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Copyrights & other considerations

June 24, 2014 / Graphic Design / Nathan Vidal

Library Folders A valuable part of graphic design is having a library of images, illustrations or icons to help speed up the design process when a client comes in with a job. It is not always practical to do a photoshoot or design the intricate elements of an peripheral element yourself due to time and cost constraints. It is tempting to just search the billions of images available on the internet and use these instead. The touch ups you may have to do would be minimal compared to creating the image from scratch. Copyrights and other licensing issues make this method of acquiring imagery very risky though.

Images have owners

Even though it may not be stated directly, images have owners or copyright holders. These copyright holders may or may not consent to your use of their imagery in your designs, especially if it is of a commercial nature. Imagine seeing your vacation picture being used on a billboard advertisement without your permission. The design firm would have gotten paid for the design while you received no compensation for the use of your image. As a designer you would love to have access to a wide array of images which are free to use, but you would also like to protect your work so that it is not stolen or missused.

There are alternatives

There are certain images which you can use in your designs without getting prior permission. Public domain pictures are images that are available to the general public for reuse and redistribution.

There are also various versions of the Creative Commons licence which allows authors to specify the permissions given with published material. Permissions such as whether the image can be reused for commercial purposes, be freely redistributed or whether modified images need to be shared with the public can be specified using Creative Commons.

Safest Route

The safest way to avoid copyright infringement and possible lawsuits is to either ensure that you have permission to use images or create your own. I see images that infringe copyrights on promotional posters all the time and this goes unpunished. Regardless of this, designing in this way is a liability and will not reflect well on you in the design industry. As much as possible I try to create my own library of files which I have created or found in the public domain for future use.

Related Links

Creaive Commons

U.S. Copyright Office

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5 ways to fight information overload

June 21, 2014 / Personal Development / Nathan Vidal

Information Overload How do you manage all the information that you have access to? With websites such as Google, Facebook, Twitter, ,YouTube and various other individual websites of interest there are countless sources of information and distraction online. Offline there is the television, radio, books and various other personal electronic devices. We are bombarded with information from multiple angles and multiple sources. This level of information can seem overwhelming and can adversely affect your productivity if not handled properly.

Here are 5 methods I use to combat information overload.

Prioritize tasks by both importance and deadline
Eliminate unnecessary duplicate sources of the same information
Take breaks from tedious tasks to avoid being burnt out
Alternate between long duration tasks and short duration tasks
Disconnect for a while and do something else

These methods allow me to remain focussed on my goals and help to minimize the impact of distractions. I can never get rid of all distractions and things will always come up. Having a plan makes it easier to recognize when I am deviating from my objectives so I can get back on track.

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Monetizing great ideas

June 18, 2014 / Personal Development / Nathan Vidal

Monetize Ideas We all have them. That great idea where we wonder, “Why hasn’t anyone else ever thought of this?” We come up with the idea, product or service that is just so practical that it is bound to be worth a fortune. But then what? How do we monetize this great idea for our own benefit and the benefit of society on a whole?

This has been a question on my mind a lot lately – as I am sure it is on the mind of every entrepreneur creating a start-up. The problem is that there is no clear cut answer that works in every situation. Many companies and individuals have turned to patents to protect their intellectual property. This however has also led to abuse of the patent system by companies who produce no products but own patents for the sole purpose of suing or settling with whoever infringes on these patents in the future. While this may benefit the patent holder the process, as it is now, stiffles innovation and may actually be detrimental to society on a whole.

I am convinced that the key to monetizing great ideas is to have the right team of people on your side. This does not need to be a team of experts but it does help to have people knowlegable enough in their fields to help you make the difficult decisions. These fields do not have to be strictly academic either. The motivator to provide the encouragement that keeps you going when success seems far away. The investor who has enough faith in you to provide financial support. The advisor who knows the industry and the challenges you are likely to face. The family members who uderstand the long hours and demands of running your own business.

Ultimately, before you can monetize your idea, you have to believe in it. You also have to be able to convince others to believe in your idea. Great ideas are the backbone of innovation and are usually accompanied by an extended family of not-so-great ideas. Even before your great idea has emerged you can begin working on your support team that will help you bring your idea into fruition.

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Controversial start to the 2014 World Cup

June 14, 2014 / Opinion / Nathan Vidal

World Cup 2014 Brasil As a football fan the World Cup is undoubtedly the most anticipated football tournament of them all. Every 4 years the best of the best star studded national sides face each other in a competition that highlights not only their pedigree but their country. As the most popular single sport event in the world I can only imagine the pressure on all those involved in organizing, officiating and playing in the tournament. There is a large sense of national pride associated with this competition and the 2014 World Cup has provided a few controversial decisions in its opening 2 days. From “soft” penalties to erroneous offside decisions, human error has once again been the major talking point of a football tournament.

