Tasha Lee Design

What I Love About Small Businesses.

2011-07-28T12:04:00.000-07:00

Small businesses are typically on a shoestring budget and love to learn do-it-yourself methods, marketing and professional design is one of the first things they cut when the budget gets tight and because of this, my workload is subject to many ups and downs, so it surprises many of my professional network when they learn that small businesses are 80% of my clientele. Now I am not saying that if a larger company wants to work with me that I will turn them away, but I do focus most of my efforts on the onsie and twosie type shops.

Why?
I see that small businesses struggle with their marketing, with keeping their business image consistent and coming up with a professional design that really separates them from their main competitors. It is becoming more common for companies who are a part of my industry to shoot up their rates, exclude the smaller guys with smaller projects, who ask more questions and are inconsistent in their marketing needs.

I can’t imagine dropping my small guys. I LOVE my small guys. Small businesses are emotionally invested in their company, many times creating partnerships with family members and or childhood friends. Small businesses have a great passion for their companies, truly believe in their product and market it with all their heart and soul. I love to hear about the stories behind the start of a small business and how they got to where they are right now. When talking about a new idea, I like to see the light in their eyes and hear the excitement in their voice. I like to get to know my clients to have a complete understanding of their personality and their business goals. Many of these characteristics that small business owners obtain are few and far between when dealing in Corporate America. Corporate America is so focused on the bottom line, they loose the passion that stems from owning your own business. I think the TV show Undercover Boss is a great example of this. Large companies loose sight of their roots and forget what matters to the little guys, which creates a huge disconnect between the two.

I myself am a small business owner, I have stable growth and pride myself on quality. I am individually owned and only use outside resources when it will benefit my clients. I am a big proponent of why pay for something when you can get it for free? I want to help my clients design marketing materials and to develop websites that not only mean something, but that they are proud of. I strive to give my clients flexibility, to allow them to be as much a part of the creative process as they want to be. Feeling boxed into your choices is uncomfortable for anyone, especially a small business owner who is typically wearing many of the hats needed in their business. One thing that stands out to me about small business owners is the heart behind the business.

What I am here to do is offer choices, allow my clients to be as involved as they like to be and only hire me when they NEED ME. I don't believe in retainer fees or monthly packages that may or may not include services that you will use. Working with the small guys is a great passion of mine, as I truly believe that all businesses deserve the right to professional design for an affordable price and to not pay for something that they really don't need.

Tasha Lee Design, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

What is Your Niche? Clients That Tower Above

2011-07-26T08:35:00.000-07:00

A great struggle of business owners is finding their niche market. Competitors are all around you and determining what makes you different, more valuable and which niche you belong in can be an intimidating task.

I attended a seminar last Spring that mentioned the idea of placing your clients into towers. What!? That was exactly my response, let me explain.

Each one of your clients can be categorized, as you go through the list, start placing your clients into their corresponding category. This can be based on the type of project, demographics, industry for businesses working B2B or a number of other options. As you start categorizing, you will see one of your lists TOWER about the others.... this is your niche market. The market you work with most often, have the most experience with and can best determine their needs. Since the category far exceeds and towers above all other categories, you can then leverage this as your niche market. Use this information to start marketing to that particular niche using words such as, SPECIALIZE or CATER TO.

Knowing what your niche is the hardest part, once it is determined, run with it! Now that you know what type of client you work with most often, you can building case studies and position yourself as an expert in your newly defined niche. How exciting! You have the start to a marketing plan. Start creating your marketing materials to reflect your niche and spark the interest of your ideal client.

WAYS To Target Your Niche Market:

Advertise in printed publications that your niche is interested in
Become a member of a forum or chat board and start answering questions / giving advice within your niche market
Customize your website design to appeal to your niche market by offering resources, products and solutions that meet their needs
Define new products and services that cater to your niche market
Define / Position yourself as an expert through public speaking, blogging or seminars
Ask current clients for referrals or testimonials that fall within your niche market
Build case studies to show that you have had success within your niche market

Tasha Lee Design, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Why Professional Logo Design?

2011-05-18T19:57:00.000-07:00

Your logo is your business identity that will be used to advertise and promote your business to the world, therefore it should be taken seriously and done by a professional company. If you choose to compromise on your price and quality of services by getting a cheap amateur to do the job it is highly likely that your own business image will also end up looking as unprofessional as the company that created your logo for you.

True professionals have the equipment, software and expertise, to provide you with the most effective and powerful brand-building tool, your company logo.

Cheap companies will often compromise on factors that are important to save them costs but the result is a cheap logo, for example, they may use clipart, whereas a professional company will produce a logo for you that is 100% original.

A logo should look just as good on a 5 metre tall sign on top of business building as it does 1cm high on business stationery. A professional company will produce you a logo that is in various formats, jpg and png are the most important for general use (like on a website), but you should also receive your logo design in the very important vector file format such as eps. Vector files are used when a graphic is required to be scaled in size without losing image quality, this means that if you ever need to make a large banner or poster you can using the vector file. Other files are not scalable and the logo or graphic is distorted when trying to increase its size.

You also want to be sure that you are the legal owner and have ownership rights to the design meaning that no other business can use it without your permission.

Ultimately a professional company has two things that sets them apart and make them so much better at designing logos than aspiring amateurs. Professional logo designers have training and experience, and these two make all the difference.

When considering a particular logo design company check what is included in your logo design services package before choosing a company to design your logo. It is important to view the samples on their portfolio to see samples of their work to give you an idea of their ability. Contact them and see how quickly they respond to your inquiry and how helpful they are to get an idea of their customer service. Look for client testimonials on their websites and make sure that they are genuine by calling the clients and asking how was their experience working with the logo design firm.

Tasha Lee Design, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

2011-03-25T12:03:00.000-07:00

SLIM SOFIA SIPS SKINNY CAN

The Pepsi “Skinny Can,” introduced at Fashion Week last month and rolling out now, is supported by striking print advertising. That includes this portrait of “Modern Family” star Sofia Vergara sipping from the new look can. Pepsi promoted the packaging as a celebration of confident women; feminist critics note that the fashion-related launch links “slim” to “successful,” and point the possible Photoshopping of the voluptuous Vergara down to a sleeker version for the ad. read more

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DUFFY NATURALLY

Duffy & Partners is responsible for creating new packaging for Natural Inspirations, a line of bath and body products launching this October. The Natural Inspirations line was created “to comfort the body and soothe the soul” while offering a new way to support Susan G. Komen for the Cure in its mission to end breast cancer.The packaging features beautifully layered botanical illustrations sweeping over pale pink backgrounds, each designed to represent a specific aromatherapy blends. see the products

Graphic Artist, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Green Design

2011-03-22T10:25:00.000-07:00

ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARE NUTS

The Nutmobile, a traveling ambassador for the Planters brand, has gone green. The new model runs on biodiesel and has a wind turbine, solar panels, LED interior lighting, recycled parts and wood floors purportedly reclaimed from a 19th century barn. It made its public debut at the Global Green Oscars preparty. The redesigned Nutmobile joins a succession of mobile ad vehicles, best known of which is the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. Jason Levine is Planters’ senior director for marketing. He has the new Nutmobile is based on an Isuzu box truck. According to James Riseborough, chief creative officer of builder Turtle Transit, the fiberglass peanut body is held in place with an underlying steel frame. Energy captured and converted by the wind turbine and solar panel drive an alternator that recharges batteries for interior lighting and sound system. Joe Doyon, Turtle Transit’s general manager says that this kind of advertising is having a renaissance due to the popularity of camera phones.

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HAVE A GLASS

Creative agency Beattie McGuinness Bungay New York found a unique design solution that goes beyond p-o-p. Their concept takes emptied bottles of Bols Genever, a Dutch spirits brand, and via a specialized handmade process recycles them into attractive drinking glasses. The glasses are being leveraged as selling tools and premiums, with the vision to expand the program to consumers through a mail-in program.

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ALL QUIET ON THE CHIP FRONT
Frito-Lay has silenced its SunChips brand bag. The noisy but remarkably compostable eco-bag upset sensitive consumers and triggered a noise-free bag movement. The company states: “You asked for a quieter bag and we heard you loud and clear.”
read more

Freelance Artist, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

2011-03-16T03:59:00.000-07:00

Auto Zone Gets Girly

Can car care products be marketed directly to women, or at the very least be gender-neutral? Check out this branding exercise by design student Vinh Pho, which makes AutoZone products seem as if they were being sold out of Bath & Body Works.

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Oscars pushing its envelope

Previously just dressed-up office supply issue, this year's Academy Awards' winners' envelopes are now custom-designed by Marc Friedland Couture Communications.

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jcpenny Boxes It Up

J. C. Penney Company is now jcpenney, and it has a new logo to match, the first redesign in its 40-year-history.

The letters "jcp" are emphasized in the new design. The Helvetica letters are placed off-center in a red box; the remainder of the name is shown breaking free of the box, symbolic of the company breaking out into new retail areas. The box and initial letters are also used alone, such as in the company's avatar. (At this writing, the old logo was still in use on the jcp website, and predictions are that the new design will be rolled out formally in advertising shown during the Academy Awards on February 27.)

