I’ve finally got five minutes! Daredevil has been doing quite a bit of work with the University of Wolverhampton Student’s Union. I thought I’d share a couple of my favorite pieces. I can’t wait to show off the current projects that I’m working on, I’ve really enjoyed working on it. Anyhow, for the moment … here are some photos of the Annual Report that Daredevil worked on with the Union. Plus some flyers for the newly opened Squeeze Box. Go and check it out, they have some very tasty cakes!

Dr Jan Martin and Colleagues with her Poster at an exhibition

The project kicked off with a grant supplied by the European Commission Leonardo Mobility Funding, which enabled 17 training officers to visit the laboratories of the Mater Dei Hospital in Malta and the University of Malta (UoM). It will run for two years, with four multidisciplinary teams with the training officers each spending one week in Malta undertaking detailed comparative analysis of the delivery of training to preregistration biomedical scientists in the UK and Malta. As a result new methods of good practice and innovative delivery for the preregistration can be developed.

The first few teams have already been and the results have been really good! The poster design broke down the project specifics and displayed them on an eye catching yet organised foamex board.

If you’ve got an event and need a poster or banner stand design then call Daredevil on 01902 837 377.

Covering anything from business cards to wide format scanning they’re certainly no newbie to the printing scene. Plus they offer some fantastic special offers and trade services.

There new website features a new eye-popping design, a wider range of services and helpful downloads to help you send off your files to them. Check them out at www.printmonster.co.uk or call 01543 462 323.

Poster Designs for the Opticians

Daredevil Creative recently helped them to create a series of eye-catching in-store posters and advertising banners. They have a great new range of children’s glasses, as well as some superb special offers- including selected half price designer frames!

Drop by their Facebook page to Get Smart!

Sing It Recording Studio Experience

You get a voucher, photo and on depending on the package you can star in your own video!

There are various packages available that range from one session recording, to fully blown band experience days. So if you’ve ever fancied yourself as a pop star – then check out the website or call 0121 359 557 to book now!

You can buy Hayley's Jewellery from her online shop

daisy-stud-earrings

antique-fork-necklace

silver bubbles ring

We’re very happy to have recently launched the Romantic Eccentric website – an online shop where you can buy bespoke handmade jewellery by Hayley Wright. Offering a truly unique collection of quirky necklaces, rings, pendants, earrings, bangles and bracelets for both women and men.

She also works to commission, so she can make something bespoke just for you! She has a series of collections that span distant times and magical places, natures creations and modern day romance. Encapsulating all things that are beautiful, curious and sentimental with creative design and high quality workmanship.

Check out her website to see her full catalogue. Also why not take a look at her Facebook page to get the latest updates.

We’d also like to thank Hayley for being great to work with – the website truly was inspired by her! All the best for what the future may bring and keep making fantastic jewellery.

Are you any good at juggling?

Good design is very powerful, it has the power to trigger responses and persuade your customers to choose you. Sometimes, it’s so subtle – you aren’t even aware of it. Even now. A sentence with punctuation marks; in the wrong place. Can. Change the dynamics and effect? It has. That’s the power of design baby!

So, imagine the effect that bad or mediocre design has on your customers. Yawn. Yes, they’ve lost interest and called up Barry Bodge-it to build their new extension. It might end up neon pink and a few floorboards short, but hey; your design didn’t attract them. Your chance has gone, your message is lost … and that luxury yacht in the Caribbean? Well, forget it.

Your chance of winning or losing customers hinges on your brand image. Would you turn up at a client meeting in your joggers and t-shirt expecting to make a sale? (OK, if you run a gym perhaps … ) The point is this; to sell yourself, or to sell anything – you want it to look its best. Your design should be your best pair of trousers, freshly washed and ironed. In business it’s all about perception, first impressions and delivering a service that builds your reputation. Unfortunately, so many businesses fail to deliver the first two parts, which brings me to a far more important point; if you’re perceived as the average joe and lose your customers interest, then where are your customers? (Que Barry). It’s a darned sight easier to build a reputation when you set out to impress to begin with. So why do so many companies skimp on their design?

Alright then, how can I make my leaflet look better, you might ask. How can I turn my sweaty joggers into a finely pressed pair of trousers? Well, I’d say it’s a lot like juggling. Most people like to have a go, but most people end up dropping a ball or two. To go one step further, these juggling balls represent each element I think you need for great design. I think that you deserve to look good, so I’ll share some of these with you …

• Great Copywriting

As the saying goes “content is king”, well, that’s certainly true. Good copywriting means a solid foundation for the design – they go hand in hand. Bad grammar, boring irrelevant waffle and even how you phrase sentences, all adds up to a polished end result. Get yourself a fantastic copywriter, or at the very least make sure you aren’t afraid of the ‘D’ word (that’s dictionary!) and have clear objectives of what you want to achieve from your copy. You should be thinking about things like; who are we talking to, what is the overall tone and does this tell them what they’d like to know about our services?

