Fresh Squeezed Design

Put Your Best Foot Foward!

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 20:04:00 GMT

Last night was the annual AAF Tallahassee ADDY awards. I entered some designs this year, the first time since being out on my own. The theme for the evening was "Put your best foot forward" and everyone was encouraged to wear cool, funky and interesting shoes in honor of the theme. I wore red and diamond shoes that were super fun! There were people there in tennis shoes, flip flops, glitter shoes... brightly colored shoes, high heels, no heels, boots, one person wrote design words all over her shoes and a few people put google eyes and flashlights on their shoes. It was fun to walk around and see what everyone had come up with. The event was at the Hotel Duval in Tallahassee, a venue that never fails to impress with the gorgeous Tallahassee skyline and quality service and space. The weather was perfect and the company was interesting. It made for a fun evening no matter the outcome of awards. I was impressed with many of the designs and videos that I saw including a short film by a FSU student using Playdo and a commercial about fighting cancer that gave me chills. Tallahassee has some really talented artistic minds and I am grateful to meet them, know them and see the work that they have created.

Christy Jennings Creative won a Silver ADDY for collateral design for the Junior League of Tallahassee and also the Tallahassee Woman Magazine that I design/layout won a Silver ADDY for the December/January issue.

I am so thankful to have such wonderful clients and to be able to do what I love everyday!

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Tags: ADDY,Tallahassee Woman Magazine,Junior League of Tallahassee,Design,Shoes

Importance of Branding...

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 16:04:00 GMT

Branding is a fundamental part of every company… whether you want to or not, you have a brand….. If you haven’t focused on your brand you might be allowing others to define it for you.

Tags: branding,logo,tag line,reputation,perceptions

Keep Moving Forward...

Sun, 17 Oct 2010 15:40:00 GMT

Here are some books and magazines that I have been reading over the past year.

Brands & Branding

Graphic Design that Works

Instant Cashflow

Eat That Frog

Logo Design Love

Purple Cow

E-myth

Instant Repeat Business

Little Red Book of Selling

From Selling to Serving

HOW magazine

PRINT magazine

Continuing to learn about business and design is so essential to me... If I stop learning new things then I risk getting stuck where I am... and I want to keep moving forward.

What books and magazines are you reading?

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Tags: books,learning

Lessons Learned

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 13:44:00 GMT

I have learned so many lessons and great tidbits of information over this past year–about myself, running a business and so many other things. I mention in an earlier post about Matt Cheuvront and hearing him speak about the lessons he has learned in the last year and half after being fired and blogging and starting his own company. I really enjoyed listening to the lessons he learned and many of them were similar to the ones that I have learned ... I usually can pick up something from each person that I hear speak that I can relate to either personally or professionally and I wanted to share a handful of the lessons I have learned over the past 15 months or so....

1. Just do it... Leap out on faith... Trust your instincts... believe in yourself. BUT PLAN IT... make it a calculated leap. You have to have goals and writing them down and figuring out where you are and where you want to go is so important. You need to know what you are working towards.

2. Attitude is everything. Everywhere I turn I hear this... from speakers and in books that I am reading... and it is true. You have to believe in yourself, be positive and know (not TRY) that you can do anything.

3. Ask for help... work with others... collaborate. I have met so many great people in the past 15 months in my networking adventures. Some that I know we will be working together for years and it has been a relief to find people that I can collaborate with so we can focus on what we love to do and help the other person with the thing that they love to do.

4. Keep learning. I have read more books this year about business and it has been an important part of me becoming a better business owner and person. I really recommend that you continue learning and make it a priority to read a book about your industry or about business in general. I read at least 3 books a quarter and I read design blogs and magazines... all have been beneficial.

5. Relationships are key. This is how I have been doing business all along, but have read and heard this so much. Building a friendship and trust first, be a resource to people and then a salesperson. I enjoy getting to know the people in my business community, if I can help them out in any way I want to and if we can work together even better. I have learned that if someone trusts you and values you as a person as well as the work you do that they will refer you over and over.

What have you learned about running a business or working with people? I would love to hear your stories.

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Tags: lessons,learning,business,relationships,attitude,collaboration

An Interview with Christy Jennings

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 21:08:00 GMT

I had a student from Marymount University in Arlington Virginia reach out to me with some questions for her senior portfolio class... Here is what she asked... and my answers.

1. How long have you been working in the field?

I graduated from Berry College in 1998 and began working in graphic design that following year. I have been working in my field for 12 years.

2. How did you end up at your current position?

I began my business 15 months ago after working as the Art Director of a prestigious PR firm here in Tallahassee, FL for 3.5 yrs. I was fired/asked to resign for economic reasons partially I think, but also, my heart wasn't in the job there anymore, I had just had a baby and I wanted to be home with her, so even though I was there every day on time and stayed late when I had to, my performance wasn't all it could have been. I had a newborn baby at home and didn't want to get back into an 8-5 job. So I decided to start my own business so that my hours could be more flexible to both my children's schedules.

3. What is your daily routine comprised of? How many hours? . (Creative, managing, actual hands-on layout)

The hours vary from day to day. They can get pretty extensive when have a multiple deadlines. I work anywhere from 5-12 hours a day, but not all at once... my work time is scattered throughout the day.

I don't work on the weekends if I can help it, but that does tend to be the time that I have to catch up on all my accounting and bills for the business.

When I get a new project, depending on how quickly I can get inspired with a great idea I can spend anywhere from 30min-2 hours brainstorming and mindmapping out ideas for the actual design concept.

