Welcome to our new Digs!

With all the buzz on Greenline Creative’s Facebook Page about our new space, we thought it was only right to give you a bit more detail on the space and how it benefits our clients.

First and foremost, we want to thank everyone: Friends, Families, and Clients, for the continued support! Without everyones support in the last 3 years, this day would have been far coming. Thank You All!

Who’s Here? This space is a co-op space with Pat Pohler of Anecka. If you don’t know, he has handled a variety of back end developmental tasks for us and our clients, and has done some great work with American Cancer Society and Relay Gear. Great guy who shares the same passion as we do. He also is very aware of the trends in the industry. Good resource to have around and bounce ideas around with. Plus his height has really came in handy when it came to hanging up some curtains and setting up the space. We are also surrounded by a variety of inspiring studios in the same building; Spacejunk Media, Cement Marketing and a variety of Interior/architecture studios, all sharing the same enthusiasm which can be an asset to any project.

What do we want to achieve? As you may already know, Greenline Creative prides themselves on deliveringthe best solutions for our clients, with an eye on their budgets. With that said, we have created an environment that not only will allow us to continue to create those solutions, but make them even better and also extend out services/product offerings for our clients. Some of the things we want to push towards achieving in the new digs, are mobile and web applications, amongst offering our clients.

How does this change benefit you? The answer is simple. We wanted to create an environment that is fueled by creativity and allow our clients to see the inside process of how we create solutions. We want our clients to be more involved with each stepof the process, working through ideas face to face will always create a better solution. We understand the value of an email, but we understand the importance of face to face collaboration. This is your space too!

Location Location... Greenline Creative, has always been in Dublin. Cranking work out of ourhome office. Convenient YES, but we found it not so convenient for our clients, so when looking for space, we wanted to be sure our clients needs were met, so we set up shop in down town Columbus, to be more exact, our address is 232 North 3rd Street, Suite 204 Columbus Ohio, 43215. For our Dublin clients, not an issue, we can always swing by and chat, on our way down to the space. Downtown, has its perks for sure, so far the food has been great, and the walking is much needed. Parking can be easily found at meters, or for temp use, I hear the Goodyear next store doesn't mind if a client parks in their lot for the short term.

Ready Set Go! Thank you all again for the exciting response so far, we encourage everyone to come down and check it out. We are going to be planning an open house, for everyone to join us in our celebration, and we will keep you posted on that. Feel free to comment below with any questions you may have. Happy Friday and we look forward to the change.

Characteristics of a great website.

Our third part of our “Build Your Brand for Success" Series, focuses on one of the biggest pieces of your brand. The Website. With over 1,966,514,816 users currently using the internet, It is clear that you must have a web presence, and a good one. If someone hears about your business from a colleague, you can bet they will go to Google or any search engine and look for your site to try and learn more about your business before making a call. Is it ready to deliver? We have decided to break down some characteristics that we feel all websites should have.

Purpose: Generally we see websites being used as “Interactive Brochures”, but don’t limit them to that. Allow your site to become a powerful tool, as your business grows. Consider using your website to analyze your client base, generate leeds, sell products and drive the user to do more. The web is flexible, and it is very important to have a strong focus to ensure you are delivering a positive experience to your audience.

Simplicity: You want to be clear. Information should be found easily on your website. You do not want anyone to have to dig for your content and become frustrated. Although you should be happy with your website, the end user should always be the main focus. Frustrating and unclear navigation will make potential clients leave your website for another alternative.

Modern: If your website is 4 years old, there is a good chance that the technology is not as effective as it use to be. How well your website ranks in Google, relies on modern techniques to process your website. Browsers have changed and the advancements in tablets and mobile phones have made many websites practically useless in these devices. Technology changes regularly, and it is a benefit and investment for your business to ensure your website is being viewed in these devices. We will expand on this topic in our next part of the series.

Manageable: The ability to manage your own content on your website, will keep it fresh and current for all who visit. This is important to the success of your brand. By keeping your content relevant, there is no surprises when a customer visits your business. Content Management Systems, allow you to deliver updates to your customers immediately and allows your site to be updated with ease.

Integrated: If you have a Facebook or Twitter account for your business, it is important to allow your customer to be able to find this information on your website. Integrating these services into your website makes it easy for anyone to see your activity and ensures you have not been in a cave for the last six years.

Appealing: Just like your logo, you need to be sure that your website is appealing to your audience. It doesn't have to be a complicated design, but it needs to be designed and on brand. The design needs to compliment your business and the purpose of the website. Your website needs to be trusting to the user so they stay on your website and absorb your content.

