The use of colors can quickly evoke a certain feeling or mood to any print piece or even environment. This summer we at BD have been creating and designing several invitations from weddings, to corporate events, to even personal gatherings.

One particular invitation we worked on had a very strong color palette : pumpkin (orange), chocolate (brown) and ivory (off-white). The pumpkin color value (Pantone 1585) is very positive color which evokes jewelry, multi-cultural, mellow, abundant, original, autumn. The chocolate color value (Pantone 477)  is another very positive color which evokes delicious, rich, robust, appetizing. The ivory color value (Pantone 7401) is a cheering, happy, soft, sunny, warming, sweet color value.

The use of color especially when designing invitations is extremely important as you are creating the mood for the event to come. The wedding invitation we designed is for an upcoming fall wedding hence the color palette.

Wedding Invitation Color Palette

Print is still alive, studies have shown that humans still learn and grasp ideas with all 3 methods  (visual, audio and tactile) in sync. Consumers who have viewed a catalog/magazine for a particular product/service has a higher rate of purchasing history. Catalog recipients purchased 28% more items and spent 28% more money than their non-catalog counterparts. Americans who shop from catalogs spend an average $151 per order. In 2008, catalog sales in the U.S. were estimated at $154.7 billion.

Percentage of Sales From :

• Paper Catalog – 46%
• eCatalog/Website – 36%
• Retail – 14%
• Other – 4%

Make Media Buyers Aware :

1. Print is less intrusive than broadcast.
2. Print motivates consumers to quicker responses and actions.
3. Print translates into more brand awareness and brand loyalty.

Reinforce to Media Buyers :

1. Print is not the lowest-cost provider.
2. Print has the most favorable ROI/ROC.
3. Print continues to be the most efficacious media for…
   – branding.
   – mnemonic retention.
   – sales, merchandising and marketing ROI.
   – highest trust quotient.

There is the skinny that print is still alive as humans still need tactile pieces. -bd

We at BD just wrapped up a huge student centered design project. The Small Victories Writing Team which consisted of five high school writers, one high school illustrator, one project coordinator and three active school teachers/project supervisors worked together to develop an inspirational children book geared to 10-12 year old kids.

We at BD helped with the overall book collaboration by laying the book out in InDesign, creating several of the illustrations (along with the high school illustrator) and selecting the best fit publisher (which we selected IBJ Custom Publishing). I personally was very proud and honored BD was selected to help out with this all inspiring student centered book design project. Below are a few photos of the book and a bit about the actual book.

BD with Common Ground

BD with Common Ground

BD with Common Ground

ABOUT THE ACTUAL BOOK :

Timothy, a 12 year-old boy, has recently been placed with his Grandmother in a small Midwestern town. Tim runs headlong into a series of challenges ranging from verbal and physical abuse at the hands of a classmate, to dealing with a physical impairment, and culminating with the emotional turmoil which accompanies the loss of a loved one.

Through his many challenges, Timothy’s world is held together by his relationship with a quirky, yet very loving Grandmother, and a delightful, energetic, and eternally optimistic friend named Stephanie.

The story shadows a string of adventures for Timothy in his “new world” and follows his many exploits as he is forced to overcome hurdle after hurdle. Tag along and witness how attitude and determination save the day!

Your company’s brand is way more than just your logo. When done properly your company’s brand is an experience. Your company’s brand reflects the experience your customers/clients will have when interacting with your company.

Although, your company’s visual brand is bolstered through your marketing communications. i.e. logo, colors, tag line, font(s), etc. Visual brand recognition with consumers occurs when these marketing communication elements are consistently applied to your company’s — business cards, stationery, advertisements, brochures, folders, promotional items, websites, email signatures, etc.

We at BD, recently worked with one of our clients in which we refreshed their existing visual brand. We first started with creating a new logo for their company. We then selected a strong rich earth derived color palette (btw, we recommend three colors with your visual brand tops). Then we worked in parallel with our client to create the perfect tag line which spoke to how this client wants to be known by in the public eye within their community and surrounding areas.

Rounding out the visual design elements, we then selected a font family (btw, we recommend two font families tops) that visually works well with the new logo, colors and tag line. Once we had created and established the visual design elements, we then created a style guide for our client. A style guide is a crucial piece which will be the blueprints to ensure all marketing communication materials speak true to the overall company’s visual brand to bolster the full “brand” experience.

Color Palette

Tag Line

Font Family