A lot of people ask me what I do for a living and I tell them “Graphic Design” but few ever really understand what that is, this seams to the case with some clients as well. I don’t know if its the way that I explain it or that people just can’t wrap there head around it, so I thought I’d try to put it writing. I was reading an article on graphic design on the AIGA website by Sharon Helmer Poggenpohl that I thought explain it very well. Here is a portion of the article that I thought explained in a simple manner what graphic design is:
“Suppose you want to announce or sell something, amuse or persuade someone, explain a complicated system or demonstrate a process. In other words, you have a message you want to communicate. How do you “send” it? You could tell people one by one or broadcast by radio or loudspeaker. That’s verbal communication. But if you use any visual medium at all—if you make a poster; type a letter; create a business logo, a magazine ad, or an album cover; even make a computer printout—you are using a form of visual communication called graphic design.
Graphic design is a creative process that combines art and technology to communicate ideas. The designer works with a variety of communication tools in order to convey a message from a client to a particular audience. The main tools are image and typography.”
I thought that explained it well. Below is also a very good description of what a designer role is in the communication process:
“Designers are the link between the client and the audience. On the one hand, a client is often too close to the message to understand various ways in which it can be presented. The audience, on the other hand, is often too broad to have any direct impact on how a communication is presented. What’s more, it is usually difficult to make the audience a part of the creative process. Unlike client and audience, graphic designers learn how to construct a message and how to present it successfully. They work with the client to understand the content and the purpose of the message. They often collaborate with market researchers and other specialists to understand the nature of the audience. Once a design concept is chosen, the designers work with illustrators and photographers as well as with typesetters and printers or other production specialists to create the final design product.”
So to clients out there who didn’t fully understand what we do I hope that explained in a way that made sense to you.
Tool Design, a utah high precision machining company, has hired Red Olive, a utah search engine optimization firm, to assist them in reaching their goal of establishing a significant presence within the Search Engines.
Primarily in the past Tool Design has relied mostly on word of mouth referral’s, but now with their business growing to a much larger scale. They are ready to establish a significant online presence via search engines.
Red Olive is currently accepting applications for a full-time search engine marketer / web guy. Minimum requirements are a working knowledge of HTML, SEO knowledge, willingness to learn. Knowledge of php/asp a huge plus but not required. Although SEO/SEM will be your primary workload you may be helping out with everything from business card layouts to branding discussions.
Position Overview:
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Optimize HTML for page rank
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Research and write copy from time to time on any given topic
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Meet with clients and obtain initial specs
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Submit monthly status reports/analytics to clients
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Research link opportunities
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Assist other team members in various projects that may have nothing to do with SEO
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Write ADs for and manage PPC campaigns
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Analyze statistics and advise
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Setup and manage blogs
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Research and execute Affiliate strategies
Benefits:
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HEALTH INSURANCE
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DENTAL INSURANCE
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PAID HOLIDAYS & VACATION
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COMPETITIVE SALARY
Summary:
If you know enough HTML to be dangerous, happen to have good writing skills, and are willing to learn give us a shout.
APPLY ONLINE
Congratulations to Clark Outdoor Products for getting chosen as the webpick of the day. We’re proud to have had the fortunate opportunity to do work for Clark Jungle Hammocks. They’ve been a great client that has given us a lot of trust and creative freedom.
About Communication Arts/Webpick of the day:
“Webpicks features outstanding examples of Web design selected based on a combination of superior aesthetics, technical expertise, functionality and overall site experience.”
Communication Arts is the premier source of inspiration for graphic designers, art directors, design firms, corporate design departments, advertising agencies, interactive designers, illustrators and photographers—everyone involved in visual communication.
Paradigm Solutions Group, a utah engineering and information technology recruiting firm, came to Red Olive, a utah website design firm, with multiple goals in mind.
First, they needed a professional logo designed, one that really depicted who they were as a firm. The Red Olive Creative team was able to deliver several logos that Paradigm loved, but there was one in particular that stuck out above the rest.
Second, Paradigm needed a stunning website. Knowing the goal in mind, the Red Olive team delivered much of the same results. In addition to the logo and website, Paradigm also had the Red Olive team design their letterhead, envelopes, and business cards to match their brand.
Red Olive, a utah website design firm, has had the privilege to design, develop, and now launch the Mini Brochure’s new website. Red Olive teamed up with the Mini Brochure to first design a logo to lay the foundation for their new website which features their innovative 8 sided pocket marketing brochure. Following the design of the logo, Red Olive’s creative team designed a striking website for the Mini Brochure in which they can now offer their marketing piece to everyone.
The Mini Brochures ingenious marketing piece is perfect for all working professionals including, business owners, marketing managers, real estate agents, restaurant owners, and even B2B. It’s perfect because this 8 sided pocket marketing brochure fits in a purse, wallet, shirt pocket, planner, or even in the glove compartment of a car. And the best part about it is that it is sold for such a low cost.
Red Olive thanks the Mini Brochure for giving us the opportunity to take part in their branding and identity as well as their website design and development.
RedOlive has worked hard to become the print design agency of record for KUED over the last three years. We have worked on several successful projects in the past and were stoked to be asked to return for 2008 to design program collateral. This year KUED honored us with loads of television sponsorship spots. If you are an avid KUED viewer you no doubt have seen us pop up a few times over the past couple months, and we apologize right now for how lame they are. Yes, we are working on a more creative video piece for future ads so give us a break.
Alright there is no debate includes are the best way to code a nav right? Well, what if someone wants to indicate to the use what page they’re on? Or as I will call it the active page. Just include a script to the top of each page comparing strings with the window location, and if its true; make it look like the active page. I’m horrible with words but hopefully this is making sense. Now I’ll let the code speak:
var contact = RegExp("contact");
if(contact.test(window.location) == true)
{
$('home').addClass('active');
}
Nothing to complex- Just comparing our variable string of contact and comparing it with the window location. If there is a match then you attach an “.active” class to it. I know its nothing big; but a simple trick helps every now and again.
Astro Burgers, a local Utah favorite, contacted RedOlive in need of a one of a kind flash interactive original. A great name and a great opportunity to compliment our new flash/interactive portfolio site which will be debuting the second quarter of 2008. We will be implementing some of the latest functions within the Actionscript 3 library to put together a one of a kind user experience. It won’t be your typical site, which is a welcome challenge for our designers. The project is slated to be completed by April 2008. Let the brainstorming begin!
| Date: |
March 19, 2008 |
| Time: |
8:00 AM TO 9:30 AM |
Red Olive’s Justin Wilde will be presenting a 90 minute seminar for the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce titled “How to effectively market your business on the internet“. We will be addressing the web industry, creating niche markets, common internet advertising mistakes, effective design, offering value added services to your clients, and how Utah businesses can benefit from including the internet in their marketing plan.
Attendance is limited to members of the Chamber but if you are interested in attending drop us a line and we can pull some strings. Hope to see you there. In the mean time if you are interested in a review of your current internet marketing strategy and seeing what we can do for your business please fill out our free request for quote.
