Category: design

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4 Tips on Becoming a Designer

A friend asked me how I learnt to do ‘design stuff’. The truth is, I didn’t one day sit down and plan on learning design stuff. I just gradually got better at making youth group flyers. Quite a functional way to learn! Below is my response to my friend.

  1. Just have a go. If you want to design stuff, just start designing stuff. You’ll probably suck. That’s okay. That’s how you learn to do it better. Have you got Microsoft Publisher? Have a go. Have you got any of the sweet Adobe Design software? Have a go. Got nothing? Download GIMP for free and… have a go!
  2. Look for online tutorials. If you start to progress, you can then find stacks of free online tutorials. Just google them. You’ll find more than enough to keep you busy increasing your skills.
  3. Follow a design blog. Lots to choose from. My tip? SMASHING MAGAZINE. It has galleries you can get ideas from. Free fonts. Free backgrounds. Free tutorials.
  4. Comic Sans font should be illegal. Save yourself grief. Don’t touch it. It’s ugly.

This post might also be useful: Top 5 websites for making free church graphics

Any tips to add?

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Don’t Want to be a Corinthian Idiot + 4 Tips on Youth Podcasting

Scott Petty and Nicky Baker are my favourite Youth Pastors. They’re doing great work with Christ Church Youth in St Ives, Sydney. The current series they are teaching is from 1 Corinthians, Don’t Want to be a Corinthian Idiot. Check out the intro video below:

Check out the podcast. Subscribe in iTunes. Check out their archives. These are some of the best youth sermons that you will find online.

Interested in podcasting your own youth group sermons? 4 tips:

  1. Record them. Use an mp3 player or an iPhone or a laptop or a sound desk.
  2. Set up a free podcasting account at podomatic.com – it’s simple to use.
  3. Tell your youth group to check out the website and subscribe to new talks.
  4. Be consistent. Put a new talk up every week.
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Steph Lentz – The First One EP (Demo)

Bandcamp is a killer website that enables bands to get their music online. I’ve just set up a site for a friend, Steph Lentz. Bandcamp was really easy to use and the only cost is a small cut to Paypal for any cash transactions. Steph’s demo EP is called The First One. The 5 tracks are acousticy, folky, cool. It’s a really good EP – have a listen, then buy it!!

You can name your price (minimum $5) AND all money raised will go towards Compassion’s work with children in Bolivia. Check out this nifty embeddable player:

If you like, go buy it – then spread the word via your blog, email, facebook, twitter etc!

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Are you involved in Church design, tech, web or other media?

If you answered “yes”, you must go and check out the new 8Bit Network. I’ve been a long time fan of John Saddington and his site ChurchCrunch. ChurchCrunch has now been massively beefed up into a whole network of sites aiming to “resource the church with timely, relevant, practical, and exceptionally valuable content.” It includes ChurchCrunch, ChurchIT, ChurchCreate and ChurchDrop. See below for deets…

  • ChurchCrunch focuses its coverage on web apps/services/technology, blogging, strategy, business/entrepreneurship, and community development.
  • ChurchIT focuses its coverage on all types of geekery, like software, hardware, networking, and other assorted technologies.
  • ChurchCreate focuses its coverage on art/design, environment production and development, video/audio engineering, and assorted technologies.
  • ChurchDrop focuses its coverage on mobile devices, software, web apps, services, and technology.

Go hook up with this posse now!

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15 tips to stop procrastinating

Steve Kryger has a big long list. Worth a read. Worth putting into practise.

  1. Do one thing at a time.
  2. Do important tasks first.
  3. Do unpleasant tasks first.
  4. Set short-term time goals.
  5. Turn off your email.
  6. Turn off Facebook.
  7. Tidy your workspace.
  8. Allocate times to exercise.
  9. Plan ahead.
  10. Unsubscribe or filter unnecessary email newsletters.
  11. Keep lists and check them off.
  12. Know thyself.
  13. Automate.
  14. Set longer-term goals.
  15. Stop being a perfectionist.

Read the whole article for an explanation on each.