Gardens are not only for lawns and household play fields, but can also be perfect locations for storage sheds wherein one can just basically stock unused household stuffs in the shed. As part of the entire house exterior, it is only but proper that garden sheds will also look presentable and in-relative to the house's design.

In order not to be a total complete eyesore, garden shed designs should be well-planned. Shed plans should be in harmony with the available space in the garden as well as the design befitting the house's style. Furthermore, garden shed designs should serve its purpose to the owners in general.

The following are some basic tips on how to build your garden shed:
• Space. Before one make his/her own storage building plans, one has already the estimate of the space where the garden shed will be placed. Aside from the space available, decide also which part of the garden it will be located. Make sure that it will not be located somewhere near the main road so as to avoid blockage of the pathway in the future.

• Layout. On a piece of paper, have a layout of your garden shed designs. One needs not to be an architect or engineer for this matter; a basic design of the garden shed - such as how it looks like - will do since this will only serve as a guide to the carpenter or designer in building the shed. If one is really very intricate about it, he/she can hire a designer or architect to make the storage shed plan.

• Materials. In the storage building plans, also include the kind of materials which you like for your garden storage shed. Most of which are made out of wood as woods are deemed as perfect materials for a garden storage shed. Aside from the fact that woods are cheaper, it can also blend well in the environment of a garden wherein shades of green and earth colors fill the area. It is advisable, however, to put wood treatments in certain parts of the garden storage shed. This is to prevent pests or house bugs in getting into the woods.

If you cannot do it on your own, find someone who is learned and skillful in carpentry and designing storage sheds. Look for highly qualified individuals who can construct your garden storage shed. This does not only entail a sturdy garden storage shed output, but also a saving from time and materials used.

Basic Garden Shed Designs
Common garden shed designs today include the A-frame type and barn-style sheds. There are also many other styles such as pet barns, saltbox greenhouse, playhouses, cottages, pool cabanas, or a miniature version of your own house. Outdoor storage may be fitted with a porch and other accessories. When looking at garden shed designs, check what each rmanufacturer has to offer.

For a garage shed where you intend to park toy vehicles, bikes, motorcycles, and even cars, there are shed kits that come in various sizes available. In choosing, you would of course have to tally the number of vehicles in the household. Usually, garage sheds are also designed to house auto repair tools, parts, supplies, and cleaning equipment. Since garage sheds are valued for their interior quality, exterior designs are usually minimal and simplistic.

Outdoor garden shed designs for vehicles need to have strong foundation. You may choose from concrete, concrete block, pressure-treated lumber, brick, or plywood sheets to support the entire structure. The roof height must give adequate room for people to move in and out while the doors may be single, double, or roll-ups. Garden shed designs may include windows to encourage proper ventilation inside the shed.
Another of the most popular garden shed designs are those for constructing potting or greenhouse sheds. Just like garage sheds, outdoor structures for plants need good ventilation because of sprays, fertilizers, insects, and soil. It is a good idea to erect a potting shed near a water source for better plumbing capabilities and maintenance. Greenhouse sheds may include a work bench, hooks for which to hang garden tools, and shelves.

If you are planning a shed to serve as a nursery for seedlings and young plants, as well as a greenhouse for orchids and foliage, you might want to look at larger garden shed designs. You can have the roof be made of either plastic or glass. The best flooring for a custom greenhouse is concrete. Hooks may also come in handy for baskets and ladders. Electricity is also a must for potting sheds as well as plumbing fixtures.
Depending on the type of outdoor shed you wish to have, you may opt for accessories to make garden shed designs even more interesting. Items such as skylights, cupolas, alarm systems, motion detectors, and storage units may be bought separately from shed kit manufacturers or your local home and garden store. You may have shelves installed or purchase storage containers to better organize items to be stored.
Garden sheds are very popular among neighbors throughout the nation. In fact the demand for garden sheds has spread fast from coast-to-coast. Today, there are many garden shed designs on the market to decide on; the problem is choosing which one to use.

Finding the right design is important; it may depend more on the landscaping of your backyard, the style of your home, what windows to use, what accessories to add, and the space available to build a garden shed than anything else.

Sheds are used for storing garden tools, lawn movers, gardening supplies, equipment, surplus items, outdoor projects, tillers, and even the children's toys. There are many designs available with step-by-step instructions, videos, and even workshops to assist you in building a shed of your own.

Building a garden shed today is easy once you have chosen a design that meets the needs and desires you are seeking. With a solid design or blue print, you can build a durable shed that will last a lifetime.
The key to building a great shed is in the planning. It will also be more cost efficient if you have a solid design that you know you will enjoy.

Many people go to Lowe's or Home Depot, buy their timber, equipment and tools and start building without a plan in place. This may turn into a real catastrophe and end up costing them much more than they anticipated.

The goal is to first understand what kind of soil you are building on to make sure you have a solid foundation to work on. It is wise to check with the city ensure no city or county building ordinances are going to hinder your project.

Next, if you want to have electricity, water, and air-conditioning it is important that you build next to an access point that will allow you this luxury.

The foundation may be constructed of cement if you want a more permanent location but if you think you may move in the future, it is best to build a garden shed that will allow you the flexibility to move it later.
With a pre-built shed you are limited to existing choices on design and functionality. However, they are pre-cut and simple to put together if you don't have much knowledge in this field.

Common garden shed designs have domes and windows to improve the air quality and lighting. Today they have wider door entries as well to allow enough space for larger equipment items.

Garden sheds usually have shelves for storing pots. They also have pegs for hanging garden tools and yard tools. Sometimes they even include indoor potting benches. Drawers and bins where you can keep small hand tools, gloves and other small items are also commonly found in garden sheds.

When building your shed, do not rush as this can cause errors. Keep a concise plan and stick to it. Measure twice, cut once. Have a list of all the parts, tools, and equipment you will need to complete the project.
Remember that your garden shed design can also be customized with decorations, accessories, and colors to change the mood and look of your shed. There is much to consider when building a shed but you can have the garden shed of your dreams with little time and effort.

Finally, if you don't have the right equipment or experience, make sure you find a neighbor that can assist you that has experience in this field and one that may even have a nail gun, an air hose, an electric saw, and that's good with a hammer.

Building your own shed will give you a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that you built something you can be proud of and enjoy for years. Once you have planned ahead and you are ready to build, just get started and enjoy new garden shed designed just for you.

A garden shed is a great idea if you are looking to store extra items or tools. They can also be very useful because not only do you get extra storage space but you can keep all of the things you need to maintain your lawn and garden all in one convenient place. If you check around you will find that there are all kinds of shed designs available that are both easy to construct and budget friendly.

Here are some helpful tips to assist you in choosing which shed design is right for you. First decide if you want to purchase a pre-made shed or if you want to build your own. Pre-made sheds can be more expensive but then you don't have the hassles of constructing your own. Although with a pre-made shed you are somewhat limited to the design and functionality. If you choose to construct you own shed, you get total control over both the design and the functionality.

The next thing to consider is, what you will store in the shed and what kind of function it will serve. Make sure you choose a garden shed design that provides you with the appropriate amount of storage pace you will need. So really think it through before making your choice.

Planning ahead is the best way to achieve success. Choosing a garden shed design that addresses all of your needs really comes down to the actual planning. Be prepared for any problems and challenges that can arise and things will go much smoother. Take your time and don't rush through the project because this can cause mistakes and create more problems. Keep a concise plan and stick to it. A good rule of thumb is "measure twice, cut once". Make sure that you have on hand, a list of all the parts, tools and equipment you will need to complete the project.

Garden shed designs typically incorporate wider doorways to make it easier to push larger equipment, like tillers and mowers in and out. Some designs have one wide door while others have two smaller doors that conveniently open together to make a larger doorway. Aside from wider doors, garden sheds quite often have cupolas and windows for better ventilation and light. The larger the windows the more light you have so you avoid the cost of adding electrical lighting. Garden sheds also usually have shelves for storing pots, garden accessories and other lawn and garden tools. Sometimes they even include indoor potting benches, drawers and bins to keep small hand tools, etc..

Just remember your garden shed design does not have to be plain or boring. There are many ways to customize the look of your shed. Color is one of the quickest and easiest ways to change the look and feel of your shed. Adding decorations and accessories is also a good way to spruce up your shed. Although there is a lot to consider when buying or building a garden shed, with a little time and effort you will soon have the garden shed of your dreams.

7 Tips to help you choose the right garden shed design.

1) Decide if you want to build your own shed yourself instead of buying a ready-built shed. Obviously a ready-built shed is faster, but it can cost more, and it limits you to someone else's design. What's great about using your own garden shed plan is that you have control.

2) Work out the volume of what you plan to store in your shed and what you want the space for. Don't skimp on size; you'll only regret it later. The secret to getting what you want is to choose a well-designed garden shed plan. But however good your plan is, expect challenges and problems. Then when they come you wont' be.

