i-tees

I am currently working on a print project for one of my clients and I was given a folder of files including images, many of which are in the wrong format. This has made me realize that whomever built these files may be inexperienced as a”designer” and is just using images sent from their clients “as is.”

I’m wondering if the “designer” is lazy and not interested in converting the images or just doesn’t know any better. The reason I’ve put the word “designer” in quotes is because perhaps the person building the InDesign file is just an office worker or someone who learned the InDesign and Photoshop programs, but just doesn’t know what’s correct.

So, my first question is, when the files are sent to the printer, does the printer contact the “designer” and say some of the images are in the wrong format, or is he lazy also, and just prints the document.

If you’re going to print something, a jpg or gif file is the wrong format and probably the wrong resolution as well. One of the reasons people may send jpgs or gifs or even pdfs is because they are perfect for emailing and posting on a website, but they must be converted once received, not only into a print format (cmyk) but the resolution must be correct (300 dpi or higher in some cases).

Below is a little chart to follow just for formatting imagery:

I woke up this morning to the sight of gigantic snow flakes. Yes, I knew it was coming and did some stocking up yesterday, but when I see it, like most, I just stare out the window, mesmerized. What is about snow fall that makes us all giddy inside? We love to watch those designs inch their way down, the slower and more graceful, the more beautiful it looks.

Unlike rain, which we cannot do anything with, except get really wet when we don’t want to be, snow is something we enjoy being out in. We don’t even have to wait until it’s finished to hop on that sled, make an angel, or create a snow person.

It’s only when it starts to melt and get all slushy, and in spots, yellow, that we’ve had enough. For now, though, I’ll grab another cup of coffee and watch it pile up.

Okay it’s Friday, the 26th and it’s still snowing! We have at least a foot or more out there and I will be going out there later to be in it!

I have taken some more photos and started a gallery, click here to see them.

Last night I attended one of the best concerts I’ve been to lately, “Celebrations Through The Centuries.” Down in Hoboken, at Park Avenue between 1st and 2nd Street, is the United Synagogue of Hoboken. As we arrived we looked for some open seats, because the Synagogue was filling up! To a packed house everyone was ready to be swept away.

First up was Con Vivo Chamber Music. I’ve been hearing about this emsemble and have been wanting to see them. They play free concerts around Jersey City, and last night was their Hoboken debut. I absolutely love Bach and was thrilled to hear them play, Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major. The musicians playing were, Jan-Piet Knijff, harpsicord; Kelli Kathman, flute; Salley Koo, violin; Rachel Golub, violin; Ralph Allen, violin; Amelia Hollander Ames, viola; and Carolyn Jeselsohn, cello. Each of these musicians is incredibly gifted and the concerto has wonderful solos for flute, violin, and harpsicord with volin, viola, cello and basso continuo support.

They were so marvelous, they played an encore!

From the program it says about ConVivo: “Con Vivo brings the communal spirit of chamber music to the vibrant and unique setting of Jersey City…” If you want to see them, their next concert is Saturday, February 27, at 8PM, Grace Church Van Vorst, 39 Erie Street in Jersey City.

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Next the United Synagogue of Hoboken Choir walked to the platform. Directed by Rabbi Robert Scheinberg, with 15 members they sang most of their pieces, A cappella. A very nice mix of sopranos, altos, tenors and basses. They sang, Hall’luhu (Psalm 150), Al Kol Elech, Haleli Nafshi et Adonai (Psalm 146), Liqrat Aviv/Qumi Lakh (Song of Songs), and Havah Nagilah (Let us rejoice). In the past I can remember this choir singing with the accompaniment of a guitar and other instruments but found it quite interesting to hear their voices fill the room and the audience responded with clapping and occasionally singing along.

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The final ensemble was Cantigas Women’s Choir, directed by Joan Isaacs Litman. I have followed Cantigas around for many years. Two of my friends are in the choir, Florence Pape and Mary Jo Rhodes. There were 57 women on the platform and when they sang, the harmony was a joyous celebration indeed. Last night they sang some pieces with the accompaniment of a fidula, played by Patricio Diaz, and percussion, played by Mathias Kunzli, and some of the pieces with Erasmia Voukelatos at the piano. They played some really interesting music from different regions of the world, always impressing us and challenging the members of the choir with new languages to learn. Their program was as follows: Durme, Durme, Los Kaminoz de Sirkeci, Komplas de Purim, Nigra Sum, Eliyahu HaNavi, and Psalm Trilogy. Just amazing, if you haven’t yet seen them, you must.

The evening ended with the United Synagogue of Hoboken Choir joining Cantigas and together they sang, Salaam (Od Yavo Shalom).

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Afterward, my friends and I walked up to Washington Street to eat, drink, and talk about the glorious evening out.

Cantigas Women's Choir at United Synagogue of Hoboken. Photograph by John Crittenden.

Yesterday, as I walked from Jersey City Heights to Hoboken and back, I was concerned about how many people, buildings or businesses just don’t bother to shovel the snow and ice. They could at least throw down some salt and that would help.