The redesign comes on the heels of a recent redesign of the Sears logo—which was also set in a high x-height sans serif. Some say the redesign was in response to burgeoning sales at more contemporary competitors such as Macy's and Kohl's.

Who designed the new mark? From the company's web site: "To choose a new logo design, jcpenney sought submissions that reflect a wide range of perspectives. Participants included the Company's associates, several design agencies, and two art schools – University of Cincinnati and Rhode Island School of Design – that collectively submitted over 200 designs for consideration. The winning design was provided by Luke Langhus, a third-year graphic design student at the University of Cincinnati, who chose to reintroduce jcpenney's iconic red box – a symbol he has long associated with the national retailer. Langhus developed a versatile logo that preserves the company's namesake but can be modified to showcase the 'jcp' independently, given his intent to ensure it would resonate with constantly connected digital consumers who often use abbreviations."

jcpenney.net

Graphic Designer Portfolio, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Graphic Design Questions? Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Graphic Designer Rolls

2011-03-14T21:25:00.000-07:00

Mayor Villaraigosa, in partnership with Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, has declared graphic designer and cyclist Geoff McFetridge winner of the Bike Awareness and Safety slogan contest. The "Give Me 3" bus shelter posters will be seen on 1,000 ads, and refers to support of 3 Foot Passing legislation that would give bikers more room to ride. The winning slogan was submitted by Danny Gamboa of Long Beach CA. Other sponsors of the effort to make the City of Angels a more bike friendly place include LADOT, LAPD and Midnight Ridazz. read more

Beyond The Cup
Nestlé is the latest major corporation to invest substantially to become more sustainable, in this instance expanding its reach into sustainable coffee farming, making its factories more efficient and reducing its packaging. Beyond the Cup: The Nescafe Plan aims to double the amount of Nescafé, the instant coffee, that it buys directly from farmers. They also intend to increase its number of agronomists and field technicians. To reduce its direct impacts, Nestlé is investing funds into its own factories to reduce energy and waste, and to use spent coffee grounds as fuel in all factories. see more

Graphic Designer's Portfolio, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Nordstrom Gets Real

2011-03-11T11:46:00.000-08:00

Director Andrew Walton of production company IDENTITY has helmed a series of intimate documentary-style vignettes for Nordstrom. The campaign, titled “Career Mode,” sits on Nordstrom website and real Nordstrom customers sharing thoughts on their style and how what they wear to work defines them personally and professionally. Says Pia Hunter is Creative Director, Nordstrom and she notes that she “wanted real stories from real people and of course, to capture our customers in their best possible light.” One of the four films features a marketing freelancer…  read more

Graphic Designer Portfolio, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Spartan Story

2011-03-02T05:16:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the grand opening of the Michigan State University Medical School campus in downtown Grand Rapids MI, advertising agency Extra Credit Projects developed a print and outdoor campaign that’s turning heads. Featuring the familiar Spartan football helmet, the ads are intended to inform the public about the new location as well as enhance the brand in the region. “It’s a really big deal for the city to be able to officially be a part of the Big Ten,” said agency principal Rob Jackson.

Tasha Lee Design, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Green Award for Green Challenge

2011-02-03T07:25:00.000-08:00

Stan Gellman Graphic Design concepted, designed and produced the three dimensional award given by the St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association to winners of its annual Green Business Challenge. Awards were given to 58 companies across the metropolitan region who successfully completed the challenge. These participants compiled a scorecard of requirements to form green teams, reduce waste, conserve water and energy, improve indoor air quality, and provide clean transportation options. The Stan Gellman firm made sure the award itself was as close as possible to 100% green; for example, printing was done on 100% rapidly renewable bamboo which is FSC certified.

Tasha Lee Design, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Green Patriot Posters

2011-01-27T04:42:00.000-08:00

Edited by Edward Morris, Dmitri Siegel, this book brings together posters and design promoting sustainability and the fight against climate change as well as essays by Michael Bierut, Steven Heller, Edward Morris and Dmitri Siegel about the history and the state of the poster as a vehicle for political messages and propanda. The publisher is Metropolis Books.

Tasha Lee Design, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

First Ecoimagination iAd

2011-01-24T20:12:00.000-08:00

GE’s first ever iAd is called “Simple Harmony.” It is part of the Ecomagination campaign promotes helping people, nature and industry coexist in harmony. The iAd experience has been described as “funky” and “quirky” but the app is fundamentally educational as visitors use the app to learn to see various GE innovations. The campaign by BBDO New York is on YouTube, with an interactive video demo of the iAd.

Watch the First Ecoimagination Ad

Tasha Lee Design, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Don’t Spill

2011-01-17T11:54:00.000-08:00

Saatchi & Saatchi has been honored alongside Toyota with a Green Award for a “Glass of Water” iPhone application campaign. The award for “Best Green Mixed Media” was announced at a gala ceremony at the Natural History Museum in London. The campaign was commended by judges for its innovative use of technology: “the creative approach was simple, fun and extremely intuitive for drivers to use.” Based on the theory that if all drivers drove with a glass of water on their dashboard and completed their trip without spilling it, their driving would be more economical and lower carbon emissions, the ad agency developed an app designed to look and act like a glass of water, registering the volume spilled during the trip, to act as a visual challenge for the driver to avoid spillage and reduce emissions.

Tasha Lee Design, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Obsession By Wieden+Kennedy

2011-01-11T20:23:00.000-08:00

The crazy Christmas shopping lady in Target’s holiday campaign has been named one of 2010’s freakiest characters. This courtesy of Adweek’s AdFreak blog. The all-in-red obsessed shopper is the work of Wieden+Kennedy, and is described as the wierdest character ever to represent a major marketer. You can see all 30 of the blog’s choices for Freakiest Ads of 2010 here

Tasha Lee Design, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Nascar Adds Ethanol

2011-01-09T19:21:00.000-08:00

American Ethanol is a new partnership formed by the ethanol industry, corn growers across the country and NASCAR. The partnership, announced this Fall in Las Vegas by NASCAR, comes after NASCAR said in October it would take its environmental commitment to the next level by fueling all races in its three racing series with E15, a 15 percent corn ethanol blend, beginning with the 2011 racing season. “Since NASCAR is one of the most effective marketing and advertising organizations in the world, partnering with it will raise the visibility of ethanol...” said Kelly Brunkhorst, director of research for the Nebraska Corn Board, one of the key players in the partnership. America Ethanol will be highlighted on every vehicle, be prominent on NASCAR’s Green Flag, sponsor a new award for every race, and be featured at onsite race day events.

full article Nascar Adds Ethanol

Tasha Lee Design, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

When Free Is Bad ...

2010-12-17T12:12:00.001-08:00

Going into the new year, I begin to look at my budget and see what catagories I can save in and which ones I could spend a little more on. These are some areas of your marketing that you definitely do not want to skimp on....

Logo Design
I don't disagree, there are a TON of logo sites out there that offer deep discounted logo ideas. What I do disagree with, it that by purchasing a stock logo OR using a logo template, the logo is generic! Templated logos are completely impersonal to you and your business. Also, keep in mind that if you are considering purchasing a stock or deeply discounted logo, they are not exclusive to you and your business, anyone can by them.

I have seen two different businesses, who are part of the same industry, use the exact same logo; color and all and they are only two towns apart.... how sad is that? You will also likely run into the problem of not having correct file types when you want it professionally printed through resources such as: commercial printers, sign companies and promotional items.

With a custom logo design, the designer [perhaps Tasha Lee Design :)] will sit down with you, walk you through a creative brief, do some research and get a well rounded idea of what you want your identity to say about your business. A good designer will work with you until you are 110% satisfied with your new identity and then help you plaster it all over town so your community starts recognizing you! They will provide you with the correct file versions to be used in a multitude situations and will be able to explain when it is best to use each file type. Be unique. Be different. Don't Be a Stock Image.

Clip Art
You know what I am talking about.... the cheap, cheesy looking X, that you placed into your flyer because that is what was available. There are nice clip art out there, but most of the time.... it would be a good idea to stay away from it. Clip art cheapens your business image and comes across unprofessional.

Fonts
Although sites such as 1001freefonts.com and fontspace.com seem like a really great resource, these fonts are designed by amateurs. Many of the letter spacing and special characters look awkward. There is a complete science to choosing a font for your printed materials and my suggestion would be to leave this to the professional! They will know when to choose a font and how best to make that font get your materials noticed. A designer's rule of thumb: NEVER use more than 3 typefaces on the same printed material. It becomes confusing to the eye and looks unorganized and sloppy.

Templates ... through websites, blogs and other design stuff. As with any template, remember that they are not exclusive to you. So anyone who has a connection to the internet, has the power to purchase your design that you may or may not have been using for years. My suggestion is to be very careful and limit the use of these resources. I can not tell you how many times I walk into a networking event and chat with specialty businesses such as handmade jewelry, make-up artists, hair stylist, computer techs, etc. and they are passing out the exact same card as someone else at the event.

It breaks my heart knowing that these individuals are working so hard to grow their business and will become confused with someone else, who is working just as hard, because they are using the same logo, business card layout or brochure template.

