Graphics Design Agency Chicago

Graphics design agencies in Chicago offer a variety of creative services to help clients reach their marketing and branding goals. Some of these services include packaging design, logo design, and web design. Others include SEO, social media management, and video production. Some also offer photography and infographics. Some have experience working with companies such as Hyatt, Quantum, and Coca-Cola.

There are many benefits to using a graphics design agency. Not only will they help you create a logo, but they can also create business cards, letterheads, infographics, and more. These services are essential to a company’s brand identity and web presence. Without a solid graphic design strategy, your digital marketing project will fall flat.

Studio/lab offers graphic design and strategy services to Chicago-based companies. Whether it’s developing a website, a brochure, or a television commercial, this agency’s team of designers can help you make the most of your marketing budget. Studio/lab also provides post-production services and has experience with digital, print, and social media. They have also worked with the Goodman Theatre, a local cultural institution.

One Tree Forest Films, which launched in 2009, offers branding, media production, and creative services for small businesses. Its motion graphics team uses 2D and 3D techniques to tell a brand’s story. One Tree Forest Films also offers logo and image design and production services. The agency’s clients include American Family Insurance and Northern Trust.

VerdanaBold is another Chicago-based graphics design agency. This agency specializes in branding and creating interactive, memorable digital tools. Its team of designers and strategists work with clients to create a cohesive brand identity and experience. The company also offers ongoing training for its clients on visual content and brand language.

Several boutique graphic design agencies have offices in the Chicago area. They represent a variety of clients and offer a variety of services, including branding, packaging solutions, and advertising strategies. In addition to traditional design services, they provide digital solutions including website development, email marketing, and digital presentations. The agency’s mission is to help clients reach their marketing and branding goals.

Some of the more renowned firms in the city offer a wide variety of services. For example, Fuzzy Math specializes in user experience (UX) design and helps clients develop digital products and services that engage users. The firm’s experience-focused services also allow it to provide services that set up businesses for growth. Another good example of an agency is UX 4Sight. This company offers custom website and app development for various industries.

Your service brand’s logo: 4 tips to use it to stand out

You’ve heard this a million times. But let’s call it out clearly. Your brand’s logo is a key visual piece that is the face of your business. It is a visual touch point that helps your current and future audience perceive your business, relate to, and also recognize it.

Through this article, I want to share 4 tips with you on how you can use your brand’s logo efficiently and effectively so as to stand out when your target audience comes across your business and is ready to hire. Alright then, let’s go!

Attract with a story-based logo design

We’ve all been there. We have all wondered what the big company logos mean, signify, and represent. And once we found out the meaning and story behind the company logos, we started relating to them much more on an emotional level than we ever did. Be it the super-loved coffee brand Starbucks, the tech industry disrupter Apple, Amazon that redefined the definition of eCommerce, or the world’s largest ice-cream chain Baskin Robbins; they all have meaningful, story-based logos.

The point I’m trying to make here is that you can take cues from these big company logos. Make sure that your brand’s logo is not some generic pretty looking design but rather a custom design that reflects your story/values/work in a neat and simple way. This timeless piece of visual design sparks curiosity in your target audience’s minds. Address this curiosity by sharing the meaning behind your brand’s logo design wherever you feel it is appropriate like your website or social media. This is an interesting way to uniquely stand out in your own industry!

You might also like: 3 step formula to craft your founder’s story and stand out

2. use your brand’s logo consistently

If you worked with a professional brand identity designer for your brand’s logo design, you most likely received a complete logo package with all the versions of your brand’s logo as a deliverable of the service along with education on how to use them. Each version is designed for a specific use case and to effectively brand your service business I want to emphasize one thing – use each version of your brand’s logo very consistently.

For example, your main logo is the primary visual representation that must be used most often in all places that your brand shows up like your website, brand collateral, invoices, contracts, and marketing material both digital and print. Only in really small spaces like social media profile images, small print merchandise, etc should you use the secondary version of your brand’s logo also known as the logo mark.

By following these easy rules and caring about how your brand shows up, you increase the memorability of your brand’s logo in the minds of your target audience helping them relate to your brand better. That is one of the ways you can stand out as a professional service provider.

