VALENTINES FOR THE GRAPHIC DESIGNER IN YOUR LIFE Happy Valentine’s Day from us at ocreations. Here are some of the best Valentine’s Day cards we found this season for the graphic designer in your life… Found on cargocollective.com. Click on photo to go to source. Found on behance.net. Click on photo to go to source. Found on behance.net. Click on photo to go to source. Found on behance.net. Click on photo [...]
TIPS FOR A MEANINGFUL INFOGRAPHIC Many people claim to hate statistics. What most people mean by that is, they don’t enjoy running statistical analyses, but people love to see/hear the final outcome of statistical analyses and love to be able to put numerical values to data. One trend that combines information (statistics) and visual graphics, are infographics. Info + graphics = infographics. However, the ability to understand the given data/information, and make it visually appealing is one for artists [...]
RETARGETING ADS: WHAT ARE THEY AND HOW CAN THEY HELP YOUR BUSINESS GROW? This usually happens around the holidays – you’re Googling gift ideas for your family, and next thing you know, ads for those products start popping up on your Facebook, Yahoo, etc. How does the computer know to feed you those ads? Two words: retargeting advertisements. What are these ads and how can they help businesses grow? Retargeting ads are ads that are targeted specifically at [...]
10 THINGS YOUR WEBSITE HOMEPAGE SHOULD HAVE Starting to generate ideas for your new website can be challenging: What’s the most important information viewers need? What will make them click through other pages? What will generate business? Here are our suggestions: Large header image with a tagline/value proposition This will be the first thing a viewer will see. It needs to be a bold image with a powerful, intriguing message that will make a lasting impression. At [...]
30 New Years Resolution Ideas for Graphic Designers Happy New Year! Now is the time to make an annual resolution. Want to make some career-oriented resolutions, but feeling uninspired? We’ve got the resolution inspiration you need. Learn a new program. Master your weakest program. If you freelance, raise your rates. Update your portfolio. Subscribe to new design blogs. Redesign something just for fun. Help someone learn something you’re an expert in. Do some spring cleaning to your desktop… you [...]
HOW MUCH TO SET ASIDE FOR YOUR NEW START UP BUSINESS Starting a new business and need some guidance on where to start? At ocreations, we have over 45 years of combined professional experience building brands. Here are our suggestions and answers to questions you may have: How much should my start up business set aside for initial graphic design, web design, and marketing? At ocreations, we’ve worked with a large variety of small businesses, such as: [...]
Ask the Designers: Dec. 2017 Welcome to the blog’s newest segment: “Ask the Designers.” Once a month, you’ll get an insider’s perspective on the life of our designers – President Shawn O’Mara, Vice President Jesse Mader, Art Director Nina Zivkovic, and Graphic Designer Laura Smith. We’ll give you tips, resources, and even a few fun facts about us. 1. What is your logo design process like? SHAWN: I always like to start with a client meeting to learn [...]
BLOG INCEPTION: A BLOG ABOUT BLOGS Why is it so important to have a blog on your website? At ocreations, when working with a client who needs a website developed, we always recommend creating a blog section. People often think blogs are unnecessary, and ask questions like “who really reads this anyways?” It’s actually more important than you may think. SEO Google has turned the web world into a (fair) game. Websites that have content posted or updated [...]
WRITE THE PERFECT INSTAGRAM BIO FOR YOUR BUSINESS When developing social media marketing plans for a business’s Instagram account, the emphasis is mostly placed on the content that will be produced and shared, since that’s what social media is meant for. However, many businesses often overlook their bio, the 150 characters that introduce the brand to the world of Instagrammers. Much like a tweet, this bio should be short, but powerful. Here are some tips on how to make your [...]
What Time is it? Time for a Rebrand. Remember the quiet kid from your high school that is now a successful engineer? Just like people you used to know from years and years ago, a company or brand can change. Is your brand in need of a fresh look? Here are some red flag signs that your company may need a makeover. Your brand has a negative past that you want to move on from It is only [...]
