Managing the marketing and creative process is essential and for many, it is a headache. It doesn’t have to be and in this post we conclude our hints and advice for managing a project successfully, through to completion and beyond. Sketches Work Always do a rough draft of what you think the finished piece ought to look like. Usually it is the most appropriate version and with refinement ends up as the finished product. Once you have drawn up initial drafts, leave them for a couple of days and come back to them – this gives you a good perspective on the proposal and you can focus on the design rather than the content. Don’t underestimate the power of a rough visual or draft for everyone involved. Work with Your Print Partner When you are working with a commercial print partner, use them as a design and advice resource. There is probably very little you are attempting that they haven’t tried a dozen times or more in the past. They are a great knowledge resource so use them. Edit and Review Editing is known as the butcher’s trade but it is vital – editing will improve the finished product by simplifying and clarifying the message as well as avoiding embarrassing mistakes

Managing the marketing and creative process is essential and for many, it is a headache. It doesn’t have to be and in this post we conclude our hints and advice for managing a project successfully, through to completion and beyond. Sketches Work Always do a rough draft of what you think the finished piece ought to look like. Usually it is the most appropriate version and with refinement ends up as the finished product. Once you have drawn up initial drafts, leave them for a couple of days and come back to them – this gives you a good perspective on the proposal and you can focus on the design rather than the content. Don’t underestimate the power of a rough visual or draft for everyone involved.

Managing the marketing and creative process is essential and for many, it is a headache. It doesn’t have to be and in this post we conclude our hints and advice for managing a project successfully, through to completion and beyond. Sketches Work Always do a rough draft of what you think the finished piece ought to look like. Usually it is the most appropriate version and with refinement ends up as the finished product. Once you have drawn up initial drafts, leave them for a couple of days and come back to them – this gives you a good perspective on the proposal and you can focus on the design rather than the content.

The longest project is the one you don’t get started, and frequently where to begin is a problem. Knowing where to start is a boon, so here we’re going to cover some structure to provide over the creative process and which will help you manage the whole process while keeping it on track to help your business. It doesn’t matter whether you are creating a marketing brochure or a humble flyer, the principles are all the same, however you will need more of these basics applied when you deal with more complicated or larger projects. The Marketing Blueprint Establish a blueprint and then stick to it – this is your guide through the desert, so while you may exercise flexibility, you also should be careful that everyone is sticking to the plan too. A blueprint helps you be effective, stick to budget and be able to measure the results against your benchmark standards. Review Examples Find examples of work which has already been done, either by you or by someone else, especially competitors. Look at how this has been approached in the past and what has worked and what has not. Distil the best from this and apply it to the project at hand. Think Benefits Not Features Benefits are succinct and to the point – they show a customer or prospect how your product or service will satisfy their needs.

The longest project is the one you don’t get started, and frequently where to begin is a problem. Knowing where to start is a boon, so here we’re going to cover some structure to provide over the creative process and which will help you manage the whole process while keeping it on track to help your business. It doesn’t matter whether you are creating a marketing brochure or a humble flyer, the principles are all the same, however you will need more of these basics applied when you deal with more complicated or larger projects. The Marketing Blueprint Establish a blueprint and then stick to it – this is your guide through the desert, so while you may exercise flexibility, you also should be careful that everyone is sticking to the plan too. A blueprint helps you be effective, stick to budget and be able to measure the results against your benchmark standards. Review Examples Find examples of work which has already been done, either by you or by someone else, especially competitors. Look at how this has been approached in the past and what has worked and what has not. Distil the best from this and apply it to the project at hand. Think Benefits Not Features Benefits are succinct and to the point – they show a customer or prospect how your product or service will satisfy their needs.

Color is a key element in print and graphic design (including web design) – good use of color will make an ad, induce prospective readers to pick up your collateral and add that “Factor X” which makes a great flyer. Poor use of color will result in a further contribution to the local landfill! Color must be made to be subservient to the overall rendition of the printed material – the message is key and all the other elements, such as layout, fonts, spacing, imagery and graphics must fall into line along with color in supporting the message. If you use color badly, this will disrupt the overall impact and impression you are looking to create. Too much will overload the material and prove a distraction from the result you are looking for. Too little color will render the printed material bland and lifeless. You must strike a balance which can sometimes be a very fine line and is where an experienced print designer and partner are worth every cent of the money they charge. Smaller projects, such as a business card, may use only one color, though two-colors will usually have a greater effect on the finished product. Multiple color schemes should usually be limited to the se of four colors to avoid overkill. No matter what the number of colors you use, you always should ensure that there is enough white space to contrast and place a setting for whatever imagery and colored text you are using to sit within