3. get creative with print media

So you have a professionally designed, meaningful, timeless logo design that you love! You have it perched proudly at the top of your website, on your various social media profiles, and on a few other branded collateral. But what more can you do with it? So much more!

Promote brand awareness, a positive brand association, and increase memorability in the minds of your target audience by using your brand’s logo on merchandise. Get creative with print media! For yourself, branded merchandise can be really cool props for your brand photoshoots! When marketing your service business, Vistaprint has a ton of options to print swag with your brand’s logo on merchandise. Even when sending gifts to your clients, branded merchandise can be a really fun and creative way to stand out. Online gifting portals like Greetabl allow you to add your brand’s logo to make a gift personalized and OnGoody offers custom printing on branded merchandise for gifting to clients. Super fun!

Here’s an example of one of my interior designer clients Dan Rak Design flaunting their brand’s logo mark that I designed for them on tees that their team wears when they go for installations. It gives their brand a much more professional and consistent feel.

4. use your brand’s logo on every touch point

You’re running a service business so it’s highly likely that you’re creating content on a regular basis for brand awareness, getting your name out, reaching more target audiences, making connections, getting more leads, and on a high level – staying on top of mind. Whether it is creating graphics for social media, your business card, or marketing material for a podcast that you host, everything that leads your target audience to your brand is a touch point. And so, adding your brand’s face/brand’s logo to each entry point or touch point is another way to stand out in a high-quality, professional manner.

CONCLUSION

You’re doing the hard work each day, every day and your business deserves to reach the dream next level. If you feel like your brand and website design lacks the special sauce that will help you stand out in your industry and confidently attract ideal clients, let’s chat about creating strategic branding and website design for you.

How to Market a Graphic Design Company

If you are looking for a design agency that is known for its innovative and creative approach, you may want to consider a company called Re-public. This company has been in business since 1999, and has clients in Denmark, Mexico, and China. In addition to their impressive portfolio of projects, they have won many awards for their work, including the German Design Awards, Creative Circle Awards, and Red Dot Design. Another detail-oriented design firm is Essen. Founded in 1980, Essen offers conceptually intelligent and colorful designs for a variety of clients.

Before you begin your business, you’ll need to decide on the best marketing strategy for your company. A marketing strategy will determine how to target customers and gauge its success. You will also need to determine the size and scope of your market and develop short and long-term goals, as well as measure your progress. Listed below are a few tips for marketing your graphic design company. When launching your business, don’t be afraid to use your existing connections and reach out to potential customers.

A great graphic design company in Chicago will be able to incorporate your company’s corporate identity elements into its marketing plan. A logo or a letterhead is an effective way to draw attention to a product, while a stylish package is another way to attract attention. Incorporate these elements into your brand identity and you’ll be on your way to success. A graphic designer won’t only design your business’s logo and colors, but will also develop your company’s fonts. This is another important aspect of your marketing strategy, and is almost independent of fashion trends.

7 BRANDING & WEBSITE DESIGN MYTHS THAT ARE LIMITING YOUR SERVICE BUSINESS GROWTH!

MYTH #1: BRANDING IS EXPENSIVE

As a brand and web designer for creatives, I hear that all the time. And sure, the investment for building timeless brands and websites that are strategy-based, and goal-focused – may run into the 4 or 5 figures. But consider this – the expense of losing dream clients and dream opportunities for your business just because your brand and website are subpar, is way more! And as I mentioned earlier, branding and website design is an investment into your future, leveled-up business rather than an expense if you choose to see it that way. So if you’ve been on the fence about the investment, I’d say make the leap with confidence!

MYTH #2: JUST A PRETTY-LOOKING LOGO IS GOOD ENOUGH

Not quite. Just a pretty-looking logo does not cut it when you’re trying to make your service business stand out in a saturated industry. Chances are if your brand identity is only about aesthetics, your brand won’t be as memorable and distinct from your competitors.

