Kelly Ashworth » help

Logo Design Promotion

kelly — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 15:00:37 +0000

Hey gang, it’s time for another design promotion from yours truly.

One of my favorite things about being a graphic designer is working one-on-one with clients to develop radtastic new logos for small business. So from now until September 15, 2010 I am offering a special deal for logo design clients.

Just book me for logo development services and you will receive 1,000 free business cards that feature your snazzy new logo. Your business cards will be printed on heavyweight glossy stock in fabulous full color. Two-sided design.

This offer is good for 1,000 of the same design. Contact me for more information: kelly@kellyashworth.com or 602.688.2146. Let’s do this.

The Perfection Plague

kelly — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:00:08 +0000

I’ve been thinking a lot about the perfection epidemic that seems to have swept the bridal industry. You see it everywhere nowadays — especially with the onset of so many bridal and wedding focused television shows. “My dress has to be perfect.” “The flowers have to be absolutely perfect.” “If the food isn’t perfect, I’m going to go postal on my caterer.” You get the picture.

It’s a sad state of affairs.

I see it occasionally when I work with stationery clients and I do my best to reign it in. But oftentimes I am powerless against clients who have already caught the perfection flu. Unfortunately, I don’t have the vaccine.

This isn’t meant to be a lecture, but more of an ice breaker to start some honest conversation. I know plenty of vendors who share this frustration but, like me, the solution eludes them. When did a wedding strip itself of something beautiful and symbolic and become a quest for the perfect party? Let’s face it, all wedding professionals are in this business for financial gain. Our livelihoods depend on our clients spending money. Is this all just hypocritical musing or is it possible to find a happy medium between servicing our clients well and not having the dreaded “P” word dangled in front of us? Wow, this is getting deep.

I’d love to hear what you have to say about this. Talk amongst yourselves. Then share with the class and leave some comments.

The Importance of Proofing

kelly — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 16:00:22 +0000

As a designer, I cannot stress the importance of carefully proofing enough. Whether you’re a bride or a business client, YOU are the expert of your event or project.

Before I send artwork off to a printer, I have my clients sign a Proof Approval Form. I understand it’s not terribly exciting and many clients (brides especially) are just so stoked to see the finished product. This little form can seem like a pain in the buttocks more than anything else. But I don’t use it for the sake of annoyance. If you approve artwork without looking over everything carefully and then discover a misspelled name, an incorrect date or an erroneous price point, you have little choice. You can either live with the mistake or pay to have everything reprinted.

I do my best to hammer this point home to my clients, but I’m still met with the occasional “oops”. Oftentimes followed by an obscenity. I also do my best to review everything before I send artwork. But from a designer’s perspective, I am looking at your piece about 500% more than you. Which can unfortunately lead to lazy eye. And again, YOU are the expert of your project.

Whether you’re working with me (preferred) or another designer, it’s important to review the following points on any piece that will eventually find its way to the printer:

• Are important names, locations, products spelled correctly?

• If you’re listing dates, check your calendar to ensure the day, date and times are listed appropriately.

• How does the grammar look?

• If you’re listing phone numbers, have you test dialed the number to ensure accuracy?

• Do the colors and/or photos look right? (These items can sometimes appear differently on an initial proof – especially if it’s in a digital format. Check with your designer if you have any questions.)

• If you have questions or feel confused about something, DON’T miss your chance to clarify with your designer. If you approve everything and sign my form, you are essentially signing a contract to print. The printer is not going to review anything for you – their priority is to get the job to press quickly.

That’s my two cents. Do you have any additional tips to ensure accuracy?

Magazine Addiction

kelly — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:00:46 +0000

I’m sure I’ve mentioned before, but in case I haven’t — I am a magazine addict. I currently subscribe to eleven magazines and will occasionally pick up a new title on a whim at the grocery store. Needless to say, when you get that many magazines each month, clutter becomes inevitable.

To solve this problem, I started collecting tear sheets from each magazine and filing them away in one of these attractive 3-ring binders. I won’t go into my category system, because it’s annoyingly anal retentive. But if you have the same problem I have, you can get your very own binders at your local Target Store. To view the entire line, click here. I’m here to help, people.

