Sunday, December 9, 2012

End of the Year

A new look for my client we.app.
Also, we are updating their web site and business cards.

We will be doing a little marketing  / community work this month by volunteering at the Urban League's annual breakfast, joining the bord of the James & Janie Washington Foundation', and possibly joining the board of Folklife.

Friday, November 30, 2012

N2U



Hiawatha D. is on the air!
Talk 1150 KKNW
1150kknw.com
It's "Fill in the Blank Friday!" My favorite part about shopping small is _________.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Web design

A complete web remake
Actors First Agency moved to a new location, 3417 Evanston Avenue, in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle.
A artistic community with lots of energy. I like the new office space and its surrounding businesses.

We thought we good to give the website a new look as well.

A simple layout with little hype intro, and clean contemporary colors. I think you will like it!

Facebook or Linked In, let us know what you think.
http://www.actorsfirstagency.com

Artfully,
Hiawatha D.
http://www.hdsample.com

Friday, October 5, 2012

Ariel Media

The Jackson Street Music Program.
A local non-profit  that we are working with.  We will help with graphic design and some social media marketing.  Also, our art items, framed giclees, metal masks and our note cards sets will be for sale during the event.   We will donate 20% of sales to the Jackson Street Music Program, from all items purchased on or before November 24th, 2012, at  http://www.hiawathad.com/jazzisart.htm .


Saturday, September 8, 2012

Universals Wrap

Below is a look at another website we are working on.  This a simple shopping cart
that features their products highlighted in a YouTube Video.  The Universal's EZ Wrap has a lot of purpose and value.
I know that Garrison Ross, owner, is negotiating with a few major corporations that are very interested in the Universal EZ Wrap.


We have been working with Universals EZ Wrap since last july.   We helped with creating a consistant looks updating their logo, website, marketing and social media materials.

We have come along way and it is nice to see their success.   Universal"s EZ Wrap is a company based out of  Tacoma.  Keep an eye on them,  they are blowing up!





Artfully,



Hiawatha D,

Website

Below is a look at another website we are working on.
This site, non profit is great service to our youth in the community.
Most of their clients are involved with the justice system and need help navigating their way back being a positive member of society.

We have been working with R.O.Y.A.L. ( Raising Our Youth As Leaders) since early 2012.  We help with creating a consistant looks updating their logo, website, marketing and social media materials.

We are starting reach a few of our set goals, which is good for all of us to see their successful program in progress.   R.O.Y.A.L. is Seattle based program that is growing and has plans to open sites in several cities across the country.

Without U there is No Us!

Artfully,


Hiawatha D.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

we • app act | present | perform

Like I said it is always good to meet people and work with them on their project.
Here is what they are saying about our art services on Facebook.


"shout outs to hiawathaD for building www.theweappstudio.com. If you are looking for someone who is professional, dependable and committed to the project-this is your web master. http://www.hdsample.com/ — with Hiawatha Davis."

~ Toyia Tynae Taylor, director
we • app
2012



Friday, June 1, 2012

Small B2B

Today was a good day.  I sat down with another small business. As they go through their e-commerce  debut using a  couple of large companies for their initial web and internet presence, they reached out to me for my unique graphic design and marketing services to help make sure their web and social media campaigns are consistent.

Straight talk between myself and the business owners, a father and son team, on how they see us working together during the next several months, setting goals and building a solid work relationship.

I am pleased to say we were able to reach a weekly hour commitment and a reasonable hourly fee.
I know together we will generate great results.

Word of mouth goes a long way.

Hire Hiawatha D.
hdsample.com

Image Quality

Its important not to use distorted photos or graphics!

Vector and raster are two terms you’ve probably heard before, and if you’re not a graphic designer, you might not be 100% clear on the difference between the two. As a small business owner, it’s important to have a general knowledge of these terms. Why? Because when it comes to your logo, you should be sure you receive the appropriate formats from your graphic designer so you have the flexibility to use your logo when and where you want to!

Raster Graphics: Pixel Perfect
A pixelated image is called a raster graphic. A pixelated file consists of a number of little grid squares filled with color. Together, these tiny squares (or pixels) of color create an image, such as your logo.

