four principles /

We will discuss these four principles as they relate to web design. By keeping these design theories fresh in your mind, we will be sure to design cleaner, more aesthetically pleasing sites for our clients.

 

1. Contrast

Great contrast can leave a very good first impression on a user. Without a focal point, the viewer is generally lost in a sea of equally-sized elements and typography. It’s our job to create visual elements of significance that guide the user’s experience. We achieve great contrast on your site by choosing your images, colors and fonts wisely.

 

2. Repetition

Repetition in print design is much more common than it is in web design, however it can be equally effective. Repeating design elements helps create a consistent look and improves branding. In web design a great way to achieve this is by repeating elements in the header and footer.

 

3. Alignment

Alignment plays an intricate role in taking your site designs from looking amateur to professional. We recently become a huge advocate for designing sites using a grid. Doing so cleans up your designs and gives you an awesome framework to work from.

 

4. Proximity

The last principle is proximity. This has to do with grouping like elements together and separating those that are not. It can really ruin user experience if you group everything into one lump text block. That’s why its very important to use header tags and proper spacing.

In order to answer the question “what is graphic design?” let’s take a look at what a graphic designer does, by taking a look at a graphic designer job description.

A graphic designer is someone who is able to get a message across in electronic media or print through the usage of color, illustration, animation, photography, using various layout and print techniques. Graphic designers are responsible for the development of the production design and overall layout of newspapers, magazines, corporate reports, journals and other types of publications. Designers are also the ones who produce packaging, displays and marketing brochures for services and products, design logos for businesses and products, create signage systems and signs for different types of businesses and the government.

Graphic designers these days are also becoming more involved in creating material for internet website web pages, multimedia and interactive media projects.

This is what we do…

A great sales brochure does more than explain and inform…

It also must persuade. After all, the brochure is a sales tool. Brochure copy must do more than list facts or features. It must translate those facts and features into benefits.

Like a sales person’s presentation, the brochure must place 100% emphasis on how the reader will come out ahead by doing business with you. Simply put, a great sales brochure sells.

To make the most of your next brochure, c55 will combine these ten questions into your next brochure design.

+ Where Does The Brochure Fit Into The Buying Process?

+ Does The Brochure Stand Alone?

+ Who Is Your Audience?

+ Does The Cover Contain A Strong Selling Message?

+ Is The Information Complete?

+ Are Your Selling Points Organized?

+ Is The Brochure Divided Into Short, Easy-to-Read Sections?

+ Are The Visuals Hard-Working?

+ Does The Brochure Ask For ACTION?

+ Is The Brochure Worth Keeping?

Doesn’t it make good sense to let c55 create your next brochure?

When we see colours, we connect with them instantly. It’s subliminal. No one can be sure if our reactions are pure instinct or if our socialisation shapes them, but the reactions are very real.  The human mind is hardwired to respond to colour. Our subconscious turns colours into messages.

We know about that powerful connection between consumers and colour. We’ve seen the reams of research. We know that colour can influence opinions in less time than it takes to blink an eye.

It’s not just “ivory tower” research, either. Real world actions prove the link. Companies have learned that even a slight change in colour scheme or addition of a different hue can result in big sales increases. Colour is a big part of effective logo design.

When we see colours, we react right away. It happens faster than we can read a single word. In fact, the mind makes colour connections and forms opinions before the conscious mind even knows what we are looking at!

A logo is the most repeated and frequently displayed symbol of your business. It’s on your letterhead, your website, business cards, products and more. It’s your “brand” and it’s an inseparable part of your business.

[title size="h3"] Your logo is you [/title]

Think about the importance of your logo and the power of colour. It’s obvious: colour psychology should play a huge role in logo design.

If you overlook the colour choices in your logo, you might be “turning off” possible customers instead of attracting new buyers.

Using colour psychology to your advantage isn’t easy. You can look at a simple chart that lists common colours and explains what they tend to represent one is even included with this article just to give you some ideas.

Doing that, however, only scratches the surface of what using colour psychology can do.

c55 go beyond those simple colour connections. We combine that information and with knowledge of negative colour connotations. We also understand how people react to different combinations of colours. We can create the right colour scheme and merge the messages of colour psychology with great design skills.

time is running out! /

Ask anyone, especially anyone selling website or business management services and they’ll tell you that you absolutely, definitely, unquestionably need a website. If you intend to sell products and services online, you need it as a core component of your business. If you’re not selling online, you still need it as a supplementary marketing tool. Here are some of the most compelling reasons to have a website, along with some added provisions to keep in mind.

