my ink pad ((blog of rob jelinski studios))

★ 5Qs with Paradzai Jawona

2011-03-07T18:35:00.000-08:00

Rob: I have never had the opportunity to interview a marketing and branding specialist before on 5Qs, so today it is my extreme pleasure to introduce to you Paradzai Jawona. Paradzai Jawona locally known as PJ, brings to the table years of expertise and an in depth understanding of global marketing. Please help me welcome him to the 5Qs!

Q1: Good Afternoon PJ. Can you tell me a little about yourself?

PJ: My name is Paradzai Jawona, I was born and raised in a small Southern African country called Zimbabwe, where I was raised, attended school, and completed part of my college education. I have often surprised people by my perspective on life which is often considered extraordinary. I however, think this is one of my greatest strengths as a marketer because I am able to present ideas and concepts in very unique and interesting ways. I consider myself an all around marketer who is interested in the development of concepts. I have worked in marketing research, advertising, and also in the development of brands. My perfect day is when I can sit in the sunshine and read a good book.

Rob: I do think you have a very unique perspective on marketing. Because you traveled from Africa to the USA and have worked in marketing in both countries, you can see the bigger picture and the details who others that don't have your background may be oblivious to.

Q2: When did you first realize that you wanted to work with marketing and branding?

PJ: Oddly, I got into the field of marketing by accident. There used to be a 1990's TV series called Falcon Crest. The show had a character played by Gregory Harrison named Michael Sharpe. Each time he made a sale he used to be so excited about it, and as a young boy I was fascinated by how he would cleverly close a sale. So I was first interested in sales rather than marketing, and I worked in sales for about a year before I switched careers. I made the switch because I found the marketing process more interesting especially creating brands. It is a challenge to create a successful brand.

Rob: That's very interesting.

Q3: What do you feel is your strongest asset?

PJ: My background in research and sales helps me to have a clear perspective of what the expectations of the target market is. Often marketers fall in love with their ideas that seem brilliant on paper, but fail to achieve intended goals because they lack understanding about the target market's mindset.

Rob: PJ, it's so true. I have definitely fallen in love with some of my ideas. They have seemed so great and yet produced such poor results. Because my target audience had no connection with my ideas, they didn't move my audience like they moved me, and as a result, were useless.

Q4: How does the process of branding differ between Africa and America?

PJ: The way different markets consume different products and services, also determines the branding process. What is key is understanding the social classifications and the differences in cultural and traditional aspects and what the need is. In America the diffusion of concepts is done through a very advanced communications infrastructure, and the main challenge in Africa is that the media is not as developed as in America. However, this can be considered as an excellent opportunity to introduce new products and actually go through all the stages of the branding process from something as basic as formulating a name for a product.

Rob: Again it's all about knowing who you are marketing to and knowing how to visually communicate your brand in a way that can be understood by all.

Q5: What is one easy way every entrepreneur can market better?

PJ: The simplest way to market a product is by offering a good service or product that exceeds the expectations of customers. Soon people will start talking and the business will benefit through word of mouth.

Rob: I have always tried to be upfront and honest in my business. If I can't do the project right, I will tell my client, that I can't. If I think I can get the job done in 2 days, I will tell them 3, so when my client receives a proof on the 2nd day, they are excited! Procedures such as these always give me tons of referrals.

PJ is currently a part of the wonderful staff at Rising Tide Capital, where they are "Transforming Lives and Communities through Entrepreneurship™."

You can click here to visit Rising Tide's Website or follow them on FaceBook and Twitter!

Keep clicking RobJelinski.com and My Ink Pad for more 5Qs: Interviews with the Best in the Industry.

★ RJS Marketing Cheat Sheet

2011-02-21T06:38:00.000-08:00

Recently, Rising Tide Capital, one of CNN's "HEROES," contacted me with the invitation to coach some of their up-and-coming entrepreneurs. I was delighted at the opportunity to invest into my local community. After carefully sifting through strategies and tactics I have learned from studying rock-star companies like Apple®, MTV™, Timberland®, and StarBucks Coffee®, and from my own eight years of personal experience, I wrote the "Marketing Cheat Sheet" booklet.

This simple guide will teach you how to firmly establish your company's identity and personality by using design, branding, and marketing to create a consistent and memorable impression on your target audience.

Click here to read through these helpful tips today, absolutely FREE!

Please note that you need Adobe® Reader to view this booklet. Click Here to download Adobe® Reader. Control-Click or Right-Click the link to download the pdf file to your computer for future reference.

★ Inspiring Young Minds

2010-12-06T06:37:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of visiting the Art Department of Technology High School in Newark, New Jersey and speaking with one of the Art teachers, Ms. Davis. From the moment I started speaking with Ms. Davis, I was impressed by her love for her profession. Since I generally deal with designers or printers on a commercial level, it was refreshing to see someone that loved the traditional side of art. Above, is a stock print of an American Flag that her class laminated, dissected into little pieces, and then reassembled using tiny metal rings. Besides teaching her students that art consists of creativity, hard work, and precision, she has also imparted that even familiar things can become beautiful in the right hands. Notice the beautiful mosaic effect the piece now has and the motion of the flag blowing in the wind that is captured! Great job Ms. Davis and Technology High Students!

★ 5Qs with Radim Malinic

2010-10-11T08:52:00.000-07:00

Rob: Today I have the extreme pleasure of chatting with a man who is globally known for his unique concepts, vibrant use of color, and award winning style, today I welcome Radim Malinic to 5Qs!

Q1: Hello Radim. Can you tell me a little about yourself?

Radim: On an average day you’d find me tapping into my Wacom tablet, listening to loud music of pretty much every genre, being sarcastic, happy giving advice to people who ask for help and generally smiling all day. Though technically I work as a freelance art director, commercial illustrator and print designer. I’ve been full time freelance since Spring 2007 and I can proudly say I have been having a lot of fun working on some amazing campaigns during that time. My commissions have been very different and provided me with generous scope to experiment with various media and platforms. My up to date portfolio can be found at www.brandnu.co.uk

Rob: I am such a big fan! I came across your Book of Colours when it first came out in a design magazine and have been hooked ever since. You have been contracted by so many awesome companies!

Q2: When did you first realize that you wanted to do this?

Radim: I wish I could put a finger on that moment that made me realise that I could be creative and get paid for it too. I believe in happy accidents and getting into design could be counted as one of them. As a teenager I was fascinated with all then new graphics applications but only had a little play back then. I wanted to do music and decided to spend next few years playing in a band and then djing, traveling and generally not thinking about what I’d like to be or do. Then when I was almost in my mid twenties, I’d pick up the basics that I learned almost a decade ago. I was fascinated how far graphic design and computer graphics have moved on and I wanted to know everything about it. I guess the moment when I realized I wanted to be a designer, it was when I got my first job as a junior designer and I never looked back ever since.

Rob: Creativity always seems to start with curiosity and fascination.

Q3: What do you feel is your strongest asset?

Radim: I’d like to think it is the diversity of my art direction and work itself. I was lucky not to struggle in the economic down turn, due to a fact that I can be approached with a lot of different projects. My signature style plays a key part in new commissions but overall the end result is always something new. I’m primarily working in CMYK for print, which still accounts for 85% of my overall output but in the recent years I’ve been increasingly working for web and interactive tools. I don’t follow templates, I don’t follow formats therefore I can always produce something that doesn’t look out of the box.

Rob: That's great to hear you say that print is still 85% of your work. A lot of the work in our industry has seemed to migrate to screens, but I too have found that designers who can produce high quality work will still be sought after now matter what state the economy is in!

Q4: What would you like to be known for?

Radim: I’d like to think I’ve been very generous with help towards anyone who approached me for advise or help at some point of their and mine career. I’m rather plain speaking person and I do hate when people try to cheat their way in the front of you. Creative industry is full of people who’d like to achieve celebrity rockstar status but don’t really have the talent to back it with. I had never thought I would be making pretty pictures for living and I never thought I would be making them for some of the biggest companies in the world. It was never my plan and for that reason I think it worked out. I would like to be known for putting smile on people's faces.

Rob: Radim, you are a "rock star" of design and yet you responded to my interview request. I think I'm still surprised, lol.

Q5: What was your most successful moment?

Radim: If I was only allowed to pick one moment, I’d pick the day when I realized I could quit my day job and be full time freelancer. There have been many successful campaigns, amazing illustration jobs and the press coverage ever since, but none of it would be possible if I was still working in the environment that wasn’t as fun to work at. I believe one can only produce work of the best quality, if they work for themselves and put their time and passion into creating it. If you were to look at the majority of amazing work produced now and very recently, you can spot the majority of that chunk would be done by individual artists. They can be left to their own devices to experiment with new styles and techniques as they don’t feel under pressure to obey companies corporate guidelines and rules.

Rob: Words to live by and a great note to end on!

Brand Nu, it has been such a delight to have you with us today. Please make sure you to view all of Radim's work on www.BrandNu.co.uk especially this promo vid for Book Three, Central St Martins, and this campaign illustration for Fuze. Follow Radim on Twitter for all the @Brand_Nu News!

Keep clicking RobJelinski.com and My Ink Pad for more 5Qs: Interviews with the Best in the Industry.