3) Give yourself plenty of time to build your shed and don't rush it. This way, you maker fewer mistakes.

4) Make a list of all of the tools, parts and equipment you need to complete your project. Measure twice, cut ONCE.

5) Remember, follow the shed instructions always. They've already gone to the trouble to troubleshoot all the problems and work out the design.

6) Many garden shed designs show wide doorways, either one large door, but usually two. This makes it great to move items such as mowers in and out. Apart from wide doors, many designs show cupolas and windows for better light and ventilation.

7) Garden sheds usually incorporate shelves for storing pots, garden and yard tools. You can even put in potting benches. Extras such as drawers and bins for storage of small hand tools, gloves, etc are really useful.

Garden shed designs don't have to be boring or unimaginative. It's easy to personalize the final look with a some paint and a few finishing touches. With a little elbow grease, you can build yourself a shed that compliments your home and yard, and enriches the value of your home.

Wooden Garden Shed Designs and Plans - Things to Consider in Building One
Ever feel like there' simply shortage of space where you can properly store your gardening tools and equipment? Brace up, it may be high time for another addition to your yard. I'd suggest you get started looking over some wooden garden shed designs and plans.

If you have an inherent talent for building stuff and tinkering around with your hands, there's no reason why you can't build a garden shed yourself. But I do suggest you use wood as your material because it is a lot easier and cheaper to use wood. Not to mention, it would blend right in your yard with your garden.

If you go over different wooden garden shed designs, you'll find that aside from the construction process, there's a whole lot more that goes into building a shed. That's what we're going to discuss below:

Location
First thing you need to do is to find an ideal location for your shed. An ideal location would have to be somewhere where it's not very obtrusive in your garden. Also, make sure that the area is not somewhere where the water drains. Muddy or wet grounds would make a bad choice for the location of your shed. The soil can easily shift, and once it does, the shed could easily disintegrate as well.

Additionally, make sure that the shed is not built on property lines or you may face some trouble with your neighbor in the future. Above a septic tank is also a bad choice. It would have not provide a solid ground for a shed.

Size and Budget
Another thing you need to consider is the size of the shed you're going to build. How much space you have available in your yard as well as your specific need would have to be kept in mind in deciding on the specific size of your shed.

Additionally, once you've decided on the size of the shed, it is just as important to calculate how much you're going to spend for the project. Paying a visit to your supplier and getting a quote would be a good idea. Of course, you will need a complete list of materials to do this.

Wooden Garden Shed Designs
Aside from functionality, you also have to consider aesthetic value in choosing the right wooden garden shed design. Something that would add character and blend perfectly in your yard would be the perfect shed design.

Obviously, you can only choose the perfect designs once you've gone over several shed designs. And that is something I strongly suggest you do. A garden shed after all does not only serve your purposes, it has to accentuate the beauty of your home as well.

So, if you're in the process of going over wooden garden shed designs, I suggest you check out this really helpful resource here:

Projects for Woodworkers: Garden Shed Designs
Gardens can be filled with colorful flowers and trees or delicious fresh vegetables lovingly grown by you and your family. No matter the style of your garden, it requires tools and equipment to keep them growing and healthy. If you've been storing those things in your garage or under the back porch, if may be time for some kind of storage unit to be placed in the garden itself.

If you like to work on outdoor projects, deciding on a garden shed design that can take care of gardening tools and supplies while giving you a space to work can be a dream come true. A shed for your garden is not only a functional solution to a storage problem, but it is a fun project your can do yourself.

Before moving ahead with putting a garden shed on your property, first ask yourself a few questions:

Pre-made shed or build your own? Pre-made sheds are fast and easy, and saves a lot of time; but it is a lot more expensive. Also, you are limited to standard sizes and styles. When you build, you can choose the style, the size, special options and detailing that you want.

What will you be storing in your shed, and what do you plan to use it for other than storage? Choose a garden shed design that gives you enough room for everything you need to do.

What about a plan? Start with a set of blueprints and instructions, and move along step by step. Set out the tools and supplies you need before you start work. That way you will save time by having everything at your fingertips. Make sure you have all the materials, parts, tools and equipment you need before you start.

Doors are a very important element in garden shed design. Choose a wide or double door to allow large equipment, like mowers and tillers, to fit through it without a problem. Cupolas and windows provide ventilation and light. If the windows are large enough, you won't have to add electricity to your shed - though you may want to anyway as it can come in handy. Add some shelving and hooks for yard tools and accessories. Lastly, putting in drawers or bins will give you additional storage for small hand tools and gardening gloves.

A garden shed should reflect the style of your home or garden. Customize it to take care of what you need. Paint it to match the house or leave the wood natural so it blends into the landscape. You are the boss. Though a lot of time and effort goes into building something from scratch, your garden shed can be one you will enjoy for years to come and well worth it.

Garden Shed Designs - Build Your Shed With Step-By-Step Instructions

Here's what you must consider building your own shed:

1. Decide on the type of the shed
Free shed designs can either be made to be permanent or movable. If you think in the future that you might need to move this to another site or you wish to do a landscaping and you need to relocate it, settle for the mobile garden shed.

2. Know what size you need
Garden shed designs are similar to storage building plans; they have their own separate standard sizes. Standard sizes are your basis and determining factor on what size you really need. You can change the size according to your own preference and needs.

3. Decide on your flooring
A simple garden shed design can be a small structure that only needs simple flooring. If you opt to do something that is permanent, you still need to have a good and sturdy foundation but not as elaborate as a free storage shed plans concrete foundation.

4. Decide on your wall
Assemble your walls in a prefabricated style so you can easily attach this on the sides surrounding the floor going all the way up. Make sure that frames and attachments are complete and properly attached.

5. Determine your roof design
After the frames of the walls are attached, you can start attaching the roof. A garden shed normally consists of a simple flat roof slightly leaning to either side to avoid accumulating water during the rainy season.

6. Know your door size
Make sure you have the right door size. Others make the common mistake of building too small doors that prevent bigger tools and equipment from being stored inside.

7. Sealing it right
Do not forget to seal especially your roofing. This will prevent leakage during the rainy season. Your woodworking storage should be dry and clean inside to protect the things you store.

Building your own shed is easy. Just follow the steps above and you'll be working like a pro. One of the best things you should consider when getting your own shed plan is its ability to be expanded.

Garden Shed Design - Wood Or Metal?
Are you thinking about getting a garden shed? There are a few things to consider first. First of all, wood or metal. The second thing is, do you buy or build it yourself? You can learn from my mistakes, keep reading and find out the best option for you.

When I first decided to get a new garden shed I made the mistake of ordering a 'build it yourself' premade metal shed. It took me about a day to construct and I knew right from the start it probably wasn't going to be the shed I wanted.

after I had built it I tried to convince myself that it would do the job. The sliding metal doors made such a horrible noise when closing them and even though I had bolted the whole thing down to the ground it still didn't feel very safe.

It wasn't until a few days later I noticed that some of my tools and equipment were wet. As I looked up at the roof I realised it was damp. Condensation. The whole roof was covered with condensation which didn't disappear until late afternoon by which time as soon as the sun had gone down it was already starting to come back.

I put up with it for a couple of months until I finally made the decision to pull it down and get a wooden shed. The original reason I didn't get a wooden shed was because of the price. Metal sheds seem to be so much cheaper, I now know why.

Being a keen DIY person there was no way I was gonna buy one. I invested a little bit of money and downloaded a whole load of plans from the Internet. After choosing the right plans I took them to my local lumber yard where they gave me a quote from materials. It wasn't much more than the original metal shed I had wasted my money on.

A few days later the shed was built and it is now my pride and joy. All my tools are safe and dry and I've got a load of room to spare. The best thing is people can't believe that I made it myself. It's great to show off my DIY skills!

In conclusion, forget about getting a metal shed. They're just a waste of money. Nothing beats a good old-fashioned wooden shed and building it yourself is definitely the way to go.

It's so much fun and you get to show it off to all your neighbours and friends once you have completed it!

By Pradipta Kumar Bari

"I realized Graphic Design is an easier way to pay the bills - as opposed to being a starving artist contemplating slicing off and eating your own ear"

Why do many artistically talented people end up as Graphic Designers instead of artists and was it a good career choice for them? We spoke to the design team at Artifact Advertising to get some entertaining insights about their graphic design careers...

What is the thing you love most about design and being a designer?

A: Coming up with a concept and having creative freedom. Doing my own designs. (when I get a free moment).

B: Exploring new ideas! You love to hear that your client is happy with what you have done.
I enjoy designing corporate identities the most...I really enjoy that!

C: Definitely being creative, seeing design differently to the average Joe and finding it's something that 'feeds your soul'... and of course coming to work in slippers if I really wanted to

D: The challenge of a difficult brief, coming up with something fresh.

