Being an IT Manager, I don't often get the opportunity to stretch my creative side at work. Yes, I do the web design for the company as well as things like business cards and some promotional material but that's a rare occurrence, mostly I am doing battle with a server, trying to get stubborn software to work the way the user wants it, dealing with security issues and that kind of stuff. Of course, if it weren't for that "stuff" I wouldn't have a paycheck but I often times myself screaming for a creative outlet.
That's when I color my website orange and blue (ya, I know, I'll be fixing that soon) or buy another domain just to play with a new design or, sometimes, I enter logo design contests.
To be honest, I don't win often. My designs are too complex for the web 2.0 crowd and most times, too realistic I think. People want simple and while I'm out jogging my creativity around the web I can't restrain myself - but I have fun, and invariably learn something along the way.
However, I did recently win a logo contest - apparently it was one of the rare occasions that the contest holder was of a similar thinker, and then went on to do the web design as well. The upside is that I get credited for the design on the site - the downside is that the owner has taken over and, well, quite honestly is making a mess! (I hope he's not reading!)
So, what do you do when you've done a design, handed it over and the owner starts using very large type in a decorative font, or only uses the design for part of the site? The way the content appears on the page is equally important as the design itself and can ruin the look of a page if it's not done well.
There really isn't much you can do.... but I think in this case I might go and change my credit to "Logo by Kaediem" because at least that still looks good.
You can see that logo and others on my Logo Design Portfolio page
