Ryan Haskins

It’s time to get back to basics… When your head is down in a design business for more than two decades, it’s easy to become complacent and stick to what’s worked. Referrals, word of mouth, and previous clients coming back for more has always kept the work flowing and the bills paid. However... It’s time to make a shift from simply reacting to whatever offers are coming in to going out and finding only the work we want to do. This year, the plan is to… _ redefine our positioning to be laser focused on our ideal client _ craft a new portfolio including only the work we want to take on _ reframe what we say yes to and start saying no more often We do not progress without the intention to do so… The less we change the more things stay the same.

13

Atmospheric Search is here! Our team sat down with designers from some of the top studios in the world. One consistent issue we heard was that during creative concepting, reference images will get used once and then disappear in to the file abyss. Atmospheric Search allows you to search through your reference image library by categories like aesthetic signal, systemic implication, emotional register, and cultural reference so that previous reference content can be easily located and included in new creative concepts.

8

Reinvention is everything in this AI-driven era. (It is also very human.) Just came across Dropbox’s interactive brand guideline, what a breath of fresh air. Smart UX, thoughtful interaction, and a seamless blend of design, code, and creativity. AI can resemble and assemble, leveling the game. But it’s still the human touch that goes beyond the box. #BrandDesign #UXInspiration #InteractiveDesign #CreativeTechnology #AIandDesign

4

I’ve heard a lot of talk about the Affinity versus Adobe debate. When the going gets tough and you really need to get some design work done, people tend to gravitate back to Adobe. I’ve heard this rhetoric before and respectfully disagree. Unfortunately, in our industry, many designers are proficient in using software but lack the essential design skills. I’ve had the privilege of designing for the world’s largest companies for over 25 years and have been in the industry for nearly three decades. Throughout my career, I’ve observed the rise and fall of various software tools, but ultimately, they’re just tools. The true skill lies in the designers’ understanding of the fundamental principles of design. I’ve faced numerous deadlines, and the software I use has never seemed to matter. What truly matters is the designer behind the tools. In the past five years, I’ve used Affinity (and Figma ) for most of my projects and have never considered switching back to Adobe. However, if your workflow or company requires a specific plug-in or workflow that only Adobe offers, then it’s understandable to stay with Adobe. But for independent designers who have the freedom to design as they please, I believe Affinity has made significant strides in recent years. I hope this innovation pushes our industry forward and elevates the creative craft.

2