★ My Stop Motion Fetish

2010-08-02T08:44:00.000-07:00

To jump start my week a classy designer I know, my very good friend, Oscar Furtado sent me a link to a video called The Pen Story. This amazing display of creative genius, utilizing over 60,000 pictures, animates a story of a life with my new fave technique, Stop Motion, left me speechless.

Needless to say, after watching this vid I had to watch the second production entitled Pen Giant (pictured above) where Olympus cameras contracted the source of their inspiration forThe Pen Story, 26 year old director, Takeuchi Taijin.

Click Here to visit the set and learn more about this wonderful project.

★ Spot Light on Invisible Creature

2010-07-21T10:08:00.000-07:00

InvisibleCreature.com is nifty little showcase of creativity put to good use. With 4 Grammy nominations for music packaging and a client list of heavy-hitters such as: Target, Nike, New York Times, Interscope, Sony, MTV, Nickelodeon, etc. they are their own creative community.

My personal IC Favs include: the Pedal Punk Poster, Spin the Stork Game, the T-Shirt design for Grain Edit , Ivoryline's "There Came a Lion" packaging and the grand finale- Hawk Nelson "...Is My Friend" packaging which unfolds into a candyland looking game!

Hurry and surf their site and tell the world which IC masterpieces are your favs!

★ Spot Light on Patrick Boivin

2010-07-02T09:51:00.000-07:00

The other day I stumbled upon a Tweet that contained a stop motion video by Patrick Boivin. Patrick Boivin is the super genius behind stop motion animation pieces such as AT-AT day afternoon, Black Ox Skateboard, Iron Man vs. Bruce Lee, and the below, which is my favorite Jackson vs. Bean.

Even though Patrick is Amazing at directing, writing scripts, and the art of stop motion animation, he has also produced masterpieces in the categories of short films, music videos, and even some interactive games. Click here to see more of his work and intellect on YouTube and Vimeo.

★ 2010 Struggling Musicians' Sale

2010-06-03T09:39:00.001-07:00

★ Spot Light on Youth Explosion

2010-06-02T15:37:00.000-07:00

AMAZING!!! Amazing Concept, Amazing Talent, Amazing Ministry, that is what Youth Explosion means to me.

Hit play to experience a flutter of memories from Youth Explosion's last year. In only 5 minutes, Wolf Soto warps you directly into YE's memory bank, musically orchestrated by urban composer, Dave Rodriguez. It takes a lot of hard work, killer creativity, and flawless execution to create a media experience this vivid and I applaud you guys. Keep pushing out that stellar work and keep putting Christ on display!

To my readers, If you heart "a year in 5 minutes" Trend it (#YEyearin5) and follow the brilliant minds behind it (@FlavahDave | @WolfSoto) on Twitter. Also click YouthExplosion.com to learn more about YE.

★ Garden of Eden Gourmet Market Illustration

2010-05-20T02:00:00.000-07:00

Recently, I came across a disc in my studio catalogs entitled "Garden of Eden Logo Comps." Back when I was the Art Director at Met Speed Label, one of the partners came in my office and said that his client, Eden Gourmet, needed some labels done for their fresh produce. Pointing to a basic drawing of a red apple which was their current logo, he said, "Now they want exactly what they have now, but be creative and give them some options. This company is a huge chain in the city and I know you can give them something better." The above image is what I came up with and my good friend, Oscar Furtado came up with some killer comps too!

Obviously, Eden Gourmet never ended up using any of our logos, but imagine if they would have. Then this store front in Union Square (seen below) and all the Eden Gourmet stores around the Tri-State Area would proudly display mine or Oscar's original creation.

★ 5Qs with Heidi Jimenez

2010-05-17T07:07:00.000-07:00

Rob: The other day I visited a cute little website called "Oh So Beautiful Paper" where I came across the marvelous creations of Heidi Jimenez, founder of Zenadia Design. The blog post highlighted some of her recent work on Retro Carnival style wedding invitations. The mixture may seem a bit odd if you just saw that description on a notepad, but you have to see the invitations. They truly are a modern work of art!

Needless to say, when I saw Heidi's genius, I just had to ask her the 5Qs. I guarantee you will be inspired after seeing her work and hearing her story. I hope you enjoy the interview.

Q1: Good Morning Heidi. Can you tell me a little about yourself?

Heidi: I'm a couture invitation designer for my company Zenadia Design (www.zenadiadesign.com). I love paper, typography, fabrics and textiles. I'm inspired by nature, history, Europe, fashion and vintage style. I love old movies, the color red, my family and ballet.

Rob: It's an honor to interview you today. I love your style and innovation. Your work is so much more then just beautiful invitations, response cards, and envelopes; they truly are one-of-a-kind mementos that should be framed or placed in a display case in the home of every one of your clients.

Q2: When did you first realize that you wanted to do this?

Heidi: I took graphic design in high school and college, and I always wanted to work for a magazine designing layouts but didn't want to live in a big city. When I was married in 2003, being a graphic designer, I decided to design my own wedding invitations. I loved that invitations combined my love for typography and layout design so I decided this was what I wanted to do with my life. The wedding industry is really a special industry to be in, and I feel so honored that I am able to help create each clients invitations for this special day in their lives.

Rob: The wedding Industry is very special and should be tailored to each individual.

Q3: What do you feel is your strongest asset?

Heidi: I think probably my ability to incorporate materials other than paper into invitation suites. I love creating invitations with texture and depth. I also try to really get to know each client so I can create something personal and unique for them, so I would say being a people person is a good asset, especially in the wedding industry.

Rob: Too true. How can you create a suiting invitation for each client without ever getting to know your client's personality lol? It would never work.

Q4: What would you like to be known for?

Heidi: I'd like to be known for my designs, of course, and my ability to incorporate different materials into my designs that's not overdone. Also, being fun to work with and easy to talk to.

Rob: I think you have accomplished that already Heidi and from your recent press on Junebug Weddings and Nonpareil Magazine, I would say that other professionals in your industry would agree with me!

Q5: In the work showcased on your site, what was your favorite project? Why?

Heidi: So difficult to pick one favorite! I really enjoyed working on Tara and Justin's invitations. They had such great style and were really fun to work with. Jessica and Matthew's carnival invitation was also a really fun one for me to create. Their invitation was a style I had yet to work with so that one was a fun challenge.

Rob: I love Jessica and Matthew's invitations, but my FAVORITE is Tara & Justin's! (The Whole WORLD has to see this Piece!) I am BLOWN AWAY by the Save the Date ALONE! Zenadia, keep creating History one celebration at a time!

Make sure you click ZenadiaDesign.com, Follow Heidi's musings on Twitter and her current news on FaceBook!

Keep clicking RobJelinski.com and My Ink Pad for more 5Qs: Interviews with the Best in the Industry.

★ TAOS Trade Show Graphics

2010-05-13T09:21:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard the saying "Your gifting will make a way for you?" Recently, I found this saying to be true when I landed an account with one of my newest clients, the Technical Art Of Science or TAOS. When TAOS' president, Alicia Miletic saw the motion graphics I did for Soul Purpose ym's the Première, she was so impressed that she contacted me soon after to set up a meeting to discuss a few projects for Suppliers' Day, an upcoming trade show at the Raritan Center. The projects I completed for the show included: a Motion Graphics presentation of TAOS and their 5 domestic and international clients which was displayed dead-center in the middle of their booth, 2 beautiful 52" full color pub table tops, circle diecut memo pads and brochures, and 3 display ads that looped with other companies on flat and oversized projector screens throughout the show on the "In-Show network." It was my extreme pleasure to work with TAOS on these projects! They present themselves so wonderfully and it is clear that they are truly dedicated to Natural & Exceptional Beauty! Enjoy the pictures from the show.

To find out more about TAOS, their products, partners, capabilities and services click TAOSINC.INFO.

Technical Art Of Science's BEAUTIFUL 20 Foot Space

Gorgeous!

The Big Picture

Motion Graphics on Display

Close up of the 52" Full Color Pub Table Tops

I also Designed the Diecut Memo Pad

Screen Ads displayed on Flat & Oversized Projector Screens

Screen Ad No. 2

Screen Ad No. 3

★ Spot Light on Bryan Katzel

2010-04-22T09:19:00.000-07:00

I have never highlighted an artist on my blog after only seeing just one piece of their work, but when I came across a site entitled WeBleedDesign.com I was astounded by the clever ingenuity of Bryan Katzel. The site header has a door with paint dripping down a few steps which looks cool, but was a little too simple for my taste. But as I scrolled down the page I noticed that the paint drips scroll with you as you travel through a cool little world of video-game-type illustrations. IT'S JUST SO COOL!!! I must have scrolled this site up and down 50 times to take in all the fine detail and ways the drips seem to morph before they flow into a pool of paint at the bottom of the page. The site doesn't use trendy animations and sounds or all the other bells and whistles that so many times deems a site to be amazing, it just uses a little elbow grease and some good old fashion creativity!

Bryan's whole marketing scheme called "we bleed design" is potent and seamless. You have to check out his business card in the print section and peep his merch at the bottom. Bryan, we can all see that design is in your bloodline and we tip our hats to you! Keep up the good work.

★ Your Creativity is the Limit

2010-04-12T09:04:00.000-07:00

About 6 months ago I designed my Creative at Heart greeting card to give out to my past, present, and future clients. While the cards came with a standard, free envelope, I didn't feel that they added to the content held inside, so I ended up buying colored euro flap envelopes that I finished with a kraft paper wrap that said "BE ★ CREATIVE AT HEART".

