Trends in Design for 2018
Design Trends for 2018
Okay, I h0ught I’d give our readers a little insight into the design trends for 2018. Now if you are not a designer, and I certainly am not, this is a really good collection of videos to help you see what real designers see as the 2018-202 trends in design. Use these suggestions when you create your signage or graphics and You’ll be right up there with the top tier of design professionals!
15 Trends in Graphic Design for 2018
Capitalizing on trends in design and business is a great way to assure your success. In this video, I’ll describe and illustrate 15 Trends in Graphic Design for 2018. Join me in exploring the best trends you can use to build your brand! ——————————————————————————————
This video is targeted to my channel’s audience of entrepreneurs, designers, creative professionals and anyone interested in brand strategy, business planning, design, trend, marketing and communications.
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Philip VanDusen is the founder of Verhaal Brand Design, a strategic design and branding consultancy in the New York City metro area. He is an accomplished creative executive and expert in strategic branding, graphic design and creative management. Philip gives design, branding, marketing and business advice to creative professionals and entrepreneurs on building successful creative practices and brands. ——————————————————————————————
Interior Design Trends 2018
Discover the Top 10 interior design trends of 2018 in this must-watch guide to decor your home. D.Signers reveals what’s trending in interior design, colors, furniture, metals, nature, wall art, wood, tropical vibes and ideas to beautify your spaces. Become an expert in a few minutes watching this video. This Top 10 was created by Professionals Experts from D.Signers Group. Website: http://www.dsigners.net
5 HUGE Graphic Design Trends in 2018❓
I Wish I Knew This When I Started: Logo Design
Lessons learned from starting a design company. How to charge more for a logo design. Why do some designers feel guilty about charging for creative services? Why charge $50 for a logo? Why did you continue to charge so little? On this episode, Ben Burns joins us on the show as he recounts stories about getting started in design and charging clients $50 for a logo. He was happy and felt a sense of validation. Later on, he heard about other designers like Aaron Draplin charging $20k and thought “Wow! That’s amazing. But there’s no way I could charge that.” Is this a problem you’re facing? Then watch this episode. Find MrBenBurns here: https://www.instagram.com/mrbenburns/ https://www.youtube.com/c/mrbenburns Annotations: — 2:40 First logos and competing to work at spec via O Desk 5:18 Q: Why didn’t it occur to you to ask for more money? 8:47 Q: Have you ever run into a situation where clients ask you for more? 9:59 Value your time as more than a commodity, and don’t give it away for free. 12:00 Lack of symmetry in logic 14:18 The Difference is confidence in the value that you provide 15:20 You can do the same work, but you have to position it differently to charge more.
More from ThinkMutoh.com Soon!
Read MoreSometimes There is a Beauty in Making Things by Hand
The “ART” of Wallpaper Prints
While we are indeed trying to make it easier and more productive to place prints in textiles using a MUTOH ValueJet wide format printer, it’s good to remember where it all begins. The artist. I thought it might be fun to give the artist some press just to remind everyone that we have not forgotten you. So, in the next few paragraphs, read and watch the beauty form from one such artist in London.
Made in London: Daniel Heath
Posted by Katie Treggiden
Now based in the heart of East London, Daniel moved to the capital to study at the Royal College of Art. “The main influence this time had on my work was the idea that someone with training in textile design can apply their knowledge to other outcomes,” he says. “I worked with a lot of different people on a range of projects, often simultaneously. I remember running up and down the stairs because the lifts would be out of action and the departments are split across seven floors. I’d be running up to architecture, down to ceramics or product design, and up again to fashion. It was frenetic, exciting and a lot of fun.”
The experience has clearly had a profound influence on his work to this day, but the craftsmanship of his discipline has always been important too: “When I was studying textiles, I wanted to know all about the traditional process of screen printing and I wanted to be good at it.” He learnt his craft at the RCA, but honed it while hand-printing runs of 500 t-shirts and sweatshirts for a friend’s clothing label on a print table he bought while studying and stored in the roof of a dishcloth factory.
