Thinking Outside The Box

admin 20.09.2018 Branding, Non-Profit, Tips and Tools 0

Clients often come to me with challenges daily. They range from budget restrictions on printing to logos that are no longer working for them. With a background in the nonprofit sector, I come equipt with a variety of solutions!

Recently I posted on social media a bit about business cards. Here are some creative alternatives to that mindset!

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Business cards also easily work as:

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Care Cards

Excellent size for jewelry or other small merchandise.

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Hang tags

Can’t afford a die cut hang tag? Use a business card with an artistic flair then use a small hole punch and some ribbon, you are set!

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Appointment Cards

Yes, they are small, but if you set it up right with the fill in the blanks, you will be good to go.

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Daily Inspiration Cards

I am fond of this idea, a little reminder to stop and smell the roses if you will and a little gift from that potential customer. It’s all in the details indeed.

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Discount Cards

Loyal supporters? Slip them a little treat in their bag or mail order for next time.

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Another printed piece I like is the 5×7 postcard. A great place to order these is Moo. They offer great, quality printing and you can do small batches when needed. Plus, the ideas are limitless but here are a few of my favorites.

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Postcards are also easily used as:

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Recipe Cards

Are you a chef? What a perfect gift to give a client with a bill after their private dinner.

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Menu

Small dinner party? Make it fancy with a printed menu for your guests, weddings are not the only place to use these.

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Feedback Cards

Want to know what you could do better? Ask your customers. They will often happily give you feedback, and you could use one of those discount cards on a business card to return the favor!

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Instruction Cards

Need to explain how to construct something or make something? Why not use a card to do it!

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Thank You Notes

You can have these done in a variety of ways, designed front only with a place for notes on the back. You can even do a monogrammed front or an image on one size. No matter have it’s designed it’s a perfect thing to send clients if you offer a service.

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Last but certainly not least I want to talk about stickers. There are a variety of sticker sizes that can be used in an endless amount of ways. One of my favorite companies is Sticker Mule.

You can use stickers on jars for labeling the goods inside, the back of pottery, so folks know your work, car stickers to advertise your business, and even just for fun to hand out at your next event. Everyone loves a sticker so consider this when you can score a great sale.

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So as you can see, there are so many options when thinking about continuing your brand through printed items. Next time you have a dilemma, step back and think outside the box!

My Favorites

admin 05.09.2018 Design, Home Work Life 0

I recently was asked to make a list of favorites and although I thought to myself, what does that mean? It soon became quite clear I was ready to have fun with it. Here are some of my favorite things, I would love to hear about yours!

Favorite Color: Green, Indigo is a close 2nd
Favorite Book: A Land Remembered
Favorite Graphic Designer: Charley Harper
Favorite Sporting Event: College Football, Go Gators!
Favorite Artist: There are too many to list, Frida of course, Andrew Wyeth, Panhandle Slim, Cedric Smith, Charley Harper, the list is very long.
Favorite Animal: Elephant
Favorite Flower: Hydrangea
Favorite Drink: Coffee and Diet Coke
Favorite Scent: Clove, Satsuma
Favorite Place: The Blue Ridge Parkway
Favorite Flavor: Butterscotch
Favorite Movie: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Favorite Store: Anything that is eclectic and has old antiques or old books in it.
Favorite Plant: All of them
Favorite Sitcom: Big Bang Theory
Favorite Saying: Good better best never let it rest until your good is your better and your better is your best. Thanks to Mr. Klauder, 6th grade science teacher for that.
Favorite Childhood Memory: My first concert, John Denver, I have loved live music ever since that concert.

BRAND + EDUCATION = BRANDUCATION

admin 29.07.2018 Tips and Tools 0

BRAND + EDUCATION = BRANDUCATION

The education one receives after having a new brand created. Let’s face it, a little knowledge never hurt anyone!

Yes, I know, I made all the English majors cringe and I apologize but it got your attention right? However, for me, Branducation is an actual thing. Through the years I have helped many small businesses start or refresh their business story with a mark, a logo if you will. The thing that is missing is what to do with it once you get all the little goodies that make up your brand story.

