Bonus: In the Shoes of a Graphic Designer

Connect the Dots

CMYK is a subtractive method of printing that relies on layered dots of color to mask the white background of the paper. More ink on the paper means less light that reflects (hence the subtraction).

Inks used in CMYK printing come in 4 colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (a printer’s name for black, since black is often used to outline an image as a guide).

CMYK inks are applied in set patterns of tiny dots that appear to create a solid color … similar to the pixels on a digital image. Layers of these dots in different amounts of ink create any shade or color. Here’s an example of how the colors work together:

Image via

CMYK colors sometimes translate in terms of percentages. For instance, the blue that we use for our Printing Solutions brand is C100 M30 Y0 K0, or 100%, 30%, 0%, 0%.  

Color By Number

CMYK typically produces a higher quality of print job than your standard home office printer, which prints in RGB. RGB uses combinations of Red, Green, and Blue inks to create varying colors and shades.

“RGB is a 3-color process with fewer colors mixing together to achieve a specific color,” says Kristyn Dingman, Printing Solutions’ Director of Marketing. “Because there are fewer colors to choose from, a CMYK print is preferred to achieve a true color.”

That’s not to say that CMYK produces perfect color every time, the way a Pantone ink would. Pantone inks come in pre-mixed colors according to an exact formula that can be replicated with the same results every time. CMYK, on the other, hand, may have some fluctuations in tone, especially when converting from Pantone to CMYK.

“You are taking something that is already made and trying to dissect it and then reinvent it,” Kristyn says. “The same thing happens when you take a CMYK color and convert it to a Pantone. There is the possibility that the colors may look different from one process to another.”

However, Pantone’s level of perfection comes with a heft price tag that simply isn’t practical for most companies. CMYK is a more affordable solution that still produces a very high quality print product. Here at Printing Solutions, we print about 85% of our projects in CMYK and about 15% in Pantone.

Bonus: The Worst Advice I’ve Ever Heard About Print

Want to know how CMYK printing can help take your business to the next level? Our team at Printing Solutions would love to show you how! Give us a call at 480-596-6300 today.

The post Everything You Need to Know About CMYK appeared first on Printing Solutions.

A banding package can be a major undertaking and last for a few weeks, but in the end, our clients invariably decide it was all worth it. Here’s the life cycle of a branding package.

Each project is unique, and its timeline depends on the client and what you are looking for. We offer a good, better, best model for design when it comes to projects like this:

• Starter Package offers the basics to a strong brand identity
• Essentials Package comes with a more detailed timeline and expanded print options
• Pro Package includes digital services like email signatures and social media page creations

Strategy Session

All of our branding projects begin with a strategy session, where we sit down with you to learn the ins and outs of what you like about your current brand and what you want to improve on. During these meetings we make sure we get as much input as we can from the team. Our Creative Director, Justin Ketchum, is involved in every branding project that comes through our doors. We also have Chris Danner, our graphic designer as a second hand in these projects. And lastly, a project manager facilitates pricing and is the main contact for you.

Foundation, Development & Refinement

“One team member will take the lead and serve as the liaison between the team and the client, but a typical brand can have as many as five to seven people working on their project at any given time,” Justin says.

After the strategy session, we jump into the three main steps to a branding package: Foundation, Development, and Refinement. Most of the work is done during the foundation phase, which allows for a fun and easy transition through the development and refinement stages.

The revisions depend entirely on the client. As long as you are OK with the time being spent, revisions can happen as often as you would like — our job is to provide the best possible solutions for our clients, so we want you to be involved in this process as much as possible.

“Typically, a company will have their new logo in use within the month,” Justin says.

Once a project is completed, we still have follow-up calls and meetings with you. We learn something new with every project, and we use these learning experiences as tools to better improve our system, as well as the experience for the next project.

If your brand is in need of a reboot, we would love to help. Give us a call at 480-596-6300 to get started.

The post Before and After the Creative Process: See the Life Cycle of a Branding Project appeared first on Printing Solutions.

1. Cotton Cards

One way to give your business cards some extra oomph is as simple as changing the paper they’re printed on. One of our current favorites is a cotton card. Cotton cards have a very natural and sturdy feel to them. They make a big impression — they’re a very thick 45pt paper with actual cotton fiber pressed in — and they have such a soft and elegant feel.

