1. DMdesign Do Not Design Wedding Invitations But If They Did…

    September 19, 2009 by Siobhan

    An Engagement Shoot with a Difference

    Wedding Stationery Suite

    DMdesign do not design wedding invitations….but when you are a graphic designer and your sister is the bride-to-be (and owner of DMpr, our sister company!!), and you’re asked to design an unusual wedding invitation it’s a different story. In fact it was an honour to do it. Christine and her smashing husband to be, Kenny, will marry 2 weeks from today. The easiest clients in the world gave me a blank canvas to design their wedding invitations. It was a dream to work with photographs taken by Keith and Evelyn Woodard from Killarney with concept and direction of shoot by the bride-to-be.  It’s amazing what can be done with a €30 wedding dress from a vintage store, a net curtain for a veil, a pair of wellingtons,  a rowing boat and a handsome couple. And the setting….the lakes of Killarney on a sunny day (a rare sight you might say). Tourists gathered around during the shoot and congratulated Christine and Kenny on their wedding day!! “Oh, you guys look so cute” (spoken in your best American accent). I’m sure they went home to tell their friends about the Irish bride in wellingtons at the lakes of Killarney.

    It was an engagement shoot with a difference. Kenny is a rower and the concept was to have Christine pulling him ashore in time for the wedding – after years of coming up with creative concepts for her clients, it was easy for Christine to pull one together for herself. So with these amazing results to work with, the first thing I did was change the colour pictures to sepia to give a classic old world style. Colours and type were chosen carefully. The suite included a wedding invitation, DL size with a folding flap in the front to hold the RSVP and a card with directions and accomodation details and a DL evening invitation similar to the wedding invitation.  Over many years of trial and error I have managed to create a CMYK gold, this avoids printing a spot gold (printing spot gold increases the print costs).  The printing was beautifully finished by Allied Print on Challenger offset and sealed in a gorgeous conqueror envelope….divine.

    Christine and Kenny told me they were inundated with compliments on the wedding stationery….some commented they ‘were out of this world’, and unlike anything else they had ever seen.  As I am  a perfectionist it’s rare to complete a design that I am 100% happy with but I loved this project and it proves when a designer is left to do what they do best, the results are always better.

    A successful wedding project and not a bridezilla in sight!

    Email designerstationery@gmail.com for more information on unique wedding stationery!

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  2. How to Choose a Great Graphic Designer?

    September 11, 2009 by Siobhan

    Working in the business for years I have met many business people who are at their wits end with a designer or design agency and desperately need the advice of a competent designer. They no longer have time to spoonfeed their existing agency and need good advice and direction for their brand.

    A good graphic designer must have the ability to tell a story visually. Having some knowledge of Photoshop doesn’t make someone a designer. A qualified and experienced graphic designer, will understand precisely the requirement of his/her clients and their business. While some projects demand a serious approach, others can be expressed best in a light hearted manner. A good designer will decide the best way for effectively communicating your message to your target audience.

    If you haven’t already experienced it yourself, then you’ve probably heard some of the nightmare stories about trying to find or work with a suitable graphic designer. It can be difficult, time consuming and frustrating to say the least.

    So, what do you look for?

    • A strong portfolio

    Do the projects look professional and eye-catching? The imagery should be compatible with the content and designs should be unique.

    • A strong sense of marketing

    Pretty images are a dime a dozen. The designer should be able to clearly explain the goal of each piece and how effective it was for their client

    • Excellent business skills

    A good designer stays on top of all the details of your project and makes the best use of your time and money.

    • Formal education in graphic design, not just software skills

    Graphic design is a creative process with foundational principles that have a direct impact on the effectiveness of printed communication. A designer’s software skills have little impact on their ability to translate your brand.

    • Personable and professional demeanor

    Work with someone you’ll enjoy working with and who provides a professional service.

    • Great Problem Solvers

    All graphic design projects have obstacles, knowing how to overcome them is crucial. Ask them to show samples of work where they solved a significant design problem for a client.

    • Handling Deadlines

    Make sure that the designer has proven ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines. Ask them for references or testimonials from their existing clients.

    We recommend that after you’ve done your homework and chosen a competent graphic designer, let them do their job. Graphic design is a lot more than just making something look good. There are a lot of technical details that have scientific backing that you may not know about. In most cases it’s in your best interest to focus on what you are an expert in and let them focus on what they are an expert in. You will see far better results that way.

    Remember finding the right designer can be a tough job, but once found he or she can do wonders for your business!

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