Now is the time for you to take a look at your website. Does it have any of the above characteristics? Is it time to consider a refresh? If you currently do not have a website, do you see the need?

Be sure to subscribe to this blog as we continue to break down each part of your brand in order to help you better understand the importance. We would love to get your feedback and answer any questions you may have, so feel free to add your comments below.

Who did those photographs?

I wanted to interrupt the "Build Your Brand for Success" series to answer a question we have been getting a ton lately. Who did your awesome Photographs? Our Answer...Chris Walker of Walker Photography. Some of us in the creative industry are already aware of his talents and current style of photography. In case you are not aware, he has shot portraits for some of Columbus's most recognizable faces; Jeni Bauer from Jeni's Ice cream, Artie Isaac, Walker Evans from Columbus Underground and Nate Riggs just to name a few.

So how did we find Chris? We found him through Justin Bryant of Think Brand Studio combined with the power of twitter. We have been seeing his images pop up recently and figured we would give him a call, and we are glad we did.

Chris was a blast to work with, and he made the awkward process of shooting portraits comfortable. As a fellow small business driven off of passion, it was great to share stories and get to know each other more.

Below is an inside look, and the final images from the shoot. I hope you enjoy, and if you have not already, be sure to give him a shout, or hit him up on twitter!

If you have already worked with Chris, it would be great to hear your experience by commenting below.

Web Designers & Web Developers : The Superman/Batman dynamic duo of your project from our Guest Blogger Pat Pohler of Anecka.

For this Blog Post, we at Greenline Creative decided to invite web/software developer Pat Pohler from Anecka to be our first guest blogger and provide his insight on the value of having a strong designer and strong developer on a web project. He has done a great job at breaking down the process of building a website, as well as illustrating how great it has been for clients to have both of us on a project. We hope you find this post informational as well as eye opening.

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Guest Blog Post from Pat Pohler of Anecka:

Completing certain web projects is a lot like fighting super-villains in comics. Sometimes one super hero isn't enough to do the job. When your project is a giant monster wrecking havoc in Metropolis, you need the combined powers of a great web designer and developer.

Let's discuss the differences between web designers and web developers because sometimes it can be difficult to tell the two apart. Typically, a web designer's role in the project is to come up with the branding, look and layout of the web site. The designer works with the client to come up with what's called a composition (or “comp”), which is a high resolution image of what the site will look like when finished. After the comp is approved, the designer works with the developer to break the comp into smaller images called “slices” that the developer will then use to build the site in HTML/CSS.

That's a high level overview, but of course there's more to it than that. The best way to compare the differences between a designer and developer is to look at the things they are most concerned about:

Designer:

• Does the site match the branding guidelines established for the client (logo right size, colors match exactly, fonts match in family and size)?

• Is the layout of the site clear for the user?

• Do the elements on the page make sense and fit a logically?

• Is the navigation easy to understand and follow for the user?

• Does the site look ascetically pleasing? Does it visually fit the client's goals?

Developer:

• Do the pages match (“pixel perfect”) the comp from the designer?

• What functionality/features does the client need for the site? A login? Contact Us form? Special section for documents/product materials?

• Does the client need to take orders from the site?

• What database / framework should power the backend?

• What hosting provider/servers will the site be running on?

• Does the site have proper error handling/security?

• Are errors logged and recorded in order to assist in fixing issues after the site has been brought online?

As you can see, designers and developers are concerned with very different aspects of the project. While it's important that they are both skilled in their areas of expertise, in my experience it is just as important that they can work together as a team. Web designers must have an idea of how to properly break down the elements of their design into individual elements that can be represented in HTML. Developers must be aware that the appearance of the site is just as important as the database, and must work with the designer to make sure the site matches the design perfectly (exact margins, color, and font). Also both the developer and designer must have a clear and open means of communication to insure if changes happen in the middle of the project (which they always do) then both the designer and developer can adjust for the change easily and save time and money for the client.

As a freelance developer, finding a great designer I can work with is a must for my business. Having someone I can consistently rely on who can come up with a design my clients will love and who understands the technology gives me the confidence to bid and estimate on some very ambitious and high-profile projects. Vice versa, if you're a web designer, finding a great developer you can work with will give you the confidence to address any technical needs of your client.

If you're working with a designer and they recommend bringing in a web developer they've worked with in the past, welcome it (same applies to a developer recommending a designer)! By bringing in other talented web professionals whose skills are different than their own and who they've worked with before, they are working to ensure the project will be completed successfully.

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We want to thank Pat Pohler again for being our first guest blogger and writing such a great post for us. Be sure to contact him for any of your web and software development needs.

