January 8

We in the design industry want to put our work out there on the web. We want to share our vision and ideas; I for one enjoy getting inspiration from my fellow designers and photographers. But there are those out there who troll the web, looking to steal your hard work and ideas. Illona Haus of Scruffy Dog Photography (one of the best pet photographers ever, IMHO), has spent the past year fighting off copy cats and talking about it on her Facebook page and blog. Illona’s brand goes beyond just her logo; her entire style from logo to website to Facebook to the images themselves are instantly recognizable, yet for some reason, people think they can pass it off as their own.

Her blog post specifically mentions the photography business, but can also be applied to the design business as well.

By the way, as much as I would have loved to have a go at designing her website, that credit goes to The Design Truth based in Waterloo, Ontario.

A graphic designer friend recently posted an article of his Facebook Page that showed all the logos from the modern Olympics, which of course, started a debate about which were worst and which were best. One thing we all agreed upon was that the London logo was among the worst.

I have to admit, when I first saw the logo, I had no idea what it was until I read the accompanying article. I bet it’s the first logo that had had a 50,000 signature petition for its removal, and the first that has had such a visceral reaction from many, including Feargus O’Sullivan of the Atlantic Cities blog who call it  “A slapdash mess in acid colors, it looks like its designers have accidentally dropped it on the floor, then decided to use the shattered pieces anyway.”

And then there’s the controversy surrounding the Iranians who seem to see the word “Zion” (not a good thing in their eyes), not to mentions its resemblance to Lisa Simpson. Doh!

So what do you think and which are your favorites?

When the idea of starting my own business first came to me I was sitting in traffic somewhere between Bethesda and Frederick wondering what on earth I was doing with my life.

We’ve all been there right? But I decided to do something about it. Two years later, I was well on my way to a degree in Interactive Media and Web Design and wondering what I should call my fledgling business.  Should it reflect my Scottish roots? Maybe it should be something to do with the work I would be doing? But the same name kept popping into my head and no matter how many times I went back and forth over names I kept coming back to the same thing – Indie Dog Design.

So I wanted to tell you what it’s all about. We had a dog. Her name was Indie.  She was a beautiful golden retriever that we had since she was 8 weeks old. She was smart, she was fun, and she had bags of personality. I adored that dog; when she got lymphoma I drove her every week to the doggie oncologist and back for treatment – a round trip of 150 miles. I was determined we would beat the odds and miracle of miracles, a year later she was pronounced cured! She lasted another 3 years, when finally, after more cancers appeared, my husband and I made the painful decision that it was time to let her go.

So what’s with the name? I named it after her of course… yes really. I named my company after my dog. It’s a simple as that. I have only been in business officially for a few months, and I have a long way to go. But one thing I know is that I want my company to be; smart and fun with bags of personality.

Morag