Holiday Design Promotion Reminder

kelly — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Just a quick reminder that my Holiday Design Promotion will expire this Friday, December 11. Book me for any design service and you will receive 25 Free Holiday Greetings cards from my new line! It’s not too late! Email info@kellyashworthdesign.com to get the ball rolling.

Design Promotion for the Holidays!

kelly — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:00:00 +0000

I wanted the last promotion of 2009 to be big and exciting. I thought about hiring a guy in a cape to shout excitedly, Billy Mays style. But I’ve heard that can put people off.

So here’s what I’m going to do:

From now until Friday, December 11th when you book me for any design service, you will receive 25 Free Holiday Greeting Cards from my new line. Select any design and we can customize with your own photo and message. Use them for business colleagues, friends, family, or whomever you choose. Isn’t this exciting?

Free Holiday Greetings are available with the purchase of Logo Development, Postcards, Brochures, Flyers or Ad Design. Offer is good for 25 of the same design. Offer expires December 11, 2009. You must mention this offer to receive 25 free Holiday Greetings.

You can take a look at some of my most recent design work here, and you can contact me via email at: info@kellyashworthdesign.com.

Happy Holidays!

The Non-Designer’s Guide to Designing the Perfect Event, Pt.4

kelly — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:00:00 +0000

As I mentioned in Part 3 of this week’s guide, great design can be found at the grocery store if you look hard enough. And where there is great design, there is inspiration to be had to create the perfect event.

Case in point:

I have been obsessing for awhile over Pellegrino. Simply put, it’s water in a fancy bottle. But look at that gorgeous green glass! And the pretty blue shades with a small pop of tomato red. Ka-pow! This color palate lends itself to so many looks and all I had to do was stop at Safeway (or insert your local grocery store here).

Think about the last time a package or pattern or photo caught your eye. What about it made you stop for a better look? Was it the color? The texture? The feeling it evoked? The lesson here is this: inspiration is everywhere. Sometimes right under your nose. Literally. Pay attention to these visual cues. They may just solve all of your design dilemmas so you can live happily ever after.

The Non-Designer’s Guide to Designing the Perfect Event, Pt.3

kelly — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:00:00 +0000

I touched on the subject of budget briefly in yesterday’s post, and today I want to bring it front and center. Clearly, budget will play a role in any event design. And clearly, many brides and hostesses have had to cut back given the current economic roller coaster we all seem to be riding.

If you can’t afford to hire an event designer, or rent fancy schmancy linens – take heart. Nowadays there are so many resources out there for guys and gals just like you. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. Costco — although I avoid this behemoth of bulk goods come the weekend, if you plan a trip during a weeknight, you’re more likely to avoid the crowds. Costco has an amazing selection of fresh flowers, and they take special orders. In addition to floral, check back often for their ever changing selection of table accessories. A friend of mine had her heart set on silver chargers, but couldn’t afford to pay what her reception venue was charging. At that same time, Costco just so happened to be offering the very same silver chargers. She found another girlfriend who was also getting married who also wanted silver chargers and they went in on them together. Great idea for brides who have friends getting married — if your styles are similar in any way, consider going in on some of those little accessories to save big.

2. Craft Stores — do not overlook your local craft store, or even the big box chains such as JoAnn’s or Michael’s. Many of these places offer coupons when you sign up for their mailing list or e-newsletter. Think of all the supplies you can get, many times at a 40% savings or more. Ribbon, craft punches, fabrics, and gift bags to name a few.

3. Home Goods — ahhhh, Home Goods. Have you been? If not, you must. Aisle after aisle of every accessory for the home you can imagine. This might not be the place to go if you’re planning a large wedding, but for smaller events this is one of my favorite places. You’ll find picture frames for your table numbers, glass jars for your candy bar and other odds and ends at crazy reasonable prices. Virtually every display table I have ever worked on included a trip to Home Goods.

4. IKEA — you had to know it was coming, right? You know all the obvious reasons to go — candlesticks, vases, blah, blah, blah. I also love IKEA because they now carry a great selection of fabrics. If you’re crafty, consider hitting up IKEA’s textile department for DIY table runners.

