Are you Trendy?

We’ve all seen them. “ the top whatever trend websites for designers” We have even tweetted about them. Oh, don’t get wrong they are wonderful. It’s good for designers to see how others are treating type and images and the different layouts that are available for viewing on these sites.

As far as trends go, it would take an entire book most likely, to explain how and why trends start and what makes them last or fade away. As of the summer of 2009 it seems that we are being taken over by monsters, and they all are showing up on websites that shine and reflect everything. At least most of the creative websites are like this. Now, I’m not saying these are bad things, just that it seems that everything is running together and all looking the same.

What got me thinking about this was that I came across some notes I had taken a while back. In my sketch – notebook I noticed the words, that were underlined, “Look at trends to find out what NOT to do.” – This would be the part of the paragraph where I would credit the author of this wonderful quote. sorry, I can’t remember exactly where I read it. -
What I do remember, however, is that the article was a interview type article on a creative director for a large firm. The question to him was Do you ever view Trendy Creative websites for inspiration or ideas? His answers was “Yes I Do, but only to see what not to do when designing.” He thought it was important to actually push the envelope and not be like all of the other designs that he had seen in the past. Now that I look back on it, it makes since. I mean what is the point of rehashing old ideas. I want to be different.

What do you think. Should we as designers be safe, or should we venture out and create something new. Who knows by breaking away and creating something new, we may start a new trend that others will follow.

thanks for reading.

Resource files:

I am including with this article a FREE pdf file
Included in the pdf will be an article on a few tips for designers who use twitter.
Also, I am including a separate file as a bonus, a textures pack. All of the images in the texture pack have been created by me and you are free to use them for your projects.

enjoy

Download the Twitter Info for Designers.
Download the Textures Bonus Pack.

I found this today, and some of the quotes on here are GREAT! My quote is not to bad either, he, he, Go to http://quotesondesign.com/jamie-croft/ check out my quote and then submit your own.

I think my favorite quote from the group is David Ogilvy’s which is:
“Imitation may be the “sincerest form of plagiarism,” but it is also the mark of an inferior person.”

Thats great.

enjoy

-jamie

I know this is old news but I am updating my new site and wanted to include this story.

I was extremly excited when they announced that I had won the best of show category for my Newspaper Scion Campaign. Most of the time best of show goes to large campaigns with video, print & web. Not this time! The full page newspaper campaign feature just the scion cars with a color background and a simple headline. My idea was very big car image with a simple catchy headline.

Each car is different with the orginal file being either a white or silver car. I colored the cars in photoshop and used the same color for the background of each car. I made the background art elements in Illustrator and put the cars on them in photoshop. Using InDesign I added the headline and logos.

The finished ads popped and the client was extemely pleased!