Andrew Kelsall | Graphic Designer

Lately, I’ve have a few projects going on all at once—and I’m having some difficulty trying to write articles for two blogs due to my workload. One thing I’m learning at the moment is to not start article series (like How I customized my Wordpress Blog & What are Color Gamuts? ) until I can fully commit to them. I do intend to carry on the article series that I start, but I can’t guarantee I will get around to writing them soon. Articles like that simply take more time to write.

However, I was on Twitter today, and I wondered how busy other designer’s were on this, so-called “lazy Sunday afternoon”. Is there such a thing for a designer? With this in mind, I asked this question to other designer’s on Twitter:

What are you doing today?

It’s sort of like the original Twitter question, but for designers. These were my varied responses:

★ @craigspeirs Tidying up the house and also listening to Greatest Hits. Then will sit down and search for an LCD monitor to buy

★ @netWire working… :S

★ @traceygr Despite being busy with web & print design work right now, I’ve taken Sunday off. To-do list tonight to get the week going.

★ @kgrz I’ve seen 2 movies today, Will see more And then, I’ll probably draw an idea for a logo for a friend of mine!

★ @retinart Been wadding through the CSS for my new site design, enjoying the momentary departure from print.. what about you?

★ @RichardCarter swimming, sketching over a cup of coffee somewhere and then listening to a few web-themed podcasts later tonight

★ @jannicamorton hanging with the family and not even starting up my computers!

★ @VizionThree I’m sorting through my massive list of bookmarks and porting them over to Google Bookmarks.

★ @StephenTiano Friends visit today, tomorrow back to day-job & call client on teaching-reading boxed set to get us back on the same page.

★ @ckfio hanging out with my family

★ @BrenniFresh I’m watching soccer today and workin up a soccer logo/ club identity.

★ @garrick_s I’m doing chores around the house today. No design work.

★ @seanio putting my portfolio together. and you? [replied on Twitter]

★ @AndyL81 spending time with my wife and daughter, yard work, then later today some logo design work

★ @MeMBNandURB It’s Sunday and it’s raining, so … relaxing, replying to emails, listening to some new music promo’s. No design today.

★ @Rockhoward001 *sigh* making edits to a site, building a wp theme, designing a forum, emailing…lots of emailing, and editing photos.

★ @jchronowski47 winding my springs. Break out of this codependent funk

★ @designshard Thinking about and making a list of features to include on texturelovers.com in the future, i like to stay in front!

★ @svolinsky writing html for new website and thinking about strategy for company’s twitter

★ @normalslife Looks like finishing up a website and going to a baby shower. I know… international lady of mystery I am not.

★1 @tommsinclair Finished a small freelance project and updated my portfolio adding 3 small freelance dev projects to it! http://bit.ly/kiTtU ★2 Oh and I just did a new blog post all about it http://bit.ly/Y72Pz

★ @ktshipp creating after effects video on the ten commandments for church

★ @starchildluke Answer to question: went to see a mate to discuss some t-shirt designs and a possible collaboration

★ @Laughing_Lion Editing photographs for a photobook.

★ @lornamorris Taken a day off and spent it with my family in the sunshine.

★ @cthomp7777 Chillaxin’ and gonna go look for some zines.

★ @justcreative Seeing though it is night, probably sleeping.

*Italics represent my own editorial changes and denote either websites or other information I am unwilling to promote. No offense is intended—as all replies are appreciated.

The results of my original question indicate at least half of the featured designer’s are still busy dabbling in a design project or personal task in one way or another, which is valuable time spent.

However, some designers are spending time with their families, which is priceless. What was I doing this afternoon? I packed the car for a short break, make sure my mobile broadband connection was installed on my Macbook to take away with me, had a BBQ, finished a clients’ web template, studied the color on my new business cards, took my dog for a walk, looked after the kids, went shopping…and wrote this article, sigh…

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this Twitbits article and for sharing these insights into your daily lives on Sunday…

Welcome to another Twitt-Bits. If you would like to know more about these posts, please read the introductory article on them. Now, to the links…

Tweet by @designshard

Watching @colorburned Interview With David and Marc Perel of From the Couch http://tinyurl.com/dn385f

The link is to a great video from Colorburned entitled “Interview With David and Marc Perel of From the Couch“.

Tweet by @chrisspooner

125+ Ultimate Round-Up of Illustrator Tutorials – http://is.gd/nW4z

This link is to a great resource entitled “125+ Ultimate Round-Up of Illustrator Tutorials” via InstantShift.

Tweet by @pixel_jockey

Inspiration Show me some well designed logos! #23 (more clever logo work) http://twurl.nl/fi8c1m

The logo work refered to is from the site Design Your Way—and features some really thoughtful logos. Worth a look…

I’m a very busy person―that’s the way I like it. I don’t always have loads of time to write in-depth articles, but I do try. Recently, I’ve been spending “spare” time on social networking site, Twitter. It’s great to re-tweet links and socialize―however, I had a profound idea to include really interesting stuff on this site.

Like the image above states, I calling these mini-posts “Twitt-Bits“. I reckon it’s a catchy name―so I chose the image to suit. Hope you like it

“So what’s the real purpose behind it all” you may ask. Well, not only will I be able to update my blog more often, it will allow me to share articles with you, my readers, in an unusual way. When I post a great link(s), I’ll also link to the original tweeters profile.

I was going to do the next part on the next Twitt-Bits, but here we go…the first “bit”…

Tweet by @HawaiiRealty

Reprise….;> You know you are TOO into Twitter when: http://tinyurl.com/5lycwc

The article linked is entitled “You know you are too popular on Twitter when…” from the Sarah Jones Larson Blog, which lists a staggering 65 reasons why. It’s quite a funny read!

By the way, you can follow me on Twitter @AndrewKelsall; you can read the post about when I joined Twitter for more information.