• Great Photography

A photo of poor quality, that’s out of focus or stretched DOES NOT look good. Seriously, does it? Unless you’re the next David Bailey in the making, hire a professional photographer, or purchase a stock image from the likes of I-Stock. One fantastic photograph speaks volume over two amateur ones. I’m also pretty sure that those of you with a Linked in or Facebook profile picture, take pride in selecting the perfect photo. We’re part of a very visual culture and if the photos in your design don’t cut the mustard … well, there’s going to be someone else’s that do. (Same applies for clipart)

• Great Balance

Ok don’t worry, I’m not going to start talking about my inner chi. Every piece of design has an element of balance, as each part of the design relates to another. How big, how small and how close one element is to another creates a feeling of texture and stability. Another part of this is ‘hierarchy’, every piece of design needs a visual order. If too many elements in your design are fighting for attention then none of them are going to stand a good chance of being looked at! Say one thing well, or say nothing at all.

• Great Colour

Some colours just don’t look good together. Some colours, just don’t look good on you; they can make you look fat and some make you look ill. The problem is, like a lot of things; colour is subjective. That said, colour is yet another powerful element of design. Used correctly, colour can evoke emotions and raise a laid back design into an energetic frenzy. So if you want to look like a supermodel and not Dale Winton, colour is key.

• Great Typography

So many things I see that are poorly designed, have typefaces (or fonts) that have been slapped onto their design from Microsoft Word or from their systems pre-installed lists. Sometimes, it’s because it’s quick and easy; and also let’s face it: how many average people are font experts? I’m sorry to break this to you – but, by now, I think you can take it. Here goes … the majority of those fonts are tacky and fail to give your business the representation and profile that you deserve. Phew, I said it. Fonts give your design character, as well as tone and texture. By using typefaces that aren’t suitable, you’re going to stick out for all the wrong reasons. Good, solid typefaces have a variety of weights and things such as (here comes some designer speak) glyphs and italics. Be wary of falling into the ‘easy’ choices trap.

• Great Humor and Engaging Design

I love to see both visual and verbal humor in design. The main reason for this, is that it involves you as a participant – “ha, that’s funny, I get it!” the same applies for designs that are clever and make you think. Getting the reader to engage with what you have to show them is also very, very tricky. Tread carefully, as what you think is funny could be tumbleweed to your customers. You don’t want egg on your face.

Right, well – I’m sure we both need a great cup of tea now! So, let’s summarize.

• For great design you need the right thing, in the right place

• Great design sells, because it makes your business look it’s best

• If you can’t juggle the metaphorical design balls, then you’ll end up making a balls up somewhere!

There are more balls for you to juggle, but having a few of these in the air should help you create a great design – that sells you and your business. If you aren’t a fantastic ‘design’ juggler (not everyone is) then don’t worry, you’re listening to one right now. Yes, … me.

So if you’d like a hand with your … b … ahem. If you’d like a hand making your business look its best, then drop me an email at studio@daredevil-creative.com or call 01902 837 377.

For sword swallowing, give Barry a call.

Daredevil Creative supporting The Foresters' Fund For Children. To learn more or donate, click on the image above to visit their website.

As part of their fundraising, they run a publication called ‘Class Mate’, which is aimed at helping adults and children with issues such as bullying and safety.

Daredevil is helping support their new campaign, which is due to be launched over the next few months.

If you run / or a part of a charity and would like Daredevil Creative to support you next year then get in touch.

To learn more and support / donate click here.

The new Univibe Audio Recording Studio website

A new year and a new look for Unvibe Audio Recording Studio in Birmingham City Centre. We’ve enjoyed working with them over the past few months with various clients and most recently – their new look website and publicity materials.

The studio is kitted with all the modern and analogue recording tech that you’d expect to find, providing its clients with a professional end result to put a smile on their ears. Combined with knowledgeable and friendly sound engineers and a very competitive pricing structure; Univibe Audio offers you the whole package.

Get in touch with Joel Spencer via the contact page or give him a call on 0121 359 5577.

If you’d like to give your website or marketing materials a boost, then get in touch with Daredevil Creative for a professional design.

It’s our first Christmas here at the Creative Industries Centre at Wolverhampton Science Park and what a great time it’s been so far! If you’re a start-up creative business then take a look at what Spark can offer you.

Great work environment, great people, great businesses – and today we had a great tenants meeting with lots of cake. I love cake.

I thought I’d just give a christmas shout out to all of our clients this year and the businesses here at the Science Park. Also, a huge thank you to everyone for welcoming Daredevil! Especially Louise Hunter, the Business Incubation manager at Spark.

We have some exciting projects lined up for 2011 and if you’re thinking about your marketing materials for next year – then get in touch.

Have a great Christmas everyone!