Aesthetics do matter and an expert brand designer will make sure that your logo design looks great. But more than that, with a professional brand identity system – you get a whole lot more. Starting with an in-depth brand strategy that pulls pieces from your business and ties them strategically with your ideal client values, needs, and aspirations to form a logical foundation for your brand to further build on it.

So you will end up with a great-looking logo that has meaning and a lot of character that will help attract and convert your dream clients!

MYTH #3: MY WHOLE LIFE & BUSINESS STORY SHOULD GO ON MY WEBSITE

Absolutely not! I get it though. You started your business for a reason and you’ve been building it purposefully. But just because you have so much to say, not all of it needs to live on your website for your visitors to have to go through and lose interest. Everything you write on your website should be geared toward pre-defined goals. The key is to present your website information in a concise way that keeps the visitor engaged and interested enough so that they take action like booking a call, filling out the contact form, or booking your services directly.

Keep it real but keep it short and sweet. To share more bits and pieces about your story, your business background, etc – the perfect way to make a personalized connection with your dream clients is by using social media. Take people behind the scenes with the help of stories, posts, etc. It’s a good way to create authentic content too!

MYTH #4: MY COMPETITOR IS DOING WELL, LET’S JUST COPY THEM

Never ever. There are a million reasons why that’s a very bad idea but let me state the basics. Every business is unique including yours. If your competitor is doing well that means that they have found their unique positioning and honed it to serve their clients in the best possible way. For your service business success, it’s important to create a clear, unique positioning, a memorable identity, and a website that portrays all of that cohesively to speak to your dream client. When you work with a brand and website designer, they have a well-crafted process that includes a lot of research, competitor analysis, industry study, etc based on which they are able to create a meaningful, fully custom brand that truly represents your business.

Blindly copying someone else’s branding and website design won’t help you create a connection with your dream clients and rather would have you end up looking like everyone else. So hopefully by now, you agree on how bad of an idea this is.

MYTH #5: THE RANDOM PHOTOS I HAVE ON MY IPHONE ARE PERFECT FOR MY WEBSITE

If you’re an introvert or a camera-shy person like me, I know how you feel about brand photography! But here’s the thing – even if professional brand photoshoots are not your thing, you do need a few decent pictures of yourself to go on your website and social media. So rope in a friend and get creative! Remember that the problem is not with the iPhone photos, it’s with bad lighting, random backgrounds, etc that make images look low quality and gives off a less than perfect impression to your website visitors. Here are a few tips to capture decent, consistent brand photos:

• Make sure you pick a spot/s with good natural light coming in. Face the light for best results (you can also turn on the studio light effect, and background blur feature that’s available on newer iPhones. These make regular photos look so professional, instantly!).
• Another great way to get a consistent look and feel for your brand and website design is color coordinating. Try and add in 1-2 colors from your brand color palette in your photos. Wearing something that has the color or adding a prop are cool ways!
• Choose either a plain background for your photos or a nice wall with some artwork. Make sure you add that blurry background effect and you’re good to go!
• And finally, be yourself and let your own personality shine 🙂

MYTH #6: MY WEBSITE SHOULD FOCUS ON ME

Nope! Your website is a marketing tool and more than that it is a sales tool. For effective sales, your website should be primed to focus on your ideal clients, their current situations, and their biggest pain points. Having said that, your website should focus on you but only 10% of the time as you bring the solution to solve your ideal client’s problems. 90% of your website’s focus should be on potential clients as people tend to make decisions emotionally rather than logically. Feeling heard and seen by you when they land on your website, can be the reason they hire you for your services! So make sure you research your target audience really well so that your brand and website can speak to them on an emotional level.

MYTH #7: I DON’T NEED A WEBSITE

This is the worst of them all! Not having a website when you’re selling services would be a nightmare. As established earlier, your website is a marketing as well as a sales tool for you that even works when you’re not working. Dream clients can find you anytime if you have a strategic online presence. Even if you have alternate ways to get clients, not having a website would mean so many lost opportunities that limit your business’s growth potential. If you’re looking to build a strategic website to allow your dream clients to connect and convert with ease, schedule a free consultation call with me!

