The Power of Pinterest : Data You Can't Ignore

Since its launch in March of 2010, Pinterest has shown explosive growth and shows no signs of slowing down. So what’s with all the interest in Pinterest?

Think of it as a virtual cork board. A place where one can organize thoughts, ideas and plans from virtually anywhere on the internet. You can search other pinners and their boards along with pinning directly from any other websites. Many use Pinterest to redecorate their home, plan a wedding or come up with DIY gift ideas. Pinterest can be thought of as an extension of your brain, keeping any ideas for future projects neatly stored until you are ready to move forward with the next project, recipe or birthday party.

For business marketing, Pinterest is an easy way to direct traffic back to your website, reach out to Pinterest members that have similar interests in what you offer and a way to educate or share important information. It is becoming coming clear that leveraging Pinterest along with a professional SEO company or social media marketing agency is an essential part of a successful internet marketing campaign.

Tasha Lee Design, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Creepiest Ice Cream Ad.

Our society is blitzed with tv ads, print ads, billboards and marquees. Everywhere you turn there is a marketing message waiting to be seen. It is very important to capture your audience with "out-of-the-box" marketing campaigns.

I saw this commercial on you tube for an ice cream company located out of Philadelphia, is this pushing the envelope too far? It is pretty creepy. I can not get over the guy's eyes just staring into you. Creepy.

Even though this commercial is a 10 on my creepy rating, it is brilliant. It was posted 6 days ago on you tube and it already has over 730,000 views.

Any marketing campaign is a great one when it creates buzz!

Tasha Lee Design, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Are You Smarter Than Your Dog?

by Michael Dalton Johnson, author of Rules of the Hunt

Dogs and philosophers do the greatest good and get the fewest rewards. -Diogenes

Dogs can teach a lesson to anyone in business.

Canines came in from the wild many millennia ago. They are the oldest domesticated animal and one of the most common household pets. These intelligent creatures brought with them huge benefits for humanity. The many jobs dogs perform for us is mind-boggling. They are guards, rescuers, herders, entertainers, guides, therapists, crime fighters, and much more.

Above all, dogs are skilled entrepreneurs who have mastered the arts of communication, persuasion, and selling.

Like any good businessperson, dogs are honest. There is not much chance of misunderstanding them. Happy, angry, wary, hungry, or on the alert, they let you know their state of mind.

Like successful businesspeople, dogs know how to ask for what they want. It's a job they do with great expertise. While dogs can't speak, they do tell us their needs via body language that's easy to understand.

Dogs understand how to engage. Their sincere excitement about and interest in their business partner (that would be you) is flattery on a level that's hard to resist. Whenever you are greeted by your dog, it's easy to understand the famous quote, sometimes attributed to Mark Twain, "My goal in life is to be as good a person as my dog thinks I am."

Tasha Lee Design, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Derby Gala Event Makeover

The Gala event was hosted way back in May, but I just got my hands on the printed materials last week.... I could have not been any happier with how they turned out! Pictures never give printed materials any justice, but how gorgeous these are.

Tasha Lee Design put together a 5x7 trifold invitation card that included details of the event itself, an explanation of what the Kentucky Derby Gala was supporting and sponsor highlights. We chose to use a textured background that looked very similar to linen paper in a bright olive green coloring. The oil painting artwork of derby racers was the inspiration behind the color palette chosen for this year's event.

Tasha Lee Design also designed: coordinating RSVP cards, sponsor banners, print ads and a 16-page program which tied the whole event's image together.

the trifold invitation .... I love the green textured background!

What a beautiful and elegant font to be used throughout the 16-page program filled
with sponsor information, event details and a custom map of the venue

The event was a fundraiser for the hospital's HOPE FUND, a fund used to
give financial assistance those who have been diagnosed with cancer.

Tasha Lee Design, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

International Tradeshow Booth

A couple weeks ago I highlighted Rogue Partners logo design and promised to showcase the photos from their trade show in Singapore. Unfortunately, I was not in attendance for this particular show, but had the opportunity to sit down and talk with the owner of the business when he returned to the States. What a cool and interesting country. I could have sat there and talked with Ken for hours about his experience, the culture, and dynamics of the Asian market. I was extremely happy with the graphics when everything was put together and the booth looked stunning.

One of the points that intrigued me most is that over in Asia, the idea of animals grazing in an open field is completely surreal to them. As Tasha Lee Design was putting together the tradeshow booth graphics, we made a point to emphasize just that.... a farm with acres and acres of rolling hills. I think the bright green of the pastures against the clear blue sky makes the whole booth really stand out.

