In need of practical tips and information on calendar publishing? Here’s a bunch of handy links then:
Leigh Bagley’s calendars are different to the the mostly photography-based work that the majority of Calvendo authors create: He works with colorful abstract graphic print designs that are timeless, classic and cool – at least, that’s what we think. Time to have a chat with him to learn more about his background as an artist and designer, his inspiration and the importance of colour for his work.
Leigh, you studied textile design at the Royal College of Art in London and are now lecturing at the Glasgow School of Art as well as running your own company, producing abstract graphic prints. Can you tell us as a bit about your career and how you came to do what you’re doing?
Born and raised just outside Birmingham, I developed an eye for colour and interest in design from an early age. My design career began shortly after graduating from the Royal College of Art in London in 2000 when I worked as a freelance knitted textile designer selling to Calvin Klein, Levi, Nicole Fahri, Eddie Bauer, Milk, Woolmark, to name just a few, for the next ten years.
Following my textile design career working in both fashion and interiors, in 2012, I decided to launch my print company because I was eager to develop my interests in rich abstract graphic print design and I produced my first collection of limited edition prints. Luckily, my work was instantly coveted by leading architecture and interior design companies which helped promote my design work. As my name got around, my editioned prints became sought after by private clients, so I started to expand and investigate the potential of my design work on other products.
Abstract Pattern calendar
How would you describe your style and main interest as an artist? Continue reading
Never underestimate the power of your cover, we say! We can’t stress it often enough but your calendar cover is vital for making your product a success. It is the most important element of your calendar – and a selling point. The image you choose for your cover therefore needs to be convincing, as does your title and subtitle (if you choose one), font and overall design of the cover.
Take your time designing a good cover!
It’s worth pondering about this a bit because the cover is your unique chance to attract attention to your calendar and make people who’re searching on Amazon & Co stop in their track. After all, you’ve got a lot of competition, so make sure that your cover exemplifies why your calendars is worth buying and special.
We’ve got a few cover design tips for you. Here it goes:
Choosing the right cover image
A few things you should consider when choosing your cover image:
Important design criteria
Don’t forget: You’ll make our jury happy if you pay attention to your cover 🙂 And your calendars will also definitely make more of an impact and attract potential buyers.
If you use a picture editing software, you can also create a jpg for your cover and upload it on the system when creating your calendar. Plus, here’s a cover design video tutorial on our Calvendo YouTube channel.