CONCLUSION

Don’t let a subpar brand and website design stop you from growing your service business to the dream next level. If you know that your brand has the potential to level up and confidently stand out in the crowd but you’re not sure what steps to take – reach out to me and I’ll gladly help you figure it out!

Be the boss, take action, and do the work. You’ve got this!

How to Choose a Logo Design Company

There are several factors to consider before choosing a logo design company. These factors include the project’s scope, budget, timeline, and quality. The design process should be simple and straightforward to support interaction between the client and the design team. The design process typically involves the creation of a creative brief and an agreement for services. This will help clarify expectations and establish timelines. The final product should reflect the vision of the company. This document should include the client’s branding objectives.

The first thing to ask is how well the designers communicate. Effective communication is crucial in this process, as clients don’t always know exactly what they’re looking for. When working with a logo design company, it is important that the designers ask the right questions to understand the project’s goals. They should be able to explain the processes involved and the nuances of a design, making it easier to make compromises along the way. Make sure to conduct briefs with your chosen logo design agency, and try to schedule a call or chat with them online.

A good logo design agency should provide multiple options for your brand. Using color and fonts effectively is essential. If possible, integrate your chosen color into the designs. After reviewing the options, choose the strongest option. Once you’ve chosen the best, refine it further, and test it on various backgrounds and formats to find the perfect fit. You’ll be happy you made the right decision. If you want to be competitive in the market, an innovative corporate image will help you attract customers.

A good logo design company should have a good track record. If a design company is not well-established, they may not be able to meet deadlines. Likewise, a designer with a poor track record may not be able to understand your company’s needs. That means more revisions and costs. Outsourced designers may not understand your needs, and the results may not be as impressive as they could be. A logo design company should have a long track record, and the work of previous clients can provide valuable feedback.

Once the client approves the initial concept, the logo design company will start working on the final version. The final logo design will consist of different file formats. For example, a full-size logo might require too much detail. If you need a black and white version of the logo, you may have to choose a simpler format. A logo design company with a strong track record will anticipate future revisions and ensure that the logo continues to live digitally.

Before the design begins, the logo design company should gather as much information as possible about the client’s business and target audience. They should know about the unique selling point of the company and the message it wants to convey to its customers. It’s important that the logo design company understands the client’s marketing goals and vision for the future. They should also know about their target audience and what they expect the logo to mean. If they don’t, this can limit their growth.

7 BRANDING & WEBSITE DESIGN MYTHS THAT ARE LIMITING YOUR SERVICE BUSINESS GROWTH!

I feel you. At times, topics around branding and website design can be pretty daunting, especially when you’re trying to figure out what’s best for your small service-based business while juggling a million to-dos. To help you, let me bust 7 key branding and website design myths so that you’re enabled to make better decisions for the online presence of your growing business. Let’s jump in!

MYTH #1: BRANDING IS EXPENSIVE

As a brand and web designer for creatives, I hear that all the time. And sure, the investment for building timeless brands and websites that are strategy-based, and goal-focused – may run into the 4 or 5 figures. But consider this – the expense of losing dream clients and dream opportunities for your business just because your brand and website are subpar, is way more! And as I mentioned earlier, branding and website design is an investment into your future, leveled-up business rather than an expense if you choose to see it that way. So if you’ve been on the fence about the investment, I’d say make the leap with confidence!

MYTH #2: JUST A PRETTY-LOOKING LOGO IS GOOD ENOUGH

Not quite. Just a pretty-looking logo does not cut it when you’re trying to make your service business stand out in a saturated industry. Chances are if your brand identity is only about aesthetics, your brand won’t be as memorable and distinct from your competitors.

Aesthetics do matter and an expert brand designer will make sure that your logo design looks great. But more than that, with a professional brand identity system – you get a whole lot more. Starting with an in-depth brand strategy that pulls pieces from your business and ties them strategically with your ideal client values, needs, and aspirations to form a logical foundation for your brand to further build on it.

So you will end up with a great-looking logo that has meaning and a lot of character that will help attract and convert your dream clients!

