What is a deadline?
A deadline is a tangible date/timeframe that a task is needed to be completed by. This deadline is important to be met because there could be consequences in delaying or not meeting a deadline for example if you are preparing a poster for an event and it is delayed in pre press, the event may have happened before the posters are completed, this would then affect the organisers of the event and any publicity that it needed to make the event successful.
What is involved in making a deadline?
Communication between all parties involved, puctuality of all the staff members involved, good time management practices. Be clear that everything is spelt out before promising that you can achieve this deadline. Work together as a team (if applicable) and know where each stage of the production is at and if anyone is away that other team members can take their place.
What are the consequences of breaking a deadline?
The consequences of breaking a deadline can be far reaching especially if you are in business for yourself and rely on word of mouth or testamonials from other clients for your business to be a success. It can mean loss of revenue, litigation, loss of employment if working for a company, company or business reputation becomes diminished and it would take time to renew this standing.
What can you do to better make deadlines?
To help improve your goals of making deadlines, you would need to look at your time management skills, your honesty and punctuality in getting to work on time and become more reliable so others know that you can be trusted. Don't over extend yourself in business, hoping that the more work you take on will mean more success, better to equate quality instead of quantity.
How do you prioritise deadlines?
Prioritising work to reach deadlines can be as simple as working within the limits of a contract where it is stated each step of the way and what dates each completed step must be finalised by, eg. builders need to have certain things approved of before the next stage can be commenced, they would normally have penalty clauses in the contract if they don't reach certain deadlines. If working in a business you would have regular meetings (could be brief meetings first thing in the morning to ascertain the progress of numerous jobs and what stage they are at and if extra people need to be pulled from other jobs to help get urgent jobs completed on time).
How do deadlines alter perceptions of business and individuals?
Deadlines can alter perceptions of business and individuals in many ways, some being if the deadlines aren't being met that the company or individual can't be relied upon to do the work, it shows that there isn't enough respect, responsibility and reliability in the company/individual to warrant repeat business. However the opposite can be said if the company/individual shows that they can met the deadlines that are required of them and word of mouth and repeat business will increase and they will get a good reputation in the business community.
Technical Challenges of GD
What are the technical challenges?
The technical challenges of Graphic Design are the different software packages and computer systems that are available for us to use. Also the ability to use these different packages and platforms can be a challenge. Being current with new software applications when it becomes available and the different uses it can have within the industry. Some of the other technical challenges may be the use of cameras (analogue/digital) and the need to have some knowledge of how they work and what can be obtained from this medium.
How do we solve these challenges?
We can solve these challenges by learning through TAFE or tutorials on the different aspects of computer software and the use of different platforms. Keeping an open mind and having a willingness to learn continually, updating skills when required. Learn from others in the industry and be willing to share skills with others (work to your strengths and in a team environment utilise people that have more skills than you in certain areas), be willing to share your skills with other that may not have them. The internet can offer many resources that you can use, libraries and computer shops can also assist in learning.
What resources are out there?
There is unlimited resources out there for us to tap into, be it educational institues, libraries, the internet, other companies and indivduals working in the graphics industry. Computer software companies (tutorials on the web to help learn the new software as it comes available).
What is you annual budget to pay for these resources?
At the present my annual budget for these technical skills and resources is limited due to not working, but I would say that it would be about $500 per year. However in saying this accessing the Internet to find out about tutorials and attending TAFE means that I am learning skills and new software as I go. Knowing that I would have to get new software if I chose to start using my skils commercially means that I would have to pay about $2,000+ just to update the software for it to be legal to use. Libraries are free, however class may have a small fee attached if doing classes through the library.
How could an ABN benefit your financial approach to these resources?
Having an ABN would benefit greatly because the cost is reduced and then you could claim these kinds of expenses back on tax, so the cost of upgrading software/computers and skills would then become more accessible. As a company it would help a great deal because they have more incentive to update more regularly and the costs wouldn't affect the overall profits as they would be more likely to receive bigger discounts from retailers for the purchase of these products.
How do the major platforms affect technical approaches to projects (Mac/PC)?
I think it depends on what platforms that you become used to using, however in saying this it is good to learn different platforms so that you have the skills to work where ever required on whatever is available at the time. PC's have there uses (probably more for web design and digital media), Macs seem to have a good feel for graphics but it all depends on the software that is being used. Macs I have found to be good for programs such as Illustrator and Photoshop, where you can have better control of the mouse whereas PCs don't have the range. PCs are good for basic editing or creating word documents but once again this is software and not necessarily the actual platforms. Macs make it more enjoyable to work especially when doing design work.
