Lloyd_E
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Nov 15, 2003
- Messages
- 1,417
- Location
- South Shore Nova Scotia Canada
- Tractor
- 2008 Kioti DK 45 sc
My 2cents (professionally, this is what I do... for past 24 years),
Eddy what you need to do is hire a graphic design company that handles, web & print design. But first what you need to do is write a mission statement & and some info to hand of to the design firm(design brief). Essentially what you are doing is 'branding' yourself.
The logo, word mark or logo-type (there are actually three main categories for these identities) will evolve out of the mission statement and meetings. By hiring a firm, you can avoid law suites by designing stuff too close to other existing identities.
Also, the design(and designer) will look at other applications of the mark. In order for it to work - convey message or info - it has to work at various sizes and in various applications and contexts; ie: newspaper, web, t-shirts, signs etc. By designing a mark that works in all areas this will save you money and frustration in the long term. Don't be too short sighted when saying all I need is a mark and a web sight! Most projects I work on have a 5 year and 10 year plus return on investment - meaning the mark must and will hold value for these periods before being readdressed. We all change our personal looks over time and a business should do the same or at least reevaluate it.
A mark you create will look like that - remember this is not your area of expertise.
It will not be professional and it will probably not work in all applications - and you don't want to find that out after investing cash in other areas, business cards, signage etc.
Also, by hiring a firm you can get volume discounts on printing. Remember this is what they do many times a day and week - also they know the language and technical knowledge of printers and getting electronic files to printers.
Also, with a web site, it needs to stay fresh. And if you don't have alot of time to devote to it - it will get stale after a while. The creed for successful design in all fashion - is to keep it simple. And most people have a hard time keeping things simple - remember 'less is more'!
The thing about 'branding' is to get the concept nailed early - you can apply it over time as money becomes available and applications arise. A well thought out concept will pay back...a weak one will always need explanation and reworking. Think big picture first and
focus on smaller parts later - like, 'I need a visual portfolio of my work to bring in new clients' - this could be an electronic one, ie laptop, small DVD player or physical one, information kit with printed tearsheets(8.5"x11") print outs from you own printer, or a brochure etc.
Hope some of this info has helped...
Best of luck.
Lloyd
Eddy what you need to do is hire a graphic design company that handles, web & print design. But first what you need to do is write a mission statement & and some info to hand of to the design firm(design brief). Essentially what you are doing is 'branding' yourself.
The logo, word mark or logo-type (there are actually three main categories for these identities) will evolve out of the mission statement and meetings. By hiring a firm, you can avoid law suites by designing stuff too close to other existing identities.
Also, the design(and designer) will look at other applications of the mark. In order for it to work - convey message or info - it has to work at various sizes and in various applications and contexts; ie: newspaper, web, t-shirts, signs etc. By designing a mark that works in all areas this will save you money and frustration in the long term. Don't be too short sighted when saying all I need is a mark and a web sight! Most projects I work on have a 5 year and 10 year plus return on investment - meaning the mark must and will hold value for these periods before being readdressed. We all change our personal looks over time and a business should do the same or at least reevaluate it.
A mark you create will look like that - remember this is not your area of expertise.
It will not be professional and it will probably not work in all applications - and you don't want to find that out after investing cash in other areas, business cards, signage etc.
Also, by hiring a firm you can get volume discounts on printing. Remember this is what they do many times a day and week - also they know the language and technical knowledge of printers and getting electronic files to printers.
Also, with a web site, it needs to stay fresh. And if you don't have alot of time to devote to it - it will get stale after a while. The creed for successful design in all fashion - is to keep it simple. And most people have a hard time keeping things simple - remember 'less is more'!
The thing about 'branding' is to get the concept nailed early - you can apply it over time as money becomes available and applications arise. A well thought out concept will pay back...a weak one will always need explanation and reworking. Think big picture first and
focus on smaller parts later - like, 'I need a visual portfolio of my work to bring in new clients' - this could be an electronic one, ie laptop, small DVD player or physical one, information kit with printed tearsheets(8.5"x11") print outs from you own printer, or a brochure etc.
Hope some of this info has helped...
Best of luck.
Lloyd
