To us, graphic design is like matchmaking - matching the proper design elements to your type of business, your products & services, and the type of customers you serve. That's why we prefer to start your current logo or other graphics that you're currently using.  Odds are, you chose your current logo because it reflects an important aspect of your business.  Even if you're looking for a total make-over, that's where we want to start.

     As we begin to work together, we'd appreciate seeing copies of your current logo and any other graphics that you're currently using. We'll ask you, in general, what new or different designs you have in mind.  And, we'll ask you some specific questions, such as:

     Who are your customers?  What products and services do you offer?  To cite an example, your design would have certain characteristics if you were selling toys for toddlers, and very different qualities if you were selling supercomputers to mega corporations.  More than just "pretty" or "artful", we'll make sure your design is matched to your products and services, and to hold the attention of the people who'll see it.

     How and where do you plan to use the design?  On envelopes and stationery?  On billboards?  On your web site?  On your truck?  We'll make sure your design is clear and effective in all the places you'll use it.

     What, if any, colors do you  want to use?  It's OK if you have no preference.  Or, perhaps you have "company colors".  We're always looking out for your budget.  As a rule of thumb, the more colors we use, the more expensive it'll be to produce your design, although that varies with the venue.  Sometimes the expense is worth it, other times not.  For example, maybe it's worthwhile for your salespeople to have full color business cards, but it's OK for your company name and logo to be black and white on the side of your delivery trucks.

     When your design is ready, we'll send it to you as something called a "proof".  It's easiest to do this electronically, attached to an email message.  But we can also send you a hard copy if you wish.

     The main reason we ask lots of questions up front and listen carefully to your answers is to deliver a "proof" that really does the job for you.  If, for any reason, you're not completely satisfied with any aspect of the proof, please just say so.  You won't hurt our feelings. We'll revise your design  - until it's just right.

Copywriting

     Now this may sound odd coming from a graphics design firm, but logos don't sell.  And the reason you're in business is to make sales.

     As graphic designers, our first job is to grab the attention of prospective customers - your prospective customers.  Now, that's really important.  Unless we grab customer attention, you never make any sales. But just grabbing attention is not enough to close the sale.

     Which leads to the graphic designer's second job:  To transition the prospect's attention to the message you want to convey - and keep the prospect there until they buy.  This is the reason earth citizen design offers professional copywriting services.

     "Copy" is the text, the words that make up such things as brochures, web sites and catalogs.  The job of the "copy" is to make the argument, the persuasive case, for buying from your company.

     Many graphic design firms leave it up to you to provide your own copywriting.  And if you're a veteran sales professional with the ability to lead prospective customers through the sales process in written form, that's fine.  If you have the time to do it.

     Think of it like this:  You have a toothache.  You could tie one end of a string to your sore tooth, the other end to a doorknob, then stand back and slam the door.  Or you could go to dentist.

     To us at earth citizen design, it doesn't make any sense to spend time and money to grab the attention of prospective customers, but then ignore what it takes to close the sale.  That's why we offer you the option of professional copywriting.  Besides, we'd hate to see you all bloody and missing a tooth.

Direct Marketing Distribution

     Let's bring it all together. Suppose earth citizen design created stationery and envelopes for you. And now you want to start sending a newsletter to your customers.  earth citizen design makes it easy for you. Here's how:

     We design your newsletter using the same themes and design elements as your stationery and envelopes.  Your customers instantly recognize the newsletter as coming from you.  You portray a consistent company image.

     Just tell us the topics you want to cover and we'll write your newsletter articles, too.  As always, you get a "proof" copy to review and approve before anything gets printed.

     We'll match the size and style of your newsletter with the best printer for the job and have it printed.  Just give us your mailing list, and we'll send your newsletters out for you, too.  Of course, your mailing list is your property.  We would never use it for any other purpose than mailing your newsletter.

     This is an example of a standard direct mail distribution.  But there's another level...

     Suppose you run a bookstore and your point-of-sale- system keeps track of what books your customers buy.  As you study your sales data, you can tell that certain customers clearly have favorite authors.  As new titles com out, you'd like to invite your customers in to get the latest book by their favorite author.  earth citizen design can do that for you.  Here's how:

     Just give us a data file containing customer contact information and recent purchases, including author's name.  And give us a list of new titles coming out, including author's name.  We'll compare the two lists to see which of your customers' favorite authors have new books coming out.

