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Good Fortune Studios

The Intersection of Art, Design & Life

Design

Trust Design

May 25, 2012 by Rayna Diane Hennen

Trust does begin with the client. The first principle, keep your promises, is by far the most important. If the client can’t trust your word, they probably won’t trust your design either. Trust Me, I’m a Designer: 9 Principles for Creative Credibility Author: Jason Cranfordteague “A recent study by Demos (Demos.co.uk) called Truth, Lies and the Internet found that a third of teens polled in the UK believe any information

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A Layered Approach

June 5, 2011 by Rayna Diane Hennen

An often overlook element of the work-flow process is layers. All the Adobe products use layers. They are great – you can have a layer for every little line in your project if you want. It’s actually a great thing for editing a file later. So when aren’t they beneficial? When you haven’t named a single one of them and someone else has to use your file to edit a project. Note: the next person could be you in six months. Will you remember what Layer 135 is?

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An Identity Challenge

May 3, 2011 by Rayna Diane Hennen

It sounded simple enough – Vet clinic name, cat, dog, heart shape. The client had a rough sketch done of what she had in mind. some designer might mind this; I like a jumping off point especially when there is drawing or illustration involved. I’ll try different angles of course, but a clear direction inst’ such a bad thing. In this case, the original position of the cat and dog ended up being too awkward to create. The animals just didn’t look… comfortable.

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Parachutes and Javascript

January 11, 2011 by Rayna Diane Hennen

I don’t have to work for the #1 ad agency in the world (some would ask well, why not?) but I have read some job descriptions that, while I could do it, it didn’t inspire me. That or the company left something to be desired. Did I apply? Yes, to a couple of them but since there are only so many jobs available on any given day and after I have taken care of any freelance work, there is inevitably down time. So, as my grandfather used to say, might as well do something even if it’s wrong. Meaning, doing something is better than nothing because it gets the ball rolling.

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My Own Worst Design Enemy

August 12, 2010 by Rayna Diane Hennen

A Corner of My Future Site I am currently in the process of redesigning my own website, which showcases a portfolio of my web design work along with my photography. It is long overdue and certainly could benefit from more copy and a more coherent design and flow. Looking at the site from a potential client or employer’s perspective one would wonder who this designer is. What does this designer

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Oh so Manly

June 7, 2010 by Rayna Diane Hennen

I’ve always been attracted to packaging. I don’t work in the package design industry – I don’t think I have the brain particles necessary for 3D design.  I didn’t take to 3D software very well, unfortunately. It would have been great to get into video game design, which is actually a good segue way into my topic as the video game market appears to be predominantly male. Lately in the

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Say Something!

December 12, 2009 by Rayna Diane Hennen

These aren’t mind-blowing revelations by any means but I think they’re important. The in-house design department I work in suffered for a long time because we didn’t speak up. We also compromise a lot since there are more than 3 people involved in any given project, which can be frustrating but if you really believe that what you’re thinking should be done will benefit the project, say it.

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An Evening with James Victore

May 31, 2009 by Rayna Diane Hennen

Refreshingly candid, and if I may add, prone to swearing which I love, James Victore discussed his career and what he does to stay on top of his creativity. From Picture Wars with his son, Coffee Notes with his wife and continuously learning and forcing himself outside of his boundaries, his creativity is always being exercised. His biggest hurdle is himself; “[he is] the weakest link”.  He has a book

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New Frontiers of Graphic Design

April 1, 2009 by Rayna Diane Hennen

A Panel hosted by mediabistro and moderated by Stephanie Murg, co-editor of UnBeige View Photo Slideshow (i’m in the last photo, on the left with Katie Coates) One of the great questions that came out of the audience at the end of this panel was the question, if you could teach kids anything what would it be? Doug Jaeger, founder of thehappycorp global, said he would focus on teaching being

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goodfortunestudios

Experiments in creativity and cringe. Join me!

I was digging around in my closet for something an I was digging around in my closet for something and came across an older sketchbook, which of course derailed the search because I HAD to flip through it 😊

My Mom had this box for a long time, just sitting in a cabinet. It was just plain wood, the lid wasn't attached but it did come with the hinges. One summer I stole it, painted it and surprised her for Christmas. 

On slides 2 & 3 you can see the first sketches I made for the box. And slides 5 & 6 show where the next round of sketches ended up. Completely different direction as it turns out! Went for the Arts & Craft period style she loves.
This floral cone actually turned out all right! I This floral cone actually turned out all right! I haven't quite gotten the ribbon exactly right so sometimes this style hangs a little awkwardly. I have wall versions, that can hang on a hook but I'll be damned if I can find any photos of it on my phone 🧐 

Or the silvery one I made last year. You'll just have to trust me, ok? 😁
O-pin-ion: if you purchased these, would you expec O-pin-ion: if you purchased these, would you expect a hanger on the back (second pic)? 

In my head, because they have the wooden lip on the back, they hang flat against the wall. 

T'anks! 

Almost done - varnish coating left to go! Happy Friday 💃
New hearts ready to go. New hearts ready to go.
After a few weeks away from the hearts because of After a few weeks away from the hearts because of vacation and other things, I ran into something that is both frustrating and good. 

Frustrating because I had to "break my heart" 😭😅 - I  noticed a lot of rhe edges kept coming up (last pic).

I was unhappy with how one of the hearts looked anyway so I pulled it off the canvas. (first pic)

The new way of attaching the hearts seems to be working better (second pic) so now I am going to do the same to the other 3 canvases. 

So, frustrating to undo the work but good because they'll look better! And also this is how we get better.

Have you ever had to undo some work to make it better? 🫀
Currently making some smaller ones of the heart co Currently making some smaller ones of the heart collage image in the last slide!!
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