Posts Tagged ‘design’

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JS Graphics Wins International Davey Award

Friday, October 26th, 2012

The winners of The 2012 Davey Awards were announced by the International Academy of the Visual Arts on October 22, and we were very pleased to learn that JS Graphics, Inc.  has been awarded a Silver Award for its logo design for Artigiano, a line of artisan breads from Traditional Breads of Lynn, MA. Traditional Breads wanted a product logo to convey the idea of breads and rolls hand-crafted in a European tradition. The logo will be used on all Artigiano packaging.

Winning logo design

With nearly 4,000 entries from across the US and around the world, the Davey Awards honors the finest creative work from the best small firms, agencies andcompanies worldwide.

“This year’s winners truly represent a smart, nimble approach to creativity and embody the quick thinking, resourceful nature that make small agencies so unique” noted Linda Day, Executive Director of the IAVA. She added, “On behalf of the entire International Academy of Visual Arts, I want to thank this year’s Davey Awards entrants and winners for sharing their amazing capabilities and talents, allowing us to once again highlight the best small firms worldwide.”

The Davey Awards is judged and overseen by the International Academy of the Visual Arts (IAVA), a 200+ member organization of leading professionals from various disciplines of the visual arts dedicated to embracing progress and the evolving nature of traditional and interactive media. Current IAVA membership represents a “Who’s Who” of acclaimed media, advertising, and marketing firms including: Sotheby’s Institute of Art, Yahoo!, Estee Lauder, Wired, Insight Interactive, The Webby Awards, Bath & Body Works, Brandweek, Polo Ralph Lauren, ADWEEK, Alloy, Coach, iNDELIBLE, MTV, Victoria’s Secret, HBO, The Ellen Degeneres Show, and many others.

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Practical Tips for Hiring the Right Designer for You

Friday, May 11th, 2012

Selecting a designer for your firm to work with can be daunting. Some considerations are easy – you may not like the style of a particular designer, or maybe they are out of your price range. But what are some other things you should pay attention to?

    1. Few design examples. Graphic design IS visual communication. A designer that has few, or no, samples of past work is a red flag. Examples don’t necessarily have to be directly related to your industry, but you should see a range of samples that show how the designer solved previous communication challenges so you can be confident that (s)he can solve yours.
    2. Lack of follow-through. Does the designer return your calls and emails promptly? Is (s)he responsive to your questions, schedule, and deadlines? You don’t want to be a babysitter – you need someone who is going to collaborate with you and be responsive.
    3. No detailed estimate. You need to know what you’re paying for. How many design concepts will be presented? How many rounds of edits are included? What are the deliverables? A detailed estimate up front prevents disappointment later.
    4. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples when reviewing proposalsVery low estimates. This may seem counterintuitive – why would you want to spend more than you have to? However, receiving a low estimate may mean there are things not included in the estimate, or the designer is inexperienced. Make sure that you are comparing apples to apples when you review estimates.
    5. No contract. A contract means you’re dealing with a professional. Contracts protect everyone involved. What happens if you decide to kill the project? How will you be billed? What happens if the scope of the project changes? A contract will spell out what happens in these circumstances at the start so that there are no surprises if circumstances change.

And, please be very wary of sites that offer logos for $79 or less. Horror stories abound about these sites. In addition to being notorious for copyright infringement, you’ll have little interaction with a designer (often inexperienced and in another country) and no guarantee that your “custom” logo won’t be sold again and again to other businesses. (Read my post, Logo Design for Dummies – And Thieves, for more on this.)

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Talking Pictures

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

A recent conversation with a prospect reminded me how effective infographics are at conveying complicated information in an easy-to-understand way. He had information that, if understood correctly by his prospects, would show why using his services would increase their profits. He struggled with the right words to explain to me what that difference was. Finally he said, “If I can just get them to see how much more they would earn with my program, they’d be convinced!”

