The world of design can be intimidating and difficult to navigate for someone who isn't already familiar with it. Below is a collection of links that may help to answer some of the questions you have about the benefits of hiring a graphic designer, the process of logo design, the importance of a good business card and more.
Design & Printing Links
Why hire a Graphic Designer?
Pear Logo Design
http://www.pear-logo-design.com/article_43.htm
Are you unsure about hiring a graphic designer? Check out this handy list of benefits to hiring one. You may soon realize that you can’t afford NOT to hire one.
Beckley Works (blog)
http://beckleyworks.com/2007/02/08/designers-a-quick-guide-for-clients/
Who are graphic designers? What do they do, and why? We don’t just make things pretty, we solve problems in order to help your business grow. Find out more here.
Logos: The Process
LogoDesignLove
http://www.logodesignlove.com/logo-design-tips
Logos are simple little bits of art that are easy to whip off in a single session, right? Not so. Your logo represents who you are to your customers—your personality, if you will—and it may be used for many, many years. You don’t want to be careless about that. This link to designer David Airey’s 10 logo design tips provides a succinct guide. Airey works in Northern Ireland, and his two sites (LogoDesignLove, and David Airey) are worth a look for designers and non-designers alike. For an idea of the volume of work that goes into a logo, I recommend taking a look at the sketches Airey went through for his own company logo here: http://www.davidairey.com/personal-logo-design-sketches/
All Graphic Design
http://www.allgraphicdesign.com/graphicsblog/2008/09/11/logo-design-process-of-inspirational-graphic-designer-jon-sandruck/
I love this article because designer Jon Sandruck shows you scans of his actual sketch pad. He also talks about the extensive research that goes into the process: checking out your client’s competition; the art of brainstorming; the odd things that clients may ask for in their logo (incorporating their dog into the design??); taking a look at what other designers are doing as a launching point for inspiration; getting down to the nitty-gritty font choice (how do you make a logical choice from the thousands out there?); and making sure colour and black & white versions of the logo will work equally well.
Business Cards
International Paper Knowledge Centre
http://glossary.ippaper.com/default.asp?req=knowledge/article/411&catitemid=52
Some very practical tips on business card planning (yes, planning) and design from a paper company.
Robert Scoble (blog)
http://scobleizer.com/2006/07/05/business-card-best-practices/
How are business cards used in this age of electronic contact management? Find out here. Can you really afford to be without one?
Newsletters
Newsletters Plus
http://www.newslettersplus.biz/pages_NP/Determining-newsletter-purpose.html
A professional, printed newsletter is the most economical, efficient, effective and under-used communication, marketing, branding tool and strategy available. Find out how you can use the five W’s to help you plan your newsletter.
About.com
http://desktoppub.about.com/cs/periodicals/qt/nl_models.htm
What are the three types of newsletters? Write down your answers and then check here (no peeking). This site gives you a lot of links to newsletter planning resources.
Brochures
About.com
http://advertising.about.com/od/brochures/a/brochureplan.htm
This article will help you focus on the purpose of your brochure so that it will make an impact. The information applies to any promotional piece, really. Very useful.
McGonigal Paper & Graphics
http://www.mcgpaper.com/howtomakbroc.html
The website may look hokey, but the design tips are practical.
The Printing Process
YouTube video, Progressive Printers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUlBueqStg4
This video shows the process from start to finish, and you get to see an offset printing press in action (6:16 minutes). This is definitely way beyond whipping off some pages on your office photocopier.
