I know it’s hard to find the time, money and energy to commit to all of the above activities. However, it’s important to keep in mind that at least 75% of them should be getting done. And… done well!

There’s all sorts of information you can research online to create effective campaigns that can and will bring desired results. Or, you can call us here at Full Moon Design Group to discuss. It’s important to thoughtfully research and develop your program to get the maximum results… from your logo design to the organizations you choose to volunteer. Taking the time to create a solid foundation will help your company flourish over time. And… you’ll find it will flourish at a faster rate.

Perception:  Are We Missing the Obvious?

Students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did a study on perceptual abilities using a video that shows two teams of students (one dressed in black and one dressed in white) throwing a ball between the team members.  The study asked you to watch the video and count the number of times the team in white tossed the ball.

I did the test and counted 14 passes between the white team members.  I then clicked on the link to find out if my answer was correct, the site then asked me if I saw the gorilla in the video.  So I went back, watched the video again, looking for the gorilla this time, and noticed him as plain as day.  I hadn’t noticed him before.  I was so focused on the task at hand, that I failed to see something so obviously out-of-place as a gorilla … a very powerful lesson, indeed.

Perception and Design

In the world of design, we need to be extra careful that we don’t miss the little things.  It isn’t just about the logo or the look or layout; we have to remember that it is all the pieces together.  If you aren’t constantly aware of all the pieces, it becomes easy to get wrapped up in how the piece looks overall that you fail to see the misspellings and other errors.  You fail to see the smaller picture.

At Full Moon Design Group, we strive hard to see the big and small pictures; and we encourage our clients to do the same.  Otherwise, you never know what you’ll miss.

Freshen Up Your Brand

However, once you have been around for a while, your logo and brand start to become outdated looking.  Thus, in the consumer’s mind, so does your company.  So to get a fresh start, you need to freshen up your brand.  Think of it as putting on a nice dress shirt at the beginning of the day, by noon the dress shirt is all wrinkled and you and your shirt are starting to look a little worn out.  All it takes to look fresh and alive again, is to go home and put on a fresh, clean, ironed shirt.  Not a big change, but a significant one.

Fresh Brands Bring Fresh Noise

Think about how many times Coke and Pepsi have re-designed their look, and each time they gain media exposure and attention because of their fresh appeal to the masses.  If updating your look and getting a fresh start wasn’t important, I assure you that Betty Crocker’s face would still look like it did back in my grandmother’s day.

Very recently, it might have been Monday; there was a very slight change to the Google Website.  In fact, some of you may not have even noticed it.  The “favorite” icon on the Google page changed from  to .  Not a big change at all, however the internet world went crazy with buzz on Google’s new look.  They went from something that everyone was used to and probably ho-hum about to something that everyone wanted to talk about.  How’s that for fresh?

Throughout history, color has been used in various ways.  The Native American Indians, as well as the Egyptians used color for healing.  Graphic design and marketing companies use color to invoke an emotion or a suggestion from their clients’ target audiences.

Choose Color Carefully

When choosing the right colors for your corporate logo or brochure design, we at Full Moon Design Group take in consideration what image you want to portray.  Colors help define how your corporation is perceived.

• Red is the most energetic and attention-getting color.  It is associated with love, danger, speed, strength, anger and violence.
• Blue is the most stable color and reflects reliability, loyalty and cleanliness.  It can actually reduce body temperature and slow down the heart rate.
• Black represents many things such as mystery, fear, power, death and wealth.  Think of common terms associated with Black, i.e. Black Monday.
• Green is considered by many as their favorite color.  It represents good luck, the environment, renewal, growth, etc.  It can, however, also represent envy and jealousy.
• Yellow represents happiness, joy and sunshine.  Too much of it, though, can cause anxiety.

The Importance of Color

Now hopefully we didn’t scare you about color and the perceptions people have of them.  Color is very important in your corporate brochures, post cards, flyers and business cards.  Color is what gets that marketing piece or promotional item off the table and into the hands of a potential customer; we just want to make sure that your color is saying the right thing about you … that’s just the kind of people we are.

*Photo by Marina Burity

Armed with powerpoint slides designed by a friend, Carrie walked into a room of high school seniors and asked them to identify several plans and trees in their Brooklyn neighborhood … Silence.

Carrie then pus on a slide comprised almost entirely of corporate logos, and without fail, the group of students named them all.

I’d be willing to bet you can name each brand, too!

Branding:  Still Think It Doesn’t Affect You?

Crazy as it sounds, we are a branded culture. Not unlike the seared hides of cattle, our psyches have been indelibly marked by corporations and businesses salivating over our dollars. Even the youngest among us has no problem identifying those golden arches.

You’d think the sheer variety of brands would do us in, that the average consumer would have no way to keep this all straight. Our brains only have so much room!  But no, once branded, always branded. That’s why they call it branding.

So, what’s your brand? How are you leaving an indelible mark on your clients and prospects?