These are obviously just a few ideas and anecdotes to help prepare a stylish soiree. Great design can be found at the grocery store if you look hard enough. So get out there and look! And tell me where you went–I’m always on the lookout for a great source of inspiration.

The Non-Designer’s Guide to Designing the Perfect Event, Pt.2

kelly — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:00:00 +0000

In Part Two of the Non-Designer’s Guide to Designing the Perfect Event, I want to focus on your individual taste. I touched on this in Part One with regards to choosing the best venue for your vision. But let’s dig a little deeper, shall we?

Aside from some of the obvious questions you’ll need to ask yourself (How big is your event? What kind of budget are you working with? How much time do you have to plan?) you should also consider the following:

Aside from bridal magazines, you can find a wealth of inspiration by delving into the pages of your favorite catalogs. Seek out patterns, color combinations, place settings and floral arrangements. Interior Design and Decor magazines are also very helpful.

To create the perfect color palate, consider taking a field trip to your local home improvement store. Paint swatches galore, my dears. Some of the home decorating shops have even gotten into the fray — Pottery Barn now offers seasonal paint selections that complement their furnishings and decor items. Click here to view their current color selections or request a fan deck.

If you are planning a wedding and have already selected a dress, steal this trick: gaze at your dress for as long as you want and jot down as many adjectives that describe your fetching frock. Now take a look at what you’ve written. Voila! Inspiration in list form. Take this list with you to your vendor appointments and you’ll effectively communicate your vision. Easy, right?

Some other things you might consider when designing the perfect event are the little things that make up your everyday style. What influences you? Do you travel? Dine at fancy restaurants? Love to explore the outdoors? All of these things can assist you in defining your ideal event style. Look inward at the things you love and you’ll be more likely to create an event that truly represents your individuality and creativity. And have fun!

The Non-Designer’s Guide to Designing the Perfect Event, Pt.1

kelly — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:00:00 +0000

I’ve worked with enough brides to know that one of the most common, yet frustrating challenges in planning a wedding is coming up with a beautiful, cohesive design. And I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to be a designer to create a gorgeous wedding or special event!

This week I’ll be sharing some common pitfalls, tips and tricks to help you determine what will work best for you event. Today I want to talk about space. Specifically the space you have chosen to host your event.

“Consider Your Space”

Repeat this like a mantra. I’m serious. If you are getting married at a gorgeous, historical country club, please don’t try to recreate an industrial/modern loft reception. Instead, consider your space. Consider the architectural details. Consider the carpet. Consider the chandeliers. Consider it all. Work with what you have and enhance it. Just don’t try and turn it into something it’s not.

For example:

You are having a wedding at the aforementioned gorgeous, historical country club. Perhaps it has a beautiful ornate chandelier, traditional floral carpets and velvet draperies. You can easily enhance the space with some yummy linens (shimmery satin, damask prints or nubby silk would be pretty), lots of candlelight (antique candelabras?) and some fantastic floral to finish the look.

And if you haven’t booked a space, consider your personal style before signing the dotted line.

If you have your heart set on a bold/modern look, do some research and find a venue that would cater to this look.

More examples:

Resorts/Ballrooms are great for big and fancy. Each place will have it’s own distinct style, though – so be sure to look around to determine if it’s right for you.

Beaches are great for low key and casual events. They are also very versatile. You can do modern beach just as easily as you can do vintage beach.

Country Clubs tend to be beautiful and traditional. Not always the best choice for the “modern” bride. But they do serve as a terrific backdrop for the classic beauty.

Garden Weddings are great for earthy and traditional brides alike. Like a beach wedding, they can be more relaxed and casual. On the other hand, gardens can serve as a great canvas for extravagance.

Offbeat venues such as museums, parks or other cultural attractions allow for more free flowing design. Just about anything goes (within reason — always make sure to check with the venue before taking it upon yourself to “decorate”.)

Of course everything that I mention above is just my opinion. If you want to do a retro 50′s themed wedding in the ballroom of a fancy resort, there’s nothing stopping you. I just personally find that you suffer far fewer event-related headaches by tuning into your surroundings to make it work. (Thank you, Tim Gunn.)

What are you doing to “consider your space”? I’d love to hear all about it. Even if you are a major rule breaker. Go ahead and share with the class.