Local Graphic Design

Graphic Design or Web Design?

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 04:04:00 +0000

I have been dealing with the difference between graphic design and web design quite a bit lately. It's tough when you aren't just a designer, but are running a design company with a staff that can handle a full range of high end design, from both graphic design to web design. Really though, I would like to feel like a website is just another aspect of your brand, like a brochure or business card, a full service design or branding firm should be able to handle a web site with ease.

In reality though web design has become it's own creature. Just by it's nature it has a highly developed technical side, and unfortunately I have found that it's a pretty accurate generalization that people on the technical side of design have a pretty tough time with the creative side of design, and vice versa. For full disclosure, I'm not particularly good at either, I'm good at finding and communicating with clients and then I give a task to the appropriate designer, but It's something that has been bothering me in the world of design lately, so I thought I would share.

P.S. I should probably hire an editor too ;P

Finding Office Space

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Mon, 28 May 2012 21:04:00 +0000

We have recently hooked up with a couple of other Local Santa Cruz blogs and web sites and have been looking for office space together. One of the Biggest tools that we have found, through our friends at the local guide to santa cruz, have been some really cool local realtors and other real estate professionals. In fact, since we have started on this journey of trying to find office space in Santa Cruz, the guys at Santa-Cruz-Ca.Org have started a mailing list, with local santa cruz real estate updates to share some of, not only the great stories we have heard and experienced right off the bat, but also the fun stories that are sure to come from this great group of people. If you are at all interested in the area, make sure that you subscribe to the list Santa Cruz Real Estate.

TERRIBLE Facebook Covers

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 04:39:00 +0000

nomBat posted a great article today about how badly a facebook page can really suck, I highly recommend reading it! Terrible Advice for Your Facebook Page

A picture is worth a thousand words

Too bad they aren't the words you think they are.

Proudly display your photo collage

No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care. And if you use a photo collage they are probably going to stop caring as soon as they think "Wait.. what he## am I looking at?"

Creatively Display Your Company Logo in a Creative Way

Welcome to the redundant department of redundancy. You probably haven't spent HUGE amounts of capital on your world-wide advertising budget, your logo alone doesn't carry the brand recognition to pull this off. You are not Starbucks! (unless you are Starbucks, and then thank you for reading our blog)

To Showcase your Artwork

If your artwork contains Curlz MT, Comic Sans, or Papyrus then you are using the word "artwork" too loosely.

There is a lot of terrible advice going around telling people to copy big corporate brands, be like U2 or Duncan Donuts. The advice they are handing out is crap though, it just simply isn't going to work and is going to leave people with ineffective Facebook Pages, and Page owners blaming Facebook that the switch to Timeline and Covers doesn't work.

At least the are some local designers fighting to produce great design.

Facebook is Changing Your Pages, You Better Be Ready

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 06:42:00 +0000

Facebook today released a major update for organization pages that provides you alot more control with the appearance and experience of your firm’s page. The fresh new page layout allows you to socialize more easily with each of your Facebook followers, allowing improved artwork, the ability to include posts, and even private email with followers.

A lot of Facebook owners are familiarized with the fresh new Timeline structure. Not alone does it arrange status up-dates onto an important timeline, allowing it to be simple to contact a Facebook user’s posts chronologically, also the Facebook experience will become much more graphic, with much larger and more beautifully available pictures.

These are the essential functions, and exactly how to purchase your business ready for the Facebook launch on March 30.

Find out more about nomBat Graphic Design's newly designed Timeline Page

So you can get started off with the Facebook Timeline structure, post a cover graphic to show off your company. Assuming you have the funds, take advantage of this Facebook Cover Design Special to create a cover. Facebook advises that the best dimensions should be 851 as a result of 315 px. If you really want to give it a try yourself Simply simply click on "Add an important Cover" next to the top-left from your Facebook page, and click "Upload Photo".

The summary photo is definitely the little picture that is found alongside all your status up-dates, and as a graphic within your page's cover photo. This is often an most suitable spot for one business logo which in turn must also end up optimized for your Facebook Timeline. If you happen to currently own a page, your pre-existing profile image will be pre-selected, however could want to shift or optimize it. To alter the profile photograph, hover the mouse above it and even click "Edit Summary Picture".

You Will need to also Find out more about the Latest 'About' Sections

The game Log provides more influence to what's uploaded on ones own page. The information that was kept in that "Info" tab onto your company page is currently kept on its top, so look at reworking this section to highlight it. Make sure it is brief and concise; imagine motto rather then an full biography.

Post Have an overabundance of Options At present

With The new Timeline, you may pin an important post with the top from your Timeline for as many as seven time to point out preferred or appropriate content. You can even modify post periods, that will allow you to push up posts that you really prefer to hold at the the top page.

