Ask Nubby #17: The Short and Sweet Edition #2

1. When and how did you start blogging?

I started my first blog on Livejournal in 2001. It was really beneficial to blog informally for a few years and I met a ton of awesome people on there (including Star and Gala!) Keeping that blog helped me figure out what I liked to write about and it also allowed me to cultivate my online image without the pressure of a massive audience.

My professional blog on Nubbytwiglet.com went live in September 2007. After much thought, I decided that a simple portfolio site wasn’t cutting it any longer. I had more to share than just my art and design and a blog seemed like a good way to connect on a much deeper level with my audience. It’s easily one of the best decisions that I’ve made career-wise.

2. What program you use to create your collages (and images)?

Everything digital is done with the Adobe CS3 Suite. Photoshop and Illustrator are my two best friends. Though, all of my Fashion and Decor Notebook pages are collaged into sketchbooks and then scanned.

3. How did your wardrobe end up evolving into red, black and white (with the occasional green mixed-in)?

I think my mom is partially to blame. My favorite color has always been green (just like her) but she seemed to dress me in lots of red, also. Beginning in high school, I became more influenced by Swiss poster design, the symbolism of the red cross and Little Red Riding Hood. The clean, minimalist palette of black and white seem to balance out the boldness of red!

4. What are some of you favourite books?

I read a lot, but it’s mostly limited to fashion magazines & blogs these days. Though, my all-time favorite books are Think and Grow Rich, The Warhol Look, Long Hard Road Out of Hell, The Rudi Gernreich Book and How To Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul. You’ll never catch me reading anything fiction, sc-fi or fantasy related!

5. I am trying to create a logo for my new editing business, but I have no idea about graphic design/printing etc. Is it not advisable to create a logo with many colours? If so, is it only because it is too expensive to print? Is it okay to have a logo that is colourful, but also looks okay in black and white?

The general rule is that the more simple a logo is, the better. The less colors, the better. First and foremost, it should work in black and white. I initially begin all freelance logo projects in black, white and gray as to not distract the client from the composition. Design your logo and then ask yourself if every element is absolutely necessary. Does it add something important to the overall composition? If not, drop it.

Limiting colors can help keep the cost of printing down, especially if you’re getting items screen printed or using a traditional printing company to produce materials like business cards. Also, a logo has to be readable at varying sizes and too many colors can become distracting.

Think of some of the most famous logos in the world; the McDonald’s golden arches, the Nike swoosh and the Apple apple. They are all deceptively simple, have clean, flowing lines and no filler. They’re timeless and recognizable on a global level. Here’s an article with some more logo tips.

6. I was just wondering if you’re still loving the Nikon P80! I’m getting one for Christmas and I’m just interested to hear if you still like it in the long run.

Yes! The P80 is awesome and does everything that you’d expect a lighter weight version of an SLR to do. I am a diehard Nikon fan in general. It’s a great camera for the price and I highly recommend it! Here’s an article that I posted about it earlier this year if you’re interested in learning more about its features.

Tags: Advice, Ask Nubby