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Akula Kreative

9818 Fry Road | Suite 150 | #105
Cypress, TX, 77433
(858) 255-1230
branding + design for creative professionals

A GRAPHIC + WEB DESIGN STUDIO IN HOUSTON, TX

Akula Kreative

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    • Design + Process
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lunchtime in the studio.

January 9, 2013 Nikki Mihalik

lunch-visitor

In photographs, things we love Tags nani
← a neon-sunset-inspired color palettehappy new year! →

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Here’s my take on Week 1 of the Design Challenge! A loose, slightly textured bobble of hand-lettering mixed with super simple graphics. I don’t usually design anything *this* playful, so I really enjoyed letting go of all the rules and having fun with it. The most important question is :: would you wear this on a t-shirt?? I’m so tempted to make one. 😏 . Swipe left to see my ugly sketching session. The brainstorming process isn’t pretty, but there’s no point in perfecting things until you have a concept you like. . One challenge I came across was finding an Illustrator brush I liked. I wanted it to be “worn” in the middle but have a steady width and painterly caps. After searching (and even buying a set), I ended up making my own brush from an actual paint stroke that I scanned and vectorized. It sounds time-consuming, but it was WAY faster building the letters from a single stroke than outlining each curve with the pen tool. . BTW / If you are NOT a designer, I’m hoping that sharing this process gives you insight into the amount of work that goes into branding. This is ONE concept, and I always show clients a minimum of 3 to start. This also doesn’t account for revisions, additional concepts, color selection, etc. . Designers :: It’s not too late to join us! Click on the link in my bio for info and start designing with us! . . . . . #designchallenge #graphicdesign #justinqueso #letteringchallenge #creativefreedom #graphicdesignstudent #logo #logodesign #branding #branding101 #brandingforcreatives #creativeprocess #calledtobecreative #creativepreneur #creativehappylife #creativerut #madeintexas #getinspired #rightbrain #pun #designinspiration #designinspo #girlboss #bossbabe #mompreneur #punintended #logosarepun #logosarepunweek1 #akulakreative #communityovercompetition
The BEST perk of being a graphic designer is that you can literally #makeallthethings. The worst part is, there is no time to do it all and you spend all your money on tools and supplies. 🤗 I mean...look what @rebcbarney made!!! She turned my cactus watercolor into the cutest dress ever!!!! I’ve always wanted to learn how to sew, but my studio space is already busting at the seams with STUFF. Otherwise, I’d be Priming a sewing machine to myself stat. . . . . . #creativepreneur #graphicdesigner #mompreneur #maker #makersmovement #girlboss #bossbabe #momboss #designstudio #watercolor #cactus #cactusclub #cactuslover #spoonflower #makersgonnamake #flashesofdelight #creativehappylife #calledtobecreative #babystyle #patterndesign #womeninbusiness #mamamaker #thatsdarlingmovement
Sometimes, the hardest part of designing a logo is simply getting started. Today, I’ll share my brainstorming process step-by-step. 1) Write out the business name. Try all caps, all lowercase, title case, and even the initials. Examine the shapes and how the words might fit together. 2) Write down or doodle all of the objects you would associate with the name or brand. (In this case, I knew I was going for a burger, so I skipped this step.) 3) Now think :: how can I put these together? Sketch, doodle, and play around. For this logo, I thought lettering within a burger silhouette would be cute, but it looked terrible. (See my story for a quick process video.) So, I moved on to the initials. B + I. What can I do with a B? Hmm... a burger cut in half looks like a B. Zing! First concept down. . Once you have a concept you like, start digitizing. I type out the name in 10-20 fonts, then narrow it down to my top 5. (It’s helpful to do this in stages because fresh eyes are a must!) After I have my fonts selected, I begin drawing my graphics and refine from there. . Who’s started working on Week 1 of my DESIGN CHALLENGE? If you missed yesterday’s post, it’s not too late to join us! Bun Intended is just an example of what you’ll be designing. This week, we’re working on “JUST IN QUESO.” I’ll post my work Wednesday, so if you don’t want to be influenced by my take on it, stay away. 🙈 Or, you can use it as inspiration to make something better! . . . . . #designchallenge #graphicdesign #burgerlove #letteringchallenge #creativefreedom #graphicdesignstudent #logo #logodesign #branding #branding101 #brandingforcreatives #creativeprocess #calledtobecreative #creativepreneur #creativehappylife #creativerut #designersblock #getinspired #rightbrain #pun #designinspiration #designinspo #girlboss #bossbabe #mompreneur #punintended #logosarepun #logosarepunweek0 #akulakreative #communityovercompetition
