Straydog’s branded The Press Room, opens in Vancouver in mid December in Olympic Village, at 1778 Columbia Street.
Pop-in, have a coffee, stay awhile and say hi to the proud owners, Selena Wang and Toby Xiang!
Unleash your brand
Straydog’s branded The Press Room, opens in Vancouver in mid December in Olympic Village, at 1778 Columbia Street.
Pop-in, have a coffee, stay awhile and say hi to the proud owners, Selena Wang and Toby Xiang!
When we design new websites for clients, we firmly believe in the notion that more is less. We don’t get caught up in the idea that including everything, including the kitchen sink, on every page is beneficial to the user. In fact, this practice overwhelms the reader to the point that they will simply go to your competitor…that’s not what you want. You want them to land on your site, quickly and easily find what they want, experience the expected, be informed and then be able to reach out and get in touch with you. These goals can easily be achieved by following these simple 8 Best Practices to Effective Website Design:
1. SIMPLICITY: Colours, Typefaces and graphics should be kept minimum.
Use no more than 5 colours, use web fonts that are legible (no more than 5 colours of typefase, and only use graphics if they help the user complete a task. Remember: Less is more you dog! Don’t be adding design features or functionality unless it aids in the overall experience and objective.
Amcor.com
2. Visual Hierarchy: Lead visitors to the most important information and action with size, colour and positioning. This means arranging elements so that visitors naturally gravitate toward the most important element first. In most cases this is a desire action such as clicking on a button to buy, get in contact or receive a quote.
In the example below, the user is carried down through the images to the call-to-action buttons, which are easily found and clear on their intention.
Craftfloors.com >> Branding & Website Design by Straydog
3. Navigability: Intuitive & logical navigation to ensure that users can find what they’re looking for, quickly and easily
> The main navigation should be simple at at the top of the page,
> Use breadcrumbs so users are aware of where they are on your site,
> Use navigation in the footer, ie: for T&C, Privacy Policy, Contact.
> Always include a Search box near the top of the page
> Don’t have too many navigation menus on the page
> Don’t make users dig more than 4 levels in a menu
> Include links in your copy to both internal and external pages and indicate where these links are going and for what content. Don’t use the often used “Click Here” text, this tells the user nothing.
In this example of Bayer Canada’s website, we see a mega menu structure with clear paths for content, breadcrumbs, a different colour for menu links are indicated when hovered over, and quick-link menu is also offered for other key content
4. Consistency: The overall look & feel of your site should be consistent, but also offer unique page templates for different content. In the example below of our own Straydog website, we have used similar page designs and graphics and elements across all pages.
5. Accessibility: A huge proportion of users will be accessing your site on their phone or tablet, so your site needs to be “Responsive” (mobile friendly across all devices). With a responsive site, content is automatically resized to fit the dimensions of the device being used to access it. Some contact may not be presented, while other content is presented in a different order, to best the best user experience while understanding mobile viewing expectations and tendencies.
In our example below of Paladin Security’s website, we have also designed fully responsive versions for use oin phones and tablets.
Website Design by Straydog
6.Conventionality: Provide a familiar functioning site to users:
Having the main navigation be at the top (or left side) of a page,
> Having a logo at the top left (or centre) of a page,
> Having that logo be click-able so it always brings a visitor back to the homepage,
> Having links change color/appearance when you hover over them.
In this example, we showcase the Hitcase website, that follows the 3 principles we just listed.
Branding & Design by Straydog
7. Credibility: Using web design elements and strategies that visitors are already familiar with, ie: Don’t make them dig for the most important information. If you’re selling things, present your price and options, be upfront and honest!
In this example of Bowen Island Seakayaking, the booking and pricing information is easily found and acted
Branding & Website Design by Straydog
8.User-Centricity: Put yourself in the shoes of your site’s visitors and keep them in mind every step of the way. At the end of the day, usability and user experience hinge on preferences of the end users. So to acid test your work, conduct some user testing, gather feedback and make changes based on your learnings.
There are many craft brewers that have great products but are struggling to succeed in business because they don’t have a strong brand.
As the number of craft breweries grows, it’s becoming harder and harder for consumers to choose which breweries to visit, which beer to purchase and which growlers to collect. Now more than ever, it’s critical that you successfully differentiate your brand and your beer.
