The Client Designer

Dear LoveLiza,

Recently one of my clients while giving me the design brief also included a sketch that he had made to go with it. The sketch also specified typeface, colour and style of design. I was in such shock when I received this that I didn’t know how to react – I am afraid if this happens again and I say something it will be extremely rude. How can I tell him in a polite way that I am the designer.

Designer in Despair, Greece

 

Dear Despaired,

I think you have answered your own question. But as an alternative see this as a great opportunity. Next time you have too much work and need a freelancer you can always call him.

LoveLiza

Design Lover

Dear LoveLiza,

I’m having a relationship with a very attractive man at work. I think we’re both falling in love. Problem is: I think he is an awful graphic designer. I mean, who’s using Blur nowadays anymore!?! Should I tell him and build a proper relationship on honesty and trust? Or should I just keep it as a meaningless sexual fling?

Designer in Love, London

 

Dear Design Lover,

Keep it as short as possible, judging from your letter and your knowledge of type trends, this could ruin your reputation. In the case that you have no will power or its far too late when you read this, I suggest stick it out, I am sure the Blured trend will return sooner than you think.

LoveLiza

Illegal Fonts

Dear LoveLiza,

All the fonts I have, I either downloaded illegally or copied from friends or previous companies I have worked for. Do you think its a problem if I use them?

Anonymous

 

Dear Anonymous,

If your mission as a designer is to ensure that type designers are malnutritioned and badly dressed, then there is no problem.

LoveLiza

Hip and Trendy Designer

Dear LoveLiza,

I am the 30plus type, hip and trendy graphic designer from Amsterdam. I have designed several typefaces of which some have been published. As of late I seem to encounter a lot of problems with legibility. Everybody presented with my typeface designs complains that they cannot read them. Of course I could change it and make my designs more accessible for the greater public, but I do not want to loose my reputation as a hip and trendy designer. Should I just ignore the criticism?

Trendy, Amsterdam

 

Dear 30plus,

May I remind you that illegible typography was hip and trendy 15 years ago.

LoveLiza

Too Many Typefaces

Dear LoveLiza,

Every time I start a new project, I always spend time looking for a new typeface. The more I search the more I find, there must be millions of them out there, choosing has becoming harder and harder and its taking too much of my time. Do you think there are too many typefaces?

Designer in search of a typeface, The Hague

 

Dear Designer,

With this answer I will have to quote type designer Cyrus Highsmith ‘Do you think there are too many people in the world?’

LoveLiza

Change Design

Dear LoveLiza

I am a budding graphic designer and have been running my own studio for the last 3 years. A year ago I received a magnificent commission to design the commemorative book for the National Dance Theater. This has been such a great opportunity as the Dance Theater is known internationally and it attracts hundreds of followers every year. And what was even better in the initial briefing the director made it very clear that I had complete freedom and to quote him directly he said ‘I want this book to win every design award, I want this book to be remembered for centuries’

But to my biggest disappointment since my first sketch I have made nothing but changes. Every week I receive a new alteration – Change the concept, change the size, change the typography, change the images, change the colour, change the paper. It has changed from commemorative book to Ikea catalogue (and that’s not even the idea), what shall I do?

Designer, Europe

 

Dear Novice,

Don’t all designers strive for change. You can also change, change the client.

LoveLiza

I Hate Helvetica

Dear LoveLiza,

I think I might be developing a real allergy for Helvetica. I have tried practically everything. I watched the film, bought the mug, the t-shirt, the note pad, and the only time I can remember using it was when it was the corporate typeface of a company I used to work for, and that was bad enough. I just can’t warm up to it, and I find it very hard to talk to anyone about this, I would loose all respect from friends and colleagues. Please help!

Anonymous, Europe

 

Dear Sans Serif Connoisseur,

I’m glad you wrote. Hating Helvetica must be terrible. It seems like something you have no control over. The fact that you have acknowledged your problem and have seeked for help is already proof to your level of intelligence and willingness to change. You can now take the next step forward. Start with using Akzidenz-Grotesk, and after a few months make the big step.

LoveLiza

 

Typographic Trend

Dear LoveLiza,

What do you predict is the latest trend in typography, is it still the underlined all caps serif look or do you think there will be a 180 switch to all lower case sans.

Anonymous, Bern, Switzerland

 

Dear Anon,

Bird migration is the regular seasonal journeys undertaken by many birds. This includes movements of varied distances which is made in response to changes in food availability, habitat and weather.
An in depth course on Bird migratory patterns will give you the answer you are looking for.

LoveLiza

Purple Presentations

Dear LoveLiza,

Last week I was asked to go to a presentation with my boss on behalf of my colleague who had fallen ill. As I was not part of the design team that had originally worked on this particular presentation, it was my first time to have a look at it while my boss was presenting. To my great shock I thought the presentation was hideous, the spacing was appalling, the typography was crudely placed, to say the least it was a mess! And to top it all up as my boss was stretching out to point to the screen presentation I noticed his zip was undone and a glimpse of his purple boxer shorts were peeking out. I was devastated and was really not sure how to catch his eye in order to indicate his sorry state!
What is worst is that this seems to be a habit as rumors in the studio suggest. How do you think we can put an end to this?

Designer in distress, UK

 

Dear Distressed,

I suggest you keep quiet. This might be the secret strategy that your boss employs in order to distract his clients from having a good look at his poor presentations.

LoveLiza