Full Blog Functionality Coming Soon!
-- March 16, 2008
By Alex Noe
What does CreativeHUB offer?
We at CreativeHub thought that it was a good time to give you all a tour of what our site is all about. Here is a little more detail on the functionality we have now and will have soon!
Promote and Sell Your Work
Find and browse the portfolios of top ranked creative professionals by location. Users are able to publish their own Public Page with an easy to remember, unique URL to promote their work for free! Work in user's portfolios can be displayed in our Marketplace where interested buyers and fellow creatives will provide feedback, rate and buy their work.
The Network map allows you to easily browse any location in the world and view the region's Top 10 members. These rankings are based on each members HUB rating, which is based primarily on the ratings a users work receives, how many Projects they have won and positive feedback received from clients and former employers. The HUB rating is constantly being improved to ensure that the most qualified creatives are rated the highest.
Find Full and Part Time Creative Professionals
You can use the Job Board to perform live searches for and receive updates on full time job listings in the creative field. Employers are able to search for qualified candidates based on their HUB rating, ensuring that they are the most qualified creative professionals available. Our Find a Freelancer tool allows employers to not only search for qualified freelancers, but receive bids only from qualified creative professionals seeking freelance work.
Develop Creative Work
Business can post Projects and receive submissions from members of our creative community, any work that is selected for purchase or as a Top 10 entry gives the member a boost to their HUB rating. Ownership of submissions which are purchased will be transfered to the business, all other submissions will be displayed in the Marketplace where the creative will be given another opportunity to sell it.
-- March 9, 2008
By Dustin Schwartz
Art Schools supporting jobs or supporting art?
Do you know what a BFA stands for? Well it doesn’t have anything to with being best friends always or Roosevelt’s New Deal. Well as I’m sure most people know the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree commonly known as a BFA is not only the coolest sounding undergrad degree (beats my BS in Economics, seriously how did the powers that be let that one slip) but it also has the fastest growth rate of all undergrad degrees; growing at a much faster rate than standard BA degrees (when you control for population growth). Not that the creative industry was tough to make a career in before (who’s ever heard of a struggling artist?) but this influx of interest should certainly change the scene as we know it. Of course, most of the interest is in Graphic Design positions which is absolutely necessary as advertising is moving to desire more creative design and concepts and internet advertising keeps charging on in to places unknown. If you need more proof that graphic design is taking over the collegiate world, just search “Graphic Design” at any popular search engine (I’m over Google, try MsDewey.com … genius) and witness all the hits for new programs at brick and mortar institutions as well as all kinds of online degrees available for the savvy future logo makers (they wish).
I don’t think anyone would deny that graphic design should be covered by art schools and not per say, be part of the business school. But this trend will bring a lot more commercialization to art schools which bring attitudes and intentions in to question as art institutions are becoming much more main stream (even depicted in mainstream movies a la Art School Confidential). Not that every artist wants to make a living selling their art but should classes be taught to that effect? Will art classes lose their self-expressionism and style enhancing motives and instead be replaced by trendy, dollar bill catching Russian, comic book style painting? Everyone knows that universities are motivated by money, especially by wealthy future alums who will give back to their beloved alma mater. This obviously gives incentives to hire professors who will teach their students the profitable ways and not necessarily the expressionism that separates wealthy artists from great artists (ideally the two being one in the same but how often does that happen?). The choice should be up to the individual on how to pursue their artistic endeavors and not be forced to be cookie cut in to financial profitability for their school’s well being. Money isn’t everything … right?
-- March 2, 2008
By Dustin Schwartz
Farewell sweet Polaroids, you Kings of New England.
Alas it has finally happened. The day we all knew was coming but just hoped would never actually arrive has come, Polaroid film is no more. And thousands of voices around the world scream out in anguish ... well probably more like hundreds (else Polaroid wouldn't be shut down) as Polaroid is retired once and for all, conquered by it's younger, better looking and more talented little brother digital camera. Like a story right out of Greek mythology, ah yes, like Zeus over throwing Cronus up high on Mount Olympus, the once mighty Polaroid did not stand a chance. Not even the sweet grooves of Outcast could save Polariod with their shout in the best song of the century "Hey Ya" ... that's right, there will be no more shaking it like a Polaroid picture. Not exactly much of a shocker but still down right sad, sort of like when I had to put down my cat Maceo after weeks of kitty leukemia.