Many breweries with horrible branding have amazing beer, and conversely a lot of the breweries with really great branding with mediocre beer. The problem with bad branding on great beer is that you have a disconnect—people might not give your beer a chance because they think the poor branding and label design equals poor beer.
Craft beer drinkers are much more discerning, curious and adventurous than other beer drinkers. They want facts, history, and bragging rights. They’re amateur reviewers and wannabe experts — sometimes they’re even real experts, and they want to know the story about what makes your beer special.
The Brewers Association lists, “Shelf Appeal” as one of the main selling points to craft beer. This not only refers to the individual label design, but the appeal of the “brand family” of beers and the point of sale pieces. Products from the same supplier should be designed to look good together because a mishmash of packaging—different styles and sizes of bottles, different shapes of six and four-pack carriers mixed in with each other is messy and not visually appealing.
Professional package designers are experts in balancing the shelf appeal (design and messaging) as well as the functional as aspect of food product safety, protection on the store shelf, and find-ability—which allows consumers to navigate to what they’re looking for with minimal effort.
One of the advantages you have as a craft brewer is your genuine passion about your beer and your company. People buy from brands that they trust, and when they feel they are experiencing something authentic, it creates brand loyalty.
Use figurative language and strong verbs, interject a sense of fun and excitement, and tailor your story to your audience. You should never be afraid of adding a little tension or conflict, and never be afraid to let your passion shine through. The craft beer industry doesn’t take itself too seriously. And why should it? Beer is fun! It’s for kicking back: vacations, parties, holidays, BBQ’s and beaches. People are attracted to brands that tell this story.
A successful craft brewery starts with passion and strategic branding. A successful brand identity should accurately reflect a brand’s core character. This involves carefully cultivating your; vision, mission, tone-of-voice, name, logo, labels, bottles, packaging etc. Learn More about Branding
It’s not as easy or as simple as you might think. Yes, you can write a sentence. But does that make you a professional writer worthy of a position on the Bestseller List? The same is true when it comes to branding. Sure, you can come up with a great name and you’ve got a niece who can design a logo… but will that name stand the test of time, and can your niece also help you define all the points where your brand comes into contact with consumers and potential consumers, can she make sure that the logo and identity communicate the core values and promise of your brand? Taphouses, Websites, Liquor stores, Facebook Pages, Tweets, Magazines, Events and Salespeople all need to present a consistent brand message that reinforces you brand promise. To become a successful craft brewery, you’ll need to address all of these factors in the brand development stage.
You craft brewers spend as much time thinking about how to present your beers to the public as you do brewing them. What if you developed a strong brand that could do all the talking for you? More time for creating great beer!
Back Country Brewing opened it’s brewery in Squamish BC in 2017 and was awarded Rookie of the Year at the 2017 BC Beer Awards. We like the branding and packaging because of it’s distinctive label, use of the lantern and it’s link to backcountry camping and the brands’ positioning to the outdoor enthusiast, so key to it’s Squamish location.
Feel the “Liquid Aloha” literally. Kona Brewing company is rolling out new custom bottles for their entire line of Kona Brews. The new 12oz. bottle will be embossed with a Hawaiian Island Chain and “Liquid Aloha” lettering, complete with refreshed labels and packaging. Kona Brewing is delivering more of that sense of place that Kona is known for, and I think this new bottle and package really brings Hawaii home.
Whistler Brewing Company has a strong reputation as a true BC brewery. The style of their brand identity is warm, fresh and natural, mixed with some old school Whistler nostalgia. The illustrations on each brew features playful scenes of local animals and vivid local scenery.
Hangar 24 Craft Brewery, headquartered in Redlands, California, began with a love of flying and a passion for good beer. A licensed pilot, company founder Ben Cook launched his brewery in 2007 in a warehouse adjacent to the local airport and aptly named the business Hangar 24. The logo pays homage to America’s golden age of flight. Just like his favorite airplanes, Ben Cook’s Hangar 24 brand quickly soared.
United Kingdom, 2019– Corporate Vision Magazine has announced the winners of the Media Innovator Awards 2019.
Corporate Vision magazine is proud to announce the introduction of the inaugural Media Innovator Awards to its roster, with the intention to recognize and spotlight the very best that this ever-changing and competitive industry has to offer.
