JH Creative: Business Cards

I finally can network w/ confidence because I at least have a business card. I also finished my portfolio, which always needs updating. When is a portfolio ever final?

I placed my logo on a 2.5 x 3 standard size vertical setup. Kept my life simple and chose fonts I already had. I have yet the money nor the disk space to collect the beautiful fonts out there. For the meantime, I'll just collect pretty images of fonts on my Pinterest board, Ty·pog·ra·phy. 

Contrast & minimalistic styles are one of my favorite things to do, which explains the design in part. I considered several adjectives while developing my logo and genre of my overall brand. Simple. Modern. Brief. Practical. "Less is More" philosophy. The black and white theme is consistent with my portfolio, which I recently updated. 

 My next project is to finally put everything online. Many artists alike find it difficult to keep an online portfolio fresh, new, and up-to-date. Probably because they're either busy working on clients' projects or in my case managing the house, children, grocery shopping, and cooking. Hence, blogging about their work (photography, paintings, designs) is the easiest and quickest way to do it. If you are interested in seeing my resume and portfolio. Please contact me at julia.holly@gmail.com.

Tally's Print Shop

After shopping online and driving around town, I found a trustworthy print shop. They're supposedly the best for quality results with quick turnaround. Someone recommended them. I wouldn't say the best quality, but for turnaround time they haven't disappointed me yet. I sent Durra Quick Print (DQP) a file that morning and they got 100 cards ready for pick-up that afternoon. All for $20. 

For all those w/ small businesses, do not go to FedEx Kinko's. Not only will it take all day to get something simple done but it will cost you an arm and a leg. I'd recommend Minute Man Press over them, but even Tally's local shop DQP beats MMP. So, I've got my go-to shop for small print jobs. I'm still looking around for the larger jobs I might stumble upon.

Julia Holly Creative: Resume Fall '12

For anyone wondering or maybe not even noticing at tall, why I have been awol (absent without official leave). I've been busy enough to not blog and trying to apply for a part-time design job. Honestly, if I had the choice I'd be happy focusing on my kids' school stuff and designing for free to help people out, especially small businesses or products I'm passionate about, or even sports like Ultimate.

However, in the real world everything costs money. Like, daycare, healthcare, and my basic need to buy cute clothes for every aspect of my life. Healthcare kills us. The hubs is pushing for me to work, so I finally finished updating my resume. Took a lot of tears and anguish for me to get everything I wanted and what he wanted put together, to complete it. Hope ya'll like it and please share with anyone who needs design support, or creative consultation.

Last Minute Flyer Request -> Great Results

Facebook Ad for VHN

Soooo, for those of my FB family and friends, there was a recent post by my lovely sister, Anna, who tagged me. No that was not exactly me on the flyer. I don't have the guts to wear a beautiful costume like that in public, however I did design the ad. The whole event came together last minute. I believe the gig was planned in advance, but all the promo and sound system worked out for the best for this talented dance group, Vai Hau Nui.

My sister gives me a call couple days prior, "Can you make a simple flyer for VHN?" My first thought, I have to turn in my resume but how can I turn this cool design opp down? I had to do it. After a couple emails, texts, phone conversations back and forth, I managed to put 3 flyers together for their choosing. One day later emailed the approved versions.

Another option for VHN

Turns out they were thrilled by the quick results, so they kept all 3. The owner of VHN posted 2 on facebook to promote their event at AT&T Park at the Seal Plaza during an SF Giants Game. The flyer was featured via FB that day and it was a great turnout. The seats were packed. I'm not sure if the flyer attributed to the successful event, but I was happy to be a part of helping my sister out. 

As a designer, I've got my nit picky self pointing out the imperfections with my flyers. But, according to my sister, everyone really liked them. Thankfully, VHN tagged me and gave me credit for the flyers, so hopefully I'll get opportunities from there. I've still got other projects to finish up and am in waiting mode to hear back from my clients. There are definite pros to last minute jobs.

Promo for classes

The flyer above contains the logo I received as a flat jpeg. Since I didn't have time to draw a vector out for a transparent background, I placed it above a white circle. This is the first design of the 3, so to begin with appropriate color palette I chose from the logo itself. Also, with all the rules broken using diagonal lines I felt it okay for a printed flyer, making it an interactive piece.

Of course, as I received more info. and images the design changed along the way. I recommended she print at one-hour Costco Photo Center, bc of their color accuracy and turnaround time. 

For last minute, all I can say is that they liked it and I'm satisfied. VHN wants me to help design their new web site. How exciting.

Me LIKE Me New Logo

Julia Holly Creative is in motion. FINALLY. I've wanted to for years... I mean... YEARS to finalize a logo for my freelance design endeavors. And, now the kids are in school, and I can actually sit in front of a comp and focus. Focus? Really? Yes!!! Here is the visual proof of my process. Note: rough stages are purposely tiny so you copycats out there don't get shady with my work. Nu-uh girlfriends.

For the non-designers, here are the steps I took.


1) Sketch/Draw/Scribble
As tempting as it is for some of us digital peeps. No matter what I tend to go back to the drawing board because I just stare blankly at the screen. There's something to using a pencil/pen and paper and drawing whatever... whatever comes to mind.

What I call Chicken Scratch

2) Digital Thumbnails
Thumbnails means, they should be small. I used to have to churn out at least 10-20 concepts for my advertising/design classes. An instructor once told my class that in the real world you need around 100 to begin with. The key is to get out as many ideas in the beginning to weed out the really bad ones in your mind. Get it out of your system.

I love lining up the different digital icons. Logos look simple but the really great ones took a lot of work to get it that way.

3) Finalize and Narrow Down
After getting about 16 concepts (all different looking ideas) I started to do 2-4 variations of my favorites. As I started to feel great about one, I worked w/ some color.

4) The one. 
You know that you've found the right image or design when there's an immediate spark, "That's it!" I think I may have found the one. What do you all think?

That's it!

I'm not going to try to explain the reasoning behind my choices, but hopefully the design speaks for itself.

Multiple Page Formatting

Besides market research, concepting, drawing, and designing, I have formatted multiple page documents with InDesign. One of them, a black & white, 150 page training folder for a non-profit organization. Style sheets are a must and please do not lose all your hair by formatting in Word! I practically lose a few even with Style sheets because of how tedious this gets.

J's Dream
It would be a dream to work on a style manual, or an annual report. I just love the variety you can do with a multiple page document. I've done plenty of small favors, like wedding programs and memorial programs for friends. Unfortunately, I would receive requests practically the week of or content decisions would be finalized very late, so I could only put out as much quality as the time given. So I've done plenty of work but not willing to showcase them. I don't know if artists or designers are ever completely proud of their work. If we were given as much time we wanted, would we really pull through with the best of the best? That's another topic in itself. My A.D.D is kicking in, so I'll stop here.

Corporate Identity: Zeshan

While working as a designer for Bibles for America (BfA) I had the privilege to design on the side. This was before motherhood days. Thanks to the director of Zeshan Foundation for giving me the opportunity to work with him, who is extremely talented with visual arts. He conceptualized the idea of taking Chinese characters and making it a watermark.

Whenever I begin brainstorming with a client, I like to get an idea of what they envision. So, I ask them for a few adjectives to help me narrow down the inspiration that's out there. Or, show images and styles they'd like to incorporate in their brand. Then, after presenting several fonts and layouts I tighten up the tweaks in the final round. This project was a huge learning experience for me. I thought, sure a corporate stationery is simple. But, the second language definitely put a quirk in my usual process. Plus, I had to ship internationally.

It was hard work, but I still consider this to be one of my favorite pieces to showcase. Images have been blurred to keep certain information private.