April 27 marked World Design Day, but every day, we like to celebrate the graphic design process. Why? Because, like a fine wine or a good cup of coffee, great design work takes time.

Instant gratification carries great weight in today’s society. You don’t have to go far to find a web service or two pumping out cheap and cheerful designs for single-digit prices. But, fast and cheap does not necessarily mean you will receive something that is unique, conceptual and evergreen. In fact, it is proven that strategic iteration is the key to perfection.

Neil, our head of design, is an industry-trained professional with deep respect for and loyalty to the design process.

We often get asked by clients about the process and what the benefits are versus an informal approach. To this question, we respond that unless you put rigor and structure into the design process, it’s easy to lose your way and spin your wheels in the creative soup. This is a scenario that neither client or designer want to get into. Nobody wins when the project isn’t moving forward.

The design process is a gradual progression from minimum viable product to polished masterpiece. Here are the major steps along the way.

The Brief

It’s absolutely critical that the project kicks off with both the client and designer on the same page. Understanding the brand, target audience and overall objectives, as well as any preferences to certain designs styles, is essential to moving forward efficiently and effectively. Even with a brief, projects can go off the rails if there is a miscommunication about the direction at the early stages.

Designers find it helpful when you share share moodboards and samples of what you like – after all they speak in visual language.

Research

As the old saying goes: design is 70% research and only 30% execution. When a designer takes the time to understand your industry, your competitors and like-minded brands, he or she will become entrenched in the project. This also helps the designer get a sense of what already exists in your space so they don’t create anything too similar.

Research will likely lead to creative work that is well thought out, steeped in insight and aligned with your business goals. Mostly importantly, it will be original work.

Sketching

You know a true designer when you see them clutching a sketchbook and pencil. Neil has his Field Notes positioned within reach: on the bed table, in the car, at his desk, even in the shower (they’re waterproof).

Sketching is a quick and efficient way to jot ideas down at scale. At first, no idea is a bad idea. This technique is all about birthing concepts and exploring various directions. And, just when we think we’ve exhausted every angle, we’ll extract a few more from the deep recesses of our minds. We’ve found that those last sketches are often some of the strongest.

In the first round of feedback, you’ll receive your design options in sketch format. This is the most efficient way for us to gauge your first reactions before spending time to perfect them. If we are off base completely, we will be able to course correct without ever touching an Adobe program.

Digitizing

Once a client has landed on a short list of sketches, they’ll be scanned in and used as reference to create a digital version. During this phase, the concept is refined and tweaked.

Neil will often duplicate the designs over and over, while he plays with colour ways, typefaces, line treatments and angles. During this process, sometimes fresh ideas may come to life. However, even though we may have dozens of variations, our clients will only see the top selects at the next round of feedback.

As a final checkpoint, the logo is looked at from every possible angle to ensure that it looks good when viewed from any perspective – and to make sure no inappropriate symbols are revealed unknowingly.

At this stage of the process, it will be clear whether we’re on the right track and we should be nearing a final version of the logo with only small tweaks to type, colour and line.

Feedback

When we’re working with clients, we see the process as very collaborative. We’re up front at the beginning about how many stages of feedback the client has, but open to refinements as we go.

In return, we hope our clients provide us with clear, concise and very specific feedback. Here are some questions to help guide you on the way:  

1. Is the design reflective of the original ask? Why or why not?
2. Do you feel this design represents your brand effectively? Why or why not?
3. Can this design stand the test of time (outside of today’s latest trends)?
4. Can you see the design or variations of it on different mediums? Why or why not)?
5. What about the type/font do you like/dislike?
6. What about the graphic treatment do you like/dislike?
7. Is there anything in the design you would prefer to remove/take out or change (please be as specific as possible)?

Here’s a recent example of some work we did with our good friend, Ann Marie McKenzie. She’s a Desire Map workshop facilitator and was looking for a logo that reflected her own personal style and approach. As you can see, a lot can happen between the first sketch and the final product.

And there you have it: a design process that is rigorous, but leaves room for course correction and iteration.  It’s not as simple as opening up Adobe Illustrator and playing around for a little bit. There is much more research, concepting and evolution required  behind the scenes to make beautiful design that stands the test of time.

