What good is all the data in Excel if you can't share what it means?
Try a nice chart—and don't just use the wizard. Adding custom colors can make your data really stand out.

Even databases can be fun - Try a pivot table!
You can look at data over time, sales by sku, orders by customer, etc.

Once you've got your data into a database, there's no better way to get it back out than by using SQL.

Don't trust you're web pages to just anyone. HTML code should be well structured in order to make it easier to edit down the road. Sloppy HTML or HTML that doesn't follow the established rules is unacceptable!

Cascading Style Sheets make this page function the way it does (along with a little JavaScript for good measure.) For maintaining web page design consistency, you can't beat CSS.

Want a data-driven web page? Chances are you'll need Active Server Pages or PHP to make them dynamic.

Breaking the data down into useful information you can make business decisions upon is just as important as having it in the first place.

A good designer is knowledgeable in Photoshop. A great designer is constantly learning what else Photoshop can do!

Want a logo that will work on a business card or a billboard? Better build it in Illustrator.

It's cool, it's interactive, and when used properly, it isn't annoying. Make sure you're using Flash because you need to, not just because you can.

Since we can't do EVERYTHING on the web, it's nice to know we can still do a presentation in Powerpoint.

Pre-production, post-production, layout, design, color theory, art history, text treatments and client requirements. They're all important in graphic design.

A web site, intranet or email is only as useful as the designer makes it. Cool special effects and fancy roll-overs might look neat, but if they don't help the person using what you're designing, perhaps you need a new designer. Always be a user-advocate.

Leading a team of creative minds is tough—you've got to give them the freedom to create, while keeping them grounded in the ultimate goal of the pieces they are designing. Striking a balance is critical.

The left hemisphere of the brain is considered to be the logical, rational, structured, orderly side of the brain.

The right hemisphere of the brain is considered to be the spontaneous, free-flowing, easy-going, creative side of the brain.