Richie Evans - Blogs - Good or Bad?

Continuing emailing students regarding blogs, I got in touch with a student called Richie Evans.

Richie, like the other two, goes to the University of Wales. 

Questions and Answers;

1. When participating in a group/individual blog, how do you find it? Do you enjoy it and why?

I usually come across interesting blogs when I see links on sites such as psdtuts.com or other design tutorial sites, just to look at what other work they've got to show, or what great music videos or animation that are out there that some people will never get the chance to see on MTV or of course be quite difficult to find on youtube, also what designs or designers interest them in the world of creative communication. But most blogs sites I usually visit do cause a spark of inspiration that I use in my University work or freelance work.

2. I've found that a lot of student's aren't safe with putting there design work up on blogs due to the idea getting stolen. How do you find this? Are you happy to put your work up?

I'm always happy to show my work, but if other students think they've got a design to good 'they must COPYRIGHT it' then expose there great idea/design upon the world which will give them good marks with other designers and bloggers of the world - that is a number one rule in my book and students shouldn't think of it as their work being 'stolen' but 'to inspire others'.

3. Are you pressured into doing a blog, or do you just want to do it to get yourself noticed and more involved with topics?

We are not pressured into doing a blog in Uni but our lecturers do tell us to do a 'reflective journal' in any form of media (PowerPoint display, a book or even a blog) just to show everyone in our year that each individual likes world of design.

But blogs are not the only way to get noticed online, there are many ways to get involved with topics such as

- Competitions on psdtuts.com that somehow all the work is submitted through flickr.com for all the designers to keep in contact with each other.

- www.logosauce.com - a site where designers come together and compare simple brand/logo designs and other interesting competitions that help designers get noticed for their hard graft.

- designerscouch.org - a site that is basically free, the facebook of designers - this site is great to show off your work and get great advice from professional designers across the world.

Apart from entering competition, you can find jobs suitable for your taste of design but my favourite part is when you apply - you don't simply apply like any other site but you have to send them 5 pieces of your work before you are accepted on the site... basically these guys are professionals and they want talent.

4. What do you find positive and negative about having a blog?

I don't think there is anything negative about blogs but you can have negative bloggers which are always amusing (well maybe for me) but blogs are inspirational, creative, and communicates well to the world of design. Maybe the only thing negative about blogs is top up the pages with more work that can kill off alot of time haha