Recently, I found all those plain white envelopes and didn't want them to go to waste, so I designed custom rubber stamps to have a little fun personalizing them. The great thing about rubber stamps is that you can "print" the graphic on any paper in any ink color you want, however you want. On the Envelopes, I overlapped stamps to give a transparency effect, applied uneven pressure to give a distressed effect, and filled the pad with more than one color to give a gradient effect. With these fairly inexpensive stamps, I instantly upgraded these plain white envelopes and I can't wait to use them on other marketing pieces in the Future. Remember your Creativity is the Limit.

Creative At Heart ★ DuoTone Stamped Envelope

Creative At Heart ★ Asymmetrical Stamped Envelope

Rob Jelinski Studios ★ Destroy Stamped Envelope

★ One of the most unique companies ever born!

2010-04-05T23:39:00.000-07:00

The headline reads "AHHHHHHH!!! Time Is Running Out!!! 3 Nails Bobber Giveaway Ends June 5th!"

Back in September of last year, I was commissioned by the Three Nails Motorcycle Union to develop their line of merchandise and to create their marketing and signage. I even had the pleasure of designing vinyl and cast-metal logos to accessorize their steel steeds as seen in the photo above!

I LOVE working with Three Nails! They are a Not For Profit Company worked by volunteers, yet such focus and precision goes into every detail of their work. It's quite amazing, and even more amazing is the mission that drives their work. Three Nails was created exclusively to raise funds to keep the Renovation House- Substance Abuse Program alive. These men believe in something. They believe that even banged up addicts can shine like new if they just have the right polish. They also believe that if they polish their bikes and merch with that vintage sheen we all love, Renovation House will be able to help restore millions of lives everywhere.

Support the dream by making a donation, purchasing some road wear, becoming a fan on FaceBook, or Trending on Twitter (#3NailsMU).

*A donation of $25.00 or more will make you eligible to own the Bobbed Out Beauty below.

★ Spot Light on Caleb Kimbrough

2010-03-30T08:09:00.000-07:00

If you have never heard of the Texture kingpin, Caleb Kimbrough, you should click LostandTaken.com and dive into his beautiful high-res images that will multiply your designs instantly, free of charge! Caleb is a freelance photographer, web designer, and blogger who understands the struggle of artists such as myself and decided to give the creative community a helping hand by creating a hub of free high-res textures called Lost and Taken. As you can see from my spot light post images, I LOVE his textures! I use his set of "5 Colored Grungy Bokeh Textures." Caleb has already been widely recognized for his talent and one day every designer will know the name Caleb Kimbrough and LostandTaken.com.

★ Spot Light on David Ellis

2010-03-14T20:13:00.000-07:00

When Artists stand out even amongst the most creative, I call them geniuses! Allow me to introduce my new spot light section that will highlight the brilliant minds of our time.

Today, I present to you the work of David Ellis. My attention was drawn to him when a fellow designer tweeted a link of a collaborative animation he did with Blu on vimeo. After I picked my jaw up from the floor, I clicked on davidellis.org and viewed more of his work. All of his work is inspiring, but these are a few of my Favs: Granny (Installation), Orchestrion (Installation), Speakers Catfish (Painting), and It's Yours (Painting).

★ Maternity Photo Shoot

2010-03-08T11:30:00.000-08:00

Preparing to have a first baby is a very surreal and beautiful time in the life of a couple. With each new fact you learn about the development of your little one and every stirring you feel the baby make in the womb, your breath is taken away. Maternity Photos attempt to help you savour those precious moments for a lifetime. Choosing the right photographer for this occasion is nothing short of a huge task, but when all is said and done, everyone who views your maternity photos should find themselves in a similar state as you- in awe of the wonderful miracle that is taking place.

Many of you may be aware that my wife and I are currently expecting a baby boy. We knew we wanted to capture the unfolding of this journey with a professional maternity photographer. Our top choice was Sara Molnar-Urbano of John Molnar Photography. When you view our photos, we think you'll agree with others who have said, "Gorgeous Photos," "Beautiful, simply beautiful," "Oh my gosh- the little shoes," "Can't wait to meet him," and "Love this!" Hopefully you will call Sara Urbano to arrange a photo shoot for when it's your time to celebrate this priceless season.

All the Beautiful Curves of the Baby Bump

Baby Talk

Joy

A Dream Come True

Baby Shoes

The Nursery

The Blueprint

Timeless

Need to contact Sara Molnar-Urbano of John Molnar Photography?

Phone: (973) 444-8449

Email: Sara.JMolnarPhoto@Verizon.net

FaceBook: Sara Urbano

★ 5Qs with Valp | Maciej Hajnrich

2010-02-17T07:15:00.000-08:00

Rob: Recently I came across the work of a man who gives meaning to the design phrase "make it pop." Valp gives life to all the work he's commissioned to do and from the conversation I had with him off-the-record it sounds like his work is only growing stronger. Visit his showcase at www.valpnow.com to see the amazing work he did for My Chemical Romance, Duke Nukem, Pakarabanu DJ Team, and Copernicus Science Center. Also, be sure to click here to view his blog. I have book marked it to a post where his work was included in a design book entitled "Crossover Design" but, there is so much inspiration and info in other areas of the blog as well : ).

Now let's jump into my conversation with him.

Q1: Hi Valp, Tell me a little about yourself?

Valp: Hi Rob. I'm digital artist, graphic designer, illustrator, player, music fan, and movie watcher. Also, I love coffee with chocolate croissants.

Rob: I never had a chocolate croissant lol. I love the cafè pic btw and obviously from everything I just said in my opening, i'm crazy about the work you do.

Q2: When did you first realize that you wanted to do this?

Valp: About 10 years ago, I was (and still am) keen on new technology and used to experiment with software from Adobe. I spent a lot of time doing some simple graphics just for fun, but soon I realized it was my biggest passion. Exactly 7 years ago (Feb 2003) I set up my first online portfolio. Even then, I was pretty sure I want to focus on design and graphics.

Rob: That's the great thing about being an Artist- Artists are born, not trained. We only need training to express our creativity in the right medium.

Q3: What do you feel is your strongest asset?

Valp: Being able to learn new skills and gain experience in a self-taught process.

Rob: That is always the best answer anyone can give. As a creator, you can never become comfortable; you always have to reach a little higher and push limitations back.

Q4: What would you like to be known for?

Valp: An Experimental imagination player and trend setter, or something close to that : ). I want to be known as unique artist with extraordinary skills, for sure.

Rob: You are on your way Valp, you are on your way!

Q5: Why Valp Now?

Valp: Now is instant, present time which is always actual. From a wider perspective it means what I am doing (now) and where I am in my career.

Rob: I always love the answer to this question because it gives me and my readers a deeper understanding of who you are as an artist. Thanks for your time Valp! More 5Qs to come.

★ 5Qs with Fabien Barral

2010-02-02T15:18:00.000-08:00

Rob: From the moment you click fabienbarral.com you realize that you are not in Kansas anymore, but you have stepped through a portal and into another world. Fabien's style is recognized quickly by his sleek use of texture, ink elements, and clever typography. A few days ago I had the extreme pleasure of talking with this digital mastermind. Here is our conversation.

Q1: Tell me a little about yourself?

Fabien:So, I am Fabien Barral. I live in France, in a 100 year old

country house that I restored with my wife. We have a daughter

and 4 cats, we live near Lacs and Forest, and there are not even

enough houses in our village to have names for the streets. I love

to say that because I am happy to live here and still work on such

amazing projects from so far away.

I have been in the graphic design industry for 12 years, 8 of which I have been an art director in agencies and now I freelance from home. As Rob mentioned, you can see my work on www.fabienbarral.com and my blog of inspiration on www.graphic-exchange.com. I recently opened my very own online shop with Frédérique, my wife to sell wall stickers and posters www.harmonie-interieure.com.

Rob: Wow, I can't even imagine a village without streets lol. It really is amazing that you are still able to do the work you do. Maybe that's why you have such a unique style; you have different influences.

Q2: When did you first realize that you wanted to do this?

Fabien:School was not my cup of tea. I always felt stupid learning

things and I never cared about chemicals and stuff like that. At the end

of my regular school courses, there was a forum for unprepared young

people in which they presented professions. When I attended this

forum, I saw an amazing school where you can design magazines, CD

sleeves, etc. I thought to myself, that's a job? Good. I got into it and

realized that I loved it and it has never stopped. I know 12 years doesn't

seem like a long time ago, but believe it or not, 12 years ago, there was

basically no internet and photoshop didn't even have layers ;).

Rob: School wasn't really my cup of tea either. Wow, no layers in photoshop hahaha. I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE!

Q3: What do you feel is your strongest asset?

Fabien: That is really hard to say, but I will say this “Designing is basically the practice of combining stuff; ideally in ways that haven't been seen before. So the more stuff you know (about everything), the greater the chance you'll find a relevant and distinctive, and therefore effective (and original) combination.” I am good at combining stuff, so I guess that is my strongest asset.

Rob: Well said Fabien, It is all about finding the right elements and the right mix that fits your client.

Q4: What would you like to be known for?

Fabien: I would like to be known not by what I've done, but how my work inspires others to be good designers.

