identity systems
New Construction Management Site Launched by Design Firm Noodle Design
Thursday, February 26th, 2009 | business cabinet design, business card design, graphic design, identity systems, search engine optimization (SEO), web design, web site consulting, web site development | No Comments
Bockes Consulting Group (BCG), a multi-disciplined construction management and consulting firm, provides innovative solutions that deliver projects on time and within budget. From project conceptualization through closeout, BCG will assist you in achieving project success, from the ground up.
The construction management and consulting firm out of the Seattle and Greater Puget Sound areas of Washington (WA). Contact us for restaurant, industrial, hospitality and commercial projects throughout the country.
Elements of an Effective Business Card
Monday, November 24th, 2008 | business cabinet design, business card design | No Comments
A business card is fairly simple, and largely because of its (usual) size there’s only so much you can do. So what do you with such precious real estate?
- Keep it simple. At its most basic a card just needs to tell some one what company you are with, what your name is, what your title is, and how to reach you. Consider how likely it is some one will need to fax you. Could that information be saved for your web site? Leave it off if you can. Space is at a premium.
- Horizontal vs. Vertical. The decision is yours (or yours and your designers). The standard is horizontal because it provides the most space, allowing for things like long web site addresses and long names. Vertical however, because it is used less will let your card stand out.
- Front and back? With services by online printing companies making printing cards front and back affordable using a card with 2 sides does allow you to provide additional information, such as a slogan or brief list of services. Possibly even call attention to something that makes you unique, such as donating proceeds to a charity. Just make sure you cluster your contact information on one side rather than splitting it between both sides.
- Font Size. Never below 9 point. You’ll be tempted, but anything below 9 point becomes illegible.
- Font Faces. I know that Papyrus font looks attractive, but if prospective clients can’t read your phone number it won’t do you any good, so save that for the logo. The fancier the font the harder it is to read at the sizes you’ll be using on that business card.
- Text Alignment. Left-aligned text because of it’s prolific use in written mediums is the easiest for the eye to read. Try to avoid center-aligned and right-aligned for this reason.
- Emphasize it. Finally, remember to make key items prominent, such as your name, your phone number, and probably your email address. Most other information, such as your address, are less often used. Make it easy for that prospect to find the info they need. So bold it, make it bigger, change its color.
Want help designing that business card? Contact Seattle Design Firm Noodle Design >
Simple Rules to an Effective Logo Design
Sunday, November 2nd, 2008 | business cabinet design, graphic design, identity systems, logo design | No Comments
Quality #1 – Simplicity
Look at any effective logo and what you’ll find is simplicity. Easily recognizable at a glance, simple logos draw people in. Busy and cluttered logos overwhelm people and can confuse them, leaving them to wonder what the busines is about.
Quality #2 – Proportionality
Generally logos work best when they fit in to a neat square space. They have to work on a multitude of mediums from web sites to t-shirts to possibly even billboards.
Quality #3 – Small Color Palette
More than 1-3 colors on a logo will make your logo look muddy. Again, look at some of the most famous logos and what you’ll see is just 1-2 colors.
Quality #4 – Easily Legible Fonts
What’s more important than being able to read the logo? Fancy fonts when reduced in size become illegible and inevitably your logo will end up small somewhere. Pick clean easy-to-read fonts for your logo.
Quality #5 – Practical, Usable and Adaptable
Again, with the idea that your logo will end up in a variety of mediums it’s important that it be flexible. Design your logo first in black and white before adding in color. Avoid gradients as when reproduced in some mediums the gradients don’t turn out well.
Quality #6 – Originality
A logo should be as unique as the owners of the company. You need your logo to tell people why you’re different from the competition. You also need your logo to be something you can trademark.
Quality #7 – Works Within Industry Conventions
Within an industry you may discover similarities among logos that help prospective customers recognize a business as being within the same industry. It is important to know about these similarities and to incorporate them without sacrificing originality.
Quality #8 – Captures the Personality of the Company
Finally, your logo needs to convey who you are, what you do, and what makes you unique.
To learn more about how Noodle Design can help you with your logo needs visit www.noodledesign.com.
Business Card and Letterhead Design
Sunday, November 2nd, 2008 | business cabinet design, business card design, letterhead design | No Comments
Problem: “I’ve got a logo, but no business card or letterhead!”
Solution: It’s important to not just slap your logo on a business card with your name on it. The look of your company doesn’t stop with a logo, but should be carried out in a package of items. You start with the design of your logo and then carry that theme to a business card and letterhead designed just for you. From your business card, to your letterhead, to your website, if your stuff looks put together, so will you.