 

customers will find you /

FACT… potential and existing customers expect to be able to find all their required information online. If you’re not there, they will find someone else. A website is something that you, your business partners and acquaintances, existing customers, press, and even family and friends use to refer potential customers. A simple website name is much easier to remember and provides much more information than a telephone number.

BUT… A website alone will rarely attract new customers. You will still need marketing activities, whether traditional (cold calling, mailbox drops, print advertising, etc.) or new media (online social media, email, etc.) to attract customers. Don’t expect people to just know you’re there, or to go looking for you. They are looking for a product and service and your website simply reinforces that or is a platform for selling – you still need to attract potential customers which c55 can also help you do!

 

you’re always available /

FACT… Your website allows potential customers to find out about you any time of day or night, from anywhere in the world. You don’t have to answer a phone or be in a shop to provide information about your products and services. Potential customers can automatically find the common information they need about your product or service, allowing you to focus phone calls on selling, rather than answering questions.

 BUT… Many people still like to visit a shop or call and speak to a sales assistant, rather than sending an email or submitting a contact form. Have your contact hours available and always offer a method of actually speaking with you.

 

reinforce your image /

FACT… Your company image and culture are important. Are you a friendly shop or an exclusive investment firm? A phonebook has none of that business context. Your website should be a direct reflection of your business and customer experience.

BUT… You don’t need to explicitly tell people what your culture or organisational personality is. People take in much more visually than through words; we think textural rather than textual when designing your site. Your images, colours and fonts say much more than words ever will.

 

everyone has one /

FACT… Not having a website potentially makes you anonymous. If people are looking online for a product or service and you don’t appear, they won’t know to look for you or contact you. If several, or even one, alternative is available, you’ve lost any possibility of attracting that customer.

BUT… Having the biggest, best, most expensive website will not increase your web presence. It is better to have a simple site that appears as the first item in an online search than a fancy one ignored because it’s on page two.

 

compete with the big boys /

FACT… Websites have a levelling effect. The professionally presented small company’s website can look as compelling as that of a large business. The differentiation between large and small evens out on the internet and you can potentially attract customers who would only have gone with more established or larger businesses.

BUT… Not everyone is ready – or even wants – to compete at the top end. Know your target market and make sure this is represented in your website. State your target market or your specialisation; you don’t want to waste time responding to enquiries that you aren’t able or willing to service.

 

enhance your marketing /

FACT… Print, radio or television advertising is expensive. With a website, other marketing efforts can be reduced (but not eliminated) and the details of your business or organisation can be found on the website you provide. Have a website and add its address to all your marketing efforts and communications.

BUT… While potential customers may find you by using a search engine, other marketing efforts will reinforce what they should be searching for to find you. If your products or services are specialist, people may not even be aware that they exist, and they certainly won’t search for you. Marketing is still a way to let them know you exist.

So, may remember the yellow pages I slogan, Let your fingers do the I walking, It wasn’t too long ago that, if you wanted your business to be found, a yellow pages listing or advertisement was absolutely essential. Business owners all over Australia would scramble to get their advertisements into this ubiquitous guide; it was what every potential customer used when it came to finding services. However, in 2012, people are finding their information online; their fingers are still doing the walking, but the surface is a keyboard rather than a phonebook.

A report by Vertexera (one of the largest direct marketing and research organisations in the US) claims that 5 per cent of consumers prefer to use a search engine when looking for a product or service. And with 80.1 per cent of Australians using the internet (according to internet world stats at internetworldstats.com), Australia ranks at number 1 in terms of internet penetration compared to the US, which is 16th with 76.3 per cent. Similarly, New Zealand ranks at number 1O with 3.1 per cent penetration. The CIA World lists Australia as 55^th in terms of population, but 25th for overall internet usage. What does all of this mean? If you want to be found in today’s online world, you need to have an internet presence. These days, it’s just that simple.

Please dont let this happen! theworldsworstwebsiteever.com

Let us guide you into a website that, well, wont destroy your image!…