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.

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.

Good logos should begin to tell a story about your business right away. Even without knowing the exact service or product you offer, a person seeing your logo will understand things about you and your business such as your attention to detail and your personality.

Here are 5 things your logo should say about your business:

1. Your Company’s Personality

A good logo should have some kind of personality to it. You want to find the balance between being too cold and stiff and too vague. By strategically using colors, shapes and design, your logo should easily convey the feel and style of your of your company.

2. We Are Professional

No matter what shapes or colors your logos use, it should send a message of professionalism. This can be accomplished by good design. Even the most fun or flowery logo can come across professional if designed right. You want your clients to know that you take your business seriously.

3. Confidence in What We Offer

Similar to being professional, your logo should be strong and unapologetic. Don’t make the mistake of being vague or too subtle with your logo design. People pick up on this whether you realize it or not. Knowing how to create strength in a logo is not always easy, but you’ll recognize it when you see it.

4. Class

Even very edgy and amusing logos can be respectful to their audiences. This is a sure sign of class, something that most clients and customers are looking for. Use your best judgment when deciding on a logo so that the class of your company shines through.

5. We’ll Be Around For the Future

Designing a logo that will stand the test of time is perhaps the trickiest part of the process. Yet stability and longevity are 2 important things that your contacts are looking for. Make sure that whoever is designing your logo has an understanding of simplicity and smoothness that will prolong the life of your logo.

Related: 4 Ways You May be Creating Inconsistency With Your Brand

Printing Solutions offers graphic design services, including logos for businesses who are either just getting started or looking for a fresh rebranding. Give us a call at 480 596 6300 to discuss logo designing options. Find out how we’ve helped many businesses find the right logo that speaks to their audience.

The post 5 Things Your Logo Should Say About Your Business appeared first on Printing Solutions.

The technology and ability to create metal cards has existed for some time now, but never with the precision and scope of design capabilities as we have now. Consider it a high-definition etching of your business image on a sleek, sophisticated sheet of stainless steel. It is the perfect combination of structure and functionality. Now think about handing that to your potential clients or partners, as opposed to the traditional paper and ink version of the past.

Related: What to Include on Your Business Cards.

About Metal Business Cards

Metal business cards are available in variety of finishes and colors. If you like the bold look of black steel with silver-gray etching, we can give you that look. If you want the class and style of gold, silver or copper, we can deliver those options as well. You can also choose from different thicknesses and etching styles, and can request custom cutouts and shapes, too.

These state of the art metal business cards are just one more way that Printing Solutions can help you impress your contacts, surpass your competition and stay relevant and modern with your business branding and design. We also offer a variety of services including logo and branding development, marketing materials, and other vital business design and printing services.

Related: Why you Need a Graphic Designer for you Logo.

Want Metal Business Cards?

Start with metal business cards in 2015 and know that the possibilities are endless. Our talented team of graphic designers will ensure that you have the text, image, color and texture you need to deliver your brand identity with the finest design and highest quality product possible.

The post Metal Business Cards? 2015 Print Trends You Must Know appeared first on Printing Solutions.

Related: Your Pre-Print Checklist

Our graphic designers are highly trained and can walk you through the redesign process step by step. They’ll make sure to put your vision down on paper and spend time with you working out just what that vision is.

Here’s why you should leave your design to the professionals:

• The design process will be faster – Our graphic designers are good at what they do. Actually, they’re great! They know design software like the back of their hand so the process will go a lot faster than if you have a an amateur artist work on your design or do it yourself.

This of it this way… It’s like hiring an artist to paint your family portrait, then you realize it’s going to cost money so you decide to do it yourself, but you only know how to “paint by numbers”. The lack of experience will show.

• You’ll have a professional look to your materials – Even an untrained eye can tell the difference between an amateur and professionally designed logo. You can look at almost any business and compare their first logo when they were first starting to their current logo and see the progression as they hired better designers. We want your logo to give off the right vibe so we’ll spend as long as it takes to get it just right.

• Consistency – Once you’ve created your look, you want it to remain consistent throughout your marketing materials and your website. Colors should match exactly, logos should be appropriately sized and your tone and wording should be consistent as well.

The fact is, you’ll get what you pay for. If you spend a little extra, you’ll get a better designed logo, brochure, poster or whatever it may be. We value our graphic designers here at Printing Solutions because they get the job done well and to the client’s specifications. Even if you have no idea what it is you want, we can set up a time for you to visit with one of our designers and strategize on what would be best for your business.

Related: Include This On Your Business Card

We want you to put your best foot forward in any scenario whether it be handing out your business card at a meeting or setting up your booth at a trade show, showcasing your logo and brand. If you have any questions about our designers, would like one a graphic designer to create your logo or want more information on any of our print materials in Phoenix, please call 480-596-6300.

The post Why You Need a Graphic Designer to Create Your Logo or Marketing Materials appeared first on Printing Solutions.