Vanilla Spin Blog!

Information and Editorial Design by Katie Stone

When presenting information, the designers job is not just to choose pretty colours and nice fonts. We have a duty to ensure that the reader can access and interpret the facts and figures efficiently. If we do our job right, the reader should have a seamless and pleasant experience. If done poorly, the reader will not digest the information and your important message could be lost in translation.

I have had the opportunity to design and put together a few long documents recently. Documents such as annual reports and marketing tenders. This task can seem quite challenging at the beginning because once you have a refined design you then have to implement and format over 60 pages of copy, tables and graphs.

The key is flexibility and speed.

Adobe InDesign is the program of choice for these ventures as it allows us to set up a variety of paragraph, character, table and object styles. We use rules, glyphs, em spaces, section numbers and so much more to create a final product that is consistent and looks great. We can even create hyperlinks and bookmarks within the digital version of the final product.

Because we control every element of the layout we can make changes and additions smoothly and efficiently. Saving us time and the client money.

Check out our latest tender document that we created for National Foods. This fresh layout had a tight deadline but with our super know-how and nifty tricks we were able to design and supply a product that was exactly what our client was after.

Other great Informational and Editorial Design can be seen here:
http://www.graphis.com/media/viewer/?view=8498e8abff234a28e69fb84be8818dfb
http://dzineblog.com/2011/02/105-best-annual-report-design-inspiration.html

With annual report season coming up I’m looking forward to putting all these tips and tricks into practice.

by Jessica Blackwood

That Little {Something Something}

Vanilla Spin’s Starting Fresh? monthly special has got me thinking… What is that little something something that makes a great business card?

Remember that scene from American Psycho where Bateman and his co-workers are comparing their business cards and debating the virtues of bone, eggshell and white? Perhaps it’s all in the finer detail?

“Look at that subtle off-white colouring. The tasteful thickness of it.
Oh my God, it even has a watermark.” Patrick Bateman, American Psycho 2000

Business cards are a competitive field for any industry – really, how much space in your wallet or card folder do you have left for yet another business card? I know I do a regular cull and only keep the cards that have that little something something that stops me from throwing it away. I would of course never throw out a card belonging to a friend, family member or existing contact.

A business card is a great way to promote yourself and business to other people. As the first impression you leave with a potential client, your business card is by far the most important component of your brand identity. Another question that needs to be considered when putting together a new business card – what do you want your target audience to do with it? Is it going in their wallet? Or do you want them to stick it on their desk or fridge, maybe show it to someone else because its so gosh darn clever?

Whether it’s the design, colour, image, paper stock or shape, there is a little something something about these cards that would stop me from giving them the flick.

How about your card? Click here to start a fresh new design for your business.

by Sharon England

What Makes a Great Business Card
Without question the two most important things a business card must do are make a positive initial impact and ensure that you are remembered.

Almost every type of business has some form of business card, so at some stage it is likely that you will need to fork out some hard earned dollars for one (or for many). You may as well make your investment count. Consider your options carefully and open your mind to new ideas. This is your chance to shine, to show your clients you are professional, organised, creative and ready for business. 

Many small businesses invest time and money into the creation of a new logo but their focus on the branding will stop there. The business card itself can enhance that logo and should be thought through in terms of reflecting your business image and services. It doesn’t need to cost a fortune, even the slightest variation from the standard business card will leave your clients with a lasting impression and have your card sitting right at the front of the holder on their desks. Its all a matter of knowing a few tricks of the trade.

In many ways small business has an advantage over big business in this respect.

Corporates are often bound to the standard logo and name concept via conservative management and rigorous branding guidelines. As a small business you get the chance to be far more personal, colourful, creative and flexible with your presentation.

MAKE IT PERSONAL

• There is no rule that says you need to stick to the standard concept of your logo, name and address details. Add personal quotes, business tips or quirky one liners that will leave your potential customers smiling. And make sure you indicate through pictures or words exactly who you are and what it is that you do. People won’t recognize your logo like they might a big corporate so you shouldn’t leave them guessing about the services you are able to provide.
  