There are houses, empty stores and lots where no one bothers. At the 9th Street Light Rail station, the ramp and stairs at 9th street were not shoveled at all. A woman with a baby carriage was trying to get down to the street and I had to help her carry the carriage down the steps.

I thought businesses or people who do not shovel, get fined. How could the Light Rail just forget 9th street… and the ramp for the handicapped?

Now if it were the next day after the storm, maybe I’d understand, but it’s almost a week now since the snowstorm, so give me a break, get out there and shovel that walkway.

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As a follow up I’d like to add that I wrote to NJ Transit about the 9th street Light Rail station, and here is their reply:

“…please note that the Handicap Access Ramp and staircase located on the Track No. 1 side of the station platform at 9th Street Station does not belong to NJ Transit. The improvements that were made were part of the Developer’s plan erected building site referred to as ‘Metro Stop’ and they are responsible for clearing snow or ice in these areas.”

I sent the email from NJ Transit on to Hoboken411.com and perhaps they will look into it. They did! As a follow up, thanks to Hoboken411 for putting a light on this, read the full story with photos, here.

Over the past year and a half, the percentage of new clients and new projects coming in, is down by 20%, so using email marketing and social media is more important than ever.

First I want to explain how to use LinkedIn.com to it’s advantage.

You start by creating a profile and loading it up with all the important details, such as, links to your personal or company website and/or blog, the various companies you’ve worked for, and the organizations you belong to. Then you might want to search for people you know, clients you currently have, friends who may be able to help you, and co-workers from previous companies. Then you might do a search on companies or target job descriptions, such as Art Directors or Creative Directors in a 25 mile radius. You can invite them to connect, by sending them a message, and be sure to personalize it by complimenting them on their work or why you’re contacting them.

Another wonderful feature on LinkedIn is the groups. I belong to many groups, some are green, sustainability, green-thinking, Nature Conservancy, National Geographic Society, Non-Profit Network, and some are graphic design or marketing and advertising groups. There are groups for music and entertainment, Apple, mac, and alumni for the schools you attended. You can search in groups for whatever interests you, and request to join. In each of these groups, there are hundreds or thousands of members. So if you post a discussion or a job, you have the potential to reach so many people at once. For example, I just posted a job description that I was looking for new clients and projects and by posting it within each group I belong to, who knows how many might read it. I’ve also posted discussions, and sometimes depending on just the right topic or headline, you can send hundreds of people to read your post and that’s also a wonderful way for people to get to know you.

Once you are a member of a group, you can also participate in a discussion posted by another member, and when you comment, all the people following that discussion can see your comment and it becomes another way for people to know who you are. You can also connect with people who are within your group, by selecting them and marking the group you both have in common.

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Facebook is another great way to get your name, company, or cause out there. In addition to having a person profile, so you can chat with friends and family, you can create company pages and invite people to become fans of your company. You can have as many company pages as you have companies, but only one profile page is allowed.

My cause with Mary Jo Rhodes, Frogs Are Green, has both a Facebook company page, so we can keep people informed of our latest news, products and posts, and a cause page. Until we become a non-profit organization (which we hope to establish in 2010) we’ve designated that donations go to Amphibian Ark.

I also have company pages on Facebook to help promote Susan Newman Design Inc., i-Tees, and Web Design NJNY.

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Twitter is a fascinating addition to social media. It’s amazing how you can keep up to date on a topic around the world instantly. Most news items that I see on Twitter, aren’t even on the TV news yet. I remember when that plane made an emergency landing on the Hudson River and I saw that news clip on Twitter. I ran into the living room to watch the TV news and it didn’t come on until at least 1/2 hour later. Then of course it dominated the news.

You can also customize your Twitter design by altering the background picture and the style colors of the page. I have two Twitter accounts, one for my design company which is @sndinc and one for all things “green” including the Frogs Are Green blog, @greeninnature.

It’s also wonderful now that you can hook up your Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts together. So a posting on one, will automatically be seen on the other two.

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For the past few years, I have been emailing out a newsletter to my client base, as well as potential clients. I use Constant Contact and find this is a valuable resource. I have also used it for various clients who’s websites I’ve designed and maintain. When you’re a designer and constantly competing against so many, across so many industries, I find that you must keep people informed on what you’re latest projects are. Even if you designed a few book covers for someone, it doesn’t mean he/she may not be interested in seeing your website design. They may know someone who is looking and it helps to refresh their memory of you, when they may be assigning work.

I would say that so long as you don’t send it out too often, you’re going to keep these people watching and clicking. To see some of my clients newsletters, click here, and to read mine, click here and be sure to sign up if interested!

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The recent earthquake crisis in Haiti, really showed us the power of social media. The fact that people could post messages and pictures when trying to locate loved ones, was so resourceful. For those of us here in the USA and others around the world, being able to follow news reporters for the latest details, or organizations for updates helped us all feel connected.

Today, we cannot survive without these tools.