All posts in design

Successful YMCA event!

By On March 1, 2013 In design, fun stuff With No Comments Permanent Link to Successful YMCA event!Permalink

SWCA has been instrumental in extending the YMCA brand into all the marketing material used locally and now nationally for YMCA – Canada. We recently completed many display and environmental graphics used during a fundraising push for their “Strong Kids” campaign. Towering 8foot high display panels, fun floor-hopscotch graphics and messaging on the mirrors of the gyms to name a few.

“Yes! The materials look AWESOME. Big, big thanks to you, Cindy, Dave, Monty, Freyja, Neil and Sue! Here are some photo highlights from the day.”
Kelly W. – Manager Marketing & Communications YMCA- Vancouver.

“Cannot thank you guys enough. You’re a dream team to work with!”
Signi S. – Vice- President Marketing & Communications YMCA – Vancouver

Customize your Twitter page

By On November 12, 2012 In design With No Comments Permanent Link to Customize your Twitter pagePermalink

We’ve been asked recently to provide image files for client Twitter pages. Twitter provides several page background templates, but it may be worth having your page customized. In the examples shown here – we compare a simple, plain page with a recent page we did, showing a large image that expands to fill the window of your monitor.  For this example, we provided a custom image for the background, then add a custom header and also an avatar.

Effective use of your Twitter page gives your business another real opportunity to get your brand and messaging online. Your page doesn’t need to remain static either… once you have built the initial image files it is easy to change your background photo and replace it with a new one. Keep it fresh and keep your visitors checking in from time to time for your “newest release”.


Infographics

By On September 29, 2012 In design With No Comments Permanent Link to InfographicsPermalink

Infographics have sprung to the forefront of popular business communications. Like the adage ” a picture is worth 1000 words” infographics can display complicated concepts in a simple visual way, allowing the reader to quickly grasp the idea or information. More and more people want instant gratification and don’t want to read too much copy. Give them your information with a simple and well executed image. But know this – although you may be able to write the information in 5 minutes – it may take 5 hours or more to to create the art that will effectively communicate that idea.

The lost art of felt pen rendering

By On May 29, 2012 In cindy, design, fun stuff With No Comments Permanent Link to The lost art of felt pen renderingPermalink

Cindy is presently working on a series of daily felt pen renderings to exercise her illustration skills. This is a technique she used in the past to illustrate concepts and ideas for brochure design, annual report design, and packaging design. A rendering always left room for our imagination to “make-up” what the final photo or concept would look like. Have a look at her series Mugs & Glasses at  perdiem.posterous.com

Public Service Poster Campaign

By On April 11, 2012 In design With No Comments Permanent Link to Public Service Poster CampaignPermalink

We have recently completed illustration and design for a series of Public Service Announcement posters  that appear in the stations along the Canada Line into Vancouver. Watch for them on your next ride downtown! There are 10 posters in the series. A more complete story will soon be posted in our portfolio section.

Design for Whistler Blackcomb

By On January 27, 2012 In design With No Comments Permanent Link to Design for Whistler BlackcombPermalink

SWCA  just finished a design project for Barber Media of Whistler BC – a beautiful coffee table book and supporting brochures showcasing the fine restaurants and activities of this great resort town. If you’ve been up for some skiing or boarding this season perhaps you’ve seen it in your hotel room? Watch for the full post coming soon to our portfolio section!

Holiday eCards

By On December 19, 2011 In design, monty With No Comments Permanent Link to Holiday eCardsPermalink

We often get asked by our corporate clients to design electronic greeting cards or eCards.. We have developed a few on another website www.holidayflashcards.com . This year we have 6 designs available and have been also producing our client’s eCards to run as non-flash versions for the iPad and iPhone. Next year we will double those numbers and start the promotion of the new products in early November.

Packaging for Metropolitan Chef

By On November 16, 2011 In blog, design, packaging With No Comments Permanent Link to Packaging for Metropolitan ChefPermalink

We’ve had this fun project for Metropolitan Chef in the studio for the last while. It has been a complete rebrand for the company – a new website, new packaging for 13 products – a fresh new launch for a fantastic line of products. The website isn’t up yet but the product is out making the rounds of all the food shows in western Canada. At her last show, Gail from Metropolitan Chef said “The biggest hit was our Rasta man… lots of new customers… we were out of so many rubs on our last day, it created panic shopping like the Army & Navy Shoe Sale! People were buying what ever they could, they simply did not care. I left with only a shoe box of extra stock. Other vendors were amazed. Lots of compliments from other graphics people as well… Thanks SWCA! Let’s hope this keeps up for the season, I am stoked!”

 

Design Process

By On October 18, 2011 In blog, design, monty With No Comments Permanent Link to Design ProcessPermalink

Everyone has their own way of starting a design project. Some will look to the world around them for inspiration, others will look at a variety of online resources, and some may just sit down with a sharpie and a sketchpad. We like to start with a conversation about “Who are we trying to attract? Who is the target market? Can this be a fun identity or or should it be businesslike?  What should the colours imply? Will the logo stand alone or is it always going to be surrounded by alot of other information?” Once we establish our starting point then we can explore the kind of design that appeals to the target market. Colours – fonts – graphics… it is important that all the elements speak to the group that we are appealing to. We generate many ideas that never get to see the outside world. In the end our client picks “the one” that accomplishes all the goals they are setting out to acheive. That new logo becomes a stepping stone in building a company and a brand.