Logo design in Leicestershire

Friday, 05 October 2018

If you have had a look at my website and read the content, you should now have a general understanding of the difference between a logo design and brand design. Put simply, a brand includes the logo but also many other aspects which go together to create the marketing tools that support the business and help it communicate its message.

I am fortunate that I am geographically positioned amongst many towns and cities and have worked with businesses in areas such as Leicester, Derby, Ashby de la Zouch, Nottingham, Loughborough and Hinkley, and further afield to Birmingham, Lincoln, Sheffield, Worcester, Evesham and beyond! This allows me to have face-to-face meetings where I can learn as much as I can about the company, asking questions of which the answers will become part of the design brief. It could be a start up business needing a logo and some printed business cards, or an established business that is ready to re brand and have everything from the stationery to signage to its online presence implemented.

As a logo design specialist in the East Midlands, I offer a service that involves the client from beginning to end, after all, they know their business better than anyone, so who better to work with! Together we complete a brand valuation document then I go away, do further research, and start designing. Once the initial ideas have been created, they are presented to the client for feedback. I always say I like to have total honesty with regards to both positive and negative comments, as it all helps to get to the right conclusion. We then go through various revision stages to arrive at the point where it works. I also believe in the more the merrier, and encourage my clients to get other members of staff, family and friends who have a close connection to the business to see what their thoughts are. Communication is key and the channels are kept open throughout the creative journey. This ensures that nothing is overlooked, and also gives a sense of pride and ownership to the client, which is very important.

On completion, I supply my client with all the files they need, and if in the future they need a file in a different format, I am more than happy to send it across (no extra charge!). It may be that they just needed a logo, or a full brand design, or that they already had the brand in place and needed a graphic designer to partner with to create ongoing projects such as brochures, advertising campaigns or exhibition stands etc, whatever it is, I work with my clients, making sure that what they are receiving is what they need.

I have been designing for nearly 30 years now for so many different business types, from sole traders to large corporates (including Holiday Inn, Drayton Manor and Sainsbury’s) and I still get immense pleasure when I see a business using ‘our’ designs, getting that all important brand message across. Please watch the video to see a logo I designed recently for Steve Judge who had decided to re brand his business…

Buzz Words

Tuesday, 27 June 2017

As human beings I believe we do enjoy a sense of belonging, be it following a team, being part of a club, liking a certain type of music, or owning a particular car. I remember driving my Mini Cooper for the first time and how exciting it was when other Mini drivers gave me a wave - I loved that feeling of being a part of something exclusive! This does have a negative spin on it though, and there is a danger that people can feel ostracised if they are excluded from a club or group.

"What has all this got to do with buzz words?" I hear you ask? Well, just as I think I'm up to speed with the modern world, which includes the world of Graphic Design, a new word starts to be used... It would throw me into an inward panic, worrying what it is I don't know that everyone else does. Well that's just silly isn't it, and I told myself as much! It is not meant to be intimidating, it is the human need to be creative, and to come up with new terms to describe and reflect what is happening in our surroundings.

These days if I hear a new buzz word, I will embrace it, sometimes be amused by it, but above all want to find out what it means, and if I'm feeling a little risque, start to use it in my conversation!

Standing firm on pricing

Thursday, 18 May 2017

When I first started Gosh Golly in 2008 I had a bucket load of experience behind me. I had been studio manager and creative head at full service agencies, winning every pitch we did and being involved in all levels of the creative process from customer facing to getting the work out of the door. Experienced in pretty much everything except talking money. I knew I was being charged out at £95 per hour and what the print mark up was, but that’s where my knowledge ended. So when I needed to deal with this side of running my own business I had no experience to draw on. I set up the pricing structure based on experience and overheads, so quoting for work was not a problem. I admit I did used to feel a little bit embarrassed when handing in invoices for the first time, but I soon got used to it, and admin is now part of my skill set. I stand firm on my prices. I am nowhere near as expensive as full service agencies, but with 25 years experience and many happy customers whose creative work I’ve done with a team of amazing people around me, we are worth what I charge. I saw some marketing material recently from a direct competitor and couldn’t believe the price they were offering - it was incredibly cheap! There were examples of the work which did reflect the cost to a certain degree, but this has niggled me. I am proud of my industry of which there are a lot of incredibly talented, hard working creatives out there. I do wish that some do not cheapen what they do by offering work at knock down prices which can only make designers busy fools. If someone thinks I am too expensive, I am absolutely fine with that. I am aware there are logos you can buy online cheap, but what Gosh Golly offers is a much more in depth design process. I pride myself on practical, creative design - inspired ideas that work - and if you want to know what I charge, ask away, I won’t be embarrassed!

Social media etiquette

Tuesday, 2 May 2017

For those of you who have been following my 2017 leap into social media, I am increasingly questioning, “What is the etiquette on here?”. I am finding LinkedIn a great resource and some of the articles are both relevant and motivating to my work. When scrolling down recent notifications, I’ll find someone has put a post looking for a graphic designer/wants a logo designed/needs help with their branding... “That’s me!” I think and add my details. Two days later I see another 50 graphic designers have had their details added too! Do I message again? What is the etiquette? Equally, I am part of a FaceBook Group which does much the same thing. I’ll see someone has asked for the details of a graphic designer and someone I know in the group has had their name put forward. Do I add mine as well, or is this extremely bad mannered/cut throat/dog eat dog?? Never wanting to offend anyone, but also wanting to put myself forward with my great portfolio, 25+ years experience, amazing testimonials etc etc what is the best way to approach these situations? I really don’t know so any advice would be greatly appreciated! Many thanks in advance, Natalie (amazing graphic designer!).

