A Crash Course on Graphic Philosophy 101

Novice and professional graphic designers, we are aware that you know the basic principles of graphic philosophy. But then, as workers of art though digital and graphic art already borders in commercial arts, theres no harm in continuously improving our craft through constant study and practice, is there? Really great graphic designers I know have come to their status because of painstaking application and study of their past works.

Well review the theoretical concepts of graphics and graphic forms as a foundation on how we have to go about our graphic designs. To begin with, a graphic form is the shape that embodies a certain idea. We can take a tree and use it as an example. How many ways can we depict a tree? We can depict by a photo of a tree, or the silhouette of a tree, or even its outline. By having these forms that represent a tree, we are therefore conveying the idea of a tree.

A word of caution, though, the effectiveness of which the idea is communicated depends upon many levels of context.

The abstraction of an idea into a flat space, to make it a graphic form, is an integral part of Graphic Design. Usually, the goal is to communicate the idea as clearly as possible. So why not depict the apple as close to reality as possible with a photo? This clearly depicts an apple and leaves no room for misinterpretation. So why not use photos of everything?

The idea is usually not as simple as just an apple. The graphic form is merely a component of an entire design. In a design of a poster for example, the existence of multiple forms and large amounts of text can compete with one another for the readers attention. To increase readability, graphic forms are usually simplified into basic shapes, and flattened into a limited amount of color. They are made to work with type more harmoniously and further refined to convey the layers of information with clarity.

The concept of contrast also defines the graphic form of an idea. In a field of 10 squares and 1 triangle, the form that will be noticed is the triangle. A design placed on a wall, on a billboard, or on the internet, are usually lost in a field of other designs. In order to help define your idea over the others, forms that contrast those around it are effective. Basic factors such as typeface, color, scale, and form are elements that can easily help get a design noticed.

The representation of an idea goes beyond its place on the page or its place on a wall. There is the larger context to consider the audience. The ability of the audience to interpret your design is based on the ability of the audience to understand the forms in which an idea is embodied. Preferences of form, and the ability to understand form, can change by age group, location, and through time. We all understand the representation of dollars by a symbol: $. Though symbols universally communicate, they are become ordinary by usage. As the audience becomes visually educated and aware of these forms, the visual language of graphic design expands. However, the evolution of forms must also take place in order to keep interest.

In the overall scheme of things, fresh ideas and interesting graphic forms have always been able to attract attention. New ways of representation strike curiosity. But the goal is to communicate and the form is part and parcel of visual communication.

Lala C. Ballatan is a 26 year-old Communication Arts graduate, with a major in Journalism. Right after graduating last 1999, she worked for one year as a clerk then became a Research, Publication and Documentation Program Director at a non-government organization, which focuses on the rights, interests and welfare of workers for about four years.

Book reading has always been her greatest passion -- mysteries, horrors, psycho-thrillers, historical documentaries and classics. She got hooked into it way back when she was but a shy kid.

Her writing prowess began as early as she was 10 years old in girlish diaries. With writing, she felt freedom to express her viewpoints and assert it, to bring out all concerns -- imagined and observed, to bear witness.

For comments and inquiries about the article visit http://www.graphicdesignsunlimited.com

Three Proven Strategies for Getting Out of Debt

My credit cards are maxed out! How many times have I heard that cry. Most people only see the terror of the debt, the decreasing FICO score, and the hopelessness that becomes part of the problem. While it is difficult to see the solution when you are in the heart of the problem, often the solution is right in front of our nose. In this article I present three strategies to pay off your debt and to raise your FICO score while doing it.

When faced with overwhelming debt the first step is to not add to the problem. Put your credit cards in a bank vault or some other secure place where you cannot easily get to them. Pay cash, write checks (so long as you have available funds) or use a debit card to pay for everything. Do not apply for new credit. Just stop. Okay, so you won't be able to make impulsive purchases, but that is good while you are trying to pay off your current debt.

Now that you have placed yourself on a strictly cash diet you will need to make a decision. There are three apporaches that make the most sense.

• Sort by interest rate
• Consolidate
• Low to High sequence

The Sort by interest rate approach suggests that you make an effort to pay off those creditors that charge the highest rate of interest first. If you choose this approach you must be sure to pay at least the monthly minimum in an on-time fashion on all your other bills. If you can't do that this approach is probably not a wise choice. Once you decide on the order in which to pay off your charges, call the first creditor on your list and ask if there is any way to lower the interest charged as you really want to pay the bill off as quickly as possible. Because your creditor is interested in getting paid they will often agree to reduce interest and, in rare cases, suspend interest altogether. Once creditor number one is paid off, repeat the process, including asking for a reduced interest rate. Keep going until your last creditor is paid off.

If you choose to consolidate you must be aware of the risks involved. Often consolidation makes the most sense if you can borrow at a lower interest rate than you are paying on your credit cards. If, for example, you have significant equity in your home, you can apply for a home equity line of credit and pay off all your outstanding bills using the proceeds from that loan. There are, however, significant risks involved with consolidation. First, if you didn't make your credit cards unaccessible you may be tempted to run up new balances which put you in a far worse situation than before you had the loan. Now you have a loan and a new round of credit card debt. Secondly, if you default on your home equity line of credit you may lose your home through foreclosure or have the property tied up with a lien. Consolidation is a way of trading debt for debt. It only makes sense if you have equity in your home and can negotiate a lower interest rate through the bank than you are paying on your credit card debt.

Choosing the low to high sequence approach lets you pay off the smallest debt first, then the next smallest and so on until your debts are paid. Like the sort by interest rate approach, you must be able to make the minimum monthly payment on all of your credit card debt at the very least. This approach provides you with quick victories and a nearly immediate sense of relief.

