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 you’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!

Images are from the Jacksonville Ballet Theatre archives:
Top Left: Dulce Anaya as Princess Odette in Swan Lake
Top Right: Dulce Anaya in Michael Maule’s Dance Variations
Bottom: Dulce Anaya in Giselle Buffonesk

Clients often fall into one of two categories:
1. Those that know exactly what they want.
2. Those that don’t.

Either way, I like to show multiple design solutions to every problem. Think of it as a visual sounding board.

When we analyze opposites, we can compare and contrast ideas. Should the solution be quite or loud? Black or white? Funny or serious? Literal or abstract?

We can also explore which options are most effective. What speaks to your target audience? What has room for growth and flexibility?

By investing more time in the initial creative exploration, we speed up the rest of the creative process. You can make a decision with confidence, which reduces the rounds of revisions. This ultimately saves you time and money.

That is the power of opposites.

1. Define the Project and Objectives
After meeting with the L’Arche team, we discovered that their original web site was not achieving their goals. They needed to make it user-friendly, engage their donors and implement a content management system (CMS) for future updates.

By reorganizing the site architecture, we were able to make the site more intuitive and logical for the user.

2. Explore Opposite Creative Directions
We then looked at multiple solutions to engage a conversation and inspire collaboration. The chosen design was a combination of two directions. Unlike other design firms, we’re not afraid of combo platters. When executed seamlessly, they can make the final solution stronger.

3. Analyze and Refine the Design
Once the general look and feel was established, we fine-tuned the layout and design. This is when we dive into the details and make it pixel perfect.

4. Implement and Produce
Upon final approval of the design, the programming phase began. We worked with Subtle Technology to make the site function smoothly. A CMS was implemented so L’Arche could easily manage their content into the future.

5. Evaluate and Measure Success
In the end, we exceeded L’Arche’s established goals:

– Design engages their target audience
– Navigation is better organized and intuitive
– Donations can be made online
– Content can be updated through CMS
– Site is search engine optimized

Feel free to visit Larche’s new site so you can experience it!

We recently partnered with the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville to design their summer programming brochures. By staying within their existing brand standards, we were able to make the solutions bold and bright.

The project was a success. Allison Galloway, Manager of Membership and Public Programs, described it in her own words:

“Working with Emily at Studio Orange Design was a great experience. It was extremely easy to communicate ours needs and the resulting design was beautiful, professional and accurate.”

Studio Orange is partnering with Subtle Technology and Tiffany Manning Photography to donate a full year of creative services to one nonprofit organization, located anywhere in the United States, valued up to $75,000. The idea is that design can be used as a catalyst for positive change.

Photos by Tiffany Manning Photography

The funny thing is, this conversation seems to follow the same format each time. I thought I should finally document this, as it might shed some insight into what designers actually do.

Please keep two things in mind while reading this script: I own a creative license and “Joe” is a fictitious character.

Joe: Nice tats. What do you do?

Me: I’m a graphic designer.

Joe: Cool. So you like design flyers and stuff in Photoshop?

Me: Kind of. It’s a little more complicated than that.

Joe: Huh.

Me: Let me ask you something. Do you prefer Target or Walmart?

Joe: Target. It’s so much brighter and the aisles are wider. They also have awesome commercials.

Me: Do you think that your experience with them is accidental or intentional?

Joe: What do you mean?

Me: Think about the way Target makes you feel — in their stores and with their marketing. Do you think someone strategized and planned this?

Joe: Of course. Why?

Me: That’s what I do for living.

Joe: I thought you said you were a designer.

Me: I am.

Studio Orange Design recently partnered with Fred Boyle at Subtle Technology to design the EE Calendar. The goal was to provide a quick and easy-to-use resource for ExpressionEngine events. The project was inspired by Fred’s involvement in the EE Community, “We found that while there were some varied resources for this type of information, something was missing. We’re hoping that the ExpressionEngine community will help make this a great resource.”

Check out the new site at www.ee-calendar.com.

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.

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

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.