Sometimes you just have to draw some dumb stuff to fill in space where some graphics might be needed. I've been updating my portfolio lately, so there are only a few doodles this week, which are all intended to be filler.
While going through my portfolio and collating everything, I had the idea that I'd use some of these doodles for the general web site graphics. It's easy to ignore the actual site layout and feel when you're filling it with galleries of work. Unfortunately, there have to be some pages that aren't all images, like the "about" page and the "contact" page.
Of course, these things have to be thought of and developed well before anything is finalised or is publicly accessible, so there's no link to show you what I mean. However, I was staring at the text-only pages and realised that I have this entire catalogue of doodles that would probably work well as incidental graphics.
I always like filling a portfolio site with more "in-progress" graphics, as it lets the actual portfolio work stand out and apart from the site itself. Thus, I usually do things like take a photo of pencil shavings, or my cutting board, or something else that's a peripheral element. The cool thing about having done all of these posts is that I have a bunch of otherwise pointless graphics that are already scanned and ready to be placed.
What's more, the black and white simplicity of the doodles, means that they will work well as incidental elements that won't be competing for attention. This is why I just drew out a few more doodles to use, which you see in this post, but will be going through the old drawings in the hope of finding some zingers.
So there's not a lot else to talk about this week, other than the fact that the reason I'm updating my portfolio is because I'm changing my entire business model. I've run abatage studios for a while now and have learned a lot about where my strengths and weaknesses lie, as well as the kind of work I prefer to do.
I've developed web sites and made graphics for people since I was in high school, and a couple of decades in a particular space can really teach you a thing or two. I really enjoy the logical problem solving side of coding and web development, but I'm no longer interested in doing it commercially.
The web has changed immensely in the last twenty years (surprising no-one), and in a lot of ways it's become more focused on PR and marketing. Social media is obviously one of the main elements of this, but it seems like there's no escaping online advertising these days.
I never got into making web sites for the advertising element; it was more of a challenge to turn some code into something functional and good looking. I always thought of web sites as the digital shop front of a business, which should be welcoming and friendly, not overtly commercial and slapping everyone with the "hard sell".
These days though, the social media space is all geared toward slapping you with a sales pitch. Most of the theories and strategies behind online marketing is about giving the false image of sharing information, only to subtly insert an advertisement or product. Just have a look at Instagram and think about how much product placement there is on any of the popular accounts.
I realise that web development and graphic design are very close lovers of advertising and marketing, but that's precisely why I'm feeling a bit burned out over it. If you want to make an actual living in this industry, you have to take commercial work (unless you get lucky and "make it" artistically). For the most part, commercial work is interesting and it's great dealing with different products and clients, but at the end of the day it's all about selling something instead of creativity.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not bagging commercial graphic design or web development; I'm just trying to explain why I'm positioning myself away from it a little more. By redesigning my portfolio to focus more on free-form art and creativity, I'll be taking my business away from the pursuit of commercial work. Instead I plan to allow some space to breathe creatively and relegate the "business" to only cover creative and artistic projects.
I suppose that's what's on my mind at the moment, which hopefully makes a little bit of sense. Everything evolves over time, so It's no surprise that my business would change and develop to this point. Being able to drop the hardcore commercial aspects really feels good in the long run and I'm excited to get out from under the rock of advertising and marketing.
Actually, I'm really enjoying writing a lot more these days, which is partly thanks to writing this blog. Maybe there's something in that to take notice of, as we should no doubt try and pursue the things we naturally gravitate to when we have nothing else to do. It's that whole ideal of trying to make your hobby your vocation, so why not have a crack at it every now and then.
There's a lot changing this year that I hesitate to mention, but will no doubt bring up as it happens. I've learned the hard way to avoid talking about everything you plan to do until it's actually happening. Otherwise there's too much "I'm gonna" and not enough "I'm doing".
It's fine to dream, but nothing will ever happen if you don't actually do something about it.