Are we a good fit for your needs?
Let’s be honest. Just because you need design, and we provide it, does not make us a compatible match. Design relationships go deeper than that.
Think about the dating world. Wouldn’t it be a wise idea to go on a date before you jumped into a long-term commitment? How do you know if we’re right for each other? It often takes time to get to know a new person—and a new company.
At Studio Orange Design, we recently put together a New Client Survey. Our goal is to use this as a tool to help find the right clients for our process, services and personality. It really needs to be a win-win situation for the relationship to work.
Here are a few key traits that we look for in clients:
Industry Leaders
We love working with companies that are confident and intuitive when making decisions.
Good Communicators
Projects go a lot smoother when communication is clear and ongoing. Design solutions are also the most effective when we receive timely responses to our presentations and questions.
Risk-Takers
As Sally Hogshead says, “You can be comfortable or outstanding, but not both.” We truly believe this, especially with design. The best solutions should engage your audience and inspire actions.
So are we a good fit? Download and fill out our New Client Survey and we’ll figure it out together!
New Grant Program Donates 75K of Creative Services
I have always believed that it is important to get involved with your community. I have served on the Board of Directors for the YWCA, volunteered for Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) and raised breast cancer awareness for Gilda’s Club by sewing over 1,000 donated bras into birds.
With my passion for the community, nonprofits often ask me to donate pro-bono design. Yet the problem with doing a one-off piece is that it really doesn’t address the business challenges of an organization. For design to be effective, it must be well-planned and consistent.
So how do we solve this pro-bono dilemma without cutting back on community giving?
This is where Tiffany Manning and Fred Boyle come into the picture. Tiffany is an incredible commercial photographer at Tiffany Manning Photography and Fred is a highly talented web developer at Subtle Technology.
Together, we have developed an annual grant program called We Inspire. We are donating a full year of creative services to one nonprofit organization, located anywhere in the United States, valued up to $75,000. Providing a yearlong partnership will enable us to develop a strategic and integrated approach to a nonprofit’s marketing.
The We Inspire Grant Program is founded upon three principles:
1. We believe that all nonprofits should have access to good design.
2. We believe that good design is a powerful tool of communication.
3. We believe that communication can be a catalyst for change.
It is with these beliefs, and our commitment to community, that we inspire through design.
What does your organization inspire?
Applications for the 2010 We Inspire Grant Program are due Friday, January 15, 2010 by 5pm.
Learn more and apply at www.we-inspire.org.
Emily Rawitsch is a Panelist at AIGA’s Design After Dark Lecture Series
This Thursday, October 22nd at 6:30pm, is AIGA’s Design After Dark Lecture Series. I’m excited to be a part of the panel as we discuss The Fundamentals of Small Design Businesses.
This would be a great opportunity for small business owners, freelance designers or any other creative professionals who owns, or wants to own, a small business.
Learn more and register for this event at the AIGA Jacksonville web site.
I hope to see you there!
EVENT DETAILS
What: The Fundamentals of Small Design Businesses
When: Thursday, October 22 at 6:30pm
Where: Art Institute of Jacksonville directions
Cost: $5 AIGA Members, $15 Non-members
How Design Can Benefit Your Business
Since the time of the Lascaux Caves, design has been a powerful tool of communication. Whether your vehicle is a print advertisement, annual report or web site—your message must be clear and concise. Good design can attract, inspire, entertain and motivate people to respond to your messages. It can also retain customers and position your business for a move into new markets.
Successful businesses include design as part of their strategy from the very beginning. The Design Council of the United Kingdom has found that over a third of the fastest-growing businesses see design as significant. When used strategically and consistently, design can bring a range business benefits:
- – increased sales of your products or services
- – improved market position relative to your competitors
- – greater customer loyalty and fewer customer complaints
- – stronger identity for your business
- – reduced time to market for new products and services
Establishing a design plan early on will enable you to develop an integrated approach to your marketing, and in return, a better experience for your customers. Good design truly is good business.
For more information about how design can benefit your business, please visit the Design Council’s website.