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24.01.2022 "Why am I never happy with my work?" . Last week I attended @creativemorning. If you haven't heard of it before, it's a monthly speaking event held in many cities around the world. Each month has a new theme, Novembers was LOST. Boy have I been feeling that way recently so it was excellent timing. . In Melbourne, Christie Morgan, Art director and the founder of Pitch Studios spoke about her journey starting opening a studio and what she learnt and felt along the way. ... . A couple of things she said about her journey really struck me: . What if I'm not a good designer? Why am I never happy with my work? . This, coming from someone who has worked with top brands like Nike can do one of two things. Either it makes you feel hopeless - if someone at that level thinks those things, who am I to try? Or you can take it for what it is, that feeling vulnerable and wanting to improve and do better is a natural part of the human condition that we all feel at times. Too often people take the first route, stopping or not trying in the first place. . Christie also mentioned how she manages these feelings, a couple particularly stood out to me. If you are struggling with anything at the moment I suggest reframing your challenge in this way: . Iteration is key - keeping on trying and iterating, it's the only way you'll improve. It's not a death sentence - making mistakes aren't the end. You can always move on. See more

23.01.2022 Want people to trust your information? Well, design = credibility. . We are visual creatures. It isn't enough to put great content out thereyou need to also consider it's visual appeal and how it the design does (or does not) enable it's purpose. Studies show design is crucial when it comes to the level of credibility and trust people attribute to the information they receive. In one study almost half of participants (46%) used visual cues alone to assess credibility. But... we know this intuitively. Ever gotten a shocking looking flyer in the mail from a local business, how likely are you to hire them? . If you want to learn more about how you can leave a great first impression get my design guide (tiny.cc/dpguide)and follow me. . #contentwriting #businesswriting #communication #contentcreation #visualcommunicationforbusiness #kirstydesignsinfo #getyourdesignon #designbasics #learndesign #trust See more

23.01.2022 I'm going public That's right, starting next year I will be offering my Graphic Design for Work training sessions direct to the public. This course is specifically designed for professionals who create content for work (think presentations, newsletters, reports and other written material) but have no design background and no idea where to start. So if you want to know how to create content that looks good and gets your message across then this course is for you! To celebrat...e 'Going Public' I'm offering my followers a massive 30% discount (just use code NEWPUBLICSESSIONS). Hurry though, the discount is only valid till 20 Jan and I am keeping this session super small (only 6 spots). So what's it all about? It's a full day, hands-on session where you will be taken through the entire graphic design process from typography and colour to design principles and images. In the session you will design a communication, from start to finish, applying everything you learn as you go. To see what it's all about and register go to: http://pos.li/2e07qu Oh and if you have a particular interest in one aspect of design I would love to hear it as I am revamping the foundation course at the moment. Drop it in the comments. #GetYourDesignOn #kirstydesignsinfo #letsgetvisual #designeducation #businesscommunication #businesswriting #visualcommunicationforbusiness #content #contentcreation #contentdesign #designbasics #graphicdesignforwork #communication

20.01.2022 The 2 things you need to create a visual personal brand on LinkedIn Crafting a personal brand on Linkedin is becoming a must have. Branding is all about CONSISTENCY- in your messaging, how you show up and your visuals. Consistency creates credibility, trust and brand recognition. ... And an easy way to create consistency is through your visuals - this does't have to be hard or expensive. If you are looking to build a personal brand on linkedin there are 2 things you should decide on up front: 2-3 colours (also known as a colour palette) 1-2 fonts Use your chosen colours and fonts (and only these) in everything you create. From your profile banner to any pdf content you upload on LinkedIn. Obviously, you can go into more depth with your brand, but these are the minimum you want. See, easy peasy...

14.01.2022 DO YOU MAKE YOUR COMMS AND CONTENT EASY TO READ? This is a pretty extreme case. You're sent an email telling you to log in somewhere else - and OH GOD WHAT IS THE PASSWORD THAT I ONLY NEED ONCE A YEAR - to read a notification that's probably just a reminder to update your details... Strange how usability is never a high priority in communication. If it's hard to read, no one's going to read it. (Except in this particular case because we're all scared AF of the ATO)... #communication #fail #usability #communicationdesign