• Don’t use conventional titles. Be as creative with your copywriting as you would like to be with the graphics of the card. If you are a Chief Accountant, call yourself Head Number Cruncher. Reveal your own personality, instead of calling yourself a Computer Consultant, make yourself known as IT Whizzkid and Weekend Surfing Enthusiast, or in the line under your name write ‘capable of killer marketing concepts strictly after morning coffee’. Use a little humour. Where titles are complex add a cute interpretation. If you are a Customer Infrastructure Facilitator add a line underneath your title which says (that’s French for I can help you with your insurance.) Or ham it up the other way round, if your service is a simple one give it an air of sophistication, for instance an ironing lady (or man) could call themselves a Crease Elimination Specialist. The possibilities are endless but you get the idea. Mix it up a little. Don’t stick to the same old boring script. 
  

• Depending on what industry you work in, adding an extra line or two about yourself can create interest, help spark conversation and add depth to the impression you make on a potential client. For instance if you are in the music industry your card could include your favourite tracks, if you are in the sporting industry include your favourite team and favourite player. Personal likes/dislikes, career highlights and personal motivations also make interesting reading for any industry. The possibilities are endless but you get the idea. Mix it up a little. Don’t stick to the same old boring script. 
  

• Using the brilliant power of digital printing, these days it is easy and fairly cost effective to print a whole pack of business cards with different images on them, using different colours or different messages. If you have a little time to spend compiling your own images they can be uploaded easily into digital printing platforms from photo management programs like Flickr, Picasa and Facebook. Imagine how impressed your client would be if you could fan out a rainbow of different coloured cards and ask them to choose the one they like best. This idea works especially well for colour consultants and painters! 
  

• This digital capability is also great for companies that have a portfolio of work to show off, like builders, decorators, illustrators, photographers, fashion and jewellery designers, hairdressers etc. Use your pack of business cards to showcase your work.

GREAT GRAPHICS

• Using a professional graphic designer will ensure that attention is paid to your overall brand image. This will result in careful consideration of images, colours and fonts that all reflect your business image and retain consistency with your logo and their marketing material. Most designers used specialised software which allows them to to illustrate, treat photos and manipulate text in ways that standard programs Microsoft Word and Microsoft Publisher can not. It will also mean your cards have a professional, polished look and that your files are properly prepared for the printer. 
  

• Don’t shy away from using bold graphics, illustrations and photographs on your card. Just like the cover of a magazine they can help to add impact and make your card more eye catching than others.
  

• Designing your card to look to like something else can be a good way to stand out. For instance I have seen great cards designed to look like a chewing gun wrapper, a train ticket and and a pill packet. Perfect if your business can offer a quick fix solution!
  

• If you just can’t afford a designer there are quite a few websites these days that offer a range of professional looking templates, but be choosy. There are plenty out there that look plain nasty!
  

MAKE IT DIFFERENT

• Believe it or not there are hundreds, maybe thousands of ways to make your card different from the rest and they aren’t just differences in the design and layout of your artwork. 
  

• Consider the paper stock you use. Most printers these days will steer you towards a standard 300gsm standard stock card, which is generally the most economical option. If you choose this type of card consider adding a matt celloglaze finish which won’t cost much more but will give you a smooth, plastic like finish that feels good to touch.  For something more traditional and elegant choose a thick, creamy linen or textured stock. Consider metallic cards which come in many different colours and all shades of shiny.  Recycled stocks with a cardboard feel will work well for environmentally friendly businesses. Ask your graphic designer or printer to show you a range of paper samples, which are made readily available to them by all the major paper providers. Take a good look through for something that strikes your fancy whether it be be lumpy, bumpy, fuzzy or flamboyant. Be brave enough to step away from the norm.
  

• Make it tactile and consider using different materials. Business cards don’t necessarily have to be cards. Some of the best I have seen have been from different materials such as a thin transparent plastic, a see-through flouro acrylic tile, a screen printed cutting of plywood, metal tags and small sheets of rubber. Use fashion label tags as inspiration, adding fabric to the back of your card or use thread to sew stitches around the outside. Combine different papers in multi-layers for a fabulous finish or skip the concept of card altogether. Some of the less conventional ideas I have come across are having your details printed on to rubber wrist bands, pieces of a plate from a Greek Restaurant and pencils with oversized erasers for a freelance editor. I have seen a a great card for a marriage counsellor who rips the card in two and patches it back together with sticky tape and a garden centre who who prints their logo and details on a tiny envelope full of seeds. Focus on what your business does and think about the things you use everyday for inspiration.
  

