DESIGN MATTERS

GET YOUR MONEY'S WORTH
Keys: Set clear goals, be open-minded and let your organization's needs and audience be your guide
Think of design as content. Design is much more than decorating. A publication or website's design is a visual representation of your organization's style, mission, and products and services. It should serve your target audience and support your organization's goals.
Create clear project goals. Know who your audience is, the image you want to present, what messages you want to convey, and what you want the project to achieve. Make sure everyone who will approve the design agrees on these specifications. A lack of clear goals is a main reason projects jump off track and can cause increases in cost and hamper a designer's ability to do their best work.
Be open to new ideas. It's often helpful to show a designer examples of what you think is successful or to describe your ideas about possible solutions. Make sure not to limit the design options to your own concepts...you'll end up wasting money and it probably won't produce the best design.
Check personal preferences at the door. Do what's best for the company and its target audience. You may not like the color orange but if your target audience is young and hip, orange may be the way to go. Key considerations are: Will the design appeal to the audience? Does it reflect an image your organization wants to cultivate? Does it enhance your content and present it clearly?
Look at your publications as a set. Explain to designers the thinking behind previous projects - and make sure they see your other publications. It's important that the designer be able to get some background so they're not going to undo something that you've been trying to achieve. Even if it's a small project, it has to fit among all the other investments you've made to date.

Excerpts taken from an article written by Carolyn McMaster and Sandra Stewart of Real Edit

THINK POSITIVE!

In this depressed business climate, I continue to remind myself to think positive, stay focused and remember that the poor state of our economy is not permanent.
I continue to enjoy the areas of my life outside of work and cherish the people that surround me.
Until next week...