C = 0
M= 22
Y = 24
K = 8

Try it as see if you like it.

Some friends of mine just went live with a business I think is pretty cool.  Box Office Pop offers low cost affordable posters for High School musicals and plays.  I was able to help out with some aspects of their web design.  You should check it out.

I love this poster they designed for The Crucible.

I use 4 different options using WordPress, each with various benefits.  It’s likely what you want to do fits perfectly within one of these options.  Before I get into those different options let me explain why WordPress is the only solution I’m recommending.  It’s the best. Period.  Many people are happy using Blogspot and Typepad, but if you ever want to expand and grow, you’re going to eventually be switching over to WordPress.  So you might as well start with it and make your life all around easier.  WordPress does everything Blogspot and Typepad do, only better.

Option #1 – FREE – WordPress.com

If you’d like to set up a free blog go to WordPress.com. Set up is easy and you’ll find it very easy to use.  There are lots of themes available that are easy to apply to your blog.  WordPress.com includes lots of great tools that block spam from filling up your comments section, link your blog to other bloggers talking about the same thing, and great search engine optimization.

I use WordPress.com for my religious themed blog: LDS and Evangelical Conversations.

Advantages: Free
Disadvantages: non-unique domain (i.e. yourblog.wordpress.com), Limited edit-ability, not able to sell advertising, limited disk space (though you’ll have a tough time filling their 3gb limit)

Option #2 – $10.95/year – Domain Forward

If you’d like to own your own domain name but don’t want to shell out more than $10, WordPress.com is your solution. Just set up a blog on WordPress.com then buy a domain name.  I recommend you use Ipower to purchase your domain.

Then just point your new domain (yourblog.com) at your WordPress.com blog (yourblog.wordpress.com).  Anytime someone types in your domain name they will automatically be directed to your blog.  In addition, you can set up an email address with your new domain that can forward to any email address of your choice (i.e. me@yourblog.com will forward to yourblog@gmail.com).

Advantage: a unique and memorable domain name
Disadvantage: your domain name will not appear in the address bar

Option #3 – $20.92/year – Domain Mapping

If you’d like to use WordPress.com to host and maintain your blog for free, BUT you’d like a unique domain name WordPress offers a solution.  All you have to do is buy a domain and then pay WordPress to allow you to map your domain to your WordPress.com blog.  They charge $9.97 a year to do this and include instructions on how to do it.  If you haven’t already purchased a domain name you can buy one through WordPress and save yourself $5.

My wife used this option. You can see what it looks like at Poverty Unlocked.

Advantages: a unique and memorable domain name with free hosting and maintenance
Disadvantages: Limited edit-ability, not able to sell advertising, limited disk space

Option #4- $71.40/year – Host It Yourself

If you’re ready to enter the big leagues this is your option.  You need to buy a hosting package and maintain your blog by yourself. I recommend using Ipower.  They can set the WordPress software up for you and get you on your way.  If you don’t want to design your own template there are plenty of free templates available.  There are also lots of free plugins available to extend your blog. I recommend at minimum that you install WordPress Stats, Akismet, All-in-one SEO, Robots Meta, and Google XML Sitemaps.  WordPress now has an easy to use search-and-add feature for both plugins and themes. There is also lots of help online for setting up and using WordPress.

I also recommend Podpress if you’d like to use WordPress to set up a podcast. If you’d like a contact form, I recommend Contact Form 7.

If you need to move from WordPress.com to your own hosting package, WordPress comes with tools to transfer all of your post and comments seamlessly. You can even transfer your post from Blogspot and Typepad.

This is what I have done with this blog as well as Foster Parenting Podcast. I actually host 3 different blogs on one hosting account.

Advantages: you are in control, you can sell advertising and modify your theme however you’d like, you can add some powerful functions to your blog, you get your domain name for free
Disadvantages: you have to maintain the behind the scenes functions of your blog and there is much more set up time

photo credit: Markus Rödder

Peter is best known for his trademark “I don’t like anybody” catch phrase. It started as an explanation for which Major League Baseball team he roots for but was quickly expanded to encapsulate the entire human race.

