Posts Tagged ‘logo’

The following are print & web design projects that I have worked on during the month of March 2010.

1. Sesame Communications – Beaupre web design
   
2. Home Resource Network – eNewsletter design/layout
   
3. Parent Support Group – Pro bono layout of 11 different insert cards
   

These are print & web design projects I have worked on during the month of February 2010:

1. Africa Easy – Quarter page ad design
   
2. Sesame Communications – Howell web design
   
3. Sweet Lily Organic Salon – Various design of marketing materials
   

   

   

4. Rodgers Law Firm – Logo comps
   
5. Sesame Communications – Alba web design
   
6. Sesame Communications – Williamson we design
   
7. Sesame Communications – Vadecha web desogm
   
8. Emerald City Lights – Pro bono brochure layout
   
9. Sesame Communications – Rodriguez web design
   
10. Sesame Communications – Rosen web design
    
11. Simply Efficient – newsletter banner
    
12. Sesame Communications – Cook web design
    
13. New Project News Magazine – IGBS ad design
    
14. Rodgers Law Firm – Final logo design and business card layout
    
15. Just A Call Away – logo design
    
16. New Project News – Magazine layout/design
17. Simply Efficient – CD label design
    
18. Just A Call Away – web redesign
    
19. Rodgers Law Firm – PowerPoint template design
    
20. Home Resource Network – half page flyer design
    

The following are projects I’ve worked on during the month of January 2010:

1. McBuzz – Blog header for Michael Powell
   
2. McBuzz – Blog header for Scontrino & Powell
   
3. Sesame Communications – Reed web design
   
4. Jim Allen – Letterhead and business card design
   
5. ANSWER – brochure
   
6. Sesame Communications – Chen web design
   
7. Sesame Communications – George web design
   
8. Sesame Communications – Wadhwa web design
   
9. New Project News – Magazine layout
   
10. Sesame Communications – Frankel web design
    
11. Sesame Communications – Gifford web design
    
12. Sesame Communicaiton – Thomas-Blair web design
    
13. Sesame Communications – Nissenbaum web redesign
    

These are projects I have worked on during the month of September:

1. Sesame Communications – Roth web design
   
2. Sesame Communications – Wright web design
   
3. Sesame Communications – Pratt web design
   
4. AMV – VanSkyhawk web design
   
5. Sesame Communications – Wiggins web design
   
6. Stritmatter – Print ads for Bar Bulletin and Trial News
   
7. Stritmatter – Postcard for speaking engagement in 2 spot colors
   
8. Sesame Communications – Mortensen redesign
   
9. Sesame Communications – Woods web design
   
10. Sesame Communications – Kim web design
    
11. Curvine – Waddell Properties web design
    
12. New Project News – Ad design for placement in magazine
    
13. Sesame Communications – Harrison web design
    
14. Sesame Communications – Fowler web design
    
15. Sesame Communications – Marxen web design
    
16. Sesame Communications – Hilgers web design
    
17. New Project News – Magazine layout
18. New Project News – Pinnacle ad design
    
19. Sesame Communications – Alter web design
    

If you don’t understand the difference between vector and raster, you’re not alone!

The majority of images you see everyday on your computer are raster-based. Raster graphics are simply a grid of pixels, with each pixel assigned a color.  When you zoom in on a raster image — like a .jpg photo of your family reunion — you soon see the pixels in Aunt Sally’s face (or was that acne?).

Raster art is terrific for photographs, because it can capture and show very realistic gradients in color – like the highlights and shadows in people’s faces.   Newer digital cameras can take very high resolution photos, so you have to zoom in a LOT before you see Aunt Sally’s pixels.

The downside is that the file sizes can be very high — in the 20-40 megabyte range — and image quality can be lost when the file is re-saved as a JPG.

Vector art is based on mathematical formulas – not pixel colors. So instead of a series of colored blocks to create an image, a vector art file is composed of “instructions” that tell the computer to show a curve with a given length and bend, an area of certain color, etc.These instructions take up far less space than an equivalent raster image — so a 40MB raster file may only be a 800KB vector file. That smaller size makes editing much more efficient, because your computer isn’t freaking out while trying to render your changes. And it  makes them much easier to manage and share.

The other huge advantage of vector is that the image is crisp no matter how far you zoom in. So you don’t have to worry about a graphic being pixelly when you blow it up for a large sign, binder cover, etc. Vector art can be viewed and printed at any scale — whether business cards or billboards!  As an .eps file, it can be read by any vector-based graphics program, and even imported into Microsoft Word as clipart. This means that the same logo file that looks great on a business card will also look great on a billboard.  The bottom line — for print design, a vector logo will always look and work best. Any design agency will typically start with a vector logo, but can easily export Web-friendly files from this format.

