Graphic Designer

Graphic Designer

paulscottondesign

41 Years Experience

Marbella, ES

Male, 58

I have been in the graphic design industry since 1981 working in London, Los Angeles & Spain. My career started in the traditional way on a drawing board, using Rotoring Pens, Magic Markers, Pantone Pens & Letraset working as a Designer/Visualiser/Artworker. My design career has taken me through the music, toy, t-shirt, packaging & print industry. I am now a freelance graphic designer (British) based in Spain with many clients worldwide ...now using Photoshop, Illustrator & InDesign on a Mac.

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Last Answer on September 13, 2021

Best Rated

Have you ever or came close to filing a copy right, trade mark, or something similar lawsuit?

Asked by Sarah almost 5 years ago

No I haven't is the short answer. I have previously made a reverse image search on google with some designs and illustrations and only once did I find an illustration that I did for a client being used on someones website. It was of a house cutaway showing how solar and energy works in a house ...and it was being used on a website in Brazil to illustrate the same information. I sent a polite email to the owner of the company explaining that I drew that image for one of my clients and so was owned by him and could not be used ..and asked that if he wanted something similar I could draw it for him. He responded with an apology telling me his web designer had sourced the image and assumed he had got it from a stock library so would get it removed ...of which he did. So it is always best to go the polite route before filing a lawsuit as it can save a lot of hassle.

Have you ever made a COVID-19 virus design?

Asked by Nake almost 5 years ago

UPDATE...I have now written a guide to becoming a graphic designer. It is available as Kindle or in print ...check it out here... AMAZON LINK . Well in a way yes ...firstly I created a self marketing video to promote myself saying that I was still available for work during the lockdown so it started with a Covid theme. It can be seen on my website in the video section and is the 17th video down.

Have you ever made flags? If so what kind? If not would you?

Asked by Jimbo about 5 years ago

As in 'make' I assume you mean 'design'.... I have designed marketing flags for different companies. Mainly real estate who put out flags on new developments etc. Pretty boring design jobs as all they need is a logo and a bit of text ...but if a client is paying then I design for them.

I have this "badge of Achievement" design that was made cheaply and I can't quite put my finger on why it looks so bad. I'm also not entirely sure how to go about fixing it. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

https://imgur.com/a/wnmpoTm

Asked by steve about 5 years ago

UPDATE...I have now written a guide to becoming a graphic designer. It is available as Kindle or in print ...check it out here... AMAZON LINK . Hi Steve ...to be honest and fair, everything is wrong with it ...too many font sizes and you also repeated Master Inspector twice which is not needed on this badge ...remove the "Master Inspector" words in the middle. The lines under each word is not required. The whole design needs a bit of punch as it is very boring. Take a look at the Freepik website for reference ...search "Badges" and you will see loads of ideas for inspiration. Hope this helps

What happens if and when you mess something up real bad?

Asked by Gene about 5 years ago

We are all human and mistakes happen. At the end of the day if a mistake has been made in a design job make sure the job has been officially signed off by the client. I always make sure I check, double check and triple check and then when I send to the client I tell them in the email to check everything carefully as I will not be responsible for errors once approved and signed off. This usually gets them to proof it with a fine tooth comb as they realise that once they approve the job it is in their hands. I remember back in the 80's when I designed record sleeves, a cover was approved and went to print. When the all records got delivered the producer picked up the sleeve the correct way up and the vinyl record fell out the bottom ...lol. Luckily I was just the designer and not the artworker ...there was a difference back then when computers were not used. I was the one that designed the covers on a sketch pad with felt pens, then I went to a photoshoot with the band ...then the actual final artwork was done by an artwork department that placed everything into the cutter guides etc. A very different process than nowadays. So the artworker had mistakenly indicated the front cover to be placed the wrong way up. No one checked and it went to print. They all had to be printed again... the record company was not happy at all but l was not to blame. In todays industry us designers have to make sure everything is checked carefully. I once did a typo on an advert (a number was missed off the telephone number). I did not spot it and the client did not spot it and the advert went to print. The client noticed it once it was in the magazine and was not happy at all and was on to me by email straightaway and wanted his money back. I apologised but pointed out my email had said that "to check everything carefully as I will not be responsible for errors once approved and signed off". He apologised and admitted he did not check properly ... but I also apologised too as it was my fault I had missed the number (but actually I think it was cut and paste from his text and he was the one that missed it). But anyway I value my clients and gave him the next design job for free as compensation, even though it was not entirely my fault. This was about 7 years ago and til this day he is still my client. So at the end of the day, no matter whose fault the mistake is, always keep the client happy as it will be to your benefit in the end.

Do you ever listen to music while you work???

Asked by Nsnsn almost 5 years ago

UPDATE...I have now written a guide to becoming a graphic designer. It is available as Kindle or in print ...check it out here... AMAZON LINK . Sometimes, not always, depends on my mood on that day. If have to design something cool and funky I may listen to upbeat music ...if I have to design something more laid back and classical I listen to relaxing music ...it gets my mind in the right mood for the theme of the design. Hope this answers your question.

Hi Paul! I'm a second year college student going in to my third year, and I wanted to know what iPad would be better to use to draw and design for the long term, without causing so much of a dent in my pocket.

Asked by Lizzy about 5 years ago

UPDATE...I have now written a guide to becoming a graphic designer. It is available as Kindle or in print ...check it out here... AMAZON LINK . Hi Lizzy, to be honest I do not know. I have never used an ipad for drawing or design ...not even a laptop. I have always used the largest screen available ...and 2 of them. I have 2 x 27" screens that I work on side by side. The best option is to do a Google search for reviews on the best deal ...sorry I cannot be of much help.