5 Tricks Increase Design Productivity:
1. Free Project Management Apps
Project organization, due dates, status updates for clients, email campaigns, social media posts, and more. There can be a lot to keep track of, leaving it hard to concentrate on design. Here are a few free productivity apps to help keep you organized and free to think creatively: Trello, Monday, Asana, ClickUp, and Todoist.
2. Plug-ins/Extensions
If you are using Adobe CC like I am, then you are allowed to have Plugins that allow you to speed up the design process. Here are some I use (warning: some are not free): Pathfinder for Photoshop (merges shapes), Ink Photoshop (specs for developers), Fontself Maker (create own fonts), MirrorMe (patterned vectors), and Wondershare UniCoverter (video editing).
3. Pre-Set Templates
No need to guess what the sizes for certain projects. Adobe CC has templates for web, print, mobile, video, illustrations, video, photos, and more. Canva.com has templates for various social media, animations, and other marketing materials. Both tools also update with times, so you don’t have to stress out when items change dimension standards.
4. Create Keyboard Shortcuts
5. Use Mockups for Presentations
When presenting for clients you what them to be able to visualize your design in real life. For example, if create a logo for a coffee company you might find a neat coffee cup mock-up to place the logo on. A few places I go for free mock-ups are
5 Design Treats to Give to Employers or Clients:
1. Mini Booklet
A mini photo book of your works can be a memorable gift. These items are also good for emergencies. Maybe I am just paranoid, but if you are suffering a power outage you can still show off your design skills with a physical copy.
2. A Mug & Coaster
Everyone drinks some sort of beverage in the morning. Having a physical reminder of you right there when they first wake up makes you more like to be thought of again. Make sure you have your contact info on one or both of the products.
3. Stickers
Stickers are a fun way to display your information creatively. They usually come in a variety of shapes and textures. There is less of a possibility they lose your info.
4. Mini Calendars
Believe it or not, people still use physical calendars as well as digital ones. This is a nice practical gift that they can use daily. It demonstrates an understanding of client needs.
5. Mini Puzzle
Puzzles are unique fun gifts that exercising their minds. This is definitely an attention grabber. Gotprint.com has a way you can achieve this.
Comments