So no more instant tangible gratification (instant in the sense of right in your hand, takes forever for those pictures to actually develop), fun times shaking and writing captions. I know small but in memoriam my most memorable experiences with Polaroids will ne'er be forgotten. Ah yes, I can remember them like it was yesterday thanks to the help of the pictures still stored in my desk. Beach trip '05 full of ponchos, sombreros, blankets and just a little love? For the clever small company investor, big opportunity to develop a cheaper process for manufacturing Polaroid film for all the die hard users out there. Produced on a smaller scale, sold solely through the internet and ignoring conventional channels will prove lucrative enough to maintain that dark room you've always wanted.
-- February 25, 2008
By Dustin Schwartz
Removable tattoo ink and other innovations are changing modern arts. But for better or worse?
When the master mind professors Richard R. Anderson and Edith Mathiowitz of Hardvard and Brown University respectively get together great things happen, maybe the greatest achievement to date of both esteemed universities is their discovery of removable tattoo ink. Never again will a young renegade have to listen to his/her parents lecture on about tattoos sagging with skin and how I won't be able to get a good job ... but is this really a good thing? Tattoos have always been a permanent, personal expression (less 4-12 laser surgery treatments) and now any rowdy frat boy could get his current girl friend's named inked on the bicep without a second thought. The convenience of tattoos now could cheapen the self-expression, no longer a commitment than something that is cool for a while but, like a piercing, when it's time to grow up just take it off.
Of course, tattoos just scratch the surface of this issue (pun intended). As digital cameras flourish (and eradicate Polaroids once and for all, R.I.P.) and Macs keep up their clever ads and sleek designs, Johnny and Jane Everyteen will continue to buy them, learn their P's and Q's of Adobe software and become part-time designers and photographers. The expansion of technical expertise is inevitable and will ever widen the gap between technically sound designers and the creative crew with more insightful ideas. My initial position on this question is that the proliferation of artistic materials would cheapen the art forms and would overall hurt the community by the presence of too many hacks and wannabes. However, I've come to the conclusion that it won't hurt at all. In fact, it could probably help by exposing a greater population to the creative arts and increasing the talent pool. In the end, the talented will get their jobs and the hobbyists will Photoshop Mittens in to famous pictures of F.D.R. Therefore I have no more qualms with people with only a vague interest in design and photography buying all the fancy gear and software. It's their money and if my economics serves me right, the increased demand will shift supply and lower prices in the long term. Short term I'm over, Limewire will take care of prices for the time being. Coincidentally I'm also for file sharing, go figure. Via la revolution!
--February 18, 2008
By Dustin Schwartz
Stretching Budgets Tighter than your Jeans: Guide to Cool and Thrifty
Maybe the biggest perk to being an artisan and member of the creative community is that you are constantly looked to, to decide what’s cool, hip and in style. Really what the lay person hasn’t figured out yet is that everything that’s cool usually starts out as being very thrifty. For instance, there’s nothing cool about riding bikes around town instead of driving or using public transit (yeah that’s right Al Gore I said it), but it is a great way to save some extra cash on transportation expenses from fares, gas, insurance, etc. And all riding bikes really needed to make it trendy was to roll up the jeans just past the ankles for that uber-indie look.
As for shopping, the thrift has always been in style. Finding gems amongst the thrift store rough has become a well respected talent only belonging to the coolest and hippest of people. This recognition goes to such lengths that people make their entire careers out of pro-thrift store shopping. This is true; those with the eye for the color will buy up the hip clothes at stores and will then put them up for resale at ‘vintage stores’ at marked up prices.