MYTH #3: MY WHOLE LIFE & BUSINESS STORY SHOULD GO ON MY WEBSITE

Absolutely not! I get it though. You started your business for a reason and you’ve been building it purposefully. But just because you have so much to say, not all of it needs to live on your website for your visitors to have to go through and lose interest. Everything you write on your website should be geared toward pre-defined goals. The key is to present your website information in a concise way that keeps the visitor engaged and interested enough so that they take action like booking a call, filling out the contact form, or booking your services directly.

Keep it real but keep it short and sweet. To share more bits and pieces about your story, your business background, etc – the perfect way to make a personalized connection with your dream clients is by using social media. Take people behind the scenes with the help of stories, posts, etc. It’s a good way to create authentic content too!

MYTH #4: MY COMPETITOR IS DOING WELL, LET’S JUST COPY THEM

Never ever. There are a million reasons why that’s a very bad idea but let me state the basics. Every business is unique including yours. If your competitor is doing well that means that they have found their unique positioning and honed it to serve their clients in the best possible way. For your service business success, it’s important to create a clear, unique positioning, a memorable identity, and a website that portrays all of that cohesively to speak to your dream client. When you work with a brand and website designer, they have a well-crafted process that includes a lot of research, competitor analysis, industry study, etc based on which they are able to create a meaningful, fully custom brand that truly represents your business.

Blindly copying someone else’s branding and website design won’t help you create a connection with your dream clients and rather would have you end up looking like everyone else. So hopefully by now, you agree on how bad of an idea this is.

MYTH #5: THE RANDOM PHOTOS I HAVE ON MY IPHONE ARE PERFECT FOR MY WEBSITE

If you’re an introvert or a camera-shy person like me, I know how you feel about brand photography! But here’s the thing – even if professional brand photoshoots are not your thing, you do need a few decent pictures of yourself to go on your website and social media. So rope in a friend and get creative! Remember that the problem is not with the iPhone photos, it’s with bad lighting, random backgrounds, etc that make images look low quality and gives off a less than perfect impression to your website visitors. Here are a few tips to capture decent, consistent brand photos:

• Make sure you pick a spot/s with good natural light coming in. Face the light for best results (you can also turn on the studio light effect, and background blur feature that’s available on newer iPhones. These make regular photos look so professional, instantly!).
• Another great way to get a consistent look and feel for your brand and website design is color coordinating. Try and add in 1-2 colors from your brand color palette in your photos. Wearing something that has the color or adding a prop are cool ways!
• Choose either a plain background for your photos or a nice wall with some artwork. Make sure you add that blurry background effect and you’re good to go!
• And finally, be yourself and let your own personality shine 🙂

MYTH #6: MY WEBSITE SHOULD FOCUS ON ME

Nope! Your website is a marketing tool and more than that it is a sales tool. For effective sales, your website should be primed to focus on your ideal clients, their current situations, and their biggest pain points. Having said that, your website should focus on you but only 10% of the time as you bring the solution to solve your ideal client’s problems. 90% of your website’s focus should be on potential clients as people tend to make decisions emotionally rather than logically. Feeling heard and seen by you when they land on your website, can be the reason they hire you for your services! So make sure you research your target audience really well so that your brand and website can speak to them on an emotional level.

MYTH #7: I DON’T NEED A WEBSITE

This is the worst of them all! Not having a website when you’re selling services would be a nightmare. As established earlier, your website is a marketing as well as a sales tool for you that even works when you’re not working. Dream clients can find you anytime if you have a strategic online presence. Even if you have alternate ways to get clients, not having a website would mean so many lost opportunities that limit your business’s growth potential. If you’re looking to build a strategic website to allow your dream clients to connect and convert with ease, schedule a free consultation call with me!

CONCLUSION

Don’t let a subpar brand and website design stop you from growing your service business to the dream next level. If you know that your brand has the potential to level up and confidently stand out in the crowd but you’re not sure what steps to take – reach out to me and I’ll gladly help you figure it out!

Be the boss, take action, and do the work. You’ve got this!

Logo Design Chicago – How a Professional Can Create a Logo That’s Right For Your Business

A custom logo design in Chicago is essential for any business, no matter what it does. Your logo will appear on your website, social media accounts, and billboards overlooking Dan Ryan. A great logo design can help you establish a professional presence and will last as long as the Billy Goat. Read on to learn how a professional can create a logo that’s right for your business. It’s important to know that the quality of your logo will be reflected in your bottom line.

