"Win As One" - I want a racing theme!

A couple of months ago I had a new client ask me if I could take her theme "Win As One" and create a manly, yet cool, graphic in a racing theme without being really cheesy. The goal was to use the logo on tshirts. The company's divisions are all unrelated and the parent company wanted to tie everything together for an annual sales and training conference. With that said, I pulled the above design from somewhere in my brain, it hit home with what the client was looking for and ALL of the employees were excited about it.

So excited that they also ordered matching clocks for the employees to have in their cubicles.


www.tashaleedesign.com • tasha@tashaleedesign.com

HOT Menu, Perfect for Summer

I have picked up this fantastic client, that is doing a little remodeling on his business image. Businesses do that sometimes, start out in one direction and find that it is not working so they tweak their plan a little bit and take the fork in the road. As a designer, it is nice to help clients feel out what it is what they are looking for. I helped put together this new menu for a client, in hopes of going from an upscale martini bar to a more laid-back family friendly atmosphere.

www.tashaleedesign.com • tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Pet Cemetary?

The coolest thing about my job is that I get to work with all different types of clients in all different types of industries, I love it, my work is forever changing and I get to explore all different styles. This particular client brought me a business card and wanted a website....

here is what we came up with....

All you pet lovers check out their website! They offer a very unique service for those grieving over the loss of a beloved pet.

www.tashaleedesign.com • tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Spring - It's Time for Babies!

My creativity goes in many different directions. I have been attending baby shower after baby shower recently and wanted to do something really special for my girlfriend. She was expecting her first baby boy and I thought a diaper cake would be appropriate. I am very proud of it! I think it turned out wonderfully.

My sister-n-law is also due to have a baby in a couple of weeks. I helped in co-hosting two different showers for her. For one I helped her by designing the invitations. The shower was going to be a joint one, due to a cousin also being pregnant, we needed something pertaining to both genders due to my sister-n-law having a girl and our cousin having a boy. Here is what I came up with.


www.tashaleedesign.com • tasha@tashaleedesign.com

LOGOS, LOGOS, LOGOS

So this past month I have been so blessed with my creative juices flowing into NEW logos! If I had to pick one project to be my favorite, I think it would be a logo. Logos are certainly not the easiest project to conclude, but they are the most gratifying. Nothing inspires a business owner more than revamping, recreating or identifying their business image.

What a breathe of fresh air!

Many don't understand my creative processes, and I wouldn't expect you to, but what I do want you to understand is that I go above and beyond for all my clients, whether it be a business card project OR a complete identity package. Read what some of my clients have to say...

Also take note that when I say I will present 5 different concepts to you, I PRESENT FIVE DIFFERENT CONCEPTS. I don't take one small element and just change the color or the font. Take a look.

BATAVIA ACADEMY OF DANCE

The client was looking for a logo that emulated class, form, beauty and grace. The yellow and burgundy logo will be used as their primary logo; on their business cards, stationery, flyers, direct mail, etc. The second concept will be used on her apparel. I presented the original concept of the ballet dancer and she loved it so much that we created a second version for the male dancers using a breakdancer.

PYS NEUROMUSCULAR THERAPY

This client has been in business for quite sometime, I helped him re-design and develop his website last Fall HeadacheTherapy.org and PureHeadache.com and after receiving my newsletter in January wanted to define himself with a logo that spoke about who he was. This is the final concept that we decided on, showing the human body, spine and head while giving a sense of comfort and natural healing.

ENERGETIC HEALTH

This client has also been practicing for several years, they have always used some form of a lotus flower and other than the purples, that was their only requirement in a logo design. I designed a very calming and naturalistic logo, that was not only beautiful, but spoke to the owner and his staff.

PATTEN PURCHASING

This client has been an independent purchasing agent for the past three years. She primarily works with hotels and helps in purchasing everything from their flooring to their bedding and furniture, her main role is a project manager and to give her clients the best deal possible. Everyone in her industry knows her by her last name and she indicated that she favored the color blue. I consulted with her and designed a logo that was clean and modern.

THE CATERING GOURMETS

The Catering Gourmets is a catering company who is expanding, congrats!. She has been given the opportunity to head-up the cafe/coffee shop in a newly constructed public library opening in August. Her only requirement was to keep along the same style she was already using in her business and to keep her color pallette in tact, the idea was that The Book Nook Café was it's own identity, but also could be tied back to The Catering Gourmets.

RAYS TIKI BAR

Rays was recently bought and renovated by new owners this past August. His original concept for the restaurant was a business casual martini bar. The owner noticed the pattern that college kids were coming more frequently, they are trying to vamp up their image and are now gearing up for the night life scene, complete with live music, an outdoor tiki bar, food and drink specials and a location for sports fans to hang out and watch the big game. The owner was looking for a beached-up, casual logo that could be used in all aspects of his business. {menus, flyers, table tents, apparel, direct mail, etc.}

These are just a few of the projects that I have completed in the past month. Please view my extensive portfolio for additional samples or CALL ME NOW for a FREE quote, 630-552-7659.

www.tashaleedesign.com • tasha@tashaleedesign.com

The Long Haul!