“This is something really unique and can give your business a high-end presentation just based on the stock,” says Kristyn Dingman, Printing Solutions’ Director of Marketing.

2. Foil Elements

If your business card could use a little pizzazz, then foil might be your answer. Adding a stamp of foil to your cards can not only make a lasting impression, but it can make certain aspects of your card really stand out for that high-end look.

Most people think of the traditional gold and silver when they think of foil, but it is actually very versatile in its array of color, size and overall visual appeal.

“It’s a nice, inexpensive solution for someone who is looking to take that next step in design,” Kristyn says.

3. Embossing or Debossing

Embossing (or debossing) is a newer trend in print that is a great way to add both visual and tactile interest to your business cards. This technique indents certain areas of the paper so that as you go over the surface of the card with your fingertips, you can feel the imprint of your company’s logo (or other area that is embossed).

Many companies have a Spot UV or specific feel to their cards, but want a new, modern upgrade that will really make their business something to remember. Having a certain part of the card physically pop out or sink in can make a big impact.

“Many clients use this on their logo or another aspect of the card that is important,” Kristyn says. “It’s a great upgrade for someone looking to rise above their competition.”

4. Colored Edges

For a simple and affordable way to make your cards stand out, you might want to consider adding color the edges. Not only does this technique make your entire card look more cohesive and pulled together, it also gives some love to an often-forgotten area of the card.

“We love seeing clients take their main logo colors and add that sleek edge to their cards,” Kristyn says. “This works best with thicker cards.”

5. Unusual Sizes & Shapes

Not only do you want your business cards stand out, but it’s important to do it in a smart way. A new trend is changing the size from your standard 3×2.5 business card and making it into a circle or square card.

“It looks unique and is a great solution for someone looking to change a small part of their card without changing the entire feel or brand,” Kristyn says.

We can also make custom die-cut business cards for your business. If you want your business card to be a unique shape — like the gift box shape above — then we can do that too.

If you’re considering an upgrade to your business cards, there are a few things to consider first.

1. Do you have the right budget?

While the options above are each great for different businesses, they may not all be the best solution for your budget. Some business card upgrades are only a few dollars, while others may be double or triple that price. Many of the upgrades range anywhere from $30.00 – $200.00, but your final cost depends on which upgrade you want to go with. There are so many different combinations you can do that will fluctuate the price.

2. What’s your deadline?

We love creating new and improved cards for an event or conference a client plans to attend, but things get difficult when they need the upgraded cards in only a couple of days. Many of the business card upgrades above require extensive time for cutting, gluing, drying, and quality assurance checkpoints. For your new cards to look flawless, most of our upgrades simply can’t be rushed.

Here at Printing Solutions, many people want to know how we can improve their cards. We can suggest certain business card upgrades based on a client’s budget and deadline, but to really provide the best solution for your business, it’s best to meet with the Printing Solutions team. Come by our offices, or give us a call at 480-596-6300 to set up a meeting.

The post 5 Fun Upgrades to Your Business Cards appeared first on Printing Solutions.

But unless you’ve worked in the industry, you probably don’t know what it takes to be a designer like Chris or Justin. So today we’re going inside a typical day at Printing Solutions to show you exactly what it’s like to be a designer.

Our typical day starts with a production meeting with the Printing Solutions team. Our designers Chris Danner and Justin Ketchum discuss their tasks for the day and decide how much time needs to be given to each one. They also make sure to space projects far enough out that designers can give each one the time and attention it deserves — too many deadlines too close together means that projects come out less than perfect. Morning production meetings help prevent that from ever happening. Once we wrap up our meeting we get to work! From simple text changes to logo creation and brand development for our clients, our designers get to work on a bit of everything each day. They primarily use tools from the Adobe Create Suite, including Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop.

“Many people consider creativity as being a weekend hobby or something you do when remodeling a kitchen. I get to challenge myself creatively every day!” says Justin Ketchum, Printing Solutions’ Creative Director.

Throughout the day there will also be client meetings that a designer may participate in. Often Chris and Justin will sit in on new and current client meetings, but sometimes, the visits are unscheduled.