A picture is worth a thousand words

Studies have shown that people retain information better when it is presented visually as opposed to spoken or written words. Which of the following is easier for you to understand?

“Our domestic students represent 32 states – 23 from Maine, 57 from New Hampshire, 8 from Vermont, 314 from Massachusetts, 19 from Rhode Island, 64 from Connecticut,  39 from New York, 9 from Pennsylvania,…yada, yada, yada.”

Or:

Where our students come from infographic

Not only can you see at a glance which states are represented, you can also clearly see which are not!

The next time you have complex information you need to share with others, consider using infographics. An infographic will take your data and turn it into information you clients and prospects will understand.

Here are some sites for inspiration:

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Myth: If it’s on the Internet, it is in the “public domain” and can be freely copied.

Monday, October 31st, 2011

Jean Sifleet, Smartfast.comToday’s guest blogger is business attorney Jean Sifleet, and she writes concerning the misconceptions about, and the possible penalties for, using content “found” on-line. To learn more about Jean’s firm, visit www.smartfast.com

It’s a common misconception that if you found it on the Internet, it’s free and you can use it. While information on the Internet is “public,” it’s not all in the “public domain.”  According to Wikipedia,

Public domain comprises the body of knowledge and innovation (especially creative works such as writing, art, music, and inventions) in relation to which no person or other legal entity can establish or maintain proprietary interests within a particular legal jurisdiction. This body of information and creativity is considered to be part of a common cultural and intellectual heritage, which, in general, anyone may use or exploit, whether for commercial or non-commercial purposes. Only about 15 percent of all books are in the public domain, and 10 percent of all books that are still in print.

Sometimes content on the Internet is in the public domain and free to use, but frequently it is not. Penalties for infringing a copyright can include payment of statutory damages (between $750 and $150,000 per infringement) and attorney fees. Before you use content you “found,” it’s smart to check out the rules: What’s In The Public Domain?

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Business Cards-Tiny Marketing Pieces That Have A Big Impact

Monday, March 21st, 2011

JS Graphics Creative License business card

In this world of increasing on-line business relationships, e-marketing, and v-cards, you could be forgiven if you think that business cards are passé. But a well-thought out and executed business card can have a big impact on your clients and prospects. I’ve had prospects call me years after they first received my card because they found my card interesting enough to save. That’s an impression that a v-card just can’t match!

Even though business cards are small in size, a surprising amount of information can fit in that space. The Small Business Blog lists nine “must-haves” for every business card. And, if you need inspiration to take your card to the next level, designmess.com offers these creative business cards to inspire you!

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That’s Using Your Brain!

Monday, February 14th, 2011

the brainIs there a science as to why people respond favorably to something that is well-designed? While I would be more than happy to accept all the kudos for creating outstanding design, I can’t take ALL the credit (unless you insist…!).

Our brains have three distinct parts, each with specific functions. Susan Weinschenk (on Twitter @thebrainlady or read her blog) calls these the old, mid and new brains. The old brain is the part that is believed to have developed first in evolution to deal with issues like breathing and digestion. The mid brain controls our emotions, and the cortex, or new brain, is where our reasoning, logic and information processing happens. You are using your new brain right now to read this blog.

We like to think that we make decisions consciously even if we acknowledge we can be influenced by our emotions. But Weinschenk points out, “Most of our decision-making is governed by unconscious processing.”

What does this have to do with design?

(more…)

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Eight Steps to the Best Logo for Your Business

Thursday, November 4th, 2010

I’ve been asked by clients if logo design ideas come to me in a “flash of inspiration.” I wish! But like most other jobs, design is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. The process of designing a logo requires logical steps of listening, research, development, feedback and refinement to achieve the best results.

