Category: Creativity, Design — Tags: Creativity, graphic design, personalized products, self-expression — dave @ 7:35 am
Since we’re artsy design geeks, freedom of expression is a big deal to us. The fact that we can help businesses show their true colors is what gets us going in the morning. We live for the opportunity to design printed materials and select promotional products that help businesses communicate their personalities to their clients.
Although it’s super fun to help businesses express themselves, we can’t help but wish that once in awhile we could do the same for some individuals. How cool would it be to help some dude bring out his crazy side by styling his hair into a green mohawk, or help another guy display his inner child by tattooing Elmo on his arm?
The Next Best Thing
Realistically, we don’t see ourselves moonlighting as hairstylists or body artists any time soon. So we thought we’d use today’s post to direct you to a couple of websites that feature products that can help you express yourself. (We figured if we can’t ink anybody up, at least we can show you guys some less painful ways to show the world what you’re all about.)
One such website we’re into is imakemycase.com, a site that lets you create a personalized smartphone case. Whether you want to start from scratch and upload your own original design, or put your own spin on designs already out there, you’ll end up with a durable and unique case for your phone. Show off your individuality every time you talk, text, play with apps, or surf the web with that smartphone.
Or every time you wear your kicks. You can be sure never to have the same shoes as the guy next to you if you buy your next pair at NikeID.com. Here you can count on Nike quality shoes designed completely by you. You pick the style and the colors of each element of the sneaker, and you can even add a word to the back of each shoe. Your sneaks can tell the world whatever you want them to if you buy them from this site.
And that’s just the beginning. There are a number of sweet sites out there that can help you express yourself through personalized stuff. If you’re ready to let the real you be known, there are a bunch of great companies out there waiting to help you.
Of course, if you feel that your personality is sufficiently expressed but your business is ready to make itself known, then go no further – imPress Printing is all you need to make that happen.
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Category: Creativity, Design — Tags: apps, business apps, fonts, iPad — dave @ 7:49 am
Remember what it was like before many of us carried a combination fake glass of milk / flashlight/ sound effects maker in our back pockets or briefcases?
The iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad and their apps have changed the way the world spends its free time. But these devices have a lot more to offer than just a touch screen and the ability to keep you posted on the weirdest ebay auctions.
Making Working Fun
That’s right. Don’t forget that your favorite toys have a lot to offer the business world too. (That’s why you bought your iPad anyway, right? Or at least that’s what you told your accountant…) But seriously, from Bento to FedEx Mobile, there are apps for these devices that can keep things running smoothly at your business.
Today we want to share a cool iPad app that designers use for work but that is so entertaining, you could also use it for fun. It’s called iFontMaker, and it’s just what it sounds like – an app that helps you to develop fonts. We sometimes use it to make creative custom fonts that we can incorporate into the marketing materials we design for our clients. (This keeps us from getting stuck in the rut of overusing those overused fonts over and over and over.)
The app lets you pick existing fonts to trace, edit, tweak, and shape until you’ve made your own version of every letter. Then you can actually convert the letters you’ve drawn into a true type font, which can be imported to other applications. It turns out that it’s pretty neat-o to type in what looks like your own handwriting. (Or in the crazy bubble letters you’ve been perfecting since fifth grade.)
If you have a minute and are looking for a creative outlet, give iFontMaker a whirl (and some loops and swoops) and we’re sure it will bring you quite a few moments of ‘appiness.
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Category: Design — Tags: infographics — Sarah @ 10:17 am
Graphs usually don’t get people too fired up (other than maybe the occasional algebra teacher who has a penchant for parabolas). But infographics take a mundane thing like a graph and jazz it up to make it into a work of art. And thanks to clever infographics, algebra teachers, designers like us, and even the average dude or dudette can appreciate and enjoy a set of information in graph form.
From a design perspective, these infographics have totally got it goin’ on.
1. Cool Carbon Footprint
2. Super Social Networking Participant Gender Breakdown
3. Awesome Animal Infographic
4. Outstanding Online Shopping Infographic
5. Magnificent Mobile Marketing Data
Couldn’t ya just look at these things all day? (You could? Us too! Check out this article more infographic fun.)
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Category: Design — Tags: font, font choice, overused fonts — Sarah @ 5:23 am
You have a one of a kind, diamond in the rough business, right?
We’ve talked before about how part of your job as big kahuna of your business is to determine what characteristics make your business unique and play those traits up in your marketing. That means that your advertising is supposed to separate you from the pack and help your potential clients see just how special you are.
And we think that, in general, a lot of businesses do a good job with this. We do see some unique logos around…some creative promotional products…lots of companies generally rocking their onlyness. That being said, we can’t help but notice that some businesses get lazy when it comes to choosing fonts for their marketing materials.
Stay Off the Bandwagon
Some fonts have been around the block a few times, if you know what we mean. If you want to emphasize your unique image, then it’s a good idea to stay away from the fonts that everybody else in your industry uses. We came across a blog article the other day by designer Courtney Rose Galschiodt that discussed the five most overused fonts, and we chuckled as we thought about business cards and brochures we’ve seen written using these offenders. Really, how many children’s clothing boutiques have to use Curlz before someone puts a stop to it?
Yeah, that font choosing stuff can be trickier than it looks. Fonts vary widely in their readability and style, and now on top of it all you have to worry about whether the font you choose is too overdone. Your best bet is to relax and let a professional with a good understanding of typography make the choice for you. Like we always say, we love marketing and design, and when companies delegate these types of tasks to us, they’re freeing their employees up to focus on what they love to do.
But if you’re a diehard do-it-yourself-er, here’s one little suggestion – lay off of the Papyrus.
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Category: Design, Print — Tags: Design, direct mail, mailing lists — Sarah @ 6:16 am
One day Jimbo opened his mailbox and found something spectacular.
Well, spectacular as direct mail goes.
The mailer, which advertised dog food, was printed on nice card stock, was beautifully designed with well-chosen colors and graphics, and included generous coupons that were easily removed due to handy perforation.
The only thing that Jimbo found suspect about the mailer was that he is not a dog owner.
Still, the photos of the dog food made it look so appetizing that Jimbo found himself craving it. He briefly debated purchasing some for his own dinner, but came to his senses and ultimately gave the mailer to Pierre, a puppy-owning pal.
Wrong Recipient, Right Design
So let’s analyze this situation. Clearly, the dog food marketers forgot to do their homework and use a mailing list to ensure that the mailers ended up in the right hands. Not the best move, dog food people.
On the other hand, all’s well that ends well. Thanks to the mailer’s general awesomeness, Jimbo did what the company failed to do by passing the mailer on to someone who could use it. Pierre ended up becoming a lifelong customer of this dog food company, and it wouldn’t have happened if Jimbo wasn’t so impressed by this ad.
So while it’s really important to send your direct mail to the right people, it’s really REALLY important to have wonderfully designed direct mail.
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