• If your business is of a more conservative nature then there are still plenty of ways to stand out from the crowd. Tried and tested printing techniques such as blind embossing (where the shape of an image is pressed into the card so it becomes raised) evokes a feeling of luxury and quality. Having the edges of your cards gilded (printed in gold) will convey old school sophistication. 
  

• Consider the shape and size of your card. The standard business card size in Australia is 90mm x 55mm. If you have a lot of information to get across on your card use a foldout version with several leaves. By changing the shape of your card to a simple square or a longer thin strip you will have already differentiated yourself. Round cards can work for some businesses too. Rounded corners seem calm and refined. 
  

• Diecuts can be custom designed to provide all sorts of great effects. Create a unique shape for your card, cut it out in the shape of your logo, cut your logo out of the card itself or make it into the shape of something that represents your business  - a leaf, an animal, a surfboard, a microphone a building or a fancy frame.
  

PRESENTING YOUR CARD 

Finally, now that you have spent time and effort on your great new business card, don’t spoil the party by having to fossick through your handbag or briefcase to haul out something which is dog eared and covered in crumbs. Invest in a business card holder and have it a the ready at your next meeting or conference. Remember your cards are an investment in your business, so treat them with care and make sure you use them! Sadly there are millions of business cards stuck in boxes in cold, dark, lonely desk drawers all around the world. Hand yours out to everyone at every opportunity. The waitress at the next cocktail party you go to just might be you next best client.

by Tanya Were

A Glass Half Full
It’s almost summer, and I can feel a certain energy in the air. People seem happier when it’s warmer. The sun brings everyone out of hibernation and life seems a little brighter. What better way to start this month than to look at some of the finalists for Positive Posters and their theme of a glass half full.

We’re looking forward to seeing who wins and putting our own positive spin on your jobs in the coming months. Get started with some inspiration right on your desktop by downloading one of our FAB WALLPAPERS

by Tanya Were

Positive Pixels
As a graphic designer, my job is to make things look good, but how do you also make people feel good about design. A team from Melbourne have the answer and it’s called Positive Posters.

This is a non-profit international poster competition run by a group of volunteers who aim to “give graphic designers an outlet to create freely, and to use their skills to inspire, challenge and make a positive difference in a non-commercial way.”

The competition runs with a theme to give designers a direction and the rest is up to you. Freedom to design what you want to make a change in someone’s everyday life and how they view the world – now that’s a challenge.

After an amazing response to the first round of entries held last year for the theme CHANGE, this year is set to be even bigger running on the tag line A GLASS HALF FULL. Here are some of the best from last year, along with the winner. Any idea which poster won?

Top right. The simplest of the lot. Here is what the artist had to say about his creation:

“When I designed this poster, my goal was to not touch someone with strong typographic message but I attempt to make a emotional poster. So thats a reason, why I choose a big yellow background with smile. If somebody see this poster and he or she start to smile, I will be satisfied.” Peter Chmela, Slovakia

The idea of using design to make the world a better place has inspired me to sit down and create my own masterpiece for the competition. Being born a pessimist, it’s not going to be easy. You can get bogged down in the rules of design and corporate branding at times. We create design to sell things and we sell them well. This time I’ll be taking hold of the freedom Positive Posters is bringing to hopefully make the world a brighter place.

Maybe along the way I’ll be able to sell something else – optimism.

by Lucy Bode

Memento Madness
What is it about going on holidays that makes normally sane, reasonable consumers suddenly become enthralled with cheesy souvenirs? We all know the shops in question around Sydney, the ones selling the fluffy clip-on Koalas and anything made from sheep skin. The type of shop that you would never dream of stepping into. As soon as we leave our home turf however these exact shops suddenly become appealing.

I recently experienced this phenomenon on a holiday to Hawaii.

