craig's blog

 I was unfortunately reminded recently that some clients treat us as vendors. 

“Welcome to Disciple, home of the Big Brand! May I take your order? We have the Collateral Combo on special this week - that includes letterhead, business cards and a tri-fold brochure - or perhaps you would just like one of our LogosToGo?”» Read more

Hi. My name is Craig Thompson and I am a recovering awardaholic. » Read more

Recently I found out about a fund-raising effort for Haiti earthquake victims specifically geared to designers called “The Haiti Poster Project”. Leif Steiner of Moxi Sozo organized a similar effort in 2005 for hurricane victims called “Hurricane Poster Project” that raised $50,000.00. This is how it works: designers have until March 15th to design and produce posters specific to the earthquake in Haiti or The Haiti Poster Project. Limited edition signed and numbered quantities of 25 -100 are to be produced by the designer and shipped to the project organizers and they will sell the unique offerings online with all of the proceeds going to Doctors without Borders. » Read more

I really can’t help it. I’m driving down the highway on vacation with my family to take a break from the design world for a while. Then I pass a truck with a really bad logo on it...(trucking and transportation companies seem to have really bad ones)...immediately, I am redesigning it in my head...thinking about what could be done conceptually to make the logo better. What if you took the letter “t” and put it at a forty-five degree angle and...? Before I’ve finished I see a billboard. Are they really using Mistral on an outdoor board? What if you changed the font, made the background darker and reversed out the type so it would be more legible? Or maybe just eliminate the subhead and...what’s that bumper sticker on the car in front of me that I can’t even read? Let’s get closer so I can figure it out. Now my wife asks me why I am 2 feet from the guy in front of me while we’re going over 70 miles an hour. Stop to get gas. How much did the firm that designed the BP logo get paid?» Read more

How can a faith-based non-profit organization survive in this down economy when businesses and individuals are cutting back even on the essentials? It’s time to get creative. Circumstances may have changed, but the people who are helped by what you do or provide still need you and your services – maybe even more. The same old newsletter or annual giving letter to the usual donors is no longer enough. Here are a few things to do that might even help you grow in this economy:

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I know after I write this that I will officially be an old fart. 

But I can’t help it. After being in the business for over 25 years, I have earned it.

Back when you had to walk to design school in the snow, uphill, both ways, with no shoes because you couldn’t afford them, people got into this business because they loved it. Loved to draw, design, create new things. There was a passion for what we were doing. We had no idea (at least I didn’t) whether or not we could make a decent living at it, but the passion for doing it drove us. And the idea of leaving at five o’clock never even occurred to us. We loved what we were doing and couldn’t believe we were getting paid for it. Not everybody, but most it seemed.  » Read more