Kinetic Marketing and Design - Grimsby Graphic Design, Advertising and Marketing

The marketing material you use in your business can make or break your business. In some cases it’s the first impression a potential customer or client will have of you and it will either make them feel confident in using your services or turn them away and seek out your competitors.

I see it time and again with companies approaching us for a revamp of their logo, websites, brochures, flyers etc. Often they’ve had it done quickly when starting up with very little thought about it, in some cases just going for the cheapest and seemingly easiest option and letting the printers / magazines / sign companies they've approached do the design work or even worse have knocked up something themselves or using online templates. At the time it may feel like it is another box ticked but then 12 months down the line realise they need a better image.

I've put together a few questions that I hope will help any new start up business or indeed any business that is looking to update or change their image.

Whilst writing my previous blog on the importance of design in creating a good impression  it got me thinking about how logo design also made an impression on me, and again it was music and band logos (I think I may have to dig out some of the 80’s classics from my garage).

Maybe I was just a strange teenager, but I used to memorise the logos and using the lines in my text book (wallpapered in my favourite band of course) I would try and get as many logos of my favourite bands and artists on a page as I could.

Logos like Ultravox and Visage appear to be very simple but looking closely and the interest is in the letters 'AV' on the Ultravox logo. Simple but effective. Did it make an impression, YES and I still prefer simple, clever logos that don’t rely on fancy photoshop or illustrator effects for impact (see our own logo for example).

No this is not a reflection of my new meat cravings since I have fallen of the vegetarian wagon, but an acknowledgement of what I think is one of the most dramatic and successful design rebrands in recent times.

Love or hate McDonalds, I can honestly say that if you had asked me if I thought they could reinvent themselves away from the garish red and yellow plastic, hoody-hell that is my experience of McD’s, I would have said ‘no way’.

In fact, having worked with some big brands in my time I know how entrenched branding that has survived since it was created in the 1970’s can be and how big a mountain changing one of the core colours (red) and replacing with a dark green would be to overcome. But (in Europe at least), this is what has happened.

When you start up a business what are your priorities?

Premises. Staff. Stock. Suppliers.

Where does you business identity come in this ever expanding list? For many start ups, in my experience, pretty far down the list would be the honest answer.

The catalyst usually comes when there is a need for business cards, stationery, advertisement or signage. “ Can you send us your logo?” is a phrase that sets you panicking. “I haven’t got one” you reply sheepishly only to be assured that it isn’t a problem and that free design is all part of the cost.

Now at this stage you may well breathe a sigh of relief, but this may not be the answer you were looking for.