Part 2 of my recent post on moving your small business office is now on the Creative Freelancer Conference blog.
Read “After You Move Your Office” here.” Feel free to share your own moving tips and suggestions so we can learn from each other.
October 26, 2010
Chicago Resources for small businesses
I attended the City of Chicago’s One Hour Mentor Program yesterday, featuring a panel of entrepreneurs and representatives from city organizations discussing starting and growing a small business.
In addition to emphasizing the importance of having (and following) a strong business plan, they spoke about obtaining financing for start-ups and established businesses. All three organizations offer small business loan/microloan programs, as well as small business counseling, workshops and seminars (many free of charge). Several of the organizations also have business plan competitions. Visit the websites for more information.
Chicago small business resources
October 25, 2010
Who else is celebrating their 10th anniversary?
As I prepare to celebrate my 10th year in business next month, I’ve come across a few of my favorite people who are also celebrating 10 years this year.
Celebrating 10 years in 2010
Real Simple magazine
If you’re a faithful reader (such as myself) you are familiar with the fabulous paper sculptures by paper constructionist Matthew Sporzynski that appear in each issue. Take a peek at past Real Simple covers re-imagined by the paper artist. Here’s to another 10 years of organizing tips and paper sculptures!
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Adobe InDesign
My favorite design and layout software is celebrating their 10th anniversary this year. In addition to 10 years of making designer’s lives easier, they’ve also created a book called Page by Page: an in-depth look at milestones in InDesign history — and a look into its promising future.
Happy anniversary to both!
Part of our series celebrating our 10 years in business. Read more here.
October 22, 2010
Paper sells: the comeback of paper
Paper is making a comeback.
Though the last few years have seen an increase in digital and online marketing channels, people are now realizing: paper sells.
Whether it’s a direct mail piece, catalog or marketing brochure, printed pieces are a way for businesses to stand out in the digital age.
This is great news for a print designer such as myself. I do strive to be be green, going paperless when possible. But being a longtime fan of paper (OK, paper junkie), I can’t deny the joy of seeing a printed brochure or announcement on a fabulous paper I selected.
And why not use paper? Most paper companies have responded to customers’ requests, offering environmentally-friendly options. Designers can create a design that uses less paper more creatively (saving trees and money). And there’s no substitute for experiencing the tactile quality of a printed piece.
According to the recent Deliver Magazine, direct mail generated the majority of donations to nonprofit organizations in 2009. Marketers are also realizing the value of combining print with online channels.
Several paper companies have launched recent campaigns to promote paper. NewPage Corporation launched the “Paper Sells More Product” campaign, giving away $100,000 in print services to help catalogers, magazine publishers, and retailers sell more product.
Domtar Paper launched the “PAPER Because” campaign to highlight the key role paper plays in our lives and the reasons why it’s an environmentally sound choice.
Several paper and printing companies have also partnered with The Print Council. By providing education, awareness and research, they aim to promote the importance of print and the role it plays in your business’ media mix.
So, when you work on your next marketing or promotional campaign: think paper!
October 20, 2010
Moving your office?
image by Chris Campbell on flickr
Are you a solopreneur or small business owner planning to move your office?
As I just went through the experience, I gathered some useful tips (and a few things I learned along the way) for a new post on the Creative Freelancer Conference blog.
Read Part 1 of “Moving Your Office?” here.” And check back next week for Part 2!
How are you making a difference?
photo by elisabettar on flickr
Yesterday, I attended a special event honoring two Chicago businesswomen who make a difference in their communities.
The awards ceremony coincided with Make a Difference Day, an annual celebration of community service held on the last Saturday in October (this year it will be October 23).
After hearing the two awardees’ personal and inspiring stories of helping their communities, as well as the keynote speech about sharing knowledge and teaching others, it got me thinking:
- Am I helping or teaching others?
- Is my design work benefiting someone?
- Can I do something new or different that will affect others positively?
The answer to all of those is: yes. When I think about it, I realize my design work can be beneficial to the community.
When I create a marketing piece for a local educational institution, it attracts a new student or donor that will make a difference in someone’s life. When I design an annual report for a local family organization, it brings awareness to someone who needs their assistance. And by planning and co-hosting local networking events, I’m helping people make connections and create opportunities for their (and the community’s) success.
But, I know I can do more. Lately, I’ve been brainstorming about my greeting cards and stationery. Outside of helping people make personal connections, I wondered how I can make a difference in the community with my cards. I remembered an organization I read about that was using greeting cards to bring together communities, so I’ve been researching how to make this happen here in Chicago (more to come soon!)