4. What do you consider your unique strength as a creative designer?

I have a good eye for space and am detail oriented. I am determined to do my best to come up with an innovative design that works for each individual client. I also am not satisfied until my client is. I am extremely motivated.

I am experienced in pre-press and have worked with enough printers over the years that I know how to prepare and send files correctly to them.

5. What has been your biggest challenge as a designer or on the job?

When I first began designing I would get attached to my design or project and when the client wanted to change something I took it personally, but as a designer it is our job to educate the client in a professional way and also listen to their ideas (sometimes it can make the design better) ultimately I have learned if they don't listen to my opinion and they still want it laid out in a way that I don't agree with... most of the time I suck it up and do it how they ask. Sometimes if it really will mess up the project I will discuss the issue further with the client, most of the time the client will value my opinion and we can come to a compromise.

I think part of getting a good client that values your design and your ideas is something that you learn over time and you can tell before anything is designed for the client. If you ask the right questions then you can decide beforehand if you are willing to work with that person... and not only are they the right client for you but are you the right designer for them!!

6. What has been your most rewarding experience?

In business: Starting my own business and getting clients based on my own merit.

7. What do you look for in an entry-level portfolio?

Creativity. Attention to detail. Skill level of work...

8. What qualities do you look for in an entry-level person?

Good working knowledge of the programs being used (Photoshop/Illustrator/In Design), Open to learning and listening, Creativity and the ability to be a self-starter.

9. What technology/software do you consider essential?

Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop/In-Design. HTML/CSS

10. Where do you get your inspirations?

Other artists, nature, life, clients that are excited about their project and can give me good detail on where they want to go. If they are really excited about it then I usually pick up on that too.

11. How did you keep up with the field?

I read design magazines and blogs. I have taken refresher courses in various programs over the past years. Talking to other designers about trends and what we like and don't like... listening to more experienced designers when they come to speak at various events.

12. What are some current trends in design?

Current trends in design. I follow them, but don't live by them.

I have read a lot about the trend to bring back whitespace, clean and uncluttered design... its funny, I have always been doing this -- I hate clutter.

I think that people are going to be using brighter more vibrant colors in their design, but once again it all comes back to the project...

I think vintage/retro looks are something that people are designing more of...

Also, using illustration in their design as well as textures and more personalized design to try to cut back on plagiarism.

Websites seem to be leaning more toward looking like print design -- so I guess I am ahead of the curve on that, since print design is my expertise.

I really enjoyed answering these questions, so if you have any that you would like to ask then please send my way and I will do my best to answer them for you.

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Tags: Berry,routine,trends,unique strength,challenge,inspiriation

"Your fired"

Sat, 18 Sep 2010 03:04:00 GMT

This week has been busy and great and tiring and fun.... loads of time to be creative and exciting projects to play with and work on. The Tallahassee Woman Magazine is coming along, I truly love working with the ladies there. Make sure to look for it on October 1st, you won't be disappointed!

On Thursday I went to the FPRA luncheon where I heard Matt Cheuvront (Matt Chevy) speak about Personal Branding. I almost didn't go because I was pretty busy, but I am so glad that I did. It is great to see and hear other designers out there that are going through similar situations and hear what they have learned. Matt is in his early to mid 20's and has had a whirlwind year... moved, got a job, got fired from that job, blogged about it started his own marketing consultancy and web design firm, got married, moved again and now is about to launch a new company. WOW Matt!! You haven't been busy or anything this year have you?

Hearing Matt's story was like listening to a somewhat similar version of my own and it has made me think.... about courage and being even more real, which is something that I strive for.

Something that stuck out to me was that he just came out and said, "Yeah, I got fired and then I called my mom and I cried about it" while most people that have been fired aren't brave enough to admit to it out of fear that people will think less of them, when really.... people don't always get fired from a position because they are incapable but because it is time to move on to bigger and better things. And lets face it, people lately are getting fired left and right.... So, I will say it too... yep, I got fired... it didn't feel good, it hurt, but after about a week of wondering what happened and pulling it together... I started to dream. And now, 15 months later, I am thankful. Thankful for the friends I made and the valuable information that I learned, because it gave me the courage to step out on my own and do what I wanted to do... play a more active role in raising my children and start my design company. Both children and business are growing and succeeding.

Matt presented 10 lessons that he learned from this past year. In my next post I will write the lessons he presented and my thoughts and the lessons that I have learned.... some the same and some different.

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Tags: FPRA,Matt Chevy,Personal Branding,courage,Honesty,dream

Hello...

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 18:32:00 GMT

Hi! I am Christy, owner of Christy Jennings Creative. I am starting this blog to hopefully bring value to my clients and others with my thoughts ideas and sharing of art, design and other things that inspire me. I named my blog, Fresh Squeezed Design, because that has been my ad campaign for the last year and I really like the concept and when I change up my ad I want to keep the Fresh Squeezed idea.

Why Fresh Squeezed Design? What do I mean when I say that? Well, something important to me is striving to be original in my design and my artwork. There is a concentrated amount of designers out there and I want to stand out. Yes, I look at others work for inspiration, I would say that most designers do, but then I take the information about my project, perceptions and ideas merge it with my own experiences and creativity to make a fresh and innovative design… Freshly squeezed from my brain and artistic ability.

Looking at other designers work inspires me and motivates me to create more dynamic designs. I believe that every artist should keep up with what the trends are as well as to look at and learn from more experienced designers.

What artists or designers do you admire?

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Tags: value,fresh,innovative,inspiration