You'll be able to "star" an important post to highlight it, boosting the dimension of that post to fill up the full size of the Facebook page. This suggests you ought to pay a much more attention to help you photos that can end up for your Facebook page; you will need for taking them at the very least width in 851 pixels just for them to be featured during a "starred" write-up without pixelating.

Combine Company Milestones

The fresh new Managment Panel organizes announcements, email and stats available as one place. The fresh new Managment Panel organizes announcements, email and stats available as one place. You realize you'll be competent to create small business milestones with your Timeline, which supplies you a fun way to translate corporation history to help you Facebook. It is easy to in addition feature events similar to new store open positions and product roll-outs.

Restrain Posts for the Activity Journal

Facebook's unique Activity Log allows you to manage your blogposts. It administration panel permits you to hide and disclose posts, "star" posts for you to feature them all, and change article dates.

Managment Panel Demonstrates Stats and Task

The fresh new Managment Panel features individual messages as a result of Facebook users for a company, which inturn removes sophisticated customer matters and complaints from a public Facebook wall membrane and guides them as part of your inbox, at which they fit.

That Notifications loss keeps your announcements about desires and comments a single place, that should let most small business page admins to show off that notifications completing their message inboxes.

Friend Activity can be posted outside the the top company page. Friend Activity can be posted outside the the top company page. Topic is Facebook's individual analytics method, which notifies you who's speaking about your small business page because of "Talking About it, inch and what number of people the discussions are reaching by means of "Reach". Even while Insights just isn't new, the nation's integration with all the Admin Panel helps it be more on hand.

Track Friend Action

Once people check out your page, are going to capable of see ones own friends' interactions along with your company near the most notable of your business page. This offers an even more personal feel to be able to those visiting the page, and even builds rely upon your product. The primarily downside is a negative mention from your visitor's Facebook friend can be likely to arrive here.

Once to Act

Every business pages is going to be upgraded to the brand new layout automatically upon March 50. To find out what your page will seem like, click on the preview button towards the top of your current organization page. If you happen to enjoy it already, it is easy to submit your page at this time rather rather than waiting per month.

You will see this kind of preview banner over the top of the pre-Timeline small business page when you are logged on. You'll see this kind of preview banner throughout the top of the pre-Timeline small business page if you are logged on. What I Would certainly Change

Companies should really be most interested in preserving the Friend Recreation. Even while it's an ideal feature if inside a speaking in radiant terms about your business interest, destructive comments have a relatively way in bubbling in the top faster as opposed to positive varieties. If an organisation is worried about reputation relief, it will have the choice of turning apart Friend Actions. And in cases where it were roughly me, Iwould roll in your Activity Log in the Admin Panel in place of having a few separate consoles to treat my page.

Except such minor gripes, the fresh new changes are an improvement into the company and operator experience at Facebook.

Facebook Moreover Updates Advertising and

Unfortunately, Facebook announced it should feature Premium Advertising campaigns and Ppc Stories over the mobile newsfeed and also Facebook logout page. They will likely at the same time be introducing Gives you, a cost-free opportinity for businesses to publish promotions directly skincare products company Facebook Page.

The best addiction - Blog and Blog again!

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:18:00 +0000

I will probably gamble there are a lot of you around with the same
lust for blogging. We don't need to have approval either. You can
express it loud and clear, be satisfied of your appreciation.
Don't get me completely wrong, consistant blogging is a challenging
road. So are a lot of other kinds of blogging. However, when you learn
the rules, it gets to be a lot easier, speedier and a ton more fun.
Consider this blog page for instance; I tend to screw around here,
while other blogs have got to be a lot more critical.
People can do whatever with a blog. The universe is ready for people
to blog. You desire to focus on Nascar…. go ahead. Local Businesses,
get on it. You want to be dismaying or crazy? It's your little slice
of the entire world so do it now.
The thing I often attempt to reveal to new bloggers is this approach;
don't take it so seriously. I mean, don't allow it to be more
difficult then it must be. YOU have command over your design and
style, written content, guest bloggers, advertisements, every little
thing. It's your baby and you can drive it as much or as close up as
you want.
I know, you were expecting a giant magic formula from me, but if you
have read my material for any span of time, you recognize I like stuff
to be simple. And that is by far one of the most satisfying and quick
jobs I have ever completed. I may blog anytime and exactly how I want.
I may misspell if I want.
I can swear, review, cuss folks out, applaud, entertain you all with
one click of a mouse. If you have not commenced blogging and are
already taking into account the idea…. I urge you to do it. Even if
you just really want to continue an online log, dump it out you new
blogger you.
Take motivation and expertise from other folks as well. Then find your
own methods and make it happen. Let's confront it, every one of us
prefer an effortless project. We do…. I guarantee. Why not possess
them for your self and write.
What's your blog confession?