“The great part about having in-house graphic designers is that our clients know they can call or walk in and chat with them, no problem,” says Kristyn Dingman, Printing Solutions’ Director of Marketing.

But it takes a good deal of creativity from our designers to be able to produce such amazing work for all of our clients. To help Chris and Justin out, we’ve made the Printing Solutions office as creative an environment as possible. The team plays music, basketball, ping-pong, or just lounges on our giant bean bags as needed.

“We have daily tasks that need to be completed in time to be able to hit certain deadlines,” Justin says. “This creates a challenge for us at times because you cannot force creativity. That’s why we make sure our work environment allows for 100% creative freedom.”

“What’s so nice about our creative team is that we all share different types of creativity and skills,” Kristyn says. “We have someone who can come up with a solution to any problem because we have an abundance of creative ideas all in one location.”

And at the end of the project, the entire team’s creativity shows as yet another customer leaves our office thrilled with their new print products.

Need to have your print marketing redesigned? Our team at Printing Solutions would love to help. Give us a call today at 480-596-6300 to get started.

The post In the Shoes of a Graphic Designer appeared first on Printing Solutions.

If you have an event coming up, here are some guidelines to help you promote it in the best way.

BONUS: Train Your Staff to Get the Most From Your Trade Show Booth

1. What’s your budget?

It’s important to allot a large enough budget to promote upcoming event effectively. It’s always good to have a few different branded visual references at your table. Use these basics as a guideline:

• A table throw: about $179
• A retractable banner: about $249
• At least 1 handout (brochures, postcards): $79
• A Business card: $39

Total: $546

When planning your budget, remember that these promotional materials aren’t a one-time investment. Most of Printing Solutions’ customers reprint their signs and banners only once a year at most. So you can invest a few bucks into something big and high-quality that other marketing material just cannot do.

2. What functionality do you need?

Consider your purpose for attending the event when you plan your promotional materials. Do you want to connect with potential clients, or are you there to look for new companies to partner with? Tailor your materials toward your end goal.

Certain materials are essential regardless of your end goal — you’ll always need a large sign or banner to attract the most attention possible. But if your booth doesn’t include a table front and center, you might want to skip the table throw and put your budget toward more interesting freebies to hand out at the event.

Keep in mind that just because you purchase these materials for a specific event doesn’t mean that they’re useless between trade shows. A lot of wide format printing is very versatile in that you can use it for many different occasions. Once your event is over, displaying your signs or banners in your office or conference room just adds additional branding to your workspace.

3. What products do you already have?

It’s always a good idea to go through your existing supplies before an event and take inventory of what you already have. If you’ve attended trade shows or tabled other events before, chances are you can repurpose some of your existing materials, like table throws, business cards, and banners. But if the materials show signs of wear or are of a low quality, you might want to consider reprinting.

“We take print and see how we can design something specifically for it. The two go together,” says Kristyn Dingman, Printing Solutions’ Director of Marketing. “You can have a high-end retractable banner that has an unattractive graphic on it, or you can have a really solid design of your logo that is printed on a cheap material. The two are essential to one another. Printing on a high-quality material with a high-quality visual is the best route to take.”

If you’re planning your first event and need to start from scratch with promotional materials, our On-The-Go Package was created just for your. It includes over 6 different print marketing options for one price and is a customizable and comprehensive solution to that helps to promote upcoming event.

BONUS: Large Format Printing and What You Are Doing Wrong

For us, the best part of planning any event is seeing the customer’s face light up when we have the display set up in our office for them to pick up. Seeing that end result and the reactions we get are priceless.

Need Help To Promote Upcoming Event?

If you need help planning and to promote upcoming event or trade show, let Printing Solutions help. Give us a call at 480-596-6300 to get started.

The post How Should I Promote My Upcoming Event? appeared first on Printing Solutions.

If this sounds familiar, a branding package from Printing Solutions could be a great step in creating your business’s identity. We sat down with our Director of Marketing Kristyn Dingman to learn how it works.

What is a Branding Package Anyway?

Our branding packages are an easy, effective, and detailed solution for businesses looking to start from scratch or to rebrand their current identity. This is a great step for someone who is looking for a brand new start with a whole new identity — and it all starts with your logo.

