Seattle Graphic and Web Design by Noodle Design

I am no stranger to changing my logo simply because I feel like it. I must be on #4 in 8 years time. The last one I launched in November of 2008. It, and my website, were feeling flat and dated.

Let me pause to say I don’t recommend changing your logo as frequently as that, or as completely as I do. I can get away with it I think simply because I am a graphic designer. We are supposed to be adaptable and ever changing chameleons.

All of my previous re-launches were fairly pain-free. I had a single website and no social networks to worry about. This time around it was quite the endeavor. It’s actually taken me months to accomplish this. And this time I had to go the full mobile route as well.

So of course I’m petrified that I’ve screwed something up, or that people won’t like what I’ve done. Prospective clients especially. Time will tell though. What do you think?

Take a look at what I’ve been up to. Let’s start by looking at the old site:

And the new site:

Here is the mobile version of the above:

And the mobile version of this here blog:

While I don’t have a screenshot of the previous full blog design, if you ever visited it you should have noticed this version now closely matches the regular site.

I am quite proud of myself. How did I do?

I’ve spent a lot of time recently looking through potential freelance web designer’s credentials. To my amazement there were many who did not have an online portfolio. Can you imagine? A web designer without an online presence?

For many that did have a website, far too many included non-live samples. You might have some pretty screen shots but if you can’t show me live examples I wonder if you’re able to translate a clients’ needs in to something they’ll buy.

So, if you’re a web designer looking for work, please, have an online portfolio with live examples.

I will be working in the next few weeks to get all of my online endeavors to be mobile-friendly. If you are viewing this blog on a mobile device right now you should be viewing the mobile version, which looks drastically different from the desktop/laptop version. My personal blog acts the same way, though looks a bit different. I will eventually work on customizing the looks of the mobile versions a bit shortly.

My immediate task is to create a mobile version of my website, noodledesign.com. I will be utilizing iWebKit to get this done.

Stay tuned!

Always fun when 3 large boxes full of postcards you designed arrives. Can’t wait to hear how these fair out in the real world!

Louie Foxx’s daughter often performs in his show with him, and while Louie has a post card with his photo to autograph for the kids, he didn’t have a way for Ella to sign autographs. I designed a business card-sized trading card with her “favorites” on the back. She will be thrilled when these arrive and she gets to sign autographs.

In too short a time I will be presenting a webinar on typography. I generally feel ill-equipped to education anybody on anything (my pint-sized boarder excepted).

It has been a long time since I took a typography class at the Art Institute of Seattle and while I naturally consider typography in my every day work, it is quite another thing to expound on the subject to an audience with little to no design background (as my audience will be).

I never shy from an opportunity to buy books. Once I’m done with my current project I hope to dive in to them. I’m even hoping to use Prezi - The Zooming Presentation Editor – to help me talk about the subject.

~ Carrielyn

Now that his new website is up and running it’s time to get his collateral onboard. First up, a direct mail postcard.

Stay tuned for more!

~ Carrielyn

I shared with you a project that was in-the-works and I’ve got an update for you. Reliable Handyman has approved a design and the build is well under way.

Here is what Reliable Handyman had to say about our design work:

“First I must say.. I love your options! These are the first professional looking web pages for our company that I like. Thank You for that.”

It’s been my pleasure!

The winning design:

I’ll share when the site has officially launched.

Every three years or so I decide it’s time for a change. As a designer I grow and as a person I become more and more aware of what makes me, me. It is fortunate that I am a designer and that I can change my logo any time I please. I also think I am in just about the only industry in which it is ok to up and change your identity. We graphic designers are chameleons and our identity can reflect how easily we can adapt.

Here is a sneak peek at my new identity. The name stays, and the imagery is even familiar and consistent with what you’ll find on my website (though not this bland blog design) now.

My new website is in progress and shortly to follow will be an update to this blog. Stay tuned!

~ Carrielyn

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I love little victories, and chief among them are the home runs that are few and far between. As you can imagine, a design home run occurs when a design is created and the client doesn’t want to make any changes (or very minor changes that really have nothing to do with the design).

What’s required to achieve a home run? A client that either knows what they want and know how to communicate it, or a producer/project manager who knows how to draw those details out of a client. Thorough research up front makes a huge difference.

Of course it also takes a designer who knows how to translate those ideas into a tangible design that not only meets expectations, but exceeds them.

This website design was a home run victory for me this week. I love the bright fun colors and the rounded shapes. It should appeal to the parents of teenagers who are in need of braces just fine!

~ Carrielyn