November 2012 (#207)

Sometimes the scale of a project can mean that the personal connection is lost. By striving for mass appeal, the quirks that define your style as a designer may be sacrificed. Not so for M/M (Paris). As the founders of the iconic French studio reveal this month, whether they’re working with an indie magazine, a global brand like Givenchy or a music superstar like Kanye West, they aim to make a special connection with every individual who engages with their work.

In many ways, it’s a similar story with effective self-promo, the topic of this month’s cover feature. While the generic machine-gun approach can sometimes pay off, as the case studies we explore demonstrate, it’s often the personal touches that cut through the noise to get you noticed by a client or commissioner – whether it’s a quirkily illustrated resumé, a personalised letterpress print or a lovingly-made promo pack with hand-baked cookies and home-brewed beer.

There’s plenty more packed into this issue, too. In the fourth part of our series on app design pioneers, we explore how Algoriddim has managed to carve out a lucrative niche for pro-quality DJ and VJ tools – while our Creative Skills section introduces Photoshop CS6’s impressive animation capabilities, plus how to easily pull focus in After Effects CS6, and how to apply your artwork to a large-scale mural.

Until next month, hope you enjoy the issue.

Nick Carson Editor