I design for 2 reasons:

1) Designing for leisure
2) Designing to help

Below are PANTONE coasters I have designed for fun; however, I think if they do get printed it’ll look wonderful under a glass of wine, a cup of coffee or a can of beer.

For design students graduating at this time of the year may be difficult to get get a job at a design studio. If so, doing freelance may not be a bad idea. Click here.

I came across this phrase that made me giggled and couldn’t agree with him more.

“Inspiration is a very, very tricky thing to even talk about because it’s such a – it’s like making love. Sometimes you can do it, and sometimes you can’t.”

By Andrew Wyeth

Lovely Package is the leading source for the very best that package design has to offer.

My project “Graphos Playing Cards” is now being showcased on Lovely Package. Read some of the comments on there or better, leave a comment.