Are there any designers that inspire you?

A: Oh yes! I love browsing thedieline.com. Looking at all these designs always gives me a kick!
My favourite, favourite South African designers must be Louis Minnaar and Anthony Dart

B: Yes! And I love the site "Behance", where they showcase other designers. I just love the creativity and new ways of thinking!

C: There is an illustrator and designer that I absolutely love - Rachel Riordan.

D: Designers like Charles S Anderson, Daniel Palavin, Neville Brody, Louise Fili, Paula Scher and Adolphe Mouron Cassandre Inspire me every day.

What are the design trends at the moment and how have these changed over the years?

A: Hand drawn and 3D fonts, and of course textures and retro shapes. Mmm, they kind of change a bit each year, so I can't tell - that's what makes it so exciting!

B: The saying "less is more!" Now design is neater and not too busy, more vectors and illustrations are being introduced than the past.

C: I personally like clean, flat colours (no drop shadows). The "vintage" look is very big at the moment with website design, with natural textures.

D: Keep it simple.

Where do you get inspiration for original designs?

A: From those designers and sites I've just mentioned. I'm also very much inspired by nature! Also the fact that we're not American, but African! South African design rules!

B: On websites such as Behance - and Exclusive Books!

C: I have a few sites I am addicted to -thedieline.com for awesome packaging ideas and webdesignerwall.com for the latest trends in web design. Sitting for hours in a book shop looking at design books gives one great inspiration too.

D: Answer Censored

What would be your ideal job as a designer?

A: I suppose I'd love to work for myself or to be a creative director - just coming up with the big idea and everybody loves it!!

B: For one day to work my way up as a designer and learn from others. It would be great to be a creative director one day

C: I would love to conceptualise themes and ideas for events and do all the design work that goes behind it. Something that involved traveling and designing would be great too but don't think those two go hand in hand.

D: Designing Music graphics, posters, Cd covers. Oh and designing book covers

Any funny or crazy experiences you have had in your career?

A: Everyday we enjoy a few laughs in studio. Every day brings something new. We once had a client who thought he could do his own photo shoot for his products and it would look fine. This client sells food and one of the burgers he shot, had a big fly on it. Epic fail!! What's the chances!

B: Yes!! I had such a blonde moment at college! There were two PC's next to each other in class and my friend asked me to help him. I took the mouse and looked at his screen to show him where to go, and spent ages wondering why the mouse was not working! Meanwhile I was moving my own mouse!

C: While studying I was a finalist for a packaging competition and had a photo shoot and an article written with a magazine about my design. Anyways, about 4 years later I went on holiday and we stayed in this little hotel in Kimberly - I think we might have been the only ones staying in the hotel - and the hotel had supplied reading material next to my bed. Out of all the magazines they could have chosen in the world, it was the magazine I was in. I ran around the hotel holding the magazine up to my face, smiling and pointing to the staff that that was me. I think they thought I was crazy, definitely not anyone even mildly famous as I didn't even get asked for an autograph

D: Answer censored

When did you first realize you wanted to be a graphic designer and why?

A: I've always been interested in art. When I was little drawing and painting were my favourite things! My parents are both very creative people an architect and an art teacher. I grew up watching my Mom in the pottery studio and my dad always made me draw and page through art books.
In high school I took art as a subject. I went to a university's open day for graphic design, and I just knew - this is for me!

B: In high school I took art as a subject and can draw very well. After I matriculated I didn't know what I wanted to do but I knew that I must do something that involves being creative. I was advised that I could either study graphic design or fine arts. I did not want to draw (fine arts) as a career because then something that you enjoy would just become another job.

C: I first realized I wanted to be a graphic designer in Standard 5 (I went around telling everyone I was going to be a 'graphic artist' and that they used actual computers to do the art). I always loved drawing and being creative and I was set on becoming a graphic designer.

D: I came to love design through studying the history of graphic design, designers throughout history have been great artists, although times have changed. I was studying Fine art, but realized I could still be creative if I followed a career in commercial art, plus finding its way easier paying the bills opposed to being a starving artist contemplating eating your own sliced off ear. I love typography from the first half of the twentieth century and the modern designers who revived it.

What was your perception of being a designer then and what is the reality?

A: I expected it to be more exciting and creative. Unfortunately we spend a lot of time sitting in an office in front of a computer. Not really that creative. Sometimes sticking to the same corporate Id's really kills your creative spirit. But hey, I don't regret anything. Graphic design is filled with amazing possibilities!

B: I was told by many designers that it's really rough working in the industry and you don't get any respect as a new designer. What I have experienced is quite the opposite! I really enjoy the work and feel part of the team!

C: I thought being designer you would have more freedom to be creative but it is sometimes rather restricting. I probably enjoyed studying more than working as the ideas were limitless and there was never a budget. The real world of a working designer isn't what I expected but then I didn't really know what to expect. I still wouldn't change it for anything though!

D: I think every design student thinks they will land in their first job and everyone will be in awe of your talent, you'll be the toast of the Loeries and supermodels will fall at your feet as you hold your mac up in the air. I still enjoy the challenge, the creation of concepts and putting a bit of your self in everything, even if your soul gets stomped every now and then.

What tips would you give someone who is thinking about a career in graphic design?

A: If you're dreaming of being an artist (painting and drawing all day) - don't study graphic design - it's much more formal and corporate than you think.
Studying graphic design is a huge commitment - prepare to say bye-bye to your social life - this means intense hard work! So many late nights, but in the end - I'm still so happy with my choice. I'm excited about the possibilities I've got - being a designer!

B: Are you prepared for being creative and using most of your time designing? Be inspired by what's out there for creative ideas. I was told that if you have a creative block, stop, relax and go do something you enjoy. Go back and try again when you are more calm and relaxed.

C: Know what it's like in the real world. In the real world people have deadlines and budgets and your biggest idea can squished by a client and leave you feeling very despondent. You also spend nearly all of your day in front of your computer... and your chair becomes your buttock's best friend! Don't do it if you don't have a passion for it.

D: Find designers that inspire you, even if you start emulating their work, you'll eventually find a style of your own. Also question everything, never follow a brief word for word, be a rebel.

Where did you study design and would you recommend it - if not where would you recommend studying design?

A: North-West University, Potchefstroom (Ci-Lab -Creative intelligence Lab). This institute is definitely one of the best in the country. I've been to a few design school exhibitions in Jhb, and nothing comes even close to the standard I was used to. I will definitely recommend North-West University. This institute usually walks away with the most Loeries and Pendorings each year. Watch out!

B: I was at "Vaal University of Technology", I enjoyed it there a lot and they took us to every exhibition and to indaba if we wanted to go. This place has a high standard of work, according to the evaluators we had.

C: I studied at Greenside Design Center but I often wish I had studied at Vega. Design Center was a lot of fun though and I made friends for life there that share the same passion as I do.

What is the thing you like least about being a designer?

A: Sitting in front of a computer.

B: Clients that are really difficult to please.

C: Sitting all day in front of a computer, in the same chair, doing the same routine.

D:The narrow mindedness of some clients

Well there you have it - some valuable insights from our team that we hope will be useful to anyone considering a career in Graphic Design.

Find out more about Artifact Advertising on http://www.artifact.co.za or read the original article on http://www.artifact.co.za/content/Design%20Article.html

By Lindy Taoushiani

By Jeff Sherwood


Are you a fashionable woman who is always looking for a trendy dress to wear when you go out shopping or to a social event? Sometimes trendy dresses will cost you a lot of money if you do not find the right place to buy them from. There are certain name brands that are well known that designer type women always purchase, but if you are looking for the best deal you will have to know where to find it from and that place is on the internet.

There are several different ways that you can shop for the cute dress that you want without paying a lot of money for it. You can go to auction sites, online marketplaces, and other places but the best place to shop is from an online store that only specializes in high fashion dresses. This is where you will be able to find the best deals on the dresses that you are looking for. If you find the right web store to shop at you will probably find that you can purchase two dresses for the price that one would cost you in other places.

This type of website is also great for those who have their own clothing business. You will be able to buy dresses at wholesale prices and put them for sale in your own store. It is a huge advantage if you can find a store overseas that offers wholesale prices so that you will be able to make a good profit when you sell the dresses to your customers. There are always plenty of women shopping for good looking dresses and you will be able to provide them at low prices while still making money.

No matter what type of dresses you are looking for you will be able to find fashionable dresses by looking on the internet. There are plenty of different options to choose from so that you will be able to coordinate the outfits that you are wearing with other accessories such as shoes and handbags. The next time you leave you home you can do so with confidence knowing that you are wearing a cute designer dress that you purchased on the internet. If you are looking for the best way to get the best deal on your next fashionable dress then make sure that you purchase it from a store that you can find online.

