When starting a new business: Who, What, Where, Venn.

This has got to be the most spot on infographic I've ever come across.

It gets every agency's initial meeting with the client across to the onlooker in sheer clarity.

Clients need to understand that designers/agencies do not have their ideas/designs stored in a secret little magic box inside their brain/body/office.... we don't just have to pull it out on demand. We actually use that spaghetti-looking-organ we like to call a brain.

You must be aware that a logo is every business' identity that sticks forever, therefore the logo/corporate ID is probably the most expensive item on any agency rate card and rightly so.

If you want utter crap for a low cost, that is possible. All we have to do is throw a few vectors together and give you an uberly unimpressive bunch of rubbish which will eventually die down, be discarded or just lie there uselessly on your website or store front.

And please, PICK a name for your company/brand/service that is unique and applicable to your particular industry. Pick a name which has a ".com" domain available, that gives you a better indication of how original or not your name is.

When picking brand colors, try picking 2 or maximum 3. Unless you're selling Gola Gunda! When you pick colors, do a little reading up on color theory (unless you're leaving that part to the agency as well)

Do NOT and I repeat, DO NOT compromise the initial development of your brand's logo by going for templates or Pakistan chowk-esque designs. It's a recipe for disaster. Look at what your competitors are doing, and do it better.

Entering the Corporate World

Lately I've noticed new entrants into the corporate world are not what they used to be. Here are some tips from my point of view of the kind of people I'd like to hire vs. the kind of people I would never hire.

You must present yourself as someone an agency (in my case) would want to hire! Here's how:

1. Show up on time or at least 5 minutes before time. I hate waiting for people

2. Please be well groomed. That means wear nice clothes, make sure your hair is tidy and wear deodorant - When you look good, you feel good and therefore you perform well. Tried and tested! You don't have to decorate yourself like a christmas tree or an eid ka bakra, but still - look crisp!

2.1: YOUR HAIR. For boys, CUT IT, the hero look is so 20 years ago, for GIRLS: Tie it up neatly or brush it

2.2: Make sure you don't come to an interview smelling of pan, supari and/or anything else that would put off the interviewer.
Carry a breath mint or gum if need be. It costs less than 20 Rupees.

3. When applying for a job in an agency, make sure your portfolio is
a) ACCESSIBLE. I don't want to follow a billion links just to see mediocre work, it's only worth it if you're spectacular.
b) CATEGORIZED - How do I know what is a poster, what is a print ad or what is just random photo editing if you have everything botched up into one album with no description, no client info, no brief overview?

4. If you're past the first step of the interview process and you've been called for a trial. Please come alone and not with a parent. It's not professional and makes me wonder if you are cut out for the job

5. ASK me questions to understand my company better

6. Let me see your unique personality

7. Do NOT be afraid to voice your mind. No one likes sheep

8. When entering a job for the first time, assume everything you already know from books is useless. There is nothing like first hand experience even if you have a quadruple masters in everything.

I know I might come off a little harsh but the point is to highlight issues through experience. I more than anything, want to change the perspectives of young professionals of Pakistan. Most of them I've met, make it really really hard.

The tips I've highlighted are from real life experiences and frankly I still cannot say I've found anyone who has surprised me (in a good way). It makes me wonder how the universities/colleges here are training the students. I've met some students from IBA who are pretty great but then again not suitable for design jobs obviously.

Being a graphic designer, copywriter, account exectuive is not just about how well you did or how talented you are. Your talent is going nowhere if you're afraid to let loose, if you're afraid to actually give your 100000% to each job that you do.

I'm no expert, but I try. Every project I do, polishes my ability. I'm not afraid of critique because I'd rather do all my trials and errors as a 27 year old entrepreneur and in 10 years hope to be someone who has made a difference in the advertising industry.

Ramblings

Its safe to say no one reads this blog, for whatever reason it may be - great. I can use this to channel some of my pent up remorse. 

