Do you want to be really good at graphic design?

Seth Godin asks why aren't you really good at graphic design?.

As Godin points out, there are a lot of really great resources out there that make design easy for the non-designer.

Perhaps the reason the non-designer is NOT really good at graphic design is that maybe they are better at numbers than they are at art. Maybe they spent 4, 6, or 8 years in college studying economics and not design. Simply put, they are not designers and I would assert that most business people have no desire to be.

When your focus is on saving nickels over enhancing your brand image, your result is usually a formula for poorly executed marketing.

Godin makes a point that it is important to hire someone when it counts, but when does it count for the business owner uneducated in the importance of good design? Does this mean you should be spending $100 an hour to have someone put together a sign up sheet for a golf tournament or a fax cover sheet. No. What about business cards? Absolutely.

Business cards are sales tool. It is usually one of the first interactions a customer has with your marketing. If it doesn't make a powerful impression through design, you haven't done anything to gain trust with the customer.

What about brochures or annual reports? It is best to consult with a professional first to see what your options are. Getting a second and third opinion couldn't hurt. Ask them how hiring them for the project would enhance and grow your business. The answer should determine whether you want to do it yourself or not.

©2009 David Scott | Cosmic: Advertising & Design

Trust and Design

There is quite a bit of doom and gloom about the economy at the moment. Rightfully so. The truth of the matter is that a lot of people are freaked out. That doesn't mean they aren't spending money. It means they will spend money with the companies they trust.

How have you built trust into your company? Does your business card look trustworthy? If you designed it yourself and printed them at online to save a couple of bucks, probably not. Does your organization have uniforms or a dress code? If it doesn't you may want to consider getting one. Uniformity builds trust.

Trust takes time and money, but those who focus on building trust into every facet of their brand will foster during an economic downturn. How can it not? And, when things improve you will have an established following that already trusts you.


©2009 David Scott | Cosmic: Advertising & Design

Sensual Design

I love my business cards.

They feature a silver foil imprinted on a special paper called Plike, which means "plastic-like" according to the Italian paper manufacturer, Gruppo Cordenons.

Our business cards get noticed not necessarily for the visual qualities but also for the unusally silky feel of the cards. If you want your brand to be remembered, take into account how you can tap into the other senses besides sight. Touch is a very powerful tool if you can harness it properly.

How do you use the others senses to impact your marketing?

©2008 David Scott | Cosmic: Graphic Design & Branding

Tool Cards

Many will argue that the best business card designs are blank on the back, so others can take notes. Chuck Green at Graphic Define discusses a graphic design solution that uses a creative twist. One can use the back side to turn your business card into a tool card. The example here shows a business card for a guitar intructor with guitar chords on the back.

You can see more here.

©2007 David Scott | Cosmic: Graphic Design & Branding