Can I use Microsoft Word to create my ebook? How?
How do you get those bookmarky things to work in your PDFs?
Should I buy Photoshop to make my blog header?
What do I need to draw my napkin doodles in the computer?
Why are designers so snarky about PowerPoint? I use PowerPoint, does that mean there’s something wrong with me?
You know what’s the most fun part of my job? Sure, there’s the whole illustrating narwhals spearing unicorns thing. I love that part. One of my favorites.
My other favorite is answering questions. I get a lot of them in my email and on Twitter. Sometimes I can get super distracted because I’m an answer geek. I love researching solutions. Thankfully I know a wee bit about design so I can answer some things without looking them up.
I love to do it. And I discovered something while tackling the email pile lately. Actually, a few things.
- A lot of people like designing some stuff themselves. Even if they can afford to hire someone.
- I know a lot more about PDFs than I thought I did.
- When someone is doing it themselves, they don’t want to hear, “You should really hire someone for that.”
- A lot of people just need one tiny piece to complete their learning curve.
- I can write really long emails about PDFs.
Sometimes I’ll turn someone’s question into a blog post, but that doesn’t always work. It would just be me dragging a short answer out to 500 words. Still, I know that others would benefit from the answer, even a short one. So I decided it’s time to get all phone call-ey and host a series of free group calls.
I’ve joined a lot of group calls since I’ve been in business. I noticed that the more interesting ones aren’t “tele-seminars” or lecture calls, but some form of Q & A/discussions. So that’s what I’ll be hosting. I’ve called them… are you ready for the obvious… Ask a Designer! calls.
The calls are specifically for small business people who need help with one aspect of their design. Maybe it’s a web site banner, or formatting an ebook in Apple’s Pages with hyperlinks. Drawing a fish in Photoshop. Whatever – the questions aren’t mine, they’re yours. And they’ll be answered in plain language for non-designer people. No techno-jabber allowed without an explanation everyone can understand.
I’ll also be asking my designer friends to weigh in on a call now and then. If this sounds helpful or fun for you (like you’re hoping I’ll perform one of my 1,000 voices), I hope you’ll check it out. To get dates, times, and numbers, you need to make sure you’re signed up on my regular email list.
You can read more and sign up on the Ask a Designer! call page.
Join me, and together we will rule the galaxy. Of designing stuff, that is.
