Category: Design

  • Antonio ‘Tj’ Guzzardi by Tatanja Ross

    Antonio ‘Tj’ Guzzardi by Tatanja Ross

    As big fans of exquisite hand-lettering and vintage-inspired typography, we were instantly smitten with the photos of the Melbourne-based studio of traditional sign painter Antonio ‘Tj’ Guzzardi.

    The images were taken by Tatanja Ross for her Tête-à-tête series, which she started as part of a publication project at university and since then it took on a life of its own. The general idea of the book was to create a catalogue of creative spaces around Melbourne and give an insight into the lives of their owners through the aesthetics of their spaces.

    The name Tête-à-tête came from the idea that Tatanja was visually creating a private conversation between these people and the space they surrounded themselves by, as well as a small conversation with her as she got to meet them and photograph their areas. She visited homes and studios, with a range of participants from students to freelance artists and small working studios.

    Don’t forget to check Tj’s blog and Instagram to see some more of his amazing work and keep up to date with his projects.

  • Studio: Mr. Simon

    Studio: Mr. Simon

    Recently we were introduced to the work of Valencia-based independent graphic and product design studio Mr. Simon.  In the words of its founders “the purpose of Mr. Simon is to develop projects based on a solid concept, considering that aesthetics are also important“. With a simple and synthetic approach, Mr. Simon uses experimentation as a tool to explore innovative communication methods.

    We like their use of materials and finding new, original ways of approaching traditional products. Below are some of our favourite projects from the studio.

    Dos Pavos, the studio’s take on the traditional piggy bank, is made of a cylindrical solid base of wood, that acts as coin stopper, and a ceramic piece that rises in height as the piggybank is filled in with money.

    Today Calendar (Hoy) purpose is not to measure time as a standard wall calendar but to bring our attention to the present and picture frame Tallo combines a solid block of wood with elastic bands, allowing you to hold photos in an interesting way.

    www.mrsimon.es

  • This Is The Perfect Year To Do Something Bold

    This Is The Perfect Year To Do Something Bold

    New Year resolutions are often broken early on in the year; in fact, many of us who made a resolution at the turn of the year will probably have already at least bent – if not entirely broken – it. That’s not so much a comment on our strength or weakness as human beings, and more on the simple fact that giving things up is more complicated than just deciding to do it on a set date. It’s about being ready, and having the support, to actually stick to it.

    Pixabay – CC0 Licence

    It could be argued that taking the turn of the calendar as a good time to stop doing something is a bad idea – there is no benefit from attaching an arbitrary time frame to a decision like that. On the other hand, another year can offer the best trigger to get you to start doing something. This year more than any other really makes that point all the clearer. One way or another, there is going to be more time in lockdown this year, and at the end of it all we’re going to face a world radically changed from before the pandemic. So there’s no better time to add a new string to your bow – for employment purposes or just for your own enjoyment.

    Pick a new language to learn

    There is a lot to gain from upskilling on the language front. You can get the best from overseas holidays (when we start having those again, anyway!). You can increase employment prospects and give your business a boost. Aside from these reasons, learning a language is fun in itself and also can open up a new world of cultural delights for you. You can gain an understanding of Korean and better enjoy the expanding K-pop and K-drama scenes, or maybe brush up on your French; building on an existing understanding can be fun and more simple.

    Get a handle on digital art

    If your self-improvement goals are in any way business-oriented, then it is always useful to find a way of expanding your own abilities. You may be a solid salesperson or gifted in procurement, but if you want your business to catch people’s eyes you need to know how to sell it. You can gain an understanding of the visual side of this by seeking out a beginners photography course and gaining an appreciation of how to take more outstanding photos. Even if your goals aren’t business-related, photography is a hugely relaxing pursuit.

    Get into volunteering

    There is never a bad time to give something back to society, and there are going to be plenty of opportunities to do precisely that as we wait for the world to get back to something resembling normal. There will, without a doubt, be opportunities for voluntary projects near to you, and it is worth looking for a chance to get involved. In some cases, these projects will require that you be vaccinated before they’ll let you start, but if you haven’t been immunised yet there will be opportunities for volunteering from home, too. Volunteering is an excellent chance to meet people and gain new perspectives, and if you want to help people as a living in future it is a great place to start.

  • What We’ve Learnt About Growing A Business Brand

    A successful business relies on a variety of different elements. However, nothing else you do in business will count for anything if people can’t buy into your brand. If you cannot perfect this area, then your company simply isn’t ready.

    Here are five crucial requirements that will help you handle this task like a pro. Incorporate them immediately, and your hopes of success will soar.

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    You Need Passion

    When you’ve interviewed as many entrepreneurs as we have, you quickly pick up on a few shared qualities. A raw passion for business is undoubtedly top of that list. Whether it’s artistic innovations or providing IT support, you must feel strongly about the cause.