If you are to invest in one thing and one thing only for you business, INVEST IN YOUR LOGO! The logo may be a larger investment that you want to take on right now, but remember, it is a one time investment that will be used in every part of your marketing; from business cards, websites, invoices, fax sheets, flyers, advertising, etc. Your logo will be with you for the duration of you running your business. Your logo will be the backbone to you building a strong brand recognition.

Tasha Lee Design, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Making Art Out of Everyday Items.

2010-12-13T09:59:00.000-08:00

After seeing some of these everyday products offered in other countries.....

I vote that America is visually boring!

mailbox with a porthole {Radius}

humidifier {Plusminuszero }

remote control stand {Eau}

magazine rack {fumfum}

space heater {Plusminuszero}

umbrella stand {Elic}

Tasha Lee Design, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

When Free Is Good ...

2010-12-12T19:02:00.000-08:00

To run your business it costs money, where you choose to spend your money is what makes the difference in your bottom line. There are many services out there that are FREE to you, but when used correctly, make a BIG IMPACT in your business, but not in your pocketbook. By utilizing a combination of paid and unpaid services you will make a bold statement with your clients.

Here are some No Cost/Low Cost Resources for you to get off the ground running in your marketing efforts:

M ailChimp
Many of consumers have heard of the email newsletter service, Constant Contact, I have discovered MailChimp in the past year or so and canceled my CC account after being a loyal customer for over 3 years. What is so cool about MailChimp is that they have ALL the same features (plus some) as CC, but is FREE! With all your monthly savings, you can now head over to your local design shop and receive a custom newsletter template to be streamlined with all your marketing efforts.

Blogger/WordPress
These are two very common blogging platforms out in the internet world. What is cool about these, is that just by blogging a mere one time a week, you can dramatically increase your google ranking. Make sure you are blogging with intent though and that your posts are related to your products or services. Each time you blog, your site will be indexed and your keywords will start climbing up, up and up. Many blogs have templates to choose from, but by hiring a graphic designer, your blog can look as though it is an extension of your website and online visitors won't even know you are using a third party site.

G oogle Analytics
This system is a must have for any online business. By keeping track of your web traffic, you will know what online visitors are interested in, you can create specialized online marketing campaigns and learn what does and doesn't work without paying the big bucks! You just need to spend some time learning how to read your site metrics and what they mean.

Twitter/Facebook/linkedIN
Social media can make a HUGE impact on your credibility. Along with posting helpful information that isn't always focused on sell, sell, selling to your followers. Social media is helpful in creating another touch point with your clients and keeping you in the forefront.

skype
Businesses are all about saving time and money and using skype will help you do just that. You will have the option to have face to face business meeting with a client who is out of state, on the opposite coastline or overseas. With the video feature, you not only see the person face to face, but have the flexibility in showing products or demonstrating services.

DropBox/You Send It
Occassionally, I need to send a really big file to a client who doesn't possess the convenience of an FTP. These file transfer services present a quick and easy way to get the job done without jumping in the car and delivering a CD or popping it in the mail.

With any marketing effort, keep in mind that consistency is key. Not only in the use of your logo, but also with the use of your business colors, fonts and image choices. Staying consistent will only strengthen your brand recognition and help you stand out in the multitude of campaigns you are competing against.

Tasha Lee Design, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Oopsie

2010-12-07T08:52:00.000-08:00

In an effort to honor veterans, Google inadvertently stirred up a hornet's nest of Islamic feeling by customizing its logo for Veteran's Day. It substituted an American flag on a pole for the "l" in its name, and the flowing flag covers up the "e" to the point where the letter appears to be an Islamic crescent moon.

Reactions are largely in three camps: outraged, amused, or exhausted. read more

Tasha Lee Design, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

2010-11-29T22:33:00.001-08:00

iTunes 10 sports new logo

As CD sales continue to sink below the turbulent waters of technology, and online sales of music keeps growing, Apple has removed the CD from the background of its iTunes logo with the release of version 10. The new design is somewhat underwhelming. But perhaps it was left intentionally generic to accommodate whatever ripples Ping–the new social network for music–may cause in the upcoming months.

SOURCE: crunchgear.com

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Cartoon Network airs new brand watch video

Courtesy of Brand New School, Cartoon Network has built on its black–and–white checkerboard brand heritage.

The logo has been tweaked, a typographic system developed, and a new grid–based on the checkerboard–provides structure. Design elements began appearing in May, while the on–air IDs began to be shown last week.

It was important to Cartoon Network that each day part be distinct and branded with its own color, humor and expanding level of complexity. "We wanted to share on–air the excitement we found in the initial explorations of the checkerboard and the grid," said art director Eric Adolfsen. "From the first to the last second of each day, we looked for ways to consistently surprise viewers and build on the language of the checkerboard, eventually creating a visual shorthand the audience could embrace."

brandnewschool.com

www.tashaleedesign.com • tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Tasha Lee Design, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Get Off Your Butt: 16 Ways to Get Motivated When You're in a Slump

2010-11-09T13:29:00.000-08:00

GET MOTIVATED!

Have one goal.
Find inspiration.
Get excited.
Build anticipation
Post your goal.
Commit publicly.
Think about it daily.
Get support.
Realize that there's an ebb and flow.
Stick with it.
Start small. Really small.
Build on small successes.
Read about it daily.
Call for help when your motivation ebbs.
Think about the benefits, not the difficulties.
Squash negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones.

Tasha Lee Design, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Baby carrots take on junk food with hip marketing campaign

2010-09-11T18:50:00.000-07:00

Name a snack food that's neon orange and makes a loud crunch when munched.

If you picked Cheetos, the nation's biggest producer of baby carrots wants you to think again.

Just in time for the battle over what's gonna be in millions of back-to-school lunches, Bolthouse Farms and nearly 50 other carrot growers today will unveil plans for the industry's first-ever marketing campaign. The $25 million effort sets its sights on a giant, big-spending rival: junk food. read more

www.tashaleedesign.com • tasha@tashaleedesign.com

The U.S. Postal Service Is Dying. Why Not Radically Rebrand It?

2010-09-08T09:03:00.000-07:00

Could a new identity save the United States Postal Service? The idea is not so far–fetched: The postal services in Belgium and other countries have taken on rebrands that better reflect their new capabilities as they compete against commercial shopping competitors.

And is retro the way to go?

Snail mail use keeps dropping, and now the U.S. Postal Service wants to save a bunch of cash by slashing Saturday delivery. Will a new look help rescue the agency? D.C. designer Matt Chase has a wacky proposal: Rebrand the USPS to evoke the very anachronisms that are costing it billions.

How You Can Enhance Your Site Traffic Using Optimized Web Design

2010-09-01T08:05:00.000-07:00

1. Content-The content material may be the substance with the site and should be relevant for the site. It should target the clients and site visitors.

2. Usability-The site should be user-friendly using the interface and navigation. Both should be simple and reliable.

3. Appearance-The graphics and text must consist of an individual style that flows through the site for consistency.

4. Visibility with the site-The website should be simple to find by way of most search engines. Optimization can be a method of producing something functional and efficient. Web layout optimization is a continuous procedure of improving the layout to achieve enterprise objectives. An optimized net web page loads rapidly on the client’s system, so your website visitor can quickly get the info they were looking for.

The reasons for optimization are varied. These include increasing exposure, increasing its search engine ranking and applying modern net standards.

Now the question arises-Is optimization of a website’s design possible or not? Here, we are going to talk about the methods for optimization.

1. Optimize Graphics for Internet Use-Even these days, a large number of people use slower connections for internet use, or they use their cell phones. With slow browsing speed or a smaller screen, they don’t want to wait for pages to load. And like a business owner, you cannot afford to lose customers this way.

2. Emphasis on Content-Make sure that the content material within the site is laid out effectively. Should you only concentrate on look and ignore the content, you cannot make an impact on your buyers. You’ll need to supply a concise, convincing message and info about your website, should you want your site visitors to buy your product or service. Make sure that your content material is easy to read.

3. Set up a Navigation System That Compliments Search Engines-Navigation techniques are constructed to assist visitors in discovering their way around your site. Consequently, they must be created cautiously to produce search engine friendly ones. Search engines require a chain of hypertext links commencing at your home page which will take them web page by page within your entire site. The issue is that if JavaScript and flash methods replace plain hyperlinks, the search engine might not be able to locate the underlying pages. You can optimize the flash and pictures for far better use and faster downloading.

4. Emphasis on Color, Shapes and Font Size-Things like color, shape and sizes of font can make a large impact on your general message. Utilizing blue, green, silver, or grey can create a calm impact. Making use of rounded corners rather than hard edges within your banners can allow a soft and personalized feeling.

5. Keep It Simple- Look at some effective sites, like Google, which is very simple. Don’t use bloated characteristics. Keep your goals as well as visitor’s needs in mind when adding a elements.

SOURCE: http://naperville-webdesign.net/

2010-08-10T23:10:00.000-07:00

Dictating Fashion
This provocative billboard for a clothing company in Italy shows Adolf Hitler in a pink uniform with a heart armband. The message to young people: "Change style. Don't follow your leader." On one level attention grabbing; on another a bit sickening; and on yet a third hypocritical since the message comes from a fashion house trying to dictate fashion.