Nowadays, creative professions have become very popular. Young people prefer to earn money not with their strength and physical capabilities, not even with their mind, but creativeness. These days, young people are very advanced and already before entering senior secondary school they are full with ideas concerning their future profession. Starting to work in the fields connected with creative skills and new tendencies in society is the major goal of today's youth.

It is a true point of view that uniqueness and creativity are the most important tools of success today. Each person possesses his or her own creative potential, thus, one wishes to develop these skills and talent by mastering some new profession or a course. The latter will not only suggest a person the space for thinking and creativeness, but also invention something new and unusual which has never been done by previous generations. Besides, such creative people are able to build a fundamental starting-point for future generations. Here the freshness of a new approach is of great importance.

It is widely known that there are many new fields and tendencies nowadays. Most of such professions are highly creative demanding a sober and unique imagination, for instance, cinema acting, theatre acting, writing, dancing, painting, crafts, radio jockeying, anchoring, fashion designing, interior designing etc. There is no doubt, that all of these professions are greatly popular among young people, but interior designing can be singled out due to its uniqueness. This uniqueness consists in the fact that it gives an opportunity to future designers to transform the whole universe of their ideas and thinking power into the object of creative beauty. Only the noblest people deserve to have the profession of an interior designer. It's in their power to decorate one's house that is considered to be one of the most precious properties in a person's life. It's the place a number of people have already got used to and it's designer's task to make it much better than it was before.

In order to become a good interior designer one has to be able to fulfill the professional demands of the industry. Thus, students should train their working standards in special colleges which have started courses in interior designing. To enter such a college one has to pass an entrance test which is conducted by the colleges to test imaginative analytical skills, technical drawing, sketching skills of the students.

The applications to the interior designing colleges can be made by the student only after he has passed with his 12th exams. The duration of the course can vary from two to four years, it depends on the chosen course and the institute from which the student is planning to receive his education. There are different colleges providing professional courses in interior designing and you are welcome to make your own choice. They are:

> Lovely Professional University, Phagwara
> Academy of Art and Design, Maharashtra
> International Academy of Fashion and Design, Chennai

Architects may design different surroundings, for instance, those designing the houses, offices, hotels, malls, retail shops, film studios, cultural establishments (museums, theatres, cinemas), educational institutions (kindergartens, schools, colleges, institutes, universities), sports establishments (stadiums, sports palaces), nutritional establishments (canteens, cafes, restaurants), medical establishments (hospitals, health centres, preventoriums, polyclinics), public offices, adventure spots, conference halls etc. No doubt, all of designers are always in demand to decorate their interiors as well as exteriors.

After completing his degree in interior designing a student should start his studying as the intern or trainee in some designing house. It is especially necessary to do in the beginning of their career in order to get an experience needed in future activity. This will certainly give a student such an important initial practical knowledge required to implement in further career. There are certain qualities which an interior designing student must possess. Here you will probably ask - What are the Qualities that Make a Good Interior Designer? They are as follows:

- Every future interior decorator should be able to read the mind of the customer and accomplish the designs according to the wishes of the customer. Very often a person is not quite sure what he or she wants to have in his or her house. In this case a good designer should have a skill to feel the client's likes and dislikes in order to meet his interests.

- A nice Interior designer should keep himself updated with the latest tendencies in the design and new developments as well as innovation in the world of designing in general. In order to get new information about progress in the world of design, a designer should visit new design houses, communicate with more experienced interior designers, look through design websites etc.

- A perfect interior decorator must be very creative and imaginative, it means he must be able to implement some new ideas for every new project. There are many interior designers who follow the standard rules of design in which there are good enough because they have often practiced them. No doubt, that such designers are not bad at all, but on the other hand, they are not able to suggest the client something fresh and unique. Thus, their works become more and more monotonous and the development of a designer, as a professional, stops on this stage. Besides, they cannot bring excitement in the world of design. So, an interior designer must be creative not only for the sake of his clients, but also in order to refresh the interior design in general.

- The next point also concerns the interests of the customer. A designer should be able to organize the design in accordance with the budget and financial status of the customer. Each new client requires his individual approach and his wishes do not always coincide with his material opportunities. In this case a good designer should be rather tactic to suggest his client something identical but for lower price.

- A good interior designer should possess a good sense of texture and color combinations, as well as work on improving his knowledge of different classifications of interiors. Besides, he should be able to define what kind of design could be suitable for this or that room.

- It would be preferable for the designs created by the interior designer to be more than the term satisfactory for the customer. It is needed for further cooperation not only with that customer, but also with those who will probably come to you after seeing your great design made in the house of your previous customer, for instance. Besides, this will ensure your regularity with the organization you work in.

- A designer should have an ability to handle stress and problems which can appear during his activity. Having a problem one shouldn't simply shudder at the thought of possible bigger problems, but real interior designers take the problems by the horn, get things under control, and even if a problem occurs, they try to solve it. Problems of interior designers may include the following: developing a design that their clients will hopefully like, meeting the interests of both clients and building code, having to deal with difficult and inadequate clients most of the time, handling different projects all at the same time, etc.

As you can see, the profession of an interior designer is full of difficulties. Nevertheless, this is the job bringing real aesthetical pleasure. Besides, it brings great financial reward. http://edenfestival.org

By Gregor Nau

When thinking about hiring a website designer it's often difficult to know what to ask. Website design is a complex practice full of jargon and phrases that to the normal customer are often confusing.

Good web designers will often explain these complexities to you in simple plain English. Though often enough the prospective client isn't sure on what questions to ask a web designer. We have compiled a list of possible questions to ask a website designer while interviewing them for website design services.

This guide is aimed at small to medium sized businesses seeking professional website design services.

What are your qualifications and experience?

Designers should be able to list their qualifications and experience in website design. It should be noted that experience will over shadow qualifications and is where a judgement on their skills could be made. We personally find website design partly artistic and in our minds art is self generated. We feel a designers experience and past work holds more weight than qualifications these days.

How do you calculate the cost of websites, per hour or per page?

Web design firms all work differently and their pries can vary massively. Two possible price structures are per hour or per page, knowing which policy the web designer applies could help in understanding their final quotation.

What is included in your website packages?

Knowing what you're paying for is important and again this specification will vary between design firms. It may help in comparing quotations from other web design firms but overall knowing what you get for your money is paramount.

What search engine / internet marketing is offered as standard in your website design packages?

Most design firms will add your website to all major search engines, dmoz (an open source directory of websites highly regarded by search engines), Google places and a number of business directories. Knowing what they will do as default is worth knowing but it's recommended to think about your Internet Marketing plans once the site is online. There are many techniques and campaigns that can be applied to further enhance your new websites internet exposure. So ask if they offer internet marketing as an additional service and the expected impact of their default internet marketing.

What are your payment terms such as deposits, stage payments or refunds?

Finance might be a topic to avoid at first but it's best to lay down the expectations of both parties early on.

Do you provide free after care sales and support and if so for how long after the completion of the website?

Some firms will offer free support for a certain period after the completion of the website. This should include things like any final changes, updates and tweaks to your initial search engine performance. Some firms may not offer this after care and it should be determined before hand.

If you don't provide after care and support, how much would this cost if I had any problems that need your attention?

If the web design firm doesn't offer after care it's worth asking what they charge for it over a specific time period of 3 months, 6 months etc.

Can I edit the website myself? If not what do you charge for updates and changes?

Some websites have content management built in, there are pros and cons of this and its worth doing some research before deciding if editable control is suitable for your needs. Some firms will offer website management and update services which are usually charged by the hour with a minimum charge. The thing here is to anticipate the amount of updates you might do through the year and justify if you need a content management or are happy to pay your web design firm a fee for updates when you need it.

Do you offer any website guarantee or warranty?

This is not so common but some web design firms offer a guarantee on their website designs. What the guarantee covers can vary but if they have one its worth checking out the details around it.

Are website designs generated from template layouts to choose from or are they custom built from scratch?

This is a sore point in the web design world. Template layouts are 'off the shelf' pre-made web page layouts generated to suit the 'average' website. Custom layouts built from scratch are built to your requirements. It's advised to use the services of a firm building custom layouts from scratch as this way you'll know the website is build towards your customers and business, not the national average.

Do you provide domain name & web hosting in your packages? 

 

If so what is the annual renewal cost for the domain name and web hosting space.

Some website designers offer web hosting as part of their package fee. It's worth asking what their annual renewal fee is in advance. Firms that offer web hosting often look to establish better long term relationships with their customers but this doesn't go to say using an external web hosting company effects the firm's dedication to their clients. Its also worth noting what features they offer for their web hosting, if they provide it.

Do we have to host the website with your company?

Some firms who do provide web hosting only allow you to host your website with them, check the ongoing costs of this and check any get out clauses. If the web design firm is happy for you to host your website with any commercial web hosting company then it's time to start comparing prices online. Equally ask the web design firm for their recommendations as well.

