When people think about logo design, there’s often an assumption that more detail means more meaning. But in practice, the opposite tends to be true. The logos that work best are usually the simplest ones. Not necessarily the most minimal—but the most focused. Logos have to work in the real world. A logo doesn’t live …
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 web design project. Build a great team A team of people who are actively engaged in the project from beginning to end makes a huge difference in …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
We have used our letterpress quite a few times to print onto presentation folders for clients. We recently completed a proposal delivery system for 2020 LED, including a letterpressed presentation folder and updated proposal template. We appreciate the contrast of the rugged 100% recycled stock and the clean blue lines. Combined with the updated proposal …
Carrying a camera with us wherever we go is something we do by default. The use of textures in graphic design has a long history. We often incorporate textures into our work, and on a recent camping trip to Yellowstone National Park we captured a number of textures to add to our library. These images …
Animals As Natural Therapy has an annual fundraiser live music event at their farm, and this year we donated the Bluegrass Bash poster design to help increase awareness and attendance.
Long time supporters of the Subdued Stringband Jamboree, Chuckanut Builders wanted to have shirts designed and produced to wear and show their involvement with this popular event. In collaboration with Blank Studio who created the illustration, we created the below Chuckanut Builders t-shirt design for the ChuB team.
Framing marketing communications in terms of experience opens up new opportunities for engaging your audience. Our Be in Bellingham campaign is one example of this thinking at work; another is a thank you promotion we recently completed for Shew Design. The purpose of the project was to say thanks to clients and collaborators in a …
Years ago, my initial interpretation of the phrase “victory has a thousand parents, but defeat is an orphan” was a cynical one. My take on it was that if a project goes well, people will claim responsibility. The same people will disavow their role if the project meets with a less favorable outcome. As I …
While developing a packaging concept for a high-end manufacturer, we encountered some feedback from a friend of the client who recommended we take an alternate approach. His advice was, literally, “dumb it down.” The product was a gourmet food item (chocolate) for a discriminating, college-educated audience. The argument was based on a perception of the across-the-board, ever-dwindling intelligence of …
Research plays a crucial part in creating good design, and so a designer’s life is essentially a never-ending series of opportunities to learn. The best designers are really the best at learning. That’s what I like to say as I help myself to a generous handful of research. My third. “That’s Callebaut, 54%,” Kevin informs …
For over a year now, our company has been working with RE Sources for Sustainable Communities and Climate Solutions to create messaging and graphics about the coal train issue. An overview of the issue can be found here. It has been a challenging project. Challenging in the sheer complexity of the issue: the impacts of …
Recently, towards the end of a branding phase for a client, we were finalizing page designs for their website. The site was essentially a reproduction of the paper materials. While they liked the design on paper, the same design on screen felt cool to the touch – overly so. We agreed with their perception. …
While reading Making Ideas Happen by Scott Belsky, I ran across a quote by designer Michael Bierut. “The problem contains the solution.” Often what seems like an obstacle in a creative project ends up inspiring brilliant designs that would not have been explored were the obstacle not there. In Michael Bierut’s case, the challenge was …
Event graphics and messaging are great opportunities for organizations to capture interest by exploring different ideas and flavors in their communication. Shew Design takes a branded approach to event graphics, creating a few simple elements that can be easily repeated in any number of other materials. We think of this as our toolkit, with the …
Shew Design is by no means an anti-Microsoft company. We have used (and enjoyed) Microsoft products for years. I think Windows continues to get better and better and my Windows-based design computers are, despite the occasional hiccup, wonderful, remarkable contraptions. No creative person in the history of the world prior to this point has had …