Now with his own studio at shared maker-space Blackhorse Workshop, Daniel is printing more than just t-shirts. He now specializes in up-cycling and re-appropriating what he calls “authentic heritage materials” to make bespoke, hand printed wallpapers and interior surfaces to order. Having to explore other materials because he couldn’t afford silk at university has served him well.
His designs, all hand-drawn, often recall the Victorian era to form playful narratives inspired by everything from taxidermy to the circus. “When I design a new wallpaper, I begin by doing a lot of research to establish an idea or theme,” he says. “I’ll go to exhibitions, visit locations, take photos and make sketches.”
He then applies the resulting designs using technologies such as laser engraving to create his unique products, which cross the boundaries between technology and craft. He makes everything to order. “I enjoy the making process,” he says. “Making to order means that my customers can request bespoke alterations and are not restricted to a set colour. And there are no stockpiles of stuff sitting around in warehouses that I need to worry about selling – if something is ordered, then I make it.”
Alongside his making career, Daniel is also an academic and has lectured at universities including Loughborough, Manchester, Bournemouth, Staffordshire, Bucks New University and Central St Martins. He also provides mentoring for young designers through the Crafts Council Hot House scheme.
He works for private clients as well as brands such as Swoon Editions, Panasonic Europe, Farrow & Ball, Heal’s and Anthropologie, and he is a brother of the Artworkers’ Guild, London.
The “ART” of the MUTOH ValueJet
So there you go! A great article and video of a true artist. Think of how much more widespread his art could be using a MUTOH ValueJet wide format printer. Think of how much more TIME he could spend creating rather than producing the product. We respect and applaud his talent. I wish we all had it. Just some things to think about.
Want to find out more about how a MUTOH ValueJet could help. Click Here: www.mtuoh.com
Read MoreA PC Tech’s PC Tech – Why Consider A Fast Computer from SignBurst
Hi, my name is Earl
One of the funniest things about the show “My Name is Earl” is that he never took a photo where his eyes weren’t shut.
This seemed fitting in talking about another of my industry friends. Let me introduce you to a guy who opened my eyes to optimized PCs for the design and sign industry.
Casey Yonemura, the Graphic Design Computer Specialist at Signburst (http://signburst.com/).
Casey was working the SAI booth https://www.thinksai.com/) at ISA 2018.
The first time I met Casey was at a trade show, many years ago.
Mutoh was just focusing on car wraps and I had actually begun designing wraps for myself and Mutoh.
Mutoh is an industry leader in the car wrap field now and Mutoh sponsors Justin Pate’s Avery Wrap Classes around the country. (https://www.mutoh.com/company/events/)
Justin’s an old friend of mine and I like to think I helped get these training classes off the ground in the early days. (http://www.justinpate.net/)
What a Great Computer Can Do
So I was at a show and stopped by The Bad Wrap booth (https://thebadwrap.com/) where Casey was running a Photoshop demo using The Bad Wrap templates and full-size wrap designs.
It looked like a typical canned video commercial with images dragging in and being edited and popping up in the template. assumed this was all edited to look fast, because I had a pretty good PC at home and I knew my images took much, MUCH longer just to load, more to edit. was just about to keep walking when I overheard the conversation between Casey and the guy he was giving a demo to about loading another image, and I watched Casey load a full-size image into the template with a click of the mouse.
This was REAL TIME.
I had never seen anything quite like this.
And this was BEFORE SSDs and the like.
Yes, I built dozens of PCs over the years and thought I had pretty good insight on PCs, but nothing like Casey has. Stayed and watched the rest of his demo and quizzed him on how he was able to get this kind of performance out of a PC.
It boiled down to the ‘right’ quality components and his insights from contacts at Adobe and RIP companies that allowed him to optimize these PCs not only for design but for RIP performance as well.