Rob: You will never know the extent you can impact others with your creativity, but I hope you get a glimpse of that.

Q5: What type of clientele do you enjoy working with the most?

Fabien: The ones that let you do what you are good at and trust you. (That really depends more on the person, then on the project) Sometimes I work on huge projects and have no communication with the clients at all. I designed a poster that stated “The best designers are the ones found by the good clients” and it is a saying I have come to

live by.

Rob: Thanks Fabien. This conversation has been very insightful! Keep reading My Ink Pad for more 5Qs.

★ Creative at Heart Card Layouts

2009-12-04T07:05:00.000-08:00

I love being a print designer! There is so much more to design then just putting elements together on a screen or throwing out some sick concepts to a client and getting it approved, there is a final product. And the quality of that final product shows your skill, technique, creativity, and ability to take a project from start to finish. Print design is tactile and the substrate's weight, texture, finish, and embellishments all play a part of conveying your message.

Below are 3 card layouts that I designed for my studio to hand out to clients, perspective clients, and anyone else who I wanted to leave a special impression on. The 3 very different designs pull together nicely as a set with elegant euro flap envelopes, quill penned quotes, and an eco friendly kraft paper wrap around to enhance the prestige.

I hope you enjoy : ).

Creative At Heart ★ Minimal Design

Creative At Heart ★ Urban Design

Creative At Heart ★ Cultural Design

★ 5Qs with Inka Mathew

2009-11-17T07:43:00.000-08:00

Rob: Today I was reading a blog on The New Yorker's site when suddenly my eyes locked onto their header. A classy man with elongated proportions, nose pointed upward, and an eye glass in hand stands on the left with the THE NEW YORKER title directly in front of him. As I sat there marveling at this wonderfully conceived concept, the faint flutter of a butterfly consumed my interest even more. Whoever designed this is not just a good designer, they are a great designer! They didn't just design a logo, they designed an Identity. They created a symbol that moves the viewer into the world they skillfully created. When I came across the work of Inka Mathew, I realized that she is one of the great designers. With skill and purpose, she creates designs that will inspire you over and over. Today I had the pleasure of interviewing her.

Q1: Tell me a little about yourself?

Inka: My name is Inka Mathew, a freelance graphic designer. I'm originally from Indonesia. I live in Sugar Land, Texas (near Houston). Before that, I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for about 10 years. I've been designing for about 12 years now. I love graphic design, especially logos and branding. My background is print design, but now I do web design as well. My company is Green Ink Studio (www.greeninkstudio.com). I also have a small logo collection for sale at Brandstack.com (http://brandstack.com/users/profile/GreenInkStudio)

Rob: I can't decide if I love your identity or packaging work more! The Tino Vino, Michael Bautista, Red Bike, and Tiny Bird identities are all masterpieces. But then I remember the Peppermint Chocolate Swirl Marshmallow Packaging design and I am torn! Then, when you throw in the packaging you did for the Shrek products, it makes the decision even more difficult. I think I'll just say that your work is beautiful! Besides that you do custom invitations as well! So talented.

Q2: When did you first realize that you wanted to do this?

Inka: I loved drawing since I was young. I wanted to be an architect since I thought that's the only profession that would allow me to draw. I was doing really bad at perspective drawing, and figured there's no way I could be an architect! Only much later on around the end of high school I heard about Graphic Design and thought to myself that this is exactly what I want to do! I also found out that the US had really good schools for that field. So I braved myself, and I flew to the US to study what I loved. I went to Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia. Awesome school. They gave me really good grounds for my love of identity design.

Rob: This is what I love about interviews-hearing the stories behind the work and in this case, the stories behind the artist. That's great.

Q3: What do you feel is your strongest asset?

Inka: I listen. I also pay attention to the psychology/mental aspect of a client or a company. Who are they really? And how can I bring out their best and present it in a brand identity? At the end of the day, your design is to help your client evoke emotions from their customers, to help their customers feel that they can trust your client, and feel confident in their product and services. Branding is a part of marketing, and a good brand identity is supposed to shout out the best of your client and what they can be to their customers. My job is to design based on that thinking.

Rob: Inka, you do a fine job in helping your clients present themselves in a memorable way.

Q4: What would you like to be known for?

Inka: I'd like to be known as a good graphic designer, especially in doing what I love, identity design. I'm saying good, not great, because to me great should always be an aim. I always believe, that no matter how good you are in what you do, there is ALWAYS someone else who is much better than you. That way, I'll always be open to keep learning, and push to be better than I was before. The journey should never end. You shouldn't think that you're "there" because that's your dead end if you think that.

Rob: Fine. You are only a good designer. I'm just kidding. You are right. The journey should never end. When I look at some of your designs, I think, I can learn a lot from her work and hopefully someone out there can learn something from my work. I may not be the best, but everyday, like you, I aim to be the best and because of that I become stronger in my craft.

Q5: Why Green Ink?

Inka: Well, green is my favorite color of all time. You should see my closet when I was young. I used to go to church wearing green from top to bottom! I used to get looks from people, and not in a complementing way, ha ha! So I have to have "Green" in my company's name. "Ink" is a short version of my name, but also to indicate my background as a print designer - you do printing with ink :-).

Rob: I love your thought process. I am honored to chat with you today and I am thankful for the knowledge I have learned from it. That's all for today, but follow my blog or click the RSS feed for more 5Qs with the Best in the Industry!

★ Innovative isn't the Word!

2009-11-17T05:38:00.000-08:00

Recently, one of my friends on Twitter retweeted this link and after viewing it, I found myself floored by the imagination that created this genius use of sound and technology! The intellectual giant's name is Darren Solomon and I suggest you click here to step into the musical world that he has created; a world of various sights and sounds that you can play individually or together to make a fascinating arrangement similar to one that you would hear on secret agent radio. Personally, I love playing all the vids together, but mix and match as you like.

★ November's design freebie

2009-11-02T17:49:00.000-08:00

This month's freebie is a Design Pack of NYC. The hybrid mixture of Raster and Vector Art will give you the flexibility you need to make it your own. Click here to download the zipped folder or here to visit RobJelinski.com. If you find this freebie useful, show some love, retweet, or post a link to it.

★ 5Qs with Michael Clayton

2009-10-21T13:50:00.000-07:00

Rob: I love the Internet because it enables you to connect with people all around the world. That is how I discovered Michael Clayton. Michael Clayton is a unique designer from Scotland. Tonight I had the opportunity to find out a little bit more about him and his work.

Q1: Tell me a little about yourself?

Michael: Hey there, my name's Michael Clayton, I'm 27 and I'm a designer (and soon-to-be blogger) from Scotland in the UK. At present, I work both full-time as lead designer for a local design studio and independently under the name End of Generic. I love typography, music and analogue photography and I'm getting married in June! You can see some of my recent work at www.endofgeneric.com and follow me at twitter.com/endofgeneric.

Rob: Congrats on your engagement man. Marriage is great! To all my readers, you have to check out his work. I love the Allan McKinlay piece you did and my fave is the Executive Rockstar Logo. ; )

Q2: When did you first realize that you wanted to do this?

Michael: Prior to being a designer, my creative outlet was playing in bands. I've been playing guitar and/or singing in bands since I was 17 and I got a lot out of that, good times. Whenever we would release a demo or when Myspace first came on the scene (man, I feel old!) I would design the CD covers and logos for them and realised I really loved that whole process. At the time, I was studying Music and Audio Technology and after I graduated I went straight into a Graphic Design course where I achieved my Diploma. I've been loving designing in it's various forms ever since, and learning every day.

Rob: It's funny how creativity kicks down your door when you least expect it.

Q3: What do you feel is your strongest asset?

Michael: I really enjoy logo design and branding, this is where I feel my strengths lie. Although saying that, I do such varied work for both print and web, that it's hard to pinpoint a niche area. I've only recently begun my journey into web development and I'm thoroughly enjoying learning more in this area, even coding, which I never thought I would do! Funnily enough, my most recent independent work has been web design so we'll see how that goes.

Rob: You can see that you love identity and branding. Personally, I love marketing campaigns. I love designing all the different pieces and how expressive it can be individually and as a whole.

Q4: What would you like to be known for?

Michael: I guess being great at what I do, being honest and transparent and willing to help others in any way I can. I fully believe that we 'reap what we sow' and enjoy giving away knowledge as much, maybe even more than, as I enjoy receiving it.

Rob: That is every designer's dream, and it should be. Only the strong survive in this market and we all need to reach for the stars and bring our best to every gig.

Q5: What is your favorite creative hobby?

Michael: Creativity covers such a broad spectrum of things and it's built into everyone in some way or another, but as far as hobbies go I love a bit of shoot-from-the-hip photography and have a collection of Lomography cameras like my Holga. I just love the look and feel of analogue photography with all its lo-fi, grainy quirks. Gotta love light leaks :)

Rob: That's so cool. I don't know anything about analogue, but it sounds like fun. I always love chatting with some of the best in the industry. More 5Qs to come.

