On

Design

It isn't art, or really any one thing.

Design is diverse.

It takes genuine curiosity to source and apply the best solutions.

I strive to solve creative challenges through researched, iterative design, aided by my fascination with related disciplines:

art and photography, typography and language, science and technology, psychology and skepticism, etc.

Design is balance.

It's harmony of form and function.

The optimal solution can appear obvious even when hard-won. Important decisions are often invisible to the end-consumer.

Whether artful and innovative or familiar and intuitive—every detail is relevant, in service of expressing a consistent message or solving a design problem.

Design is a process.

It doesn’t start with the answer, and doesn’t end at sheer inspiration.

It takes strategy, patience and dedication, in a thoughtful cycle of iteration and critique.

Like the scientific method:
Embrace the unknown, and expect many "no"s on the way to "yes!"

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While project scope varies,
each journey follows a similar arc.

Launch

:

Deliver, Implement, & Support

The entire process streamlines the launch of the final product, brand identity, website, campaign, etc., and we’ll consider any ongoing or future support needs. Beyond essential brand style guides and website training, clients are encouraged to reconnect with me for future needs, and some may choose to invest in an additional support phase, performance review schedule, or an ongoing support agreement.

Design

:

Render, Review, & Perfect

Upon approval of the concept or layout, comprehensive rendering can begin. A final design is typically approved with just a few more rounds of feedback and revision. This step will involve application of color palette, typography, and precision of details. Logos will often require multiple arrangements and color variants. Websites will entail code development, device-responsive layout, rich user interactions, and quality assurance.

Concept

:

Sketch, Draft, & Prototype

With the creative strategy established, an explorative phase of rapid ideation and iteration will be quickly reduced to a just handful of contending design concepts, often resulting in approval of a single direction before comprehensive design rendering begins. This may involve assessment of colors and visuals for emotional connection, or drafting prototypes to verify effective story-telling and user experience.

Strategy

:

Drawing a Map to Success

Reflecting together on the research, we’ll develop a creative brief to serve as a guiding framework for reference throughout the project. Here we’ll agree on scope of work, define successful results, plan for obstacles, and prepare content and materials. This step aims to eliminate ambiguity, while providing inspiration and rationale for critique.

Research

:

Vision, Purpose, & Direction

The design process begins with the right questions. Through market research and client interviews, we’ll establish a basis for the vision, voice, and purpose of the entire project. We'll consider past, present, and future, in context of target audience, competition, best-practices, and model positioning terms. Clients are encouraged to play an active role in sourcing and vetting creative direction for this step.

Research

:

Vision, Purpose, & Direction

The design process begins with the right questions. Through market research and client interviews, we’ll establish a basis for the vision, voice, and purpose of the entire project. We'll consider past, present, and future, in context of target audience, competition, best-practices, and model positioning terms. Clients are encouraged to play an active role in sourcing and vetting creative direction for this step.

Strategy

:

Drawing a Map to Success

Reflecting together on the research, we’ll develop a creative brief to serve as a guiding framework for reference throughout the project. Here we’ll agree on scope of work, define successful results, plan for obstacles, and prepare content and materials. This step aims to eliminate ambiguity, while providing inspiration and rationale for critique.

Concept

:

Sketch, Draft, & Prototype

With the creative strategy established, an explorative phase of rapid ideation and iteration will be quickly reduced to a just handful of contending design concepts, often resulting in approval of a single direction before comprehensive design rendering begins. This may involve assessment of colors and visuals for emotional connection, or drafting prototypes to verify effective story-telling and user experience.

Design

:

Render, Review, & Perfect

Upon approval of the concept or layout, comprehensive rendering can begin. A final design is typically approved with just a few more rounds of feedback and revision. This step will involve application of color palette, typography, and precision of details. Logos will often require multiple arrangements and color variants. Websites will entail code development, device-responsive layout, rich user interactions, and quality assurance.

Launch

:

Deliver, Implement, & Support

The entire process streamlines the launch of the final product, brand identity, website, campaign, etc., and we’ll consider any ongoing or future support needs. Beyond essential brand style guides and website training, clients are encouraged to reconnect with me for future needs, and some may choose to invest in an additional support phase, performance review schedule, or an ongoing support agreement.