Discussing the success of their winners, Kaven Cooper, Awards Coordinator stated: “With constant shifts within the industry, it is vital that firms stay ahead of the curve and to adapt to the trials and tribulations of the industry. This awards program recognizes innovation at its finest whilst rewarding those who influence, engage and endeavour to provide the very best services. Congratulations to all my winners and best of luck for the future.”
The Straydog Studio was named the Best Boutique Branding and Design House in Vancouver for 2019.
About Corporate Vision Magazine
Created by a highly experienced and passionate team of business experts, advisors and insiders, Corporate Vision provides discerning readers worldwide with a wealth of news, features and comment on the corporate issues of the day.
Our team here at Straydog is excited to report that the judges decisions are in, and Straydog has been awarded the
Best Boutique Branding & Design House 2019 – Vancouver
by CV Magazine
Through CV Magazine’s merit oriented research and judging process, they have determined that Straydog Branding has demonstrated expertise in the field of Branding and Design, a dedication to the industry, while providing excellence in client/customer service and an on-going commitment to excellence, innovation and quality of work.
Read the Press Release!
About CV Magazine:
With over 650,000 page-views, and a strong and growing readership, CV Magazine stands as an industry leader and a core platform for worldwide exposure. Created by a highly experienced and passionate team of business experts, advisors and insiders, Corporate Vision provides discerning readers worldwide with a wealth of news, features and comment on the corporate issues of the day.Taking in everything from business strategy, expert opinion, analysis, corporate case studies, emerging trends, leadership, growth opportunities, and the challenges facing our country’s foremost business leaders, Corporate Vision is an invaluable resource for leaders and decision makers looking, not only to be informed, but to improve the way they manage their operations, staff, technology, business partnerships, and supply chains with a view to creating a more profitable and successful business.
You have had a professional branding studio develop your brand platform, graphic elements, helped you articulate your messaging and developed processes for streamlined communication…now what?
Now that you’re business is moving along at a nice pace, you need an ad sent to your local newspaper. You decide to delegate the small task to your receptionist. A few hours later, you receive the ad on your desk…except the logo is the wrong green and the font for the headlines is not the correct one. You decide there is no time for adjustments, so you submit the ad anyway.
The following week you ask your marketing team to create a series of ads for the next newspaper publishing — they will do a better job on this you think.
This time your ads come back and you notice they have added a drop-shadow to the logo, stretched it, and decided that a big orange dog would look cute in the ad, even though your company sells sports equipment…
A Brand Standards Manual is important in making sure the integrity of your brand is maintained. The Brand Standards Manual ensures a uniform visual identity that causes customers to immediately recognize a communication by your company.
The Brand Manual is designed to allow your staff the flexibility to choose a layout and content that is right for the particular communication, while still maintaining a relation to the overall brand identity. Basically the Brand Manual is a document or manual designed to outline the do’s and don’ts of the brand identity, across a wide range of applications.
Often companies hire third parties to develop specific Brand collateral — Advertisers, design agencies, photographers and printers are put to the task of executing the company’s image, its message and its core competencies. But there’s a strong chance that they do not fully understand the brand. What happens? A glaring lack of respect for what the brand stands for – and sheer ignorance of the company’s vision.
Your investment in a Brand Standards Manual is invaluable, as it will assist your future success. Albeit, the Brand Manual will be for nothing if the rules in the standards manual are not respected. The Brand Manual should express values and philosophies that are endorsed by the highest levels of your organization’s leadership. Additionally, the standards must be well understood by all members of the organization at every level, and understood by other stakeholders such as suppliers and partner organizations. Any uses outside of the brand guide will be effectively watering down your visual style, and will devalue all the investment in the brand’s visual style.
You may encounter those working on your communications to express that Brand Standards Manual causes too much creative restriction. An effective brand guide will limit the applications of your logo and typefaces. It will limit the applications to the BEST uses. Any uses outside of the brand guide will be effectively watering down your visual style, and will devalue all the investment in the brand’s visual style. This is a valuable asset you must preserve by following a few simple rules.
To learn more about Brand Standards Manual’s, visit Branding
Graphic design is not simply about making your marketing materials look good, although the visual presentation is very necessary. It’s about communicating your business’s message in a clear, compelling, and visually appealing manner.
