2011 CONCACAF - Gold Cup Jun 6, 11, 11:40 a.m.

Its on and it should be a good show down for Mexico and USA

São Paulo, Brazil Feb 25, 11, 3:48 p.m.

I'll be visiting for a couple of days.
Anyone there? Recommendations? ETC?

PDF Forms Feb 25, 11, 12:51 a.m.

Hey guys

I designed a form for a client that needs to be a pdf form as well. Which I have already created.

Heres my problem:

I would like the client to be able to take the pdf I created in acrobat pro and fill it out using acrobat reader and be able to fill out the form, save pdf, print it and also email it to their clients...

The tricky part is this, I would like to find a way for my client to be able to save a copy of the completed form and send a version to their clients that cant be edited.

Does anyone know how to do this or have had experience with a similar situation?

any advice would be greatly appreciated.

thanks!

Dodge Site Font Dec 15, 10, 12:24 p.m.

hey guys, need a little help. working on a dodge site right now and cant find the condensed font they are using on their site. anyone know what it is?

as always, mucho thanks amigos

http://www.dodge.com/en/

Client Site Crit Feb 26, 10, 12:05 a.m.

My QBN home boys I would like your opinion on a site design I'm working on.
First off let me start by saying Im mostly a print designer so Im still getting the hang of designing sites so if you guys see anything off or can suggest a different approach from your experience I would really appreciate it.

So heres a couple facts about the company and project:

- The company optimizes, maintains and designs websites for car dealerships.
- They dont really focus on selling the site design, mostly their money maker is the content management and SEO stuff. Thats all these dealers care about.
- The main objective is to focus on the different "products" the company offers to make the dealers sites successful by generating more leads and sales. for example: SEO, Site optimization, virtual showrooms, etc.
- My idea is to create icons for all these products and give the client explanations of what they do to help their business... without losing their interest by slamming them with words and terminology they know nothing about. Thats what the blue icons are, i haven't designed them yet, they are place holders.
- the boxes that say "link goes here" are just an option if they want to put a link for lets say... press releases or something like that. its kind of an after thought as you can tell.
- They have a really bad logo so im removing it so we can focus on the actual webdesign (i'm working on getting them to redesign the logo)
- that main blue area is a bit of a place holder image... we plan on having 3 slides with graphics similar to these and pictures of cars.

heres 2 competitors sites:
http://www.dealer.com/
http://www.ebizautos.com/

Thats about it...

Comments and thought are very welcome and appreciated.

fyi the company likes the site, only a few minor tweaks but I have freedom to keep improving as i see fit.

Happy Thanksgiving San Diego Peeps! Nov 26, 09, 1:41 p.m.

Just wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving to San Diego crowd, hope you have a great time with your families.

See ya next get together.

You stay classy San Diego!

Motocross Gear Jun 9, 09, 4:10 p.m.

Amigos, I'm currently working on a project that involves designing Motocross Gear/Apparel

Since I personally don't do motocross I was wondering if any of you guys are avid riders and could give me a little info.

I guess im looking for feedback in regards to how the gear fits. what do you like about whats out there now and what dont you like.
For example I have noticed a lot of the gear has big TPR badges. Some look good but some look heavy and totally over sized, does this bother the rider?

My other question is about the actual graphics. are there any styles you guys prefer or would like to see more of... a lot of the stuff I see pretty much looks the same, I would like to take a new direction but I dont want to go so far that MX guys wont like them.

Anyway any info, ideas, graphic links would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Photo. What to Charge Jun 2, 09, 1:26 p.m.

Que pasa fellas, A client needs new shots of their product and I'm really not sure what to charge.

They only want one shot that looks like the image below.

any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Logo Crit Apr 7, 09, 12:06 a.m.

Hey guys.

I did some logo concepts for a bike company a couple months ago. The logo is for the model of the bike, not the company itself.

Anyway I did first round concepts for the logo and then the client put a hold on the project, they mentioned dumping the idea so I just billed them for my time and closed the job.

Now they want to use one of the concepts, I told them it was a first draft and needed to be refined. They said they were happy with it.

Anyway I'm not totally sure I dig it... it looks unfinished to me and I would hate for this to be a big deal and it looks shitty. I have been thinking what minor tweaks I can do to make it look better or have a little more personality with out spending to much time on it.

Would ya guys mind tearing it apart and giving me some feedback?

Side Note: I'm getting more work from them; collateral for all of they're bikes so I wouldn't mind putting in the extra work.

check it:

Client Advice Mar 17, 09, 3:45 a.m.

So I have a client situation I would like your opinion on.

I've had this client for about 2 years, I have done several projects for them since the beginning of their company's start.
Until recently I have worked mostly with one person, the co-owner. In general things are good; they want to create a good looking brand and are usually open to good design.
Let me note that when I was contracted my objective has been to make this brand look as good as some of the big brands out there. (apple, nike, etc; you know the deal)

In the beginning things were ok, minus a couple moments here and there that rang alarms.

