Hi, I'm Allison, a graphic designer based in Western Massachusetts. I work with entrepreneurs who are passionate about what they do. My goal is not only to provide effective graphic design, but be a valuable business resource to my clients.
This week, I was featured as part of the Young Entrepreneur series published by Reminder Publications, a newspaper local to the Western MA area. Honestly, I’m quite flattered to be called a “guru.” There was one thing missing from the article though, my contact information. So if you read the article, felt compelled to Google me- You’re in the right place, you found me! Now send me a note.
Print design is my first love. I love the way that holding a book, a magazine, a piece of paper in your hand feels. I love to disconnect myself from the constant world of electronic devices, and flip through a catalog. As newspapers and magazines have begun to die off, I admit to feeling a little nervous. Would I be forced, as a designer, to cross over to the digital side? To give up my love for print?
It’s nice to see that other’s share my belief. Print design will always be around in some form. Some needs just cannot be satisfied virtually.
On Friday, February 18th, I will be participating in a roundtable discussion at the Womens Business Owners Alliance monthly breakfast meeting. My ten minute workshop is entitled “Finding Your Business Identity.” As a graphic designer, I have had many potential clients come to me for logo and branding design, but had no idea what message they wanted to send their customers. I will go over the important questions every business owner should ask themselves before developing their brand, and the most effective ways to express these ideas.
I will be joined with four other experts in this roundtable, each sharing valuable knowledge in their field. Take a look at the program below. For more information on attending, visit the WBOA website at www.WBOA.org.
February 18, 2009 – 7:45 – 9:30am
Holiday Inn at Ingleside, Holyoke, MA
$15 in advance, $18 at the door
Susan Kelley: Is It Deductible? A Savvy Businesswoman’s Guide to Tax Planning
· How to set up your business so the IRS treats it as a qualifying business for tax breaks.
· What you need to survive IRS scrutiny of your deductions
· Claiming a home office – red flag or legitimated deduction?
· Why hiring your spouse or child may be a good idea, and how to do it legitimately
· Maximizing tax savings through individual 401ks
Allison Biggs: Finding Your Business Identity
• Learn important questions you should ask yourself before developing your business’s logo and brand
• Find out what you are saying about your business without words
• Gain useful tips on how to convey an effective and professional message
Gena Rotas: Branding… How Will the World Know You
· A brand is a collection of perceptions in the mind of the consumer.
· A brand is an intangible asset
· A brand is defined by your customer
· Advertising influences people’s perception of the products and services offered and thus helps define a brand.
Marie Sheedy: De-Clutter, De-Stress
· What is clutter?
· How does clutter affect your brain?
· What can be done about clutter?
· How can “sweeping” improve your life?
Amy Greenbaum: Integrity and Self Image
· Meaning of inegrity and its general sense
· Having the lack of integrity for ourselves
· The affects of lack of integrity
· Enhancing our own self worth
Forgive me for the sad, sad pun. Sometimes I can’t help myself.
This rebranding for Kulula Air, a South African airline, made me smile. Each part of the plane is labeled from the “sun roof” to the “loo” to the special seat for “the big cheese.”
At least noweveryone will know where they hide that little black box.
I was approached by one of my clients this December with this fun project. This project was completely unrelated to her business- these labels were to be designed for holiday presents for her friends and family. My client was going to be whipping up a batch of this fabulous concoction of honey, ghee, and cinnimon (yum!), putting it into jars, and needed something special to seal the deal.
I went with this warm yellow and brown color combination to give people a sense of the flavors they are about to taste- warm caramelly goodness. Next was the fun part, the bee illustration. This was a special, and very specific request from my client, right down to the heart shaped leaves. I was very happy with the way that it turned out, and I have to say, that bee is pretty darned cute.
Most of my clients and potential clients think of graphic design for the usual, logos, business cards, brochures, but there is so much more! I would love to work on another project like this, it was a blast!
Heroine is inspired by the typeface Windsor, designed by Eleisha Pechey in 1905. Windsor is the typeface used in the titles of many Woody Allen movies. A modern interpretation of this rusty pearl is something that always have been missing in the major type libraries. But Heroine is not only an interpretation, it goes beyond that. With the addition of swashes and alternate letters in several styles it becomes very addicitve.
We all need a little time to refill the creative well and I love Sagmeister’s idea of taking a year long sebatacle once every seven years. Of course this isn’t just time off, but time spent observing, and being inspired. It is not time wasted, but time invested, giving you more innovative, fresh ideas.
Pay close attention to the furniture concepts and typography towards the end. I’ll gladly take a year off to come up with such great ideas!
