Here’s a look at the business cards (and logo) which have been getting positive reviews for showcasing the different types of seeds that they offer. I had the cards printed by Moo to take advantage of their “Printfinity” option which allows for an infinite number of different backsides. For Brooklyn Seed Company, I chose five of their products primarily based on the photography options. The business cards not only serve to provide practical information, but also to attract attention with the variety of images used.

(Sorry for the poor quality of photos, had to take them in a rush.)

Today marks one year from when I struck out on my own. When I made the leap last year, I wrote a personal post explaining, “that I have a genuine desire to do amazing work that helps other people succeed more-so than I have a desire to make a buck — I do believe this philosophy will steer me right in the long run.” A colleague read it and reached out, she wanted to jump into the world of freelance too but was getting cold feet.

I gave her what I hope were inspiration and encouraging words:

“The brilliant thing about being a creative, is that you have the natural skill to find ways to creatively make money. (This is also the time to start getting good about keeping track of your finances.)

…When you do go off on your own, having a firm understanding of what you believe success is will help block out all the naysayers, including your self doubt.

… Don’t try to do it the way other freelancers do it. That’s the whole reason why you left ‘status quo’ society, was to not have to do things like everyone else. ”

I was feeling brave and optimistic, and wanted her to feel the same. In hindsight, I realized I missed a very, very important point. There’s one thing, after a year of working for myself, that I want to share with all of you, that I want to share with her.

I started this post with the words that I had “struck out on my own.” In the personal post I wrote a year ago, I said the same thing, that I was going “at it alone.” And that notion is the absolute furthest things from the truth.

I’ve rarely been alone in this journey, and I’ve received priceless help from countless others:

• Ryan for his personal support and the never-ending flow of work, projects and people that he sends my way.
• Michael because working with someone on their passion project instills a sense of passion in me.
• John who is the first person I’ve worked with and told myself, I want to be where he is in 10 years and doing the quality good work that he’s doing.
• Janet from the SBDC for all the free advice and for empowering me to put my financial house in order.

And not to forget Greg my fantastic accountant, the helpful reps at TD Bank, the GWAPP board, my developers, Leora, Vaughn, Chris, Jorge, Patti, Elliot and others, and last but not least, my close friends and family for all their help and support.

I’m incredibly grateful and appreciative for every project and person who has crossed paths with me so that I could have the extreme privilege of doing what I love under the circumstances I want for 365 days.

I humbly look forward to days 366 and 367. And all the days past that.

Thank you for my 1st year.

365 Days of Photos – Part I and Part II.

Traditional

Artistic

Rip-Off

“We have a visceral reaction to the idea that anyone would make very much money helping other people. Interesting that we don’t have a visceral reaction to the notion that people would make a lot of money NOT helping other people.” — Dan Pallotta

Over the past year, I decided to specialize in design for non-profits and social justice causes. I did it because I needed to combine what I’m good at with what I’m passionate about. My friends joke I did it because I don’t like making money. I don’t blame them for their bad jokes; honestly, I put the notions of no money and non-profits together too. But maybe I shouldn’t. Maybe we all shouldn’t.

Dan Pallotta is an activist and organizer, president of Advertising for Humanity, and creator of the famous multi-day AIDS Rides and Breast Cancer 3-Day events. His Ted talk, The Way We Think About Charity is Dead Wrong, was recently posted online and it examines why non-profits aren’t succeeding in their missions to fundamentally change the world for the better.

He argues how the non-profit sector is discriminated against in five different areas: compensation, advertising & marketing, taking risk on new revenue ideas, time and profit to attract risk capital. Obviously, I was most interested in what he had to say in regards to advertising & marketing. To ineloquently paraphrase, you’ve got to spend money to make money. And when you don’t? Disaster ensues, really, $60 million of disaster in one example.

The video is 19 minutes long and incredibly worthwhile. If you ever do work, particularly marketing, in the non-profit sector, you should really watch this.

One of the related videos that comes up is Melinda Gates speaking on, “What Non-profits Can Learn from Coca-Cola.” She too emphasizes that non-profits can learn a thing or two from Coca-Cola’s “incredible marketing” that makes people all over the world desire a Coke. Her message? Even non-profits should strive to be aspirational in their marketing, you can’t assume that just because people need something, we as designers don’t need to make them want it.

How do you feel about the intersection between non-profit and design? Is it always about working on a budget? Have you ever worked with a business-minded non-profit, did it work? Tell me about it on Twitter @hsvandemark.