Identity Design - Banana Thursday

I recently finished this identity design for Banana Thursday. I had a lot of fun working on this project because I got to let my personal design style shine through. Banana Thursday is an electronic dance music fan group. Members dress up like bananas and rock out. I've learned that dressing in a banana suit in a large crowd makes it rather easy to find your friends. Check out their Facebook page, which I also designed.

Looking Forward to 2013 and a Look Back

Starting off the new year right is important to me. I've read a few different people's approaches to setting goals and resolutions and I've taken advice from a few different people I admire. Step one was to look at 2012 and see what I've accomplished. I called out 4 important things i did each month.

It's important to look at all you've accomplished before setting goals for the new year because it's positive reinforcement for yourself. Lets be honest, when do you really give yourself much praise? Last year my main accomplishments included starting to date my wonderful boyfriend and moving in with him, completing over 30 freelance design projects and getting a new full time job. I traveled to Crested Butte, CO, Las Vegas, NV, Tahoe, Maui, Hawaii, Santa Barbra, CA, Portland, OR, Lyndon Center, VT and Yosemite National Park. I sold my first 2 greeting cards! I learned how to wakeboard and started running.

I need to cut out some of the things in my life that are taking up my time that I don't enjoy or feel obligated to do. The biggest thing in my life that I can think of is my freelance work. From this point forward I am not taking on any freelance work because it's "extra money." I don't need the money, I have a full time job. I will only take on freelance work if it will be an asset to my portfolio in my quest to become an art director. Or if I truly enjoy the work and client. Other things that take up my time that I don't like doing are laundry, fixing/setting up computers, going to the post office, writing contracts and invoicing.

2012 was full of fun relationship things, it's been awesome. In 2013 I want to reintroduce more of the things I love into my life while still doing fun relationship things. I want to attend art shows and museum exhibits, I will run a half marathon in September. I also want to travel internationally this year.

My main goals for 2013 are:
- Save for a downpayment on a house
- Create and sell more greeting card designs
- Extend my brand and work towards becoming an art director

 My phrase for 2013 is "Spend less, Create more."

Hand Made Holiday Ornament exchange!

I'm gearing up for the holidays! For the last 2 years I have participated in the Hand Made Holiday Ornament exchange! Cindy Ann of Blu Penny puts this on every year. This year I have a great idea for my ornaments. I can't wait to get started. You get put into groups of four people from all over the place and you get 3 new cool ornaments from the others in your group. Click on the link to find out more details, and happy crafting!

Looking for a Graphic Design Intern

Lets Face it, I need help!

This internship is for collage students or recent collage graduates. Please provide me with your portfolio, resume and a cover letter telling me why you would be a good fit for this internship and the top three types of design projects you have worked on in the past/would like to work on. Also, include your availability. email to: alisha@alishawilson.com

You will be working with me in my home office in San Mateo, CA. I am a full service 
graphic design company. Please have your own computer. This is part time about 5 hours a week $10hr.  www.alishawilson.com


Job responsibilities include: 

- Updating my print and online portfolio
- Updating my identity and social networking channels
- Design work: logos, infographics, web design, surface pattern design, etc
- Sending out samples to my mailing list
- Helping me keep my office Pinterest worthy
- Cutting Photo Matts
- DIY Crafting Projects
- Being awesome


Basic Graphic Design Skills
- Command of typography
- Layout for print and web

Photoshop
Illustrator
Good written and verbal communication skills
Social networking
Organization 
DIY

Vote for My Halloween Greeting Cards

I've been working on this collection for a while and just entered these Halloween Invitations into a contest on Minted.com please help me win by clicking on each of my designs and voting for them! You can also click the button on the right hand side of my blog. Thanks for your help!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! My designs are now available on some super cute sandals. Check them out here: sandalista.com These sandals are making me wish it was summer right now. I have a lot more to catch up on now that the holidays are over but my sandal shop was at the top of the list. I'm also updating the look of my blog, changing as always.

Using Adobe Kuler to help create color palettes

I have known about Adobe Kuler for a while but have never used it until now. Kuler is a great color picking tool. You can start with one color or upload a picture and pick colors out of the picture to create a palette. I did this exercise to help me pick a palette for a surface pattern design I am creating. I am mostly drawn to bright jewel tones, but I tried a few different things. I really enjoyed using Kuler the interface is very smooth and intuitive and it's free. So play away! Have you used it? Do you like it? What other tools do you use to pick colors?