Posts Tagged ‘Design’

Blair Satterfield (Houston) and Marc Swackhamer (Minneapolis) began their collaboration as architects in Houston, Texas, in 1998. houminn (pronounced human) Practice, their present-day moniker, is both an acronym of their current geographical locations and a homophone to describe their research-based practice, which seeks collaboration with experts outside architecture in order to create work that is more rigorous and resonates with a wide audience. Their innovative wall-based systems, such as oswall, an open source platform; Cloak Wall; and Drape Wall are evolving explorations of this primary architectural element, while projects such as Pore House, Draft House, and Feedback House have tackled issues of sustainability and affordability. These research projects have been featured in numerous publications, including Dwell and Fast Company, and have garnered prestigious honors such the 2008 R&D Award from Architect magazine and the Best in Environments award from ID Magazine.

Nowy Rok Merry Christmas & Happy New Year – Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année! – Fröhliche Weihnachten und ein glückliches Neues Jahr! – Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo – Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo – God Jul och Gott Nytt År – Feliz Natal e Próspero Ano Novo Find more at Old Postcards from Brazil (mais postais em) : www.brazilpostcard.com.br

Have you run out of ideas for postcard design? If you own a business, you should know by now how vital postcards are to your marketing stints. Not only this is affordable, this can also be effective as long as you are doing everything right and accordingly. But according to what? You will also be able to determine that as you last in the industry and as you utilize the tools over and over again.It is understandable that every once in a while, you pause and think what can still be done. This is especially true if you have been doing this for quite a time already. Marketing must be done periodically. It doesn’t necessarily have to be postcards all the time. It also pays to utilize variety of materials. But your goals must be the same all the time. Capture the attention of your target market. Make them comprehend the things that you are saying or your marketing message. And get them convinced by it all. With postcard design, once you have surpassed the phase when you are facing a blank piece of paper or blank new image document on your PC, everything else will go smoothly. This is as long as you have the support of qualified individuals to assist you in turning your visions into the kind of design that you want your target audience to receive and see. So that you will not get stuck with ideas, you can start off by changing your goals that you want your materials to achieve from time to time. For example, for this period the main thing that you want your postcards to attain is for them to be kept by the people who are going to get those for future references and other needs.So think of ways how this can be done.

People find postcard design intriguing. They have such varied designs, that through the years, many influential styles have also found their way into the postcards. Such wide range of postcard design can even be categorized into specific themes.

On the contrary, postcards are wonderful objects worthy of admiration. They come in interesting mix of colors and intertwining blend of images and text. And so, why don’t people make as much postcards? While postcards design may not be complex, it’s not that simple either.

Indeed, it still a matter of one’s confidence in one’s sense of creativity. Some postcards are made simple, other are made intricate. This variety and freedom found in postcards are what makes it as popular as ever.

Postcards are collectible items. They are treasured as souvenirs or keepsakes, are put on display in personal spaces be it in the home or in the office, and are also made into promotional items companies give out to clients. Such limited edition postcard designs are great marketing tools, which hobbyists are only too happy to receive.

What makes postcards such adorable objects? Let us sort through some of its characteristics and unveil what makes a great postcard design in the process.

• Graphic elements

The postcard generally contains a picture or image on one side and writing space on the back. On the whole, however, it is the photograph or graphic design that gives it its character.

A photograph’s or image’s appeal depends on many factors. It could be balanced and tight, it could be a distinct style exhibited by a photographer or artist, and quite simply, it could be anything that just appeals to you or your target market’s sensibility.

• Size

The postcard comes just in the right size. It is slightly bigger that your stock photos but could very well fit in your small bag or maybe, you could even insert it inside the pages of a book and you have an instant bookmark. Its size makes it a handy, portable and easy to give out.

• Color

Postcards come in all colors imaginable. With the right color combination, postcards could even make do without a photograph but a graphic design made up of fonts and other shapes imaginable.

Added to this, a well-printed postcard can make colors appear brighter. This makes them more appealing and exciting.

• Material

Postcard designs should be printed using excellent material. It comes in premium card stock that may have a glossy or matte finish. Such that, the combination of a thick and premium paper stock, together with a finish makes the postcard last loner. Not to mention that bright white paper makes colors more vibrant.

• Inherent appeal

Postcards can be considered distant relatives of the letter and of the photograph. And there lies its unique charm. As with letters, people like to communicate as much as they can to try and capture memories through photographs.

Effective postcard design can be realized even if you have little or no background in graphic design and all the design principles that go with it. Some people have natural talent without knowing it. Others can execute a great design using inspiration and samples found on the internet.

Follow your instincts and create postcards that you can enjoy. Postcard design would not only turn out to be a worthwhile craft, but a valuable one as well for your business. Explore the many ways you can design and use postcards and achieve possibilities you’ve never imagined before.

The postcard design makes it a great direct-mail-marketing tool that lets you keep your communication line with your customers open. With an appropriate and sufficient design, you can successfully relay clear-cut messages, establish your brand identity better, and even bring your business to life, among others.

Emotional responses with creative designs

More than this, you can use your postcard design to create an emotional connection with your clients that builds the foundation of brand loyalty. When you want your business to be seen as part of your customers’ way of life, you have to find a way to connect with your customers’ own way of life.

1. Use pictures to put your products in your customers’ context.

When customers think about buying their products, they think about what’s in it for them. When your customers think about purchasing a product, what they think about are ways they can use the product to improve their lives.

2. Photographs and graphics tell stories faster and more eloquently than your text. Make the customers’ tasks of imagining the possible use of your product and present them in pictures. For example, jewelry in a display shelf can look like a fortune, but when shown in the hands of a loved one is priceless. Use pictures to harness the power of suggestion.

3. Talk to your customers as you would a friend.

Make your postcard sound like an enthusiastic friend telling you about a great shopping find instead of a used car salesman. Avoid hyped up words that set too high expectations that are impossible to meet.

4. “Break-though developments” “wunderkind”, “new and improved” these phrases sound important but hardly mean anything. Worse, they raise red flags that keep your customers on the defensive.

5. Simply tell your customers in plain and simple terms what they can benefit from your products or services. Use bullet points and numbers to make your text flow more smoothly.

6. Design postcards as mini-posters.

Collecting postcards is among the most popular hobbies in the world. Tourists collect and buy postcards as a souvenir from their trip. There plenty of open groups too where postcard exchange clubs are widespread. You can use this to design your colored postcards in an attractive way that ensures your postcard is kept and even exchanged.

7. Create powerful postcards by using powerful pictures. These are often photographs, digital art, or graphics that are open to interpretation and invite customers into a conversation. They can range from modern to contemporary styles which can house multiple layers of meaning and are intriguing. Postcards, after all, are more than business or marketing material.

The problem with most advertisements is that they always push for the bottom line treating customers as mere statistics in their ledgers. As a small business owner, you can engage with your customers individually and try to personalize your services.

You know your best customers and you can connect to them in more intimate ways. Send out postcards on their birthdays, know the value of maintaining a personal connection and extend courtesy through postcards. Do all these and translate your postcard design into creating that emotional connection that builds up your client relationship for the long run.