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Just like there are different client types, there are a different types of designers. Knowing your key strengths is important. Just as important is recognising your weaknesses. If you see yourself in some (or all) of these, then take notes and enjoy reflecting on how you can become an even better designer!

Have you ever thought that you’re unique? Or felt that you’re just one of thousands out there struggling to get a project?

Most likely, both of these statements are true. Many designers are out there trying to get their next project and most of them have their own processes and styles. Still there are some characteristics that rate high on the scale and others that barely register. So what kind of designer are you?

Dobson’s are your communication specialists. Did you know we do more than just print?

Find some of our favourite tips for a successful e-newsletter. Easy to use and effective- just like us!

Strategy

The first thing you should do for any communication material is create a strategy. What are you trying to achieve? Who is your audience? How will you deliver your message and measure its success?

Typography is a subtle art that is often overlooked. Focusing instead on the graphics and colours in an artwork can be to the detriment of the design. All the design elements need to be consistent in portraying your message and there are many different aspects of typography and many terms. Here is a short list of terminology that you may not know (even the design experts out there).

How the Environment Affects Print

Thinking about how and where your printing is going to be displayed is a key factor in determining how to design it and what materials to use. Think about who will be using your print and where it will be. If you’re business card is going to be in someone’s wallet, should you use a coating so it stays nicer for longer? If so, are you going to use matt, gloss or UV?

Attention!

When developing marketing or collateral, the first thing to consider is your audience. Online viewers seek you out and their attention is captured with a range of images, video and sound. The aim is to engage people for a period of time so that they are receptive to your message. In print, you need to grab attention of your audience from whatever else they are doing and have, on average, a 3 second window to portray your message.

Online businesses can no longer be simply online. More and more, we are seeing web-based businesses invest in print collateral. Their greatest challenge is to figure out how to create effective print design to promote their online business.

Fixing low-res images

Resolution is the detail that an image holds. Poor resolution will give out a poor finished product. Having images that are blurry, grainy or unclear looks unprofessional and distracts from your overall message. We suggest keeping resolution at 300dpi or higher for the best finished product.

But sometimes you need to make the best of what you’ve got. So what do you do when you have poor image resolution?  Here are some of our quick tips when using Adobe Photoshop CS2 or higher.

Why branded notepads work

When you answer a phone call, find an important bit of information or need to remind yourself of something later, what do you do? You write it down. Every day, several times a day, we scribble down our thoughts, messages and to-do lists onto notepads.

Tips for achieving brand consistency

Your brand is your business’ identity. Keeping your brand in mind is vital before designing any collateral including marketing or promotional collateral. Getting a copy of your business’ style guide is the first step. If your company does not have a style guide which defines how to use your branding, then get one! Talk to Dobson’s today to help you put a style guide together. Your guide will ensure consistency in all the collateral released by your business. This in turn creates strength in your brand recognition and longevity within your market.

Troubleshooting with Duotones in Photoshop

Duotone is a file made up of 2 spot (or pantone) colours.

Printed files are generally output as CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) colours, but ask your Account Manager at Dobson’s if you are unsure.

Computer screens use RGB (Red, Green, Black) colours.

Renewing your image this financial year

The end of the financial year is approaching quickly and things are getting busy as businesses try to wrap up the last year. They generally have their heads down, reviewing performance, gathering data and chasing invoices.

The EOFY also means one thing, the beginning of the next financial year! Budgets will be renewed and people start planning (and spending) for the year ahead, so now is the perfect time to think about your marketing and your brand. Don’t be afraid to revamp your brand and go all out with your marketing. Having a presence in your market is vital to ensure new business and to make sure your customers keep coming back. Standing out from your competitors, for the right reasons, will help drive your business to gain new customers, recapture old customers and gain market share.

Leveraging Soccer To Sell

It’s unavoidable. The FIFA World Cup is in the media- on the TV, in the newspapers and in store promotions and more. World Cup Fever has taken hold of Australia. For those of us that braved the cold at 4 am to watch the first Australian game, you may have noticed the advertising present as you averted your eyes from yet another German goal. Spectators sported printed flags, signs and various merchandise (including the oh-so-annoying horns that they blow the entire match!). You may have a printed wall planner so that you can keep up with the games at home and you probably read about the games you couldn’t stay up all night to watch printed in the paper in the morning.