Usually opposed to the purchase of useless crap, I returned with a large array of ‘souvenirs’ including coconut flavoured candles, mini hola skirts, fake flower laes and stubby holders to name a few. Visiting these stores brought a feeling of excitement, wandering the aisles filled with sea shells, Hawaiian print shirts and novelty lighters for the quintessential tourist experience.

One item of interest I did discover is a postcard printed on wood veneer. The bright graphics coupled with the warmth of the wood presents a unique reminder of my trip. The postcard has prime position on my desk, being to good to actually send to anyone.

This is however the exception to the rule. In general the ‘design’ side of the Hawaiian souvenir world presents garish colours, kitsch sunset scenes and tasteless hibiscus and frangipani prints.

As much as they clash with my personal taste I still cannot help but be charmed by such things.

As tactless and cheesy as my magnetic thong shaped bottle opener with a surfer scene may be, it brings me instant happiness transporting me from my rainy Monday morning to Hawaiian days of beaches, sunshine and Mai Tais – if only for a split second.

by Christine Macabuag

The Blank Canvas
With the snow season in full swing, I can’t help but feel excited for the annual trip down to the slopes. Every year I see new clothing and snowboard designs that  make me itch to buy the new best thing, but most importantly it inspires me to design my own board. By the end of the season I usually have a sketch book full of ideas.

The fresh blanket of snow becomes the canvas and it’s all about the loudest colours and patterns, each element going against the grain of normal fashion, breaking all boundaries and in a way reflecting the nature of the extreme sport. The clothing and snowboards stand out against the white snow making it a great platform for art and design.

Many of the snowboard companies such as Burton and Endeavor commission artists from around the world to create artwork for their range of boards.

Looking at the 2010 Burton catalogue you can tell they spend a lot of money and time on the design and finishing of this booklet. With the gold foiling on the cover and page edges, this is something you truly want to hold on to. I still have the 2009 catalogue on my shelf and I refer to it every now and then for inspiration.

Below are some snapshots of the designs out there. I think it’s time for me to get my sketchbook out again.

by Katie Stone

Snail Mail
I always try to make a point of keeping in touch with friends and family, whether near of far. However, my big ambitions of long emails and photo albums have been replaced with the sporadic Facebook Poke. The Poke says ‘Hi, thinking of you but don’t have enough time to actually call and I’m not really that interested in how your day went’. With all these avenues of instant messaging it is easy to get complacent and not really connect with those around you. Conversation becomes just emoticons and witty comebacks.

I’m more interested in being the person who you choose to call when you have something on your mind and being a person who gets genuinely excited when told that their friend is painting their house a new shade of beige. I would like for the people in my life to know that they are special to me and that I think of them often.

For this reason I have taken up a habit that a friend of mine re-introduced me to… the good old snail mail.

I may not always have something to say but I often see something in the markets or in the newspaper that reminds me specifically of a person. So I will buy it, or cut out that snippet and mail it over with a quick explanation of how this made me think of them. If I see a quirky 1950’s postcard or a set of beautifully illustrated greeting cards, I wont keep them to myself anymore, I will send them on. I have had the chance to receive a few items such as these in the mail. The unexpected surprise brings a smile to my face and I realise that the sender has put time and thought into getting this message to me. Warmth.

My latest items destined for the post are some early 1920 knitting patterns that I found in Kirribilli and a set of hand drawn postcards by David Choe.

Vanilla Spin often send out little mailers to let their clients know that they are valued and appreciated. I love this idea and have begun to design a few bits and pieces to put on postcards for the future. It is a quick and personal way of keeping in touch and lets the receiver know that you are thinking of them.

So next time, instead of sending out that generic group email, think of a way to make your message just that little bit more meaningful.

Check out www.davidchoe.com for a full look at David Choe’s work.

E team@vanillaspin.com
P 02 94 600 600

by Tanya Were

Be Fearless with Fonts
All graphic designers will tell you that they are always on the look-out for new fonts. They are used in every piece of work we create, and we are hungry for more.

We want new serifs. We want new sans serifs. Slab fonts, scripts, something geometric, something formal, something that screams ‘I’m really cool, look at me!’. We always want something new, something that no-one else has used yet, and it can become an addiction.

