4 ways designers can survive in a world where “everybody is a designer”

It seems like everybody now has a copy of Photoshop, Illustrator or some form of design software. The internet has made once exclusive design tools accessible to everyone.

It’s not hard to imagine that people might start to ask themselves why they would pay you to do something they could do at home.

Technology seems to act as the great equalizer.

If everyone has the same tools to work with, designers have to offer something that people can’t do themselves. Something they don’t have.

With websites offering five dollar logos, and free design software everywhere you look, what is it that will make people come to you?

How can you survive in a world where everybody thinks they are a designer? Here are a few simple suggestions. Add your tips by leaving a comment.

1. Innovate.

People can get the tools to design for themselves. What they can’t get are your incredible ideas. If you have a portfolio full of thoughtful, well conceived ideas, people will come to you for your creative potential, as well as technical ability.

A note from Preston: I agree. Ideas separate you from monkeys with mouses. (tweet that)

2. Go above and beyond.

Adding value is a quick way to stand out from the competition. For example:

If you’re doing up a logo for someone, send along two or three mock ups near the end.

You could do a corporate identity mock up, or simple one item mock ups.

Something like that might have taken them all day to do up, but only takes you a couple of minutes.

Mock ups are a great way to make things more “real” for clients. It helps them get excited about the work. When they are excited about it they are more likely to be excepting of your bill.

There are thousands of ways to go above and beyond when working with your clients. What tactics do you use?

3. Be too good to resist.

This doesn’t just mean you have to be good; you have to let people see how good you are as well.

Make sure your portfolio has all of your best and most up to date work in it. Make the portfolio itself beautiful. Choose a theme for your online portfolio that matches your work and your style. Looking at all of your great work reassures clients why they are shelling out their money for a professional designer.

4. Give Back.

Give back to the design community and your clients.

This can mean anything for you like; blogging, uploading freebies, templates and tutorials to your website or a little free design work for charitable causes. All of this helps to make you the first person people think of when they think design.

Our cocks are very aggressive by nature they need a makeover.

Farmers in China have been issuing their cockerels with cool John Lennon-style sunglasses to keep the peace.

The experiment, in Chengdu, south west China, has a practical use beyond sending the birds cock-a-hoop.

They were designed to help avoid fights breaking out between rival roosters at the free range farm, explained farm owners.

"Because they are allowed to roam around during the day in the open space, it's inevitable the cocks will start picking fights with each other, so we decided to make them all wear glasses," said breeder Jiang Hau.

"Our cocks are very aggressive by nature. They always fight with each other and cause bleeding and injuries.

"But giving them these plastic glasses to wear means they can't see each other so clearly so they are much quieter and much more peaceful," he added.

Now other farmers in the region are looking to see how the glasses work out and, if they are a success, say they will give all their cocks the new look too.

AMAZING EARTH (same planet Earth NATURAL ART.)

same incredibly close-up animal cornea! Living creature's eyes on the planet Earth i call this GOD'S art

Sirocco bar on the roof of the 67-story skyscraper (Bangkok, Thailand) colour of our Earth

one of the most beautiful city of Earth the barcelona, spain.

Kochia hill, hitachinaka city, japan. Red Earth

blue lake,kandersteg,switzerland. like heaven on Earth

The Stone Mirror, Istanbul, Turkey. amazing Earth

kindness,mother love all are valuable things in Earth

The new Dubai Skyline, UAE. amazing Earth

Sunset in Kenya........ amazing Earth

 "The maasai" is my recent piece of art.

here is same of the green art society artworks am developing more on the way.

This is one of my good friend Joe Kanja who is part of this good course.

  Stop the worm Foundation  

started in June 2007 as a deworming campaign initiative targeting school going children (5-18 years) in Meru Region, Eastern Province, Kenya. The idea came from a team of doctors in Meru District Hospital who realised that a significant number of school children visiting the hospital suffered from intestinal worms.http://www.stoptheworm.org/aboutus.php.

 Joe Kanja also write poems and he has since published same in a book, here is a sample of one from his facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jkkanja.
Life is a boomerang

If only we realised that, 
It’s by giving that we receive,
It’s by helping others that we get helped,
It’s by trusting others that we are trusted,
It’s by believing in others that others believe in us,
It’s by consoling others that we are consoled,
It’s by going for our dreams that our dreams come to us,
It’s by loving that we are loved.

If only we realised,
That life is a boomerang,
That brings back what we give away,
Packaged in a bigger box,
When we need it most.

If only we realised,
That life is an honest merchant,
That multiplies our treasure,
And avails what we deposited,
In our time of need.

If only we realised,
That what we give away,
Multiplies for our gain,
And always comes back,
When we need the best in us.

If only we realised,
That what we need most,
Is sometimes what we are best at,
And the only person who can help us,
Get what we need most,
Is the person in whom we deposited,
What we are best at.

For we are the treasure we seek,
And all that we look for,
The joy,
The laughter,
The smiles,
The happiness,
The kindness,
The goodness,
Is all in us.

For we are all that we like in others,
We are virtues in motion.

So free yourself,
Give it away,
Love anyway,
Take joy in today,
Rejoice in being alive.

For you are the beauty you are looking for,
The love that you’ve been chasing,
But cannot find,
Because it’s you that you are looking for,
In others.
And you can only find yourself in others,
When you give away the best in you,
So that when it multiplies in others,
It can then come back to you.

For you are all that you want back,
From your boomerang.

(c) Joe Kanja, 2011. Voices in the Wind

my artworks.

here are same portraits of people that i have done enjoy.