Tasha Lee Design, Illinois Graphic Designer :: Chicagoland Graphic Design Studio
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Anything But Cheesy : Part One

What I love about my job is that I am presented with such a wide array of opportunities. Each day is exciting and fresh and I never know what type of projects lurk around the next corner. Recently, Tasha Lee Design was able to work with a gentleman that exports award winning Wisconsin cheeses to Singapore.

Tasha Lee Design was given the opportunity to develop this brand from the ground up, starting with the foundation of any small business, the logo. After sitting down with Rogue Partners, and going through a creative brief, we came up with some ideas to develop into an influential brand that not only represented the farmstead, but also the high tech ways of the Asian market The products are made in USA, while the target audience is located in Singapore, Tasha Lee Design had the challenge of representing both cultures in one solid identity.

Rogue Partners is a US based company that exports award-winning farmstead products to the Asian market.

Utilizing the most influential color scheme in Asia's market trends, the red and yellow create a nice balance with an illustration of the old traditional horse and cart, along with utilizing a Wisconsin state silhouette off-set by prairie grasses and wildlife. The *O* in Rogue is represented by a rotating globe clearly stating that Rogue Partners is an International business.


Up & Coming: Bringing the vision together into trade show graphics and printed materials.

Tasha Lee Design, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

The orange and pink color combination of More Than Mugs custom logo and newly designed website; matches the high energy of this husband and wife team well. With a great passion for what she does, Laura Herman, founder and owner, has ideas bursting at the seam for client appreciation, promotional items and keepsake gifts. Their logo uses a fun and flirty font coupled with a custom illustration of a business women. This combination creates a nice balance between Laura's creative side and professional service.

The website design showcases several types of products available in the slideshow gallery on the home page. With portions of the site directed specifically to retail and business clients, it simplifies the process for both business and retail clientele. The website also features several different photo galleries that specifically showcases products that More Than Mugs created in-house allowing viewers access to a variety of ideas and inspiration for creating their own personalized gift.

To learn more about more than mugs, please visit http://morethanmugs.com/index.html, designed and developed by Tasha Lee Design.

Tasha Lee Design, Yorkville, IL Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Same Event, New Twist

Each year Treehouse hosts an annual outing for all of it's employees. With a new theme rolled out each year, this company knows how to keep the anticipation and excitement high their employees. With careful preparation a full week is dedicated to education, leadership building, employee recognition, sales training and social outings. With each new theme comes a new logo design that is used in all aspects of the corporate outing from t-shirts, employee gifts, power point programs, banners and giveaways. Below you will see a timeline of the past four years and each of the branding packages used from year to year. Tasha Lee Design spearheaded the process in working with Treehouse and creating a new and unique identity for each year's corporate event.

As you can see each identity from year to year varies greatly from theme to coloring to tagline. In 2009, Treehouse wanted to embrace the year of leadership and working as a team, they came up with "Win As One" making it apparent to their employees that success only comes when we all work together. Tasha Lee Design aligned the 2009 logo with a racing theme and translated it into wall clocks (shown below), tshirts, keychains, power point presentation and signage.

In 2010, Treehouse wanted to share the growth of it's company with it's employees and recognize the hard work of all employed there. Tasha Lee created a winning logo of two boxing gloves. Treehouse loved this event logo so much that we translated it into an animation that could also be used throughout the week in power point and short video clips.



In 2011, Treehouse felt it was time for a new tagline and were changing up their marketing strategies. To go along with their male dominated sales team, Tasha Lee Design created a theme that aligned well with the ever popular Star Trek era. This logo was used on all employee recognition gifts, on giveaways and in all printed materials for the event.
In 2012, Treehouse wanted their event to come off as fun and upbeat, With a theme of 70's music and Volkswagen beetles, we created a more generalized identity that would appeal to all music genres to promote regular usage of all items given away throughout the week. All images are copyrighted by Tasha Lee Design © 2009-2012. All rights reserved.


Tasha Lee Design, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Old Mixed with the New.

With a company name change, an updated services list and a new perspective; Trinity Electrical absolutely loved a portion of their old logo design and didn't want to let it go. Understandably so, the fist with a lightening bolt aligned well with their business ethics and strongly represented the concept of power and strength.

However, a different color scheme and a fresh look was a priority for any marketing materials used moving forward. With a slick black and grey combination, the yellow lightening bolt really stands out on this custom designed business card. When printed on a high-quality cover stock with a glossy finish, this business card design is one that will catch the eye of anyone who sees it.