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Quaker Lite

Wallace Church was asked to develop a new more contemporary branding — that also gave a nod to the powerful heritage of the brand — for Quaker Lite Snacks. The solution: a logo that incorporates the Quaker Oats man inside a more rounded and modern serif "Q". The new logo is being debuted on all the Lite Snacks including Mini Delights, Quakes, Tortillaz, and Rice Cakes.

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Kraft Promotes Ma(yo)keover

Kraft's celebrity campaign for its flavored mayonnaise lineup stars HGTV Design Star judges Candice Olson, Genevieve Gorder and Vern Yip. TV spots, dubbed "Tastemakers," evoke a makeover reality-show format. This is the first big ad push for the new line. To push the reality show theme, Kraft has expanded its print beyond traditional lifestyle and food titles to include InStyle and House Beautiful. Agencies include mcgarrybowen, Chicago, for creative; Upshot for promotional marketing; AKQA, New York, for digital; and Hunter for public relations.

SOURCE: GD USA

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Illustrating The World Cup

2010-08-10T23:05:00.001-07:00

The South African illustration house, Am I Collective, scored a creative coup when it was commissioned to create 32 murals for ESPN's 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign via Wieden+Kennedy. The 32 murals celebrate each of the 32 teams that will be competing in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. ESPN owns the broadcasting rights to the event in a number of territories including the USA. See them all in one place at... 9 Gag

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2010-08-10T05:26:00.001-07:00

Romania untangles logo path

Despite the fact that its new tourism logo is under a possible infringement charge and it has not yet paid the designer for the logo, Romania will continue to use its new mark as the controversy reigns.

The design contains a leaf that bears a striking resemblance to a logo that is currently for sale on the internet that was originally created for a transport company. The company that created the new Romania logo has offered to share all of its onâ€“paper drawings and intermediary designs and has even offered to produce supplementary design work on the project. Discussions continue.

SOURCE: Romainia Insider

Family Dollar revamps brand

As the budget continues to be depressed, more and more people shop at "dollar" stores. Capitalizing on that trend, Family Dollar has hired the ad agency Bernstein–Rein and has released a new logo to help freshen its identity and create a presence that further lessens the stigma of shopping at a dollar–type store.

Family Dollar, which operates about 6,700 stores, is also using social media like Facebook and is even texting customers with news special prices.

SOURCE: wfae.org

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2010-08-03T05:08:00.000-07:00

NEW CHEVROLET BRAND

Chevrolet has introduced a new mini–car brand, Baojun, to China. Baojun is the Chinese word for "treasured horse."

SOURCE: Logo Lounge

WHY THE Y MADE THE SWITCH

Catching up on the public's common parlance of many years, the YMCA has ma

de the formal brand change to the Y. From the organization’s web site:

"This new brand announcement represents a transition in the correct way to refer to the Y in writing. "The Y" should be used whenever referring to the collective organization. "The" should be lowercase unless it is used at the beginning of a sentence. YMCA should be used when referring to a specific location, i.e., "The YMCA of Greater Louisville."

With this switch comes a new logo—part arrow, part letter, part icon—and a bright color scheme, all courtesy of Siegel+Gale. It's the sixth logo since the group’s inception, and its first revise since 1967. The new design is grounded in the Y's (yes, it's a bit odd) new trifold focus on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

SOURCE: ymca.net

HISTORY OF THE Y'S LOGO

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CBX Refashions Tampon Packaging

2010-07-26T06:33:00.000-07:00

Black packaging accented with bright colors presents new look for U by Kotex, a brand of feminine products that recently hit store shelves. With CBX at the design helm, tge product line, which includes tampons, liners and pads for 14-22 year olds, banishes staid floral patterns and pastel hues. "The black package is attention-grabbing on the shelf, yet discreet when sitting in the shopping cart, purse or home," says Rick Barrack, Chief Creative Officer at CBX. The letter "U" stands out on the box, he says, as an icon for the brand. "Contemporary, straightforward, clean fonts are used to call out brand, product type and form," Barrack continues. He says CBX drastically altered the visual landscape of the feminine health aisle by "creating a graphic vocabulary for U by Kotex that leverages color palettes and abstract patterns from the fashion world.

SOURCE: GD USA

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Protect Your Health

2010-07-16T09:33:00.000-07:00

Try to find health insurance. I know that, depending on where you live, health insurance might be hard to find. Freelancers are notorious for not having health coverage. But, if you don’t have adequate coverage, you’re more likely to avoid getting the treatment that you really need when you’re sick.

Get enough rest. It’s important to schedule regular breaks and time off. While working lots of hours may seem like a really good idea at first and may even lead to more income at first, no one can sustain a crazy pace forever. Eventually all of those extra hours will lead to stress, burnout, or illness.

Eat properly. Business Owners often take trips to the local coffee shop to provide them with a change of pace, meet a client, etc. While getting out and about from time to time is a good idea, unfortunately the fare found at your local coffee shop is not always the healthiest. If this is a problem for you, try to identify a few healthy food choices at your coffee shop and stick to those.

Engage in exercise. Most business owners work on the computer to provide some sort of service to their clients. This means that most of us are fairly sedentary. Unless we make a special effort, we won’t get any exercise. Unfortunately, studies have shown that a sedentary lifestyle is not healthy, so make that effort to get enough exercise.

Take steps to manage your stress. Owning your own business can be stressful, and continued stress can leave you feeling run down and make you more susceptible to illnesses. Take the time to identify what causes stress for you. Find ways to reduce your stressors.

SOURCE: Freelance Folder

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Starbucks BYOC

2010-07-16T09:13:00.001-07:00

Bring your own cup. This concept was the big winner of a competition sponsored by Starbucks to gather ideas for reducing non-recyclable paper cup. The idea, using an in store chalkboard, would encourage customers to bring their own cups for possible free drinks. The three honorable mentions are also ideas that encourage customer reuse, but one did includes a rice-based reusable cup, and the five "community picks" are a mix of biodegradable, recyclable and collapsible cups.

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The Green Cup

2010-07-16T00:12:00.000-07:00

The Brazilian President Lula, upon unveiling 2014 World Cup Logo, stated that the games will be dedicated to the environment: "We will make a green World Cup, green as our forests. Environmental sustainability will be a trademark of Brazil and the next World Cup. We want to leave a legacy to improve the quality of life of our people. We are sure that we will charm the world, like South Africa charmed us this year."

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UPS Green Label

2010-07-15T15:33:00.000-07:00

Companies that meet UPS standards can now ship their goods with a label that attests to their "greenness." Called the Eco Responsible Packaging Program, UPS evaluates a customer's shipment packaging processes on three levels — damage prevention, right-sizing, and packaging materials — and authorizes the UPS logo use when approved. The company uses the Sustainable Packaging Coalition Compass software in its new program to evaluate the life cycle impacts of package design.

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Mapquest Seeks New Logo

2010-07-10T04:07:00.000-07:00

Wolff Olins has developed a new logo and identity for MapQuest. It's clean and modern and was designed to take the emphasis off of simple online mapping. Instead, the new identity is meant to stress the service as an integral part of your life.

People see different things in the new logo—a little animal, map–to–the–power–of –your–quest, or simply a much–needed modern revamp. The purple and bright green mark is just part of the revamp: The site itself is more user–friendly and certainly more flexible.

new.mapquest.com

SOURCE: Logo Lounge

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PUMA thinks out of the {shoe}box

2010-07-02T03:06:00.000-07:00

PUMA has unveiled the next step in its long-term sustainability program, introducing a sustainable packaging and distribution system by renowned industrial designer Yves Behar. Behar, of San Francisco based fuseproject, designed a "Clever Little Bag" to replace the ever present cardboard shoebox with a reusable shoe bag that protects each pair from damage. As a result of the 65% paper reduction though the "Clever Little Bag" concept, PUMA claims it will cut water, energy and diesel consumption on the manufacturing level by more than 60% a year.

SOURCE: www.fuseproject.com

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3 Proposal Follow-up Tips

2010-06-28T10:24:00.000-07:00

Before you submit a proposal, you’re in an ongoing dialog with your prospects, e-mailing back and forth. Then, with some, as soon as you submit the proposal, silence reigns and you never hear from them again. That’s the “black hole.” If this happens to you, know that you’re not alone.

People are so busy these days that they rarely take the time to let you know what happened. It’s discourteous and unprofessional, but it’s becoming the norm. Whether there was a shift in their priorities or they awarded the project to someone else, you may never find out. Sometimes you have to accept that fact.

However, don’t disappear into that black hole yourself. Stay in the game. Here are three ways to do that:

1. Leave a final message. If it’s clear that the project isn’t going to happen within the time frame you’d anticipated, don’t just slink away. Put some closure to the process by leaving a final voice mail message along these lines: “I haven’t heard from you, so I don’t know what happened with the proposal we sent, but it looks like it’s not going to happen within the time frame we discussed. So I just wanted to let you know that we’re still interested in pursuing this if and when you are. I will touch base again in a month.” Then send that same message via e-mail, so they have it in writing (and because they just may respond to it).

