one more for my shelf

Last week I practically tripped over a super heavy box delivered to my door step. After hauling it inside and wondering what I might have purchased online that slipped my mind, I discovered it was a winner's trophy from the Summit Awards for the design of my day planner!

This is the fourth year that my collaboration with printer and paper companies has resulted in winning a design award, and every year I've been honored and thrilled to receive this symbol of recognition.

This time the award was for the 2012 day planner I designed. Instead of creating a series of illustrations in my usual style, I decided to use my photography and enhance it with thematic doodles, if you will.  

 

The French fold cover was printed on kraft-colored stock with a double hit of white ink while the rest of the pages were bright white paper. The monthly tabs provided functionality as well as a punch of color.

The planner was well received among my clients last December, and I personally love using it every day! Believe it or not, it's already time to start working on the next one...

Collaborators:
Brown Printing • Neenah Paper • WCP Solutions

online printing woes – or wins!

When designing projects for my clients, I try to source a local printer for a variety of reasons, including quality control (ability to attend press checks), community (stimulating the local economy) and environment (smaller carbon footprint).

But sometimes budget constraints force me to look at using online printers, and I've often been left wanting. Lack of control, less than optimal customer service, and a tendency for billing errors have taught me to select my online printer very carefully. After many tries, I finally found one that met my high standards and I've been recommending them to my clients as the need arises.

Today, I'm happy to share that I've found another online printer who, at least on this first project, has done an excellent job in all areas. NextDayFlyers just delivered an order of 250 postcards and I'm so pleased with the results! The colors are very close to what I was expecting, the paper and coating are nice, customer service was prompt and friendly, and turn-around was astonishingly fast (ordered Tuesday, received Friday).

Full disclosure: I won this print order during a giveaway on Illustration Pages, a wonderful blog that features great artists and inspirational work. But given that this project was such a great experience (and that their prices are lower than my other go-to online printer), I definitely plan to use them again – and will pay full price :)

sneak peek: day planner

For the last few years, I've collaborated with Brown Printing, WCP Solutions and Neenah Paper to produce a calendar that we could distribute among our clients as a promotional tool and thank you gift.

After working on this project since May, I was super excited to finally see my designs in print during yesterday's press checks.

I'm thrilled with the way everything is coming together:

Stay tuned for pix of the final product later this month!

reaching the media

Last month I started a project with Maxwell PR for one of my long-time clients, Kettle Brand (yep, the folks in Salem who make the world's best all natural potato chip, yumm!).

Maxwell PR had a great idea on how to introduce the media to Kettle's newest product, their 40% reduced fat potato chips, and they asked me to help them make it come to life.

So I did!

The result is a cohesive visual theme inspired by classified government documents. We hinted at the new product inside the box by using the same green band found on the bags of reduced fat potato chips. The big "confirmed – it's real" graphic (mimicking a rubber stamp) added a touch of intrigue.

Besides the three different flavors of chips, the box contained a file folder with "confirmed findings" for the media, along with a "polaroid" for evidence.

I'm most impressed with the way it all turned out, especially given the fact that we printed directly onto pre-made boxes and folders. A big shoutout to B&B Print Source – great job!

And next time you're at your local super market, pick up a bag and confirm for yourself that the taste of these new Kettle Brand chips is so good, it's hard to believe they're reduced fat!

take note

As a small business owner, I need to promote my company to help create that all-important top-of-mind awareness. When someone is planning a new project, I want them to think hey, I bet Alex would have some good ideas on how to make this work.

So I find different ways to stay in front of my clients. Social media such as Facebook and Twitter along with more traditional vehicles such as newsletters and direct mail are all valid options. But sometimes I like a more subtle approach that still carries a big wow factor.

Presenting...the Defteling Design note book!

I've been using branded note books for years, gifting them to potential clients when we first meet and taking notes in them during client meetings. After I redesigned my logo last summer, I updated my website and business cards but not much else.

Now I finally have new note books to match my visual identity and I couldn't be more pleased with how they turned out! I especially love the blind emboss revealed by the die-cut window in the French fold cover. It adds a tactile quality that really catches your eye.

It feels great to have a promo gift that is well designed, highly functional yet right on target with my brand. So if you're looking for a way to stay in front of your customer, let's talk to see what creative solution lies ahead for your company!

Printed by B&B Print Source.

happy holidays!

Every year I like to thank my wonderful clients for all the work they've sent my way, so I present them with a small gift that I designed myself. For the past six years, I've been able to team up with Brown Printing and West Coast Paper (now WCP Solutions) to create something fun AND functional.

This year's collaboration resulted in another day planner, a collection of whimsical illustrations with weekly and monthly pages to help my clients stay organized in 2011.

The cover and monthly divider pages are printed on a heavy textured stock that are folded double for added heft. A nice bonus of this method: tabs for easy access to each month!

If you're not (yet?) one of my clients or would like to gift someone with one of my planners, I do have a few extras for sale in my Etsy shop.

Happy holidays, everyone!