★ Good Morning Inspiration

2009-10-16T06:57:00.000-07:00

Generally people love my work, (some hate it too, but this is my ink pad so we won't focus on my haters) and they wonder what sparks an idea in my head or how am I able to create what they envision? I answer these questions by saying inspiration. God is my first inspiration and the second is my beautiful wife, Gina. Gina always believes in me and has always taken time over the years to tell me keep going, one day you're gonna reach the stars! When I hear her voice, see her smile, or look at the gleam in her eyes, I feel like I can do anything. I feel like Biggie must have felt in 1994 when he taped his first music vid and rapped the immortal words "It was all a dream • I used to read Word Up magazine • Salt 'n' Pepa and Heavy-D up in the limousine." At that moment he felt like he had made it; he became something- like he was living his dream. Even though I still have a long way to go, everyday I see my wife and think "Good Morning Inspiration" and I am ready to face the day.

★ RJS under the microscope

2009-10-05T19:19:00.000-07:00

At RJS we take great efforts to flawlessly serve the creative community and deliver top-notch design to clientele, every time. In the past year, we have received many kind words complimenting our talent, creativity, and technique. But the compliment that we aspire to receive from all of our clients is a referral. (which we are happy to say is 95% of all our work)

Today I would like to give the public an opportunity to put Rob Jelinski Studios under the microscope by posting reviews about RJS, feedback on our work, and what kind of an impression we have left on you as a client, fellow designer, or even just an innocent bystander. You can comment directly on this post with Google Connect or tweet it, post it on my wall or drop me a line at rob@robjelinski.com and I will paste your copy into this post verbatim. I can't wait to see all your responses.

Sincerely,

Rob Jelinski

★ October's design freebie sneak peek

2009-09-28T15:25:00.000-07:00

It's almost time to start a new month and launch a new freebie on RobJelinski.com. Starting October 1st, the creative community will be able to download the image above for personal and commercial use. Enjoy!

★ 5Qs with Chris Spooner

2009-09-23T06:07:00.000-07:00

When you are a designer, you are used to coping with tight dead lines, creating and revising artwork, and then revising and re-creating artwork to satisfy the needs of every one of your clients. Somewhere in the grind, you find yourself in need of resources. You launch Safari and type in design freebies, photoshop tutorials, or CS4 tips and tricks and when you hit the return key, you find listings of tons of designers who you now feel are your best friends. Chris Spooner is one of those people- a designer that just wants to give back. Today I had the chance to ask him the 5Qs.

Rob: Hey Chris! It's great to talk with you today. All of your freebies are great. One that really caught my eye was your "Vector Doodles and Sketches." Then when I saw your "Hand Drawn Icons," I realized that I had to interview you.

Q1: Tell me a little about yourself?

Chris: Hi, I'm Chris Spooner. I'm a designer from the UK who's pretty crazy about all things creative. I work for myself as a designer/blogger earning a living with a mix of client work and writing about design subjects on my websites Blog.SpoonGraphics and Line25.

Rob: Work is fun when you love what you do. I've never heard of Line25- I'll have to check it out. I bookmarked Blog.SpoonGraphics the first time I visited it and I'm sure I'll be marking Line25 too lol.

Q2: When did you first realize that you wanted to do this?

Chris: I wanted to be a designer from a pretty young age. I can't remember exactly how I picked out the career of Graphic Designer alongside Astronaut and Secret Agent, but I managed to go through school, College and University following this aim. I landed my first job in the industry as a web/designer designer for a small local studio where I worked for two years before heading out as a freelancer.

Rob: I should have become a Secret Agent lol. I remember loving to draw when I was young and my parents showcasing my art at parties with family and friends, but I didn't decide that I wanted to be a designer till I was 18 years old. It's great that you were so focused.

Q3: What do you feel is your strongest asset?

Chris: I'm lucky to find myself the type of person that tends to pick up new things quite well. I must have quite an analytical brain. This has proved handy in my career when it comes to learning new software applications or coding languages, so I guess this would be my strongest asset.

Rob: Learning fast is definitely a strong asset.

Q4: What would you like to be known for?

Chris: By offering design tutorials on my blogs I've developed a name for helping people out, which in turn has given exposure to my own work. I'd like to keep up this image of being someone approachable that's always happy to offer advice and tips.

Rob: Two things that people remember in this industry is talent and the willingness to help. Every designer has their work cut out for them and when someone (esp. someone who is talented) is willing to pause their work flow and help you out, you never forget that.

Q5: Why Spoon Graphics?

Chris: It's nothing too complex really, basically my surname is Spooner, so a twist on the word Spoon creates both a fancypants company name while having a personal connection :-)

Rob: That's cool and fitting for your goal of being down to earth. Thanks for your time Chris and keep up the good work!!! Keep checking out RobJelinski.com and "My Ink Pad" for more 5Qs.

★ Vintage Stamp Template Tutorial

2009-09-14T15:09:00.000-07:00

RJS is proud to announce our September freebie, a vector vintage stamp template that can be downloaded on RobJelinski.com all this month. With Adobe CS, a nice head-shot, and the proper stylizing, this template is very easy to use. But just in case you are a little unsure of how to achieve the same result as I did, I will take you through the process step by step.

Step 1. Find a nice head-shot of your subject. It doesn't have to be a fashion shot, just a pic with good composition and lighting. I used a snap shot of my boy Magellan, aka Seth Thomas, from his FaceBook® Profile.

Step 2. Pull the pic into PhotoShop and do a sepia effect in the menu under Image> Adjustments> Hue/Saturation. (Command + U) Then check the box that reads colorize (otherwise everything will be neon) and adjust the sliders to your liking.

Step 3. Cut your subject out from the background. I always prefer to use Illustrator for this step because I want all edges to be really clean, but you can do this step in PhotoShop as well. (If you do use Illustrator, make sure you mask the image, export it, place it back in Illustrator and then use live trace).

Step 4. In Illustrator, Select the placed image and hit the live trace button at the top. Then set the preset to "Color 16" and the Min Area to 0 px. From there, you can tweak the blend to your liking by adding less or more colors in max colors field. Once you are satisfied, hit the expand button next to live trace. Now, use the white arrow and select the white background. Then, from the menu, choose Select> Same> Fill and Stroke and delete the white so that the background behind your subject will be removed.

Step 5. Open up "Freebie004.ai and unlock the layer called "Picture." Delete the illustration of me and paste the illustration you just worked on. Resize it however you would like and then mask it. You will notice that the "Cover" layer has some scribble and a blur to fade out the image. You will probably need to tweak this slightly for every image. Also, there is a layer called "Sketch Detail" which has a few thin lines that will give the picture a feeling of a real sketch. Use your judgement. If the sketch lines add to the layout, then add them.

Step 6. Finish your design by selecting the "Name Plate" layer and updating the Name.

Step 7. Hit up my boy Magellan's site at www.BarsofLife.com/magellan or click here to find him on iTunes. His jams are CRAZY!!!

I hope this tutorial was helpful and that you enjoyed my "Vintage Stamp" template.

★ Creative at Heart Ad

2009-09-08T14:21:00.000-07:00

Recently I stumbled over a wonderful find on DaFont.com. This san-serif beauty called "Champagne & Limousines" has the style and poise of famous fashion fonts such as Avant Garde and Futura, yet it has a unique quality that stole my heart. After test driving the font, I decided that I had to use it for RJS's marketing! So I contacted the talented typographer, Lauren Thompson and made a donation to her work in exchange for rights to use Champagne & Limousines commercially. Above is the first of many ads and promotions for Rob Jelinski Studios that will use this sleek typeface. Click here to visit Lauren's dafont page or here to visit her blog. If you are a fan of my "Creative at Heart" ad or of Champagne & Limousines, leave a comment and show some love.

★ 5Qs with with Ryan and Kelly Portnoy

2009-09-02T12:52:00.001-07:00

What is your definition of a brilliant photograph? Crisp clarity? Perfect Lighting? Witty angles? A great photograph must have all of these, but a brilliant one must captivate your sight, mind, and imagination. The photography by Kellan Studios is nothing less then brilliant! Ryan and Kelly Portnoy capture the personality, emotion, and mood of each model and their surroundings with skill and ease. It's no wonder why their work has been featured on Weddings Unveiled and the Bride's Cafe. Now, I have the pleasure of bringing you this exclusive interview with these two master-minds.

Rob: Ryan and Kelly, it is so great to talk with you today. You recently photographed my friend, Chrissy Romine's wedding (the fashionista pictured above) and ever since I have been a huge fan of your work.

(Click on the links and see more pics from Chrissy's wedding! You won't regret it.) Click here for Wedding Shots of Chrissy and Jay or Click here for the Day After Session)

Q1: Tell me a little about yourselves?

Kelly: I'm very short at 5'2" while Ryan is very tall at 6'6". I prefer sarcasm while Ryan is a gold medalist in puns. I can organize, categorize, and color code just about anything while Ryan prefers to "organically" organize his possessions.

Ryan: Kelly is a technology leper while I have technology autism. Kelly prefers watching E News while I would rather spend my time watching ESPN. She could eat gourmet meals every night while I prefer the more refined pallet of mac and cheese, chicken nuggets and hotdogs.

Kelly: I own a Britney Spears CD while Ryan would rather pluck his nose hairs one by one than be caught dead with a Britney Spears CD.

As different as our perspectives can be both figuratively and literally, it is the very essence of what makes our photography tick! We see the world uniquely, the masculine and feminine, the structure and composition, the details and the big picture. We are a virtual Venn Diagram. Our differences make us unique and we overlap in the middle to produce the images that you see here. We love photography. We love being photographers together. We love laughter, romance, fashion and irony. We love our clients and consider it a supreme privilege to capture life's greatest moments as they happen.