‘Thrifting’ doesn’t stop with clothing. What food you buy, eat or just decide to keep at your house for show will affect your trendy levels. I don’t know a single artisan whose favorite grocery store is not Trader Joe’s. With their off the beaten path pudding mixes, fresh fruit and wide variety of soy offerings, it’s really no wonder why. The best evidence I can give is that in fact, there is a Trader Joe’s at Union Square in New York City, perhaps the most ‘scene’ square in America. Also featured at Union Square for those lucky creative individuals is my favorite adult beverage store, the Trader Joe’s Wine Shoppe. This store features Trader Joe’s private brand of wines that go as low as $3 per bottle. Speaking of adult beverages, only the hip crowd could put Pabst Blue Ribbon back in the spotlight for its adequate taste but bottom drawer prices, thrusting the acronym PBR in to the vernacular of anyone who wants to be in the “in-crowd” at their local scene bar.
Of course this is all for the best, artists get to save their money up for the latest version of Adobe, their subscription to Getty Images, and to pay the rent for their loft in the cool part of town. Thus far this entry has been more descriptive than guiding, so here it goes: the next time you want to save some money, just roll up your pants, make up a sweet nick name and you’ll have yourself a new, cost effective trend in no time! I hope in time fake Rolex’s are all the rage because then I’ll be really, really ahead of the curve.
--February 14, 2008
By Dustin Schwartz
Valentine’s Day and only one lowsy painting?
It’s not necessary to hate Valentine’s Day or to love it but if you have some kind of marketable talent, I hope you have some work ready for your near and dear ones. Does it seem fair to anyone else that, in my case for instance, if I do not write some clever prose or a cute story for my old lady that I have somehow disappointed? I could show up with flowers, candy and jewelry but if I do not somehow include something I wrote then it will all be for nothing and I’d see that all too familiar look of disappointment in her eyes as she claims it’s “the thought counts” and leaves me baffled to what I did wrong. That story may be real of fictional or what happened last year but the point is clear, if you have some artistic way to express yourself, you best be expressing your feelings via your medium on Valentine’s Day.
I would like to say this is true for both the sexes but it’s not for two reasons: first, and I’m generalizing, guys could not care one way or other, about traditional or emotional gifts on Valentine’s Day. And two, again making a generalization, women probably would think to express their emotions through their craft so they’re covered. Writers even have it easy, not that writing is easy but if need be I could whip up a heart busting limerick in no time flat. I feel bad for the sculptors and photographers. Certainly not art forms that you could make do in only one day.
In conclusion, for everyone who did take the time to do something especially thoughtful and expressive, kudos. That’s all. Happy Valentine’s Day everyone.
--February 9, 2008
By Dustin Schwartz
Real Designers Don’t Need Sleep
Even more than sending design work to the new intern, businesses love to hire out freelance work to the designer who is going to get the work done as fast as possible with the best quality. Thus creates the compulsion for designers to sit for long hours in front of the computer screen, writing flash and drinking near deadly doses of coffee until you get those all too familiar heart palpitations and hunger pangs by trying to finish a 5 minute animation overnight. What I want to know is there a monetary value that can be associated with sleep deprivation? How about caffeine induced heart murmurs? Probably not, but there definitely should be. Maybe. But thanks to those insomnia ridden designers out there, it has become absolutely necessary to be able to do quality work at all hours of the night. If only it was possible to unionize, the Graphic Designers’ Guild, GDG, copyrighted. Of course, that probably would just lead to more jobs going overseas so, I’m sorry to say it, but we’re stuck in our current situation and might as well make the best of it. So here it is, my favorite non-caffeine related ways to not only stay awake but stay focused when you’re stuck staying up late at night. Use at your own discretion.
- Classic cold water to the face, well maybe not so classic. I’m talking about a pitcher of water with some cubes in it, dumped over the head. Nice shock to the system will get the ants out of your pants and you’ll be able to uncross your eyes and straighten those lines.