2. Check in to see how it’s going. This is especially important if they did award the project to someone else. Let some time go by, then call to see how it’s going. They may have chosen the low bidder and are paying for it now with low-quality work. If you happen to call and things aren’t going well, you might be the perfect solution to their problems.

3. Stay in touch. Obviously, you shouldn’t stalk your prospects, but you also mustn’t drop out of sight. Let your marketing kick in by staying in touch via an e-mail newsletter or regular postcard mailings to stay top of mind.

SOURCE: HOW Design

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TCBY reveals logo in prototype store

2010-06-23T10:54:00.000-07:00

TCBY has revealed its new logo, which will replace its original 30–year–old design.

There are various versions of the new logo in the rumor mills at present, and photos of the prototype store, to be opened in Salt Lake City, do not show the same logo as what is reported to be released. In any case, the new identity is sleeker and simpler.

If the new store design, created by Salt Lake City-based StruckAxiom, proves successful in two corporate-owned prototype stores, it will be offered to franchisers.

SOURCE: QSR Magazine

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Deforest to Reforest

2010-06-17T11:24:00.000-07:00

Philips is back with an update to its much-lauded "Shave Everywhere" work for its Bodygroom razor. TribalDDB got a lot of kudos for its 2006 introduction of the product, a very fun site that introduced the concept of shaving "down there" into the mainstream. Tribal followed up with a crop of "manalogues" in 2008. Philips is back with a new take, although it's not from Tribal. Promo shop Alcone Marketing Group is behind the "Deforest yourself. Reforest the world" campaign, which tries to enliven the idea by linking personal hedge-trimming with adding greenery back to the planet. Philips will plant one tree for each Bodygroom sold through the end of June, up to 75,000. The centerpiece is a Web app that lets you customize a furry avatar for use as a Twitter or Facebook profile picture or desktop wallpaper. It's somewhat like what Deep Focus did on "Mad Men Yourself." The question is when this genre, which hearkens back to "Elf Yourself" and "Simpsonize Me," begins to get tired.

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Bike Sharing Rolls Out

2010-06-12T20:05:00.000-07:00

Denver's bike sharing initiative, B-Cycle, was rolled out on Earth Day. The bike-sharing program, developed by Crispin Porter + Bogusky, Trek Bicycles and Humana, includes 500 B-Cycles at 50 B-stations available throughout the city as an alternative to cars for short trips. Each bike is outfitted with computers that track mileage, calories burned and amount of carbon offset. Users register at the B-Cycle website to check out bikes. There, they can montior their own fitness and see their contributions to the city's greening efforts. The newly formed nonprofit Denver Bike Sharing will manage the program.

SOURCE: www.bcycle.com

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Logos For Lunch

2010-06-08T14:28:00.000-07:00

Now you can have your logo and eat it, too–literally. Sports merchandisers have found ways to put an edible logo right on a pizza and how to sear it into toast. Panini sandwich presses are next, sources say.
SOURCE: USA TODAY

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BP's Logo ReDesign Contest

2010-06-08T14:14:00.000-07:00

There are three categories: professional designers and design students; the general public; and those under 18. Enter before 5:30 GMT on June 28, 2010. greenpeace.org

BP = Basically Pathetic

As oil continues to vent in the Gulf, designers are starting to vent as well. Greenpeace UK has launched a competition to redesign BP's logo, which might be just the sort of outlet some of may be needing at this point.

The brief is to show that BP is certainly not “beyond petroleum.” The winning entry will be used in Greenpeace efforts against the company. Entries will be judged on concept and idea; the final logo will be brushed up by a “top graphic designer,” according to the web site

www.tashaleedesign.com • tasha@tashaleedesign.com

2010-05-20T12:35:00.000-07:00

Two very familiar identities in airline travel were smooshed together this week. The new "bidentity" (or is it "flydentity"?) will keep the Continental name and the logo and colors of the United brand.

It was an amalgamation likely concocted in the interest of time, and it seems impossible that we wouldn't see a totally new logo within the year. But it's a shame that what is now the largest carrier couldn't have done something more inspiring than cherry–picking components and Scotch–taping them together.

SOURCE: http://www.logolounge.com/todaysnews/default.asp?Archive=True&ArticleID=793

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2010-05-18T18:14:00.000-07:00

The merger of United Airlines with Continental has many ramifications. One of them is that the company will kill the "U’ logo designed by the legendary Saul Bass. It is expected that, though the name will be United, the graphics will be based on Continental’s typography and symbol.

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Aligning The Pyramids

2010-05-06T17:11:00.001-07:00

The popularity of specialty tea is on the rise, expected to reach $15 billion in sales by 2012, due to its purported health benefits of tea drinking. To align Lipton with upscale, gourmet tea products, Moxie™, re-energized the packaging for the line of premium pyramid tea bags. Vibrant colors, photography rather than illustrations, and flavor imagery help fulfill the tea’s promise, says Moxie™ head Tammy Vaserstein. The design team retained Lipton’s familiar red brandmark and signature color of premium yellow, which was lightened to a champagne-like hue, alluding to a heightened sense of elegance and quality. Lucia Varela is brand manager at Lipton.

SOURCE: GD USA

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Easy Being Green

2010-05-04T18:31:00.000-07:00

Staples, identified with the Easy Button, is in the midst of a global design contest to discover eco-friendly office products. The inaugural Staples Global EcoEasy Challenge, a partnership with the RIT, is down to seven finalists representing student teams from five universities. Three of the finalist teams are from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (power-conserving desk chairs and shredders), from Brazil's Engineering of Piracicaba (desk and drawer organization tools made out of a local, sustainable material) while teams from Europe (better binders and pens) and Cal Berkeley (what else but a redesigned stapler.) We'll have the winner in the next GDUSA Green Enews. Staples Global EcoEasy Challenge

SOURCE: GD USA

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2010-05-02T18:46:00.000-07:00

Politicians have occasionally attempted to campaign against baggy pants. Even President Obama, when a candidate, urged young black men to pull up their pants. Now New York state senator Eric Adams is putting up billboards in Brooklyn NY in an attempt to “Stop the sag” as well as a video in which he slots baggy pants into a chronology of negative racial stereotyping. Adams, a black retired police captain first elected in 2006, tapped his campaign coffers for $2,000 to put up the billboards and to make a YouTube video.

SOURCE: GD USA

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Stop The Sag

2010-04-26T18:28:00.000-07:00

Time Flies

2010-04-26T18:17:00.000-07:00

To recognize its 10th anniversary, Real Simple is offering “the gift of time” to its harried readers. Inside the April issue, that means time-saving tips such as quick-cook dinners, while the cover addresses the issue conceptually. “Time is a very intangible thing — there isn't a picture of time, and there isn't a particular image that comes to mind,” says the magazine's creative director, Janet Froelich. She decided to commission clocks from industrial designers; shown here is one of the outcomes, Harry Allen's yellow clock with one hand, which reads “Past” on the top and “Future” below.

SOURCE: GD USA

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Get More Work Done in Less Time.

2010-04-21T04:47:00.000-07:00

One way to manage time is by time chunking. (We’ll define that in detail later.) There are many variations of time chunking techniques.

What Is Time Chunking?

Time chunking is a popular method for increasing productivity. The basic concept is that you set a timer for a specific chunk of time. During that time, you focus on one task at hand, without allowing any distractions (short of a fire or somebody bleeding) to interrupt your work. When the timer goes off, you take a break for another set period of time.

The Pomodoro Technique is more structured than other time chunking techniques, and can even be applied in team settings. Before I dive into the details of the technique, let’s talk about…

Why Time Chunking Works

Time chunking helps us become more productive for several reasons:

• For one thing, it compels us to truly focus on just one task, instead of trying to do several tasks at once–and doing all of them poorly.

• Because the time for focused work is limited, we’re forced to keep distractions at bay. For example, if you’re tempted to check your email, you can easily tell yourself, “I only have four more minutes on my timer. I’ll check my email after the timer goes off.”

• The timer can also keep us motivated when we’re doing something that we don’t particularly enjoy. For example, let’s say you’re coding a client’s site and getting kind of bored. You take a quick glance at the timer and keep going because after only seven more minutes, you know you can take a break.

• Working in chunks of time also keeps you rested and refreshed. It’s easy to get carried away and stay in your chair for hours at a time, even missing meals sometimes. But with time chunking, you are forced to take frequent breaks–no matter how fired up you are with your work. This helps to make sure that your mind and body get the rest they need. This in turn keeps your creativity and productivity flowing.

The Pomodoro Technique

On to my favorite time chunking method: the Pomodoro Technique.

Although it sounds more like a kind of pasta sauce, the Pomodoro Technique is actually an effective way for increasing productivity.

The Pomodoro Technique was founded by Francesco Cirillo, now a business consultant, when he was still in university and struggling to juggle his studies. Cirillo, who developed the technique in 1992, named it after his tomato-shaped timer. “Pomodoro” is the Italian word for “tomato.” Thus, the name.

One pomodoro is equivalent to 25 minutes of focused, uninterrupted work on a single task.