One more thing — a raster image will either be grayscale or CMYK  color for print. If you have a logo with one or two colors, you’ll still pay for a 4-color print process using a JPG or TIF image. If you use a vector image, you can specify Pantone spot colors and really reduce your printing costs!

If you only have a logo that is raster (JPG) based, I can help you turn it into a vector graphic that can be used on many different applications. Just contact me at anita@lolaludesign.com.

Below is a list/samples of projects I worked on during the month of July 2009

1. Sesame Communications – Epstein web design
   
2. Sesame Communications – Steiman web design-take 2
   
3. AMV - Arundel web design (take 3)
   
4. Sesame Communications – Croco web design
   
5. Sesame Communications – Chung web design
   
6. Sesame Communications – Turner web design
   
7. Sesame Communications – Patton & House web design
   Client wanted a “movie theater” theme
   
8. Camp Fire – Invitation, reply card & envelope
   To keep costs to a minimum, no bleeds were used.
   
9. Stritmatter – Full size magazine ad (black & white)
   
10. Sesame Communications – Sabatino web design
    
11. Sesame Communications – Ribarevski web design
    
12. Adam Smith – Customized Twitter background
    
13. Sesame Communications – Michael Wall web design
    
14. Sesame Communications – McCaskey web design
    
15. Sesame Communications - Fernandes web design
    
16. Jensen Law – Revised business cards
17. Sesame Communications – Mastroianni web design
    
18. Stritmatter – Save the date flyer
    
19. Sesame Communications – Caruso web design
    
20. Sesame Communications – Ossie web design
    
21. AMV – Windermere realtor web design (2 options)
    

Are you an individual or small business that knows you need some sort of logo to help identify you from competitors? Do you have no idea what you want in a logo, making it hard to talk to a graphic designer? Below are some quick tips to help articulate ideas to shorten the design process and potentially saving you some money.

1. Look at the logos of other businesses in your industry. Do your competitors use solid, conservative images, or flashy graphics and type? Think about ways you want to differentiate your logo from your competition.
2. Make a list of your values and circle the top three. Values are what appeal to your target market and are true to you as business. These things are so important that they become rules to guide your company. Values are who you want to be and how you get there. They are your culture.
3. Make a list of brand attributes (metaphors, descriptive words and symbols) and circle the top three. The brand attributes are personality traits that reflect the idea that businesses can be viewed in much the same way that people are. We react emotionally to all our interactions with them. It’s important to ensure that these interactions are consistently on target with just the right business feel and tone of voice.
4. Now that you have a list of values and attributes, what images, symbols, or colors come to mind when you think of them? Make a list of them.
5. Round up a group of other people in your network. Share your values, attributes, images, symbols, etc. to get feedback. Often, you are too close to your ideas. Your network can see your business as a consumer/client and give you valuable information. They may come up with ideas you haven’t thought about. Be sure to write down all ideas, no matter how outrageous.
6. Your logo should be clean and functional. Your logo should work well on a business card or a billboard. A good logo should be easy to reproduce. Icons are better than photographs since they can be deciphered when scaled small. If you include too much detail, think about what it will look like scaled really small or on a fax.
7. Using all the information you have gathered, sketch out some ideas on paper. Logos can be one of three types: font-based, consisting primarily of a type treatment; an illustrated logo that literally illustrates what your company does, such as when a house-painting company uses an illustration of a brush in its logo; or an abstract graphic symbol, such as Nike’s swoosh, that becomes linked to a company’s brand. You don’t have to be an artist. If your shape doesn’t look quite like it should, make a note of what it should be. The point is to get a rough idea to share with a designer.
8. Explore your colors. One thing you need to be careful of as you explore your color options is cost. A five-color logo might look gorgeous, but the price won’t be so attractive when you put it on stationary. Try not to exceed three colors unless you deem it absolutely necessary.
9. Take your rough sketches and ideas to a graphic designer. Shop around for a graphic designer. If the price seems high, look at it this way—remember that a good logo should last at least 10 years. If you look at the amortization of that cost over a 10-year period, it doesn’t seem so bad. Sure, you can find a cheap designer, but you often get what you pay for. A graphic designer can take your ideas and give them some finesse, as well as make them digital. Since you have done your homework, you cut down on the amount of time a designer has to brainstorm with you, which could potentially save time and money.
10. Next steps. Be sure to get several versions of your new logo. At a minimum, you should request a color version, a black & white version and a reversed version. Depending on your design, you might also want both a horizontal and vertical version. Insist on getting vector versions of your logo (.eps) with the fonts converted to outlines. You don’t’ need to know what that means and you might not even be able to open the file, but it’s extremely important. You need to safeguard these files as any other business asset. Any time you work with a print company, print designer, web designer, etc. be sure to give them these files. They will love you! Have your logo designer also give you JPG or PNG versions of each version of your logo so you can use it in email, Word docs, etc.