What a Great Computer Can Do in Your Shop
I was impressed enough to do a testimonial for Casey:
Randy Anderson, Product Marketing Manager – Mutoh America Inc. – “I have to admit, when I first saw one of Signburst’s computers running Photoshop for vehicle wrap design at a trade show, I thought there was some trickery going on. I had never seen such large files open and process so quickly. I watched for about 20 minutes in awe as this system was working virtually in real time with huge files and many layers. We invited SignBurst to our demo room, and their computer RIP’ed files in seconds that took our in-house system minutes, truly impressive. The time savings and increased productivity for these systems can greatly benefit any production environment.”
His PCs are blazing fast, and can increase your productivity and Casey is a PC Tech’s PC Tech. Pair his computers with our already fast MUTOH printers and you just entered the good side of the Twilight Zone!
Read MoreTextile Printing & More. An Interview with Rachel Nunziata with 4Walls.
Textile Printing & More
In this great short interview listen to Rachel Nunziata talk about her business and concentrate on how you can take advantage of this grow textile print business. Starting and growing a textile printing business is not difficult but can be if you don’t have the right training & education. After the interview, find out more about how MUTOH can fill this education gap.
Digital Printing Hits a Wall. And the Floor. And Your Sofa.
Published on May 14, 2018 by WhatTheyThink?
Rachel Nunziata, Product Development Manager for 4Walls, talks about the design process for digital décor. 4Walls designs and prints wallcoverings and a wide variety of other materials, handling the process all the way from design through production.
We highly recommend you subscribe and read http://whattheythink.com/ for some great interviews!
Here is the link to Rachels sites:
4walls.com and findyourlevel.com
I wanted to add some comment to this video. MUTOH is focusing on this market of walls and textiles. This a rapidly growing market. MUTOH has some of the best printers for the textile market. You should check out our collection, however, I really wanted to stress that it’s not just about a printer its also about learning, education, training. To be successful, just talk to a few folks who are in this business of textile printing and they will tell you it was a learning curve and it was the knowledge that resulted in their success. Well, that is what makes MUTOH so different from the other who sell into this market. We have the experts and we have the seminars and more to help educate you each step of the way. Let us explain how! Just call us.
The MUTOH ValueJet 1638UR Wide Format Printer Just Gave You Your Weekend Back! Text Someone.
You Just Got the Most From Your MUTOH Wide Format Printer
You’ve worked all week, using your MUTOH wide format printer to get that big job out the door before the end of the day. You did it! Your new MUTOH ValueJet 1638UR UV roll-to-roll printer printed perfectly and flawlessly as it always does.
So now it’s the weekend. Your sitting in your favorite chair by the pool with your favorite beverage tapping away on your laptop, reading your mail in outlook and you realize you want to send a text message or email to a co-worker’s phone about a job that needs to be done next week BUT…your phone is in the inside charging. Now you have to get out of that comfy chair put down that favorite beverage and get the phone…….or do you?
Outlook can call your cell phone!
Now, you might wonder why you’d bother, but it’s a convenient way to send phone numbers, short messages, reminders, and other important stuff to your cell phone so you can store it or share it. For instance, you might send a new client’s phone number and address to your cell phone, just in case you get lost or stuck in traffic.
Of course, you don’t have to use Outlook to send an e-mail to just your own cell phone. You can send an e-mail to anybody, as long as their cell phone supports Short Message Service (SMS). Fortunately, it’s a truly simple process.
How to Do It
- Create a new e-mail message.
- In the To text box, enter the cell phone number using the following syntax: 10-digit-number@carrierdomain.com
- Create a message of 160 characters or less. Or attach a .jpg file, if the cell phone is also a camera phone.
- Send the e-mail.
