Table of contents for October 2015 in Computer Arts

SYMPATHY/LIKEABILITY The sympathy/likeability principle of influence posits that people are more prone to be influenced by those they like. In laymen’s terms, make the right impression at the crucial initial presentation stage – it can make or break an idea. AUTHORITY When people feel unsure about a purchase, they look for a testimony from a person with authority on the subject. As a designer, your position of expertise is given – why else would a client commission you? Don’t create an ‘us versus them’ atmosphere though; guiding the client rather than dictating them through the process is key. ULTIMATE TERMS The psychological theory of ‘ultimate terms’ states that certain words carry more power than others. The three categories of persuasive words include ‘god terms’ that demand obedience or carry blessings…

Watermark your work The most obvious way you can prevent your creative work being abused is to watermark it. You might reckon this uglifies your creations in an instant, but only lazy creatives steal, so watermarking has its merits and there’s a reason why stock libraries emblazon their samples. Show off The best way to spot plagiarism is to let the community at large do it for you. Post new work to your site, submit it to showcase blogs, keep your portfolio up-to-date and link to your work on social media. The more people who know your work, the more eyes to spot infringers. Retain proof The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA ) is based on ‘proof of ownership.’ Keeping your project files organised and retaining any correspondence or other…

Reasons a client might reject an idea are manifold – from “reasons with no reasoning behind them”, as Fredrik Ösk from Snask puts it, to simple budget considerations. Naming often elicits powerful reactions that see clients dismissing ideas out of hand, sometimes for a variety of personal reasons rather than considered decision-making, says Why’s James Kent. The fear of failure can also play a part. A particularly daring idea can be perfect for a client, but at the same time push their comfort zone, Kent adds. “The client looks at this and thinks, ‘We are spending quite a bit of budget on this, if I don’t get the ROI I am going to have a very uncomfortable review meeting with my boss. Best play it safe.” Another idea might be…

Don’t use Google Image search Lots of creatives tell us this regularly. It’s impossible to track where images might come from and who owns them once they’re slapped on a mood board, and the slightest error when creating hundreds of project assets can cost you dearly. Don’t take on dodgy work Clients can also be the initiators of copyright issues. If you’re asked to produce something you’re uncomfortable with, or to copy an existing piece of design by a client who has little or no imagination, walk away – not only will these types of projects do your portfolio few favours; it could see you being labelled a design plagiarist. Don’t take chances Freelancers and smaller studios will most likely be supplied assets and key visuals by the client or…

BEVELLED BEGINNING Chris Alexander from Creo Design made this whole project possible. We first met at The Meat creative conference in Aberdeen. I showed him my original illustrations, which had a liquid-gloss look. I wanted the numbers to have pronounced bevels and I was trying to blend in colours that I hadn’t used before. MODEL SEARCH I simplified the vectors to be 3D-modelled. The desired look couldn’t be achieved easily so Chris suggested I find a 3D modelling studio to help. This was surprisingly difficult. Eventually though, I found Hobs Studio in London who were able to model the designs and do the 3D printing for me. 3D PRINTING Hobs Studio provided one 3D print for each number – they were glass-like in appearance and almost transparent. I didn’t want…

WIPO – worldwide The World Intellectual Property Organisation helps you protect your work and resolve copyright breaches. Their Intellectual Property Handbook is an essential read. www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/iprm USPTO – USA The US office for patent and trademark approval also registers copyrightable works. Its Learning and Resources section includes detail on what the Digital Millennium Copyright Act is and how to enforce it. www.uspto.gov Intellectual Property Office – UK The area of the UK government website covers UK copyright and trademark law. It includes detail on what rights you have and how to protect them. www.gov.uk/topic/intellectual-property/copyright. For £25, you can also search to see if you hold the copyright to existing work. www.gov.uk/search-registered-design DACS – UK A not-for-profit artists’ rights organisation which can assist you in collecting unpaid royalties and approaching copyright…