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Understanding icons and symbols
Keeping it Simple Almost every day we rely upon universal symbols; to enter the correct bathroom, to find an elevator, to be aware of what is and is not allowed. Online and in mobile design, we look for icons for email links, to download a file, to print information. Creating a simple symbol that can communicate information at a glance takes skill and the ability to reduce an illustration to basic shapes and elements. Your eye quickly scans a basic shape, and your brain then processes the meaning. The more weight in an icon, the easier it is...
read moreDirect Mail Marketing
Direct mail is a way to target your message to your audience, and send a message directly to the people who may need your product or service. If you are a small business, you’re probably marketing locally. The US Postal Service offers Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM.) This is a service that delivers to every address in a targeted area; you don’t need to provide addresses on the pieces, just the zip code for the area where you want to market. The USPS has specified sizes for EDDM, and Resolution Creative can print postcards for you...
read moreCreating design for print
Do it Yourself? A Graphic Description of What You Should Know About Preparing Print Marketing Materials The small business owner often views the cost of advertising, graphic design and promotion as “extras”. While the need for marketing is acknowledged, many believe that they can cut corners by doing the design work themselves in Word or Publisher, using a fancy font and clip art. Or may think of themselves or someone close as “artistic,” and is capable of designing a new logo, brochure or website. This may not be a good idea. I like to use...
read moreTelling Your Non-Profit Story
You’ve heard the expression “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words.” Or, to quote Rod Stewart, “Every Picture Tells a Story.” Then why do so many non-profits prominantly feature photos of their volunteers or fundraiser attendees instead of photos of those they help? Your audience, whether through print or web, needs to be engaged immediately when viewing your communications. You need to communicate quickly what you need from them, and why. This needs to be obvious, at a quick glance. The text can provide the...
read moreWhat customers want
Tweet Do you know what your customers want? What is the point in spending time and money on marketing, if you don’t understand who your customers are, or what they need? The aim of marketing is to know and understand the customer so well the product or service fits him and sells itself. — Peter Drucker When a business is created, there is a business plan. Included with this plan is a customer analysis. This information may include, but not be limited to, the customer needs, his understanding of the product, whether price or...
read morePaper and the Environment
Tweet It’s 2013. We don’t litter. We recycle plastic and glass. Young mothers are using cloth diapers. Gardeners are turning to alternative methods instead of pesticides. Hybrid cars are growing in popularity. Most of us are aware that our actions have an impact on this planet. The current environmental movement began in 1970, when Earth Day was created by Senator Gaylord of Wisconsin. This was the beginning of recognizing environmental issues, and the establishment of government initiatives such as the EPA and the...
read moreBusiness Cards
Beyond the Standard Business Card Tweet Every business, no matter how large or small, uses business cards. The business card is a visual image of your personal brand, it’s a piece of marketing that is placed directly into the hand of your prospect, and a necessity when meeting potential clients or networking. Like a website, a well designed business card helps to establish your professionalism. If you attend any type of business function, you probably have stacks of 3.5″ x 2″ business cards. While the standardized...
read moreFormerly Lisa Smith Youngdahl Graphic Design
Lisa Smith Youngdahl Graphic Design. Kind of a mouthful, isn’t it? Meet Resolution Creative. And visit our new website at Resolution-Creative.com Why am I changing? There are several reasons. Many people don’t really know the meaning of graphic design, or what a graphic designer does. Even within the profession, the term graphic design is transitioning to “visual design.” Another reason is I often partner with others on design projects. If there is a certain level of expertise required to achieve my client’s...
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