Art Directions Graphic Design

Visit the #BackAlleyBarn in #Saluda NC for a real mountaintop treat. Great music, great food, great people, and great #BlueRidge atmosphere. Trust us. We know!

Here and there. #California, my home of six decades, is 2,500 miles over my right shoulder. Eight hours north, to my 9 o’clock, is my birthplace in #Ohio. Have visited them both since moving to the #BlueRidge four years ago. On those visits, both places whispered in my ear . . . “Part of you remains here.”

Inspiration Point on Sunday afternoon… In 2 Timothy Chapter 4, we’re given our General Orders. From the elder, the Apostle Paul (to our Timothy, the younger): —?? ”As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.“ —?? No matter what day it is. No matter where we find ourselves. No matter what circumstances surround us. This is “True North” on the compass of our Faith. You be you. In Christ. Today. #Faithfulness

#writing #publishing #memoirs My #book, “Echoes of Vietnam” is now available at Thompson’s, the oldest grocery store in North Carolina. If you’re passing through #Saluda, drop by and pick up a copy. You’ll also find “Echoes” at your favorite online book seller: https://lnkd.in/gMw2H_m

#politics #democracy #republic #freedom I appreciate Naomi Wolf’s humility. There certainly was an #Insurrection and it continues as intended by the party in power, governmental agencies, and a narrative huffing media. Against the stark backdrop of riot fencing and well armed guards outside of the U.S. Capitol is this clarifying snippet from Wolf’s article: —?? “The Capitol is not a sealed space exclusively for legislators, but it is one that is supposed to, and indeed was constructed to, welcome and host the public, in an orderly way.” “We should not be encouraged to forget this.” —?? That black fence outside our National Public Building sends a clear message to regular folk like you and me: “This is OUR PROPERTY and YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE!” Remember that on November 6.

“A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” Always. Require. Earnest. Money. Even if you’re fresh out of school and completely inexperienced. Look them in the eye and say, “Pay to play.” Say it nicely. And smile. And then, deliver.

In the lean years, long, long ago, I took a #freelance assignment on the word of a good friend. The client was a former National Football League (NFL) receiver with the #LARams who was heading into real estate sales. The assigment was what would be called #branding today. In yesteryear, it was a #logodesign for business cards, letterhead, and envelopes. Remember … in 1987 there was no Internet, social media, or digital anything. Against better judgement—and with my internal businessman “twitchometer” vibrating loudly—I took the admittedly prestigious assignment without an advance against anticipated billing. Big mistake! The next week, I worked hard and fast to comp a logo design—the lynchpin of the assignment—that highlighted the former athlete’s NFL jersey number. When the comp was ready, I contacted my client (who had come to my apartment a week earlier to initiate the project). There was no response. Crickets … LESSON LEARNED: Always require a non-refundable percentage of anticipated billing in advance. FOLLOW UP: A few years later, I worked on another product marketing campaign for a couple of rich doctors. Their product had an element of liability exposure. In this case, I required a 50% deposit prior to accepting the job. Good thing! After I (and my sub-contracted photographer and copy writer) had executed over 70% of contracted work, the Doctors got cold feet and killed the project. No problem. Their 50% deposit covered expenses and provided a small profit. IT’S A SMALL WORLD: Several years later, I was part of a celebrity event in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Low and behold, my ex-NFL client and referring friend were part of the festivities. I was able to feel gratitude toward both of them for the important lessons learned through the failed real estate branding effort. All good! Amazingly, neither of them remember the incident (and I did not bring it up). “Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” —Proverbs 4:7

In the lean years, long, long ago, I took a #freelance assignment on the word of a good friend. The client was a former National Football League (NFL) receiver with the #LARams who was heading into real estate sales. The assigment was what would be called #branding today. In yesteryear, it was a #logodesign for business cards, letterhead, and envelopes. Remember … in 1987 there was no Internet, social media, or digital anything. Against better judgement—and with my internal businessman “twitchometer” vibrating loudly—I took the admittedly prestigious assignment without an advance against anticipated billing. Big mistake! The next week, I worked hard and fast to comp a logo design—the lynchpin of the assignment—that highlighted the former athlete’s NFL jersey number. When the comp was ready, I contacted my client (who had come to my apartment a week earlier to initiate the project). There was no response. Crickets … LESSON LEARNED: Always require a non-refundable percentage of anticipated billing in advance. FOLLOW UP: A few years later, I worked on another product marketing campaign for a couple of rich doctors. Their product had an element of liability exposure. In this case, I required a 50% deposit prior to accepting the job. Good thing! After I (and my sub-contracted photographer and copy writer) had executed over 70% of contracted work, the Doctors got cold feet and killed the project. No problem. Their 50% deposit covered expenses and provided a small profit. IT’S A SMALL WORLD: Several years later, I was part of a celebrity event in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Low and behold, my ex-NFL client and referring friend were part of the festivities. I was able to feel gratitude toward both of them for the important lessons learned through the failed real estate branding effort. All good! Amazingly, neither of them remember the incident (and I did not bring it up). “Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” —Proverbs 4:7

LinkedIn asked, "How has #Covid19 affected the #graphicdesign industry?" As the #pandemic drama unfolded, and as data contrary to the official narrative surfaced, hard lessons were learned across #American society (globally, in fact). The Primary lesson as pertains to visual/graphic design and communication: Be careful not to lend your talent and expertise to furthering questionable communication endeavors not supported by clearly vetted data. That statement cuts both ways—although I certainly have one perspective in mind. Bottom line: If you did it for the #money, you're in a profession other than "design." In closing, a word about #Science. By definition, "Science" begs questions. Assertions and assumptions need to be questioned. Results and data-sets need to be questioned. Hypotheses need to be questioned. Marketing campaigns and athlete endorsements need to be questioned—big time. And the resulting answers to all of those questions need to be questioned again. And again. And again. Science is a "process," a "method," not a "thing." —?? More on me: https://lnkd.in/e_uFtjqm

LinkedIn asked, "How has #Covid19 affected the #graphicdesign industry?" As the #pandemic drama unfolded, and as data contrary to the official narrative surfaced, hard lessons were learned across #American society (globally, in fact). The Primary lesson as pertains to visual/graphic design and communication: Be careful not to lend your talent and expertise to furthering questionable communication endeavors not supported by clearly vetted data. That statement cuts both ways—although I certainly have one perspective in mind. Bottom line: If you did it for the #money, you're in a profession other than "design." In closing, a word about #Science. By definition, "Science" begs questions. Assertions and assumptions need to be questioned. Results and data-sets need to be questioned. Hypotheses need to be questioned. Marketing campaigns and athlete endorsements need to be questioned—big time. And the resulting answers to all of those questions need to be questioned again. And again. And again. Science is a "process," a "method," not a "thing." —?? More on me: https://lnkd.in/e_uFtjqm