Rob: I see that you paint a vivid picture with your words as well as film. Like I said before, I am a huge fan and l can really tell that you both love what you do. Not everyone can take the kind of pictures you guys take.

Q2: When did you both realize that you wanted to do this?

Ryan: Both of us have had an interest in photography as a hobby.

Kelly: I took a film/photography class in highschool where you process everything by hand. It definitely ignited the desire to capture art. Ryan started in college with his first purchase of a Canon Rebel XTI. He mostly took pictures of events and friends to start out with. You could say we both have a natural ability for composition, but it has taken years to refine the post production side of our photography. When Ryan and I were dating, a friend asked him if he would mind taking his cousin's wedding pictures. They were having a small/casual wedding and so Ryan agreed. After we got married, four years ago, somehow photography got brought up and the idea of wedding photography. I am a total girly girl and love the romantic side of photography. I also have a business minor so I knew I could handle the business/marketing side of things while Ryan is extremely technology savvy so he holds down the fort with album design and our website.

Ryan: We both shoot and both edit. Three and a half years ago we got our business license and shot our first wedding together in April 2006. Things naturally took off from there as we began to get better, upgrade equipment and market ourselves.

Kelly: We never dreamed we would be where we are today in such a short time. We are definitely blessed.

Rob: I can't believe your studio was established only three years ago. Your photographs and over-all style look as if you have been doing this for years.

Q3: What do you feel is your strongest asset?

Kelly: Definitely being a husband and wife team. Brides and grooms like the fact that we shoot both perspectives. It also gives us the advantage of me hanging with the girls while they get ready and Ryan with the guys while they get ready so we never miss a moment. Not to mention, we have been there ourselves. We know all too well what goes into planning a wedding so we are sensitive to the process and realize that we play a MAJOR role on a wedding day. I feel we bring confidence and calmness to what it typically a stressful day.

Rob: The husband and wife combo is definitely a big plus! Who can tailor the perfect photo of the bride and groom better than a couple who has been their themselves and knows all about the precious moments?

Q4: What would you like to be known for?

Kelly: We would loved to be known for creating images that sweep people into a different world. One full of romance, beauty, fun, a bit quirky at times....REAL. We want people to get to know complete strangers stories without us saying anything. The images tell the story or their love and relationship as well as their personalities.

Rob: When I look at your photography, I see individuality, infatuation, security, and love flowing out of the couples, almost as if I was viewing a film reel with music, words, and movement instead of a still photo.

Q5: Why Kellan Studios?

Ryan: Kelly is the "Kell" in Kellan, Ryan is the "an" of Kellan. Yup folks, it's just that simple! We didn't want to pick a name that is too trendy or cliche about photography...we figure our names aren't going anywhere...let's stick with what our mama's gave us.

Rob: I love how you bring your own flare to the industry in your profession. No wonder why you can bring that same tone to your work! Thanks Kelly and Ryan. I really enjoyed this. Keep snapping those shots we all love! More 5Qs with the best in the industry coming your way.

Click KellanStudios.com and become their fan on FaceBook

★ Kill at Design

2009-08-17T15:26:00.000-07:00

For four and a half years, I worked white collar design jobs in which I sat, smiled and nodded at bosses that cared more about getting the project finished and billed then about giving the client the creative edge they needed to stand out amongst the competition. (Please don't misunderstand me; I know there is a balance between the two). I have also witnessed people download some eccentric fonts, throw some "art" together and call themselves a designer. As if that wasn't enough, in the past year we have seen a decline in the Design field. So, I was overjoyed earlier this year when I launched Rob Jelinski Studios. RJS accepted these challenges as a time to conquer and change the industry... "Kill at design or be killed by the best."

Our first challenge was to design a website and a promo packet- our way of telling the World what Rob Jelinski Studios is all about. At first glance, this undertaking was intimidating. Other visionary studios had full flash sites and phenomenal press kits, both of which we couldn't afford, and the "other" studios had, at best, a clean corporate feel. While RJS can design for the traditional and sleek, they are not our target audience. We are reaching for clients that may not always have millions, but are determined to leave a lasting impression with witty angles and clever executions. We used that same approach for our marketing launch: a balanced mixture of clean and textured fonts, a palette of smooth, muted colors for backgrounds and patterns with pop colors to add emphasis on links, bullets, and important info, illustrations to give the photos an artistic edge, rounded corners and dashed lines to add the "sleek" factor, and old-time elements such as iron cast frames, diamonds, and florets to add a vintage fancy. On the promo card, we even added a layer of depth and class with spot varnishes ;)

When I handed the promo card to one actress, her response was "WOW!" Then she continued to examine the design and detail for a few moments, as if I wasn't even there. When I asked her what made the card stand out from others, she said, "Other people have marketing, but this card makes me feel like I'm looking at the album cover of my favorite rapper." Music Producers, Promoters, Musicians, Actresses, Business Men, Personal Trainers, Dancers, Writers, Designers, and average people all agreed that our fist marketing launch "killed at design."

Are you determined to leave a lasting impression with your marketing? Contact us for your next project or click robjelinski.com

★ 5Qs with Teagan White

2009-08-12T17:18:00.000-07:00

In our technological age, you see graphics everywhere, most of which are ill planned and poorly implemented. So when you stumble across talent, you remember it. That is the best, single word I can use to describe Teagan White, talented! Her charming skill and unique vantage point breathe both energy and sophistication into her art.

Rob: - Good Evening Teagan. It's a pleasure to have this opportunity to chat with you. I admire your work as an Illustrator and Typographer. My Teagan Fav. 5 are: Fine Art | No. 2 | No. 5 and Illustration | No. 5

| No. 6 | No. 7 Click Here to view Teagan's site and let us know your Teagan Fav. 5.

Q1: Tell me a little about yourself?

Teagan: I'm a nineteen year old freelance illustrator and designer from Chicago, currently in my second year as an illustration major at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design. I'm interested in any type of art, from painting to sculpture to interior design, so right now it feels really good to be able to make money doing what I love.

Rob: I can't believe that you are so young and still in school. When I saw your stuff, I knew that you must have already had pro gigs, but it did surprise me that you had not graduated already. It really shows that you love what you do.

Q2: When did you first realize that you wanted to do this?

Teagan: I've drawn my whole life, but I didn't even know what graphic design was until I enrolled in an introductory class on a whim, in my sophomore year of high school. I fell in love with it right away and decided I would major in it in college, but a few months in at MCAD I had a drawing teacher who encouraged me in the direction of fine art. I ended up settling on illustration as a middle ground between fine art and design, but I guess you could say I'm still in the process of realizing exactly what I want to do.

Rob: Yep, it takes time. Usually, when you are skilled in one area of the Arts it overflows into other areas.

Q3: What do you feel is your strongest asset?

Teagan: I think that versatility is important for artists in any field. I've never settled on one style, medium, or subject matter, and that broadens my knowledge and capabilities when I work. Being able to jump to different mediums is especially helpful... Whether it's Adobe software, drawing, painting, web coding, woodworking, font creation, papermaking, etc, I really enjoy doing it. I'm hoping to take some printmaking courses soon as well.

Rob: The fact that you are versatile and that all of your work is top-notch has definitely placed you further ahead then alot of artists in your same situation.

Q4: What would you like to be known for?

Teagan: Right now I'm trying to push all of my work past mere aesthetics to involve more meaning and emotion. I love literature and poetry even more than I love art, but I'm far better at expressing myself visually, and so I turn to drawing. It's not an easy thing to communicate the same thing that a poem does using pictures, especially when my main focus is commercial art right now, but I would love to someday be known for being able to express powerful concepts and ideas with my art.

Rob: You are already doing it, but as time goes on your expressions will reach more and more people.

Q5: As an Artist what do you find to be the most fun?

Teagan: The thing I enjoy most is what I do the least -- actually getting my hands on the materials I'm working with. I do enjoy working digitally, but it's very liberating when you stop pressing Cmd+Z for a while and instead smear charcoal on paper with your fingers, or dip your hands into a vat of paper pulp, or make a sculpture from lace and burlap and newspaper and dead leaves and coffee grounds. Each material has its own life, which potentially adds to the beauty of what you create from it.

Rob: Thanks Teagan. This interview has been alot of fun! Keep checking RobJelinski.com and "My Ink Pad" for more 5Qs.

★ Regional Youth Conference Campaign

2009-08-04T12:17:00.000-07:00

It's important to believe in something, to have a cause, to make a difference. Last week, Rob Jelinski Studios had the chance to roll the dice of our creativity and support the ALMI Coalition with the marketing campaign for their upcoming 2009 Regional Youth Conference Turn the World Right Side Up. Inspired by Acts 17:6, ALMI believes that though the present world may be in disarray, each one of us can make a difference by living in His truth everyday. The conference features Pastor Franklin Hicks, Youth Pastor of Solid Rock Church in Monroe, Ohio and will be held on October 9th and 10th at the Abundant Life Worship Center of Whippany located at 43 South Jefferson Road, Whippany, NJ 07981. There is no charge for either days, but to attend on Saturday you must be a Youth Pastor/ Director and register ahead of time. If you would like more information about this event, click here to contact Efrain Mercado, Youth Director of Soul Purpose ym.