I am providing these files free under a creative commons license.  Feel free to use them however you want as long as you aren’t claiming you created them and you aren’t selling them.  If you want to make a T-shirt or sticker out of them, feel free.  If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to do it, try CafePress.com. The EPS and PDF files are what you need for high quality screen printing. Clicking on the image will give you a larger version.

EPS File

PDF File

EPS file

PDF file

Update
My caricature was mentioned in the Monday, June 22nd Baseball Today episode. Listen here and go to the 11:30 minute mark. No surprise that Peter didn’t think too highly of my efforts.

Update 10/13/2009
Here’s a picture of some guys who had shirts made.

I was really happy with the design concept that was chosen. The design requirement stated that the size of the event should be communicated on the cover.  There were a number of crowd shots available, but this one was not as busy as those and still communicated the large crowd in attendance.  I love the simplicity that I was able to maintain on the cover.

My other concepts can be seen below.  I described them as one I was told to do, one I wanted to do, and one I hoped they picked.

You can buy the DVD by going here. The DVD comes with a free audio mp3 of the debate.

It was a fun project and I’m really proud of the end results.

Simply Smashing

I’ve found an online magazine, Smashing Magazine, that I feel I can draw a lot of inspiration from. I wanted to point out some great articles that I thought you might enjoy.

• Looking for some new fonts to dress up your files? These 15 fonts are not only high quality, they’re also free. Enjoy, just don’t use them all at once.
• Want some eye-candy? Here are some beautiful spring pictures. Take in these 35 (really) stunning photos if you still want more.
• If those pictures inspired you, learn these 50 incredible photo techniques. You can learn how to take pictures just like these.
• Looking to get your website to sell better? Check out these 8 useful tips to help your website convert more sales.
• Finally, check out these creative logos for some great inspiration.

Consider subscribing with an RSS reader so that you can stay on top of all their great features.

Top Gun Day

Did you buzz the tower on May 13? If not that means you missed “Top Gun Day”. Don’t worry, if you still feel the need for speed, you can celebrate next year. Mark it on your calendar now, May 13, 2010. Maverick and Goose have got game of beach volleyball all set up for you.

This is a collection of the portraits I’ve been creating for my monthly e-blast.  I’ll continue to add my new images here so that I can have one place to see all of them.

Developing Your Brand

As a little boy in rural Oklahoma I got to help my hero, a cowboy named Steve, brand a cow. As much as I wanted to be a cowboy for the rest of my life, little did I know that I would leave rustling cows behind but keep the branding iron with me. Now I help individuals and businesses develop their own brands (and yes, that is a picture of me above).

I’ve been slowly developing and exploring my own personal brand for several years. Recently I pushed it a little bit further by buying the domain GraphicDesignHero.com. Instead of selling myself as a graphic designer I’ve started making the bold claim that I’m a graphic design hero. My customers agree.

I found a great article entitled “9 Branding Tips For Small Businesses”. I thought I’d share a few tips with you. For sure, check out the entire article here.

1. The design of your logo really doesn’t matter as much as what you do with it. Use it everywhere and use it consistently.
2. Have a professional website and don’t let more than 2 years go by without an update. Be certain people are looking you up online.
3. Data shows that people need to be exposed to a brand at least seven times before they buy. If you simply do one touch and stop, you’re wasting valuable budget dollars.
4. Stand for something. If you’re trying to be everything to everybody, chances are you’ll attract no one.

Brand Camp

I’ve learned a lot about branding from a comic strip artist named Tom Fishburne.  Tom is a marketing professional and part-time funny guy. He runs a blog that features his doodles and thoughts on marketing. At first I started reading his comic strip because they hit close to home, but as time has passed he’s been teaching me a lot about branding as well.

Another interesting is Under Consideration: Brand New.  They review brand revisions by major corporations.  I found them because they exposed an over-the-top creative brief developed by Pepsi to justify their new logo.  You can review it for yourself and decided if it’s a joke or for real.  My favorite comment regarding the controversy can be found here.

I’m so inspired by artist who find new ways to use technology.  The logistics for this project are mind boggling.  I also love how small the world is becoming.