The basic principle of the Pomodoro Technique is that each pomodoro cannot be broken down. For example, you cannot say that you’ll work for half a pomodoro (12.5 minutes) and then continue later. There’s no such thing as a part of a pomodoro. It’s all or nothing.

If something comes up and you cannot complete one pomodoro, then you cancel that pomodoro and start over.

Each pomodoro is followed by a five-minute break. The length of the break can be extended, such as when you’re particularly tired. However, the break shouldn’t be too long, because then you’ll have a harder time getting back into the groove of your work.

The rest period after completing four pomodoros is 15 minutes long.

How to Manage Interruptions

The thing I like best about the Pomodoro Technique is that it shows specific ways to handle interruptions.

First off, the technique distinguishes internal from external interruptions. Internal interruptions are those that arise from our own thoughts, such as suddenly remembering that you should pick up a birthday gift for your friend Sally.

For this type of interruption, the Pomodoro technique advises writing the thought down in the form of a task. For example, you add it to your list of to-do’s. Even include a deadline for when it needs to get done. And then go back to the task at hand and finish the pomodoro.

By doing this, you would have been interrupted for only a few seconds and the pomodoro is not lost.

What about external interruptions? Obviously, you should ignore your email and telephone when you’re supposed to be focusing on your work.

But what if your doorbell rings and your neighbor is at the door? Or your spouse rushes into your home office?

The Pomodoro Technique recommends a strategy called “Inform, Negotiate and Call.”

The Inform, Negotiate and Call Strategy

Let’s use the spouse example above to see how this strategy works:

1) Inform. “Sorry, honey, but I’m in the middle of something and can’t be interrupted.” (To diffuse the tension, Cirillo suggests saying, “I’m in the middle of a pomodoro.”)

2) Negotiate. “Can we talk in 15 minutes?” (Or however long you have left on your pomodoro.)

3) Call. Approach your spouse and talk, as promised, after 15 minutes.

If necessary, you add the task of calling the person in your to-do list.

SOURCE: Freelance Folder

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Dancing Shoes

2010-04-19T20:43:00.000-07:00

The 50th anniversary of Doc Martens shoes, boots and sandals has sparked a digital campaign centered on 10 modern covers of classic pop tunes spanning the brand's musical history. Ten exclusive tracks and videos are available for free online download. "We wanted to celebrate the brand's heritage, but champion its contemporary relevance and look to the brand's future," explained Tom Phillips, creative director at New York's Exposure. "Music is inherently linked to the brand. It's always been worn and adopted by musicians throughout its history."
drmartens.com

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iStock Photo Tenth Anniversary

2010-04-15T13:30:00.000-07:00

iStockphoto was founded in 2000, pioneering the micropayment photography business model, and has become one of the most successful user-generated content sites in the world. The company pays out more than $1.6 million weekly in artist royalties and offers millions of vetted, royalty-free photos, illustrations, video, audio and Flash files. Perhaps most important, istockphoto has reshaped the way professional graphic designers, and other art and photobuyers, work with and think about digital imagery and workflow. A microsite is dedicated to anniversary activities. Kelly Thompson, founder and now COO of istockphoto says that it is not the organization's nature to blow its own horn, but that it was important to recognize all the contributors and participants who have become part of its close-knit community. A microsite is dedicated to anniversary activities.
www.istock10.com

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2010 Pantone Must Have Color!

2010-04-12T22:32:00.000-07:00

Pantone is pleased to announce PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise, an inviting, luminous hue, as the Color of the Year for 2010. Combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green, Turquoise inspires thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a comforting escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of wellbeing.

In many cultures, Turquoise is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky. Through years of color word-association studies, we also find that to many people, Turquoise represents an escape, taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting – even if it is only a fantasy.

Whether envisioned as a tranquil ocean surrounding a tropical island or a protective stone warding off evil spirits, Turquoise is a color that most people respond to positively. It is universally flattering, has appeal for men and women, and translates easily to fashion and interiors. With both warm and cool undertones, Turquoise pairs nicely with any other color in the spectrum. Turquoise adds a splash of excitement to neutrals and browns, complements reds and pinks, creates a classic maritime look with deep blues, livens up all other greens, and is especially trend-setting with yellow-greens.

SOURCE: pantone.com

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Passing with Flying Colors

2010-04-12T22:14:00.000-07:00

Pantone's New iPhone App

Everyone from graphic designer's to industrial designers can now have access to all the PANTONE Color Libraries without carrying around bulky guides, and users can easily create harmonious color palettes by finding complementary, analogous and triadic combinations for slected colors. And not only that, colors can also be extracted from images taken by the iPhone's built in camera and matched to the closest Pantone color.

Palettes can be share with other iPhone users or emailed as color patches or application-ready swatch files for the Adobe Creative Suite, etc. Visit www.mypantone.com for more info.

SOURCE: Layers Digital Magazine

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How to Ask for a Referral Without Sounding Like a Jerk

2010-04-07T07:07:00.000-07:00

It’s a lousy truth, but if you want referrals, you have to ask for them. No matter how great your work is, no matter how wonderful you are, most clients aren’t thinking about referring you to anyone.

Why Clients Don’t Give You a Referral

Did you ever wonder why your clients don’t give you more referrals?

It’s not because they’re mean or because they don’t want you to succeed; it’s because giving you a referral never crosses their minds.

I’ve seen this happen with my own two eyes. In the company I used to work for, we contracted out our design services to a very talented guy. He would come in to the office to present his work, and he was always great to talk to and fun to have around. He put out quality work, too. If you’d asked anyone in the company, he was a killer designer.

I don’t think we ever referred him once.

In fact, I watched an opportunity for a referral go whizzing right by. My boss’ friend, who ran his own company, came in for a lunch date and was complaining to my boss about the terrible designer he’d hired. My boss sympathized and hoped he’d find someone who could fix the problem.

It didn’t occur to him to refer our own freelance designer. He might have thought of it had his friend specifically asked if he knew a good designer.

But, the friend didn’t ask, my boss didn’t volunteer, and that was that.

Don’t let that happen to you.

Freelancers don’t ask for referrals because we think we’ll sound pushy, or unprofessional, or, in the worst case scenario, like a complete jerk. These are valid concerns. Many people who ask for referrals come off sounding like a bad used car salesmen.

There’s a right way and a wrong way to ask for referrals. There’s nothing stopping you from doing it the right way. Here’s your number-one tip for asking for a referral without sounding like a jerk:

Make it about the other guy

When Should You Ask for a Referral?

The best time to ask for a referral is when your client is raving about what a fantastic job you just did on your last project. Let’s say you’re a copywriter, and he’s telling you that he’s worked with dozens of writers in the past and no one has been able to hit just the right note the way you have.

“I’m so pleased you like it,” you say. “I know it can be rough finding a good writer. There are a lot of hacks out there. I’ve heard some horror stories.”

That’s his cue. Usually, your client will he’ll launch telling you about his own bad experience or that of another company he knows. Let him, and be sympathetic about it. Then say this:

“Well, listen, if you know of any other companies who are having a rough time finding good work, feel free to pass on my name. Actually, if you have a few names in mind, I could just drop them a line myself and save you the trouble.”

See what just happened? Instead of saying that you want a referral so that you can get more clients, you’re saying that you want a referral so that these companies–who your client knows and likes–won’t have to deal with shoddy work anymore.

You’re not being a jerk. You’re being helpful. You’re being the nice guy.

And guess what? Not only will your client give you the referrals, he’ll think you’re a great guy for asking.

Not bad for a task you always considered the low point of marketing, right?

SOURCE: Freelance Folder

www.tashaleedesign.com • tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Move To Softer

2010-04-06T12:36:00.000-07:00

A new corporate logo and brand identity for Kraft features an upward, red smile exploding into an array of flavor bursts and bears the slogan or mission statement “Make today delicious.” Kraft worked with graphic design agency Nitro on the launch. The new logo will not completely supersede Kraft’s current blue, white and red brand identity; the latter will still remain on Kraft-branded products. Christopher Nurko of Nitro is quoted in Brandweek as observing: “People have looked for softer, more organic shapes... There’s this movement in art and design that’s a lot softer.”

SOURCE: GD USA

www.tashaleedesign.com • tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Quiznos Rolls Green

2010-03-31T19:16:00.000-07:00

Quiznos is rolling out new packaging ("Eat Toasty, Be Green") made from renewable or recycled content that will reduce the chain's environmental footprint. Quiznos says the new packaging includes: 100 percent compostable wax-coated paper cups; pulp salad bowls made from renewable sugarcane; plastic lids made of 30 percent post-consumer recycled PET bottles; napkins made from 100 percent recycled material and fibers; and catering lunch boxes made of 100 percent recycled paperboard.