★ the Experience Ad feat. Pastor Edwin Pacheco Jr.

2009-07-16T06:34:00.000-07:00

On Friday, July 31st Soul Purpose ym is hosting it's explosive night entitled "The Experience!" This month features one of the strategists of 20/20 Vision for Schools and the thought-evoking Pastor, Edwin Pacheco Jr. There will also be a surprise performance by the C3 Youth Choir. Come out and join "The Experience" on the 31st at 7:30pm, RJS will definitely be in the house! If you would like more info click on the following links.

Soul Purpose ym | Pastor Edwin Pacheco Jr. | 20/20 Vision for Schools | Experience Promo Vid

★ 5Qs with Bruce Kite

2009-07-09T14:49:00.000-07:00

Ever been swept away by the melodic tones of Beyond Barriers? Recently, I had a chance to talk with their Bass Player and Creative Director, Bruce Kite.

Rob: Bruce, it's so nice to have you on 5Qs. I have to say that I am a big fan of Beyond Barriers. I think my fav. song is "All I Can Say."

Click www.BeyondBarriersMusic.com to hear it and more BB songs. ;) Now Let's get into the Qs...

Q1: Tell me a little about yourself?

Bruce: I grew up in a somewhat rural area of Pennsylvania, the oldest of three kids. I went to university in southern Virginia, and now I split most of my creative time between the band and being an in-house graphic designer for a large consumer electronics company. God radically transformed my life in college and that opened up the door to everything that I’m involved in now.

Rob: All of Pennsylvania is rural to me...lol. It's so great to see what God has done in you and in the band. It shows in the music and all of your creative work. I have only known you guys for a little while, but I have to say you guys are great! (Shout out to my boy JOSH!!!!)

Q2: When did you first realize that you wanted to do this?

Bruce: I think halfway through college I decided that I wanted to be a graphic designer. I chose graphic design my freshman year as my major because I couldn’t really think of anything better, but it wasn’t until I started completing projects and I first experienced that “yeah, I made this” moment that I was sold on it.

Rob: I feel you. There is nothing more reassuring then that moment when you realize that you were born to do this.

Q3: What do you feel is your strongest asset?

Bruce: I think my strongest asset is being able to adapt and learn new things.

Rob: So true... as a designer you have to adapt because this industry is constantly evolving.

Q4: What would you like to be known for?

Bruce: I look at the parable of the "ten talents” and I want to be known as someone who was faithful, one who stayed the course and multiplied his talents for the King’s use and glory.

Rob: I couldn't have said it better.

Q5: What is your favorite thing about being both a musician and a designer?

Bruce: I like when the two (music and design) intersect. With the band I try to tell the story of the song, or reinforce the message of the song visually with motion graphics and/or videos. I like to take what we were thinking and feeling while writing the song and craft the visual parts just like another instrument in the band. To overhear someone say that the visuals took their focus off the distractions and helped focus them on worshipping God is quite fulfilling. To me it’s part of seeing the gifts I’ve been entrusted with being offered back to God.

Rob: Awesome! This has been great Bruce. Keep clicking on RobJelinski.com and "My Ink Pad" for more 5Qs.

★ Craft Savvy Invitation

2009-06-26T12:37:00.000-07:00

Last month, my wife and one of her friends asked me to design a cute flower invitation for a book club called "Blossom" that they wanted to start with a few friends. Since my wife is very sweet, my inspiration, and the love of my life, I was happy to acquire the project. To convey the meaning of the name Blossom, (to mature, to grow, to bloom) the invitation had to be colorful, beautiful, and personal. After researching a few flower invitations by other designers, I nailed down the color palette and drew the diecut. Once the diecut was finalized, I created the petals, filled the shape with purple, used some transparency, and added an inner shadow effect. Then, I decided to line the inside of the petals with red dots in order to give the flower kind of a dainty feeling. Next, I designed the Blossom identity, typeset the copy, and put the finishing touches on the layout by placing a light asian pattern behind everything. Early the next morning, I visited Michaels and plowed through the envelope design. While everyone knows that the envelope and enclosure have to compliment each other, I wanted the outside of my invitation to add another level of finesse. To achieve this, I chose a green envelope, wrapped it with a sheer red ribbon, and topped the ribbon with a purple and green flower petal with a single lavender gem stone in the center. I found that these Craft Savvy Invitations were fun, quick, and very cost-effective. While I designed this invitation for a book club, the theme can be used for many other events such as your next informal outdoor party. Below are some of my resources, in case you would like to use them.

Shopping List:

• 8.5" x 11" Sheets of Purple Brocade Stylized Paper by TPC Studios - $0.50 each

• Pack of 60 Lavender Gem Stickers by Martha Stewart Crafts - $4.99

• Pack of 10 "Lucky" 6" Square Envelopes by Mix + Mingle - $3.99

• Calypso Tin of 64 Purple Flower Petals by Prima - $6.99

• Rolls of 1 and 1/2 inch Strawberry colored Ribbon with wire by Home & More - $2.99 each

• 1/2 inch Roll of permanent Double Sided Tape by Scotch - $2.50

Instructions:

1. Draw a Flower diecut in Illustrator measuring 5.75" or click here to download mine

2. Design your Invitation (You will notice that I printed on both sides... If you are going to do the same, it is a little tricky. You have to really know your printer and make sure you leave enough room for shift)

3. Print and Cut your Invitations

4. Stick Lavender Gems in the center of the Flower Petals

5. Place the Invitations in the envelopes

6. Cut the Ribbon into about 12.25" or 12.375" strips

7. Stretch the cut Ribbon out on the table and place the envelope on top of it (Flap down)

8. Place a little piece of Double-Sided Tape on the front of envelope (Centered top and bottom)

9. Stick each side of the Ribbon to the tape on the envelope and secure with another small piece of tape

10. Place the Embellished Petal on the overlap of the ribbon

11. Hand deliver invitations to your special guests

★ Never Forgotten Tributes®

2009-06-22T06:03:00.000-07:00

While many artists have designed the most elaborate wedding invitations, marketed for billion dollar corporations, and crafted everything from cutlery to ice sculptures at events of the highest prestige, none have under-taken the task of creating the perfect memory of a loved one who has passed until now. Lynn Early, Seasoned Designer and Founder of Never Forgotten Tributes®, realized that the best way to celebrate and treasure the memory of her beloved mother was by creating a personalized keepsake card, a task which she had to complete with her own ingenuity. From that keepsake card Never Forgotten Tributes® was born! Last year, I was presented with the monumental opportunity of working along side of her to design the line for Never Forgotten. The Line includes personalized products such as: Prayer Cards, Keepsake Cards, Thank You Cards, and Life Story Dvds! I had the pleasure of branding Never Forgotten and designing the entire Classic Collection for Adults, most of the Traditional Collection for Adults, and the Urban Line for Youth. Please enjoy snapshots of my favorite designs below or follow the links to view Never Forgotten Tributes or Early Riser Incorporated.

www.NeverForgottenTributes.com | www.EarlyRiserInc.com

Registered trademark and snapshots are the exclusive property of Early Riser Incorporated. Used by Permission.

★ 5Qs with Wolf Soto

2009-06-17T05:50:00.000-07:00

Today I had the honor of interviewing a dear friend and one of the industry's best, Wolf Soto. Wolf has unleashed his God-given creativity in such forms as Stage and Costume Design, Print Design, Photography, Videography, and Traditional Media. If you have seen promotions for "Oraia" an amazing Spoken Word artist, (View) viewed Pastor Chris Durso's Blog "Mind of a Misfit" (View) or watched the "Red Army" Promo on YouTube® (View) then you have seen Wolf's wealth of talent. Currently, He Works on the Production team at Christ Tabernacle and is the founder of "Red Army Media." (Click www.redarmymedia.com)

Rob: Hey Wolf. It's great to talk with you today.

Q1: Tell me a little about yourself?

Wolf: I was born in Brooklyn, New York and at the age of 1, my family moved to the South Bronx where I was raised by my Puerto Rican grandmother, Rosalia and mother Raquel. Growing up in the ghetto of the South Bronx was rough. We didn’t have much money, but that helped me look at life from a different angle. Poverty inspired my creativity! Whatever I couldn't afford, I created a substitute for it, so my art and music was and still is my escape from poverty and pain.

I praise God from where all creativity flows

Rob: Wow that's a great outlook. God has truly gifted you.

Q2: When did you first realize that you wanted to do this?

Wolf: Well I got really fed up with pop culture dictating
the way we should think, speak, and believe.
As christians we're called to stand out from among the rest; We should be the ones setting the trends in our culture!

Rob: When I attended ReLoad at Christ Tab, I was in the workshop called "Reaching a Generation of Creators, Thinkers, and Misfits" with Pastor Chris and I raised my hand spoke almost those exact same words. I too am sick of the arts being used to lead people away from God and little by little we are changing that.

Q3: What do you feel is your strongest asset?

Wolf: I guess that would be creativity and helping people.

Rob: true.

Q4: What would you like to be known for?

Wolf: I want to be known as someone who gave it all for Christ and wasn't afraid to take chances.

Rob: definitely.

Q5: Why Red Army Media?

Wolf: Let me start by saying I do not support socialism or communism... Lol
I chose Red because it sybolizes the blood of Christ and Army because that's the way I see christians as one huge army. Media is what we do.