    Even the greatest businesses have encountered difficult moment along their journeys. In all honesty, your company will be no different. Without a genuine love for your ideas, overcoming those early obstacles will become impossible. Besides, consumers can tell whether your venture is built on a foundation of passion. If it is, they’ll be far more likely to buy into those concepts.

    You Need A Niche

    It goes without saying that every business needs a customer base. However, the big mistake that many entrepreneurs fall for is trying to please everyone. Sadly, cutting yourself too thin will only alienate the people that may have been interested.

    Trying to appeal to people that aren’t going to buy your products is futile anyway. Find your place in the market at the earliest stage possible, and increasing your conversion rates will become far easier.

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    You Need Character

    Knowing your audience is one thing, but attracting their interest is another altogether. Of course, tailoring products and marketing tools to their preferences will serve you well. But your competitors will be doing the same. You need to do something that sets your business aside from the others.

    Organising a special promotional event is a great way to make your company stand out from the crowd. Hiring a special act through a professional booking agent will spice up any launch event or hosted evening. And when you create those unforgettable experiences, your company becomes unforgettable too. Once customers are thinking about it on a regular basis, the regularity of sales should increase too.

    You Need Presence

    No business can make its mark if people aren’t aware of its existence, though. Visibility is a crucial factor for obvious reasons, but it also verifies the professionalism of the venture too.

    In today’s market, online activities provide the perfect opportunity to pass this test with flying colours. A well-designed website supported by great SEO and social media streams will become one of your greatest marketing tools. Let’s face it; customers are constantly using the internet to research companies before completing a sale. If your online presence paints a positive picture, the overall perceptions will be greatly improved.

    You Need Support

    As an entrepreneur, you should know that you can’t do everything alone. For starters, employees can have a huge influence on productivity while their ideas may also help with branding and marketing. Perhaps the biggest asset at your disposal, however, is the customer.

    Nobody knows what they want better than the customer. Interacting with them will allow you to fine-tune those ideas. It also encourages them to participate in the growth of your business too. Moreover, customer testimonials inject an added sense of trust that can make a big difference to recruiting new clients.

    These five elements won’t suddenly guarantee overnight success, but they will define the brand. If nothing else, that should make the road ahead far less bumpy.

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  • Remote Work Trends in The Future | What Will Happen?

    Many years earlier, many employers believed it would be a distraction if they worked from home. With advanced technology and COVID-19 worldwide, working remotely is in demand. However, since technology has advanced, remote work and many businesses have boomed. It is now common for employees to work from home.


    Featured image by Sigmund on Unsplash

    Workers Have The Desire And Flexibility To Remote Work

    What are remote entry-level jobs that employees do today? One entry job is being a writer. The truth is that being a writer is a good start when working from home. Even if you do not have a writing degree, you can still do this from home.

    A writer creates independent jobs for the best locations, regardless of whether you work as a freelancer or a single employer. Always have a good Internet connection and a word document.

    Remote work is ideal if you are a Remote Software Engineer

    Software engineering is a wide-ranging field that includes web development, mobile app development, and more that aids companies to improve their advertising.

    Software Engineers can earn a good salary depending on their experience and working part-time or full-time. A software engineer is easy to get into for remote work. A demand to be a software engineer is on the rise.

    Being a web designer is a great career to get involved in if you enjoy working on web pages for other people. With fast and ideal web design software, you still need some experience learning how to create web pages for clients, but this field is suitable for remote work trends in the future. You can work remotely as a freelancer, agency, or business organization. Online Full Stack Developer courses are also easier to find nowadays so getting certified is more accessible to everyone.

    Project managers are in the top ten in remote work for a good work environment. Suppose you want to work as a project manager. In that case, you can be assigned to multiple teams, supervise large projects, and be responsible for project timelines, so projects are complete on time without delay.

    A Project Manager can make a good salary, but good communication and organization are required. If you have good communication skills, this is a good fit.

    Remote Work Is Growing

    Since COVID-19 has changed the way we work, working remotely is growing all the time.

    Working from home is now the new normal for many people. Employees like new schedules since it provides flexibility instead of being inside an office five days a week. Employees who work at home can desire to continue their schedules since they have more freedom and say than before.

    Over seventy per cent of employers say that remote work has created more time to focus on their work without distractions and without using their vehicles to drive to their job. Most feel very little pressure and are relaxed when working.

    Conclusion

    With remote work trends becoming ideal in the future, there are many benefits that employees like as we move forward. Not just with freedom, but many workers today can enjoy working more or whenever they can than before. Also, scheduling work and spending more time with family are important.

     

    About the Author

    Monica is a passionate writer and content creator. Her interests include outdoor activities, fitness, technology, entrepreneurship and everything in between. Say hi to Monica on Twitter @monical_lee.