Source: Graphic Design USA eNewsletter

The Superbowl Gets a Facelift

2010-03-31T18:40:00.000-07:00

The 2010 Super Bowl may be over, but Landor Associates has created a new visual identity system for all future ones. As announced by the NFL, the new system will first be used in 2011 for Super Bowl XLV. Landor's strategy for places at the heart of it the Vince Lombardi trophy, given to the Super Bowl's winning team each year. Depending on the NFL event, the new system allows for complementary elements to be introduced. The released version, for Super Bowl XLV in Texas, is the first example of a region-specific identity which will include each year's stadium venue and the appropriate roman numerals. "The focus of the new identity for the Super Bowl is the Vince Lombardi trophy, which is the most logical and iconic expression for the overall brand," said Nicolas Aparicio, executive creative director at Landor.

http://www.landor.com/index.cfm?do=news.pressrelease&storyid=768&r=

Wearable Designs

2010-02-07T11:39:00.000-08:00

My designs do not have to be restricted to print media. I do a fair amount of designing for other mediums such as: promotional items, trade booths/signage, tshirts and web.My name tag. Name tags dont have to be the boring your name straight across with the logo at the top.... Make it interesting and people will remember you.

Tshirt Design. Using the flower from their logo, we created a soft cushy place for the world to be sitting. Tshirts were made in grey and purple, with this image silk-screen on the backside.

Button. Doctors are special people and their is a day dedicated just to them! A hospital wanted to recognize their doctors and how they make everyone feel with this magnetic button.

Corporate Outing. This image was used on mini punching bags, bags, tshirts, award certificates, power point presentations and keychains. The client loved the image so much, they paid to have it animated, what a great way to get your sales staff motivated.

Call Tasha Lee for your personalized design today.... 630-335-0156

www.tashaleedesign.com • tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Recent Web Designs...

2010-02-04T07:29:00.001-08:00

Millie's Pet Sitting - A site designed for a local pet sitter serving in the Sugar Grove, IL area. Offering friendly, knowledgeable and certified pet sitting from the comfort of your own home.

Saltpan Floody's Flying Hog Barbeque - A site designed for a spin off service of an existing catering company. Flying Hog Barbeque offers a variety of services including: pig roasts and outdoor grilling for any occasion.

JMC3 Foods - "Improving the Health of the Community, One Lunch at a Time" A family owned business who recognized the importance of a lunch program for their local school district delivers lunches to students twice a week throughout the school year.

The Olive Gallery - Designed for a Tuscan themed oil and vinaigrette shop that features specialty imports. You are invited to "Savor the Flavors"

Career Education Consultants - A site re-design for a Corporate Trainer, Consultant and Inspirational Speaker. Deborah Pettway offers a variety of seminars and classes to help anyone succeed.

www.tashaleedesign.com • tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Creative Thoughts : Where Do They Come From?

2010-01-05T10:10:00.000-08:00

It never fails, the feeling I get when a satisfied client comes back for more. I am unsure where my ideas come from, although I am continually amazed at what triggers my creative thoughts; a billboard on the side of the road, an ad in a magazine, a comment from a client, a drawing from my 4 year old, an animated story told by a friend, the list is endless. My creative wheels are never at rest and are continually seeking new and innovative ideas for you.

Last year I had a client come to me wanting a design for their annual company-wide sales meeting. They had decided on a racing theme to get their sales team all revved up and was so thrilled with the results that they came back for more.

This year they decided on a boxing theme, the image below is what they are going to be using on punching bags, key chains and t-shirts.

I am so excited when I have the opportunity to work closely with a charitable organization. The Rotary Club of Oswego has accomplished so much with the annual Chukkers for Charity event, raising over $20,000 in past years. I had the honor of designing the Save-the-Date card for this year's event.

www.tashaleedesign.com • tasha@tashaleedesign.com

My Top 10 Accomplishments

2010-01-05T09:47:00.001-08:00

Looking back to 2009, I am proud of so many things, It is very inspiring to look back on your accomplishments and create new goals for the upcoming year. What is your Top 10?

10. Tasha Lee Design co-hosted 2 events and was involved in the Chamber, helping out as much as she could.
9. I have surrounded myself with successful and inspirational business owners; who have become an awesome support system, not only professionally but also personally.
8. I managed to survive pregnancy and my sanity has returned, despite all the complications this time around.
7. I always wanted to pitch that 10 extra pounds; and I did it!
6. I prospected like a mad woman and attended a record high for Networking Events. It paid off! Even though my kids didn't know who I was some weeks.
5. I joined a second networking group DPWN, it is so inspiring to be surrounded by such passionate and accomplished women.
4. I was part of a leads group who organized and funded a Charitable Casino Night. We donated over $8,000 to two not-for-profit organizations.
3. I took my own advice and developed a marketing plan that I stuck to!
2. I used my couponing knowledge to donate grocery/health and beauty items to those in need.
1. I increased my business by 36%, with 2 little kids running around and being pregnant!

A holiday card designed for a therapeutic clinic. Classy yet traditional. Speckman Therapeutics.

A logo designed for an online girls t-shirt boutique. Offering t-shirts for girly girls who have a bit of tom boy in them. All styles offered in the colors girls love, but use images such as trucks, sports and dinosaurs. Visit the boutique on the web A Closet of Her Own.

www.tashaleedesign.com • tasha@tashaleedesign.com

2010-01-05T08:54:00.000-08:00

Looking back on the past decade, I have accomplished so much and am so thankful for all in my life. I have a wonderful husband, 3 handsome boys, a thriving creative design business and a network of family and friends that I couldn't live without. I have learned to not only live day by day, but to savor every moment. I can not believe that my oldest son Josh is already going to be 4 in a couple of weeks, man does time just fly by.

I am looking forward to what 2010 will bring me. Wishing you nothing by success!

Tasha Lee Design offers a variety of creative design services for all your marketing needs. To the right are examples of two different customer rewards systems. The punch cards are designed to a standard business card size and are very inexpensive to print (about $35 for 1000!).

A great way for customers to come back again and again!

Below is a poster design for a bank showcasing that Crain's List placed their branch and a sister branch in the top 25 for performance rankings! In previous years, the bank took the listings to a local copy shop and blew them up to poster board size, how boring. This year the Branch Manager wanted a much more eye catching design to draw customers to recognize and appreciate their bank's accomplishments. Congrats to State Bank of Illinois for making the top 25!

www.tashaleedesign.com • tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Tastefully Whimsical

2009-09-08T20:38:00.000-07:00

Earth Design - A family owned landscaping company, specializing in architecture and design elements that will "Bring Your Outdoors to Life". The owners have been in business for a number of years and up until this point, never had a logo to define themselves from other landscape artists. They requested that the logo referred to landscaping without using the typcial landscaping graphics. Lime green and burgundy were initially chosen to compliment their gray vehicle.

The Olive Gallery - A retail shop soon to open in Yorkville selling a variety of oils and vinaigrettes, amongst a variety of other specialties. The client requested the use of an olive and wanted the logo to be very simple, but elegant. The coloring was chosen to compliment the Tuscan themed shop.

OhBabyYou.com - An online retail shop that sells upscale infant clothing and baby gear. The concept behind the logo was to create a 50's vintage theme without dating the company's image. The client requested pinks, browns and blues to be incorporated and wanted the logo to be universal enough to use through various forms of media {online, print, tv}

www.tashaleedesign.com • tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Heathcare and Relocation?

2009-07-28T13:33:00.000-07:00

That is right, I work with clients in all different industries, I am not limited in who I design for. I enjoy the diversity and it allows my creativity to flow more freely, I don't feel boxed into a particular format. What works for one industry, may not work for another.

Here are some most recent examples...

A logo and stationery set that was designed for a medical office offering a variety of patient services. The client specifically asked for a rendition of The Vitruvian Man, without it being an exact replication. The logo is professional and modern, the blue was chosen to reinforce the idea of professionalism.

The logo was designed to be used in both a vertical and horizontal orientation.

A relocation company looking to make an impact with scratch pads. She asked for her logo and contact information. I knew that there was so much more we could do to spice it up a bit; with a light green background, the tag line "When life requires change, simplify the transition", and elements from her logo create a nice intro to her company. Warm, Friendly, Simple and much remembered.

A chiropractor offering Beautiful Image® within her office wanted a trifold brochure to showcase the services. The corporate company did not have any collateral that she could use, so we came up with this concept. "Give us an hour, we'll give you back years", with an overall theme that screams "spa" and "relaxation", who wouldn't want to try out the consultation?

Tasha Lee Graphic Design • tasha@tashaleedesign.com

"Win As One" - I want a racing theme!

2009-06-23T19:41:00.000-07:00

A couple of months ago I had a new client ask me if I could take her theme "Win As One" and create a manly, yet cool, graphic in a racing theme without being really cheesy. The goal was to use the logo on tshirts. The company's divisions are all unrelated and the parent company wanted to tie everything together for an annual sales and training conference. With that said, I pulled the above design from somewhere in my brain, it hit home with what the client was looking for and ALL of the employees were excited about it.

So excited that they also ordered matching clocks for the employees to have in their cubicles.

www.tashaleedesign.com • tasha@tashaleedesign.com

HOT Menu, Perfect for Summer

2009-06-15T17:11:00.000-07:00

I have picked up this fantastic client, that is doing a little remodeling on his business image. Businesses do that sometimes, start out in one direction and find that it is not working so they tweak their plan a little bit and take the fork in the road. As a designer, it is nice to help clients feel out what it is what they are looking for. I helped put together this new menu for a client, in hopes of going from an upscale martini bar to a more laid-back family friendly atmosphere.

www.tashaleedesign.com • tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Pet Cemetary?

