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I’ve never tried this beer before, because the label uses Comic Sans.
(Or, don’t look like an amateur.) During lunch at a local brew pub last week, my son Ben observed “I’ve never tried this beer before, because the label uses Comic Sans.” While Ben is an admitted beer snob, he is not a designer, so this piqued my curiosity. Designers are known to mock the use of the Comic Sans font. There’s even a group, “Ban Comic Sans.” I asked why the use of Comic Cans bothered him. “It shows the company did not care enough to hire a professional designer. It’s looks amateurish. If the company is not...
read moreWhat is YOUR Business Resolution?
Did you know that just 8% of people achieve their New Year’s Resolutions? You may start with the best intentions, but people often fail at achieving the desired outcome. According to Forbes.com, to keep resolutions your goals should be specific. Instead of making a vague promise to “improve my website”, you might also include a focused plan of what needs to be changed on your website and how you will accomplish this. The plan could include where to begin, determining what skills or knowledge may be needed, and then finding...
read moreVNA Annual Report 2014
2014 was a busy year for VNA Health Care. VNA Navigators assisted 115,693 consumers during Open Enrollment under the Affordable Care Act, completing more applications per Navigator than all other Illinois grantees. Resolution Creative designed bilingual posters, fliers and brochures providing information during this process. Part of VNA’s mission is The Triple Aim: improved health improved patient experience reduced cost of care. The 2014 Annual Report designed by Resolution Creative used triangle elements throughout as a motif recognizing...
read moreLooking Back, Moving Ahead
As we plan ahead for 2015, it is also a time for reflection and review. Not just the mistakes, but successes. What types of marketing worked, and what did not? Has there been a change in the products or services offered which may have cause a change in your audience? it is important to review your marketing plan and budget. What worked earlier in 2014 may no longer be as effective. “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” George Santayana Technology changes usually translates to changes to your website....
read moreHappy Thanksgiving
Every day is a time for reflection and counting my blessings. Good health, a loving family, my friends. 2014 has been a good year, and there’s many reasons to be grateful this Thanksgiving. My wonderful clients, who trust me to communicate their message The creative community, where I find advice, collaboration, and inspiration The recognition I have received this past year for both my client work and fine art endeavors Another successful year for my fundraiser, Old Fat Guy Idol, raising over $4500 for Susan G. Komen – Chicago The...
read moreIs Graphic Design Art?
My graphic design business is located within Water Street Studios in Batavia; I am a resident artist, nestled among photographers, jewelry designers, ceramicists, sculptors and painters. At a recent gallery opening, a visitor to my studio looking at some of the work on my walls commented “But this isn’t really art.” I will argue that “graphic design, with its own traditions and esthetic principles, deserves to be considered an art as much as architecture, photography and other functional forms of visual expression.”* The same basic design...
read moreRecent Project – Logo Design
Logo design for KB Health Insurance Solutions, Inc. The initials become a single unique graphic element, as the swash from the K becomes the bottom left serif on the B. The bottom swash on the B winds around entwining both letters. The circle with the initials may be used separately as a social media avatar.
read moreBuilding a Marketing Team
Are you part of a team culture? As a business person, the concept of a team is a familiar one. Working together with your co-workers or employees to achieve a common goal. A successful team will consist of members with diverse knowledge and skills, and each has a defined role in the overall objective. I am self-employed, a “solo-preneur.” But there is no “I” in “team” — how does my business fit in the team culture? As owner of Resolution Creative I wear many, sometimes too many, hats. However, I recognize the value of recruiting other...
read morePricing Graphic Design
How much is a website? Often I receive calls or emails asking the price for a certain service. There is no clear answer to this question; the services I provide can vary greatly in scope. Imagine you’re shopping for a new car. There’s no exact answer to the question “How much is a car?” Are you buying a Chevrolet Spark or a Cadillac? Both are sold by General Motors, but vary greatly in price due to the features offered. A simple 5 page static website will be less expensive than a site which is more complex. Whether you need a website, a new...
read moreBilingual Content Using the Principles of Design
Basic Design Principles Will Make Your Message Easier to Understand. One of my clients has large Hispanic audience. Many of the print communications created for this client are bilingual, using both English and Spanish in a single document. Often this means the front and back are the same design, but printed in different languages. Sometimes both languages are printed on the same side of the paper, leaving it to the reader to find the content he can read. How do you engage the reader, make the content comfortable to read, and still give equal...
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