Do you have insight on web design and development that you feel clients would like to know about? If so, contact us to become the next guest blogger on the Greenline Creative Blog!

Why having the best logo for your business is so important to the success of your brand.

For part two of our Build Your Brand for Success Series. We will focus on what we think is the most important part of your brand. The logo. A logo can be described as a graphic symbol that represents your business or organization. It is generally in the form of an abstract mark, such as Nike, a representational mark like Target or Apple and a typographical mark like CocaCola. No matter what type of logo you choose, it is very important that it reflects your brand and message as we described in part 1 of the series.

The logo is just a small piece to the puzzle, but it is a crucial piece and should not be taken lightly. A good logo is critical to the success of your brand because it generally is the first thing a potential client, or patient will associate themselves with. If done right, it will create an emotional connection to your brand that in turn will bring a positive connection to your business.

A successful logo should have the following attributes:

Simplicity: A good logo needs to be simple and direct. Say what it needs to say and nothing more. The logo doesn’t need to tell the whole story but just need to engage the audience on who you are and what you do. It is the cover of a book.

Timeless: You want to be sure your investment will be memorable and useful 5-20 years down the road. Now that doesn’t mean you may not refresh your logo in that time, but the core of your logo should remain the same. As you can see here, many top brands have gone through a refresh since they originated, but the core of their logo has never been changed.

Versatile: One of the most important traits of a great logo is how flexible your logo can be. Your logo must be effective anywhere you need it. It must be able to be used in color, black and white, on a billboard, embroidered on a t-shirt and hold up in new media. We say stay away from strong gradients, tons of color and heavy decoration that you may think look flashy and eye catching, but in reality feels cheap and cluttered. When in doubt think K.I.S.S.

Now that you have a better understanding of what makes a good logo, let’s look at some examples of good logos and bad logos.

Great Logos:

Bad Logos:

Want to see more of these bad logos click here.

You will see that the great logos are flexible and adaptive to the changes of a business. And most importantly they are unique to themselves and professional.

Professional is the key, everyday your audience comes in contact with hundreds of brands and logos, and it is really easy for them to determine what companies,restaurants and doctors office’s they can trust based just on a logo. You’ll also want your brand to stand out in a sea of other branding. No matter how good the product or services offered may be, if the logo does not depict the quality of your service you are offering, they will misinterpret or just keep on walking. Remember it only takes 10 seconds to make a first impression. Make it a good one.

Now is the time to look at your logo is it a great logo or a bad logo?

Be sure to subscribe to this blog as we continue to break down each part of your brand in order to help you better understand the importance. We would love to get your feedback and answer any questions you may have, so feel free to add your comments below.

Why you may not want to ask your cousin to build your brand.

If you are starting a new business or even considering a refresh of your current business, it is very important to have a strong brand. Not just a logo but a brand. This multi-part series is designed to help you understand what a brand is and how to help you leverage each part of your brand to it's fullest potential.

A brand can be defined as how you would like your target audience view you. What kind of tone do you want them to associate you with? Soft? Innovative? Serious? Classic? or any other tone. The fact is unfortunately how they ultimately see you, is out of your control. The goal when building a brand is to try and communicate your tone and message through every touch point that your customer may encounter.

A brand consists of many parts. It usually starts out with a logo, business cards, letterhead and envelope, and as not limited to websites, Facebook, Twitter or anything else that you use to engage and communicate with your audience. With that said, even an email or phone call needs to be on brand. If these pieces and parts are not maintained correctly your brand can ultimately fall apart.

There are a few things every business owner needs to be aware of when thinking about building a brand. Often times, it is easy to ask a cousin or friend who is a great artist to design a logo. No offense, but a great painter or artist does not always make a great designer or brand expert. Just like a designer in most cases doesn't make a great tattoo artist. Art and design although can influence each other, are handled very differently.

A designer creates simplistic and effective marks. These marks can be used on anything from shirts to billboards, in one color or four. They see through the clutter of other brands to help make sure your message stands out and gets recognized. Another reason you should consider a brand expert for your business is that you cane be sure the project will be completed in time and not delayed due to it being a favor.

A new business owner should look at their brand as they would the importance and quality of the product they are offering. If you care enough about your service or product, then you should care enough about how your brand looks, because each touchpoint of your business is a reflection of how a potential or current customer sees you. You can not escape your brand, it will always be there, so you need to be sure you have someone in place to help control it and nurture it. After just a small handful of transactions from new customers the cost of a professional graphic designer handling your creative needs will be a worthwhile investment and tax write-off.

We understand brands. Brands are never just done, they are always growing and need to be evaluated from time to time. So whether you need a brand, or have one that you would like us to re-work, feel free to contact us and ask about our new branding package, we would be glad to hear your story.