Have a design challenge for us? Get in touch and let’s chat! 

A new coworking space is coming to our community, and we’re so proud to be part of the advisory committee that’s helping to make it happen. Why? Simply put, we believe in the power of connection.

Substrate Studios is based in Squamish, BC – a beautiful mountain town tucked at the end of Howe Sound fjord between Vancouver and Whistler. It’s the outdoor capital of the Canada, and also among the fastest growing communities in the country.

Proximity to large metropolitan areas, lower housing prices than the big city, and attractive business opportunities, are contributing to the population boom in Squamish. Combine this with the rise of the mobile workforce, and you have yourself a tidal wave of change in work and community culture as we know it.

Faster internet connections, more robust technology and increasingly flexible employers are enabling an entire generation of telecommuters to spend at least one day per week working from home. In fact, by 2022 the mobile workforce is set to increase to 42% of the global population.

As small business owners who work from home ourselves, we know how isolating it can be. We left the cubicles, fluorescent lighting and cold boardrooms of the corporate world behind for a reason. But what we don’t want to abandon is the a sense of personal and professional connection with colleagues: comradery, peer mentorship and inspiration.

It’s all too tempting to donne the PJ’s and hunker down, only to surface to humanity for the occasional video conference call. And even then, you’re only dressed smart from the waist up (let’s be honest). But, humans are social creatures and we need to be around other humans; to build community and feed our inspiration. It’s good for our mental health, for our creativity and for the growth of our businesses too.

Until recently, working in a “social environment” has entailed squatting in a coffee shop. But, despite the jolt of java and buzzing atmosphere, there are hefty sacrifices to be made. The guilt of staying for hours in a bustling restaurant means ordering way too many coffee and/or pastries just to feel better. And, participating in a conference call while the espresso machine is blasting and the coffee shop playlist blares is downright frustrating.

Coworking spaces solve these problems by meeting us halfway. A Silicon Valley-esque start-up work environment meets coffee shop with silently crafted lattes.

While the term “coworking space” was coined in 2005 in San Francisco, it’s only in the last number of years that they’ve really hit the mainstream. The coworking industry has exploded, leading to boutique operations and global chains that have forged a path for telecommuters and digital nomads to gather, drink coffee, work collaboratively, and gain a sense of culture and community.

The Common will open its doors in Squamish at the end of this month, and we’re hoping it’s the first of many opportunities to meet new people and continue to nurture our network here in Squamish. Learn more about The Common by liking them on Facebook and Instagram or visiting them online at thecommon.io.

Do you have a coworking experience to share? Tell us in the comments below!

At long last, Substrate Studios is born! Years of dreaming, and six months of planning have come to fruition. So, how did we get here and who are we?

We are a husband-wife graphic design and marketing strategy team, proudly based in Squamish, BC.

We founded Substrate Studios because we have a passion for helping businesses grow and we want to see the entrepreneurs and companies in our town – and other small towns – prosper to create thriving local economies. We believe that consistent visual identity and smart marketing are the tools every business needs to achieve success – and we can help.

Amber Turnau brings more than 10 years of marketing experience to the table, having worked on the marketing teams for Whistler Blackcomb, TELUS and – through her agency life – numerous other clients in a variety of industries. She’s been immersed in the world of digital – particularly social media marketing – and has a strong background in content marketing, online advertising, and analytics. 

Neil Foster is a maker and a creator. He’s an artist, illustrator, graphic designer, and screen printer – who also co-owned a BMX and skate apparel company in his home town of Plymouth, UK. Neil looks at design through a kaleidoscope of perspectives, bringing his passion for clever visual storytelling that evokes emotion and reflection. He is versatile – both in his ability to use a variety of different artistic mediums – and the wide spectrum of clients he’s able to service.

We are yin and yang: wildly creative and adventurous, yet pragmatic, thoughtful and strategic. By bringing the left and right brains together under one roof, we’re able to solve business problems from a 360-degree perspective.

Together, we create, we build and we explore. And, we look forward to doing great work with you.

Have a marketing or design challenge for us? Get in touch!