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~ 2008 ~ 30. JUNE. 4:25PM

YouTube’s Non-profit program

~ 2008 ~ 9. MAY. 4:53PM

Started late in 2007, YouTube has designated a channel that is giving a voice to non-profits. Allowin them to connect with supporters, raise awareness of their mission and build volunteers and donor bases. The following link even includes tips on how it can help build your non-profit impact. www.youtube.com/nonprofits

 

 www.misterclipping.com

New service offered for those times when you just can’t seem to clip it out correctly. Sounds awesome and and at a great price too! 


Paper Industry Updates

Wausau Paper has redone and rebranded as an environmental choice the line ROYAL.

Neenah has updated its popular Sundance collection.


~ 2008 ~ 2. MAY. 9:59PM

recycle-mail.jpg

The USPS: Small Changes Add Up.

The wood and paper industry plants 1.7 million new trees every day. The Abundant Forests Alliance reports that there are 12 million more nationwide since 1987. (U.S. Forest Service, RPA Data 1987-2002) Visit the green mail portion of the USPS website and learn ways to recycle, reuse and reduce your share.

~ 2008 ~ 1. MAY. 2:53PM

Paper/Printing Industry (FSC Certifications Noted)

• Digital Space, helps with the technical & production aspects for digital print jobs.

• Domtar’s Lynx brand is now FSC certified.

DC Area Printers (FSC Certified; source)
Area printers that we have worked with over the years. For more up-to-date certifications please visit The Forest Stewardship Council web site here

• Carter Printing (in Richmond will be FSC Certifed by May 2008)

• Mosaic (certified since 2005), Carbon Neutral 

• Peake/Delancey 

• McCardle Printing Company

• Whitmore Print & Imaging

• Colorcraft of Virginia

• United Litho

• Progress Printing

DM:Statistics

In 2005 only 23.7% of overall advertising dollars were spent, a little unknown fact about direct mail. With an average ROI of 79.6% makes it a powerful tool for small businesses and non-profits that have compact marketing dollars.

That said, there are some things to consider before attemping any direct mail campaign.

  1. Set your goals of what you want to accomplish. (Realistic goals, don’t shoot for over the moon)
  2. Have a strategy: how will you follow up, what will you offer, timeline, etc)
  3. Order a quality list of your audience, don’t skimp on this. You don’t want to sell a lawn mowing service to condo owners on the third floor.
  4. Research your marketplace, get to know what they look for, what their needs are, get specific.
  5. Determine the action that you want them to take.
  6. Consideration your competition and what they are offering in the marketplace. Keep it simple in terms of copy.

Just remember that it only take only 1/2 of a second for the audience to determine if it’s heading for the circular file!


~ 2008 ~ 4. AUG. 4:03 PM

Why is “I” only found in the english language?
i was cruising through the New York Time Magazine on Sunday afternoon and came across an article by Caroline Winter that caught my attention. As a typography lover and with loads of design experience i was amazed to learn that english is the only language to capitalize the pronoun “i”. As the article suggests, it poses a graphic challenge. But, i found the whole article interesting because i have for years caught myself writing an email, text message or letter and used a lower case version of the pronoun. Maybe deep down i knew that there was no reason to do so or maybe i thought my message was more important of a focus than the person crafting the message. Maybe it was to just be different, ah… i so love letters.

~ 2008 ~ 23. MAY. 11:03 AM

What is $99 worth? And while your at it, why not add in overnight as an option?
I get a little nauseous just even thinking about the battle that has been waged against the design community. And I have read blogs from other designers that also rant on these so called designer logo machines. Companies will crank out 5-15 logo options for a mere hundred bucks. Add on a 20% rush fee and you can have it overnight for less than a cost of an average FedexTM package. Don’t forget “free support for life.” What exactly does that mean anyway? I guess if my logo blows up, I get a new one for free?  Should Congress enact a “lemon law” for logos, so that if my logo fails I get compensation? Come on… is there one designer out there that will actually admit to working for these organizations? 

I throw my hat in the ring and join in the fight. For the admiration of great designers such as Paul Rand, Doyald Young… among countless others. Here’s where I think the rubber hits the road… I feel that if a company chooses to go the “logocheap” direction, it speaks volumes to the value a business places in itself. Unless you are a sweatshop owner, you probably have pride in the work that you perform for clients/customers and that should be reflected on all levels and all aspects of your business. If you are really willing to walk into a client boardroom with your catered close-the-deal lunch… and you hired McWenChicken’s as your caterer… do you really think that they will sign on the dotted line?

k 

Make sure to check out: UK designer, Tara, has over on her blog a great post about logo vs. lunch. WhileDavid Airey on his discusses the posted Google RSS feeds creating logo competitions. I will fight for the right to…. not join any competition. 

~ 2008 ~ 20. MAY. 9:35AM

Tis the political season… ah…

The season of bad logo designs has come upon us again! I cringe at some renderings of red, white and blue and candidates names that are smashing and ruining the beauty of type. I love type, words and sentences properly kerned so that it becomes a beautiful sweep across a page. Check out some of the horrific renditions from the current and past political seasons… USA political election logos 2008 - 1960collected by LogoBlink. Enjoy and let the nightmares end soon!

kym 

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~2008 ~ 17.JUNE 1:58PM 

Interesting Web Things to Check Out.

Convert your site or blog and make it mobile-phone ready fast!… check out www.swiftmob.com

Phillip Meggs (1942 - 2002), one of my instructors at VCU is memorialized in a new book for his work in helping graphic design become identified as a profession. He was the first to create a comprehensive history of design and his book “A History of Graphic Design” which is widely used. Check out the book “Meggs: Making Graphic Design History” written by another one of my instrutors, Rob Carter… now available.


~2008 ~ 20.MAY 2:13PM

Type Battles!
Typophile, the coolest blog/forum/site, is a opinion based site. They have been holding street fight-like “Type Battles” and letting the works speak for itself. Starting Mondays and ending on Fridays—the competitions let designers, type designers jump, pounce and work their magic. Take a look at some of the past battles and watch for latest entries.

 

~2007 ~ 12.SEPTEMBER 1:43PM

News in Design!
Pantone, a designer’s best friend, has announced that it is about to provide designers and our clients with more than 2000 colors to select from! The original PMS (Pantone Matching System) brought the industry together 45 years ago in giving us a way to deliver reliable colors to clients. The new PANTONE GoeTM system will offer about 2058 new colors. Pantone is quoted as stating that “The PANTONE Goe System works in concert with the PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM to empower everyone in the creative and production process with a simpler, more complete, user-friendly workflow from the moment of inspiration to the realization of a finished project. Just as the original System enabled the industry to step into its future, PANTONE Goe will impel designers and printers to stay competitive and versatile in today’s challenging and evolving marketplace.” Its set to be ready in October of 2007!

Can’t wait ~ k