Ask the Designers: Nov. 2017 Welcome to the blog’s newest segment: “Ask the Designers.” Once a month, you’ll get an insider’s perspective on the life of our designers – President Shawn O’Mara, Vice President Jesse Mader, Art Director Nina Zivkovic, and Graphic Designer Laura Smith. We’ll give you tips, resources, and even a few fun facts about us. 1. What do you do when you have designer’s block? SHAWN: I go and teach. I teach so many talented [...]
Size Matters: Why Big Brands Work With Small Agencies When it comes to choosing a creative agency to work with, size matters. Many large brands and corporations have decided to start working with smaller agencies. Here’s why: Employees Wear Multiple Hats At small agencies, every team member must be able to adapt to and learn various programs, methods, styles, and industries. Employees at these agencies work with a large variety of clients every day and must be able [...]
67 PLACES YOUR LOGO CAN MAKE A LASTING IMPRESSION So, your brand has a new, fabulous logo design and you obviously need to flaunt it. Having trouble thinking of places to display your new brand image? We’ve got a list of conventional and unconventional places you can show off your brand new logo so you can maximize your impressions. Check out our list: Social media profiles Interior office signage Exterior office signage On your website Website favicon Watermarks [...]
A FRESH LOOK AT STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY VS. COMMISSIONED PHOTOGRAPHY Do you want the salad bar to customize and fit your needs, or will the pre-made salad work? Choosing a type of photography is a lot like choosing a salad… When creating a website, developing marketing materials, or posting on social media, it is always important to have high quality photos. They resonate well with viewers, and give the perception that your company is as high quality as the photos you utilize. [...]
7 STEPS TO CHOOSING A LEGAL BRAND NAME You think you have the most interesting name for your new brand or company, it’s so original, and nobody else could possibly have come up with it. Then, one of the most soul-crushing moments happens – your advertising team gives you the terrible news that the name has been taken, and you are stuck back at square one. Come to your advertising team with the knowledge that they have: how to choose [...]
How to Stay Productive When Working From Home Are you a small business owner? Freelance designer? New parent? Just suffering from a seasonal cold? Working from the comfort of your own home can be difficult and distracting. Here’s our guide to staying productive while working from home: 1. Get Started Early & Act Like You Are Still Going to Work Make sure to set that alarm for 7:00am, and don’t hit that snooze button! Pretend like you’re prepping [...]
Followers Hate When Brands Do These Things on Social Media You wake up, roll over to your nightstand and grab your phone. Immediately, you start scrolling through all of your social media to see what you’ve missed while you were asleep. You see a few eye-catching posts that you give a generous like, share, or comment. However, you also see a bunch of content that you don’t even take a split second to look at. What is it that followers hate [...]
6 Qualities of a Great Graphic Designer When looking for help from a designer, it is important to know the person you are working with will go above and beyond your needs and expectations. Here are 6 qualities you should look for in a graphic designer. Good Listener A graphic designer should listen to your needs. When they listen, they should really understand your goals and vision. The more questions a designer has, the more notes they take, and [...]
Brand Ambassadors: What They Are and Why They’re Important Businesses need to gain exposure in order to become successful. Many businesses, small and large, have recently adopted the idea of brand ambassadors. Brand ambassadors can be internal or external. Each company’s internal employees are technically brand ambassadors, as they represent the brand they work for. External brand ambassadors are people who are hired by the company (sometimes unpaid) as influencers to promote the brand via various marketing outlets. [...]
The Importance of Mockups When a designer is in the final stages of a project, he or she can take his or her service skills to the next level and ultimately create a powerful relationship with a client by creating mockups. Mockups are simple to make, and can make a brand or project come to life in the client’s eyes. Designers can purchase and download Photoshop mockup templates, create templates of their own, or find free templates to download. [...]