Below is a list of the major carrier domains:
Alltel | @message.alltel.com |
Cingular/AT&T | @txt.att.net |
Nextel | @messaging.nextel.com |
Sprint | @messaging.sprintpcs.com |
SunCom | @tms.suncom.com |
T-mobile | @tmomail.net |
VoiceStream | @voicestream.net |
Verizon | @vtext.com |
If you don’t know the cell phone’s service carrier, visit whitepages.com or phonenumber.com/reverse-phone, and enter the 10-digit cell phone number using the reverse lookup feature. If you’re lucky, it’ll list the carrier. If the carrier’s domain isn’t listed above, check its Web site.
Keep in mind that text messages aren’t always free. The recipient might be charged for the message.
MUTOH MUTOH AMERICA wide format printing flexisign traiing flexisign
Consider finding out more about how a MUTOH ValueJet 1638UR UV roll-to-roll printer can help you spend your weekends by the pool!
You might also consider getting some expert training on all MUTOH wide format printer products including FlexiSIGN & Print software: https://www.thinkmutoh.com/events
Read MoreAn arresting personality.
by Randy Anderson, Product Marketing Manager, MUTOH AMERICA ( FlexiSIGN)
Ok, I am not really being arrested.
Swear to you…..
Not this time, at least.
And the guy not arresting me?
Mark Rugen
Mark was working the Mutoh booth at one of the tradeshows ‘directing’passers-by into our booth and educating them about the value of our ValueJets and what Mutoh has to offer the industry.
Mark has run GiveMeHelp (http://givemehelp.com/) for almost 3 decades providing training and education for graphic and sign making companies.
During that time he has provided Training and Education for industry leaders Seal (https://www.sealgraphics.com/us/us/home) covering their laminators and media, prior to that with Neschen Americas.
He has also provided Training and Education for the FlexiSIGN folks at SAI (https://www.thinksai.com/)
In my opinion, Mark knows more about how to operate Flexi than anyone else, even those at SAI.
Many years ago at a trade show, I had a question on vector editing in Flexi, Mark turned out to be the guy who could answer my questions when others had difficulty.
And all long before he was not arresting people at the trade shows.
If you don’t believe me check out Mark’s feed on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaYJOPWQ5mOSxvljrj-0MBqNWaXgm_Ufo&app=desktop
Mark joined Mutoh America this year to provide Training and Education to improve our already great customer support center and to provide an opportunity for new users to maximize their profitability from Mutoh Equipment.
Mark was the driving factor for the creation of these blogs, and you can expect to see much more from Mark and Mutoh in the future to give you more insight into Mutoh and the applications supported by Mutoh printing technologies.
If you are a Flexi user and want to know the ins and outs of Flexi, or want to be a Flexi user check out Marks Flexi Training from Mutoh (https://www.mutoh.com/company/events/)
On the same Events page check out the Trade Shows for an opportunity to see Mark in person.
Just don’t let him see you walking past the booth and not checking out what Mutoh has to offer….he still has that arresting personality.
Read MoreNew Stuff in Latest Windows 10 Update April 2018
Get Windows 10 Update
Microsoft is ready to release Windows 10’s “April 2018 Update.” It was originally going to be called the “Spring Creators Update” and was codenamed “Redstone 4.” This is Windows 10 version “1803”, and it launches today, April 30, 2018.
You can download the April 2018 Update today, even if Microsoft isn’t providing it to you via Windows Update yet.
This is a very “new feature” filled update and some improvements to Windows 10. I have not tested it with FlexiSIGN & Print 12 yet, but will this week and next.
A great link to all the stuff they changed or added is here: https://www.howtogeek.com/340688/whats-coming-in-windows-10s-redstone-4-update-available-march-2018/
Here are a few of the Update Features
Timeline Shows a List of Activities From All Your Devices
This is an update to the task view, you know Windows +Tab, the key combination you use to switch between apps? Now it not only allows you to do that but also can track all the tasks or programs you’ve used over a period so you can easily go back to that task.