Raster graphics are resolution dependent. The higher the number of pixels perinch, the higher the resolution of the image. Websites are 72 pixels per inch (or PPI), whereas newspapers are around 200 PPI and magazines are at least 300 PPI. You may have also heard the term DPI, which means dots per inch.

print • web • social & media design
hdsample.com/samples.htm

Hiawatha D.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Your Brand

You want to create a branded image - usually a logo - that can be a visual shortcut for people passing by. It needs to be something that can sum up your story and visually remind people your product. It needs to have the same attitude, texture and colors as your product or service in action! Then everything flows from there.

An important point to keep in mind is that the branding - the look, tone and feel - needs to be congruent with your target audience. If you are mainly serving women in their middle years, there's no point using racing car colors, sports metaphors and references to trendy rap music. Similarly, if your most profitable clients tend to be younger folks just starting out, then references to Johnny Carson, Wang word processing and the advent of color TV is most likely to make them think you're a dinosaur.

Branding is as much about matching the message to the market as it is about staying consistent across all platforms. As every new social network emerges and takes root, it really is worth it, to quickly sign up and secure your name, or your brand's name before anyone else does. At least this way you can wait out the success of that network safe in the knowledge that your identity is locked down. A good resource here is eitherhttp://knowem.com and http://namechk.com/.

Need help hire a good designer Hiawatha D.
http://wwwhdsapmle.com/sample.htm

Monday, May 21, 2012

New Work

Today, I began working with a new customer in the Florida area.
We will collaborate and build a website.   This is more about building a working relationship more than anything else.

Whatever the project a good foundation of communication is the key.
These guys are the Basketball industry.  Like I said thats doesn't matter.  What does matter though is for me to listen to what they they want and provide them good quality artwork / graphic design.

Artfully,



Hiawatha D.



Without U there is no Us! Click the link and show your support. 


Career Day


I have been asked to participate in Career Day and Van Asselt Elementary.
This is a day for their 5th graders to ask questions of the professional business people in their community.

Since I am a fine artist as well as a graphic designer I will have a I will have a lot to share with this group of 5th graders.  I hope to inspire a few students and help them start to map out a way to follow their passion.

Artfully,

Hiawatha D.


Without U there is no Us! Click the link and show your support. ow.ly/1KQndz

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Wow, I mentioned this before but this
year seems to be moving kind of fast.
We are already at the end of April.
I am trying to get ready for May.
Ready or not the summer months will
be upon us before we know it.

As far as our graphic design projects,
we have been successful in completing our tasks on time.
I believe quite a few of our new customers that we acquired in the beginning of the year are fast becoming good clients.

However some of our projects are collaborative efforts, our work flow remains steady.  
Networking is a good thing.

Thank all of you for your support.

Artfully,

Hiawatha D.

Click on the link below to like our Page

http://ow.ly/ahy6q

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Nonpayment

Independent workers are especially vulnerable to unpaid wages
Freelancers Union’s annual surveys demonstrate that client nonpayment is a persistent and growing challenge for independent workers, Seventy-seven percent reported having trouble getting paid at some point in their freelance careers. In the last year alone, forty-four percent of independent worker respondents had trouble getting paid.


I thought that I was the only one dealing with this problem! Until I read this article on the Freshbooks website.

Monday, March 19, 2012

More Work Long Time Client

Hello everyone, what I was trying to explain in an earlier post, is that sometimes a repeat customer can very well turn into a long time friend and a good client at the same time.

I just received a work order and a referral from a member of a nonprofit organization who happens to be a good friend. I have worked for these guys, creating marketing material, on and off since 1998. Back when I only knew Windows 95, Microsoft Word, Publisher and a little bit of Pagemaker 5.0.

It's amazing how we all get so busy doing our work, trying to live life and play. By the time we reach out or we catch up with one another two or three years has past us by.

I don't know if we can slow down time but I do know that I appreciate good clients and good friends.

Artfully,

Hiawatha D.

Good work - customer friendly -
hire Hiawatha D. art & design
hdsample.com

Like us on Facebook
http://ow.ly/1IP8q7

Friday, March 2, 2012

Facebook changes?