What is the main logo used to accomplish? When is it appropriate to use the submark logo and how often can you use it? How do I insert my Facebook icon? How often should I change it out? Do I need a Pinterest page? Do you know a product photographer? The list is long.

What I want to accomplish with this concept is that once your brand is created, I don’t send you out into the world with an unsettled mind. We have an opportunity to discuss all these questions and more with your new brand board in front of you for reference. A new brand and a little direction, the world is your oyster!

To learn more about my brand packages, click here!

Brand Therapy, Do You Need It?

admin 29.07.2018 Branding 0

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Who Needs Brand Therapy?

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Do you have a name for your business?

Do you feel clueless about creating a name for your business?

Do you have a domain in place?

Do you know what a domain is?

Do you know your target audience?

Do you have your social media handles in place?

Do you have an idea of the competitors in your market?

Do you know what your mission will be?

Do you have a niche?

Do you have to have the color purple in your logo because it reminds you of your Memaw?

Okay, the one is a trick question but will cover those sort of questions too!

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If you said no to three or more call me! You need to know why a hiring someone to craft a timeless brand will serve you and your business for many years to come and I am happy to explain it.

What is Brand Therapy?

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Brand Therapy is something I designed just for you.

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It’s a telephone call or a visit to my studio where we sit down and I answer all the questions you might have that have built that wall in your mind that has made you stop moving forward with the dream of opening your own business or refreshing what you already have built. What is it that is holding you back? My goal is to mentor you through the creative process and most importantly to make you feel more confident in your existing business or the new business you plan to begin.

If you are starting your new business adventure there are a variety of things to worry about such as budgets, the name you have chosen, domain names, social media, research, who is your competition, how you will set yourself apart, is your story good enough, are you in the right niche in your field? It can immobilize a person and I know this because I have been there!

With ten years of experience owning my own small business, I can provide some great insight to your questions. There have been occasions where I knew something felt right and other times when something was missing. Once I consulted another colleague things became clearer. The light turned on again and I felt confident to move forward. I want to be that light for you!

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What does it cost?

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$65 for the hour of consultation and nothing more.

If you choose to hire Typebird Creative to style your brand, this fee will automatically be credited to the brand design package of your choosing. If you decide you aren’t ready, then pay the consultation fee and walk away feeling more confident in what you know. My goal is to help entrepreneurs from day one. This program is designed just for that.

To learn more about my branding packages, click here!

Grateful

admin 02.12.2016 Tips and Tools 0

Grateful is a word I use often. When I say it, I mean it with my whole heart. I have owned my small business for eight years, two months and a hand full of days. It is because of my clients that I can do what I love, design and help other small businesses in the process.

Without you trusting me I would not have people who were once clients that I can now call friends. Without you, my beautiful portfolio would be less exciting. Without you, there would be a part of me left without a purpose.

In doing this job it has given a mother great hope, you have made me a whole person again. A sense of independence and pride in being strong and intelligent enough to make all of this happen without ignoring the most important thing in my little world, my family.

I am honored to know each and every single one of you, I am more honored that you had the faith in me to help you. During this holiday season, I am giving thanks to all you. My clients, my colleagues, those of you who read my newsletter and give me feedback every month, my friends and my family. Thank you for all the encouragement and kind words through the years. Thank you for being on board with my creative ideas even when you were skeptical and then pleasantly surprised. Thank you for letting me teach you and for you teaching me. Thank you for being kind and understanding. Most of all, thank you for working with me. It’s a gift that I don’t take lightly.

I wish you all a wonderful holiday season and all the little fun things that bring family and friends closer together.

My Branding Process

admin 26.08.2016 Branding, Business, Design, Graphic Design 0

Listen. Learn. Communicate. Create.

Each graphic designer has a different process and it’s important to find the right fit for you. My expertise is in brand design because I enjoy the story. Finding a way to bring your style into your branding is essential. Research is where I begin. With a creative consultation, we begin to discuss your mood board which is a great tool to get you thinking visually. Once we discuss your likes and dislikes I begin to work. Logo choices are created and we decide what works best for you. Revisions are made, advice is given and soon you are off to promote your new or existing business!