When you click the “Task View” button on your taskbar or press Windows+Tab, you’ll see activities from “Earlier Today” as well as previous days below your currently open application. This might include web pages you had open in Microsoft Edge, articles you were reading in the News app, documents you were working on in Microsoft Word, and places you were viewing in the Maps app.
Better watch what you look at, I’d say if someone wants to know what you did late last night, it just might show up here!
“Nearby Sharing” Brings Easy Wireless File Sharing
This is a new feature similar to airdrop. It will allow nearby users to share files, pictures etc wirelessly using Bluetooth connections. Could be useful for sharing those iPhone pictures to your computer for use in FlexiSIGN and Print, I’ll have to try it.
Quick Pairing for Bluetooth Devices
A “quick pair” feature that will make it easier to pair Bluetooth devices with your PC is arriving in this update. Just place a Bluetooth device in pairing mode near your PC and you’ll see a notification asking you to pair it, so you won’t even have to open the Settings app and navigate to Bluetooth settings.
There are lots more….lots, but more importantly, let’s see if this new Windows update messes with our printers and software. Check back for comments as I find them.
Read MoreHandling Rigid Media the Right Way for Better Printing
by Ken Parsley, Product Applications Engineer – MUTOH AMERICA INC
Store Rigid Media Properly to Avoid Expensive Head Strikes
Many people new to rigid media printing struggle with storing the material properly. Sometimes it’s because they lack the proper storage space or simply don’t understand the importance of storing the media properly.
Media is part of the wide format printing system (printer, ink, and media). If media is warped or damaged it can greatly reduce the quality of the output and potentially damage printer components. When I’m asked about printing on damaged or warped media I always ask the end user if printing on that piece of media is worth the risk of damaging the print heads? The print heads are usually the most expensive part of the printer to replace not to minimize the fact that your printer will be down for a few days at a minimum so there can also be a great loss of income.
Tips on Storing Rigid Media
How do we make sure our media is in the best printing condition possible? Let me share a few tips that have served me well.
- First, we want to inspect new media when we receive it from our supplier. If you are paying for new media it should arrive in new pristine condition. If it is not in perfect condition you should contact your supplier ask them to replace the media. They want your business so, believe me, they will replace it for you.
2. Once we know the media is in good condition upon arrival we need to store it flat so that it can stay in that condition. Carefully remove the board if it is packaged. Then place it on a shelf that allows it to be flat but accessible. Below is an example of rigid board stored on a shelf.
3. Ideally, we should store the media in a clean climate controlled environment. Yep, not out in the 100 degree, humid warehouse! Treat your media like gold, because its part of the final product you’ll provide to your customer. Check with your supplier for information about specific conditions like temperature control and humidity.
4. Storing the media in an upright position will allow the media to bend or warp and in many cases will not return to its original condition even if it is later stored flat. Don’t lean the media against a wall, it won’t take long to warp. Storing it flat will take more room, sure, but the damaged or warped board won’t be worth anything.
5. Flat clean media is necessary to produce high-quality efficient output. By clean I mean no dust or grime or fingerprints etc. Handle the media with care but also make sure its stored away from dusty areas.
6. Okay, let me get a bit technical here; with most rigid boards it is possible to set the printer head height high enough to avoid head strikes but this will result in printing on multiple planes making bi-directional printing impossible. This is because the electronic bi-directional head alignments can only be adjusted for a single printing plane. So the best way to get quality results in this situation is to print uni-directional and slow the carriage speed to allow for the most accurate dot placement. Yep, I said slow down for better printing.
7. If the media is not clean it will affect the adhesion properties of the ink on the media. Again let me stress that it is necessary to assure a clean printing surface. The inks that are placed on the surface of these rigid boards must bond or adhere properly to the board or they can release causing visual irregularities or other more serious issues like peeling.
Proper Storage of Rigid Media to Avoid Costly Repairs
Most shops know that the printer condition is important so they take care to maintain it properly and keep it in good working order. They are also aware of problems that can arise from using bad or outdated ink. The media does not usually garner the same diligence or care, but it should because it is part of every printing system and is equally important to successful results!
