Insights on Japanese Art

Japanese culture is something I (Allysia) would love to experience firsthand one day. From their music, fashion, art, and architecture, it just seems like a completely different world all compacted into one island. I imagine when you visit the experience is something you could never get tired of, and no matter how long you stay you’re always going to have something new to do.

Tutorial Review | Monochrome

I have a treat for you a day late – our first Tutorial Review!  In this review, I’m going to give you some feedback on a recent tutorial from VectorTuts+ Premium – Create a Monochrome Portrait.  I can’t rewrite the tutorial for you, but I’ll show you my end-result and let you know which steps might be a bit confusing or frustrating.  Oh, and we highly recommend purchasing the premium membership to the Tuts+ network from Envato.

Design Review | Starbucks

What is a designer’s best friend?  If you thought “Adobe” then you were wrong – you should have guessed “coffee.”  We actually have a fresh pot brewing while this is being written.  There seem to be a few articles about why caffeine kills creativity, but we beg to differ.  We think the ritual of waking up to a glass of cold water followed by a cup of coffee helps us get alert and fresh for the day, not to mention that ritual is always comforting.

Market Research | Part 3 of 3

This is it, the last and final part of market research.  We’ve covered the company, we’ve covered the competition, who’s left?  The people in the crosshairs – the target audience or market.  That’s right, now that we’re done dealing with people in corporations, it’s time to deal with the public.

Market Research | Part 2 of 3

Knowing the Enemy – We have had a few clients insist that they have developed a new and fresh idea for their company, that it’s never been done before.  They are most definitely lying.  Fifty years ago, this statement may have been true, when new technology was flourishing and imaginations were running wild.  Today, sadly enough, it has all been done.  The trick is finding a new way to do what has already been done – take an existing idea and improve it, find a niche.

Design Review | The New School

We promised that we would be doing more design reviews every Sunday after amazon.com’s logo review last week, and we have a new one for you this week.  The New School – A University.  What’s interesting about this logo is that it is actually a chain of graphics for a complete visual identity.

Market Research | Part 1 of 3

Market research is one of the most important aspects of creating a new logo or corporate identity.  The delicate balance of creating a unique logo that doesn’t misrepresent a company is a difficult task, and being ignorant of the market your client is trying to break into is a huge mistake.  Knowing a client’s market is key to creating an image that will represent itself well in any given market, as well as stand out from competition.

A Unique Approach

What if a designer could combine the first three steps of any design process into one sit-down session with a client that only lasts about an hour? As graphic designers, it is our duty to create a piece of art for the client, to the client’s specifications, and on the client’s time. The typical routine goes like this: Introduction, project brief, thumbnails, thumbnail selection, rough, rough selection and tweaks, comp, possible revisions and/or corrections, then a final draft or finished piece.

Design Review | Amazon.com

One of my friends once told me “Going to art school doesn’t make you a better artist, it just teaches you how to talk about art.”  Throughout my first year at art school, he was correct.  It is quite a bit of dry work and very little art, but the real fun comes after the second year of art school.  Then you create.  Despite the fact that I think he was wrong, we are going to put his theory to the test.  We are going to talk about art.

The New Studio

Hello Austin!

Nascent Studio is a new establishment in Austin, TX.  We offer a wide variety of Creative Services, and we are seeking to build long-term relationships with clients in the Austin area.