A beautiful piece of print can instantly captivate an audience. It’s not only a form of art, but it is also a marketing tool that directly influences click-through rates, engagement, and even brand recognition and sales. No matter your industry, eye-catching graphic design is the key to your success.
Graphic designers bring your brand story to life and evoke emotion in your target audience. They are the masters of delivering the right message to the right people at the right time, all while staying true to your brand identity and ethos.
With that in mind, it’s important to work with a printer that understands the value of good design and will go above and beyond to ensure your vision is executed to perfection. This doesn’t just mean making sure your colors are accurate—although that is a big deal, it’s more about creating a collaborative partnership with your graphic design and printing company.
This means establishing a productive and efficient design process with the help of digital tools and a clear communication plan. For instance, scheduling weekly meetings at the same day and time allows everyone to plan their workloads accordingly. It also gives you the opportunity to discuss business updates, project status, and other pertinent information that may affect the creative process. Moreover, it is vital to document these weekly meetings to keep everyone accountable and on the same page.
In terms of the design process, it’s essential to have a solid brief that clearly outlines your specific pieces, vision for overall style and tone, target customer profiles, projected budgets and timelines, and any inspirational examples you love (or hope to avoid). By ensuring that your designers have as much upfront clarity and context as possible, they can deliver concepts that are on-point and meet or exceed your expectations.
Another essential part of a productive designer relationship is trusting their expertise and giving them creative freedom. If you’ve hired a professional for their robust artistic capabilities and years of specialized experience, it makes sense to let them take the strategic lead and push the creative boundaries (within reason!). It’s important to be available for feedback, though, as you need to provide input and direction to make sure the final product aligns with your goals.
Another important aspect of a productive designer relationship is collaborating with your print shop in Denver to create effective prototypes. This involves measuring, cutting, folding, and taping blank sheets of paper together to create a physical mockup that can serve as a frame of reference for size and assembly. This is called a dummy in the printing world, and it can help you identify any cuts, folds, creases, or perforations before going into production. This can be especially crucial for projects that have a high level of color accuracy, such as brochures, flyers, and posters. By taking the time to create these dummies, you can be confident that your final products will look great and align with your vision.