The Designer Blog
An Effective Logo
by Creative Cat on 04/29/15
An effective logo is distinctive, appropriate, practical, graphic, simple in form and conveys an intended message. In its simplest form, a logo is there to identify but to do this effectively it must follow the basic principles of logo design:
- A logo must be simple. A simple logo allows for easy recognition and allows the logo to be versatile and memorable. Effective logos feature something unexpected or unique without being overdrawn.
- A logo must be memorable. Following closely behind the principle of simplicity is that of memorability. An effective logo should be memorable and this is achieved by having a simple yet appropriate logo.
- A logo must be enduring. An effective logo should endure the test of time. The logo should be 'future proof', meaning that it should still be effective in 10, 20, 50+ years time.
- A logo must be versatile. An effective logo should be able to work across a variety of mediums and applications.
- A logo must be appropriate. How you position the logo should be appropriate for its intended purpose.
(http://www.creativebloq.com)
No they didn't?!! Branding...
by Creative Cat on 04/01/15It's what people say behind your business' back.
Contrast
by Creative Cat on 04/01/15In order to make different lines of type stand out and not fight against each other, use a serif and sans serif font together. This will give contrast between headlines and body text making it easier to read and deliver a message.
A Good Website
by Creative Cat on 01/30/15
To maximize readers there are 2 major factors that go into designing a website.
One, good design. Your website needs to be well-designed, easy to read and uncluttered. This will guarantee a visitor stay on your page. Heck, if it is designed beautifully, a visitor may stay on it a bit longer even if they by mistake clicked on it! Appealing, eye-catchy, clean. Shoot for that. Too much info or cluttered-ness will scare the reader off. A site can have tons of information on it but can be so well-organized it doesn't feel like it. Check out www.chasepress.com. Same for print design.
Second, good navigation. If your site does not have a clear navigation bar and it is difficult to navigate throughout your pages and get home again, kiss your visitors good-bye. Put yourself in the shoes of a visitor, if you can't find what you are looking for fast then it is on to the next site....right?
Design Works
by Creative Cat on 01/21/15
Some people may not realize the importance of design. Why do I need good design? What does it matter? If I have good prices then that will get my business booming....right? Wrong! Picture this: You want to find a good Mexican Restaurant. There are 2 restaurants. One has a plain-jane sign with just their name, a typed-up plain menu and bare walls. The other has a beatiful sign that reflects Mexican colors/art, a well-designed menu and the inside of the restaurant is beautiful-like you're in Mexico...which would you choose? Design matters. It's all around you. It effects your decisions whether you are looking for a restaurant, shopping for clothes etc.
6 Reasons Graphic Design is More Important to Your Business Than You Think
by Creative Cat on 01/07/15
Brand Recognition
Your company’s total brand image starts with a great logo and expands to every aspect of your business. The design needs to target your audience in a way that is functional, attractive, and professional. Your brand should provide an instant connection to the outstanding products and services that you offer, and you need an excellent graphic design to forge that kind of connection.
Company Unity
Your employees will be surrounded by stationary, company web pages, uniforms, publications, and more. If you want a happy and healthy workplace, your employees will need to band together behind the designs that you select to represent your brand. Building your company identity starts on the inside, so your employees must be committed to the brand. A good graphic design can strengthen that sense of commitment.
ProfessionalismYou want your company to make a great first impression on clients, vendors, and other entities – a logo for example only has a fraction of a second to make a first impression. A design that looks cheap will cast an unfavorable light on your business, and it can be difficult to break the impression that your company cannot afford a professional design.
Communication
The usefulness of graphic design extends beyond your logo and your website. Graphic design can produce visual aids that will help you communicate your ideas. An informative image can transmit ideas that cannot be expressed with words alone. You can use professionally designed images to create a positive impression and avoid misunderstandings.
Efficiency and Productivity
Badly designed graphics can negatively impact worker productivity and general workplace efficiency. Your website is the area of your business where signs of a bad design are most likely to be observed. A practical design should include useful features, such as easy navigation, legible fonts, and appropriate colors. A website with blinding colors, tricky fonts, or hidden navigation will be a headache for clients and employees.
Money
Badly designed graphics can be very expensive. If you go for a cheap design, you might get a lackluster product that is not ready for print. If the design is not ready for print, you might end up spending more money on a new design. Additionally, a competent graphic designer will create a design that is not too expensive to produce. You do not want to spend a significant portion of your budget on a bad design. Fortunately, there are many modern methods, such as crowdsourcing, for obtaining professional and attractive designs.
Ignoring your organization’s graphic design needs can negatively impact clients, vendors, and employees. Utilizing an appropriate design can improve every aspect of your business. Consider the six reasons listed above before underestimating the importance of graphic design to your business.
Article by Clancy Clark, http://www.business2community.comI Heart NY
by Creative Cat on 09/22/14The "I Love New York" logo was designed by Milton Glaser in 1977. In 1977, William S. Doyle, Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Department of Commerce hired advertising agency Wells Rich Greene to develop a marketing campaign for New York State. Doyle also recruited Milton Glaser, a productive graphic designer to work on the campaign, and created the design based on Wells Rich Greene's advertising campaign. Glaser expected the campaign to last only a couple months and did the work pro bono.[3] The innovative pop-style icon became a major success and has continued to be sold for years. I
Colors Can Do Strange Things
by Creative Cat on 09/19/14Red and yellow when used together make you hungry while blue will curb your appetite.
Font Fact
by Creative Cat on 08/21/14Claude Garamond, the publisher and legendary type designer after whom Garamond font was named died of poverty at age 81.