  1. DEFINING THE CHALLENGE & UNDERSTANDING THE GOAL
    Answers to questions like, Who is your target audience?, How does your company differ from the competition?, What words would you use to describe your ideal logo?, What other types of logos appeal to you?, help designers and clients get on the same page regarding what is expected of the new identity.
  2. RESEARCH
    Armed with this information from the client meeting, looking into what competitors are doing and getting a better feel for their market is the next step. This helps to understand what might and might not be appropriate for the overall message and feel that the successful logo will need to convey.
  3. INSPIRATION
    Here’s where the 10% happens! Often, after fact-gathering, designers “let it be” for a few days. Brainstorming, changing environment, asking Why?, and What if? help look at the logo challenge in new and different ways. It’s hard to be creative and critical at the same time, so the good, bad, and ugly are all included. Only when many concepts have been worked up do we proceed to…
  4. REFINEMENT
    This is when a critical eye is used, refining some ideas and rejecting others, going off on a tangent with another, and taking the viable sketches and translate them to a digital format. We present at least three different design approaches to the client for their initial feedback. All initial concepts presented are black-and-white, concentrating at this point on the form of the logo. A successful logo needs to work well in black-and-white as well as color.
  5. CLIENT REVIEW & FEEDBACK
    Client feedback should be implemented early and often in the design process. Collaborating with the client assures designing a logo that best represents them and their company.
  6. REFINEMENT REDUX
    After a client’s initial feedback, it’s back to the drawing board! Changes based on the feedback, possibly including a new approach as a result of reviewing the initial ideas, are all incorporated for the next client review.
  7. ADDING COLOR
    Once the final logo design has been agreed on, color palettes are developed for the logo. Again, it’s important to understand the client’s audience and industry in choosing appropriate colors for their identity. A client meeting is held to review the color concepts, and further color refinements are made if needed.
  8. CLIENT FILES
    Hooray…we have a winner and now it’s time to deliver the appropriate file formats to the client. These are what you should expect to receive from a designer: an EPS file of the logo in black-and-white and color, suitable for any reproduction use; a JPG and/or GIF file that is suitable for web use; a TIFF file (higher-quality than a JPG) and can be used in Microsoft Office programs. We also include a Logo Standards Guidelines, outlining the best practices for using the new logo in different situations.

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Ten Tips for Building A Better Web Site

Thursday, May 13th, 2010

Are you considering updating your business’ web site? What’s that you say…you still don’t HAVE a site for your business? Whether you’re planning a re-launch or a brand new site, here are some things to consider to create a better experience for visitors and a more successful web presence for your business.

Identify What Your Site Will Need

Structure and Appearance

Visit competitors’ sites and browse sites that visually appeal to you for ideas.

Functionality

Decide what functionality you would like your site to have. Forms, shopping carts, analytics, etc. ideally should be incorporated into your site at the outset.

Graphics

Will any graphics need to be specifically created for your site? Do you have files available for your logo and any other existing graphics you will need?

Keywords and Search Engines

Think about what keywords people might use to search for your product or service. Sites like wordtracker.com provide information for search engine optimization. Use their free trial for an idea of how appropriate keywords will work with search engines. These words should be incorporated into your content and your page titles.

Maintenance

With a Content Management System, you can make content changes to the site yourself rather than relying on the designer to make changes.

Web Site Dos and Don’ts

  • The most effective web design is one that utilizes quality content as a foundation. A beautiful-looking web site can only do so much if the content is not relevant or well-written.
  • DO provide an intuitive and consistent interface. Visitors shouldn’t have to guess how to navigate through the pages of a website. If you doubt it, check out this site for Sprint.
  • DO make your information easily accessible. Organize content into logical pages that are easily identifiable. Many visitors will get discouraged and leave if they can’t find specific information for which they are looking. Visit this site for Dell Laptops and see how long it takes to find useful information.
  • DO Minimize Clicks. Create a chain between the user and the information on your website in as few clicks as possible. See Bow-WowBooks as an example of what not to do.
  • DON’T use an “Enter Site” link or a Flash intro page that makes a visitor work to get to the heart of your site. Many viewers won’t even bother clicking the link, instead navigating to another site. And, aside for user experience, Flash does not play well with search engines! To get a flavor of this type of frustration, visit jones, partners: architecture.
  • DON’T use distracting animation, graphics or sound. Excessive Flash animations, animated GIFs, blinking text, music, etc. contribute to an unprofessional look. If you don’t believe it, check out this extreme example at Fabric Land.