With a well-designed logo, potential clients can instantly discover how your business can serve them.

These are the projects I worked on during the month of June.

1. Sesame Communications – Compton web design
   Dr. Compton was given to me by Sesame as a rush job that was already behind schedule. I came up with this design in about four hours (not shown are the interior pages that were designed). The doctor didn’t have a logo, so I created a quick one for his practice.
   
2. Ballard Plaza Pharmacy – Table display backdrop
   Using their new branding, I created a backdrop for a trade show the client was attending.
   
3. Vows & Values – Postcard design
   Client needed a postcard without bleeds that she could get printed quickly.
   
4. Seattle Reproduction – Rack card design
   Using the info from the postcard I created last month, I created a rack card for the client.
   
5. Sesame Communications – Schwarcz web design
   
6. Dimension Systems – Logo design, stationary, business card, & branding guidelines
   Client needed a consistent logo and branding (too many people were creating their own version of the logo). The branding guidelines makes things clear to everyone in the company.
   
7. Mountaineers Photo Committee – Web redesign & development
   The photo committee’s website hadn’t been updated in years and still had a 90’s look. I made it more modern looking with easier navigation.
   
8. Clear Source Marketing – Cartridge Express logo
   
9. Sesame Communications – Steiman web design
   
10. Sesame Communications – Freeman web design
    
11. AMV – Arundel Web Redesign
    Current site (below) was very harsh looking and hard to navigate.
    I came up with two options for a site redesign (below), using similar colors, but with minimal use of the orange. The navigation is also easier.
    

    

12. Stritmatter – Publication ads
    
13. LKK Partners – Delbene splash page
    
14. Sesame Communications – Parrot web design
    
15. Sesame Communications – Warshawsky web design
    
16. VM Creative – MS Telemarket Guide
    

These are projects I have been working on during the month of October.

1. Stephanie Williams- Check Your Odds logo
   
2. Stephanie Williams - Check Your Odds flyer & poster
   
3. Homestead Community Land Trust – Brochure
   
4. Sesame Communications - Agahi Web Design
   
5. Stephanie Williams- Check Your Odds advertisement
   
6. Sesame Communications – Siomka Web Design
   
7. Sesame Communications – Aranda Web Design
   
8. Camp Fire USA - Auction Booklet (80 pages)
   
9. Sesame Communications – Ware Web Design
   
10. ANSWER – Pro Bono Blog Site
    
11. Sesame Communications – Hodges Web Design
    
12. Homestead Community Land Trust – Annual Report
    
13. LHKK Media - Frank Chopp Political Brochure
    
14. Camp Fire USA – Donation Mailing Campaign
    
15. Camp Fire USA – Annual Report
    
16. LHKK Media – Frank Chopp e-mail
    
17. New Project News - Magazine layout
    
18. Kairos Enterprises – Logo comps
    
19. Stephanie Miller - Medical Resources NW logo comps
    
20. Sesame Communications – Stewart web design
    
21. Seattle Catering – Three event ads & postcard design
    
    

While I worked on a lot of web last month, this month has more print. Below is a list of what I’ve worked on.

1. United Way: Bookmark
   
2. United Way: Dress Down Stickers
   
3. Kathakali Centre: Brochure (non-profit in India)
   
4. Seattle Catering: Brochure
   
5. Camp Fire USA: Accordion-fold Invitation
   
6. Helix Massage: Print Advertisement
   
7. BalMar: Event Card
   
8. Sesame Communications: Papandreas web design
   
9. Sesame Communications: McQuade web design
   
10. Sesame Communications: Patzawan web design
    
11. Sesame Communications: Glenwood web design
    
12. AMV: Noted Occasions Web Design
    
13. CMR: Sesame Postcard design
    
14. Malware Analysis: Logo design comps
    
15. Technology Alliance: Postcard Design
    
16. Val Patrick Golf: Web Design
    
17. Roomaker Organizing: Web Design
    
18. Phoenix Studio: Akonni Data Sheet
    
19. New Project News: Magazine Layout (Aug)