Are you hard work?!

Tuesday, 18 April 2017

There are lots of elements to my work and I am very fortunate to say that I enjoy all of them - one being getting to know my customers.

In my experience there are two types: the easy going "yep that'll do" and the more demanding, asking lots of questions type. I have to admit, I prefer the latter, and I want to be working with more people like this. Their high standards and need to understand bring out the best of my creativity as this helps me to understand their business so much easier.

A client recently confessed to being ‘hard work’ and I see this as a great positive. To be passionate and tenacious means you do not rest until the job is done properly, and if you are going to do something, then why not push your potential to the maximum? Surely the best results are what comes out the other end?

"Type 2" do not settle for today either, they are always looking ahead, always fine tuning as always believing that there is room for improvement. I have been a graphic designer for 25 years now, and do my best work when I am under pressure and being pushed - so bring it on I say to all the "hard work" people out there!

Paper matters

Tuesday, 4 April 2017

In a digital world where people are absorbed with their screens, including myself, I have just received some gorgeous business cards back from the printer. They have a raised spot UV varnish on my client’s name so you can feel the design and well as see it. We are human beings with at least five senses (many neurologists identify nine plus, with some listing as many as 21!) with touch being one of them. When receiving printed material this sense plays an important part of the experience and as well as being visually stimulating, a tactile design can add to the interaction, creating a superior impression. Using textured paper, raised spot UV and embossing are examples of how designers can add another element to their design, making it more ‘touchy feely’.

I sit down every evening my with little boy to read, and a lot of the younger children’s books include a tactile experience, encouraging the child to enjoy and investigate. I don’t think this should stop with children, going back to my delight of receiving the business cards and how special they are with the combined look AND feel. So paper matters to me, and as a designer in a digital age, still needs great consideration when creating the delights of printed material!

How is your year going?

Thursday, 16 March 2017

Well March is now well underway, and partly due to my internet being down today, I am taking time to give some thought as to how 2017 is taking shape... I set myself two very clear goals this year: firstly to increase my networking, and secondly to embrace social media, both because I am at a stage where I want to make more business connections.

In January I joined a business referral group which is going well - it’s a new chapter and the members are all very enthusiastic and lovely. I am busy having One2Ones to learn more about them and to educate them on what I do and how a well designed brand and everything that goes with it is a necessity to communicate what their business stands for, whether it’s a service, product or charity. I am going along to other networking events too and I had a great One2One with a photographer this morning who I met earlier this week. We talked about what we did, and she was able to tell me about other networking groups local to the area - a good hour spent.

Networking is something I have always believed in, it really works for me, but I was being told to utilise my social media accounts a lot more, so I thought “Why not”! I must say they’re a great resource for related information to my industry, especially LinkedIn, and it is a good way to keep up to date with my contacts. I have been doing this since January and thought I was doing OK, then I went on a training course this week and realised I have lots more to do, so watch this space!

With 25 years ‘graphic designing’ under my belt I still learn new things from the people I am making connections with, whether it’s face to face at networking and One2Ones, or online via the various social media platforms I use - all good stuff and it certainly keeps my work interesting, and above all else, enjoyable!

I hope your year is going well so far and any goals set are being achieved. Would love to hear all about them. Thanks for reading, Natalie.

Call me old fashioned, but...

Sunday, 18 December 2016

...I do love to receive a Christmas card. I appreciate the benefits of sending eCards - saving on the January recycling and not having to sit down with a pen and write message after message for four evenings on the trot. Yes, it’s lovely that people contribute to charities instead of buying cards, but why not do both??! You can’t beat hearing the sound of envelopes pushing through the door, checking to see which ones have handwritten addresses on with franked stamps, opening them and reading a lovely message from a friend or client which puts a smile on your face. So to all of those that have sent me a card this year, THANK YOU, I love them!!

Make an exhibition of yourself!

Tuesday, 7 June 2016

If asked ‘who was my most demanding client?’ I would have to admit it is my husband who runs Toybox Specialist Cars! We work together daily and of course I do all of the marketing. It’s a great brand and who wouldn’t love working on cars.

Recently we exhibited at the Stoneleigh National Kit Car Show for the forth year on the trot. It’s hard work, including three of us trailering cars back and forth twice, taking up much of the day, then building the stand once we had everything there. Our three year old and mother-in-law loved it and there is always a great atmosphere there with plenty to see and get involved in. I designed and produced a pop up banner, pull up banners, bill boards, leaflets, business cards and info sheets for the display cars. There was lots of pre planning to make sure everything was ready for the show, but as long as you are organised (which I am!) it was all done with time to spare. We also sent out some email marketing to remind customers of the show and where to find us.

Four weeks later we are still benefitting from being there. We have sold cars as a result of people coming to talk to us, we have cemented relationships with old customers and suppliers and we have continued to build our brand awareness.

So, if you are thinking of having a stand at a show related to your business, I can highly recommend it. As well as being great fun, it’s great for business. And if you do need help with you stand graphics, Gosh Golly is more than well equipped to fulfil your requirements!