The Graphic Design Elements Every Business Owner Needs
Website
Your website is the most important statement about your business. It\’s usually the first encounter your potential client has with your brand. Its functionality, visual impact and the quality of the information available all factor into what a site says about you. While this is a topic for a longer article, here are the top questions to ask when putting together your site:
- Who is this site for ? (Define the audience).
- What kind of functionality do I need ? Do I need a blog ? Do I need a shopping cart ? Online reservations ? Photo galleries ?
- How much content do I have already generated, and how much is missing ? (This is so important — often clients get \”stuck\” in the content delivery phase, holding up the site launch. That\’s why I collaborate with copywriters to fill in the missing pieces).
- How am I going to use the site to connect with my other forms of marketing, i.e., social media, e-blasts, cross-linking sites, print materials ?
- Do I have images for my site ? If your company has no visual content whatsoever, we can of course create some! Either graphic illustrations, original photography, stock photos or video…all serve to make the site beautiful and viscerally engaging.
Recent Web Design by Claudia
Logo + Typography
Whether your logo consists of stylized typography, a mark (aka swoosh) or both, this is the visual symbol of your brand. Even if your typography is quite simple, it is worth investing time developing the look of your business name that will appear the same way consistently in all mediums.
On your hard drive, you should have versions for both print and web, the main differences being the resolution of the image and the color space. A designer should also provide a vector version that will scale to any size without becoming pixelated.
What\’s also important is knowing where the logo \”lives\” on any given medium and its other style attributes:
- Is it an upper right sort of brand ?
- Does it have 0.4 inches of white space above it?
- Where does the tagline appear ?
- What does the logo look like very small – and very large?
- Are the look and feel related to your business and industry ?
Logos by Claudia
I also recommend:
E-newsletter design
Business card and Stationery
Professional Photo + Bio
Brand mission statement: One sentence – one paragraph description of your purpose
Video: Work with a videographer to produce a short promotional video for your company.
Blog: Establishing your professional identity and credibility online.
Brochure/Postcard: Depending on our brand marketing strategy, these printed elements may be an important addition to your brand identity package, especially for certain brands.
E-book / PDF template: What can you offer your clients and prospectives to give them a sample of your expertise ?
Branded Stuff: Unique materials with your brand \”face\” on it– folders, posters, notepads, tshirts and many other creative options. Eco options are always best
I am able to provide all of the above services through my closely curated network of collaborators.