What do you do to store your rigid boards properly? Got any other tips you want to share with others? If so, use the comment section below, we’d love to read your comments.
Read MoreShockingly Clean – The Static Battle
Shockingly Clean – The Static Battle
by Chris Padilla, Product Manager, Eco-Solvent MUTOH
Every printer out in the world needs electricity to run otherwise they would all just be very expensive
paperweights but what about the unwanted electricity that some of us don’t even know is being put into our machines? What do I mean you ask? Have you ever grabbed a roll or piece of material that has felt like it has made every single hair on your arm stand up? If you are like me and you have, then I’m sure you know that static is to blame for this.
Static can cause all kinds of unwanted issues on your machine such as print anomalies, importing excessive debris into the machine or even electrical failures. Keeping your machine free and clear of static can save you the headache of having those kinds of problems.
(Bottom of the print head when static is present on material)
Some helpful tips to prevent static in your work area are:
- Use static removal products to remove static off of the material before it goes into the machine. Here at Mutoh https://www.mutoh.com/ we use Staticide https://www.aclstaticide.com/ but there are many other options out there.
- Keep a controlled humidity environment where the printer is located. Less humidity in the air can cause an excess of static.
- If possible keep your machine on a hard surface floor. Carpet flooring can generate static when you are walking across it. Hard surface flooring can reduce the amount of static when walking around.
- Install an antistatic ionizing bar on your machine. Though Mutoh does not sell any antistatic ionizing bar’s, they are very effective at eliminating static and can be sourced from many manufacturers.
We should all always be on the lookout for preventative maintenance to keep our investments running. Following these simple tips can greatly reduce the risk of the side effects of static and help keep your Mutoh machine running clean and efficient for many years to come so jump on the bandwagon of keeping your equipment shockingly clean.
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Industry Leaders – Rick Hatton, Randy Anderson & Butch Anton at ISA 2018
Randy Anderson Meets with Industry Leaders at ISA 2018
I thought I’d share some things about the industry leaders I met at ISA 2018.
I wrote about Rick Hatton from Banner Ups on my blog – https://www.thinkmutoh.com/light-up-your-life-your-artwork-and-your-brand/?v=e748b7c8fd06
Rick introduced me to Keder Tape, an adhesive silicon strip for SEG frames.
So at ISA I went over to finally meet Rick and others from Banner Ups (https://bannerups.com/), and who do you think I saw working the Banner Ups ISA booth? (https://www.signs.org/isasignexpo) Butch “Superfrog” Anton (http://www.superfrog.com/).
Butch was the first sign artist that I had met and talked with, and I don’t remember which show it was, but I remembered Butch. It has been more than a decade, but his insight and advice changed the way I looked at signs. I had always been under the impression that signage was strictly informative.
My Transformation
Being a tech guy, for me signs told me what I needed to know, but being a wannabe artist, what Butch was talking about captured my interest. Butch was displaying at the show, but mostly he was talking about what he knew – signage. Patient and understanding, I bet we talked for half an hour, I was fascinated by what he was telling me. Butch was telling me about ‘Branding’ long before I remember hearing the term in the industry. Butch explained that signage’s effective role was about not only transferring information but by capturing and creating an ‘image’ that reflects the goals behind the sign and produces an emotion that reinforces that image.
I am sure that those weren’t his exact words and I hope I am accurate enough in conveying his message.
In any case, I recommend that you reach out to Butch and Rick and take advantage of their skill sets and sage advice to improve your business and signage.
MUTOH Can Help
Here at MUTOH, I bring with me those same ideas and I am happy to report that my professional colleagues also have the same thinking about being creative in messaging. Working with MUTOH printers is also great because they have features that fit that same philosophy about creativity. When you use a MTUOH printer, you don’t have to worry about the hardware and can focus on creativity and communication, the foundation of a good sign.
Want more info about MUTOH printers?
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