At the event last night, keynote speaker Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke quoted a Chinese proverb that resonated with me: if you want happiness for a lifetime, help someone else.
How is your work making a difference in someone’s life?
To see what others are doing for Make a Difference Day, follow #MDDay10 on Twitter
October 13, 2010
Design + small business blogs
After checking out Parse, the latest blog from How Magazine and design firm Visocky O’Grady, I was inspired to compile a list of a few of my favorite blogs that are focused on design + small businesses.
design + small business blogs:
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Parse: relevant information for design practitioners
- Parse aims to make sense of issues and information relevant to design practitioners, regardless of the disciplines they work in. Parse makes big ideas useful, actionable and applicable. It distills jargon, reduces complexity, pares words, omits gobbledygook. It’s open-source, approachable and friendly. Created by Visocky O’Grady and HOW Magazine
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Creative Freelancer Blog
- The Creative Freelancer Blog is the companion online community for the Creative Freelancer Conference, providing answers to questions and inspiration from expert freelancers.
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Marketing Mix Blog
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The Marketing Mix is the official blog of Marketing Mentor and the community that’s sprung up around it. They are devoted to helping small business owners, freelancers and independent professionals grow their businesses into thriving enterprises.
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FreelanceSwitch
- FreelanceSwitch is a community of expert freelancers from around the world. The blog covers a vast array of topics about life as a freelancer.
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the bright spot: happy thoughts on design + business (aka this blog!)
- the bright spot focuses on the “bright spots” in small business with a design twist. Read about positive news, topics and tips that will help your small business shine and grow—with some design inspirations thrown in for good measure. Created by Lidia Varesco Design
Know any other great design + small business blogs? Write a comment so I can add to my list!
October 8, 2010
Five questions with Tracy Dillard [client stories]
Tracy Dillard of Keonig & Strey RealLiving
Tracy Dillard and I go way back.
I met Tracy, an agent with Koenig & Strey RealLiving, over 10 years ago. We were both working in previous jobs and worked on a design project together (a New Year card). We kept in touch when I started my business and have been working together ever since. Like I did on that first project, I work with Tracy to design a New Year card for her business every year—as well as print and online promotional materials throughout the year.
Tracy is a joy to work with, we share a creative synergy that makes projects flow very naturally. She knows what she likes, but also trusts my design expertise. Not to mention, she is a friend who provides inspiration—and always recommends a great coffee shop! What more can you ask for in a client?
Five Questions with Tracy Dillard
Tell me a little about your business.
Tracy: My eleven-year-old (a year older than yours!) real estate practice is primarily referral-based. I specialize in architecturally interesting and unique residential properties in Chicago and nearby suburbs. These properties may range from architect-owned condos in Mies van der Rohe-designed high-rises — to authentic lofts in converted institutional and commercial buildings — to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie School houses.
What do you love best about your job?
Tracy: ‘Living temporarily’ in architecturally- and historically-singular spaces. The opportunity to mesh my aesthetic sensibility and business acumen. My smart, accomplished and interesting clients.
How have your past work experiences influenced your current career?
Tracy: I’ve worked with architects, artists, art collectors, corporate and foundation leaders, historians, government officials and developers in my past roles — which have included managing a mayoral committee on the arts and economic development in a major city, building public and private support for the arts in an historic community, and programming in a former torpedo factory and a zoo. My experience as a conduit or intermediary between competing interests has come in handy in real estate!
What do you like best about working with Lidia Varesco Design?
Tracy: You and I collaborate — in the best sense of the word. We come up with concepts over great coffee (key to our partnership), talk in shorthand (given our long relationship), review options via a few emails, and keep raising the creative bar on each other.
What is your favorite project that we’ve worked on together?
Tracy: Hmm. Hard to pick one. I think the New Year card with the black-and-white industrial photos you found to illustrate Carl Sandburg’s Chicago. What about you?
I agree…it’s hard to pick a favorite, but I love that one too! That project in particular had some lovely creative synchronicities: I saw the photographer’s work while browsing the Chicago Reader. I thought his style would be perfect for the card we were working on. I met with the photographer (Robert Murphy Photography) and the images he provided were truly perfect for the theme of the card.
New Year Card for Tracy Dillard (2002)
Thank you for chatting with me, Tracy!
As she mentioned, Tracy celebrated her 10-year business anniversary last year. See the anniversary card and other pieces I’ve designed for Tracy here.
To learn more about her business, visit Tracy’s webesite or follow her on Twitter.
Part of our series celebrating our 10 years in business. Read more here.
Positive news, tips & design inspiration to help your small business shine.
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