But it’s also easy to get lazy and some fonts are hard to beat. Helvetica Neue for body copy, Impact for that big, bold heading and Din for something clean and simple. We can get stuck in a font rut at times and deadlines can make it hard to crawl out. I’m still recovering from my addiction to Gill Sans and Futura and who knows if I’ll ever stop using Century Gothic. These fonts are safe. I’ve tried them before and they work. Why step out into the great unknown now?

Why? Because we must move on. We must forge new ground and go on the search for the great new fonts out there. Reach for new ascenders and trawl through the depths of descenders. Don’t become stale and take the easy route. Nothing was created without a bit of blood, sweat and inspiration.

All it takes is a few moments before you launch into that new design to say ‘I’m going to try something different today’. Don’t listen to Myriad Pro whispering in the background for you to use her again. Take up the challenge. Go meet someone new and introduce yourself. Who knows, you might start up a beautiful relationship that could last,.. well 6-12 months max.

Go on, be fearless with fonts.

To hear Comic San’s rebuttal and for some great font humour, visit www.mcsweeneys.net/links/monologues/15comicsans.html

For new fonts on the market, visit www.fontshop.com/fontlist/new_releases

E team@vanillaspin.com
P 02 94 600 600

by the very talented, Christine Macabuag

The Inspired Experience
Slowly disappearing are the days where we visit a store, remember how we felt, what we heard and the experience delivered. More and more, people are shopping online and creating a user experience is a whole new digital ballgame.

Since buying my first computer, back in 1998, and surfing through the exciting world of the wide web, website design has evolved dramatically. Software, technology and high speed internet have advanced and are now available to everybody, increasing the need for companies to hold an internet presence. Amongst the hundreds and thousands, more likely millions of websites out there I must ask the question – what makes a website stand out from the rest, creating a memorable experience for the user?

Being a closet geek, where I’m unavoidably coming out now, I’m on the internet, up to and sometimes over, 10 hours a day (which is why I have coke bottle glasses, making me even more geekier). Whether I’m working, or simply browsing for leisure, I come across many interesting websites. Some hold my attention for a few seconds, then I’m on to the next one. Others draw me in and keep me at their domain for much longer, hours wizzing by.

Depending on the subject matter, I find that the user experience is what makes a website memorable. It’s the visual elements that are put together on a site to make you go ‘ooh that’s interesting’ or ‘wow’ and ‘I’ve never seen that before’ but hopefully never ‘why is it taking so long..’ or ‘where is it?’. What will make your website memorable, recognised and blogable? It’s got to look good, be easy to navigate and let’s not forget representing the face of the company, collective or organization.

Below are few of my current favourites and what I feel works well to create a great user experience.

http://www.thisisleaf.co.uk/

Large imagery balances the simple vertical navigation, creating a full screen experience for a maximum visual impact. The text is easy to read on these large background images changing as you select a new menu item. I’ve never managed to save enough money to travel to the UK, but I feel like I’ve been transported to that part of the world into their tea shop & bar, getting a sense of what happens, day to day within the store. I think I need a green tea.

http://microsites.audi.com/a1onlinespecial/html/popup.html#/home/

The product website for Audi’s A1 is highly interactive along with a simple colour palate of red, black and white creating a strong visual impact. It utalises accent lines to move away from the boxed horizontal standard of websites, revealing the brand, the style and the target audience that this car is aimed at. There is constant animation to keep things interesting, making you want to explore different parts of the site. Check out the ‘customizer’ where you are able to stylise your own car, selecting the colour, rims, decals etc. The controls are handed over to the user, allowing them to interact with the website.

http://www.thespanishquarter.com/

What I love about this website is the illustration style and the little animations which appear in the background. It all adds to creating the ambience of a Spanish lifestyle. The order in which the items are loaded create a journey through the history and culture of Spain. As you navigate through the website there a little discoveries as items pop up when you hover certain areas. The navigation is located at the top of the page making it easy to jump to certain section.

I hope you have gained some insight into the world of the user experience. We are currently working on website designs for some great clients and look forward to posting them soon.

E team@vanillaspin.com
P 02 94 600 600