We have developed a “Good, Better, Best” model for how these packages are offered. Our “Good” option is our Starter Package, which offers the basics to a strong brand identity along with special print marketing offers to show off your new brand.

The “Better” option is our Essentials Package, which says it perfectly. It’s a better version of the “Good” option, but with a more detailed timeline and expanded print options. You’ll also get an in-depth brand identity guide to help you implement your brand anywhere.

Lastly, our “Best” option comes in the form of our Pro Package. The perks with this bundle skyrocket, and include digital services like email signatures and social media page creations for your brand identity.

Each package begins with a strategy session, where we’ll sit down with you to learn the ins and outs of what you like about your current brand and what you want to improve on.

“No one knows their company better than the people who make it tick, so it is important that you are closely involved in your brand’s development,” Creative Director Justin Ketchum says.

How Do I Know if I Need a Branding Package?

A company brand is the foundation in which it grows upon — your business’s true North. If you’ve ever wondered whether your brand is pointing you in the right direction, a consultation may be great for you!

It’s also a great option for new companies looking for a way to distinguish themselves from their competition.

“The number of logo designs in the world to date is staggering,” Justin  says. “To be original and stand out from the crowd is becoming more and more difficult, but that is the precise reason why it is so imperative to build that successful brand.”

BONUS: Why Graphic Design is Vital for Your Business

How Does it Work?

Building or even re-building a brand is a very labor intensive process. Our team at Printing Solutions can typically develop about two brands per month. One team member will take the lead and serve as the liaison between the team and the client, but a typical brand can have as many as five to seven people working on their project at any given time.

There are three main steps to a branding package: Foundation, Development, and Refinement. Most of the work is done during the foundation phase, which allows for a fun and easy transition through the development and refinement stages.

“This process has allowed us to significantly cut down on over 60% of the work, not only creating a better product but saving time and money,” Justin says. “I know this sounds too good to be true but the results will tell you that it works!”

Typically, a company will have their new logo in use within the month. However, there are many factors that go into building a brand, so that will depend entirely on the depth and size of the company.

BONUS: What Goes Into a Brand?

Wondering how Printing Solutions can help your business find some branding clarity? Complete a brand questionnaire today, or give us a call at 480-596-6300 to get started.

The post How Can a Branding Package Help My Business? appeared first on Printing Solutions.

Having a strong graphic design for your ad or logo can either make or break your business.

But if you are trying to just throw something together quick and cheap, you are going to end up wasting not only your time, but also your valuable marketing dollars. Poor design can lead to an unclear message or brand representation. In the end, it can result in a false image of your business to your designed audience.

If you’re thinking of adjusting your company’s graphic design, here are some things to consider before you jump in.

BONUS: How a Graphic Designer Can Help Keep Your Print Materials Fresh

1. It Makes a Good First Impression.

We all know the importance of a first impression in our personal appearance — it takes approximately one-tenth of a second for an interviewer to form a first impression of a job candidate — but did you know that the same goes for your printed materials?

Handing someone a business card with an outstanding design is the print equivalent of showing up to a job interview in a shirt and shoes that have been ironed and polished. Giving them a card with a design that is lackluster or nonexistent is like forgetting to put on deodorant.

“You only get one first impression — it never comes around twice,” says Kristyn Lechwar, Printing Solutions’ Director of Marketing. “And customers naturally tend to gravitate toward an attractive company, brand, and product.”

So having good graphic design will not only give your audience a clear image of who you are, but it will leave a lasting impression with them. Next time they are ready to buy, they know exactly who they are going to buy from.

2. It Creates Brand Recognition.

What do brands like Apple, Google, and Coca-Cola have in common? They all have a clean, strong design that is instantly recognizable.

Even if you never plan to be the next Google, it is still essential for your business to have strong visual reference. Being able to instantly distinguish a company based on their logo or the way their website may look is a win. Having your audience know who you are without having to think twice about it comes from great graphic design efforts.

Brand recognition starts with your logo. You may choose to use only text, like Google, or you may decide that using a symbol that correlates with your company name, like Apple, is the better choice for you. You’ll want to include colors that convey your brand message, and you’ll need a font that fits your company’s personality.

