Designer David Sherwin explains 4 important clauses that should be included in your contracts.

Clause #3: Designer will be paid for [services rendered] with the following schedule. First payment is due before work will begin on [name of first deliverable]...

In plain language: Don't offer credit to any new client, no matter what. Provide a payment schedule that mandates a payment in advance of each phase.

Why would you use this clause? Because you should never do work for a client without a deposit. That is, unless you have credit to extend to everyone you work with, you can cover three to four months of your overhead without a cashflow issue, you can afford to give clients room to balk at payment due to issues that you can't control, and you can otherwise live in fear of closing a deal because your client is having liquidity issues of their own but still wants to work with you. Can't you just be a little more flexible in the payment schedule?

The answer here should be a gentle but firm no. If they can't pay you up front to start your project, then you're already hearing the warning bells about how the upcoming work might play out. If they're a long-term client, then this becomes less of an issue as you establish credit terms. And if you're really concerned, you can run a credit check on your client to be sure they can pay that $200,000 fee. This is not outside the realm of possibility for any designer to conduct, especially when you are looking to secure large-scale projects.

Posted by Megan

I had the pleasure of joining hosts Nate Voss and Donovan Beery (and our friend Steve Gordon) for their Reflex Blue Show podcast. Thanks, guys!

The Smithsonian's Cooper Hewitt, National Design Museum, announced the winners of this year's National Design Awards. Complete info here.

Lifetime Achievement: Bill Moggridge

Design Mind: Amory B. Lovins

Corporate Achievement: Walker Art Center
Finalists: Dwell Magazine and Heath Ceramics

Architecture Design: SHoP Architects
Finalists: Architecture Research Office and Michael Maltzan

Communication Design: The New York Times Graphics Department
Finalists: Hoefler & Frere-Jones and Project Projects

Fashion Design: Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein Collection
Finalists: Thom Browne and Rodarte

Interaction Design: Perceptive Pixel Inc
Finalists: Potion and Lisa Strausfeld

Interior Design: TsAO & McKOWN Architects
Finalists: Ali Tayar and Work AC

Landscape Design: Hood Design
Finalists: Andrea Cochran and Rios Clementi Hale Studios

Product Design: Boym Partners
Finalists: Salvor Projects and Smart Design

For all the cool Moms out there, Hammerpress has just released three new Mother's Day cards in their unique style.


For my own cool Mom, I just ordered a tiny Mother's Day card from the World's Smallest Postal Service.


Also, Etsy has a special Mother's Day showcase where you can find lots of handmade goodies, including these custom silhouette necklaces.

Posted by Megan

Senior Experience Designer
Crispin Porter + Bogusky, Boulder, CO

Crispin Porter + Bogusky is looking for crazy thinkers to join the Experience Design team, on a senior level at our Boulder, CO headquarters. Candidates for this position must have a strong foundation in information architecture, a keen eye for design, and a portfolio site that we’d want to make babies with.

We're pretty much a playground for people with ADD. No really, we’re serious - in the sense that if you are a person with multiple skills and passions, we probably have in-house outlets for all of them. We have teams of industrial designers, experience designers, over 40 developers, and various designers and technologists all working in an incredibly collaborative environment, concepting and prototyping together.

Current clients include: Microsoft, Volkswagen, Domino's Pizza, Hulu, Burger King, Coke Zero, Old Navy, Geek Squad, Best Buy, Guitar Hero, and Alliance.

We work on an array of channels: xbox, web, mobile, industrial/product design, interactive retail environments, etc. We're fascinated by the intersection of channels and disciplines, and look for people who are open to blurring the lines and experimenting with us.

Posted by Megan

Illustrator Brent Hardy-Smith is collecting vintage illustrations as part of his research for a master's degree in design and art direction. One of the treasures he's so kindly scanned, is a series of chapter headings from a 1958 version of The Wizard of Oz, illustrated by Maraja. The hand-rendered type is inspirational.


via designworklife

Posted by Megan

Design Director
Kraft Foods, Tarrytown, NY

Design and Innovation is transforming as Kraft relaunches itself and is critical to success. We are on the journey to making Design a competitive advantage across Kraft and making a difference to the business.

DESIGN DIRECTOR - In this role, you have the opportunity to lead and participate in creating a new experiential vocabulary for the brands in the Beverage Category. You will be providing innovative direction for the Design organization in our Beverage Business Unit (BU). Along with your staff, you will also lead design initiatives across the Beverage BU including some of Kraft’s iconic brands. You will partner with cross-functional team members in Research & Development, Marketing, and Consumer Insights & Services while reporting directly to the President of the Grocery BU.

Posted by Megan

Plazm Thread is a new T-shirt-of-the-month club of limited-edition designs, curated and delivered by Portland-based design firm Plazm and buyolympia.

Six incredible original designs delivered to your  door, once a month, for just $99. Whenever a month passes? That shirt  goes out of print, period. It's gone. So get 'em while they're fresh:  truly limited edition Plazm Thread t-shirts.

We're kicking off with a special alien abduction theme, designed by  Art Chantry. Orders for shirt No. 1 close June 1, 2009. Subscribe now and also receive one-of-a-kind shirts from Kate Moross, Ed Fella, Hannah Stouffer and two more artists to be announced soon.

Posted by Megan

FOH Steve Gordon just sent over a link to preview the sweet, limited-edition T-shirt he's planning to produce for the HOW Conference. We're digging the typolicious design.

Get some vintage type inspiration from Unicorn Graphics' Wood Type Museum.

via Craft

Posted by Megan