Below is another handy cheat sheet created by the folks at Wells & Drew. Thanks, guys! (see the InDesign Cheat Sheet here)
Brought to you by Wells & Drew, makers of fine engraved stationery.
Below you’ll find a handy little graphic sent to me by a fellow named Anthony Houser. I found it useful and thought you would too!
Courtesy of Business Stationery
Below is a list of common file types, extensions and uses for Graphic Design Professionals and their clients.
Raster File Types (definition here)
.jpg (.jpeg): Image File. Commonly used for photos but also acceptable for logo or advertisement files. While a .jpg will exclude some data, it is widely used and easily opened by most anyone with a computer. A jpg can be used for web (RGB, 72dpi) or print (CMYK, 300dpi), however any transparencies will be lost.
.psd: Adobe Photoshop Document. .psd’s are typically layered Read the rest of this entry »
In logo design and imaging, there is more to the process than simply creating a ‘pretty’ icon for the client. There are many blog posts and books out there that are dedicated to explaining this process and why it is so important in creating an effective and successful iconic logo. I’ve decided to include my own design process on this website as I believe it could be a valuable tool for other designers and an informative article for prospective customers who want to know more about how brandmarks are created and why choosing a experienced designer is a necessity, not an option. As you will read below, a good amount of work is done before the client ever sees a concept. There is also a great deal of research and critical thinking on the part of the designer to gain the information and perspective required to create said identity. So without further ado, here’s my logo design process:
Before I do anything at all, I will send my client a questionnaire with comprehensive and detailed questions aimed at getting all the information required for me to start the process. When possible, I prefer to ask these Read the rest of this entry »
Breakaway Graphics is back to business creating logos, advertisements, business collateral and other designs after taking a break to attend a wedding. We are preparing to wrap the Who’s Who Magazines that we produce within the week and begin production and design on the January-March edition of the InsideTrack Almanac.
Back in July, we posted a brief summary of how color plays a role in advertising and logo design. Today, I stumbled upon a great article at Ink.com elaborating on this tip. Read the full Inc.com article on choosing the right color for you brand here. Good Stuff.
In my job, Copyright Laws and Intellectual Property come up for discussion on almost a daily basis. As a Freelance Designer, I uphold and respect these laws even if it means I loose an account due to refusal to copy or mimic someone’s work. Why wouldn’t I? Copyright Laws protect my designs too and let’s face it, my designs are how I make a living. So in an effort to set the record straight, I have compiled a list of the most frequently misunderstood laws and commonly held false beliefs.
1. If it’s on the internet, it’s not copyrighted. Wrong. Every picture, article, song, video, and design is protected by copyright law. As a rule of thumb, if you would like to use an image you found on the internet, contact the author and get permission. If permission is not received, don’t use it.
2. If I can’t find the author of an article, I can use it. Nope. Anything that is created has an original author. In the digital age where people think anything on the net is fair game, it can be exceedingly difficult to track down where the article originated if it has been re-posted multiple times but, again, that doesn’t mean that the original author has given up his rights. Don’t publish anything that you don’t have permission to use. Read the rest of this entry »
© iStockPhoto, bykac
Why is Color important? Well, I could probably write an entire book answering this question…but for now, I’ll try to stick with the basics. Whether working on a logo, an advertisement, a branding campaign or just a simple business card, the colors your choose are equally as important as the information you include. Color evokes emotional, sub-conscious responses; we are conditioned to stop at red lights, we know pink baby clothes are intended for a girl and blue for a boy (personally, I take issue with this ingrained sexism….but that’s a whole other blog), wedding and christening gowns are white because they denote purity. This is all because the human psyche automatically assigns a specific feeling to a specific color without the person even being aware of it. In design, it is crucial to have a firm understanding on how color will effect the average consumer. Read the rest of this entry »
Tip of the week: I think every business owner and their employees need to get comfortable with saying I’m sorry in order to have a successful, long-lasting business. As a Freelance Designer, most of my business comes from good customer service that results in good word of mouth so I have compiled a list of my most hard-learned, butt-saving phrases.
1. “I’m sorry”. This seems to be very hard for people to say (especially sincerely). Let’s practice….say it with me: I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. There, see, its so so hard. You’ll be surprised how effective these two simple words can be and how easily they can resolve a problem. Admit when you have misunderstood or made a mistake then take the steps necessary to fix it. Read the rest of this entry »
A good logo needs to be memorable, simple, timeless and appropriate. These 4 concepts are not the only things that comprise a good or effective logo but I think they are a good start.
Memorable. Obviously, the purpose of a logo is to establish brand identity and public recognition so it is important that your logo is easily remembered by patrons and can be described to someone who has never heard of you.
Simple. When designing a logo, I always remind myself: “keep it simple, stupid.” You want your company logo to evoke as much feeling as possible without being too busy. The Philanthropy logo is a great example of this concept.
Timeless. The logo you use should be able to stand the test of time. Will it still be relevant 15 years from now? Or will it go the way of shag carpeting and date (or out date) your company?
Appropriate. This seems like an obvious concept but I see logos all the time that are simply not appropriate for the business they represent or the demographic they are meant to appeal to. You might use a ‘grungy’ font for a Metal Band’s image but this would likely not be appropriate for a pediatric dentist.
If your current logo does not fall into these categories and you’re ready for an image overhaul or if you’re in the process of starting a new company, please feel free to contact me for a free quote.