How long will the website design take?

Depending on the size of the website you require its worth asking how long the design process will take. Many factors determine this time scale and remember that you have some obligations along the way, so any delays on your part may hold up the design process. Knowing an estimated completion date is a good way to set a target and aim for it with your chosen design firm. Typically a 5 page html website may take 2 to 4 weeks.

How well do you know my business industry on a scale of 1 to 10?

Don't expect a high rating answer to this and don't take it too seriously. Web designers are designers and thus why you may be considering their services. Whatever your trade the web design firm may or may not have had experience designing in this trade. If they have this will obviously help boost your confidence in using them, but if they have little or no experience in your trade don't write them off immediately. Take the time to explain your trade and make a judgement later. Good client designer relationships and communication go along way in services like these.

What are clients typically required to supply?

Normally clients supply the written content, images, logo and a design brief detailing the pages required and some preferences on colours, styles and layout. Some web design companies will offer professional photography as part of their package, if not as a supplement. Though you normally are required to submit the written content for pages some design firms will assist and tweak the content to better suit search engine performance. Some firms may advise using a professional copywriter for the job.

Where do you obtain stock images used in the website design and are they compliant with copyright?

Did you know if you use an image on your website that was pulled from Google images and you don't have authorised usage rights you could be held liable for copyright fee's or sued for unauthorised use. Ask your design firm where they obtain stock images, they should respond with a known stock image agency.

Remember though, if you supply the designers with unauthorised images and don't inform them of this you'll be the one held liable for any costs.

Can you show me one of the cheapest website designs you have done & show me one of the most costly website designs you have done?

A strange question I agree, but. Some design firms will put more attention to detail in higher value projects than the lesser ones. In theory this shouldn't compromise their web design standards but it's worth checking to see if they put 100% into all their work.

Website design companies with a Guarantee or Warranty on website designs are favourable in this instance.

Are your website designs W3C validated?

W3C is the web standards of website design. They encourage the proper use of html coding and provide online validation tools to check compatibility. Unfortunately not many firms adopt this policy in their designs because its value is regarded as not necessary.

Do you supply the completed website on a CD as a backup?

Having a copy of your website on a CD gives you peace of mind. Many website design firms will be happy to do this and generally maintain a good level of customer service throughout the years. However in some unfortunate circumstances clients have been left abandoned without a digital backup of their website. Ask your proposed design company about obtaining a digital backup of the finished website. If they seem apprehensive about doing this it's worth asking yourself why? End of the day you paid for the website design and coding which on completion becomes to ownership and copyright of you.

What to ask a website designer / web developer

We based this article around our own experience at Jamie King Media. We found small to medium sized businesses looking to hire a website designer wondered what questions to ask a web designer. Questions vary for all circumstances and particularly for larger businesses that might have high preferences on qualifications and experience.

Knowing what to ask a website designer can often help in understanding the web design process and better build a good working relationship.

So if you have an interview with a web designer and want to know what type of questions you should ask then this list may be helpful to you.

By Jamie D King

It can be a little intimidating to try and choose the perfect bag from amongst the multitude of choices of luxury designer handbags available on the market today.

It is no wonder that so many questions arises concerning real designer handbags, purses and even luggage in regards to their appropriate usage. Believe it or not, one of the most discussed questions is on what type of designer handbag to buy for a job interview.

A key point to understand here is that function comes first, then style, when it comes to attending a job interview or even business power lunch. A handbag that is functional should easily be able to contain important documents such as your resume or portfolio, reference letters and even your business cards without damaging them. All the while your designer bag should also demonstrate your unique sense of style. Depending on personal preference, many women do without a luxury designer handbag all together and carry a briefcase in its stead.

Points to remember when choosing an authentic designer handbag for an important job interview are:

1. Pick a functional bag that has multiple interior pockets that can store your most important items such as pens, mobile phone, business cards and keys. This way you do not have to pour out all the contents of your bag or desperately rummage around your bag with your hand to find a particular item. The worse thing to do is look disorganized simply because you are not aware of where everything is in your handbag.

2. Your luxury designer handbag should be an adequate size which will allow you to carry your resume without having to fold it when placed inside your bag.

3. A hand bag with some sort of zipper, magnetic appendage or Velcro greatly reduces the chance that the contents of your bag will accidentally fall out during the course of your interview.

4. Make sure to match the color of your designer bag to your attire so that you look presentable to the interviewer during your job application.

5. You do not want to appear too casual looking when attending an interview so try to avoid cotton or nylon handbags. The best choice would be a black or brown leather handbag.

6. It does not matter how trendy your authentic designer handbag is, it will not pass a visible test if there are unsightly blotches or stains on the exterior of the bags. Keep it clean!

Something to contemplate when searching for a stylish designer evening handbag:

If you are wondering about this matter, the most excellent place to see the most current and most popular evening handbags are from celebrities during large award ceremonies or opening events for movies and business establishments. You will easily find the most popular styles of evening handbags which range from trendy clutches to stylish drawstring sacks.

The particular style of luxury handbag you pick should allow sufficient space for your money, ID, lipstick, & keys. A slightly larger bag may be required if you need to carry your phone or digital camera. Moreover, your evening handbag should complement your evening attire. A simple rule of thumb is that if your dress is a black color you could choose a smaller sized purse that is completely black or has black trimmings. Another choice would be to pick a more vibrant color such as red, silver or gold to further accent your entire outfit. The tip here is to think of your evening bag as an added accessory such as a piece of jewellery as opposed to a necessity. Real designer evening handbags are available in many designs which included crochet, embroidered, silk, lace, beaded, satin, sequins, velvet and jewel-encrusted designs which made to match any type of outfit you may have on. With some diligent searching you will most certainly find the perfect match for your evening.

Things to consider when looking for a good designer handbag for traveling purposes:

The number one factor to consider is safety when looking for a travel bag. This is not only referring to the safety of the people you are travelling with or yourself, but also the safe keeping of your passport, travel documents, personal belongings and currency. A travel designer handbag should contain your most valued travel items such as credit cards, passport, hotel key, traveler checks and other forms of travel ID. A travel handbag should be designed with strong, secure straps, inner storage and magnetic or zippered closures. A good number of vacation travelers will even carry a money pouch hidden beneath their clothes to further deter would-be thieves.

Tips for spotting real designer handbags before buying them:

In large metropolitan fashion capitals such as Paris, London, LA, New York, Madrid or Toronto it may seem like it would be simple to find an authentic handbag but looks can be deceiving. Unfortunately, the uncontrolled sale of fake handbags is an easy profit for street sellers and flea market merchants who really do not care who they victimize to make some quick cash. If you have bought a designer brand name handbag in any of these cities from a street vendor, chances are that it is not an original. The actual location of the sale should the first red flag you should be aware of when trying to spot an authentic designer handbag. Some quick tips on spotting fake merchandise:

1. Take a really close look at the design. You should get some sense that it is not real just by looking at it. If you think about it, the high end designer make high quality handbags so you can usually spot bad quality imitations just by looking at them. Check the inner stitching and smell or feel the material. A real designer handbag will appear almost near perfect. The colors of the bag will be consistent, the inner lining and the stitching will be free of any visible flaws. Furthermore, an engraved or imprinted designer brand logo should be visible somewhere on or inside the handbag itself.

2. Request proof of authentication such as receipts or serial numbers. The most expensive designer handbags are always accompanied authenticity cards. The authenticity card will showcase the company brand logo and usually include some sort of serial number or a magnetic strip registered to the actual designer itself. Make sure that you ask to see these important pieces of information before you decide to buy it.

3. If the price is too good to be true, it usually is. If a brand name handbag were that cheap every person on the street would own one.

Choosing the appropriate authentic designer handbag is not rocket science but there are crucial matters that one needs to consider before purchasing one. Now that you have some adequate knowledge of finding the right luxury designer handbags for your ever increasing wardrobe go out and buy one. Just keep in mind that there are proper real designer handbags for all types of life real life situations.

It can be a little intimidating to try and choose the perfect bag from amongst the multitude of choices of luxury designer handbags available on the market today.

It is no wonder that so many questions arises concerning real designer handbags, purses and even luggage in regards to their appropriate usage.

Believe it or not, one of the most discussed questions is on what type of designer handbag to buy for a job interview.

A key point to understand here is that function comes first, then style, when it comes to attending a job interview or even business power lunch. A handbag that is functional should easily be able to contain important documents such as your resume or portfolio, reference letters and even your business cards without damaging them. All the while your designer bag should also demonstrate your unique sense of style. Depending on personal preference, many women do without a luxury designer handbag all together and carry a briefcase in its stead.

Points to remember when choosing an authentic designer handbag for an important job interview are:

1. Pick a functional bag that has multiple interior pockets that can store your most important items such as pens, mobile phone, business cards and keys. This way you do not have to pour out all the contents of your bag or desperately rummage around your bag with your hand to find a particular item. The worse thing to do is look disorganized simply because you are not aware of where everything is in your handbag.