When you work for something you love beyond anything, you put in your heart and soul. I created CTL360 as a channel for my creative freedom - working hard, working round the clock, working to make sure I excel at anything I do for my client. I have minimal rates yet I work 24/7. CTL360 is my life, I have one designer, and together we take on an unimaginable workload.

Sleepless nights, stressful days, yet going home each day feeling on top of the world, grateful to be given a chance to just design. This is my baby, my entire world. I am a visualizer, a dreamer - having to learn business development tactics alongside actually working on the designs has taken its toll on me on countless occasions. More than money, I work for the passion I feel and I take every project to heart.


I can assure you, it is not easy being a 26 year old female entrepreneur, in Pakistan. People constantly doubt your ability and waste your time...however when they genuinely like your work, skipping along comes money matters  - make it lower, give me an 80% discount bla bla bla or if not money matters, they want to buy off your design for a fee and not give you any credit for it. And I don't know about you, but that just realllllly gets to me.

Rest assured, if I was a bigshot agency I highly doubt we'd be having those conversations.  I would never sell my integrity for the greed of money. I'd rather not get paid than ever sell my ideas without receiving credit. This has been one of my recent moral dilemmas - though I have pretty much made up my mind. I am appalled that it would even be suggested, but this is Pakistan.


In Pakistan it is all about who you know, where you work and how you're going to stomp on others to get ahead. Needless to say my PR skills are close to null, I am a loner who prefers sitting behind my computer screen working, and if not working then learning new areas to develop my skill to get more work.  Life is too short to waste on procrastinating.



People don't understand the time and effort spent in creating just one page of design, more over, they do not appreciate it. Appreciation is like 50% of incentive to do what I do... and lately I feel uninspired. People see my face and like magic they become poor. Shiny things, bling bling plastered all over their lives, and here I get squat from them. Maybe its me?


 The reason why most of our local advertising is sooo roboticly generic is mainly because the creatives behind is are UNSPIRED minions clicking away behind a computer with no drive. Advertising is 30% heart, 30% idea and 20% design.

Ads/Designs without the heart look nothing more than failed attempts to sell a product or service, most of which people overlook. Most ad agencies give credit only to their top dogs, while the real hard workers are safely hidden behind closed doors, locked away in an airconditioned room where no one will ever know the agency's best kept secrets.


It feels great to rant in writing, feels like I'm getting through to someone even if it is merely a delusion. Not many people in my life understand what I do because to them I'm simply sitting behind a sexy mac screen in an air-conditioned room.

I not only take on clients locally, but also Internationally. Foreign clients are an absolute delight to work with, they make me feel good about every little thing I do - which is why I spend sleepless nights perfecting their work on their time.


It is a breath of fresh air, they pay on time and sometimes in advance without any hassle or negotiation and they understand the passion that goes into each minor detail.  It is because of them I can sustain my business even if I am only making ends meet. There have been many nights where I've considered cutting loose some of my overheads, but every time I feel dejected, God gives me a surprise the next day....and if I've got HIM on my side, that's enough for me.

I never have nor can I ever play the cruel games of the corporate world, I cannot backstab, I cannot steal ideas and I cannot do anything that my moral compass finds off course. My conscience and gut feelings play a huge role in every step I take as a Business or Creative person. I am ready to work 200% harder as long as I get to keep my integrity intact.

I've seen people, families, siblings, friends - lose themselves over money matters, but if you take my advice, money is not life - find something you really love to do and dedicate yourself to that always ask for what you deserve in terms of monetary compensation but never get greedy, never ask for more than your share and always pray you can at least earn enough to survive. At the same time, don't be a fool, don't be such a gentle soul that people take advantage of you for their own worldly gains... know who to trust, when to trust and when to take a stand because once you get sucked in to the mind boggling twisted games, it will become you.

Writing these rants and just basic ramblings has really helped, I feel at peace right now and I got a load off my chest
got a meeting in an hour, so I'll end this blog here - ill rant again soon

bye blogger <3