Hello everyone!

Please pay attention to this message, it’s a big one. In about one week, Nov 11th, I will be taking this site in a new direction. This will mean that I will be removing all downloads, tutorials, and most of the articles. If there is anything you want or need, please grab it now!

As for the new site – well, I’m pretty excited about it. I’ve decided to combine FirgsFolio and DBF into one site that will contain information on my branding and consulting services as well as a new portfolio with new pieces to display. Included in the new site will be articles focusing on business tips and tricks for freelancers.

Although I will miss the old format, I know this is a great and much needed decision. I hope, when the new site goes live, that everyone else will see that too.

If you have any questions about the downloads or how to locate what you would like to have, please feel free to email me. The address is found on my About page.

Much love and thanks,

~Firgs

Editor’s Note: Well, as you can see, the proposed date didn’t happen. It seems that I have run into some technical glitches with the new design and it may take me to the middle of next week, due to pre-commited engagements, to get the issues resolved. So, while that may be bad news for me, it’s good news for you! There is still time to grab goodies before they are gone for good!

Here are some of my favorites if you haven’t seen them yet:

Alpha Typewriter Keys Brush Set – Retro Pattern Pack – Snowflake Shape Pack – Premium Layer Style Pack – 66 Bright Web Buttons – Wood Texture Backgrounds – Oblong Buttons – PSD: The White Out Portrait – PSD: Recoloring Black Clothing – Color Correction Quick Fix – Working With Typography I – Working With Typography II – Working With Typography III

We all have our stories, this is mine. Keep reading →

Hey gang!

It looks like I goofed. My head has been so far into work, projects, and other such things that I missed it when OXP published my new article in JUNE! Whoops! Here’s the link so that you can check it out if you also missed it. It’s called “Three Simple Steps For Keeping Clients Happy.”

This is my fourth article for OneXtraPixel and I am so excited to be writing for them. Lucky for me, they feel the same way and would like me to write more! Yey!

But that makes me curious – What would you like to read about? What kinds of problems are you running into with your freelancing career? What do you need advice on?

Let me know in the comments and I’ll see what I can come up with. I would love to hear from you!

Thanks everyone!

~Firgs

David Airey is the author of the well known book Logo Design Love – a book that I just happened to review last week. To my surprise, David not only read the review, but also stopped to talk to me about it. He left me with the impression of being a real class act, so I thought I would see if I could talk him into an interview as well. Again to my surprise, he agreed. Keep reading →

Logo Design Love is one of the hottest books on the market for designers. There is a reason for this – it’s a solid book with good information and it has an amazing marketing campaign behind it. But, after reading it, I’m wondering if it’s really as amazing as the all of the hype surrounding it. The book left me with mixed feelings and kind of a 70/30 sense of what this review should be like. Usually, I either love a book or I don’t want to have anything to do with it. This one left me somewhere in the middle and not feeling strongly about either side. Keep reading →

Recently, I met a woman that was trying to collect soap for a shelter. Not food, not money, not even volunteers. Just soap. I was confused – “Why just soap?” I asked her. She went on to not only tell me the answer that I seeked, but also to open my eyes. Keep reading →

A while back, I did a review of a trip being planned for photographers that was to be hosted by one of my favorite photographers and authors. Even though I am not a photographer, I think a little part of me always wishes that I was and I envy those that are. To top it off, the trip was to take place in Italy. It’s been a life-long dream of mine to visit this fine country and soak up it’s beauty and culture. When I read about the trip, a little sigh of longing escaped my lips. It came as no surprise to me that the trip was a huge success. So much so, that the hosts, David duChemin and Jeffery Chapman, decided to do it again this year.

Over the weekend, tragedy struck when David took a nasty fall that left him with broken bones in his feet, hands, and hip. It is no doubt that he is facing surgery and a very long and painful recovery. My heart aches for him. However, I have a feeling that this is not the last we will see of David. Passion for his craft runs deep, far, and wide, within him. If you don’t believe me, read the article he posted to his website just before the accident took place.  It’s an ironic, and yet pointed piece about how all passion comes with some risk, and sometimes, most of the time, the risk is well worth the trouble.

Knowing David and reading that as the accident happened he was begging people in the group to take pictures, I am sure that not only will he recover and get back to his passion, but that he has no regrets. From this he will rise and make the most of it. Something even tells me that he is passing out photography tips to nurses and doctors from his hospital bed as I write this.

But all of this makes me wonder – am I as passionate about my career as David is for his? Could I put my life at risk for it? Some may say that I already have with the multiple herniated disks in my spine that I have received from sitting so much. But would I stand on the edge of a cliff for it? Would you?

Think about it.

This week, I taught my first class on networking. In the class I talked about one thing that I think all freelancers and business owners should never be without – a community of like minds. By surrounding yourself with people who understand what you are trying to accomplish, be it technical, legal, strategical, emotional, or personal, you gain strength in yourself and your craft. These people will become your network, your support for times that you are sick, your ‘go to’ place for when you are in need of information, for when you are at the end of your rope and don’t know where to go next, and for when you are at the top of your game and just want someone to celebrate with. Also, if you get active within your community and give back as much as you get, it will come back to you in ways you could never predict or imagine.

How do I know this? I speak from experience. My community is the National Association of Photoshop Professionals or NAPP community, but more specifically, the NAPP Forum community and it’s one that I think more people aught to know about. In order for me to introduce you to my community properly though, you are about to see something that has never been done before. I’m going to give you a sneak peek at what really goes on in the NAPP Forums without you having to sign up for membership.

*Please note that I did get special permission from NAPP staff for this post! NAPP is aware of the images I am using and they are behind me 100%.

Keep reading →

Hi all!

I’ve been starting to get a lot of emails about the content here on Design By Firgs and how it can be used. So let me just clear this up once and for all…

All DOWNLOAD content (with the exception of any stock photos used in tutorials) is free for personal and commercial use but, I do, and would, appreciate any link backs, credit or by-lines that you can provide. HOWEVER, that being said, my work is NOT available to be sold or redistributed as is. For example: If you take a set of my web graphics and try to sell or redistribute the pack AS IS, just with your name on it and I catch you doing this – that is theft! Be warned that I keep all original PSD files and embed meta data into ALL of my work. I can prove that I am the original designer of all work uploaded to this site at any given time and you will be asked to remove my work from your website. If you do not, I am prepared to pursue with legal action.

Almost all of the graphics, unless stated otherwise, have been designed for screen viewing only and I take no responsibility for any printing issues should you decide to use the graphic for a print job. If you see one of my graphics that you like and would like to have a larger version of it for print, please contact me. I can redesign anything here for print, but it will be done so at my standard designing fees.

All graphics will remain here on this site for everyone to use and if you are interested in obtaining exclusive rights to an image or design, I’m sorry but I can not provide that for you. However, I am more than happy to have you hire me to design something for you that you could have exclusive rights to, and if this were the case than my designing rates would apply.

If you are looking to republish one of my ARTICLES or TUTORIALS, you MUST include a link back and attribute me as the original author. If you are interested in having me write for you or your website, I would be happy to talk to you but I do charge for my writing services and a fee will have to be negotiated.

Please send all further questions or design inquiries to datchicfirgs on gmail and I will be happy to answer them.

Thank you for the compliments! I appreciate the interest and support!! I am very glad you are all enjoying my work.

~Firgs

Hi all!

Just wanted to give you the low down on my new adventure. Starting February 21st, I will be teaching classes via webinar over on Bernskiold Media.

The first class is going to be called “Basic Principles for Marketing and Networking”. You can find all of the information for it here. Space is limited and we already have quite a few people signed up, so register early!!

Hope to see you there!