Say goodbye to the custom FaceBook Fan Page as you know it. Facebook is going to make all pages read like the new Timeline format.  In the new Timeline format you can not have any call to action message, sign or symbol!

"Remember, the average user in social media has the attention span of a gold fish. Reports have shown that the majority of user time is spent looking at images, so hop on the Timeline bandwagon before your competitors drink you under the Facebook table".
~ North Social

Thursday, March 1, 2012

LWA Banner Project


Lake Washington Apartment Banner Project
Rainier Beach, Seattle, WA 2011

A Graphic Design Workshop for Middle school and High Schools students. 

As lead artist on this project, I engaged the interns during the introduction of the project outline.  I helped them understand that their participation is a vital part of building a community in which they can proudly see themselves.  I offered the interns respect, responsibility, and ownership as I thanked them.  They helped in the planning and design of each of these banners.  Once they saw the pieces coming together in front of their eyes they were excited and couldn't wait to see their project completed.

Well here they are, looking good, hanging up and all done.


Artfully,


Hiawatha D.


Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Customer Support Day

We are here at LaShaun Daye Hair Studio

Just taking a few moments to physically check in with one of my clients, Lashaun Daye -Perdue..

Lashaun Daye Hair Studio has been in business since early 1997. We have worked with Lashaun Daye Hair Sudio, creating art images and marketing material on and off since 2002.

Lashaun and I were able to chat a bit over lunch the other day. This gave us a chance to catch up with what's new with our businesses and what direction we feel the need to pursue.
In my mind this is always good. An unskoken perk of Hiawatha D. art & design. Now a days it is rare to have a business owner sit with you and break bread just because.

Of course it relates to marketing my business, I get a chance to understand a little better of who I am doing business with and they get a chance too see that I am real and I appreciate their business.

Sometimes we get so bogged down that we forget simple things that make
it worth doing what we do.

It is a privalage to have a long term relationship with a vibrant succesful company like Lashaun Hair Studio.

Artfully,

Hiawatha D.

Hire Hiawatha D . art & design!

New Clients

As we come to end of February, we communicated with our current customers and clients while continuing to build strong working relationships with our new customers.

Discounts, Door Prizes, and Free Shipping. It is a delicate balance trying to decide how much service is too much service to give away.

When it comes to art and graphic design, people have a lot of choices these days. When you choose Hiawatha D. art & design, we do our best to provide you with good customer service, good design, and work within your budget.

We believe that these simple things are not always easy but are well worth it and are part of the basic tools needed to earn your appreciation for our art services.

Customers and Clients are people too!

Artfully,

Hiawatha D.

Hire Hiawatha D. & design
www.hdsample.com/samples.htm

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Customers Clients Friends

Ideally at the start of a new year, I try to reach out to old customers, clients and friends.

Over the last 20 years, running a small business, I would say about 80% of my Customers have become long time Clients and about 20% of my Clients have become good friends.

It's something that happens as we go through life. Our kids are about the same age so we connect there. Our parents are arriving at ages where we have to start caring for them so we connect there. We tend to show up at many of the same events, another connection. Naturally you gravitate to a familiar face. The next thing who know we are inviting each other to our homes.

Business will continue to be a formal agreement outlined with different terms and certain expectations. Customers are dime a dozen and some Clients are meant to become friends which sometimes turns into something else altogether. Friends are to be nurtured, grown, protected and treasured.

This is something that I realized as I was having a business meeting this morning with a person who,18 years ago, started out as one of my few customers and a couple of years later became an excellent Client and now I consider this person a close friend.

Real Work - Life - Art & Design

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter

Twitter.com/HiawathaD.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

what artwork?

Do I design for the web or do I  design for print? Or am I doing both?

Like some designers out there I started my design business before there was an internet or graphic design software.  We learned how to create with pen and paper.   Creating design for fro printed material is a must  but these days everything is internet and social media focused.  All of my customers, old and new are looking to extend their brand on the world wide web.  So to answer the question yes, I create design for both print and web media.
        
www.hdsample.com