Update at Long Last...

Thanks for stopping by! I’ve been picked up in a lot more galleries since my last post, so many now that I can’t even drop names. It’s been surreal. Hopefully my relaunch will help form more fire as blogging will become my number one chore -- all the more reason for you to come back!

So, what’s new with me: I did an interview for SWD last week, which was a real treat. I appreciated the invitation very much. You can check that out here.

I completed a few identity projects last week for some folks who’ve came through my pipeline. One client was a video game magazine and the other was a technology plant in the West Midlands, UK. Those kept me very busy over the past several weeks; my new portfolio will feature these.

Speaking of logos, I’m working with a new creative job company right now on their branding. It reminds me of a mix between Authentic Jobs and Krop... it’s very cool and I’m excited to have been selected to help.

I’ll save some tidbits for my next update and get back to designing, but thanks for stopping by and drop me a line! I appreciate all the warm messages lately. I'm also on Twitter @elysiumburns too, if that's your sorta thing!

"Site of the Day" + CSS Gallery Mania!

Woke up this beautiful Sunday morning in NC early, grabbed my laptop off the dresser and checked my e-mail and visitor stats. Didn't expect too much... until I noticed I had about a dozen new messages and over a hundred new unique hits from a new referrer!

CSSloaf, a design gallery, picked up Elysium Burns as their "Site of the Day" for today! It's truly an honor and I appreciate that feat greatly. You can visit the live link here or check out a screen shot here.

In addition to being picked up on Loaf, my site has been included in Piepmatzel, Design Grabs and Famous on the Internet! Considering I never submitted my site into anything (I hate it, to be frank), I appreciate the mention beyond words. Thank you guys!

I should mention that this is ironic considering I just registered "Feed the Creative" last night, mere hours before Elysium Burns was picked up on any gallery. Speaking of which, Feed the Creative will be my new online home when it launches. It will still feature my personal work, like a portfolio site would, but will now be intergrated with a daily design blog, free templates, a "shop", case studies and more!

I never expected my website to gather so much attention; I put it up in July to help me get a "real job" as I relocated and rushed the whole process. A lot has happened since -- between getting a place at OnWired, landing some excellent contract work, and getting on the AIGA board at 23-years-old, among other things. I understand that as I broaden my site into Feed the Creative that new ventures and work will follow, but I'm prepared to roll with the punches! This whole thing has been surreal, readers -- thank you all very much.

Featured in Styletime Mag + more!

My work for Merge - or lack thereof - was featured in Styletime Magazine! You can view the article and the work by selecting this link now!


And while I'm at it, also check out www.chimpliberationfront.org for a kickass 2C poster design I did last Friday. We had a million ideas when we stole the Mail Chimp cutout from Atlanta; not many of them surfaced after we got "busted", but this propaganda splash did. We turned in the Chimp today... sadly. Viva la Chimp!

The Elysium Burns redesign is underway, boys and girls. Stay tuned.

From Hotlanta...

I am currently in Atlanta for the 2008 Webmaster Jam Session and having a ball! Call it a dump if you want, but I can see why this city is turning into the design mecca of the south. I have open eyes and I like what I see thus far!

Anyways, this post is going to be a tidbit fest and packed with links on the things I’ve been doing. I’ll keep it simple.

-- I’ve done two blog posts over at O-Dub, both of which have been great successes. The first article focused on my transition from print to web design. Read it, fellow print designers, if you feel inspired to better your skill set. My newest article, posted only last week, is reviewing the CS4 Broadcast; it ranked #9 on Google the morning after, putting it above related articles from CNet, MacWorld, PC Magazine and others. I busted my ass to get that blog done mere hours after the broadcast, so I was pumped to see the hard work pay off.

-- The OnWired business cards are done and packaged up! We got them back two weeks ago from 4Over, who did a marvelous job. The pack contains all seven cards, each individually designed and unique. You can view a quick iPhone shot on Flickr by clicking this link - I promise more professional shots soon for the portfolio.

-- My work for Function in the UK went exceedingly well for such a short notice. Liam McKay sent out the identity package to the client, Theory Bulb, and we’re awaiting a reply. In the meantime, he dished me a new contract and client, only this time with better information and expectations. I’m due to start work on the new piece this upcoming Sunday following...

-- Elysium Burns redesign. Yes, you heard right. I am in the midst of wrapping up my research and wireframes for my new page, which may take on a whole new direction. I am toying with so many ideas; I don’t know what it’s going to become, other than I’ll be making it more blog-heavy. Most of my outbound links feed from this baby; I will be ending my stint on Blogspot, too. I want to become more of a player in the online community as I’ve noticed people are beginning to pick up on my work. Stay tuned for the transition.

-- I’ve put a hold on my own clothing venture, for the time being anyways. Instead, I’ve found some friends to help me with it. It’s a joint-effort now, and the first releases will roll out before Thanksgiving. Guaranteed.

-- I am working alongside two great illustrators back in Ohio on a contract piece for a retail company. Vague, isn’t it? One of the guys got the deal and is teaming with me to digitally bring it to life. I expect to have the first item printed and hanging in my room by Halloween, which is when you can purchase the item also. Put $50 aside now.

I have a few other snippets I’ll throw up soon, but digest what’s here first and look for a new post in a few days. From Hotlanta...

Mr. Never-Update Returns!

Yes, I'm still breathing! All apologies for the lack of posts since the Merge article. The few e-mails reminding me to update were very admirable. I'm slow and I know this.

