PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

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The cover is also up for vote on this website http://shannonmayer.blogspot.com/2011/12/december-indie-cover-art-poll-vote-and.html Please show some love and vote!

About the Cover:

I wanted to show the two contrasting worlds that StuTech has created with this new wireless world. The concept was to put the viewer inside of this old, dilapidated house looking out at this bright, thriving skyline with the StuTech building in the center of it all. As if StuTech has forgotten about the people left in the dark. I think the tag line below the logo shows that StuTech was well aware that they created the blackouts…StuTech “It’s Dark without us.”

About the Book:

Today electricity is delivered wirelessly, a technological revolution that saved the world from a drastic energy shortage. One company has the monopoly to deliver this power through the air, but this stranglehold thrusts thousands of cities and millions of people into an eternal blackout.

Luke Kincaid’s hometown wasn’t the first to be forced off the grid, but when the blackout leads directly to his parent’s deaths, Luke has just one company and one man to blame. It’s time to fight back.

About the Author:

I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was in high school and an English teacher told me I wrote run-on sentences. I retaliated by writing a three-page paper using only five-word sentences. Take that! By the way, she was completely right about my run-on sentences. I’m working on it.

I made myself into a writer the best way I could. My degree in Journalism from Gonzaga University got me into newspapers as a copy editor and occasional reporter. Luckily I grabbed the last rowboat off the printed-newspaper sinking ship and sailed for other work soon after I was gainfully employed at a local paper.  Today I’m a spokesperson (@Dan_at_Avista) for Avista Utilities in Spokane, Wash. I do a blog there too. I’ve found the freedom of communications and public relations much more rewarding and creative than journalism. “You mean I can make up the quote for that press release and just get it approved? Sweet!” I love my job and the people I work with, but I want something else on my business card too – published author.  READ MORE AT  http://www.dankolbet.com

Go and VOTE!

Score this design: “One Smart Fish,” to help it get printed on Threadless!

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Visit the site: www.guaranteedinc.com

Check out the Logo:

I am sure that you have either heard or said that exact phrase at some point in the 20+ years that Photoshop has been around. And, although there are other photo editing and paiting programs on the market, the name Photoshop has become the term to describe all of them. Photoshop is to photo editing cpu programs as Kleenex is to tissue paper, their name has become synonymous with the actual product.

Photoshop is a great tool, the only problem is the average cost for a new Photoshop title is well over $600 (And if you purchase the suite it can be more)   So what can the average user do, if they don’t want to fork out the cash? Well Adobe does make a “Light” Version of Photoshop called Photoshop Elements which is pretty good. But, I believe I found a better solution:

Editor by Pixlr.com is a free to use “photoshop” like program with pretty much every feature you will ever need to become a “Photoshop” pro!

Below are some examples of what users have created with Pixlr:

Check out Pixlr’s Facebook for even more examples.

I recently was commissioned to create an identity for a new hair salon in Rancho Mirage, Ca.  I initially met with the client to find out,  first and foremost what the salon’s demographic was. I believe this is the most important steps in the logo design process because it really determines what “style/design” of  the identity. After this initial meeting I sit down and come up with a few concepts. (Read about my logo design process)

Below are the first round of concepts sent to the client. (The client’s only request was that it was a “Royal Crest” design. Her husband is from England and she wanted to contrast the Liberty (USA) with a Code of Arms (European)

After seeing the concepts she decided that she wanted something simpler. So stage 1 of the evolution process was over, now on to stage 2.

After visiting the salon’s future location, I instantly saw why the first concept would not work. The decor of the salon did not match the feel of the logo. So I went back and came up with a revised concept. (I sent the client images showing the new Liberty Identity on Business cards , inside/outside of the salon, and on staff shirts/cutting capes, etc.)

Business Card Design

Staff shirts/Cutting Capes

Inside/Outside Salon

Client’s feed back was very positive…for the most part. The only request was she really wanted to contrast the Liberty with something more European than the simple L design I came up with. She mentioned in the initial design meeting that she wanted to incorporate a Fluer De Lis somewhere in her identity…if possible.  So, I came up with a few more concepts that replaced the L with a Fluer De Lis design above the Liberty. The trick was not to simply use a Fluer De Lis  but to create it in a way so it was her unique identity. Below were the solutions:

The client and I both agreed that the one on the left was the winner….and Liberty Salon’s new Identity was born.

Below is the final spec sheet I send to my clients at the end of a logo design job. These spec sheets makes sure your new identity is reproduced the same every time.

Testimonial from client:

We commissioned Mike to do the branding for our new salon and couldn’t be happier. He  was really able to bring the vision we had in our head to life. With branding being such an important part of the business, helping people to know who you are and what you represent, we couldn’t have been happier with the process and more importantly the final product. And as our business grows, we will defiantly use Mike for all our further design needs. -Holly Clerkin, Liberty Salon

Need a new image? Everything mentioned above is included in my Start UP Level 2: Identity Package

]]> http://dvisiondesign.net/2010/12/brand-identity-an-evolution/feed/ 0 http://dvisiondesign.net/2010/11/custom-designed-web-banners/ http://dvisiondesign.net/2010/11/custom-designed-web-banners/#comments Tue, 23 Nov 2010 09:58:49 +0000 mjefferson http://dvisiondesign.net/?p=863 Read more]]> Client: LaserAway

Project: Custom Designed Web Banners.

