Logo, branding, graphic design, signage and illustration work…..no stone left unturned. But firstly, what is graphic design? Yep, we are taking this straight from Wikipedia. Now we will all be on the same page…hopefully!
Graphic design is the process of visual communication and problem-solving through the use of typography, photography, and illustration. The field is considered a subset of visual communication and communication design, but sometimes the term “graphic design” is used synonymously. Graphic designers create and combine symbols, images and text to form visual representations of ideas and messages. They use typography, visual arts, and page layout techniques to create visual compositions. Common uses of graphic design include corporate design (logos and branding), editorial design (magazines, newspapers and books), wayfinding or environmental design, advertising, web design, communication design, product packaging, and signage.
Graphic design as you can see from the above definition has a bigger impact on all of us than we may realise. We are surrounded every day, all day, by products created by graphic designers, whether that be in a printed format or online. Our homes alone are full of logo designs and big brands.
Propel your business with great graphic design
In this blog, we would like to talk about how important graphic design is to a business and how it can propel your company to stand strong.
As a design agency based in Highbridge, Somerset, we understand how important our own logo and brand is to us. A good example of this, was when travelling outside of Somerset, to the Theo Paphitis SBS event in Birmingham. We arrived at a big multi story car park, to be stopped by three people, all of which recognised our logo and brand immediately. None of which were local to us, or we had spoken to, but all had seen our brand online. A good business name, logo and brand, can make all the difference.
So, let’s rewind a touch
You’ve just started up a new business. Yep, I know what you are thinking, I need to be 100 steps ahead of where I am, there are not enough hours in the day. Your list is getting longer by the minute and you have so many exciting ideas you’re desperate to put in place. At this stage, what you would really like to do is pay professionals to work on your logo and branding, give your books to an accountant, outsource your admin, so that you can focus on the job you are being paid to do. All of the other jobs required in the business, including networking, meetings, quoting, answering the phone, are more often than not, unpaid.
Wouldn’t this be wonderful? Ok, so let’s come back down to earth. If you were anything like us in the beginning, there was no pot of gold to help fund this.
At The Design Hive in Highbridge, Somerset, we have many clients approach us that have used a friend or colleague to help them create their logo design or their flyer, leaflet, brochure or even website to try and save money. Surely, this is the way to go….right? I mean, pretty much everyone has access these days to a computer that can help them create these.
Saving money on Graphic Design…
BUT, are you really saving money in the long run? Yes, in the short term, you will be saving money and absolutely use the skills of family and friends when required. The problem is, as we see often at The Design Hive, that many businesses get to a point where they feel they need to look more professional and step up a gear.
They then enlist the help of a professional, which means you will have to go through the process all over again. You need to then start from scratch again and begin to repair any damage done to your reputation and image. You will need to go through all your marketing materials, such as business cards, flyers, brochures and reprint them. As we can all appreciate, there is a lot of work and time involved in creating a logo, a brand and marketing materials. Repeating the process two, three times over, can end up a costly and draining task.
Your key opportunity for making a good impression is NOW. You only get one first impression, so you don’t want to waste it. You only have seconds to create the right first impression. This applies to your logo, your brand, your website, and of course, you! Ask yourself…what image do I want potential customers to be left with?
Building an unforgettable brand
Brands become embedded in the mind of the consumer and help them make sense of the variety of products and services they’re exposed to on a daily basis. This is what we like to call ‘seducing the consumers subconscious mind’. A great logo design and brand will continuously tap in to their subconscious mind. Every time someone picks up your business card or browses your website, they are interacting with your brand.
Providing great customer service and excellent products goes without saying, but by working with a professional branding and graphic design company, you can reach over and above your competitors and be the go to business that people immediately think of.
Standing out and making sure you’re not forgotten!
Below is a company we work with on a weekly basis called Sopha. They are based in Highbridge, Somerset and go above and beyond to provide their customers with unique sofas, beds and home furnishings. Every detail about their business has been meticulously thought through and they have worked hard to ensure their customers get the best experience whether in store, online or simply browsing through their brochure. Every detail, every first impression counts. Their brand has been high on their agenda from the very start.
At The Design Hive, we put ourselves in our clients shoes. We want our client’s to be unique, to be different, to be memorable and most importantly, to succeed. Our clients achievements and success mean that we can build long term relationships and be on their journey with them.
The Graphic Design Journey…
Our clients from Sopha have been with us from the start of their journey. We were able to see the build of their beautiful store taking place. As with all our incredible clients, we very much feel, that we are part of their team because we like to get to know our clients.
We have worked with Sopha in Highbridge, Somerset, on a daily/weekly basis on small and large projects. Starting with the logo design, then moving on to leaflet design, flyer design, advertisements, illustrations and signage design. Then on to coffee shop menu design, posters, brochure design, packaging design, merchandise, WordPress ecommerce website design and much more.
We are incredibly lucky and grateful to all our customers for the opportunities they give us to work on their brands.
We hope this gives you a good idea of what a professional branding and graphic design service can offer. Whoever you decide to work with on your brand, it’s always important you feel a great connection and that you can see yourself working with them in the long term.
The Design Hive website contains a great selection of portfolio pieces from the past few years. Take a peek to see who we work with and what we have been up to in the Hive. If you would like to find out more, please get in touch on 01278 783273 or email us at info@thedesignhive.co.uk
