For my loyal visitors who visit frequently you would have noticed my new header image at the top of the page. Yes thats me building pretty growth charts in the middle of nowhere again. I changed the image as I felt I not only needed a fresher look but I also wanted an image which reflected what I can do for a business who utilises my skills and experience in marketing. I have put together this little tutorial not just for designers to see how it was done but also for business owners and others as well so that they can get an insight of what it takes to make a simple concept like this work aesthetically. Read more »

I wrote an article for the XL Grafix website a couple of weeks ago after some clients were having trouble getting decent photos for their large canvas prints. Common mistakes the average person makes when taking photos is where to place the subject and how to use light. Those who are natural artists, sketchers, designers and photographers  have a good sense of where to place the subject with only a little thought (they know what works) they also have the ability to look at the light source and use it effectively to enhance the image. But there are those among us who could use some help and this article is perfect for those who wish to discover the absolute basics. Find the article HERE

It seems today’s businesses are all running the same race, the competition though is evolving, getting faster and getting stronger, the race track is getting steeper and the turf is getting rougher. A marathon to say the least as this race never ends. There will be no winner but remember there will always be someone winning.

Who is winning? Read more »

There is only a couple of days left to get your entries in for the XL Grafix photo competition to WIN a massive canvas print with your photo on it. This is one competition where the most professional photo isn’t necessarily a winner. The winner is decided by the public on our XL Grafix Facebook page so if you enter your photo make sure all of your facebook friends vote. Remember voters need to become a fan of the XL Grafix facebook page before they are eligible to vote. Click here to find out more about how to enter as well as some tips on how to get more votes for your photo. Its all about who can get the most votes but of course it does help if you have a half decent photo, heres some tips Ive put together for all the really amateur photographers to help you get started but hurry because there is only DAYS left….

At the end of last year my business Printed Greener was bought out by a larger print company. It was a little depressing to have to hand it all over after 2 years of hard work setting it up. Im sure it is in good hands and look forward to seeing what the new owners achieve with what I believe is a fantastic concept. Read more »

Money can be easily wasted on vehicle signs. Fear of leaving something out is the biggest killer when designing your vehicle signs. The builder is always the easiest to pick on so I’ll use them as an example. The builder come’s to me and says “I want some signs on my van and this is what I want: My logo, phone number, Licence number, fax number, web address, email address, a tag line, and a bit about what I do for example *House Extensions, *Bathroom renovations, *Kitchen Installs, *Garages, *Carports, *Floor Tiling, *Roof Tiling, *Plastering……..” You get the picture. IT IS SIMPLY NOT GOING TO BE READ on a vehicle. It is too much information to be taken in by other road users. The most effective designs for vehicles are those that are geared towards Impact or brand awareness.

Read more »

I don’t like to use the phrase “graphic design is expensive” but I hear it a lot from some of my clients. I like to think that GOOD design is an investment not an expense. It is my job to give my clients the best value I can when it comes to graphic design. Graphic design is one of the hardest industries to estimate pricing in due to the vast variations and expectations from different people and organisations. I can assure the public that most designers even my competitors genuinely want to impress their clients and do a good job for them, so first up we need to keep in mind that your designer isnt “ripping you off”. Read more »

A good client of ours came in last week and told us a story that surprised us a little. She had been in a networking group who every month put together a package to either mail out or distribute in person to prospective clients. This package is basically a bunch of flyers that go inside a booklet which is supplied by the major sponsor. As usual the four or five small businesses print their flyers up (on a budget) and expect them to be placed in the package. This particular time there was a problem. The owner of the major sponsors business which is quite a small business in itself had rejected some of the flyers on the grounds that they need to be high quality glossy flyers. Read more »

The human race is a lazy, impatient bunch when it comes to reading or taking in information. They want their info, they want it now and they only want to see what they need. How many times have you read or heard the saying “keep it simple stupid” yet we continue to see business owners, managers and marketing professionals flood their advertisng colateral with as much information as they can possibly fit. As small as they are I am constantly asked to fit more and more information on the business cards I design until it is jam packed full of copy. Read more »