We strongly suggest hiring a professional to design your logo and marketing materials. Our designers are not only very talented, but they also are experts at identifying exactly what each business needs to succeed.

BONUS: Why You Need a Graphic Designer to Create Your Logo or Marketing Materials

3. It Makes Communication Easier.

Think of the last time you met someone new. Perhaps it was at a conference or networking event, or perhaps it was someone who walked through your company’s door. Likely you talked for a few moments and then decided to exchange contact information.

If you had an attractive business card, you reached for it proudly and handed it over with a little added glow.

If you had a business card with a design that left something to be desired, your glow fizzled out when you handed it over. You may even have pulled out your cell phone and entered the person into your address book like an awkward eighth grader.

When it comes to effective communication, it all starts with a strong foundation of graphic design.

In a nutshell, you are giving a formal presentation to your audience. To grab and hold their attention, you need an attractive, cohesive design. Attractive visuals convey information better, especially when it is something tangible like a business card.

How Do I Start?

At Printing Solutions, we begin the design process by identifying a customer’s pain points. Where are you seeing a gap? Where are you struggling? What’s does your competition look like? Who do you look up to in the industry? Once we can figure out the problems, we find a solution that will work best for your business.

Most companies initially design on their own or purchase a logo template. Creating something simple and cost effective is simply a placeholder and can temporarily work for your company. But again, this should be temporary and not a permanent solution for your company. Graphic design falls into the notion that “you pay for what you get.” We give you thought-out design work.

“We make sure to take our time in producing some of the best work out there,” Kristyn says. “It is all about winning over your competition. We not only give you a strong finish, but we make sure to take the time and understand each of our customers needs and give them what they need to be successful.”

We always enjoy working with customers who need a transformation in their logo and brand. When we meet with a client who is either frustrated or believes an upgrade is in order, we like to step in. We make sure to go through an entire evaluation of the client’s wants and needs before we suggest anything.

“Once we get a feel for the client and their end goal, we can begin to break down the design and rebuild it,” Kristyn says. “It’s a fun and easy process for our clients to go through.”

BONUS: 5 Quick Tips For Saving Money on Design

Looking for an upgrade in your printed materials? Printing Solutions is happy to help. Call 480-596-6300 to meet with one of our experienced designers now.

The post Why Graphic Design is Vital for Your Business appeared first on Printing Solutions.

“It’s just like the filter that you put on a photo; it says a lot about the person and who they are. That’s what font faces represent,” says Kristyn Lechwar, Printing Solutions’ Director of Marketing. “It represents who you are and what your company is. Without someone actually being able to read the words, they can get a feel for your company just by looking at the font.”

We’ve put together our best tips for how to choose the best fonts for 2016. Is your favorite font sending the right image? Read on to find out.

Our Favorites

“Helvetica is the most famous font face around the entire world,” Kristyn says. It’s simple, easy to read, and not distracting.”

Other strong options include Akzidenz and Gotham, both of which are client favorites when it comes to san-serif font faces. For a more classic look, opt for Times New Roman, by far the most common serif font face.

You’ll also get more mileage out of a font family that includes bold and italic faces along with the regular font face.

“You can be versatile with them but they still maintain their same visuals,” Kristyn says.

BONUS:The Worst Fonts for Marketing Materials

Choosing a Font

If you’ve never worked closely with different font faces, you might not know which is really best for your company. You want to make sure you choose a font that fits the feel and attitude of your company while still making a statement. You can get a better idea of what font best fits your business by asking yourself some of the same questions that we ask our clients.

“When we’re making a new logo, it’s our job to feel out the client. What is their business? What is their mission? What is their culture like? What kind of clients are they working with?” Kristyn says. “If it’s a young, kind of hip company, then we can go with a young, hip font, but if a lot of their clientele is 50 and older, we need to make sure that it’s appropriate to the demographic of people that they’re working with.”

For example, Kristyn says, a law firm would not want to go with Curlz MT as their font face, but a Dr. Seuss-themed pediatric dentist might want something a bit more in keeping with the whimsical feel of the books it is based on.

“Every company is different. That means that every font chosen is going to be different,” Kristyn says.