Keep your credit cards locked up after you have paid off your debt. You are developing a pay-as-you-go strategy. You can then use debt to add value to your life as the need arises rather than using debt to just consume.

Copyright 2007 Roger Passman All Rights Reserved

Roger Passman is the President of WDC Financial Services, Inc. His firm works with clients to restore damaged credit, negotiate payment plans, and reduce debt. You can visit WDC Financial Services at http://www.wdcfinancialservices.com

WDC Financial Services also maintains a blog filled with information about managing financial obligations and more at http://wdcfinancialservices.com/wordpress/

Balance Sheet and Profit and Loss Account

In this series of articles we will also discuss:

1. Balance Sheet Explained

2. Trading and Profit and Loss Account

3. Adjustments of Final Accounts

Previously while discussing the basic accounting equation it was noted that A - L = P, where A represents assets (property and possession) owned by the business; L represents liabilities (claims against the business of the creditors) and P represents the proprietor's funds (equity) in the business.,

Accounting Concept of Income

The concept of 'income' is different to the economists and accountants. Economists concept of income is that of 'real income' meaning thereby the increase-in real terms of the ownership funds between two points of time.

In accounting the term income is known as 'net profit'. It was stated earlier :

Sales - Merchandising cost = Gross profit and Gross profit - Expenses of doing business = Net profit

In other words, Revenue - Expenses = Net profit.

These terms are explained below:

Revenue

It is the monetary value of the products sold or services rendered to the customers during the period. It results from sales services and source like interest, dividend and commission etc. For example, sales affected by the business and charge made for services rendered by the business constitutes revenue. However, all cash receipt may nott be revenue.

Thus, money borrowed leads to cash receipt but it does not constitute revenue. Similarly additional capital brought in increases proprietor's funds but it is not revenue.

Expenses/Cost of (doing business)

Expenditure incurred by the business to earn revenue is termed as expense or cost of doing business. Examples of expenses are raw materials consumed, salaries, rent, depreciation, advertisement etc.

Cash v/s Accrual Basis of Accounting

Small business, individual professionals and non-trading concerns usually adopt cash basis of accounting. Under this system, incomes are considered to have been earned only when received ill cash and expenses are considered to have been incurred only actually paid. Hence, under this system the profit or loss of an accounting period is the difference between incomes received and the expenses paid. Though the cash basis of accounting is simple (no adjustment is required) but il loses its comparability.

Under accrual basis all incomes are credited to the period in which earned irrespective of the fact whether received or not. Similarly, all expenses are debited to the period in which incurred irrespective of the fact whether paid or not. It is a scientific basis of accounting, though a bit difficult.

Matching Concept. Requires that expenses should be matched to the revenues of the appropriate accounting period. So we must determine what are the revenues earned during a particular accounting period and the expenses incurred to earn these revenues. It is the matching concept which justifies accrual basis of accounting.

Accruals and Deferrals

Accounting is expected to measure or ascertain the net income of the business during the accounting period. Normally, it is the calendar year (1st January to 31st December) but in other cases it may be Financial year (Ist April to 31st March) or any other period according to the convention of the business community of the area.

The combined impact of matching concept and the accounting period concept on accounting has resulted in accruals and deferrals.

Accrued or Outstanding expenses

It is the term which denotes that expenditure has been incurred during the accounting period but the same has not been paid in cash e.g. Salary, Rent, Wage etc. becoming due but not paid.

Deferred or pre-paid expenses

It is the term which denotes that payment in cash has been made "in advance but the full benefit of this payment has not been reaped by the current accounting period, e.g., Insurance paid in advance.

Accrued or outstanding Income

It is the term which denotes that the income has been earned but the cash has not been received against the same. Income has accrued due but not received e.g. Interest on investments etc.

Differed or Received in-advance Income

It is the term which denotes income which has been received (in cash) in advance but it has not been earned so far e.g. rent received in advance. All the accruals and deferrals arc not be adjusted at the end of the accounting period (end-period adjustments) in order to find out the income of the business during the period under review. The procedure of ascertaining (i) business income and (ii) financial position is being described, in detail below:

In fact, these arc two most important of many objectives of book-keeping. In order to know the profits earned by him he prepares a trading and loss account and in order to know the financial position of his business on the last day of the financial period he prepares a balance sheet.

Such accounts are called 'Final Accounts'. Preparation of final accounts is the concluding step of accounting cycle. In fact, final accounts include a number of accounts (i) Manufacturing/ Production account, (ii) Trading account, (iii) Profit and loss account and (iv) Balance sheet.

Practically balance sheet is a statement but for accounting purposes here it is treated as a part vital accounts.

The preparation of above all or any of the above accounts depends upon the nature of the business being carried on by the business concerned. In case of a manufacturing business manufacturing account, trading account, profit and loss account and balance sheet form the parts of final accounts whereas in case of trading business all other accounts are prepared with the exception of manufacturing account. Each of these accounts provide a specific vital information to businessman to help to control and organize the business activities in a batter way.

The author is an engineering graduate, B.E.(Hons), and is managing his own software development firm, HiTech Computer Services, that mainly deals in accounting, billing and inventory control software for traders, industries, business houses, hotels, hospitals, medical stores, newspapers, magazines, petrol pumps, automobile dealers, commodity brokers and other business segments, website and web application deveopment for business. The software are available both for intranet and internet. These software are available for download from the website:

Evaluation version accounting software download is available at http://www.hitech-on-web.com/p10.asp

Copy of the article and full Financial Accounting Primer or Tutorial is available at http://www.hitech-on-web.com/Balance_Sheet_and_Profit_and_Loss_Account.asp

Visit HiTech Computer Services at http://www.hitech-on-web.com/