Check back for part 2 of this multi-part series when we showcase some examples good brands and not so good brands and what makes a successful logo and how it can help your brand.

Greenline Creative reviews the iPad

Greenline Creative took a second to go checkout the new Apple iPad at our local Apple store, and thought we would take a moment to write a review on it from a design studios perspective. When watching the initial keynote the day Apple announced the iPad, of course we had the same reaction as everyone else when it came to the name choice, the biggest thing we found was that it functioned very much like an over sized iPhone or iPod Touch. I must say before experimenting with it, we were a bit disappointed. We were hoping for something for more advanced. A devise that we could really use as an extension to our business and even our computer. Something we could run Adobe design software on, possibly use it as a Wacom style tablet, supported Flash. In short a "working machine". As the months went on our perspective didn't change, until now.

Today was the day we felt we needed to see what this iPad is all about, so we went. Not only for our interest, but to possibly shine some light on what our clients may want to know about it. The first thing we noticed, was the size. You can look at pictures, of it but seeing it in person it feels much smaller. Smaller in a comfortable way. It has a nice feel in the hand. Not too big, not too small but light enough to be comfortable, but heavy enough to rest nicely in your hands. Of course we are big fans of the aluminum body and black trim around the screen. It adds a touch of sophistication and durability to the Apple product line. After examining the body, it was time to see what this iPad was all about. We clicked the Home button and right away it was responsive. Gesturing was super nice. Far more responsive then the iPod and iPhone. Opening an App like Calendar or Mail offered a nice transition. The iBook App has a nice interface and feels much like the pages in an actual book. Type was large enough and pages flipped effortlessly. Although if you are into reading books and love the feel of an actual book, this did feel a bit techy as you would expect so it may not be a fit. The book catalog was a bit small at this point, but one could expect it to grow like iTunes and the App Store has done in the past. Once we checked out a few games, we wanted to check out how fast the browser and Photo App was. The browser was really nice. It was fast, and websites filled the screen. Typing on the iPad although again really nice and responsive felt, slightly awkward. Typing with the iPad vertically made the iPad feel very top heavy and horizontally, it was not very comfortable to type with your thumbs, because you had to reach in pretty far to get to the middle keys. A minor issue, that is easily resolved by typing with your index finger. The Photo App on the iPad is really nice. The imagery is super crisp and clear. The interface is also very nice, and that goes for the majority of the Apps on the iPad. Mail had a nice organized structure to it along with the Calender.

At this point we didn't see many obvious cons with the iPad other than it not supporting Flash, multitaksing, or having a built in camera. I think we are comfortable with the limits that the interface offer up since they are very similar to that of the iPhone and App. The only con we saw was how Apple promoted this product.

Apple has said in the past that the iPad is a revolutionary product that will change computing. With those claims, it is easy to expect more from the iPad, hence all the let down when it was revealed in the Keynote. Do we think after checking out this product that the above statement is true? No. We do not see it as revolutionary, but we do see it as a nice expansion of the iPod product line. And that may have been a better way of releasing the product. Is that bad? Not at all.

We felt a few limitations with the iPod Touch and iPhone, so this actually picks up where they left off. The size of the iPad is just right for daily tasks for the Studio. I personally think that is what really makes the iPad feel far more advance because the touch technology seems to work better. Things like checking the mail, Updating your status on Twitter or Facebook, plugging expenses into Freshbooks and scheduling meetings . With newly developed applications like the iDisplay and SketchbookPro the iPad could really make for a nice universal piece of equipment that acts as a nice bridge between your desktop, or laptop computer since it also supports MobileMe. One of the most impressive things we found about the iPad was the presentational aspect this can offer our studio. Being a studio who continues to present paperless, bringing a laptop to meetings can be a bit cumbersome at times, the iPad's screen feels large enough for us to get our concepts across to our clients effectively, but small enough to fit anywhere it needs to fit. Just load the presentation and, off we go. During a meeting, we can flip to the browser to access other projects.

In conclusion. This product is a real nice Media Device, that does have its place in the creative industry as well as many other industries that relay on getting information across to patients, clients or staff members. If you combine this tool, with the tools already available such as Cloud Software, CMS Systems and many browser based applications, we think it will be a valuable tool that we eventually couldn't live without. Beyond work, it will serve as a nice way to unwind. Read a book, browse the web, play games or just let it run as a digital photo frame. With all the applications that will soon be available for the iPad, you will be hard pressed to find someone who doesn't see the iPad as a nice tool to make everyday life just a bit more easy and functional. We see this as a start to another great product from Apple.