BONUS:How a Graphic Designer Can Help Keep Your Print Materials Fresh

Color Matters

Our favorite fonts are nothing without color, which says just as much about your business as your font does.

“Colors have all their theories about what they mean, and people take those seriously,” Kristyn says. “We all have this same kind of idea that pink is feminine and blue is masculine, and red means angry, and black means angry, and yellow means happy and sunshine. It says something about your company.”

If you’re running a law firm, for example, pink probably isn’t going to be your first choice of brand colors. You’re much more likely to opt for red, black, or yellow, which are typically seen as more strong and authoritative.

It’s also important that you use your colors consistently with your font choice to prevent brand confusion. Kristyn uses Google as an example.

“Their company is recognized not just because of their name, but you think of Google you think of the red, the blue, the green,” she says. “That’s just colors. It’s nothing really to do with the font but they have to go hand in hand.”

BONUS:What Colors Work Best for Direct Mail Campaigns?

For more tips on choose a font and color, or to learn more about our design and print services, give Printing Solutions a call at 480-596-6300.

The post How to Choose the Best Fonts for 2016 appeared first on Printing Solutions.

Studies show that having a business card is important. Sales increase 2.5 percent for every 2,000 business cards passed out, according to a recent survey, but that’s far from the only reason to have one.

If you’re considering purchasing business cards — a bestseller in our rebranding department since our company began — then these five reasons you need a business card are just for you.

1. Branding

For the biggest reason to have a business card, look no further than recognition. Your business card is often one of the first points of contact that people will have with you, and from that first introduction, it subtly says something about you.

“It’s the one thing that you can hand out that’s not expensive and is branding yourself and showing who you are,” says Kristyn Lechwar, Director of Marketing at Printing Solutions. “I can’t imagine not having even something simple.”

A plain, black-and-white version with just the basics — company name and logo, your name and title, and your contact information — will do the trick. But to really wow new contacts, you’ll want to opt for something a little more rare. The stock of paper, the finish quality, and even the colors you choose to print in all play a role in how your business card is received.

“You only get one first impression. You don’t get a second one,” Kristyn says. “If it’s all about getting your name out there in the community, you better make sure it’s top-notch, because you’re only going to get to do that once.”

BONUS: 3 Reasons Why Your Business Cards Aren’t Working

2. Credibility

Business cards lend credibility to your work and show that you’re serious about what you do.

The thickness of a card plays a large role here. Thinner cardstocks tend to feel cheaper, which simply doesn’t convey the authority and austerity of a thick, luxurious card. If the latter is the impression you’re looking to make on new clients and contacts, our cotton card may be the one for you.

“It’s actual cotton that’s compressed, and it’s a super thick card,” Kristyn says.

If cotton cards sound like a bit much for you, there are other ways to establish credibility with your business cards. Extra touches like embossing, glossy finishes, and high-resolution colored graphics all point to extra care taken in the impression you’re making.

3. Personality

Showing that you mean business is all well and good, but serious doesn’t always fit a company’s culture. That’s where design comes into play to create a business card that expresses your personality.

“It’s an insane number of different types of business cards that we can do,” Kristyn says. “I know we can do over 30 different types of business cards for sure. Anything that you’ve ever Googled about cool business cards, we can do it.”

Depending on the message you want to convey, you may want a business card that makes strategic use of finishes, paper thickness, or holographic details. You may want to consider embossing, foil accents, or rounded corners.

Or if you’re like one of our clients, you may steer clear of paper entirely.

“The client actually bought a plastic fake cassette that had a USB that popped back inside of it,” Kristyn says. “It looked like a cool USB that you would just have in your backpack but it was printed with their company’s business card on it.”

Whatever your own taste and personality may be, a business card is the perfect way to express yourself from the moment you make a new acquaintance.

BONUS: Make a Lasting Impression with Unique Business Cards

4. Reference

A business card isn’t just a statement piece — it’s also a handy reference tool for the person who receives it.

Nearly every business card printed includes at least one form of contact information for the person handing it out, and usually lists several ways to get in touch. For a business with a heavy social media presence, it may be wise to include the company’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts along with the traditional email and phone number.