Start designing your custom designed business cards today with Tasha Lee Design. Tasha Lee Design is a creative design firm located in the Chicagoland area who specializes in print design for small businesses.

Contact Tasha Lee Today :: 630-335-0156 :: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

National Peanut Month!

It is ironic that I came across the interesting fact of March being National Peanut Month because I have just discovered a new Peanut Butter Ball recipe that is to die for! This recipe is all over Pinterest and if you are a fellow user, you too, have most likely run across it.

What is so awesome about them, is these balls are packed full of protein and are healthy for you! My family fights over them when I make them and a double batch barely lasts 5 days in my home. So if you are crazy about peanut butter, you MUST try these out.

No-Bake Energy Bites

(makes 18-20 bites)

1 cup oatmeal

1/2 cup peanut butter (or other nut butter)

1/3 cup honey

1 cup coconut flakes

1/2 cup ground flaxseed

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

1 tsp vanilla

Mix everything above in a medium bowl until thoroughly incorporated. Let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour. Once chilled, roll into balls and enjoy! Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

Original Source: Smashed Peas and Carrots

Tasha Lee Design, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

What I Love About Small Businesses.

Small businesses are typically on a shoestring budget and love to learn do-it-yourself methods, marketing and professional design is one of the first things they cut when the budget gets tight and because of this, my workload is subject to many ups and downs, so it surprises many of my professional network when they learn that small businesses are 80% of my clientele. Now I am not saying that if a larger company wants to work with me that I will turn them away, but I do focus most of my efforts on the onsie and twosie type shops.

Why?
I see that small businesses struggle with their marketing, with keeping their business image consistent and coming up with a professional design that really separates them from their main competitors. It is becoming more common for companies who are a part of my industry to shoot up their rates, exclude the smaller guys with smaller projects, who ask more questions and are inconsistent in their marketing needs.

I can’t imagine dropping my small guys. I LOVE my small guys. Small businesses are emotionally invested in their company, many times creating partnerships with family members and or childhood friends. Small businesses have a great passion for their companies, truly believe in their product and market it with all their heart and soul. I love to hear about the stories behind the start of a small business and how they got to where they are right now. When talking about a new idea, I like to see the light in their eyes and hear the excitement in their voice. I like to get to know my clients to have a complete understanding of their personality and their business goals. Many of these characteristics that small business owners obtain are few and far between when dealing in Corporate America. Corporate America is so focused on the bottom line, they loose the passion that stems from owning your own business. I think the TV show Undercover Boss is a great example of this. Large companies loose sight of their roots and forget what matters to the little guys, which creates a huge disconnect between the two.

I myself am a small business owner, I have stable growth and pride myself on quality. I am individually owned and only use outside resources when it will benefit my clients. I am a big proponent of why pay for something when you can get it for free? I want to help my clients design marketing materials and to develop websites that not only mean something, but that they are proud of. I strive to give my clients flexibility, to allow them to be as much a part of the creative process as they want to be. Feeling boxed into your choices is uncomfortable for anyone, especially a small business owner who is typically wearing many of the hats needed in their business. One thing that stands out to me about small business owners is the heart behind the business.

What I am here to do is offer choices, allow my clients to be as involved as they like to be and only hire me when they NEED ME. I don't believe in retainer fees or monthly packages that may or may not include services that you will use. Working with the small guys is a great passion of mine, as I truly believe that all businesses deserve the right to professional design for an affordable price and to not pay for something that they really don't need.

Tasha Lee Design, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

What is Your Niche? Clients That Tower Above

A great struggle of business owners is finding their niche market. Competitors are all around you and determining what makes you different, more valuable and which niche you belong in can be an intimidating task.

I attended a seminar last Spring that mentioned the idea of placing your clients into towers. What!? That was exactly my response, let me explain.

Each one of your clients can be categorized, as you go through the list, start placing your clients into their corresponding category. This can be based on the type of project, demographics, industry for businesses working B2B or a number of other options. As you start categorizing, you will see one of your lists TOWER about the others.... this is your niche market. The market you work with most often, have the most experience with and can best determine their needs. Since the category far exceeds and towers above all other categories, you can then leverage this as your niche market. Use this information to start marketing to that particular niche using words such as, SPECIALIZE or CATER TO.

Knowing what your niche is the hardest part, once it is determined, run with it! Now that you know what type of client you work with most often, you can building case studies and position yourself as an expert in your newly defined niche. How exciting! You have the start to a marketing plan. Start creating your marketing materials to reflect your niche and spark the interest of your ideal client.

