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7 Signs That You Need to Redesign Your Website

September 8, 2015SheilaBranding, Business Tips, Web Design4 Commentsbranding, competition, trends, website, website design

I just recently updated this website (do you like it? Leave me a comment!), and it got me thinking. Why exactly did I redesign my site? It’s a lot of work, it takes time, it’s a pain, things go wrong….yet I felt a pressing need to do it. No, I’m not one of those people who constantly has to update and change things. That’s my husband 😉 But there are important, legit reasons to consider when deciding…

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The Disastrous Results of Using Cheap Web Design

January 13, 2014SheilaBusiness Tips, Graphic Design, Marketing4 Commentsbranding, business, cheap design, client, competition, Groupon, marketing, mill, niche, template, website

So I’ve looking into getting back into martial arts. And I found a great Groupon for a Tae Kwon Do school that was right down the street from me. While I was at it, I started researching some other schools that offered Krav Maga, a type of street self-defense, as well. Then I ran into a website that looked just like the one where I bought the Groupon from. I was excited. “Ooo,” I thought,…

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7 Surprising Ways You Might Be Killing Your Creativity

May 30, 2013SheilaFreelancing, Random7 Commentsboredom, brain, competition, creativity, graphi design, mind, problem solving, rewire, solutions, steve jobs

If you need to be creative, avoid doing these 7 deadly sins Steve Jobs once said, “Creativity is just connecting things.” While being creative can certainly be fun, it can also be hard to find those new connections sometimes. Whether you’re a fellow graphic designer, a student, an engineer or a manager, I’m sure you have run into the problem of trying to solve a problem creatively. And if you’re like most people, you’ve probably…

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Branding, Logos, and Identity: Step 3, Identity

November 5, 2012SheilaBranding, Graphic Design, Logo Design, Marketingbranding, color, competition, identity, Logo Design, marketing, puzzle, stationary, Tiffany's, typography, unique, visual

So after a long hiatus, you are now ready for the final piece of this branding/logo/identity puzzle, right? Right. I do apologize for the long delay, things have gotten quite busy around here, which is good for me (but bad for you, my readers!). So, let’s jump right in, shall we? Picking up where we left off in this 3 part miniseries, today’s focus is on the third and final “step” in building a comprehensive…

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Branding, Logos, and Identity: Step 2, Logos

July 5, 2012SheilaBranding, Logo Design, Marketing2 Commentsancient, branding, competition, conceptual, fine art, history, Logo Design, unique, versatile

Since you now have a firm grasp on what branding is all about… …it’s time to move on to the all-important topic of logos. I bet you’re wondering: What is a logo exactly? How is it different from branding or identity? In this three part miniseries, I will continue to deconstruct each of these “steps,” explain their differences, their importance, and meaning of each. This week, we are continuing on to Step 2: Logos.  …

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Branding, Logos, and Identity: Step 1, Branding

June 17, 2012SheilaBranding, Business Tips, Logo Design6 Commentsassociations, brand building, brand signal, branding, client, competition, differentiated, emotion, experience, identity, Logo Design, marketing, perception, relevant, simple

You’ve heard the terms thrown around a lot. Branding. Logos. Identity. What do they all mean? How do they differ? Does their order matter? And if so, which came first, the chicken or the egg? In this 3 part miniseries, I will detail each of these “steps” and explain their differences, their importance, and meaning of each. This week, allow me to introduce Step 1: Branding.   Step 1) Branding: the emotional perception or idea…

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14 Proven Ways to Find Clients

March 4, 2012SheilaBusiness Tips, Marketing51 Commentsads, blog, clients, competition, design, direct mail, economy, find, Google, local, network, niche, referrals, word of mouth, work

Not so long ago, I had a commenter ask me a tough question: how do I find clients? Especially in a weak economy. Fierce competition doesn’t help either. I know for myself, clients and projects wax and wane, but I’ve been very fortunate to establish some pretty loyal clients early on in my career. The question is, how can you do this too? You’ve probably heard the suggestions I’m about to offer before. They’re not…

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The Secret to Thriving in a Down Economy

February 19, 2012SheilaBusiness Tips, Marketingadvertising, competition, design, economy, investment, marketing, money, profit, recession, ROI, thrive

Hint: it’s not what you think. What’s the biggest mistake your business could be making during a recession? Drum roll, please… Cutting back on marketing dollars. It’s true. The best time to spend more, not less, on marketing and advertising is when the economy is down. Fortunately for you, not many people are aware of this fact. Here are a few reasons why this secret is true and why you should utilize it to your…

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Case Study: Design Concepts

August 21, 2011SheilaCase Studies5 Commentsbranding, case study, client, competition, custom, drywall, Logo Design, niche, outside the box, process, simple, sketches, unique

I’ll let you in on a little secret. Logo design used to be my least favorite thing in the world. Used to be. Now it’s starting to grow on me. Sure, I love a good logo. Who doesn’t? But designing them…for some reason that’s the Holy Grail of good design. But for me that’s always been an area where I’ve lacked real confidence. Why? Probably because of the amount of weight that one little symbol…

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