2. Your luxury designer handbag should be an adequate size which will allow you to carry your resume without having to fold it when placed inside your bag.

3. A hand bag with some sort of zipper, magnetic appendage or Velcro greatly reduces the chance that the contents of your bag will accidentally fall out during the course of your interview.

4. Make sure to match the color of your designer bag to your attire so that you look presentable to the interviewer during your job application.

5. You do not want to appear too casual looking when attending an interview so try to avoid cotton or nylon handbags. The best choice would be a black or brown leather handbag.

6. It does not matter how trendy your authentic designer handbag is, it will not pass a visible test if there are unsightly blotches or stains on the exterior of the bags. Keep it clean!

Something to contemplate when searching for a stylish designer evening handbag:

If you are wondering about this matter, the most excellent place to see the most current and most popular evening handbags are from celebrities during large award ceremonies or opening events for movies and business establishments. You will easily find the most popular styles of evening handbags which range from trendy clutches to stylish drawstring sacks.

The particular style of luxury handbag you pick should allow sufficient space for your money, ID, lipstick, & keys. A slightly larger bag may be required if you need to carry your phone or digital camera. Moreover, your evening handbag should complement your evening attire. A simple rule of thumb is that if your dress is a black color you could choose a smaller sized purse that is completely black or has black trimmings. Another choice would be to pick a more vibrant color such as red, silver or gold to further accent your entire outfit. The tip here is to think of your evening bag as an added accessory such as a piece of jewellery as opposed to a necessity. Real designer evening handbags are available in many designs which included crochet, embroidered, silk, lace, beaded, satin, sequins, velvet and jewel-encrusted designs which made to match any type of outfit you may have on. With some diligent searching you will most certainly find the perfect match for your evening.

Things to consider when looking for a good designer handbag for traveling purposes:

The number one factor to consider is safety when looking for a travel bag. This is not only referring to the safety of the people you are travelling with or yourself, but also the safe keeping of your passport, travel documents, personal belongings and currency. A travel designer handbag should contain your most valued travel items such as credit cards, passport, hotel key, traveler checks and other forms of travel ID. A travel handbag should be designed with strong, secure straps, inner storage and magnetic or zippered closures. A good number of vacation travelers will even carry a money pouch hidden beneath their clothes to further deter would-be thieves.

Tips for spotting real designer handbags before buying them:

In large metropolitan fashion capitals such as Paris, London, LA, New York, Madrid or Toronto it may seem like it would be simple to find an authentic handbag but looks can be deceiving. Unfortunately, the uncontrolled sale of fake handbags is an easy profit for street sellers and flea market merchants who really do not care who they victimize to make some quick cash. If you have bought a designer brand name handbag in any of these cities from a street vendor, chances are that it is not an original. The actual location of the sale should the first red flag you should be aware of when trying to spot an authentic designer handbag. Some quick tips on spotting fake merchandise:

1. Take a really close look at the design. You should get some sense that it is not real just by looking at it. If you think about it, the high end designer make high quality handbags so you can usually spot bad quality imitations just by looking at them. Check the inner stitching and smell or feel the material. A real designer handbag will appear almost near perfect. The colors of the bag will be consistent, the inner lining and the stitching will be free of any visible flaws. Furthermore, an engraved or imprinted designer brand logo should be visible somewhere on or inside the handbag itself.

2. Request proof of authentication such as receipts or serial numbers. The most expensive designer handbags are always accompanied authenticity cards. The authenticity card will showcase the company brand logo and usually include some sort of serial number or a magnetic strip registered to the actual designer itself. Make sure that you ask to see these important pieces of information before you decide to buy it.

3. If the price is too good to be true, it usually is. If a brand name handbag were that cheap every person on the street would own one.

Choosing the appropriate authentic designer handbag is not rocket science but there are crucial matters that one needs to consider before purchasing one. Now that you have some adequate knowledge of finding the right luxury designer handbags for your ever increasing wardrobe go out and buy one. Just keep in mind that there are proper real designer handbags for all types of life real life situations.

By Tony Tracy

By Simon Waker Haughtone


Cocktails and Black Tie Invitations

Conservative cocktail dresses make right sense for women invited for a cocktail party or a black tie evening party. Long evening gowns and women's satin dresses help women to get fully involved at these parties.

Prom Night

You need to have the most exclusive entry to a prom night. Prom dresses are designed to help you score high in the crowd. The dresses with long sleeves and bubble prom dresses are some of the best dresses for the occasion. An A-line prom dress with no particular waistline is also a good choice for the occasion. And of course, there is no match to a halter prom dress.

Casual Outdoors

You can look fashionable for casual gatherings with friends as well. An amazingly designed sundress should help you in the same. There are varieties with very low necklines and short hemlines that help you adopt that attention-grabbing look. Wear them on shopping or for having lunch at an upscale restaurant to reflect your fashion sense.

Festival Dresses

The dresses you wear on different festive occasions should reflect your joy and happiness. A silk blouse in red with a black skirt for example can help you display your festive spirit. And it is a great way to look fashionable as well.

Workplace Dresses

The dresses for working women don't need to be purely formal these days. There are fashion suits available for women to look fashionable and stylish at workplaces.

While choosing dresses for any other above-mentioned occasion, show concern in choosing the right color. Also, make sure that the dress you choose is the perfect match for your body statistics. A fashion dress should enhance your looks and make you look adorable and attractive.

Introduction

So you want to hire a graphic designer? For any clients out there i just want to let you know that every graphic design project is unique. It might sound confusing at first but it is difficult to perfectly predict how the process will unravel. While many projects out there will go through a similar process to reach the final result, the truth is that every project will develop uniquely, and may take varying amounts of time and work to complete. This is a walk through of the graphic design process that i used when creating a design for one of my clients. I have outlined the basic steps that i went through and you can take this as an example of the general stages a designer uses when designing, to end up at a final design visual. This article is a guide for clients wondering about how a graphic designer creates a design and will also give an understanding of why clients must pay what they do for graphic design work. After reading the article you will have an idea of how much work is involved, because there are many parts of the process that clients will not get to see first hand!

Stage 1: The brief

The first stage of any graphic design project is the brief. The brief outlines in words the purpose of the design, the application type and the ideas that it is supposed to represent. At the beginning of the project the client and the graphic designer must communicate ideas back and forth about the design, so that the designer is well informed about it, and can then start the project and take it in the right direction. You can communicate ideas over the phone, via email, or in person, or you might use all of these methods. All in all, the better that the idea has been communicated, and the more information a designer can get about the design, the better he or she will cater for the clients needs. Just remember that information, and lots of it, is the key to a successful design!

Stage 2: Referencing

Its often really helpful for the client to provide some examples of what kind of designs and styles they like at the beginning of the project. Its not a necessity but often this can cut a lot of time from the design process and save money. Its not really cheating if you are not stealing the design. Good referencing is a way of getting ideas for the project from other successful designs without stealing. A reference should be clear, exhibiting either the colour scheme, style or feel of the desired outcome. It is often a great idea to borrow from other successful designs, because there is nothing better than growing and learning with the help of your top competitors. Every design process is unique. You might use a reference, none at all, or maybe even introduce one in the middle of the project. Every design journey is different, and every destination unique. The positive side of using a reference is that the designer will not have to spend hours creating new ideas, doing layouts and changing the design numerous times before coming across a design that both of you are happy with.

Stage 3: Concept visuals

Concept Visuals, or rough concepts are just a very simple representation of the components of the design. You can do a simple drawing or generate some quick ideas with adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. I generally like to use what i will be using for the final design.

A note for unsatisfied clients: Sometimes when a client is given the concept roughs, they will tend to have second thoughts and become afraid thinking they might have gotten themselves into a dodgy deal with an unqualified designer. My advice is: DON'T WORRY! Please don't judge the book by its cover and assume that your designer is an amateur and that you are paying for someone who is going to mess up your job! This is just the beginning! The concepts and the roughs are meant to be of a really rough quality! The idea is to get many concepts out on paper in as quick a time as possible. If you are truly not sure about the person you have hired, at least you can have a look and judge their standard by looking at the other jobs they have done for other clients. If you are seeing that most of their work is of a high quality you can just relax and take the process as it comes. Just because the concept roughs don't look amazing, doesn't mean that the end result will not be! I promise that if you are patient until the end your design your graphic designer will create an amazing piece of art and design into fruition for your company! Its up to you but just be aware that if you decide to go with another designer its an infringement of copyright to take the designs and have them reproduced by the first designer and hand them to someone else. Your new designer will have to start again from scratch and might take extra time and money. Just be aware.