WAYS To Target Your Niche Market:

• Advertise in printed publications that your niche is interested in
• Become a member of a forum or chat board and start answering questions / giving advice within your niche market
• Customize your website design to appeal to your niche market by offering resources, products and solutions that meet their needs
• Define new products and services that cater to your niche market
• Define / Position yourself as an expert through public speaking, blogging or seminars
• Ask current clients for referrals or testimonials that fall within your niche market
• Build case studies to show that you have had success within your niche market
  

Tasha Lee Design, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Why Professional Logo Design?

Your logo is your business identity that will be used to advertise and promote your business to the world, therefore it should be taken seriously and done by a professional company. If you choose to compromise on your price and quality of services by getting a cheap amateur to do the job it is highly likely that your own business image will also end up looking as unprofessional as the company that created your logo for you.

True professionals have the equipment, software and expertise, to provide you with the most effective and powerful brand-building tool, your company logo.

Cheap companies will often compromise on factors that are important to save them costs but the result is a cheap logo, for example, they may use clipart, whereas a professional company will produce a logo for you that is 100% original.

A logo should look just as good on a 5 metre tall sign on top of business building as it does 1cm high on business stationery. A professional company will produce you a logo that is in various formats, jpg and png are the most important for general use (like on a website), but you should also receive your logo design in the very important vector file format such as eps. Vector files are used when a graphic is required to be scaled in size without losing image quality, this means that if you ever need to make a large banner or poster you can using the vector file. Other files are not scalable and the logo or graphic is distorted when trying to increase its size.

You also want to be sure that you are the legal owner and have ownership rights to the design meaning that no other business can use it without your permission.

Ultimately a professional company has two things that sets them apart and make them so much better at designing logos than aspiring amateurs. Professional logo designers have training and experience, and these two make all the difference.

When considering a particular logo design company check what is included in your logo design services package before choosing a company to design your logo. It is important to view the samples on their portfolio to see samples of their work to give you an idea of their ability. Contact them and see how quickly they respond to your inquiry and how helpful they are to get an idea of their customer service. Look for client testimonials on their websites and make sure that they are genuine by calling the clients and asking how was their experience working with the logo design firm.

Tasha Lee Design, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

SLIM SOFIA SIPS SKINNY CAN

The Pepsi “Skinny Can,” introduced at Fashion Week last month and rolling out now, is supported by striking print advertising. That includes this portrait of “Modern Family” star Sofia Vergara sipping from the new look can. Pepsi promoted the packaging as a celebration of confident women; feminist critics note that the fashion-related launch links “slim” to “successful,” and point the possible Photoshopping of the voluptuous Vergara down to a sleeker version for the ad. read more

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DUFFY NATURALLY

Duffy & Partners is responsible for creating new packaging for Natural Inspirations, a line of bath and body products launching this October. The Natural Inspirations line was created “to comfort the body and soothe the soul” while offering a new way to support Susan G. Komen for the Cure in its mission to end breast cancer.The packaging features beautifully layered botanical illustrations sweeping over pale pink backgrounds, each designed to represent a specific aromatherapy blends. see the products


Graphic Artist, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Green Design

ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARE NUTS

The Nutmobile, a traveling ambassador for the Planters brand, has gone green. The new model runs on biodiesel and has a wind turbine, solar panels, LED interior lighting, recycled parts and wood floors purportedly reclaimed from a 19th century barn. It made its public debut at the Global Green Oscars preparty. The redesigned Nutmobile joins a succession of mobile ad vehicles, best known of which is the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. Jason Levine is Planters’ senior director for marketing. He has the new Nutmobile is based on an Isuzu box truck. According to James Riseborough, chief creative officer of builder Turtle Transit, the fiberglass peanut body is held in place with an underlying steel frame. Energy captured and converted by the wind turbine and solar panel drive an alternator that recharges batteries for interior lighting and sound system. Joe Doyon, Turtle Transit’s general manager says that this kind of advertising is having a renaissance due to the popularity of camera phones.

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HAVE A GLASS

Creative agency Beattie McGuinness Bungay New York found a unique design solution that goes beyond p-o-p. Their concept takes emptied bottles of Bols Genever, a Dutch spirits brand, and via a specialized handmade process recycles them into attractive drinking glasses. The glasses are being leveraged as selling tools and premiums, with the vision to expand the program to consumers through a mail-in program.




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ALL QUIET ON THE CHIP FRONT
Frito-Lay has silenced its SunChips brand bag. The noisy but remarkably compostable eco-bag upset sensitive consumers and triggered a noise-free bag movement. The company states: “You asked for a quieter bag and we heard you loud and clear.”
read more

Freelance Artist, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Auto Zone Gets Girly

Can car care products be marketed directly to women, or at the very least be gender-neutral? Check out this branding exercise by design student Vinh Pho, which makes AutoZone products seem as if they were being sold out of Bath & Body Works.


