Blog
Designer Mission: the High Line
My desire to keep creatively charged and see the vast array of cultural spots around New York City recently led me to the High Line. A public park built on an historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side; it runs from Gansevoort...
Why it pays to hire a professional to design your website
I recently read a blog post entitled, Why You Can't Afford to Skimp on a Great Website. I couldn’t agree more and wanted to share. One of the main points of the post was not to be afraid to ask your contractor what something means and why they have chosen to use...
Branding your email signature
The other day while working with one of my marketing directors we were discussing creating a graphic to place in their email signature for an upcoming event. I’d been creating all the graphics for this fundraiser and why not promote it in everyone’s daily...
Designer Mission: a visit to the International Spy Museum in D.C.
I love being a graphic designer. Creating in my studio is my favorite part of the day. But, in order to keep the creative juices flowing I regularly look for inspiration. It can be hiking or gardening, but I also really enjoy visiting museums and other cultural...
Four easy tips to taking better pictures at your events
Full disclosure, I’m not a professional photographer, nor do I pretend to be. I work with some outstanding ones though and can recommend them for any of your photography needs. However, many of my clients have dozens of events or happenings that pictures are taken on...
Paper Matters
Have you ever considered how ink “sits” on various types of printed paper? It can make a vast difference when designing for print. I recently styled an ad for a client to be placed in a local Pennysaver. When I passed it off to a writer colleague, her first comment...
Is it time to build an app?
With all the various marketing avenues to utilize, i.e.: social media, email blast, direct mail, video, your website, is it really necessary to have a custom application? Necessary no, but something to think about. Now nearly half of American adults own smart phones...
Making Sense of Logo File Formats: Learning What’s What
Ever wonder why your designer gave you all those files for your logo? Or why your printer asks for vector and your web designer wants a PNG, GIF or JPEG? Social Media adds various sizes to the growing list. Facebook, Twitter, favicons (what’s a favicon?) can make your...
How to tell if you have high- or lo-resolution art or photos and will it print well
One of the biggest requests I get from my clients is to see if their art is the right size for print or multi-media. Without getting too technical, “lo-res” is considered 72 dpi and is best for web, and “high-res” is 300 dpi for print. A lot of the photos from small...
Designer Mission: A visit to The Metropolitan Opera
As part of my ongoing endeavor to remain inspired and rejuvenated, I enjoy frequenting the city’s cultural and art institutions as often as possible. In December, my son and I usually visit The Metropolitan Opera. This past year we saw The Barber of Seville. This...
Gratitude and Principles of a Profound Workday
First, I’d like to take a moment to thank my incredible clients and colleagues for an outstanding year. I enjoy collaborating with each and everyone of you. What began as freelancing on the side, last year blossomed into JL Davis Design, my new full-time venture! I...
Designer Mission: The Central Park Zoo and Networking in a Yurt
When I last wrote about my upcoming excursions, I wasn't sure what to expect. In August, I ended up visiting the Central Park Zoo with my son and some friends. We enjoyed meandering around the property and visiting the animals. We walked a lot that day, so I found a...
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