For clients without a reference: Some clients may not have a reference or a fair idea of what they want the outcome to turn out like. That is understandable, after all you have hired the designer, for a reason. Because they are talented at representing ideas visually and know what they are doing, right? In this case the designer will probably get to work and produce a variety of concept visual responses to the brief, one of which will be chosen to develop further. Concept visuals can be really simple, such as a few 5 minute line drawings, or some computer generated ones as well.

Often the designer will get straight to work churning out idea after idea for the design. This is usually how it works, as a designer tries to get all of their ideas out and 'on paper,' at the beginning. After the designer is happy with the amount of satisfactory options they have come up with, they will usually send them to the client to be viewed. It's good for the client to have some options when choosing a design especially if they are still at the ideas stage of the process themselves.

Stage X: Revison

I call this stage X because a revision can happen at any time! While it is more desirable for a revision to happen at the early stages of the project you never really know when it is going to come up. A revision is essentially a change that needs to be made to the project which moves it in another direction or replaces one of the main elements. A designer will usually offer a certain amount of free revisions before the client will need to start paying to make any more major changes.

Stage 4: Rough Visuals

Rough's or rough visuals, are an important part of any project as they help to map out the various elements of the design and are use to experiment with layout, colour and the rest. In most projects there would normally be a couple of roughs done to show the client. At the end of this stage the client will discuss the project so far with the designer and choose the most suitable option for them. The designer can then begin to work on the final design. By this stage most of the thinking and conceptual work should be close to resolved and the project should be heading in the right direction.

The creation of a rough image: Use a reference, save the file numerous times (if using a computer), and try to get it to the highest professional standard that you can at this stage. You can use your hand drawings in combination with or simply just use Photoshop and Illustrator (or whatever other program you are using). Make sure to create a couple of options if possible so that the client can have a browse and choose the one that they like best.

working with text: Use whatever program that suits you. I usually use Adobe Illustrator or InDesign and import the text into Photoshop for the final blending and style options. Text from Illustrator turns out much clearer/professional than when done through Photoshop. Play around with many of the fonts and settle down to at least three that you think work best. Make sure that they match the style of the company or design that you are making. Be careful with certain jobs for example: posters, to not use more than three different fonts. Work with the fonts and blending options and styles and create a couple of examples for your client to have a look through.

Putting it together: Work with text in conjunction with the image to create a logo that looks 'right,' ie: the colours and styles match, and has an overall unique impact that is aesthetically pleasing to look at and advertises they type of business it is designed for well.

Stage 5: The Final Design

For the final stage of the design, the graphic designer is required have a look and re-asses the project as it is so far. Are there any typos? Do the images look as professional as they can? Do the styles match? Do the fonts work? Are the layouts mathematically perfect and everything aligned? Are figures in the right pose or have the right facial expression? Does this truly represent the company as they want to be represented? Will this design suit their demographic? And can i do it any better than i have done? A designer must put together all the pieces so far and really take a look to see if anything should be changed or improved. Trust your designers eye for details and intuitions to help you along with this. Then when it is all looking right, you can call it complete! When you present it to the client, if you are doing it in person it always helps to have the designs printed on professional looking paper and put into a display folder for viewing. If you are doing it online, make sure that you send a low quality and small file, which is still visible if you are unsure about whether you are going to be paid. Not everyone tries to get something for nothing, but you never know. It is wise to protect yourself and get down to settling the contract first by filling in the final parts of the contract such as final payment figures and copyright information. Make sure that it is signed and agreed to by both clients, and then you can finish off the deal by giving the client what they hired you for! The designs.

At the end of the project the designer will be required to send, via post, or electronically the final version of the project in whatever formats are needed. Usually jpeg and pdf is sufficient, of 300dpi or more quality, of the right size for print or other media, and in cmyk and rgb color versions. Depending on the job the client may want you to seek printing services and send the final product directly to them. In this case you should arrange additional costs for the printing process. Make sure that you inform your client of the copyright information that you have asked them to agree to. Most designers will ask for extra payment for licensing copyright on top of the project, or for giving the client extra rights to the artwork or image. There are usually certain restrictions such as the the type of media it can be used for, amount of prints or time in which it will expire.

I hope that all designers and clients out there will get the best out of their client/designer relationships and that many new projects can blossom from this unique process. It is also important to be prepared in case something goes wrong, and a contract will usually solve many problems. Happy designing!

By Elly Klamo

Choosing a web design company can be a overwhelming task for many small business owners. I've seen many clients give up on the whole process after interviewing with several web design companies. Fortunately there are some easy tricks and tips that can help you easily make the right choice for you. Let's take a look at a few of the myths surrounding this topic that make this decision so difficult.

1. Myth #1: A potential web designer should show me a visual mock-up of the proposed site that they will design for me. This is one of the most frustrating myths that many web designers face. It is a partially self imposed frustration because many website design companies do offer visual mock-ups when pitching their services to potential client. In the end however, the client is the one who loses. If a web design firm shows you a proposed site design before you've hired them and you don't hire them in the end, their cost of sales has risen because they still have to offset the labor costs of designing a website that was never sold purchased.

As their cost of sales rises, so must their cost of services in order to maintain profitability. These increased costs are passed on to the clients that do hire them. So in the end, hiring one of these designers will leave you either overpaying for their services, or they'll just be selling you a pre-designed, non-custom website template that they've tried to sell to countless other people. INSTEAD: The best way to determine the quality of work that a potential web design company can offer you is to look at their portfolio of past projects. A design firm's resume is their portfolio and any potential web design company should proudly display their past projects to you. If they do not, or will not, then run away as fast as you can.

2. Myth #2: A web designer with previous design experience in your particular industry is better than one with no previous experience in your industry. This myth is near and dear to me since my design company has been burned by this one on several occasions. Why is this not important? A designer should approach every project with zero assumptions. This means they should never assume that one auto mechanic needs or even wants the same design solutions that another does. Industry experience is for one size fits all designers who specialize in offering the same thing to every client within a particular industry. We specialize in designing customized solutions to every business, with any budget, every time. When interviewing a potential design company, they should be asking you detailed questions about your business, your industry, and your goals for your website.

A website should be designed to solve problems, meet objectives, and encourage customer action. Industry experience doesn't tell a design firm what individual problems your business is facing. We've worked with two different photographers simultaneously. One was trying to expand, while the other was just getting started. While these two businesses shared an industry, they had completely different needs for their websites. INSTEAD: When it comes to web design, individual needs trump industry. It's important to look for a web design company that asks the questions that addresses those needs, not simply one who has designed several other websites for businesses in your industry. At the end of the day, the graphic design elements used in website design are basically the same and do not change based on the industry that we're designing for. So before you even interview with a designer, make a list of goals and objectives for your website. Give this list to your designer and ask them how they can help you meet these.

3. Myth #3: The best designer, is the cheapest designer. This myth takes on several forms.The fact is, website design isn't the cheapest thing you'll ever pay for, and for good reason. A properly designed website should be designed in help your business increase sales, profitability and customer retention amongst other things. For this reason, website design costs should be viewed as an investment in your business. However, many business fail to see the value of a website and so while they'll quickly shell out $4,000 for direct mail equipment, they often shudder when told that their website could cost just as much. Many businesses however, are lured into do-it-yourself for $4.99/mo. design services, and designers who offer a complete website design for only a couple hundred dollars.

There are several reasons not to choose a do-it-yourself system the biggest being the 'you get what you pay for' rule. Believe it or not, when you design your own website, it's obvious, and it doesn't convey a good message to your customers. I believe that no website is better than a cheap looking, one-size-fits-all, diy website. That's because having no website is less damaging to your company image than having a poorly designed one. Studies show that more than 75% of consumers research a company online before doing business with them. If your online appearance shouts run of the mill, then that's the impression you leave on your clients. You also 'get what you pay for' from extremely cheap designers. Remember from myth #2, a website is supposed solve problems and meet objectives. A cheap designer is only going to sell you a scaled down web solution that has no solutions to your problems. INSTEAD: Don't get the wrong impression.

Every website shouldn't cost $4000. Many will cost much less and many will cost much more. Everything comes down to addressing the needs of the client. The cost of the design should be based off the amount of time that it takes the designer to complete the project. Flat rate designers are a mistake because if your project needs exceed their anticipation, they'll be tempted to cut corners in order for them to limit the amount of work they have to do for that flat rate. If you're worried about the pricing of your project, ask your designer to detail the costs and decide if you need everything included in that price. If another designer can meet all of your needs at a cheaper hourly rate and their portfolio quality is acceptable, by all means choose that designer if cost is your main concern. Just remember, a properly designed website can always be added to for a fraction of the cost of the original design so there's nothing wrong with designing your website in stages if you want the Rolls Royce of websites.

The best advice that I can give regarding choosing a website designer for your website is get the facts, and then trust your instincts. It's important to have a good relationship with your web team, and you also want to make sure that they are accessible. If you ever need help or have a problem, find out upfront if they'll help you for free, or if there will be a charge. Armed with these tips and a little intuition, you should be ready to choose your next designer.