Learn More: LaserAway opened its doors on the Sunset strip in West Hollywood in 2006 and became a hit among Hollywood Celebs. Our reputation created a huge demand for our services,

and just four years later we’ve expanded to seven locations throughout Southern California. Why? Because we offer the most advanced laser hair removal, tattoo removal, skin care and anti-aging procedures available. The best part is, rather than raise our prices we built more locations while continuing to recruit the industry’s most elite Medical Staff. As our clients have found, the result is a comfortable, casual environment…a safe and relaxing alternative to a typical and expensive doctor’s office. Through this philosophy LaserAway has became the premier medical spa specializing in laser tattoo removal and laser hair removal in Los Angeles county, San Diego county, and Orange County. LaserAway is now proud to announce the grand opening of their Sherman Oaks laser clinic.

Learn More. Visit Their Website.

You would be surprised on how different the original photo(s) looked compared to the final image that makes it to the magazine. Check out this article about country singer Faith Hill to see how easy it is to fool the eye.

Do you need a photo enhanced or retouched? Check out my Photo Re-Touch Package. Starting at $10  per photo.

Below is a typical process I go through.

(The project featured in this article was a Logo/website Package for a local recording studio in Palm Springs. Orginally, from Los Angeles, Thunder Underground has recorded some of the most well known names in the music industry.)

1. Meet With Client:

Each of my logos start with a sketch, after a concept meeting with my client. Getting the right details and having an understanding of my client’s goals is the most important factor when I start a new logo project.

2. Research and Sketches

After doing research about your company and your competitors I break out the pen and paper and start sketching. I sketch tons of concepts, until I get a few that I feel will work.

(The concept for Thunder Underground was to use the famous  London Underground Sign as a starting point for the Thunder Underground Logo.)

It all starts on paper...Although, I am starting to use the Ipad. Better for the Planet!

Step 3: Digital implementation

After the sketching stage is complete I start the process of creating a digital or vector version of my final sketched logo concept. I scan my sketch(s) into the computer and use Adobe Illustrator or sometimes AutoCad to create a vectorized file.

A well designed logo should work in full color and black (white)

Notice, I start each concept in black. A well designed logo should not only work in color but also in black and white. Look at virtually all famous logos and notice that almost everyone of them would look just as good in black or white (reversed)

Can you still recognize the logos on the right, after all of the color has been removed? Of course you can.

Step 4: Clients Feedback

After the intial logo concept is created I send it off to my client for feedback. This is one of the most important steps in the logo design process.  Ultimately, the logo I design is going to represent you and your company, for hopefully a long time. Your feed back is crucial to the design process and often leads me down an unexpected direction, which  can lead to some awesome results!

Step 5: Final Approval

Below is the FINAL approval sheet for the THUNDER UNDERGROUND project. I show the client how the logo will look in full color and in black/white as well as other color combinations.

Notice how small tweaks on the original concept made a huge difference.

The final approval Sheet for Thunder Underground

Step 6: Delivering the Files

After the design process is completing and approved by my client I create a package of various files of your logo.

Here is what you should get from me and every other logo designer you may work with:

EPS:

An EPS file, or Encapsulated PostScript file, is a versatile vector format of your logo. In other words, you can resize your logo as big or small as needed without compromising the quality of the logo.

EPS is compatible in a large number of programs and is great for use with printed elements due to its high quality.

What’s it suitable for?

• Business cards

• Brochures

• Advertisements

• …anything that will be printed of high quality

jpg and gif

Although it cannot be scaled to a desired size like that of an EPS, JPGs and GIFs are great and preferred for internet use. Due to their smaller file size, they load faster on the web and still look ‘sharp’ to the eye when viewed on a computer monitor.

What’s it suitable for?

• Websites

• Online Ads and Banners

• Email marketing and signatures

• anything ‘web-related’

tiff

A TIFF, or Tagged Image File Format, is a widely supported file format that works in just about any program. A TIFF is of higher quality than JPG or GIF, but not vector-formatted like an EPS.

Typically when sending TIFFs to clients I try to create them at a larger size, so if needed they can resize down or stay with the larger size for more versatility.

In certain cases, these can also be used for higher quality prints, granted they were created at 300 dpi and don’t need to resized larger than delivered.

What’s it suitable for?

• Microsoft Office programs

• Standard printing for common use (ie. invoices, letterheads, etc.)

Full Color

This should need no explanation, but I provide my clients with a full colored, CMYK file for the printed file formats (EPS, TIFF) and RGB for the web formats (JPG, GIF). This way you don’t experience strange color issues when printing.

Black and Reversed Logos

A well designed logo should not only work in color but also in black and white

Do you need a logo designed? Or are you looking to update your current image? I can help. Contact me today.