Nola Creative - A Printeractive Design Group

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.

Bastiat Capital, a growing financial investment company, came to NOLA Creative with a challenge: create a visually exciting brochure while keeping a standard size for practical mailing. While many people today abandon print for interactive online solutions, we put interactivity into the printed brochure itself.

We began with color theory. What colors, in addition to the calming signature blue, would best establish Bastiat Capital as a key player in the financial market? We chose a rich brown as the predominant color–representing strength, comfort and security. Red accents invoke strong reactions and increase excitement. Warm colors balance cool colors while giving the brochure a touch of class and established presence.

Next came they layout. Bastiat Capital wanted a brochure that would stand out from the crowd. In a sea of business brochures, what would intrigue people into picking up this brochure? We decided to use an accordian fold–simple enough to not require special printing but unique enough to command attention. Laying flat, the brochure catches the eye with dramatic colors and simple grace. As the brochure is opened, it reveals the story of Bastiat Capital. Each new opened section tells its own message, while leading into the next part of the story. Along the way colors and images change, creating an engaging and very readable marketing piece.

The brochure was a great success for Bastiat Capital’s marketing. Clients were intrigued and impressed by the unique format and studied every page. The piece won a Communicator Award Award of Distinction for printed brochure design in 2007. NOLA Creative also translated the unique brochure into a website, continuing the successful branding elements and incorporating new features.

Bastiat Capital’s name derived from Frédéric Bastiat, the famous French political economist of the 19th Century. With a clever use of vibrant stock imagery, classic patterns and elegant use of typography we created an identity that gave the company an established presence while bringing Bastiat Capital into the 21st Century.

With the new year we’ve updated our website to show the world what we’re all about. Visitors are now able to learn about our creative process, view our expanding portfolio of work, catch up on our latest news and contact us directly with any design requests.

We’re excited for the new opportunities 2009 will bring. We hope that NOLA Creative can be involved in your 2009 plans as well. Happy New Year!