Things to do in SF May 3, 12, 10:10 a.m.

The wife and I are headed to SF for a few days next week. What's worth doing in San Francisco?

2012 Commarts Interactive Annual Apr 25, 12, 7:11 p.m.

I got an extra copy. Anyone want it?

Sacrificing Quality Apr 3, 12, 10:42 a.m.

How many of you have given up trying to do work that you're proud of?

Or, to put it another way, how many of you only do work that you're proud of?

I haven't done much that I'm proud of in a long time. I feel like I'm just mindlessly grinding out sausage here, and I'm starting to wonder what would happen if I started giving a shit. What would happen if I ONLY released work that gave me a big ol' boner?

Would I starve?

GDC Portfolio Review Jun 24, 11, 10:52 a.m.

Any GDC members on here? My chapter has the portfolio review due next week, and I think they want a dead-tree version (wtf?).

Any tips on putting together a portfolio for the review? I'm a little lost when it comes to the protocol for this.

WTF - AR Carter Nov 23, 10, 2:51 p.m.

Client has asked me to use a typeface similar to AR Carter. I can't seem to find any samples of this font anywhere.

Can anyone give me an idea of what this looks like? (I'm sure it's delightful.)

Brushing your teeth with Barney Nov 17, 10, 6:41 p.m.

Do clients check their spam folders? Aug 17, 10, 10:21 p.m.

I had a client get angry with me due to a couple of missed deadlines. The thing is, I had emailed the artwork to them in time, but the emails went into their spam folder. Client calls me up to bitch me out for not sending her the artwork, and refuses to believe that I sent the artwork in time. I got a peek into her spam folder, and sure enough, there's all the emails I sent her.

The client is 24. Do I really need to educate her on the existence and operation of a spam folder?

Buying a used car Mar 12, 10, 10:31 a.m.

I'm looking at used SUVs for a second family car. Any tips for grinding people down on the price? I'm in no hurry, so I have no reluctance to be a dick if it's going to save me some money.

Website for Deadbeat Client Mar 4, 10, 9:01 p.m.

Just launched a website for a client and I figure there's a 20% chance they won't pay or will delay payment until I start showing up at their office with a baseball bat. I still have access to the site.

What would you do?

Client stole my pitch Feb 17, 10, 7:13 p.m.

In early January I pitched on a big piece of work, a full rebrand for an IT company. In the presentation I stressed the importance of the research and a strategy phase in my process. I left the pitch feeling pretty good, they seemed really enthusiastic about what I had to say.

Over the next six weeks I got emails from the client saying how excited they were; how they were going through the formalities of talking to other vendors; would I be able to start the project in early March; and when could we sit down to do up an agreement. Cool.

So then I get an email this week saying that they decided to go with another vendor. Kind of a piss-off because they all but promised me the project, but you can't win 'em all. I always feel that you haven't actually won the project until you've gotten final payment for it.

So I follow up with some debriefing questions: who they awarded it to, were they confident I could complete the job, did they understand and agree with my methodology, did they understand and agree with my price structure.

The client won't reveal who they awarded it to, but said that it went to a bigger "team" with greater resources. He also said that there were some concerns about my completing the project as a one-man-freelancer. They got the price structure, and had no problem with it.

Here's the kicker. He said that they liked my methodology so much that they gave it to the winning vendor and told them to do it the way I had proposed. Now, I've heard of situations where clients steal spec work (which I don't do), but never the whole methodology.

Is there any way of disclosing my methodology (which is neither proprietary nor unique, but is a selling point) without having the client steal it? Is this just a peril of the business?

Shooting your work Feb 8, 10, 3 p.m.

I've got a stack of work to be shot, a D70 with a tilt/shift lens, some halogen work lights, some white and black background paper. Wifey is out of the house for the evening, and I'm looking for tips on photographing my printed work.

Also, do you know of any examples of really well shot work from other studios?

Giving flash a bad name Apr 4, 03, 10:57 a.m.

Anyone care to post sites that use flash poorlly? I want to see the worst.

Here's two to get started:
http://www.joeys-only.com/
http://www.republicproperty.com/…

Quick Site Check Apr 1, 03, 2:52 p.m.

Sorry, it's just a comp for now.

It's for a gym that doesn't want fat housewives, just serious people.

Flash Question: loadVariables Mar 29, 03, 1:15 p.m.

Can you use loadVariables() to load an array from an external file?

Can't figure out how to load an array using this method. Carp.