I've been crazy-busy the past two weeks - not that I hadn't been prior to moving down to NC. There's this hectic balance going on right now with work, freelance/contract business, my social life and finding time for Z's. I've been getting involved in the local AIGA chapter and attending some MeetUp events with the boys from O-Dub, which has introduced me to some damn good designers and developers in the area. I'll have to gather some URL's for my next post so you can check out some work by my new cronies.

Speaking of contract work and cronies, I'm currently working on an identity project for Function in the UK. Liam McKay needed some help, we began relaying messages, and the rest is history. I'm going global, baby! The time difference across the big pond causes a small issue, but it's nothing we haven't worked around. I'll post the design or a direct link when it's done, which should be... um, soon.

OnWired tapped me on their Blog earlier today. My first article was to be on the transition from print to web design, and the joys its done for me overall as a designer. I know a lot of really talented artists - especially back in Akron - who are either unemployed, underpaid, overworked or hate their job. It's a shame too because they're not alone. Certainly location plays a big part in a job market, but 90% of jobs these days require web experience. Go read it. Get inspired. Become a better designer. Make more money. Keep on keepin' on. Whatever.

JakPrints in Cleveland will soon be holding a few new pieces - Brett Cooper's awesomely clean biz cards + my grad notices. Very cool stuff. I'll do a photo shoot next week as they come in the mail and post 'em up. In the meantime, get a Twitter account - it's not JUST for designers and developers!

Oh Merge, what could have been...

Well, I promised to deliver those Merge website designs as soon as I could and you're in luck - today's that day!

Here's the scoop on why there was a delay: First, OnWired liked the work so much they figured they'd pitch them to the company. Jon Norris knew a person who knew a person - you know the story - and he sent a message along to the proper people within Merge telling them OnWired would do a FREE website for them! OW does websites... good, functional, clean ones... that are expensive... and he offered them the "f-word" to no action. They declined the offer as they were happy with what they had, which is fine - the current site's OK (alas, I can't say the same for the logo). Of course, being the smart businessman he is, Jon never attached the actual designs, so today I get to flaunt my work. Oh Merge, we could have had something great...

Click the two previews to view the full images!

Again, click the two images! Thumbnails = no good. Never fret though readers, because I assure you that one - if not both - of those designs will be seen again (and live) down the road, if you catch my drift.

As for other news, yes, I do have a Twitter! I got a message asking about that just this past weekend. Add me on there if you have one, and get one if you don't. Let's see, I'll be in Atlanta in October for the Webmaster Jam Session with the posse from O-Dub, so come paint the town red with us! I'll be posting pictures of Brett Cooper's new business card design soon too, plus other miscellaneous things in my project queue. Busy, busy. Stop by my portfolio, keep your messages coming and stay tuned!

Twitter!

I made it to Twitter! I opened an account a few weeks back to see what the hype is about, and it’s actually been pretty enjoyable. What is Twitter? A sort of microblog; some people update it every 10 minutes, others once a day. You can only use 140 characters per update, and your cell phone can also make live updates that feed directly into your page. A lot of people down here in NC, mainly designers and developers, have one. It’s a good networking tool, to say the least. You can follow me if you have Twitter, or you should open an account if not!

Checkin' In

Well, in case you hadn’t already seen my website, I was offered the job I wanted at OnWired! It’s been pretty awesome thus far. They have me learning the business ropes a little, doing client sit-downs and that sort of thing, in addition to designing. I see some pretty cool work coming in here over the next few months, so look for direct links to live pages. Go over to the site and check out my profile!

Now before some of my English buddies go off the deep end, I’m still doing print work. I’ve started crunching numbers for a t-shirt release in September or October. I want to get 25 out the door to the people I know would wear them. And these are not going to be some cheap, soon-to-fade cotton cloth either. I’ll splurge, get the first 25 out at-cost, and spread the name. I’ve got a new URL registered just for a sort of trial run for this clothing venture. OnWired itself has some later print work pending, too... I’m sure I’ll be more than involved in that process. There’s a few other things I have on the side, but both are going to be secrets until they’re confirmed - I don’t want to give anybody false hopes, like I did on here a few weeks ago (i.e. Merge).

I finished July with nearly 700 page hits, which is pretty impressive considering I have just one page! Most of my referrals were coming in from this blog URL, actually. How’d they find my blog before the portfolio site? I can’t really explain that one. Thanks to everybody who has taken the time to send me e-mails and check out the site! It means a lot.

I’m off to Raleigh Artspace tonight to check out some sweet local artists and meet with some people, so have a good one!

Update Pending... uh, Tomorrow...

First off, forget the "sneak peak" at the Merge websites I did... I can't exactly show them just yet. There's a Master Plan in the works -- I know people who know people, and there's a few good men who can really help me pitch a working site. We'll see where it goes but I promise I'll keep you all posted, and I apologize for not showing 'em off. Soon though...

I'll be doing a personal site update tomorrow with some new information on it, plus fixing a bug or two. Maybe I'll check out this Twitter thing, too. That's "in" down here. Lots of good stuff to talk about + unveil. Stay glued.

OnWired Invitational vs. Elysium Burns

I hand in the first two web designs to OnWired today, which I've been doing pretty much non-stop since Friday night. Perhaps I'll have to call off the wolves if they offer me the position I want. I wouldn't have to send out anymore "Hire Me, I'm Hungry" packets...

I'm playing ghost. And I have a checklist; just so happens I started at the top of it.

Check back later tonight or tomorrow for the designs, which I'll direct link! In the meantime, I'll be helping my brother get his art portfolio together for college applications. Stay cool!