Sparxx Design Provides affordable professional website design and development, ecommerce development, internet marketing, search engine optimization and business development, and custom application development. We grow your online business! - (937) 660-3499 Sparxx Design, Dayton Ohio Web Design - http://www.sparxxdesign.com

By Jerrod M Fisher

I'm one of those landscape designers who loves to design gardens of all kinds and as the author of several books on the subject of landscape design I am contacted by people from all over the world, from a range of economic levels. They come to me because they've seen my work and really want my help with their gardens. I'm not just flattered, I'm touched. But often they are not aware of what is involved in developing a landscape design plan - of how much goes into it, of how much it can cost and of the potential problems involved.

In the traditional approach, I travel to a client's locale - which normally is anywhere throughout the United States and sometimes abroad, and either stay there, developing the design and then implementing, or I spend some time getting to know the clients and their property, take pictures and return to my studio to work on the drawings. I do a conceptual design plan and either bring that to them to discuss, or send it. Once that's a go, I will usually then return to their property with a completed landscape design plan and see to its implementation.

But that gets to be expensive, and here are these other individuals who think highly enough of my work to reach out well beyond their locale (and sometimes beyond their means) to seek my help. Because of their attitude, their respect and valuation, these are people I really want to work with. That is why I started offering an online landscape design service - to be able to give them what they so ardently want, without them breaking their budget or me giving away the store.

I have found over the years that the process works well but it is not without its difficulties. Almost all my clients end up quite happy - the process is so designed as to pretty much ensure this is how it goes - , but not all have and with a few there have been some bumps along the way that could have been avoided. Here I would like to explain the difficulties and potential problem areas for those who might consider (and given the economic climate, more and more are considering) having a landscape design done through this online approach. Because this can, and should be an enjoyable process for all concerned.

The first thing, and perhaps the most important that clients should understand and designers should live up to is that any landscape design that is worth the term involves a creative and often time consuming process. No real designer pulls designs from his hat nor adapts some previous design to the new site. A design is, or should be, a response to the people it is for and the site it is to occupy. It will always involve practical considerations that must be addressed with the goal always to create, not only a space beautiful to see, but a pleasure in which to be.

A lot of work goes into this and good designers never hand over a garden design they don't personally love. It is born of devotion and, hopefully, talent. If the concept design plan you receive doesn't seem right for you, don't fret. It can and will be redone. If the designer missed his mark on the first go - not a problem. New feedback will turn him in the right direction. This is, or can be, part of the process and is one of the potential values of doing a concept plan - to explore concepts.

Sometimes it has happened that after going through the design process and sending out a design I think is wonderful I get a negative response from the client. Or rather, in the case I'm referring to, from the client's wife. It took me a while to understand the dynamics involved. Part was the fact that I had had no communication with her until she responded to the completed concept plan. I was designing in response to him. The other aspect was one of comprehension of what a design plan is.

Some people simply don't understand that the most beautiful garden they've ever seen began with a piece of paper - a blueprint, just like the one they're holding. Even though renderings are included the client is not able to make sense of the plan-view drawings and because I'm not there to fully explain each aspect, they simply don't realize that all those lines on the paper have real meaning - taken together they represent a comprehensive design that if followed, will yield a beautiful garden and that is precisely what they hired me to create.

Another potential difficulty, and I bet you can guess what's coming, is basic communication. Designers go a long way into understanding their clients beyond merely what's said. The best designers read their clients well and give them more than they'd even hoped for, even with online design. But we're not exactly mind readers and if you don't tell me that you hate red or that your neighbor keeps a loud dog next to where I was planning a sitting area, I'm not liable to guess it.

This is why I ask my clients a lot of specific questions: How do you want to use the garden, at what times of day and year? What does your spouse like? Do you have pets? Kids? What about your neighbors? What art do you like? Do you want water in your garden? Do you like to barbeque and so on. Then I ask them to rant, ramble, say whatever comes to mind - it all tells me something about them and that goes into the hopper from which will eventually emerge a design plan that is right for them.

Plants and planting is another area of potential confusion. When most people think of a garden they think of plants and many clients expect a detailed plant list. I don't ever do a detailed plant list, even for local clients, and in my view no landscape designer should. Here's why.

To begin with, it's a waste of time. The chances of any or even all the nurseries having all the plants you specify at any given time, unless you're working with a very limited and typical selection, is nil. And if I planned this particular plant to go with those plants and they don't have this plant, then the whole arrangement goes out the door. But more importantly, creating a detailed plant list in advance is a disservice to the design, the garden and the client. Combining plants is an art form not best practiced on paper.

Planting is the last phase of an often complex construction before finalizing irrigation, if that is to be, and lighting. You've worked with the property, seen to the installation of all the elements; the patio or walls, perhaps a water garden, arbors, pathways, private areas and so on. You have lived out the design, come to understand the space - to feel its new nature and character and it has changed greatly from what it was. Now is the time to choose plants and at the nursery is the place to do it.

It is almost inevitable, both in the design process and in building the structural landscape that plant ideas will come to mind - a weeping cherry would be perfect here, a variegated dogwood over in that corner - but the main selection should be done at the nursery, choosing what looks good and will enhance the emotional/psychological expression of the garden. If you are not comfortable to take this on yourself, this is where you hire a local plants person who can then consult with the designer to achieve the desired effect.

A view to how the plants will be combined should be kept in mind while choosing plants and you should always be sure you have some really great combinations, seasonal interest and so on. But work out, or have the plants person determine, the majority of your plant groupings on the site. Since I'm not there to help I'm happy to make plant suggestions appropriate to the locale, and to advise on the practical suitability of a specific plant and I can and do provide principles of how to combine plants. If you want a really living, vibrant garden, allow plant selection to be part of the creative process and in response to the actual garden as it has been built. If, as the client you want to take this on yourself, the nursery people will help you with cultivation requirements.

And finally we come to money. Some people will never understand why they should pay into the thousands of dollars for a piece of paper when they could be buying a lot of plants with that money. Some people will never have a beautiful garden, and will spend thousands of dollars rediscovering that over and over. I don't know how many people have come to me after spending vast quantities of dollars and are still not happy with their garden.

The design is everything. Without it - without some well conceived plan you will never have a beautiful landscape and because you have not spent decades developing and refining the ability to see in your mind what does not yet exist in space, within the realm of space and form, texture and line and the world of outdoor living, you need someone who has. You need a professional and you need to know up front what that will cost and how payment is to be scheduled and you need to be fully willing, desirous even, of meeting it.

By the same value, if you are given a price for a design, that should be the price. Should the process take twice the time estimated and goes through several iterations, well then, it takes twice the time but the given price should never be altered unless there are specific, new requests - what most industries call 'change orders'.

Online landscape design eliminates the cost of site visits and therein lies the savings. It also eliminates the face-to-face interaction, and therein lies the potential difficulties. As most landscape architects and top level designers charge significant sums for their services, the savings can be considerable. And so long as both parties understand and respect one another and the process, it can be a rewarding arrangement for all concerned and give rise to a beautiful garden.

If you're thinking of using an online design service, or a professional landscape designer in any capacity here are a few considerations to address.

o See his or her work. Look at their portfolios so that you are sure she can design in a style suitable to your aesthetics. If she has designed in response to the sites and the clients, each design will be different from the others but some of them must please you.

o Think about how you want to use the space, what you want your landscape to do for you and be sure you communicate this.

o Think about things you and anyone else involved like - styles, colors, textures, forms, moods or themes and communicate this. Cut out pictures from magazines and send them.

o Budget - Let the designer know what you are willing to spend on installing the landscape. There is no point in designing a hundred thousand dollar landscape when you budget limits it to ten thousand.

o Payment - It is standard to have a deposit before work begins (the greatest part of the work is done in creating the conceptual plan), a payment when the concept plan is accepted and a final payment when all the designer's work is done.

o Know what you're getting. For example, construction drawings are not usually included in the design process, primarily because until the design is done no one knows how involved they will need to be, or even if they will be necessary. But they can be included, so be clear on this.

o Schedule - You have a right to have an idea how long the process will take - not an exact date - but a time frame.

o Trust - Two people who have never met and probably never will meet are entering into a business agreement that is also quite personal and you must trust one another. If you don't trust a particular designer, find someone else.

o Attitude - Designing a landscape is not easy and trusting and helping a stranger to do it isn't either. Both parties should at all times be gracious and treat one another with dignity and respect. A little gratitude, on both sides, goes a long way too, in helping maintain a positive relationship.

Working together through the online landscape design process you can arrive at a beautiful garden within a budget you set and you, and the designer, can enjoy the journey.

To learn more go to http://www.keithdavitt.com

By Keith Davitt