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PART I1I SHARING YOUR WORK
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This chapter looks at ways to produce, po- sition, and distribute the personal media you make. Don’t think of this as a boring, perfunctory obligation.
particular goods or services. I used to think that efforts to promote oneself were obnoxious. But over the years I’ve changed my mind. I slowly realized that believing in something you’ve made always involves attaching your name to
it. I learned that collaborators need and deserve the credit you can give them. I’ve come to see branding as a way of build- ing contacts that will lead to projects you can’t imagine.
Pictured here are Hewlett Packer ink-jet printers. The Officejet 4315 (left) is the least-expensive model that prints, scans, faxes, and copies. It costs less than $100. The Photosmart C6180 costs just under $250. Its features include fast printing (thirty pages per min- ute), automatic two-sided printing, printing from memory cards, higher scanning resolution, and networking.
A close-to-home project may surprise you when it suddenly seems to jump be- yond your immediate circle. Word will get around quickly that you’ve got creative chops. Before you know it, family mem- bers, local organizations, and workplace colleagues will be asking for your help.
one pagers
My friend Sandra Chamberlin helped create a postcard to announce the party of a friend (left). She worked in Photoshop but included handmade illustra- tions and archival clip art to create a very warm tone and color palette. The thank-you note (middle) was designed to be folded in half and then inserted into a standard envelope—well, almost standard. Sandra cut a hole so that one of the eyeballs would show. She also ripped the edge and reglued the ragged edge. She notified the local post office to the odd envelope, and the postal worker hand stamped it and
This can be one of the best rewards for your investment of time, effort, and cash. For while it’s fun to feel your skills getting stronger with each project, it’s even more fun when those skills are rec- ognized and can be put to work in the service of a cause you care about.
In an era of clutter and hype, authentic- ity and differentiation will win out. Authentic work is work that springs from a real need and a real person. Differentiation is nothing less than your unique signature as a media designer. When you put your name on a project, you’re creating your own brand. So develop a personal style, be sure people know that every photo, card, scrapbook, and slide show you create was made by you, and celebrate your authorship and unique perspective.
The range of personal publishing projects is vast. Standard letter-size paper is required for school reports and business correspondence but is restrictive for projects that require less space and more personality. Some of the things you can make with your desktop printer include the following:
BRANDING YOURSELF
If corporations and government agencies brand themselves, why shouldn’t you?
A brand identifies the originator of
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CHAPTER 6: DISPLAY AND DISTRIBUTION
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chapter 6: DISPLAY AND DISTRIBUTION
Three big breakthroughs have fueled the growth of desktop printing. The first is color. Ink-jet printers produce beautifully nuanced, full-color photographs. Second comes multifunc- tionality. Your printer is no longer just your printer. It can copy. It can scan. It can fax. The third breakthrough is cost. You can buy a quality “all-in-one” printer for under $100.
DESKTOP PRINTING
• invitations • labels
• postcards
• brochures
• gift tags
• greeting cards
• fliers
• menus
• newsletters
sent the letter along its way.
Sandra Chamberlin