Western New York Salary Report - SelectOne Search
SelectOne Search is Western New York's premier search and job placement company, focusing on the Finance, Business, Technology, Engineering & Accounting industries. Working with mathematics & statistic chair at Canisius College Dr. Dietrick Kuhlmann, SelectOne wanted to create a truly unique Western New York Salary Survey that would capture the true salary ranges for all executive, professional and clerical level positions in the Accounting/Finance field, as well as evaluate and compare compensation and benefit plans. Doing this would allow the user to make more informed, and ultimately, better hiring decisions. With the help of Dr. Kuhlmann and the 103 local companies that filled out and returned the surveys, the data was created and ready to be implemented into a design.
To us, branding consistency is a major factor in any design we take on; this project was no different. Due to the large amount of data to be included in the booklet, the first thing we did was create prototype charts that clearly showcased the data. The ultimate goal was to create something that was aesthetically appealing but also maintained SelectOne Search's brand identity. The rest of the design followed suit. Referencing the stylistic elements of the graphs and existing brand guidelines, we were able to create a truly unique piece that is easily read, but also visually enjoyable.
This is one of my favorite projects of the year, transitioning a lot of data heavy copy into a well designed booklet isn't quite as easy as it looks, but it was a journey that I really enjoyed. This style was mirrored for a couple other custom pieces we completed for SelectOne Search late in the year... stay tuned for those! All in all, it’s another example of what a little planning and creativity can do.
If you are interested in seeing the piece in person (the photo doesn't do it justice) or think your business can use something along these lines to spice up a presentation, sales pitch or annual report, give us a call.
Logo Design - Il Cavallo Photography
Every year we are lucky enough grow our list of clients, which is always an exciting and rewarding experience. This year, we were happy to start a new relationship with Il Cavallo Photography. Il Cavallo provides (very impressive) photography services to both the equestrian and lifestyle genre; covering weddings, engagements, portraiture (both animal & family) as well as farm shoots.
Il Cavallo was in need of a new look for both the logo and stationary, they decided we were the ones to help. The logo was designed to encompass an elegant and simple feel, but still pay homage to the equestrian aspect of the business. The stationary was designed in the same light, keeping things simple and professional. The stationary was printed as a 1-color on a gorgeous Mohawk Linen stock. The pure white linen paper really showcases the elegant style we were shooting for, both visually and texturally.
It was a real pleasure to meet and work with Katie from Il Cavallo Photography. If you are in the market, don’t hesitate to give them a call!
View their work at: www.ilcavallophotography.com
Custom Sales Sheets - Kantar Video
Sure, you can always have someone at the office work-up a sales sheet in Microsoft Word or Publisher, but is that how you want your business presented in a sales meeting? Custom Sales Sheets are a surprisingly inexpensive option to make your business stand out.
One of our clients, Kantar Video, came to us with a whole lot of information they wanted presented in a consistent, but visually appealing manner. This was our solution. We designed a total of 7 sales sheets, all mirroring each others style and 1 overview sheet that is just a bit different in order to stand out from the rest. In the end, you have cohesive, professionally designed and produced sales collateral that you can mix and match depending on the client you are approaching.
If you are interested in creating something a little different for your sales meetings or packets, give us a call.
Journal of Creative Behavior - 45:3
If you have been following our blog, you are sure to have seen previous posts about the Journal of Creative Behavior. As one of our longest running projects (10+ years) and one of my personal favorites, they are a great opportunity for me to design with no restrictions.
This issue's design was based a quote by Henry Miller, "There is the happiness which comes from creative effort. The joy of dreaming, creating, building, whether in painting a picture, writing an epic, singing a song, composing a symphony, devising new invention, creating a vast industry."
The description of the design:
Creativity goes much deeper than something simply artistic; we live and breathe it every day. Whether avoiding traffic with an alternate route to work or adjusting a recipe to compensate for a missing ingredient. It’s the ability to create from your surroundings, be it something physical or just an idea. Henry Miller’s quote states just that, but with a bit more extravagant examples. Creativity is simply the ability to create something new from your surroundings, whether it be a abstract masterpiece or an around the house fix.
As we move into the future, I look forward to continuing the cover designs. I am not saying I don't enjoy all our other design projects, I do. But this project, for some reason, gives me a nostaligic feeling. Back to the days of art school!
Kathleen McMahon-Wahler D.D.S. Website Design
This week, the new website launched for the private dental practice of Kathleen McMahon-Wahler DDS. Designed to be a simple, straight-forward website showcasing the practice and available services, we couldn't be happier with the final result. It's a perfect example of a simple, inexpensive option for getting your small business on the web.
So if you're in the market for a new Dentist, give Kathleen a call. She was a dream to work with.
The dental office of Dr. Kathleen McMahon-Wahler is conveniently located on Millersport Hwy in Amherst, NY, just off the Youngman Expressway (I-290) and right down the road from University at Buffalo North Campus.
Journal of Creative Behavior - 45:2
I'm going to be honest, I've been waiting months to use this photo. Then out of nowhere, the quote for the newest Journal of Creative Behavior comes over and it's a match made in heaven. Not only does it match the concept of the cover, but it also reflects the concept and my attitude towards using it... if that makes any sense.