Thank you for taking the time to learn a little more about my process. Designing a quality logo is an investment in your business. As a small business owner myself, I understand the importance of marketing. However, sometimes it is hard to get past that initial investment. I think choosing the right graphic designer is paramount. We may all have the same goal in mind, to make you stand out. Our approach to our craft and our sense of style is certainly unique to who we are as designers. My approach to design is very hands on, and my design style is clean and fresh. If you choose to work with me, I honor that trust and in turn want to do everything I can to make this a great experience for you. From our initial creative consultation to the mood board all the way to your complete brand, rest assured I am here to communicate through your entire experience and beyond. I am also very confident that your brand will be unique and a true reflection of who you are. I joke with my clients often that this experience is a little like therapy. Scary at first to take the plunge then the transition happens in the middle when you are finally understanding words like submark or one color logo, and then you come to the end with flying colors feeling so much more confident! With twelve years of experience and a genuine love of art in general, I promise to help the creatively challenged get creative, the already creative to continue that creativity in their brand. Be brave, be bold, be true, but most of all, be you in everything you do!

Your Logo, Files You Need & Why

admin 05.04.2016 Branding, Business, Design, Design, Graphic Design, Tips and Tools 0

My husband called this morning to talk about getting his work logo put on a hat. He was surprised to learn the cost of a set-up fee for embroidering a logo. After speaking with about the various scenarios and costs of screen printing, embroidery, etc. it dawned on me that many people do not understand the files they need for such a thing. Why would they? Not everyone is a graphic designer or a printer so this information is probably very confusing. The words come out of our mouths and go into your ears the same way the teacher sounds in Charlie Brown, am I right?

Do not worry; there is hope and I can help!

There are various files a designer can give you but let’s talk about logos. You hire a designer; they make you a beautiful logo, and now you want to share it with the world! But wait, you need the file. Here are the four most important, in my opinion, files to have. Also, this is not for your techies; this is for the person trying to start or run their small business to make sense of it all.

The Outlined EPS File

When a graphic designer creates your logo in Illustrator, they create something called an .ai file. This is the original working illustrator file. This file contains the exact colors, typography, and graphics that will be combined to make your logo. If your designer wants to give you this file, that is fine but what can happen when another design tries to open it can vary. If they do not have the fonts, etc. the logo can turn into an entirely looking logo.

How do we make sure this doesn’t happen? The outlined .eps file, Encapsulated PostScript, it’s your new best friend. Now, unless you are a graphic designer you probably won’t be able to do much with this file but keep it. This file is one you can give to any printer, designer, embroidery house, literally anyone. Your logo will look exactly as it originally did no matter who opens it. Ask for this file; you should own it. Keep it in a safe place and do not loose it. This is a file that all parties can work with!

The Hi-Res PDF File

The hi-res .pdf file is the Portable Document Format. The file can be viewed in Adobe, and you are more than likely familiar with this file. This is another file that can be given to a printer for your printing purposes. It can also be used to order items online and used by you in certain documents. I would say this is an all around file that people in the United States are used to reviewing. It is easy seen on most computers, and you will be able to share it and use it yourself.

The JPEG File

This file is often associated with photographs, but vector art can be saved as a jpeg for easy viewing and for various other functions such as websites. JPEG means Joint Photographic Experts Group, which truly means nothing other than the folks who created it. This file can be used in many places such as creating printed items, adding to a Word Document, using as your Facebook profile photo or even for your website. It depends on the resolution of the jpeg as to how it will perform. If it is saved at a larger resolution if is better for printing, the however, lower resolution is better for digital design.

The PNG or GIF File

I know what you are thinking, too many acronyms, I know, I know! What you need to know about these two little friends are that they are perfect for your website. You probably won’t deal with them on your own much, but a PNG file stands for Portable Network Graphics. This file will probably replace the GIF, Graphics Interchange Format, someday but for now, we will treat them similar for your needs.