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Hillcrest’s Inaugural Business Expo

March 15, 2013Leave a Comment

Hillcrest’s Inaugural Business Expo is on today from 4pm-7pm. If you’re on the Gold Coast, come along to grab your One Day Only Offers from many of the businesses that will be displayed there today (Bridgeman Drive, Reedy Creek).

Even many of the corporate companies in our local area — Bunnings, Officeworks, Maccas at Reedy Creek and Westpac have generously donated. There are expo bags packed full of goodies including the amazing special deals and giveaways donated by the exhibitors! This day is one not to be missed.

Bunnings will be doing a kids craft class making mosaic coasters — for FREE! Plus there are plenty of other things to keep the kiddies entertained!

Concept-Designs is excited to be there with another great table styling by Sensationally Sweet Events. PLUS I have a fantastic one day only offer!! But you must come down to claim your offer.

After all our rain, what a beautiful day the Gold Coast has put on for us — not a cloud in the sky from where I’m sitting!! Thanks to all the organisers for the hours that have gone into putting on this event.

I’m look forward to seeing you there.

Heated Competition between Facebook and Twitter

March 15, 2013Leave a Comment

Word on the street is that internet social media rivals Facebook and Twitter are taking things to a new level with a little heated competition when it comes to mobile advertising.

In an attempt to keep ahead of the market the question on the street is “Will Facebook adopt Twitter’s #Hashtag?”

According to the ‘Wall Street Journal’ ‘Facebook is testing whether to follow Twitter’s lead and allow users to click on a hashtag to pull up all posts about similar topics or events so it can quickly index conversations around trending topics and build those conversations up, giving users more reason to stay logged in and see more ads’.

I wonder if Facebook will follow this trend considering their recent acquisition, Instagram already uses hashtags to sort pics by the symbol.

It’s all about the continued fight for the advertising dollar. Twitter is really stepping up the competition and to that end, their aggressive marketing has narrowed the gap between the two rivals where Twitter is predicted to make a mere $249 Million in mobile advertising alone. Good luck to them I say!!

Did anyone see the superbowl advertising through Twitter? Apparently around 52 of the national TV carriers in the US used the #hashtag at the end of all their advertising. Twitter would of loved that — bringing in the big bucks.

So, the question remains, will #Facebook adopt the #hashtag?? #Watchthisspace!!

Six Key Ideas to Graphic Design

January 30, 2013

‘A Picture says a Thousand Words’, but what words do they say?

If you doubt the power of images then look at these trademarks which are recognised all around the world

• McDonalds

• Nike

• Cross

• Starbucks

• Crescent

Already for good or bad, you have associated meaning to these symbols but what it is not is neutral. For some people it has positive meaning, for others negative.

When considering your graphic design and logo, take a moment to ask yourself these following two questions:

What does my audience see when they see my logo, my brochures and my advertising?
How do I define myself, my service and my product to my customers?

Here are six graphic design tips to consider when branding your product or service:

1. Keep your graphic design simple

By simple I do not mean dumbing down your ideas but rather creating ideas that are profound and yet simple.

To do this you need to define what is core to your business. It could be value for money, quality workmanship, a high level of experience, that you are innovative, that you are an award winner.

What is it that you want people to know? Search for the one or two key things that make you stand out from the rest and that you can deliver on.

2. Have an unexpected twist in your graphic design

How do you hook your audience to pay attention to your ideas and sustain their interest? For an idea to endure you must generate interest and curiosity, don’t make your message predictable, cliché nor gimmicky.

3. People need to know you are credible

How do you make people believe you service, brand or product is better than your competitor? In your graphic design, reveal the credentials of your business or event. Who are you associated with? Are you a member of any groups or associations?

Space is key to any graphic design you prepare so always drive people to your website where they can flick through the pages of your business and find the pieces to complete your picture.

4. Make your graphic design and images clear and concrete

Research suggests that our brains are wired to remember concrete data but the question is how do we make our ideas clear so they mean the same thing to everyone in our audience? Always include concrete imagery to accompany your carefully crafted message, mission statements, strategies and visions.

5. Tap into an emotive experience

We are all naturally wired to feel things for people, not abstractions. So how do you encourage people to care about your product, your service or your brand? Key to this is helping people to feel something and to evoke an emotion. It may be an emotion of enjoyment, anticipation, security, workmanship or belonging. The key is determining which emotion to evoke in your designing.

6. Use graphic design to tell a story

How do you get people to act on your ideas? You tell stories. Help people see themselves in the story of your brand, product or service. Help people dream about the story and help people complete the end to the story you are advertising.

As Steve Jobs said, “Creativity is connecting things”. Take these six tips and connect them together and make your idea, brand, product or service stand out more than the business that follows you. When scanning Google or trolling the internet, remind me why I should pick your product and not the next person.

Feel free to contact us if you have any further questions regarding this article or if we can help in any way with your graphic design needs.