For example, they like taking the final file of the projects I create and "play" with the design. (not always just some times)
Let me give you an example: when I was designing their logo they took the final file and played with the design by adding a gradient to the lettering portion of the logo and said "hey what do you think of this, it looks really cool" I'm talking about crazy nasty super dark color to light colors that don't match gradient. I simply gave them a polite reason as to why it wasn't a good idea and they agreed. I managed to save that project.

Another example: When there is a trade show event and they need a one time banner or meter board they take the files from projects I have already completed and give it to another partner to create the one time piece. Now I'm talking about giving design files to a guy who has no design background what so ever, imagine an accountant or business adviser. Needless to say the designs are terrible, I'm talking about embarrassing. So basically all the top guys have CS3 and they are not afraid to use it.

Heres where things have gotten tricky, recently the guy I have done projects with has stepped out of the picture and gave the responsibility to the other co-owner.
This guy is driving me fucking nuts. He pretty much designs every project first as a quick mock up to show what he wants. At first I was like ok let me take your general idea and make it go with the style we have established. Then he comes back and wants changes that are totally off from the companies desired look, he makes SUPER cheesy suggestions like "Also, let's try using this space for a friendly little 'easter egg' surprise - How about some copy that says: "Hello!" With a smiley face or something cute." Thats a direct quote. Basically the guy wants to create an apple like brand by using cheap marketing tactics that super markets and monster truck shows use.

So far I have done 3 projects with this guy, the first one was brutal. I wrote emails everyday explaining why his ideas were bad and we should stick to the style already established. By the next project I just couldn't go through that shit again, I'm talking about fighting every single square inch of the project. I finally just said: "hey man it seems like you and I have very different ideas on how to execute the marketing for this brand, your partner and I have been working hard to establish a design language for your company and your direction is very inconsistent and damaging to the brand." His response was "We're in a crunch right now, lets talk about it later" I CC:ed his partner as well and he didn't say a word.

Since then I have taken the mentality that its their company, if they want it to look like shit what should I care, just as long as they pay me.
But it is quite difficult watching it go down the drain.

At the moment I'm doing a project that is an important marketing item for the company. The owner guy is totally destroying it, its like he's doing it on purpose or something.

So my question is: how do I deal with this?

Do I just say fuck it? Do the work they want and let it burn?
Do I talk to the original guy I was dealing with and let him know this is not working out?
Do I reject the next project?

I don't know, I guess I'm just thinking out loud, to be honest I know it doesn't sound like a big deal but I did invest a lot in these guys and had high hopes for the company and the work we would do together.

Anyway thanks for reading if you read the whole thing. any thought or advise are welcome.

Thanks.

Designing for Friends and Family Jan 20, 09, 7:38 p.m.

Que onda my fellow QBNers.

I need some input from you guys.

What do you guys do when a friend or family member whats you to design something for them?

I have had some kinda mixed experiences with working for friends.

With friends I usually do the work and charge less for the work, if its directly for them... if its for a company they work for I dont really lower my cost.

My current situation is with an ex girlfriend, shes starting her career as a hair dresser and needs some business cards.

I have no problem doing the work but feel a little weird charging her...

what do you guys think?

Thanks in advance.

Jim Pounder. Nov 15, 08, 6:07 a.m.

Fuck it. This is a thread for all those guys.... or gals that had a good night.
I'm talking about the one night stands, I'm talking about the one hitter quitters, I;m talking about the bomb ass blow job, I'm talking about that chick with the big ass that you met at the bar.....

Share the story.

Smashin booty with no regard.

Share your story.

Racing Video of the Day Nov 13, 08, 3:12 a.m.

Hey, post video links of awesome race cars or bikes or whatever...

I'll start it off with this subaru tearing it up.

http://video.kenblockracing.com/…

itunes 8 not burning Oct 26, 08, 10:22 p.m.

So I updated my itunes to the newest version.
Now I cant burn CDs... I cant burn CDs in itunes and I cant burn CDs from my desktop.

W.T.F.

Anyone else having this problem?

When I click the burn button it gets stuck in "initializing" mode.

When I burn off the desktop it tells me the burn was bad or that it has an error.

PRIDE Oct 13, 08, 10:17 p.m.

I miss PRIDE. (The MMA organization, not the gay pride parade in san diego lol)

please enjoy this video I have found on the internets > http://www.dailymotion.com/video…

Cardboard Inspiration Oct 4, 08, 1:30 a.m.

Hey guys,

I'm working on a project that involves graphics on a cardboard shipping box.

Basically its a small cardboard box that will contain a product about the size of a water bottle.

I already designed a temporary version thats rather simple and to the point. Now they want me to take the same box and design a version thats creative and high-end. (the product is supposed to be kinda high-endish)

Personally I think we should just design on nicer looking box, but hey not my call.
They want me to take an "eco-friendly" approach.

Anyway, I was wondering if you guys have any "cardboard style design" links or cool packaging inspiration sites you might want to share.

Any help is appreciated, I just need a good inspiration boost.

Thanks in advance!

Box looks like this, only not white.