Project Packrat

Sometimes a project takes longer than you want it to, but EHL Creations is finally good as done. It's not active yet, but I'll post the link when it is.

Hording is usually a habit that needs some intervention and serious counseling, but where a graphic design project is concerned, it's an excellent way to catalog  your work process and file away resources for future use. My style of art involves a lot of searching (both online and physical) for  graphic elements that I can incorporate into my project. In the end, I always have a lot of leftover images that I don't use, including draft designs that don't make the final cut. I would not dream of tossing them away.  Every image is a gem, and every concept is an idea that can help inspire a future project ... really ... I'm not kidding.

The great thing about most of my work is that my resources, in some form, always end up digital. Even hand-painted or constructed pieces eventually go through my scanner. Digital images and files do not create clutter ... well, as long as you don't save your files in 10 different folders. It's common sense to keep all your project-related files in one folder. Follow this single rule, and after you are done, your project folder will effectively double as an archive. Everything should be organized in the project folder ... sub-folders for resources, working files, finished images, documents, etc ... should be labeled clearly. Because all the items are related, the "archived" folder is themed -- and easier to reference when you're looking for a certain style.

EHL Creation's folder is a perfect example. If you click on the image above for a larger version, the hierarchy of all the project elements are clear. I only used a fraction of what I compiled in the resources folder ... grabbing images, scanning visuals as my creative process dictated. It's not a waste of time. If I was to update the site, I'd have a ready library to dip into. If I need a retro looking frog or some antique designs for a different project, I would know exactly where to look ... "Oh I remember that EHL site had lotsa old pictures ..." Better yet, many of the images will have been prepped, resized and vectorized -- making my work easier.

My next big project is Fisticuffs, a site with similar design elements as EHL Creations ... and a spot-on example of how resources can be recycled and shared in order to create something totally different.

I'm also working on a simple site for Happy Heads DC, a charity that knits and collects hats for underprivileged kids. That'll be my weekend project.