Designing the WOW Factor

Written on the 12 August 2015 by VB Designs

Design is the silent but effective partner to your business communications.  The right design should encapsulate the essence of your brand, reinforce what makes you special and have a vibe that really resonates and connects with your customers.

Brilliant design is an essential element in every interaction you have with your audience.  From the influence of your logo to the attraction of your online presence and the eye-catching appeal of your catalogue design, everything should fit together seamlessly so that it is recognised by your customers and appreciated by your prospects.

Whether you're creating a new brand or reinvigorating an old one, it's important to choose the right graphic designer who can work with you to transform the soul of your business into a powerful design a design that when you first see it doesn't just have you nodding your head, it leaves you speechless while your mind is shouting "WOW".

Brands are created in the mind but it takes more than just a good design eye to transform a grain of an idea into striking product that captures both the heart and the mind.

Choosing the right design partner to work with you is a big decision.  Get it right, and they can make a powerful difference to your business.  But get it wrong, and it can be a costly exercise that just doesn't hit the mark. 

With so many businesses these days looking for a fresh approach to their branding, we thought we'd share our advice for choosing the right design partner. Here are our top 5 tips:

1. Understand what you're trying to achieve.  The best designer in the world isn't going to be able to produce amazing results if you're not clear on your objectives.  Start by identifying the issues you have or the opportunities you need some help with.
    
2. Research potential designers check out their websites, blogs and LinkedIn profiles and identify which designers have the most appeal for you.  Talk to other businesses and ask for recommendations.  If you've seen a design you really like, find out who the designer was.
    
3. Check out the location.  In this online world, physical location is no longer a limitation but if you're on the Gold Coast and you specifically want a Gold Coast Graphic Designer then it pays to check.  Just because a designer pops up in your search engine with the words Gold Coast in their description, doesn't actually mean they are located there.
    
4. Short list if you need to.  Your research may have already identified a front-runner but if not, select 2 or 3 graphic designers to talk with.  Send them a copy of your brief and ask them for their thoughts.  Don't expect to be presented with any design ideas, but you'll get a good feel for if they really understand what you want to achieve and you'll know if the chemistry is right.
    
5. Be open-minded.  A great designer may suggest a solution that hasn't even crossed your mind.  Don't narrow your focus too much and be receptive to new and fresh ideas.

As the late, great Orson Wells once said, "Create your own visual style - let it be unique to yourself and yet identifiable to others".  Creating your own visual style doesn't need to be a daunting exercise choose the right creative designer and they will open up new ideas and possibilities that will turn ideas into results.