Need some advice from digital designers, please

[CCIntrigue]

I was a design major in college (many years ago) and am now an avid digital scrapbooker. I decided to try my hand at designing my own kits. Below is one I've been working on for awhile. When finished it will include 20 papers, around 50 embellishments, and one alphabet.

I'd like your honest critique -- be brutal! Do I have what it takes to sell my work? And if so I have some questions below.

How do I market myself? Where do I begin? Where is the best place to store my files so that potential buyers can download them? And so on ...

Thank you for your advice!

 

[Spectro is #1]

Great job!
I would increase the contrast and shadows around the lacy bows, they look a little flat. Other than that it looks great.

 

[Neverland Scraps]

I do quality assurance so I can be very brutal
But I wont be too hard on you

First thing...is there texture on your papers?
To give your papers more depth, try adding shadows to make the customer realize there are individual papers there instead of just one sheet of paper--know what I mean?

Also, how are the edges of your elements? Are they jagged? Or are they smooth?

I think you have great potential!

How to get in to the market?
1. Start a blog, give freebies
2. Post over at Digishop Talk
3. Apply for Designer Apprentice Programs, if not then try applying at a site to see if they'll take your designs
4. Get a creative team willing to work with your products who in return will:
a. Show you how your elements/papers can be used
b. Tell you if you are making enough/different types of elements/papers to
scrap layouts
c. Get your product out there on different online sites showing who you
are and what you are capable of creating

Lastly and most imporantly, always believe in yourself. Always continue to read tutorials on how to better yourself and your designs--dont let a day or week go by that you aren't learning something new or what the customers are looking for in their kits.

Good luck, you are very talented!

 

[CCIntrigue]

Thank you so much for your feedback!

Texture is on my papers, smooth edges on my elements. Have finished my alpha. Changes made per your suggestions ... I'm still working on the designs, trying to add new and different elements. Hopefully within a few weeks I'll be ready to offer a freebie.

 

[BrerMama]

Apologize in advance if this sounds harsh -- Sorry, but I still can't tell that there's texture on your papers. It just looks really flat and plastic. They don't look like something I could walk into a scrapbook store and pick up to use in paper scrapping. I know not all digi-scrappers want that, but for me to buy a kit, it's essential. Try looking around Digital Design Essentials, Shabby Miss Jenn, Sweet Shoppe Designs. I think all 3 do a great job of showing the texture in their papers and making traditional digital kits. Same with most of the elements. They don't look real, they look digitally created. I'm not saying you don't have unique patterns or elements, I just think they need some tweaking.

I am by no means an experienced designer and have no intention of ever selling, but I think Neverland Scraps has some great ideas re: how to get your name out there.

 

[wenrob]

I'm not a designer but I'm a scrapper so I thought I'd throw in my .02.

First, your color scheme is really nice, definitely got my attention.

I'm a texture lover too, it really helps things pop off the page. You have added texture like elements to your papers but not texture. I agree, the papers are a little flat.

Elements, they have to be unique, no one wants to buy something they already have a ton of. You have five frames, there's no need for five frames, two, maybe three tops that are distinctly different are all you need. Right now you have pretty basic stuff I already have or could get anywhere. Don't get me wrong, buttons, flowers and ribbons have their place but if that's all the kit consists of I'm going to skip it. They should be basic added to your theme not the theme. What stands out to me are the chains, beads and alpha, they are just different enough to get my attention but not enough to make me buy.

Also, you say you have over 50 elements, I'd have to strongly disagree. You have six things that are just recolored several times. To be brutally honest as a paying customer, this infuriates me and any time I get a kit with several elements recolored I feel ripped off. I can recolor myself, give me something that no one else does.

I know you asked for designers but I really think you should poll scrappers, listen to what they want a take it to heart, you will be much more successful that way. We're scrapping our memories so if you give us what want we'll be back for more!

 

[CCIntrigue]

Kim, thank you for your comments! I think my problem is that in sizing down everything to fit web constraits I'm losing the textures. It's hard to go from 3600x3600 to 600x600 and not lose the subtleties. I'll work on that.

Wen, thank you too! I'm still working on the kit. Will try to come up with more unique elements. I was thinking that most people wouldn't want to do things like recolor so I should offer everything in every color. Or have to make their own frames from the papers. Guess I was gearing this more toward a beginning scrapper and not the wonderful scrappers we have here!

 

[wenrob]

Wen, thank you too! I'm still working on the kit. Will try to come up with more unique elements. I was thinking that most people wouldn't want to do things like recolor so I should offer everything in every color. Or have to make their own frames from the papers. Guess I was gearing this more toward a beginning scrapper and not the wonderful scrappers we have here!

Well, I'm glad you don't hate me. I was worried that I was a little too honest.

As someone who's hard drive is exploding with digital goodies I think what you need is a theme. If you go and look at the successful designers out there they have a theme and yet enough stuff to make other pages. People like Britt, Flergs, Ellie Lash, Erica Zane, are masters at this. Go to any of their CT galleries and you'll see a 100 different subjects scrapped with the same kit. It has to be something people will want to use more then once, kwim?

 

[CCIntrigue]

No, you're not being too honest! Keep your thoughts coming! I thought I did have a theme, but looking back I think I stretched it too thin. Will work on the cohesiveness. Think I have my texture problem figured out.

 

[labdogs42]

I'll start by saying, go you! Way to go for it and try something out of the box! I like the start of the kit. I certainly has potential. I agree with the other posters about the papers seeming a little flat.

I'm not a designer, but I am a digital scrapper and freebie seeker! Check out all the designers mentioned already and I'll also recommend checking out A Work in Progress She started by giving out freebies and now she has her own store. I bet she is doing pretty well with that now, because she built such a fan base with her freebies.

One thing you could do is look around for digi forums that are holding a new designer contest. I know ScrapMatters just had one (too bad you missed it ), but lots of other sites run them, too. They seem like a great way to get feedback and find out if your stuff is "sell-worthy".

Good luck with your venture. Feel free to work on some Disney-ish freebies for us, too!

 

[CCIntrigue]

Jessica, thank you for your encouragement. Yes, I am working on some Disney-ish freebies, but so far I haven't come up with a "hook" - something that makes me new and different from everyone else. I'll post as soon as I come up with something!