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Oscars pushing its envelope

Previously just dressed-up office supply issue, this year's Academy Awards' winners' envelopes are now custom-designed by Marc Friedland Couture Communications.

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jcpenny Boxes It Up

J. C. Penney Company is now jcpenney, and it has a new logo to match, the first redesign in its 40-year-history.

The letters "jcp" are emphasized in the new design. The Helvetica letters are placed off-center in a red box; the remainder of the name is shown breaking free of the box, symbolic of the company breaking out into new retail areas. The box and initial letters are also used alone, such as in the company's avatar. (At this writing, the old logo was still in use on the jcp website, and predictions are that the new design will be rolled out formally in advertising shown during the Academy Awards on February 27.)

The redesign comes on the heels of a recent redesign of the Sears logo—which was also set in a high x-height sans serif. Some say the redesign was in response to burgeoning sales at more contemporary competitors such as Macy's and Kohl's.

Who designed the new mark? From the company's web site: "To choose a new logo design, jcpenney sought submissions that reflect a wide range of perspectives. Participants included the Company's associates, several design agencies, and two art schools – University of Cincinnati and Rhode Island School of Design – that collectively submitted over 200 designs for consideration. The winning design was provided by Luke Langhus, a third-year graphic design student at the University of Cincinnati, who chose to reintroduce jcpenney's iconic red box – a symbol he has long associated with the national retailer. Langhus developed a versatile logo that preserves the company's namesake but can be modified to showcase the 'jcp' independently, given his intent to ensure it would resonate with constantly connected digital consumers who often use abbreviations."

jcpenney.net


Graphic Designer Portfolio, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Graphic Design Questions? Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Graphic Designer Rolls

Mayor Villaraigosa, in partnership with Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, has declared graphic designer and cyclist Geoff McFetridge winner of the Bike Awareness and Safety slogan contest. The "Give Me 3" bus shelter posters will be seen on 1,000 ads, and refers to support of 3 Foot Passing legislation that would give bikers more room to ride. The winning slogan was submitted by Danny Gamboa of Long Beach CA. Other sponsors of the effort to make the City of Angels a more bike friendly place include LADOT, LAPD and Midnight Ridazz. read more


Beyond The Cup
Nestlé is the latest major corporation to invest substantially to become more sustainable, in this instance expanding its reach into sustainable coffee farming, making its factories more efficient and reducing its packaging. Beyond the Cup: The Nescafe Plan aims to double the amount of Nescafé, the instant coffee, that it buys directly from farmers. They also intend to increase its number of agronomists and field technicians. To reduce its direct impacts, Nestlé is investing funds into its own factories to reduce energy and waste, and to use spent coffee grounds as fuel in all factories. see more

Graphic Designer's Portfolio, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Nordstrom Gets Real

Director Andrew Walton of production company IDENTITY has helmed a series of intimate documentary-style vignettes for Nordstrom. The campaign, titled “Career Mode,” sits on Nordstrom website and real Nordstrom customers sharing thoughts on their style and how what they wear to work defines them personally and professionally. Says Pia Hunter is Creative Director, Nordstrom and she notes that she “wanted real stories from real people and of course, to capture our customers in their best possible light.” One of the four films features a marketing freelancer…
 read more

Graphic Designer Portfolio, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Spartan Story

To celebrate the grand opening of the Michigan State University Medical School campus in downtown Grand Rapids MI, advertising agency Extra Credit Projects developed a print and outdoor campaign that’s turning heads. Featuring the familiar Spartan football helmet, the ads are intended to inform the public about the new location as well as enhance the brand in the region. “It’s a really big deal for the city to be able to officially be a part of the Big Ten,” said agency principal Rob Jackson.

Tasha Lee Design, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com

Green Award for Green Challenge

Stan Gellman Graphic Design concepted, designed and produced the three dimensional award given by the St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association to winners of its annual Green Business Challenge. Awards were given to 58 companies across the metropolitan region who successfully completed the challenge. These participants compiled a scorecard of requirements to form green teams, reduce waste, conserve water and energy, improve indoor air quality, and provide clean transportation options. The Stan Gellman firm made sure the award itself was as close as possible to 100% green; for example, printing was done on 100% rapidly renewable bamboo which is FSC certified.

Tasha Lee Design, Chicagoland Graphic Designer
Email Me: tasha@tashaleedesign.com