Accusations of favoritism for the home side, Brazil, have already been made after their encounter with Croatia on opening day. The repercussions of refereeing decisions are obviously amplified on such a grand world stage. I would like to see these errors eliminated and would rather see teams score goals on merit rather than poor decisions or, in the case of Mexico on day 2, having goals disallowed for questionable offside calls. I also recognize that these referees and their assistants are human and mistakes will be made occasionally. Unfortunately for the players who have worked so hard to represent their countries these mistakes can be devastating.

I hope these early controversies help to make the remainder of the competition better. The Netherlands had a remarkable display against World Cup holders Spain which exemplified the beauty and unpredictability of the game. Do not let these early poor decisions ruin the tournament for you ad enjoy the rest of the 2014 World Cup. I know I will.

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From hobbyist to genuine business

June 13, 2014 / Motivation / Nathan Vidal

SeizerStye Logo I started SeizerStyle Designs after high school when I became interested in designing websites. My sister gave me a book entitled HTML for Dummies and by going through this book I learned how to create websites using NotePad and a web browser. I created personal websites which worked locally and continued to learn about HTML, CSS and other technology related to website design. Back then it was not a business but a hobby which I enjoyed doing in my free time. Designing websites was much easier than the object oriented programming which I had been taught in high school so I enjoyed the quick progress.

Eventually I began getting customers based on word of mouth. At that point I realized that I needed a business brand in order to freelance effectively and promote my services. On June 11, 2004 I uploaded the first version of the SeizerStyle website. I was proud that it was strictly hand coded and that I now had a live website to point potential clients to. A few years later I registered the SeizerStyle Designs business name as I continued to invest into my business venture.

WebsiteP ortfolio

I had no capital when I started SeizerStyle Designs and the business was initially funded strictly from the profits of designing websites for clients. I continued to freelance until I got other employment and have continued to grow and nurture the company since then. There have been ups and downs but the business has managed to survive for 10 years without any external investment of capital besides what I have contributed from my savings.

Although I never took a break from the business, there have been slow times when I had to prioritize furthering my education and keep myself educated and informed about the industry and marketing. This was not easy since I like to see progress and would have liked to devote more time into the business. I do not regret this thugh, since I have learned many lessons which can directly be applied to SeizerStyle Designs to improve its services in both quality and quantity.

Just starting a business is much easier than running a successful business and maintaining that success over a long period. It takes hard work and long hours to run a business and it is even more difficult if you are doing it alone. In my opinion, the joy of being your own boss and creating a product/service that satisfies your customers’ needs trumps that though. I would encourage anyone with a passion and dedication for a business to pursue their entrepreneurial spirit. Do not expect instant success but be willing to persevere and weather the storm while you make your business profitable. It is a risk but a risk that all successful entrepreneurs have to take.

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Delving back into the code

June 7, 2014 / Web Design / Nathan Vidal

PHP Coding When I first started creating websites I did it all by hand without any WYSIWYG tools. In fact, I started coding in NotePad. Throughout the years I began using more sophisticated tools such as Dreamweaver and Photoshop and my design habits changed. My need for coding became more peripheral with the rise in popularity of content management systems. It is much easier and quicker to get a CMS site online than a hand coded one.

There are many advantages of hand coding websites which cannot be replicated by pre-existing solutions. Coding yourself gives you the most control over how the website actually works and this allows you to uniquely address clients’ needs. Coding allows for maximum customization.

I am therefore taking a renewed interest in the code behind the applications that I deliver to clients of SeizerStyle Designs. I do not intend to code everything by hand, but I would like to provide more unique web applications. Hopefully this will create some interesting new projects that will challenge me and benefit my clients.

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How to fight negative energy

June 4, 2014 / Motivation / Nathan Vidal

Avoid Negativity We all have bad days and our moods can affect us as well as others around us. One of the best ways to maintain a good mood is to avoid people and things that we know put us in bad moods. This proactive step puts us is control of our happiness instead of simply reacting to external influences. Simply deciding not to let anything ruin our mood is a good first step to consciously guarding our emotional state.

Negative energy can change our moods in obvious ways as well as subconsciously. The heated argument or the more subtle bad driving experience can both affect our mood. By avoiding negative energy instead of dwelling on it we reduce the likelihood of it taking control of our mood. Here are a few tricks I use when I am getting annoyed and angry:

Go for a walk – the temporary change of environment and the physical activity of walking can be very therapeutic.
Listen to music – never underestimate the power of your favourite artist to relate to you when others can’t.
Talk to a friend – the negative energy of individuals can be countered by the positive energy of a good friend. That friend just may be able to cheer you up.
Think of things that are going right– it is very difficult to stay positive in trying times, but it is also very easy to focus on the negative and ignore the positives. Focusing on what has gone right can help bring things back into perspective.