12.01.2022 WANT YOU LINKEDIN PROFILE TO STAND OUT? Then you're gonna need to design your About section... Yep, the section in your profile you spend hours crafting - then never look at again - isn't working. You want people to quickly get who you are and what you do from your profile - that’s unlikely with long paragraphs. ... I know, I know. It's only a text field BUT that doesn't mean you can't use design principles when creating it. Make it easy to read and find key info by: Chunking information down into relevant sections (no walls of text please) Make it more scannable by creating headers in all caps (or if you wanna get fancy use Unicode text) Use dot points rather than paragraphs for lists Add emojis to make it a bit more interesting and fun. This can totally remain professional... Hey, I'm not saying don't use paragraphs. But think about how people are going to use your about section and design it accordingly. #linkedinprofile #personalbranding #linkedin #informationdesign #design

12.01.2022 I can't stress enough how important design is when putting a piece of content together. Design isn't purely aesthetic, a nice to have. It enhances writing by drawing the reader in and providing order and structure, helping people navigate through and find information quickly. . Here is a before and after example of a quick reference guide a did recently. The before is what people commonly do. The result is teeny tiny writing that is barely legible, headings that are way too s...mall, buried important points and hard to find information. . ENTER DESIGN PRINCIPLES . The after image has EXACTLY THE SAME TEXT (I obvs changed it to Lorem Ipsum cos, you know, NDAs) but looks cleaner, is easy to scan and find information and the important points stand out. It ain't magic, just some basic design principles that anyone can learn and use. . Really want to skyrocket your design skills? Then register for my next Graphic Design for Work session - link in bio. Use code NEWPUBLICSESSIONS to get a massive 30% discount. Hurry though, the discount is only valid till 20 Jan and I am keeping this session super small (only 6 spots). See more

11.01.2022 Rule of thirds is like photography 101 You may have noticed sometimes a camera will divide the screen into a three by three grid. Well the basics of this theory is that you position important elements along the lines or where the lines intersect. The points of intersection are considered to be a focal point, and a pleasing point to place elements of your design. This can be achieved when taking a photo as well as in the way you crop a photo. See how in the second image the... boat is placed on one of the focal points and the horizon aligns with the bottom line. This creates a lot more interest than in the first image crop. Do you have a burning question about design that wasn't covered over the 12 weeks? Put it in the comments below Maybe there will be a follow up Next week, while there won't be a new lesson, I will have some exciting news so stay tuned Don't forget to search for #getyourdesignon to see previous weeks mini lessons. #designtip #photography101 #getyourdesignon #MiniMonday #eduseries #letsgetvisual #designeducation #businesscommunication #businesswriting #visualcommunicationforbusiness #contentcreation

11.01.2022 OK so I hate when I get asked for metrics at work. Mainly because they don't tend to provide any value, but take a sh*t load of time and effort to collate and analyse. . BUT I knew that I had to set goals and measure them if I wanted to check my progress last year. So I set some, relatively low, goals and was happy to see that most I met (and quite a few exceeded!). .... I am under no illusion that likes/follows and the number of posts I make automatically result in my message getting to the people that want to hear it, but it has meant I can baseline and set far more ambitious goals for 2020 . What I have learnt in 2019: It's harder than it looks. It's easy to judge what others put out but the work behind it is generally well underestimated. Content creation is a total time suck so you have to be smart about what you spend your time on. . What are my plans for this year? - Focus on putting out more short-form content - Do more before and afters (my last one had the highest views) - Reduce my effort on youtube (I started out there but, for me, the effort vs views/benefit doesn't seem to be there) - Do more event speaking . Phew, I'm exhausted already thinking about it! Anyone got tips on how they create valuable content without it completely taking over? . #content #goals #design #data #datadesign

09.01.2022 Jane's Linkedin brand sucks....don't be like Jane. Building a personal brand is more important than ever. And having a strong visual brand helps you stand out, get noticed and build your credibility. So I will be running a (free) short, no-fuss session where you'll learn: - The 3 aspects of your Linkedin profile you need to design - The visual elements you need when building your brand - The tools you can use to create your visual brand Secure your free ticket via the link ...in my bio #personalbrand #free #learn #linkedin

09.01.2022 Yesterday I was asked how I went about learning graphic design and my subsequent experience working in a design studio, as a freelance designer as well as returning to the corporate world. They wanted to learn design but weren't sure whether they should move into the design industry or just apply design skills to their current role. Obviously that is a very personal decision BUT what I can guarantee is learning design will definitely boost your professional career no matter... what area you work in. Why? Because design is a communication skill, one that most people lack. The way the world is changing (even pre COVID) communication skills have never been more important. Not convinced? Here is my top reasons why design is a must boosting your career: - More information is available to us everyday. Those that know how to design their information will stand out, look credible, be memorable and understood - Crafting a memorable personal brand is becoming more important. Design helps your brand stand out and be recognised - Data literacy is becoming a part of everyone's job. That includes knowing how to design and present data in a way that is easy to read and understand - COVID Bonus: working virtually removes a lot of the visual cues we are used to in meetings and means presenting information clearly is a must if you want your message to get through What other skills do you see becoming more important in the future? ##communication #skills #future #futureproof #design #designeducation