I get clients all the time asking me.... now if I commit to you, are you committed to me? You don't plan on going and getting a full-time job anytime soon are you?

NOOOO!!!! I am a freelancer, technically, but I am striving for a full-time business and am in it for the long haul. I think freelancing/business owner is such a gray area when it comes to artists. I don't view my position as a freelancing one and am submerging myself into the business world. My business is all that I do, well, except for hanging out with my most adorable kiddos!

I love what I do and that is why I do it. I feel secure working from home and there are many benefits from it, that if you are a business owner, you are already familiar with. Don't get me wrong, the kids drive me crazy sometimes when I am juggling them and work, but they are the love of my life, along with my husband, of course. I will not be looking to get back into the commuter lifestyle anytime soon. I enjoy my job too much and how many people can truly say that?

I absolutely LOVE the dynamic of clients I get, I wouldn't be able to work with a doctor, a caterer, a painter, a food additives and preservatives company, a pet cemetery in most other design jobs. Full-time design work tends to focus on one industry or one aspect of design. I thrive on variety and being in charge my my time. If I feel creative at 2 am, then I get to truck down to the office and work, I am not under the 8-5 pm restricted work hours. I can be creative, when I feel it flowing through me. Cheesy Huh? but that is the way it works, and I feel that I am a better graphic designer and listen to my clients much better because of that.

So to answer the questions of all those wondering out there, I am not planning on getting a different job. I am going into my third year of business and have worked way too hard to give up on it for any reason, plus when the kids are in school, work is going to seem like a piece of cake!

www.tashaleedesign.com • tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Networking and Impressions

I go to a networking event this past week, as many of us do, not only to talk to others about what I do and spread my wings in the business world, but to get out and talk to real people. Being a one person office, sometimes I just need to hear something other than my own thoughts!

It is very interesting they way business owners act when there is competition strolling the room right along with them. We could all be adults about it and be friendly and polite and utilize each others knowledge or plainly just ignore the fact that there is competition standing right there.

OR.... we can be shouting across the room "You stay on your side and I will stay on my side {of the room}", What?!!? Are you kidding me?, would if the food is on "your" side, does that mean I can't eat? Other reactions that I have witness is blatant rudeness, as in, Person A sees Person B talking to a prospect that Person A has been trying to get "in" with, what is the best way for Person A to handle the situation? Well, by going over and shoving Person B aside and introducing him/herself to the prospect. Of course this tactic is the best way in getting business. Come on. I have also seen the angry stare, where you are literally burning a hole through your competitor or the "stick like glue" tactic, where you are glued to the competitor and preventing them from doing any networking at all. Way to make everyone around you feel awkward!

If you can not handle the competition in a respectful manner, than you should not subject yourself to a networking event, where said competition may be present. The shouting, the shoving, the stares and "sticking like glue" may have been all in good fun, BUT I know what impression s/he left on me, I can only imagine what impression s/he left on others in the room.

Think about it when you go to your next networking event and what impression you are leaving on others.

Contact Tasha for all your design needs • Tasha Lee Design • tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Direct Mail: Is it Dying?

The Internet. The possibilities are endless. Social Networking, Podcasting, Blogging, Pay Per Click Campaigns, Site Optimization, and the list goes on and on. Why would anyone in today's world, market the old fashioned way? or is it old fashioned?

Direct Mail is proven to work, it is as simple as that. You can measure it, test it and see the results. Direct mail not only works business to consumer, but also business to business. When used in combination with email marketing and telemarketing, your results are more fulfilling that using just email marketing and telemarketing on their own. With the lower volumes of mail and creating a direct mail campaign that is targeted, your mail pieces are more likely to get noticed!

SURPRISE!
Young professionals 18 to 34 prefer to receiving mail versus email. Privacy was pegged as one of the leading factors. Email is so overused these days, as convenient and affordable as an email is, it is more likely to get looked over or thrown away if received at that one inconvenient moment.

Mail captures one in a private moment and can be looked at when they choose. Direct mail will reach those who do not spend their days online. Also, with direct mail it offers many advantages that other mediums do not: target ability, measurability, and a vast range of creative alternatives.

Get creative with your direct mail campaigns, make it different from everyone else. One thing that I use and my clients compliment me on all the time is 5x5 thank-you notes with rounded corners, I have found a vendor where I can get matching baby blue envelopes. Who doesn't like the appreciation? and the odd size is never overlooked.

OTHER IDEAS
• refer a friend campaigns
• come back, I beg you! {we haven't heard from you in awhile}
• can we help you afterall {contact clients that have inquired with you, but never made the purchse}
• send a free gift and make it clear on the outside that there is a *FREE GIFT* {one will be more likely to open the envelope}
• it's your birthday discounts