Rob: Cool. Thanks Wolf! It was so nice talking with you. This has been the first, but not the last of "5Qs." Keep checking "My Ink Pad" for more Satellite Interviews with the best in the industry!

★ Crowds Applaud One Day After...

2009-06-12T09:47:00.000-07:00

Joel wanted a vintage feel for his sophomore release entitled "One Day After..." At first glance the packaging seems plain, but just like the music, the layout has many unique surprises. The inside spread showcases bright and playful doodles adding an intresting intensity as they blend into the sepia imagery. Since the May 30th Release, my design has been hailed by locals, musicians and now fellow designers! After a recent submission to iStockPhoto, the design has received an almost flawless review by iStock members. Click here to vote or to read the reviews. Click here to enlarge the layout above.

★ I Heart Revolution is truly a "Masterpiece"

2009-06-09T05:41:00.000-07:00

Recently, at a Hillsongs United Concert I purchased the "I Heart Revolution" T-shirt. I had already seen the design on the album cover, but when I saw the shirt, I fell in love with it all over again. I rarely give a compliment of this caliber, but this design is truly a MASTERPIECE! From afar off you see a semi-modern, mosaic looking "I ♥." with a picture of the statue "Christ the Redeemer" in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil right in the middle of the heart, but when you look closer you find that the design is a collage of pictures from all around the world. Pictures from Africa, Asia, India, Australia, and the USA; Pictures of children, tigers, astronauts, elephants, snowboarders, the statue of Liberty, palm trees, and even the moon! For the past few days I have been studying this design and I have been astonished at how much thought and precision was put into it. This is how all design should be!!! Below is a snapshot of the detail. Click here to purchase the shirt.

★ 30 Years in the Industry

2009-05-27T14:09:00.000-07:00

In May of 1979, All-Out Carpet Cleaners was born. Owner and Operator, Chet Jelinski, my Dad gave me the honor of designing a shirt to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the family business. The design he chose features a palette of retro swatches printed on a natural white shirt to give it that authentic 70's feel. Click here for more about All-Out Carpet Cleaners.

★ the Experience Ad feat. B-Luv

2009-05-22T07:46:00.000-07:00

Hot off the press of Rob Jelinski Studios is this ad for soul purpose ym's "the Experience" featuring the headliner Brandon Johnson aka B-Luv. (Click here for more on B-Luv) The Experience focuses on using the arts to reach out to God and then allow yourself to Experience Him in your life. Click here to view the May 2009 E-vite on FaceBook®. RJS also had the pleasure of directing a promo vid for the Experience. You can Click here if you would like to watch it on YouTube®.

★ Eda Wear® for MMA Fighters

2009-05-19T14:50:00.000-07:00

"Born Again Fighter" Camoflague Limited Edition

Black belt holder and 4 year MMA fighter Pablo "Cesar" Eda has just recently launched an apparel line of MMA gear called Eda Wear®. RJS was honored to do the branding. Unlike many of the other MMA bands that feature Snakes, Bones, and Skulls, Eda Wear® is not looking to follow trends, but rather to set them by featuring Christian Themes to inspire all. The first theme out of the gate is the slogan "Born Again Fighter." If you would like to purchase Eda Wear® apparel click www.EdaWear.com or click here.

★ Media Covers "ShowTime" 09

2009-05-11T13:27:00.000-07:00

On March 21st, Soul Purpose ym hosted their annual concert called "ShowTime." Ms. Gee of the Love Express called ShowTime "One of the best up and coming artists showcase anywhere" in her May article "All Around Town." The night featured "phenomenal" performances by: B-Luv, Will Brown and Another Level, Beyond Barriers, Joel Jelinski, and DJ Press Play. This year, my studio was one of the proud sponsors of the event and I even made the cut for this photo with the talent of the night! Click here to read the full article on the Love Express Online.

★ Eyes on You

2009-05-08T06:49:00.001-07:00

One of the studios newest clients is a local optometrist's office called "Eyes on You." This promising start-up is on the verge of their grand opening this summer. Once again, RJS was called upon to design the shop's identity and also introduce the new company to the town with some coming soon signage. Above is one of the 3 signs.

★ One Day After... Release Party

2009-05-06T08:31:00.000-07:00

May 30th at 7 pm Joel Jelinski and band will rock songs from his highly anticipated sophomore release entitled "One Day After..." RJS is promoting the event and is proud to handle all of Joel's Marketing. Above is the back of the Release Party Flyer that is being printed right now. The event, presented by Soul Purpose ym promises a great night of live performances from Joel Jelinski and Redeemer's Cross of Paterson, NJ. Click here for more information on the event.

★ Da Fashion Scene

2009-05-06T07:03:00.000-07:00

Recently, RJS was commissioned to revamp the identity for Da Fashion Scene, starting with a splash page for their website. Da Fashion Scene is by far the hottest spot in Bloomfield to pick up all of the latest trends in men's clothing! This cozy boutique houses threads designed by such top names as: 7 Diamonds®, Caffeine®, Ed Hardy®, Akoo®, Brad Butter®, Imperial Junkie®, Toxic Fish®, Azzuré®, and Omavi® at 20% - 60% off of the suggested retail price. Next time you need to look classy, but can't afford to brake the bank, stop by Da Fashion Scene located at One Hundred Seventy-Four and a Half Broad Street, Bloomfield, New Jersey 07003. Click here to view their website.

★ May Freebie

2009-04-30T08:37:00.001-07:00

Through out the entire month of May you can down this Vector Illustration for free. Click here to visit www.robjelinski.com and then scroll down to the freebies hot spot. If you like the ill, please show some love and tweet about it.

★ The Première publicized by Rob Jelinski Studios

2009-04-29T09:59:00.000-07:00

All this Month Rob Jelinski Studios was publicly hailed for promoting the highly successful, Première Talent Show in the Love Express. (print and web editions) It's Average circulation is 96,000 per issue! RJS was honored to promote the event and I would like to personally thank Soul Purpose ym for the shout out! To read the online article please click here.

★ RJS on BattleCry.com

2009-04-29T09:46:00.000-07:00

Above our some snapshots of me, my wife, and my twin brother wearing shirts I designed at BattleCry 09. The video is featured on BattleCry.com and Youtube.com. Click here to watch.

★ One Day After

2009-04-27T14:33:00.001-07:00

Recently, I have been gearing up to design the new Joel Jelinski album, entitled "One Day After." Late March I held a photo shoot for the upcoming album in the Hoboken/ Weehawken area. The shoot was a lot of fun and we even took some vids that you can watch on YouTube if you click here. So far, I have completed the album release card, a few press pics, and a new splash page for JoelJelinski.com. "One Day After" has that fun, doodled-feel mixed with a touch of bright colors. I can't wait to bust out the album design this week. The album will officially be released in all major online stores May 30th, 2009. Click here to view JJ's site.

★ RJS Live on Fox News!

2009-04-24T08:56:00.000-07:00

Rob Jelinski Studios went Main Stream last week when my Rock Life Together T shirt design was aired on FoxNews and God TV during BattleCry 09! The event was held at the Izod and featured such names as Isreal & New Breed, Youth Explosion, Lecrae, Tye Tribbet & GA and more. Thanks to my Youth Director, Efrain Mercado we had seats right in front of the stage and a bunch of Soul Purpose ym heads were all over the footage sporting the new Graphic T's. Below are some snapshots. Click here if you want to watch the vids. Click here if you want to read the Fox News Article.

Pastor Adam Praying for Ron Luce

Me taking some pictures

Efrain Mercado wearing the hottest shirt Eva!

Efrain Mercado praying for my cuz

I guess she needed alot of prayer. lol

★ Rock Life. Together. Marketing Campaign

2009-03-24T11:09:00.000-07:00

"Rock Life. Together." is Soul Purpose ym's new tag line. The concept behind "Rock Life. Together." is that God created each one of us to have a our own identity, creativity, and personality and we are supposed to use them to Rock out for God. Now everyone knows that to truly Rock out and Rock Life for God, having an impact on the culture, you have to do it Together. What can I say, it's a great concept and I had a lot of fun designing this Logo for them! (guess which one of my top 10 fonts I used... lol) I also, had the opportunity to design and direct the promo vid and all the other collateral for the campaign. Above is a render of the Logo.

★ My top 10 Fonts!

2009-03-14T11:44:00.000-07:00

1. Eurostile - Designed By: Alessandro Butti and Aldo Novarese ((Commercial Download at Fonts.com))

2. Garamond - Designed By: Tony Stan ((Commercial Download at Fonts.com))

3. Porcelain - Designed By: Eduardo Recife ((Free Download at Misprintedtype.com))

4. VTKS Rock Garage Band - Designed By: Douglas Vitkauskas ((Free Download at Vtks.com.br))

5. P22 Dearest - Designed By: Christina Torre ((Commercial Download at MyFonts.com))

6. Futura - Designed By: Paul Renner ((Commercial Download at Fonts.com))

7. Helvetica Neue - Designed By: Alfred Hoffman and Max Miedinger ((Commercial Download at Fonts.com))

8. Authentic Ink - Designed By: Florian Schick ((Commercial Download at MyFonts.com))

9. Times New Yorker - Designed By: Graffilia Fetén ((Free Download at DaFont.com))

10. Sloop - Designed By: Richard Lipton ((Commercial Download at MyFonts.com))