09.01.2022 Last week I faced some disappointments in my business. They weren't huge, but the problem with being solo is that EVERYTHING is big, EVERYTHING makes you question whether it is worth it, is what you are doing valued? Over the weekend, still feeling deflated, I did the only thing I felt would make a difference. I went against my plan to not shop over the weekend and spent a shit-ton on all the small businesses and independent artists and creators that I follow (maybe not wise... while I am not on a contract earning an income ). Why? Because if I value what they create then I need to support them. So, as we head into the season of spending, I have a message for everyone: If you get entertainment, value, education or whatever out of someone's posts, content or business - SUPPORT THEM. Not because it helps put food on the table. While that's certainly important there is another, purely selfish, reason to "shop small". Supporting them keeps them motivated and going. If they aren't making sales (or getting likes, comments etc), eventually they'll stop producing and you'll think what ever happened to that person/shop that did/sold that really great thing?

08.01.2022 When did I open this again???? Such a great example of thinking about the customer, how they use your product and what would make their experience better.... So simple and costs NOTHING. All it needs is some thought about the customer and their needs. What are some great examples you have seen? #customerexperience #ux #informationdesign #design #definitelybuyingthisbrandagain #usability

08.01.2022 .. I'll be running a series of short (think 30 mins) virtual sessions, open to all, about designing your personal brand and content. I've come up with three topics so far. Let me know via my story poll which you would be interested in learning about. If more than one, then let me know in the comments. Also, drop any alternative topics you think of in the comments. #webinar #professionaldevelopment #personalbrand #contentcreators

05.01.2022 Email - the wild west of communication Email has been around for decades, yet our approach has remained the same: Brain dump hit send wonder why no one reads it ... To give your emails a fighting chance at being read, you need to treat it like any other communication: 1. Stick to one core message 2. Chunk information 3. Format, format, FORMAT #email #communication #uxdesign #ux

05.01.2022 Loved sharing my tips around creating a visual personal brand on LinkedIn today . Had some awesome feedback too which is always good .... I covered: the three most important things that you should design for linkedin the visual elements you need when building your brand the tools you can use to create your visual brand . It's recorded so once I get it neatened up I'll be sending out it to my email list. Want to check it out? Get on the list (link in bio) #personalbrand #linkedinprofile #linkedin #design

04.01.2022 WHAT CREATIVITY "TOOLS" DO YOU USE CONSISTENTLY AT WORK? Last year I went to a short session on Lego serious play. When I am thinking things through the first thing I do is reach for a pen and paper. So having only predefined blocks to play with felt limiting to me. However, I can totally see how having something tangible would help people that aren't comfortable drawing things out. While I loved the idea of Lego at work, I couldn't help but feel most people would only experi...ence it once in their career and the value of it would not be fully reached. To be truly useful it needs to be integrated into the way a team or company works/brainstorms, not merely a once off. This often happens when business bring tools for creativity into the workplace. Instead of fully integrating it into their way of working it is a one off, a novelty, before moving on to the next big thing. Have you done a Lego serious play session before? Was it successful? Do you think it is better as a one off or ongoing tool? #creativity #legoseriousplay #creativitytools

03.01.2022 Environment - it has a massive impact on your work! Last year I was working on an old fold-out table in my lounge room. I say that, but more often than not I ended up on the couch with laptop - and dog - in lap. (My neck is still not on speaking terms with me). Luckily, right before lockdown, I set myself the task to transform my desk to a place that I - you know - actually wanted to work. It isn't finished yet but already has so much more colour and life. The week after I s...et up the new space I worked everyday at my desk. It has highlighted how much of a difference environment makes to your work and habits. There are going to be many changes once we return to working in an office. While there are quite a few (bold and underlined) question marks around the 'ol flexidesk situation, I would love to see some colour and life added to the office. How's your desk situation at home? Is anyone working in a flexidesk environment that still has personality? . #wfh #creativity #environment

02.01.2022 ALIGNMENT We have all heard of that, right? Hmm, not if you go by most PowerPoint presentations! Alignment creates order and aids navigation, guiding the reader through your content. ... You don't have to work it out alone though. There's a nifty Align feature in PowerPoint under Arrange. Use it to align objects to the top, bottom, left and right of each other. As well as aligning objects to the middle and centre of the page. #microsoft #powerpoint #presentation #design