Questions? Please ask.
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I view each project as a partnership,
and my very best work is collaborative.

‍
‍

I consider it part of my role to make your experience easy,
but I'll need your help to help you...
‍

Count on me:

to solve design problems
to ask and learn what's needed
to challenge preconceptions
to advocate for user experience
to explain in common language
to be honest about limitations
to be receptive to feedback
to value getting it right—not just done

I'll count on you:

to communicate priorities
to deliver content, ahead
to provide honest feedback
to understand what I don't in your field
to value my insight and expertise
to invest in your project
to keep me informed of changes
to help me get it right—not settle

Communication is paramount.

I aim to be easy to reach, quick to respond, friendly to talk to,
and I try always to listen and inform well.

‍

Let's work together

Background

Education

Experience

I seek to model a beginner’s mind,
to never stop learning and honing my craft.

Design school doesn't end...

I began my journey as an independent designer in 2008, while finishing school with two degrees:

AS, Visual Communications (McIntosh College)
BFA, Graphic Design (Plymouth State University)

It's the years of professional stumbles and strides since then that have shaped me as a designer and a resource to my clients.

As technologies and best-practices advance, I stay curious.

So let's keep learning together.

I routinely acquire skills and insights from clients and peers alike.

I’ve also enjoyed collaboration in teams beyond visual design:

Videography for music, behind-scenes, interviews, etc.
Creative direction of art, photography, promotional material
Photography of public events for regional magazines

Foreign challenges stretch my abilities and sharpen my creative approach. Let's talk about how I can support your team.

As an independent designer,
I stay light, flexible, and creatively diverse.
‍

Based in Portland, Maine,
I work with people anywhere in the world:

Non-profit Organizations
Medical & Education Institutions
Musicians & Artists
Recording Studios
Photo & Video Production Teams
Small to Corporate Businesses
Magazines, etc.

Hello.‍I'm Tye Newton,

‍a visual designer,sometimes photographer,seldom-heard song-maker,and social tango enthusiast.

Professionally, I'm a multidisciplinary visual designer, specializing in brand identity and website design.

On

Design

It isn't art, or really any one thing.

Design is diverse.

It takes genuine curiosity to source and apply the best solutions.

I strive to solve creative challenges through researched, iterative design, aided by my fascination with related disciplines:

art and photography, typography and language, science and technology, psychology and skepticism, etc.

Design is balance.

It's harmony of form and function.

The optimal solution can appear obvious even when hard-won. Important decisions are often invisible to the end-consumer.

Whether artful and innovative or familiar and intuitive—every detail is relevant, in service of expressing a consistent message or solving a design problem.

Design is a process.

It doesn’t start with the answer, and doesn’t end at sheer inspiration.

It takes strategy, patience and dedication, in a thoughtful cycle of iteration and critique.

Like the scientific method: Embrace the unknown, and expect many "no"s on the way to "yes!"

D

e

s

i

g

n

P

r

o

c

e

s

s

D

e

s

i

g

n

P

r

o

c

e

s

s

While project scope varies,each journey follows a similar arc.

Launch

:

Deliver, Implement, & Support

Design

:

Render, Review, & Perfect

Concept

:

Sketch, Draft, & Prototype

Strategy

:

Drawing a Map to Success

Research

:

Vision, Purpose, & Direction

Research

:

Vision, Purpose, & Direction

Strategy

:

Drawing a Map to Success

Concept

:

Sketch, Draft, & Prototype

Design

:

Render, Review, & Perfect

Launch

:

Deliver, Implement, & Support

Questions? Please ask.‍‍

W

o

r

k

Hello.
‍I'm Tye Newton,

‍a visual designer,
sometimes photographer,
seldom-heard song-maker,
and social tango enthusiast.

Like the scientific method:
Embrace the unknown, and expect many "no"s on the way to "yes!"

While project scope varies,
each journey follows a similar arc.

Questions? Please ask.
‍
‍

I view each project as a partnership,
and my very best work is collaborative.

I consider it part of my role to make your experience easy,
but I'll need your help to help you...
‍

I aim to be easy to reach, quick to respond, friendly to talk to,
and I try always to listen and inform well.