As this is the inaugural issue of our ABC Western Region Newsletter, we wanted to hear from our co-content creator, Jodie Chertudi about her work in the graphic design/web content creation field, and thank her for an amazing contribution.
What’s your background in the graphic design/web content design field?
I received my degree in visual communication from Northern Arizona University and have been doing graphic and web design ever since. I specialize in creating a spectrum of media for things like traditional print collateral, digital graphics for email and social media and web design using Content Management Systems (CMS) like WordPress, Squarespace and Blackbaud platforms.
How do you come up with ideas for communication/content design? (asking around the audience, or client work, how do you partner with clients’ ideas, etc.)
My clients usually have a pretty good idea of what they are looking for but I’m always bookmarking or taking screenshots of cool websites. I collect interesting design samples that I get in the mail or when I travel to different places and look at other designer portfolios online. Also going to an art museum or attending events like WordCamp or Adobe MAX conferences always help me cultivate new fresh ideas.
What were your ideas for the Western ABC Bulletin?
I wanted to create a simple, mobile-friendly, cost effective newsletter that is editable by people that aren’t web programmers. From the user’s perspective, I wanted to create a clean, easy to read site that was both visually interesting and easy to navigate. With this WordPress.com platform, we can create a community of contributors who can login and create articles, then a designated Editor publishes them live. A place where members from the western region can work together and co-create relevant, progressive content online for their industry. Of course, we also wanted these pages to be accessible to all of our readers.
What are the most important things to keep in mind in your career?
Keep things fresh, interesting to look at and clear and easy to read. Also, keep a pulse on design trends, technology updates. I am constantly learning new tricks and tips with my design software. Adobe has an excellent library of tutorials and tips of their latest software.
We invite you to explore Jodie’s work on her website, JLewersDesign.