If you frequently meet with clients or patients, you may also want to include a space for notes or appointment information on the back of your card. This gives your clients a bit more context as to why they have your card, and it encourages them to engage with it. It also makes them less likely to throw it away, ensuring that your name and business will stick around in their homes for longer.

5. Longevity

As simple as it is to email or text someone your contact information, sometimes it’s nice to hold a piece of paper now and then.

This is where business cards come in handy. The nicer the stock and finish of your card, the longer it tends to stick around on someone’s desk. And the more your new contacts see your card, the more likely they are to act on the prompts it carries.

This is especially true if you’ve incorporated color into your business card design. A recent study shows that while 88 percent of business cards will be thrown out in a week, prospective clients hold onto a color card 10 times longer than a plain black-and-white card.

BONUS: 3 Signs That It’s Time to Update Your Business Cards

Need A Business Card Designed?

To learn more about our many options for business cards, or for help designing your own, give Printing Solutions a call at 480-596-6300.

The post 5 Reasons You Need a Business Card appeared first on Printing Solutions.

BONUS: Tips to Finding a Great Graphic Designer For Your Marketing Material

Help You Strategize

A good graphic designer should be able to design with a strategy in mind, and often customers will seek out someone whose designs get results. For Printing Solutions, this is most common among our direct mail clients.

“We have a lot of people asking us to do the same thing: ‘Help us rebrand,’ or ‘Identify what needs to be on the front,’ or ‘How do I get people to look at my piece?’” says Kristyn Lechwar, Printing Solutions’ Director of Marketing. “‘How can I attract somebody without them throwing it in the trash?’”

With direct mail especially, design is a crucial part of how well your campaign performs, so it’s important that any designer you choose is also abreast of the latest trends in design. Google and Microsoft are two companies that opted for a more minimalistic design over the past year, and many companies are choosing to follow right on their heels.

“It’s not really about making your logo and company brand totally insane so that you stick out,” Kristyn says. “It’s much more about getting your point across and not having to do so many things to make that point. It’s very clean, very simple.”

BONUS: How Often Should You Update Your Direct Mail Design?

Update Your Look

For some companies, that recommended design strategy may include a complete brand refresh. Printing Solutions recently did a brand update for a client whose business had held the same look for more than 20 years.

“So many years ago it was all about the ‘Boom, Pow,’ and the craziness,” Kristyn says. “We changed some colors around, we brought out colors that they had in their logo but were just not prominent, and we switched them and kind of just made things look a little bit more simplistic.”

For Brown and Associates, the client whose brand we redesigned, the update had a dramatic impact.

“The design experience was easy, quick and to the point,” says Malinda Brown, co-owner of Brown and Associates. “The ‘fresher look’ was just what our company needed with our new office space and new address.”

But 20 years is a long time to wait between updates to your printed materials. At Printing Solutions, we usually recommend that our clients update their design once every year or so to keep things fresh.

“You don’t have to redo your large format printing as long as your company doesn’t change,” Kristyn says. “But in terms of your brochures and flyers and business cards, those things should be updated based on the pace of your company. If you’re heading more in that forwards direction, you can spend more on marketing material. And obviously the more money you spend, the cooler the graphics and print materials we can do for you.”

BONUS: 3 Signs That it’s Time to Update Your Business Cards

Start From Scratch

While most companies we work with already have a design in place for the majority of their printed materials, sometimes our designers get the chance to create something completely from scratch.

“It is somewhat rare that clients send us print-ready artwork for large format,” Kristyn says. “We usually have to create it because most companies’ logos don’t always work as a giant banner. They have to have a tagline; they have to have an actual design created for a banner.”

This large format design should reflect your existing brand, using the same logos, colors, and other design elements as the rest of your printed materials. Our graphic designers will assess your current brand to design a large format banner that is cohesive with your company’s look.

BONUS: Why You Need a Graphic Designer to Create Your Logo or Marketing Materials

Are you looking to freshen up your company’s look? Printing Solutions may be just the printer for you. From direct mail postcards to business cards to large format banners and more, we have all of your freshening-up needs covered.

Need A Graphic Designer?

To learn more about our services or to request an estimate, give us a call at 480-596-6300.

The post How a Graphic Designer can Help Keep Your Print Materials Fresh appeared first on Printing Solutions.