There is no silver bullet for negative energy. These steps may not always work or it may require a combination of these steps for them to be effective. Please share your own steps for staying positive in trying times in the comments below.

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Hurricane Season 2014

June 1, 2014 / Information / Nathan Vidal

Today marks the start of the hurricane season in the Caribbean and now is the perfect time to begin preparations if you haven’t done so yet. The Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1 and lasts until November 30. We all hope that a devastating hurricane does not hit, but even a tropical storm can be dangerous and it pays to have a plan.

Here are a few resources to help keep you informed about the weather throughout the season:

Although a quiet 2014 hurricane season is predicted any of the 3 major storms expected could cause damage if they hit land. Ensure that you have adequate non-perishable food and water to last at least a few days if a storm is to approach. Waiting last minute to prepare may leave you rushing to buy goods which may run out because of an increase in panic buying. Stay safe and prepared during this hurricane season as we hope the Caribbean is spared from any devastating storm.

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Saying no to get rich quick schemes

May 30, 2014 / Opinion / Nathan Vidal

Money bags I don’t believe in get rich quick schemes. The promises are always luxurious, the required effort minimal and the methods questionable. Who wouldn’t want to earn a some extra cash from home? The details behind most of these money making schemes however leave a lot to be desired. Making an investment in a “brand new” company with a “revolutionary” product/service that you have never heard of is without a doubt risky. The bigger the risk the bigger the reward, right? Here are a few reasons why I do not believe in get rich quick schemes.

They are never quick

Despite the promise of a quick and easy way to make extra money these schemes usually require you to perform many tasks. Usually the first one of these is to pay a small fee to join the elite group of individuals taking advantage of the special offer. Not to mention the request for a small fee in order to gain access to a great fortune. Even if the scheme continues after you have made the payment it usually requires you to take further steps that lead to the next issue I have with them.

They require that you put your reputation at stake

To share the “good news” of the incredible money making opportunity you usually have to bring other people to the fold. This will usually be your family and friends since they are the ones you know best and the most likely to listen to your idea. This may be done even without your consent and employ various types of psychological spam. By endorsing an idea you have not tried and tested requires you to put your reputation and credibility on the line. Pyramid schemes may also have a domino effect on your loved ones if the scheme is later proven to be illegal.

If it is so easy why aren’t more people doing it successfully?

Another question I constantly have about get rich quick schemes is where are the crowds of millionaires that these business models have created? Yes there are the videos and the testimonials but research on most of these companies bring up company owned websites which spew company approved propaganda. There is a large promise of profit and a significant lack of impartial individuals endorsing the schemes. Why are more people not quitting their jobs in droves s to do these “simple” money raking jobs?

Money Isn’t Everything

The final reason I am skeptical about get rich quick schemes is that money is not the end all. If the means of getting the money seems questionable it really is not worth it. Getting involved in a seemingly illegal business simply because someone promises that it is legitimate seems irresponsible and not worth the risk. There is also a satisfaction that you get from working hard for the money you earn. It allows you to value the money you earn and makes you more likely to spend it wisely.

At the end of the day you will have to analyze every money making opportunity yourself. If it looks suspicious and sounds too good to be true it probably is. Scams take advantage of people’s insecurities and desires to attract victims and it may be difficult if not impossible to get your money back if you fall for them.

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Moving to the cloud

May 29, 2014 / Opinion / Nathan Vidal

Moving To The Cloud I listen to more music via streaming on YouTube, SoundCloud or some other internet based medium rather than via my stagnant MP3 collection. My CD collection is practically obsolete. Whenever I am connected to the internet it is my preferred way of listening to music, with my music files mainly coming in handy when I do not have internet access or when I am on the go. I hardy watch television anymore either except for the occasional live sports event and I watch TV shows at my convenience via the internet. The better internet speeds and access to the internet have become the more I rely on the cloud not just for work but for entertainment.

I can already store files online to sync them with various devices and to provide backup in case a device is lost or stops working. This trend of movement to the cloud shows no sign of slowing down as online storage prices are dropping and more and more cloud services keep popping up. If you have ever had a hard drive that suddenly stopped working or have lost a phone full of your personal pictures you can appreciate the benefits of having files backed up in a central location.

The movement to storing our files on random servers far away is so easy to do that we sometimes overlook the intricacies of such a system. Who has access to these files and under which circumstances? What if the service is forced to go offline? What happens when there is no access to the internet? The cloud is definitely continuing to grow in popularity and convenience and I am sure many people are like me and have found ways to utilize these conveniences at the expense of old habits. Despite the many benefits the cloud offers it is wise to keep a copy of your files locally in case something goes wrong, especially when an error can be propagated to all your synced devices.

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