For the best logo design in Chicago, there are several options. You can choose from the following companies: The Simons Group, LLC and Lunar media. Each of these companies has a unique specialty. The Simons Group specializes in advertising, branding, and graphic design. Lunar also offers web development, video production, and traditional marketing campaigns. In addition, there’s Fresh Design Studio, LLC. This Chicago-based firm offers website design, graphic design, and search engine optimization services.

Some alumni work as brand and graphic designers at major companies, startups, and design firms. Others have launched their own design consulting and freelance businesses. For example, Eavan Wallner ’14 is a visual designer at Google, and he spent four years at Leo Burnett before working for Allstate. Another graduate, Jared Sawdey ’17, founded Bad Press, a lifestyle magazine. These are just some of the many graduates who have come out of the Logo Design Chicago program.

Branding For Interior Design

Branding your interior design business is essential. Branding will help your clients and customers remember your name. You will want them to know exactly what to expect when they enter your facility. By designing your interior spaces to reflect your brand, you can connect with your audience and explain what it stands for. A well-designed space will allow you to stand out among your competitors. A unique design will keep your brand name in mind and help you gain new customers.

Your interior space is a direct reflection of your brand, and it can either enhance your sales or hurt them. To create a memorable experience for your customers, your design should appeal to their senses. Creating a space that appeals to them will help them relate to your brand more and make shopping more pleasurable. Here are a few tips to help you create an appealing space for your customers. You can even create an interior design website to promote your business.

Branding your interior space will help your customers and employees remember you and your brand. A well-designed space communicates your brand’s ethos and identity. A successful brand will enhance your customer’s experience, increase employee morale, and increase profits. While defining your brand’s uniqueness is challenging, branding your interior space will help you reach your business goals. With the right marketing plan, you can create a memorable, successful space that will build customer loyalty and profits.

Branding For Interior Design

Branding your interior design business is essential. Branding will help your clients and customers remember your name. You will want them to know exactly what to expect when they enter your facility. By designing your interior spaces to reflect your brand, you can connect with your audience and explain what it stands for. A well-designed space will allow you to stand out among your competitors. A unique design will keep your brand name in mind and help you gain new customers.

Your interior space is a direct reflection of your brand, and it can either enhance your sales or hurt them. To create a memorable experience for your customers, your design should appeal to their senses. Creating a space that appeals to them will help them relate to your brand more and make shopping more pleasurable. Here are a few tips to help you create an appealing space for your customers. You can even create an interior design website to promote your business.

Branding your interior space will help your customers and employees remember you and your brand. A well-designed space communicates your brand’s ethos and identity. A successful brand will enhance your customer’s experience, increase employee morale, and increase profits. While defining your brand’s uniqueness is challenging, branding your interior space will help you reach your business goals. With the right marketing plan, you can create a memorable, successful space that will build customer loyalty and profits.

Choose a Website Development Company from Chicago

Today, every small scale or large-scale business advertises or promote its products by creating a company’s website. The website helps in the faster growth of the business and also lays downs the benefits, features, and functions of the company’s product. For a good impact on the customers, the manufacturer or businessmen hires the services of a reputed website development company that helps them in creating a website suited to their needs.

Features of Website Development Companies

The website development companies work on the sole motto of providing its customers utmost satisfaction. The features of these companies include-

Providing expertise and professionalism in creating the website.
To provide all kinds of web solutions to the customers.
To create a website with a unique page design to attract audiences and thereby enhance the reputation of the client.
To provide maintenance services even after the website is launched
A website development company also accountable to all its employees, shareholders, employees, and partners to provide the desired results and is responsible towards each one of them.

Choosing a website development company in Chicago is a great move for your business. These companies are reliable and also offer maintenance services to its customers. The web designing services provided by these companies assures the businesses reach newer heights in the online world. Make sure to choose a web development company that grows constantly by offering world-class services. These companies are constantly gaining popularity with new and reputed clients all over the world.