The lighter side of marketing • 4/365 •

After yesterday's emergency blog, I thought I would lighten things up a bit. It was fun coming up with these ... please share yours if you have some good ones!

How many graphic designers does it take to change a lightbulb?

White space signifies a working lightbulb best, so how about just the word "change" in 14 pt Helvetica Light Compressed, just right of center? 

How many social media experts does it take to change a lightbulb?

You can't expect the lightbulb to change just because you're there, you've got to have a conversation with it and develop a relationship. Then change can be allowed to happen organically.

How many Facebook users does it take to change a lightbulb?

That depends if you're talking about a lightbulb on the wall of a "fan" page, a "profile" page, or a "business" page, and you may or may not know it even needs changing, depending on your notification settings and number of friends.

How many creatives does it take to change a lightbulb?

Why does it have to be a lightbulb?

How many artists does it take to change a lightbulb?

Ooh, it's all smokey! Wait, don't change it, that's really cool. Let me photograph/paint/draw it first! 

How many art historians does it take to change a lightbulb?

Eleven: One to change the lightbulb,

five to show earlier versions that influenced it, 

and five to say the changing was actually done by the changers' apprentice.

How many SEO experts does it take to change a lightbulb?

First you have to fix the directions. They aren't labeled, tagged, coded and prioritized properly. A burned-out lightbulb in the dark will never be found otherwise.

How many PR reps does it take to change a lightbulb?

The "Sparkle in the Dark" event will be sponsored by a dozen businesses who donate their time and tools to the effort, and part of the proceeds from recycling the old bulb go to charity.

Emergencies are for the White House, not graphic design • 3/365 •

Blogging from the ER... what dedication, huh? As my son lies on a bed next to me, watching TV and having a breathing treatment, I am writing in my notebook. I will type it into my blog when I get home and settled tonight. I'm committed to 365 days of blogging this year, after all. No skimping.

It's been an emergency kind of day. 7:40 am: my boyfriends FedEx package from England containing his medication is held up in customs. 9:20 am: my studio partner quits with six days until rent is due. 10:30 am: pick up my son from school because he isn't breathing well. 4:00 pm: my Mom can't take the kids to dance after all because something came up. 8:30 pm: my son needs to go to the ER because his allergies are kicking his ass. In between all of those times: deal with those things and try to get anything done on today's to-do list.

Rough day. As bad as it sounds, though, things get handled and it's not much different than a lot of workdays can be. Graphic design emergencies happen all the time. Seriously. Many days there are "I-need-this-graphic-design-right-away-or-my-company-will-be-in-ruins" interruptions, along with unplanned revisions and a project I just can't say no to even if it means doing it in the middle of the night. There is a constant juggling, day after day, that never lets me finish my to-do list. Of course, I get more done than just what's on my list too, so maybe I'm getting ahead, maybe I'm right on track, or then again maybe I'm behind. 

It all averages out in the end. If everyone's real needs get met, if my commitments are honored, if quality work turns out, I'm happy. After all, it's not the White House or a hospital. It's just advertising. They really aren't "graphic design emergencies" because somehow even though there isn't enough time to do it the first time, there is always time to RE-do it if there's a mistake. Plan, be proactive, then handle the rest as it comes.

Besides, I'll make up for it at midnight.