Tips for conducting a press check

If you are printing a new job that requires perfection, why not conduct a press check? This is done as the print run gets underway in order to make sure the outcome is exactly what you want. While errors should have been corrected during the proofing stage, the main purpose of a press check is to make sure that the colour on press comes as close as possible to the colour proof.

Here are some tips for conducting a successful press check.

First thing is first

Take an overall view of the document. Does it look and feel they way you wanted it to?

CD/DVD duplication, slips and cases

With so much focus on the latest movies- Avatar, Precious, The Road, Sex and the City 2- we forget that Dobson’s does CD and DVD printing, duplication and more.

Do you have an informational or promotional CD or DVD you want people to use? Brand more than just the content! You can send a powerful message on the CD or DVD itself as well as the packaging. There are so many great ideas on how to package a disk from the classic plastic cases with a printed slip, to a printed piece with a slot for the disk that you can mail. For all the suitable mailing requirements, see our Resources page or simply talk to a Dobson’s Account Manager for advice and guidelines.

Dobson’s can even assist in compiling CD and DVDs.  Technological advances mean that you can include several types of resources on the same disk, from links to articles, web pages, videos and more.

Door hangers are making a comeback

Door hangers as a marketing tool seem, well, a little bit outdated. Do they really make a difference? The answer is yes!

Like many traditional marketing tools, with great quality printing and the right application, you can get great results! A little creativity goes a long way. If door hangers seem like a less than legitimate way to promote your business, then take a look at a couple examples of people who are using door hangers and using them successfully.

In the US, the Democratic National Party distributed 750,000 door hangers before a major vote. And for good reason. A study at Harvard University found that door hangers were one of the most effective means of mobilising voter turnout. Even Obama utilised the door hanger:

Adhesives for any purpose

Stickers are versatile. They can go on most surfaces, inside and outside. They can be left at the site of a job, as a promotional tool for customers, on cars of employees. Some of the most creative marketing has come in the form of stickers. Would you get into this elevator?

Either way, this floor graphic has got your attention!

Copy tips for great marketing

Communicating to your existing and potential customers through marketing is important. It reinforces what you have communicated verbally and gives more in depth information. Having printed information creates a sense of validity to your company and the message you portray. Design gets initial attention but your copy is what gets your audience to act.

Here are a few tips on what to consider when writing your next marketing piece:

1. Your audience.

In order to communicate effectively the first thing you should consider is this- who am I communicating with? Thinking about your audience and how they would react to different styles of writing will help you make an informed decision before you start.

Is there a place for print?

Technology is moving at a rapid pace. With the launch of the new iPad you could be forgiven for thinking that the future lies with the world of Facebook, emails and gadgets. Although these things make up a great portion of our world today- we would certainly struggle without email and clearly embrace online mediums such as this blog!- many marketing opportunities exist outside the online world. Promoting your business through print and marketing can gain amazing results.

Paper is part of business everyday (for proof visit www.papereveryday.com.au) in one way or another. Whether it be handing out business cards, providing receipts or point of sale displays in shopping centres, paper is here to stay. We are constantly bombarded by online media and as such it is more difficult to capture the attention of your market online.

Getting great turnaround

How many times have you been let down by your printing running late? Reliable printers are hard to come by.

We realise how important it is to have the tri-fector of the best quality printing, value and fast turnaround. We know if your items are late, it can cost you money. At Dobson’s we pride ourselves on delivering on time, every time.

Our couriers deliver within the Sydney metro area daily and free of charge. We also deliver all around Australia and around the world! We can register your printed items at Australia post for you and advise you on how to adhere to Australia post mailing guidelines.

Managing expectations is very important so keep in mind that the turnaround on standard items is about 3-4 days.

Personalised For The Home or Office

Ever wanted a piece of yourself or your business on the coffee table instead of the latest issue of an industry magazine? More and more Dobson’s is printing personalised digitally printed books for people to enjoy. Why not give it a try?

With digital printing a one off publication is more economical than ever before and Dobson’s in-house bindery provides a range of options to suit the look you are after…and your budget.