Santa Cruz

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:41:00 +0000

nomBat Graphic Design and Brand Development has moved to Santa Cruz, CA.

You can find their portfolio here: Santa Cruz Graphic Design

One of the big things that nomBat will be doing with the local Santa Cruz community will be working with the Local Guide to Santa Cruz, a website dedicated to finding and highlighting the best that Santa Cruz has to offer.

Before moving to Santa Cruz nomBat was in San Diego and before that NYC, and in each of those places nomBat Graphic Design found ways to contribute to the local culture, communities and even economy.

We are looking forward to seeing the Local Guide to Santa Cruz grow and really be a positive force in Santa Cruz and Northern California.

Wordpress Site Design

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:55:00 +0000

Sometimes your wordpress site design needs more than just a theme.

This post is sort of a follow-up to our last post on logo design. the folks over at nomBat pointed out to us that Logo design is not just about designing a logo. Logo design is about understanding where a logo is going to be used, who the target audience for the logo and the product will be, as well as understanding what the intended outcome of the interaction is.

For instance, when an affiliate marketer turns to wordpress to develop a wordpress site that will be home to both their content and their affiliate links and ads, the page isn't just about the wordpress site, it is the whole content package.

Sometimes a company needs a logo because their clients want to show their pride in the company, or even display one of their underlying beliefs through the brand it's self. But sometimes, like in the case of affiliate site design, your ultimate goal is to get a user to leave your wordpress site through an add affiliate link. A well designed logo, that matches the wordpress site in color, font, mood positioning can accomplish the feat of giving your site enough credibility to keep them around just long enough to click those links, which as nomBat put it, can mean a significant amount of money in your pocket.

Choosing Logo Services and Logo Shops

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 17:55:00 +0000

What is the best site to use for a logo design?

If you need to get a logo for your pet sitting services, independent gas station, or accounting services, where do you turn? There are dozens of different logo service sites and it is more than a little confusing. If you need to submit a couple of ideas and have something designed for you, who can you trust. When you turn to a bidding or contest site is there enough incentive for the participants to even submit original work?

These questions are very common within the graphic design world, and they are something that us, as designers wrestle with every day. Probably the best answer to all of your logo questions is to hire a professional, like those at nomBat's Logo Shop. Logo shops like nomBat's can professionally look at your project and give real, well thought out, logical answers to what type of logo, or logo services you actually need. nomBat Graphic Design and Brand Development is one of the few design shops that really understands there are just as many different reasons for having a logo as there are people that need good logos!

Getting crazy with your local community

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 19:58:00 +0000

I recently hand picked and moved to a new community. I am still falling more and more in love with this place every day, but I do some very specific things to actively interact with my environment.

Th back of my front door is covered in maps, fliers, menus and newspaper clippings. I figured if having a wall of stuff works for crazy people in movies to stalk girls it could help me stalk a city!

I am always on adventure in my local community, I try and go somewhere new every day. One of the first processes I started here was to take trips down town and I methodically took a picture of every business sign. Crazy, right..? What it has done for me is not only let me know exactly what is where, but I have also met a lot of people in my local community, picked up a lot of business cards, and even picked up a handful of new local clients. Also, my girlfriend and I make a game of trying to identify other designers work, just based on the merit of the graphic design and branding it's self.

So I guess the point of this article is.. obsess like a crazy person!

What is the best local community in the entire world?

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 19:23:00 +0000

Here's a hint, its the one you want to live in.

No matter where it is that you want to be living, that is the best community in the world. This is a highly subjective question, and one with as many right answers as there are local communities. Where is your best local community? What makes it so great?

As you start to answer questions like these you will start to see that the very reason you love a community is the same reason why you should want to support it. If you love it because they are great bike paths, then the more you buy from local bike shops, the more you will see a healthy biking community and social activism, which leads to even more bike paths. This is called self-fulfilling prophecy, and it really works.

I currently live in Encinitas, CA. This is a highly competitive market for designers, and I love it because there are so many designers. We support each other, we encourage each other through the very act of seeing each others work. And some of us even have a competitive streak which leads to better and better work!

Where is your community, and have you made the decision to join it?

Relationship Marketing

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 19:13:00 +0000

Who would you rather buy a widget from?

www.randomwebsite.com

or

Your 12 year old child

The quality is identical, but your childs is $2 more expensive. Either place you buy your new widget, the person who sells it to you will make $3.

The Benefits of Buying Local

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 19:11:00 +0000

There are countless benefits to buying local, here are 3;

1. Relationships

2. Accountability

3. Community

Why do you buy Local?