My dream kitchen, circa 1850. This gives you a flavour for the life I’m aiming to have, which is mighty different from what it was only 5 years ago…
Back in 2003, I wore a suit everyday to my corporate job across from the FBI. I got mugged at gunpoint, downed a raft of prescriptions for asthma and allergies, and couldn’t walk to work on Red Alert days, those days in DC when the air is so polluted it’s a health risk to breathe.
There are 2 types of situations that can leave me in despair, exhaustion and downright fury. Tired of ranting on one hand and feeling impotent and miserable on the other, I’m taking action…
The first situation is bad because I have very little tolerance for meetings that go nowhere and take forever. Perhaps you can relate:
In this nightmare scenario, you’re stuck in meeting after meeting, not sure what you’re even there to be discussing, wishing you were somewhere else actually doing something. You try bringing some order to
As mentioned in my previous post, I’ve joined a group here in Stromness that’s starting up an artists’ cooperative called The Sorting Room. We’re set to open in May alongside the Orkney Folk Festival, and need to have bags and tags ready. And that means we need a logo.
I love designing logos.
Logos are the instant snapshot of your business or organisation. The challenge of transforming some words like “decadent” and “welcoming” into a few shapes and letters that actually convey that idea is … Continue reading »
After months of planning and groundwork, a new community cooperative is taking shape here in Stromness. The Sorting Room will be a “social enterprise”, meaning a business whose profits benefit the community both by helping artists get a fair wage and by creating a space that everyone can be a part of.
Social enterprises are exactly the kind of clients I want to work with. It’s not a non-profit, and it’s not a standard business — it’s somewhere in between, and I believe it’s the most fulfilling and sustainable way to … Continue reading »
With all the posturing, it’s tough to tell which candidate for the US presidency is going to “bring about change”, so I thought we’d use colour psychology to cut through the crap and see what the candidates are really saying through their website design.
I got the idea from the Boston Globe’s article, which asked some typographers to assess the logos of US presidential candidates.
Today let’s make a similar assessment: what messages do … Continue reading »
I’ve just posted an article with an overview on colour psychology and how to use it to help your website stand out from the crowd.
Here at Do Good, we use quite a bit of colour psychology in our designs, and I thought I’d share some tips with you. But first, a bit about how I got into colour psychology and why I think it’s such a useful marketing tool.
[The link to the article is at the end of this post, or if you’re impatient: “… Continue reading »
Welcome to the new Do Good Design tagline. This was actually the second most popular choice, with 14 votes, compared to “Making the world a better place, one website at a time” that got the most, at 16 votes.
The top two taglines weren’t even my ideas — they came from you all! In fact, I’d like to send a gift to both people who wrote these. Unfortunately, Polldaddy doesn’t tell me who submitted these entries, but if it was you, get in touch so I … Continue reading »
I need your help. I can’t believe how long it’s taking me to come up with the right tagline for Do Good Design. A tagline is that one sentence right near your logo that tells people what you’re about.
Right now, it’s “Websites for people who do what they love.” But that’s not quite right. As Nick Usborne told me, “Porn producers may love what they do, but it’s not exactly who you’d want to work with.” Yikes.
What Do Good Design is about making websites for … Continue reading »
One of the things I most love about the Internet is all the resources for learning things. Like how to paint, or make jewellery, or even build eco-friendly houses.
And because it’s so readily available and easy to learn, more and more people are learning, and then selling, crafts, as an article on the BBC, Why the Web Is Getting Crafty, explains.
On top of the how-to videos and articles, the web provides communities where you can share tips and ask questions … Continue reading »
It’s time to call a halt to Trademark Madness (TM)tm.
TMtm is a virulent strain of marketing where you slap a legal “tm” next to everyday words like “business” or “mind” or “love” and stake your claim. It’s your phrase, you own it.
The Whole Youtm, New Beginningstm, Jumpstart Your Lifetm.
Like imperialists subduing the natives, you plant the flag of “tm” and righteously declare “These words are mine, and I’ll sue you if you use them.”
Perhaps you think you’ll sound more professional? More authoritative? … Continue reading »
Hi, I’m Rachel. Contact me now to discuss your project.
