Letterpress printing can give a sophisticated feel to any print project. For The Gallery Event Boutique, we created a modern card on crisp white Crane Lettra paper. Alternating purple and brown text make a visually strong statement while blind emboss patterns at the top of the card add a subtle modern touch. The printer for this project was Bjorn Letterpress Studio of Provo, Utah.
We’re now set up to blog on the go using the handy iPhone. It should allow us to update more regularly from any location!
One of our big print projects for the autumn included a custom wedding invitation package. The design focused on being modern and elegant while incorporating several fall hues of gold, green, burgundy, magenta and brown for the late October event. Varying damask patterns unified the design and carried the overall theme throughout the various pieces. What began as a simple save-the-date card transformed into a full campaign of pieces lasting until wedding day. The complete package included:
- Save the Date Card
- Invitation with Enclosure
- Wedding Program
- Name Cards
- Table Cards
- Gift Tags
The invitation included a customized letterpress pocket enclosure with separate inserts for the reply, directions, accommodations and groom’s dinner. The blind embossed outer enclosure hinted at the elegance of the type inside, while the varying shades of vibrant hues created intrigue throughout the inserts.
The wedding program carried the theme forward with elegant typography and hand-stamped damask patterns on the front. Name cards of various colors were hung from branches at the reception to guide guests to their correct table. Table cards complimented the name cards for easy recognition. Upon leaving the event, guests received a local beverage with custom gift tag in appreciation of their attendance.
The invitation was letterpress printed locally by Inky Lips Press onto Paper Source’s Moss cover paper with Luxe Fino Cream enclosures and copper envelopes. Other inserts and printed materials were digitally printed by Alphagraphics on Neenah Classic Crest, resulting in a smooth, rich finish. The finished printed materials exceeded the bride’s expectations and complimented the other elements for the big event.
When an East Coast hotel needed a website for their new catering house, NOLA Creative designed a destination for party planners and brides-to-be. Straying from the typically traditional, old fashioned imagery we created a modern interactive destination. The design called for a simple navigation menu and clear organization. A modular layout with room to grow ensured a design that would remain relevant and current in a changing industry.
NOLA Creative recently launched the redesigned website for DK Painting & Construction. This well-established Dallas contracting company had outgrown their old site and required a more user-friendly, modern website.
The new design welcomes visitors with bright colors, rotating imagery and organized navigation. Current clients are able to log in to a secure site while potential clients find the bid request process quick and easy. The custom design shows how a modern website can become a key component in a company’s marketing strategy.
NOLA Creative recently designed the new website for Stay Frank, a media marketing company based in Chicago. NOLA Creative has built a business relationship with Stay Frank creating design and strategy for marketing campaigns.
The design of the site reflects the candid nature of the marketing site while remaining approachable and intuitive. Sliding bars reveal menus to internal information and case studies in a unique format. Take a look for yourself here.
Carnival Cruise Lines has been advertising in Dallas with several non-traditional methods. In November, they created the “world’s largest beach ball” and bounced it down Elm Street for a national television commercial. This time, across from our studio farther down Elm Street, Carnival transformed the windows of a vacant building into an interactive aquarium where anyone can “create a fish.”
Here’s how it works: participants dial a toll-free number and follow voice instructions. A fish in a bubble then appears on the screen with the last 4 digits of your phone number. By talking or making noises into the phone (the louder and crazier the better, they say) the fish changes into different shapes, sizes and colors until you are satisfied. When you like your creation, you can swim your fish around using the number keys on a phone. The fish responds by moving up, down, right or left with a surprisingly fast reaction. Swimming into different color bubbles produces different sounds effects and video reactions. Up to 20 fish (from different participants) can be swimming around at one time.
Being located on a busy corner of downtown Dallas, several people pass by this location every day but pay little notice on their way to the office. Its location next to a popular theater and night club create constant traffic. When we walked by there were several other people playing with the aquarium. The interactive experience encourages people to stop their busy schedule and take a moment to enjoy some fun.
NOLA Creative was brought in as design consultant for a church fundraising campaign. Recognizing the impact high-quality design has on the involvement process, Lamb of God Lutheran Church desired marketing materials that would encourage members to be involved in the donation process leading up to construction of additional worship and education facilities. The campaign featured many cross-media elements over several years of planning and execution.
Once a name and identity had been developed with participation of a committee, a color palette incorporating orange and green was created for the campaign–taking into account the Autumn launch but wanting to infuse themes “growth” in the midst of a typical brown season. Illustrative elements reflecting this growth theme were also added, creating endless combinations to identify separate marketing elements but keeping everything within a cohesive campaign.
Postcards and invitations were mailed out in anticipation of the main event. Posters were designed. Banners were hung. A member picnic celebration marked the beginning of the campaign. The large informative brochure focused on campaign details and also incorporated an interactive DVD. An accompanying 2-week Bible study booklet was distributed to all members. Campaign elements were expanded to include newsletter updates and website banner advertisements.
Our creative solution to involve members even further was through the use of branded key fobs. Each Sunday for five weeks members were given a laminated key fob and were encouraged to place this on their key ring. The front served as a reminder of the campaign while the back contained a prayer relevant to that week’s Sunday message. Over the course of the week, members were reminded to be involved in the important campaign through prayer. For those wanting an alternative to the key fobs, an index card with all five prayers was available.
Over several months members were reminded of the importance of the fundraising campaign and were encouraged to be involved. The sophistication of design reinforced a memorable message and the level of member involvement ensured this was not just any church activity.
We like to keep informed with what’s happening in the design world. Our designs must remain cutting-edge to remain relevant in a changing technological world. The internet makes the research of emerging trends easy through online portfolios, blogs and websites. It allows us to see what’s happening in cities around the world, and plan for how those influences will affect local marketing.
Some of our favorite design blogs include Brand New — showcasing corporate and brand identity work, and adgoodness — showing the best (and sometimes worst) around the world. Design Tagebuch, a German design blog, features interesting European design. Even if you’re not a designer, you will be intrigued by some of the clever solutions designers are providing.
These examples are studied during the Requirements Gathering phase of our creative process and inspire us to design and explore new solutions for our own clients.