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Tips to Becoming a More Colorful Character

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

Feeling blue? Seeing red? Know someone who’s yellow? Colors evoke powerful emotions and have meaning far beyond simply being a decorative afterthought. Color is a very important tool in successfully delivering your message to your customers. Are the colors you’re using in your message helping or hurting the story you want to tell your audience?

Sending a Message with Color

According to Leatrice Eiseman, consultant to the color industry leader Pantone, eighty percent of human experience is visual. People respond first to color, then shape, numbers, and finally words. Additionally, response to color can differ depending on the viewer’s age, gender, cultural background-even educational level. So you can see the importance of knowing who your target audience will be when you choose colors to use for your message!

A Little Color Commentary…

Did you know that red is the first color identified in every culture after black and white? Red stimulates the appetite (making it a good color for restaurant decor) but while it is seen as enticing and sensual in our culture, it is the color of mourning in South Africa.

Children 3 to 6 years old prefer orange to any other color, while their parents respond more favorably to subdued colors. Your color choices in this case would depend on whether your target market was kids or their parents.

If you are trying to appeal to an older audience, you need to know that cool colors such as blues and greens are perceived differently by people over 50 due to changes in their eyes.

The list goes on and on…every color has associations and emotion attached to it. Proper color selection is much more than choosing colors that are your personal favorites…they need to resonate with your audience in a meaningful way.

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Every Little “Bit” Counts!

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

Have you ever sent a logo file or other image file to a designer or printer only to be told it can’t be used because it’s “bit-mapped”? A “vector” file is needed instead. What are they talking about?

Bit-Map vs. Vector Images

bit-mapped heartAll digital images are either bit-mapped or vector files. What is the difference? Think of bit-mapped (or raster) graphics as an image where each pixel of the image is equal to a tile in a mosaic or an embroidered cross-stitch. If you stand back or squint your eyes, the individual elements come together to form a picture. But as you move closer, you begin to notice the pieces that make up the whole.
The same principle applies with a bit-mapped graphic…the more you enlarge it, the fuzzier it appears because you are starting to see the individual pixels that make up the image.

vector heart

On the other hand, vector (or object-oriented) graphics are based on mathematical equations of points and paths to represent them in computer files. Since the art is created using lines and curves, it will reproduce as crisply on a business card as it will on a billboard. Think of an ink drawing-no matter how close you get, the lines are still crisp and smooth.

If it the difference still isn’t clear, spend three minutes watching this informative and amusing video, Pixels vs. Vectors, on MacMercTV. A picture (or in this case, a video) is worth a thousand words!

Tips to Recognizing Image File Types

Now that we’ve defined the difference between bit-mapped and vector graphics, here are a few tips to tell which file is which!

1. Files with a TIFF, JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP or PSD suffix are raster-graphics. All photo files are raster images, which is why it is important to provide a designer or printer with the highest resolution file that you have. A low resolution 11″ x 17″ image will only be 2.5″ x 4″ at high resolution. All scanned images are also raster graphics, as are any images imbedded in a Word document.

2. Files with an EPS, AI or SVG suffix are vector graphic files. These graphics have been created by special programs such as Adobe Illustrator and various CAD programs. It’s especially advantageous for logo files, or any graphics that needs to be crisp and clear, to have been created in this format.

3. Why does a low-resolution image look fine on a computer screen or printed from a desktop printer? Computer screens are configured to show low-resolution images clearly. The same is true for most office printers. For professional printing, however, images need to be high-resolution (300dpi). So what looks OK on-screen won’t necessarily look good when printed.

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