Creating a “Unique” brand image

Posted in: Graphic Design Blog by Jennifer Slagle on March 23, 2010

I am in the process right now of assisting a local business with some brand development.  They are looking to grow their business and have just not invested the time or money into that for the past three years.  Now, they are ready.  Lucky for me, I get to help!

Their first focus or area of concern is in their name.  Another business located not too far from them recently put up their new business sign and guess what?  Same name, with the same font.  All in upper case even!  While the two businesses are not in the same line of work, it still has started to create confusion for the current customers.  All the more reason to make this companies revised logo a bit more “unique” for them.  The current logo is very general and uses a very common font.  It isn’t surprising to me that this happened.

I have met with the owner and her associate and we have gotten the basics revealed.  I am now starting with the basics of all and revising the logo.  I will post the old and the new when we are up and ready.

Case in point, spend the time and effort needed to make sure your business starts in a very “unique” spot from day one regarding the image you want to portray.  It will only make your job easier down the road!  Less room for confusion among the clientele!

Business Card Tips

Posted in: Graphic Design, Graphic Design Blog by Jennifer Slagle on February 18, 2010

Minimum Information for a Business Card

Other information is optional but as a minimum the business card should usually contain:

• Individual’s Name and/or Business Name
• Individual’s Title or some other descriptive text to indicate what the person does if it’s not obvious from the business name
• A way (preferrably multiple ways) to contact the person — could be phone, fax, email, web page, mailing address, street address, etc.

It is not necessary to but a complete listing of services or products on the business card.  Keep it to the essentials.  Use brochures and personal interviews to disclose the full range of services or products offered.

• Orientation – Horizontal layouts are the most typical, most widely used format for business cards.
• Name – Whether using a horizontal or vertical arrangement, the person’s name or the business name are usually the most prominent text item on the card.  It is usually placed in the center or upper half of the card and emphasized with a larger or bolder font.
• Contact – Contact information is usually placed in the lower half of the card (left, right, or centered). The preferred method of contact (such as phone number or email) is often emphasized with a larger size, bolder font, or more prominent placement.

What is branding?

Posted in: Graphic Design Blog by Jennifer Slagle on February 17, 2010

To create a “brand” for your company is to create your image, and to promote that image within your campaigns and marketing materials.  Working in branding allows me to get involved with many aspects of your business, from logo design to advertising to slogans.  The goal of a brand is to make a company unique and recognizable, and to project a desired image.  Over time, a brand can make a company a household name, and identifiable by a simple shape or color.  To create a brand for your company, I need to fully understand the goals of your organization, the industry as a whole, and will then create the appropriate materials to represent your company.

Business Cards for Des Moines IA client

Posted in: Graphic Design, Graphic Design Blog by Jennifer Slagle on February 12, 2010

Here is a look at a business card I did for a client in Clive (suburb of Des Moines) Iowa.  The client already had his card created by another vendor but I gave it a little update and then sent it on to my printer.  We were both extremely satisfied with the final product and are now printing cards for the rest of the employees.