- 8 Minute Abs! You might have bags under your eyes but who will be looking at your face while you’re showing off your rock hard abs. Whenever the sandman starts to get the best in you just pop in this classic work out in to the VHS and prepare for abdominal domination! (tried with buns of steel but doesn’t get the same effect, just makes you want to sit/lay down)
- Rock it xHardXCorex! No one can fall asleep when they’re rocking out to whaling vocals and double bass drums (honest, I’ve tried) so a few suggested titles Comeback Kid – Wake the Dead, HORSE the Band – Bunnies, DragonForce – Call of the Brave. Now you aren’t required to listen to the whole songs (like I do) as much as turn the speakers up to a reasonably high decibel and hit play (also helps you if have the hiccups). Be considerate of your flat mates if you have them and use your headphones or else you won’t only be awake but very annoying. … Ok I secede that thrashing guitars isn’t for everyone so my correlate to this suggestion comes straight out of Tokyo, that’s right J-POP! Try to not be awake and happy while listening to the catchy beats of Japanese pop. Again if you don’t know where to start look up Puffy AmiYumi and have yourself a blast.
- On a similar shocking note, if you’re one who likes to have the tube on, try putting in some zombie flicks. Night of the Living Dead is my personal fav’, but really any will work and here’s why: they’re not as scary as they are funny. They’ll keep you awake as zombies pop up but you won’t get too in to the movie, allowing you to focus a little more on your project. Added benefit the weirdness of the movie might just help you get a little more creative, and who knows, that might be true!
- Last but certainly not least, take a field trip to your local diner and get the special. Besides charming company, you’ll get a fine meal at bottom of the barrel prices. Shout out to my local midnight eatery, the Tom Jones and their Blue Ribbon Special. Get this two pieces of bacon, 2 sausages, 2 eggs any way you want, 2 pancakes, 2 toast, juice and unlimited coffee/tea (I know I said no caffeine, deal with it, you don’t have to drink it) at the low, low price of $2.95. If you know of a better special (not possible) please share the wealth.
Well that’s about it for me, of course, you’re going to be drinking the caffeine but remember this, Red Bull works a lot better if you’re moving around so make sure to do some jumping jacks immediately after drinking to get that real good buzz. Enjoy!
--February 5, 2008
By Dustin Schwartz
Obsessed with Macs or just Obsessive?
By now everyone has seen (and I’m sure for more than half of the designers out
there already have one on preorder) the new MacBook Air. Now I know it would
be breaking some kind of designer commandment to not have a Mac but the Air
might be going a bit too far. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure it’s a fine machine,
works well and will move off the shelves like hot cakes (else Mr. Jobs wouldn’t
be selling it), but how much benefit is it really going to give over the, in
my opinion, already incredibly thin MacBook? Well let’s get our hands dirty and
look at the specs back-to-back:
First up, size and weight, and to be honest the Air is an improvement but by a mere 0.24”. Check out these pictures provided by the good people at Apple Computers. Pictures and presentations can be deceiving huh?
But now let’s get to what designers really need, processing and memory! (Don’t you just love having the entire Adobe Suite open at once?)
The fully vamped up MacBook Pro features 2.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4MB on-chip shared L2 cache running 1:1 with processor speed. Then give it 2GB of PC2-5300 DDR2 memory; capable of up to 4GB (I know those words impress me).
So for the Air we have an Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 4MB on-chip shared L2 cache running at full processor speed with a max of 1.8GHz for processing and 2GB of 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM. … Basically, you’ll be losing 0.8GHz processing (and $3000) and a significant amount of memory.
So lastly, the largest screen size you’re getting with the Air is 13” whereas the Pro gives you options of 15” or 17”. And let’s face it, bigger is better.
Not too mention the loss of a built in camera and the feeling that it won’t break if you pile a book or two on it, the Air really isn’t giving the designer what s/he is looking for in a computer. So I mean, the Air will fit ever so nicely in to your messenger bags but I say keep your $3000 in the bank … or go out and buy yourself a new 10-speed. I know that the computer does not make the designer and it’s about time people started considering you will not lose jobs if you do not have the most up to date Mac lap top, especially one that’s essentially a downgrade.