branding graphic design web design in Bellingham Washington
“How do you create your color palettes?” I’ve been asked that quite a few times over the years. Sometimes the process feels intuitive, but that’s only because after years of creating color families some things become second nature. There are some basic rules to follow when getting started. Using the basic rules as a structure, …
As with any project, planning can help you save money and time on your web project. Here are some tips that can help you prepare for a successful project. Build a great team A team of people who are actively engaged in the project from beginning to end makes a huge difference keeping the project …
Replace or repair? First, do no harm. In many cases, it makes sense to modify rather than replace a logo design. A logo modification can correct issues that are not working in the existing logo while preserving its essential qualities and ideas make the logo a better fit for specific uses (for example social media, video, etc.) modernize the logo by …
Read morethinking beyond duct tape: logo update strategies that work
Some organizations use the same logo for years without needing to change them. Others seem to restlessly change them every few years. A logo is always an investment. Nothing says more about a design studio’s work than the logos they create. Some hold up year after year, where others last only a few months. The difference emerges from attention to detail, thoughtfulness, …
“all websites look the same” It was a long time coming, but the tools for creating responsive websites work, and work very well. Perhaps too well, because the approach people use for building websites is creating strangely uniform results. The banner, the three columns, the icons, the logo in the corner—perhaps we’ve seen these things a few too many …
Read morechameleon no more! strategies for branding your website
When are you finished with your website? You never are, a challenge that makes it difficult to measure progress or evaluate results when a website project is in the works. As a result, a website design process can become a painful, month after month affair that never seems to end. Here are some strategies we’ve used to build websites …
The process of selecting a web design agency can be difficult. An abundance of companies, technologies, and processes make the selection process challenging and confusing. And with your website often being the first point of contact your audience has with your organization, it’s important that that your website opens the right doors for you. Here are some tips for identifying an …
Read moreselecting a web design agency: five qualities to look for
time, quality, money A time-honored project management principal is that you can pick only two of the above for any project. Whether this is idea is true or not, the concept of framing your next web project as a balancing act can help you save time and money. Here are some simple strategies that can help you save money. create and deliver …
Read morewebsites on a budget: negotiation and collaboration strategies that work
First do no harm! A rebranding process is an opportunity to rethink and realign your organization’s core marketing and communications. It brings assumptions and challenges into the forefront and opens the door to planning ahead. Yet, a rebranding is not always beneficial and may create more problems than it solves. Here are some guidelines that you can use for thinking …
Brand building success. As traditional media is eclipsed by new media, the concept of branding continues to change in unexpected ways. Speed, adaptability, and collaboration are more important than ever before. Success means meeting today’s challenges, but tomorrow’s as well. Here are some strategies we’ve found helpful for building brands that people love and which stand up …
Read morebrand building: five critical things people often overlook
six things to look for in a web design Every website is different; yet, the best sites always have a few things in common. As you consider a website redesign for your company or organization, ensure it uses the following: a clear message that creates clarity about your company or organization, what it does, how …
paying attention to your audience We recently offered to make a referral to a partner company that was declined because of terminology. The client wanted “SEO,” the company didn’t want to sell “SEO,” and the connection wasn’t made.Unfortunately, both sides of the equation were ultimately interested in the same business objective: increasing visibilty and search …
approaches for creating value and awareness while dispelling confusion A big part of writing and design is taking complicated messages and making them easy to understand, but also making them interesting and important to the audience. Mark Twain once said: “I would have written you a shorter letter, but I didn’t have the time.” A misconception …
Read morefive techniques for using content to engage your audience
the cost of complexity Keeping your website and social media feeds up to date can be time-consuming and complicated, so it’s worth taking a little time to invest in a planning process to ensure you are getting the most out of your investment. The problem some organizations encounter is undergoing a complicated and detailed process, and then falling short when it’s …
Out of all the contest entries, we had 11 that matched all the dancing skeleton illustrations to the correct movie. From the 11 that answered all correctly, Alexandra Wiley was randomly selected to win our bag of chocolate treats from Shew Design and Chocolate Necessities. If you’re still scratching your head about one or two of the …
how web design and messaging can strengthen your brand The most valuable piece of property in the world is the seven square inches your prospective client sees when pulling up your website for the first time. This small parcel of real estate has the critical job of connecting with your audience, either by communicating information …
Read morelanding page strategies: making the most of the most valuable real estate in the world
If you use WordPress or another content management system, you already have the ability to provide new and prospective clients with documents through your website. This capability opens up doors for new ways of interacting with people and can help your audience use your site to solve problems and strengthen their connection with your brand. …
Read moreSix ways online libraries can strengthen your brand
Families of logos and icons are powerful ways of connecting with clients and customers. Where a single logo communicates a single thing, a family of logos talks about similarities, differences, relationships, and choices. Families are about marketing systems. Visually, a family of icons has one shared element that ties things together. This can be a …
Read moreSix ways logo families can benefit your organization’s branding strategy
We learn the importance of saying thanks at an early age. “Thank you” communicates appreciation, gratitude, and respect. It’s a message that never gets old. Strangely, many businesses and organizations forget about saying thank you or say it in such a perfunctory way that it seems more like an automatic response than a meaningful expression. We believe relationships …
The Commercial Street Night Market opened last week with great success. Shew Design created a logo and a look and feel for the project. We extend our thanks to a successful collaboration with Dean Fearing, who came up with the original night market idea, and Rick Mullen, who created a beautiful rendering of his vision for the market. …