Stuck in a creative rut? Join me for a 4-week DESIGN CHALLENGE and get those creative juices flowing again! . Here’s how it works: - Every Monday, I’ll post a new, mini logo project based on a fictitious, punny business name. - You’ll have 1 week to design it and post it to your IG account using #logosarepun. - That’s it! No pressure and 100% creative freedom. You can post anything from a quick lettering doodle to a full-blown, pro-level mock-up...your choice. - All skill levels welcome. - If you’d like feedback, tag me and I’ll comment! . Starts today!! More info on the blog. (Click on the link in my profile.) . This is a great way to stay inspired when you’re feeling tired, stressed, and maybe a little lonely at your desk. So get out those pencils and support your fellow designers! . . . . . #designchallenge #graphicdesign #letteringchallenge #creativefreedom #graphicdesignstudent #logodesign #branding #branding101 #brandingforcreatives #creativeprocess #calledtobecreative #creative #creativepreneur #creativehappylife #designstudio #creativerut #writersblock #designersblock #getinspired #rightbrain #designinspiration #designinspo #girlboss #bossbabe #mompreneur #logosarepun #akulakreative #communityovercompetition #risingtidesociety
Tending to my plant friends after a very sad week. . . . . . #plantsofinstagram #sundayisplantday #rest #presentoverperfect
I think my favorite thing about Anthony Bourdain is that he embraced the real, not-watered-down, no-BS, version of people, regardless of whether or not he agreed with them. He was, in my opinion, the antithesis of the perfection displayed on social media, and I actually think that’s why I liked him so much. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE making things pretty, but it was so refreshing to watch him interact with people in such an honest yet intelligent and respectful way. I remember him saying once, “Don’t you hate happy people?” and I thought, “Oh man, he would not want to be my friend!” That didn’t stop me from wanting to be his, though. #ripanthonybourdain . I am NOT very good at drawing people, so I hope he appreciates this awkward illustration I made during lunch.
If what you want doesn’t exist, create it. 🦖🎈After graduating college, I had a REALLY tough time finding a job in the art industry (despite having graduated with honors from a pretty darn great liberal arts college). I applied to every job I could find at @gettymuseum, but I was turned down for being over qualified. What?! 😦😑 After giving up on that, I took a marketing job to get some experience under my belt. At *that* job, I made a friend who happened to fill in at The Getty via a temp agency. Bingo! I applied at the agency and within a couple of weeks I was sitting at a desk in one of my favorite places in LA. 🌴 A month later, they hired me full-time. There is, of course, much more to this story that explains how I ended up HERE, but you can read that on the website under “A Note from Nikki.” 👉🏼 The point is, sometimes you have to CREATE opportunity, rather than wait for it to fall in your lap. . This is a letterpress print I made at @punchpress_studio in Austin YEARS ago. I used a plain circle as the brontosaurus’ balloon then filled it with watercolor. :) If you want a print, DM me your address. First one to contact me gets one! *claimed* . . . . . #letterpress #art #artprint #watercolor #brontosaurus #dinosaur #printproduction #stationery #paper #paperlove #papergoods #opportunity #quoteoftheday #creativehappylife #creativepreneur #creative #graphicdesign #inspiration #girlboss #bossbabe #calledtobecreative #illustration #atx #tuesdaystogetherhtx #risingtidesociety
Rest In Peace, Kate ♠️.
Anything is possible with a little heart and creativity. . Unicorn macaron by the amazing + talented @winkbyerica. . . . . . #givemeallthesprinkles #unicorn #macarons #unicornmacarons #creativehappylife #creative #anythingispossible #calledtobecreative #bossbabe #girlboss #tuesdaystogetherhtx #risingtidesociety #womeninbusiness #buildyourbrand #flashesofdelight #presentoverperfect #happiness #inspiration #winkbyerica
I scream, you scream, we all scream for Friday again. . P.S. How is there a froyo emoji and not an ice cream or popsicle emoji?! . Can you tell how focused I am this Monday morning? 🤪 . . . . . #branding #brandingdesign #brandingforcreatives #pattern #patterndesign #icecream #icecreamlover #doublescoop #triplescoop #dspattern #heartmade #sweetlife #sweettooth #creativehappylife #flashesofdelight #buildyourbrand #wrappingpaper #wallpaper #graphicdesign #houstongraphicdesign #houstoncreatives #tuesdaystogetherhtx #presentoverperfect #calledtobecreative #bossbabe #girlboss #designinspo #mompreneur #akulakreative #🍦
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