     We'll design an invitation - postcards are usually most cost-effective - to your customers. But every postcard will not be the same. According to matches between your data file and the list of new titles, each post card will be tailored.  Each customer will be informed about a new book by their favorite author and invited to your bookstore to get a copy.  And, of course, we'll mail the postcards for you.

     Stepping up to this level is an example of database marketing.  It's a very powerful marketing tool.  If you have the data, earth citizen design can deliver this powerful marketing to you.

     And even if you don't have the data, we can find lists to help you target your customers appropriately.

Web Sites
For automated, less custom web sites link here.

     Having earth citizen design build and maintain your web site assures that you have a consistent company image.  No need to ask technical people to design graphics or write copy. Whether it's an on-line brochure or an e-commerce site, earth citizen design makes sure your web site does the job for you.

     Here are some of the features you might want to include on your site:

   1.  Animation.  When used judiciously, animation helps hold a prospective customer's attention.  But more is not better.  People using dial-up connections tend to have little patience waiting for animation to download.  And if your purpose is to sell...Well, there are people who browse web sites looking for fun, interesting animation.  They usually don't buy anything.  Shoppers, on the other had - people predisposed to buying something - can become impatient with animation.  If they feel the animation hinders their search, they'll move on to the next site.

   2.  Sound.  Just like animation, when used judiciously, tasteful, appropriate sound on your web site can hold a prospect's attention.  But, if it comes across as a cheap, technical gimmick, they move on.

   3.   Site visitor statistics.  If you're really serious about aggressively marketing your business on the web, we strongly recommend the use of these tools. They range in complexity from simple counters all the way up to detailed analyses of how visitors came to your site and what they looked at while visiting.

   4.   Dynamic web forms.  This allows visitors to your site to enter information into a form - such as an order form - that your site collects for you so you can, for example, fill an order.

   5.  Dynamic web pages.  If you want your customers to manage their own accounts on your web site, this is what you need.  Usually keyed to an account name and password, this feature lets your customers access information from a database that interacts with your web site.

   6.  Web forum.  Not quite a "chat room", this feature allows people who visit your site to engage in on-line, text-based "conversation".  It's a great feature for responding to customer questions.

     Of course, earth citizen design can also take care of web site basics for you, such as:

     Registering your site's domain name.

     Matching you with a cost-effective web site hosting service.

     "Tagging" your site with key words so search engines can find it.

     Having a web site for your business is just about as essential as having a business card.  With earth citizen design’s web site services, you can have confidence knowing that your site portrays the same image as all the other “customer facing” aspects of your business.  And you can have confidence in the knowledge that your site is loaded with just the right features.

 Promotional Products

     A plaque thanking an employee for a job well done.  Caps and jerseys for the company softball team.  Pinwheels for your customers with children.  Pens.  Coffee mugs.  A calendar for the new year.

     Tasteful tokens of your appreciation pay you dividends in so many ways.  Sure, it’s another way to get your company’s name out there.  But even simple gifts elicit feelings of goodwill.  And that’s the best way for your customers and employees to feel when they think of you and your company. 

     earth citizen design can adapt your artwork to be printed on virtually any type of material, for any type of specialty advertising.  We’ll advise you about the best materials to use for the job you have in mind, informing you of your cost and quality options.

     earth citizen design is rather unique because of our ability to work with Computer Assisted Design (CAD) files.  We can take your CAD files and incorporate them into sales and promotional materials such as banners, sales brochures or product manuals.  Give your design the “WOW!” factor!

Printing

     The last thing we need to talk about here, is our printing services.  It's easy to pick one printer, develop a working relationship with them, and have them do everything that needs to be done.  It's convenient, but it's not necessarily the best for the client.  Printers have specialties, too.  They may say they can do everything, but they may not be set up to do certain production items efficiently, or they may outsource the job, themselves!

     earth citizen design makes it easy for you.  We have developed relationships with many wholesale printers, and we are always on the look-out for others who can do something better, faster, or cheaper.  You need something printed on cloth?  Well, we have the right source.  You need a big banner?  We have the right source for that, too. And, we can advise you regarding the proper substrate you need for the job.  The item has to function within an environment.  You want it to last.