2009-06-12T13:44:00.001-07:00

The coolest thing about my job is that I get to work with all different types of clients in all different types of industries, I love it, my work is forever changing and I get to explore all different styles. This particular client brought me a business card and wanted a website....

here is what we came up with....

All you pet lovers check out their website! They offer a very unique service for those grieving over the loss of a beloved pet.

www.tashaleedesign.com • tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Spring - It's Time for Babies!

2009-04-07T12:25:00.000-07:00

My creativity goes in many different directions. I have been attending baby shower after baby shower recently and wanted to do something really special for my girlfriend. She was expecting her first baby boy and I thought a diaper cake would be appropriate. I am very proud of it! I think it turned out wonderfully.

My sister-n-law is also due to have a baby in a couple of weeks. I helped in co-hosting two different showers for her. For one I helped her by designing the invitations. The shower was going to be a joint one, due to a cousin also being pregnant, we needed something pertaining to both genders due to my sister-n-law having a girl and our cousin having a boy. Here is what I came up with.

www.tashaleedesign.com • tasha@tashaleedesign.com

LOGOS, LOGOS, LOGOS

2009-04-01T11:05:00.000-07:00

So this past month I have been so blessed with my creative juices flowing into NEW logos! If I had to pick one project to be my favorite, I think it would be a logo. Logos are certainly not the easiest project to conclude, but they are the most gratifying. Nothing inspires a business owner more than revamping, recreating or identifying their business image.

What a breathe of fresh air!

Many don't understand my creative processes, and I wouldn't expect you to, but what I do want you to understand is that I go above and beyond for all my clients, whether it be a business card project OR a complete identity package. Read what some of my clients have to say...

Also take note that when I say I will present 5 different concepts to you, I PRESENT FIVE DIFFERENT CONCEPTS. I don't take one small element and just change the color or the font. Take a look.

BATAVIA ACADEMY OF DANCE

The client was looking for a logo that emulated class, form, beauty and grace. The yellow and burgundy logo will be used as their primary logo; on their business cards, stationery, flyers, direct mail, etc. The second concept will be used on her apparel. I presented the original concept of the ballet dancer and she loved it so much that we created a second version for the male dancers using a breakdancer.

PYS NEUROMUSCULAR THERAPY

This client has been in business for quite sometime, I helped him re-design and develop his website last Fall HeadacheTherapy.org and PureHeadache.com and after receiving my newsletter in January wanted to define himself with a logo that spoke about who he was. This is the final concept that we decided on, showing the human body, spine and head while giving a sense of comfort and natural healing.

ENERGETIC HEALTH

This client has also been practicing for several years, they have always used some form of a lotus flower and other than the purples, that was their only requirement in a logo design. I designed a very calming and naturalistic logo, that was not only beautiful, but spoke to the owner and his staff.

PATTEN PURCHASING

This client has been an independent purchasing agent for the past three years. She primarily works with hotels and helps in purchasing everything from their flooring to their bedding and furniture, her main role is a project manager and to give her clients the best deal possible. Everyone in her industry knows her by her last name and she indicated that she favored the color blue. I consulted with her and designed a logo that was clean and modern.

THE CATERING GOURMETS

The Catering Gourmets is a catering company who is expanding, congrats!. She has been given the opportunity to head-up the cafe/coffee shop in a newly constructed public library opening in August. Her only requirement was to keep along the same style she was already using in her business and to keep her color pallette in tact, the idea was that The Book Nook Café was it's own identity, but also could be tied back to The Catering Gourmets.

RAYS TIKI BAR

Rays was recently bought and renovated by new owners this past August. His original concept for the restaurant was a business casual martini bar. The owner noticed the pattern that college kids were coming more frequently, they are trying to vamp up their image and are now gearing up for the night life scene, complete with live music, an outdoor tiki bar, food and drink specials and a location for sports fans to hang out and watch the big game. The owner was looking for a beached-up, casual logo that could be used in all aspects of his business. {menus, flyers, table tents, apparel, direct mail, etc.}

These are just a few of the projects that I have completed in the past month. Please view my extensive portfolio for additional samples or CALL ME NOW for a FREE quote, 630-552-7659.

www.tashaleedesign.com • tasha@tashaleedesign.com

The Long Haul!

2009-01-27T09:36:00.000-08:00

I get clients all the time asking me.... now if I commit to you, are you committed to me? You don't plan on going and getting a full-time job anytime soon are you?

NOOOO!!!! I am a freelancer, technically, but I am striving for a full-time business and am in it for the long haul. I think freelancing/business owner is such a gray area when it comes to artists. I don't view my position as a freelancing one and am submerging myself into the business world. My business is all that I do, well, except for hanging out with my most adorable kiddos!

I love what I do and that is why I do it. I feel secure working from home and there are many benefits from it, that if you are a business owner, you are already familiar with. Don't get me wrong, the kids drive me crazy sometimes when I am juggling them and work, but they are the love of my life, along with my husband, of course. I will not be looking to get back into the commuter lifestyle anytime soon. I enjoy my job too much and how many people can truly say that?

I absolutely LOVE the dynamic of clients I get, I wouldn't be able to work with a doctor, a caterer, a painter, a food additives and preservatives company, a pet cemetery in most other design jobs. Full-time design work tends to focus on one industry or one aspect of design. I thrive on variety and being in charge my my time. If I feel creative at 2 am, then I get to truck down to the office and work, I am not under the 8-5 pm restricted work hours. I can be creative, when I feel it flowing through me. Cheesy Huh? but that is the way it works, and I feel that I am a better graphic designer and listen to my clients much better because of that.

So to answer the questions of all those wondering out there, I am not planning on getting a different job. I am going into my third year of business and have worked way too hard to give up on it for any reason, plus when the kids are in school, work is going to seem like a piece of cake!

www.tashaleedesign.com • tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Networking and Impressions

2009-01-23T12:20:00.000-08:00

I go to a networking event this past week, as many of us do, not only to talk to others about what I do and spread my wings in the business world, but to get out and talk to real people. Being a one person office, sometimes I just need to hear something other than my own thoughts!

It is very interesting they way business owners act when there is competition strolling the room right along with them. We could all be adults about it and be friendly and polite and utilize each others knowledge or plainly just ignore the fact that there is competition standing right there.

OR.... we can be shouting across the room "You stay on your side and I will stay on my side {of the room}", What?!!? Are you kidding me?, would if the food is on "your" side, does that mean I can't eat? Other reactions that I have witness is blatant rudeness, as in, Person A sees Person B talking to a prospect that Person A has been trying to get "in" with, what is the best way for Person A to handle the situation? Well, by going over and shoving Person B aside and introducing him/herself to the prospect. Of course this tactic is the best way in getting business. Come on. I have also seen the angry stare, where you are literally burning a hole through your competitor or the "stick like glue" tactic, where you are glued to the competitor and preventing them from doing any networking at all. Way to make everyone around you feel awkward!

If you can not handle the competition in a respectful manner, than you should not subject yourself to a networking event, where said competition may be present. The shouting, the shoving, the stares and "sticking like glue" may have been all in good fun, BUT I know what impression s/he left on me, I can only imagine what impression s/he left on others in the room.

Think about it when you go to your next networking event and what impression you are leaving on others.

Contact Tasha for all your design needs • Tasha Lee Design • tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Direct Mail: Is it Dying?

2009-01-14T22:00:00.000-08:00

The Internet. The possibilities are endless. Social Networking, Podcasting, Blogging, Pay Per Click Campaigns, Site Optimization, and the list goes on and on. Why would anyone in today's world, market the old fashioned way? or is it old fashioned?

Direct Mail is proven to work, it is as simple as that. You can measure it, test it and see the results. Direct mail not only works business to consumer, but also business to business. When used in combination with email marketing and telemarketing, your results are more fulfilling that using just email marketing and telemarketing on their own. With the lower volumes of mail and creating a direct mail campaign that is targeted, your mail pieces are more likely to get noticed!

SURPRISE!
Young professionals 18 to 34 prefer to receiving mail versus email. Privacy was pegged as one of the leading factors. Email is so overused these days, as convenient and affordable as an email is, it is more likely to get looked over or thrown away if received at that one inconvenient moment.

Mail captures one in a private moment and can be looked at when they choose. Direct mail will reach those who do not spend their days online. Also, with direct mail it offers many advantages that other mediums do not: target ability, measurability, and a vast range of creative alternatives.

Get creative with your direct mail campaigns, make it different from everyone else. One thing that I use and my clients compliment me on all the time is 5x5 thank-you notes with rounded corners, I have found a vendor where I can get matching baby blue envelopes. Who doesn't like the appreciation? and the odd size is never overlooked.

OTHER IDEAS
• refer a friend campaigns
• come back, I beg you! {we haven't heard from you in awhile}
• can we help you afterall {contact clients that have inquired with you, but never made the purchse}
• send a free gift and make it clear on the outside that there is a *FREE GIFT* {one will be more likely to open the envelope}
• it's your birthday discounts