Ottawa (Canada) – Business leaders and governments in Europe and Asia have long understood that design is an integral component that enhances products, services and sales.North America, and in particular Canada, has languished in gaining an understanding of the economic benefits of design, and moreover failing to employ a national socioeconomic development policy. Surprisingly, not since the Trudeau era of the 1970’s has Canada had a ministry focus on design – an integral part of Canada’s multi-billion dollar creative industry. The Society of Graphic Designers of Canada (GDC) together with Ottawa-based market research firm, Harris/Decima have now polled Canadian business owners and decision makers to better understand business perceptions of the design industry.
“It has been more than a decade since a study focusing on design buyers has been conducted,” notes Melanie MacDonald, GDC Executive Director. “As the National professional association for graphic and communication designers in Canada, we are well acquainted with the realities experienced by designers promoting their services in our ever-changing economic landscape. However, it was time to uncover the perceptions of the design-buying public. It is our hope that the information gleaned from this survey will help professional designers identify where opportunities exist, and enable business to take advantage of design.” Over 500 completed surveys were collected from a random sample of business panel members across Canada in August 2010.
It was confirmed that nearly two-thirds of businesses interviewed saw a definite link between design and better business performance. Respondents advised that designers and design firms who abide by a professional code of ethics, such as those that certified designers adhere to, instill greater confidence in their clients. In fact, two out of five stated that their companies only hire designers who adhere to a professional code of ethics. Formalized sustainability principles, such as those adopted by the GDC, also factored into consideration when purchasing design services.
The research shows that respondents in Central Canada are more likely than those in Eastern Canada to see the value in hiring a designer or design firm to help with marketing and communication efforts. Respondents with ten or more employees are more likely to engage the services of a designer or firm. These companies are significantly less likely to go to market with a campaign that has not been developed with the assistance of a designer or firm.
Most of those surveyed advised that their design agency usage has remained consistent in the past five years. Respondents in Central Canada with more than ten employees are more likely to have seen their designer/design firm usage increase in the past five years. Most respondents rely on the services of freelance designers and intend to continue doing so, especially those in Western Canada. ?While the vast majority (90%) of those that have used design services in the past felt that the results were positive, and intend to use design services again in the future, 34% of businesses who are not currently using the services of a designer or design firm stated that they are likely to do so in the future – predominantly so Eastern and Central Canada.
If faced with the choice between a certified and non-certified designer of equal abilities, 70% would choose the certified designer. This is a clear message and good news for professional association members with certification, such as those with the “CGD” (Certified Graphic Designer) honourific, the official honourific of the GDC. Reasons for choosing a certified graphic designer included the perception of higher education and training, reliability and trustworthiness, knowledge and skill set, experience and level of professionalism.
“This research is an important new resource for the GDC in Canada, but also a benchmark for other design organisations internationally,” stated Icograda Executive Director, Brenda Sanderson. “The link between design and better business performance and the support for defined professional ethics and sustainability policies are all advocacy platforms shared within Icograda’s international network. In undertaking this research, the GDC has demonstrated how Icograda member organisations are working to define the value of design.”
GDC National President, Jim Hudson, concludes, “The survey results have quantitatively reinforced our understanding of the value our organization provides to our profession, to business and all Canadians. Design buyers want to hire designers who are certified and adhere to a strong and professional Code of Ethics.”
The GDC is Canada’s national association for professional graphic designers with over 1,300 members coast to coast to coast. It was founded in 1956, grew to become a national association by 1974, and was granted a Federal Charter in 1976. The GDC’s membership in the International Council of Graphic Design Associations (Icograda) affiliates the GDC with a world-wide organization of designers and provides its members with the opportunity of international recognition and professional development.
The GDC is comprised of designers, media specialists, strategic consultants, business leaders and educators and is the leading authority for graphic and communication design in Canada. GDC members are committed to ethical practice, social and environmental responsibility, and supporting and improving Canadian business and the economy.
1. Be True. Ensure that your message speaks the truth about your company. Consumers can see though the crap, so speak the truth, in everything you do, print, produce, associate with, promote and represent.
2. Be Unique. Offer them something nobody else does. Yes, this is a difficult thing, but you need to try and we can help! The world today is flooded with copy-cats, being one of those will get you nowhere, it’ll only force you to compete on price, and we know what that does
to brands.
