Frost Web Design Series

20/07/2018

As we mature as an organization, we realized that visual design is a medium and not the end in itself.

It's not about the "coolness factor" nor how intricate the work is.
Whether you believe that less is more, or hold on to the ideals of minimalism or maximalist – we should measure the success of our work by its effectivity in communicating the message.

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23/05/2018

"Great designs begin with better stories"
Beyond the facade of good font choices and delightful imagery, even beyond usefulness and utility, the most effective designs have people at the heart.

When a design is used in saving lives, building communities, and simply making people's lives better, there are few things worth doing more.

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27/04/2018

We are in the era where "design" is more than just a pretty picture. Gone are the days of pixel pushers and perfect pixel websites. In the larger scale of things, none of those matter anymore – maybe for some.

We are in the age of experience.

This is an interesting time! A time where designers can take the lead to actually solve problems – problems that really matter.

There are more important things than colors, typography, or layout. Look up and broaden your horizon. You'll be amazed by what's out there.

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12/03/2018

Design Quick Reference:
Good screen design is all about the finer details. Details that are commonly neglected when designers haphazardly throw in stuff on to a canvas. In this series, we'll explore how to do proper web typesetting.

We use this same principle and values whenever we design stuff. We distill it and make it easy for you to understand so that you don't have to worry about missing those little details.

If you are interested in knowing the design principle behind it, watch our "The Thinking Type Series on Leading" – https://www.facebook.com/raincreativelab/videos/10155331383299037/

Or check it's image companion:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/raincreativelab/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10155331374684037

19/02/2018

Learning to identify good opportunities is a skill everyone should master. There's a saying "Not everything that glitters is gold."

It's easy to fall into a trap and accept everything that comes our way. The lure of monetary gains can block our judgment preventing us to think clearly.

We have one important criterion for selecting our clients. We always ask – "does the client values what we value?" We don't mind the loss of opportunity. Picking the right clients will always gain us more in return.

We have to say no to most so that we can always say yes to those who really matter.

All opportunities have a corresponding cost associated with it.
Always ask yourself whether the benefits of gaining it compensate for the cost of losing one. Pick the right opportunity, and say yes to the only thing that really matters.

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Hindsight 20/20 – Lessons of running a Design Business

15/02/2018

We always value technique, and strong designs fundamentals more than everything else. It's the bedrock of any creative endeavor.

Tools can amplify once ability. It doesn't do the thinking for you.
Even with the dawn of AI and Machine Learning, computers can't and won't trump the ability of humans to be creative and inquisitive.

Just like in music, not because you are using the best gear and instruments money can buy, doesn't guarantee you of producing good music – honing your skills and talent does.

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14/02/2018

On Starting your own Design Agency:
Every creative's ultimate dream is to run their own outfit.
Freedom only a company of our own can fulfill.

It's the entrepreneurial spirit within us.

There are around 200+ design outfits all around the country.
Inclusive of small shops, specialized boutiques, medium firm, and large network agencies.

Anyone can start their own design group. And starting something is not the problem. The real challenge is growing the company, and making it run without selling your soul to the devil.

Thriving is a different story.

Running a creative outfit is not just being creative. It's more than that. It's not scalable – because you need more people to grow.
The complexity gets harder and harder in time.

Again. starting is easy.
Growing it is not

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Hindsight 20/20 – Lessons of running a Design Business

09/02/2018

There is no such thing as midnight success.
People always fall in love with the idea that success can be achieved overnight – that it can be "growth hack" to scale at breakneck speed.

Unfortunately, just like how evolution has brought us to where we are, it takes time. LONG TIME.

Just like any great piece of work. It takes tender loving care to create great work.

It takes a lot of reflection, insights, knowledge, and wisdom to find perfection. You need a lot of patience, perseverance, and persistence to achieve success – lasting success.

Remember, Rome was not built in a day.

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06/02/2018

On Process & Controlled Chaos:
When we were still starting out, having process felt like a roadblock to creativity. Back then, we believe that creativity needs to have that sense of chaos to really unlock its true potential.

"Creative Freedom" at the expense of other more important things that make a design business – sustainable.

Well, we were naive back then.

Fast-forward today, as a growing company, we rely on having a strong and reliable process. It's our lifeblood.

We need it to be truly sustainable.
We need it for us to be better at what we do.

The absence of a well-defined process is a hindrance to growth.

However, the real challenge is – finding the right balance between having too much that it feels cumbersome and dragging versus and still having that sense of freedom to let chaos run its course.

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Hindsight 20/20 – Lessons of running a Design Business

02/02/2018

Just like the song:
"It's been said, many times, many ways..." – Design is not what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.

The value of design transcends more than it's visual form. Many people think design is merely just "making things pretty." But in reality, the discipline of design is far more complex.

Whenever you see a wonderful chair, a designer made it. When you see an object performing it's intended job, a designer thought about it.

Design is in the inner workings of the universe.
You can see it, and you know it's there.

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Get your dose of morning inspiration from great designers and thinkers.
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26/01/2018

You reap what you sow.
Michael Beruit couldn't say it any better.

If you keep on fishing in a small pond, don't expect and hope to catch big fish. You have to go and fish in the ocean and cast a wider net.

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Get your dose of morning inspiration from great designers and thinkers.
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22/01/2018

Again. Content-first

Design is a platform for communication.
No amount of design wizardry can mask poor content.

You have to take it from the guy:
"Edward Tufte is the guru of graphics, the high priest of presentation. For more than 30 years he has been showing us how to visualize data with simplicity, clarity, and elegance while campaigning against “chartjunk” and other design practices that lead to obfuscation."

https://www.ft.com/content/dda1cb5c-f4c0-11e2-a62e-00144feabdc0

It's easy to preach "content-first", or "content is king" to everyone.

But the real test is whenever we really do what we say.

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Get your dose of morning inspiration from great designers and thinkers.
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