Description of the cover design:
The idea of design fixation is there is a unconscious adherence to certain styles or influences, which ultimately limits our conceptual design ability. Thomas John Watson, Sr.’s quote tells us to do the opposite, to think for ourselves and not be concerned with the opinion or rules of others. As a designer myself, the quote was quite refreshing. There are always things I want to do with a design, but for professional reasons, am prevented from doing so. For this design, I decided to attack the concept two-fold. Being that we all have specific trends, styles or influences that affect the outcome, I wanted to design the cover by having almost no design at all. Obviously, placement, font choice and color are all design elements, but historically the covers of the Journal of Creative Behavior tend to be pretty busy, I felt pulling back would prevent me from duplicating or allowing “design fixation” to surface. The back cover was meant to be a simple, stark but an entertaining showcase of the inner spirit that, for whatever reason, we aren’t allowed to display on a regular basis. It is meant to show the creative spirit, without hindrance, without concern of others opinion. It’s in this state that we come up with the most creative results.
The Journal of Creative Behavior is a quarterly publication of The Creative Education Foundation.
Hoyt Homes Logo & Business Card Design
Things at Reilley Group have been beyond busy these past few weeks. In the next couple of weeks we hope to update you with some examples of the great work we have been completing, so stay tuned! One project that was a joy to work on was the Logo and Business Cards design for local construction company, Hoyt Homes.
Business cards, in many cases, can be a customer's first impression of a business. There are tons of online printers that offer low budget templates and standard designs for you to choose from. But why would you want to have the same business card as another company? To those cookie cutter options, we say NO! Be an INDIVIDUAL! Make your card a reflection of your personality, your standards, your desire to stand out amongst the rest!
Your card could be, quite possibly, the only physical representation of your business that a customer takes away from your interaction; wouldn't you want it to be a memorable one? I know, there are lots of over-the-top card designs, (this guy for example), but a clean, well thought out design can be some of your best money spent.
So if you need a new business card design, call Reilley Group! If you need a great construction company for your home or business, call Hoyt Homes! You won't regret either.
Alamo Drafthouse Turns (Hilarious) Complaint Into Effective PSA
Note: This video is uncensored and contains vulgarity your boss may not like. If you happen to be the boss, fire away!
We know, normally we fill the Blog section with examples of our work or instructions of how (we think) you should market your business. Well today, that all changes.
A friend of ours happened to send over this impressive PSA that Austin Texas movie theater, Alamo Drafthouse, created using a voicemail complaint left by a customer. Apparently after numerous warnings, this unlucky patron was asked to leave for texting during a movie. This of course is standard policy as noted on their website:
We have zero tolerance for talking or cell phone use of any kind during movies, and we aren't afraid to kick anyone rude enough to start texting their friends during a show right out of the theater. We also hate it when other movie theaters make you watch advertisements after you've already paid to see the movie, so we're vigilant about never letting ads hit our screens - we've even turned down PSAs for great causes because we don't want ANYTHING to disrupt your experience of the show.
What a perfect example of capturing a snapshot of everyday life and turning it into a super-effective marketing piece. (As proven by 450,000 views on YouTube in a 3 day span.) Not every business is hand delivered such viral gold, but it's a good example of both a creative and low budget way to market your business.
If we could only find a way to bring an Alamo Drafthouse to Buffalo. Dinner, drinks and movies under one roof... talk about a great addition to the waterfront!
Queen City Prints Branding & Website Design
This past Friday, April 29th we launched the new Queen City Prints e-commerce website. Queen City Prints is an online art gallery that offers all original artwork from Western New York area artists. The goal of the site is to showcase and sell local artist's work, in a convenient, professional and affordable way.
We created all aspects of the branding scheme, from logo design to printed materials and finally to the website design itself. About a year in the making, we are proud of the overall outcome. We think Queen City Prints has a great conecpt and look forward to working with them in the years to come.
Don't forget to add them on Facebook or follow on Twitter to keep up to date with artwork additions, news and upcoming events.
Journal of Creative Behavior - 45:1
The most recent Journal of Creative Behavior, which is published by The Creative Education Foundation, made its way to press yesterday. While we are always pleased with the way the journals come out, the subject matter of this issue really sparked my interest; I think that enthusiasm really translated into the cover design.
Dr. Jonas Salk’s quote “Intuition will tell the thinking mind where to look next” speaks of the intuitive process of brainstorming. The cover illustration depicts brainstorming in its simplest form. The text was designed to lead the eye through a bit of a maze, using varying font colors and size to lead the user through effortlessly. This type treatment was done to mimic the basic idea of the quote, that your intuition will lead your mind. In both the creative process and life, our intuition will often tell us which direction to go, it’s up to the mind to make it happen.
The last few designs were done using primarily Adobe Photoshop and InDesign, but for this one I wanted to go back to designing in Illustrator. Designing in vector format really creates a crispness and you can't duplicate in Photoshop. It's always good to mix things up a bit.
If you are interested in reading articles from this issue or any previous, you can view them here.