3. Be Consistent. Your Brand is your reputation. Brands, like reputations, are built on being able to deliver a valued and consistent relationship. Your brand should always speak the same message…represent your uniqueness, support your mission, map out your vision. Communicate this same message at every touch point: your print material, your website, your employees behaviour, your management style…everything! Brand Strategists know this, and they live and breathe this to continually build your Brand.
4. Get Involved! Your tribe, your clients, your customers, they’re all speaking about your brand, you need to be involved in that conversation as well. You need to be involved in that conversation on their terms…Social Media, and the Mobile Web. Today, people want information quickly and easily. Through social media and the Mobile Web, your brand gets involved in the world that today’s consumers live in. Communication and messaging in this world spreads instantly – we are all much more likely to opt into a tribe (a Brand) that our friends recommend, are already engaged in, and that speak in our language.
At Straydog Marketing + Design, it’s our mission to get companies to focus in on their communication efforts. Selling is about pushing products and services, but success is far better achieved by having people buy into your Brand. Your “followers” will then spread the news in waves, to their friends, to their social and economic community, and to their “tribe’.
As Marty Neumeier points out in his fantastically popular book, Zag, in a marketplace of me-too products and services, people don’t seek features and benefits so much as a tribal identity. “If I buy this product”, they seem to ask, “what will that make me?”
Source: A Great Article from Jacob Cass.
Hundreds of books have been written on the topic, however to put it in a nutshell you could describe a ‘brand’ as an organization, service or product with a ‘personality’ that is shaped by the perceptions of the audience. On that note, it should also be stated that a designer cannot “make” a brand – only the audience can do this. A designer forms the foundation of the brand.
Many people believe a brand only consists of a few elements – some colours, some fonts, a logo, a slogan and maybe some music added in too. In reality, it is much more complicated than that. You might say that a brand is a ‘corporate image’.
The fundamental idea and core concept behind having a ‘corporate image’ is that everything a company does, everything it owns and everything it produces should reflect the values and aims of the business as a whole.
It is the consistency of this core idea that makes up the company, driving it, showing what it stands for, what it believes in and why they exist. It is not purely some colours, some typefaces, a logo and a slogan.
As an example, let’s look at the well known IT company, Apple. Apple as a company, projects a humanistic corporate culture and a strong corporate ethic, one which is characterized by volunteerism, support of good causes & involvement in the community. These values of the business are evident throughout everything they do, from their innovative products and advertising, right through to their customer service. Apple is an emotionally humanist brand that really connects with people – when people buy or use their products or services; they feel part of the brand, like a tribe even. It is this emotional connection that creates their brand – not purely their products and a bite sized logo.
For a more thorough understanding of branding, in simple terms, I recommend Wally Olin’s: The Brand Handbook which I quote is “an essential, easy-reference guide to brilliant branding”.
One major role in the ‘brand’ or ‘corporate image’ of a company is its identity.
In most cases, identity design is based around the visual devices used within a company, usually assembled within a set of guidelines. These guidelines that make up an identity usually administer how the identity is applied throughout a variety of mediums, using approved colour palettes, fonts, layouts, measurements and so forth. These guidelines ensure that the identity of the company is kept coherent, which in turn, allows the brand as a whole, to be recognisable.
All of these things make up an identity and should support the brand as a whole. The logo however, is the corporate identity and brand all wrapped up into one identifiable mark. This mark is the avatar and symbol of the business as a whole.
To understand what a logo is, we must first understand what it is for.
A logo is for… identification.
A logo identifies a company or product via the use of a mark, flag, symbol or signature. A logo does not sell the company directly nor rarely does it describe a business. Logo’s derive their meaning from the quality of the thing it symbolizes, not the other way around – logos are there to identity, not to explain. In a nutshell, what a logo means is more important than what it looks like.
To illustrate this concept, think of logos like people. We prefer to be called by our names – James, Dorothy, John – rather than by the confusing and forgettable description of ourselves such as “the guy who always wears pink and has blonde hair”. In this same way, a logo should not literally describe what the business does but rather, identify the business in a way that is recognisable and memorable.
It is also important to note that only after a logo becomes familiar, does it function the way it is intended to do much alike how we much must learn people’s names to identify them.
The logo identifies a business or product in its simplest form.
How would you summarize brand, identity and logo design? Comments and thoughts are welcome, as always.
Learn More about Straydog’s Vancouver Branding Studio [+]