In the realm of business, two crucial components shape a company’s identity and drive its success: branding and marketing. Often used interchangeably, these terms represent distinct strategies that, when employed in harmony, can create a formidable force. So we’ve put together a handy guide to delve into the fundamental disparities between branding and marketing, exploring their unique roles and uncovering the powerful impact they can have on businesses of all sizes.

So, What Is Branding?

At its core, branding represents the essence of a company—its identity, values, and unique selling propositions. It encompasses the intangible aspects that differentiate a business from its competitors and forge a lasting impression in the minds of consumers. A strong brand cultivates trust, loyalty, and recognition, ultimately positioning a company as a market leader.

Branding is a comprehensive process that involves defining and refining a company’s mission, vision, and values. It covers elements such as the company’s name, logo, colour palette, typography, and brand voice. By strategically crafting these components, businesses can develop a cohesive and compelling brand identity that resonates with their target audience.

So, What Is Marketing?

Whilst branding focuses on establishing a company’s identity, marketing is the active pursuit of promoting and selling its products or services. Marketing is the tactics, channels, and strategies employed to reach and engage potential customers. It involves various activities such as market research, advertising, public relations, social media campaigns, content creation, and more.
Marketing initiatives are driven by a deep understanding of the target audience and their needs. By employing market research and data-driven insights, businesses can create targeted marketing campaigns that resonate with their ideal customers. The goal is to raise awareness, generate leads, drive conversions, and foster customer loyalty.

The Dream Team

While branding and marketing represent distinct concepts, they are intrinsically connected and complement each other. Effective marketing relies on a strong brand foundation to differentiate and communicate the unique value proposition to the target audience. Likewise, branding gains traction and achieves its objectives when supported by well-executed marketing efforts that amplify its message.

A powerful brand establishes trust and credibility, allowing marketing initiatives to resonate more deeply with the intended audience. Conversely, marketing channels provide opportunities for brands to express their values, showcase their products, and create meaningful connections with consumers.

Balance

To harness the full potential of branding and marketing, businesses must adopt a balanced approach. This involves aligning brand strategy with marketing tactics to create a cohesive and consistent customer experience. By integrating brand elements seamlessly into marketing materials, businesses can convey their identity, build customer loyalty, and differentiate themselves in a crowded marketplace.
Moreover, companies should continually assess and refine their branding and marketing efforts. Regularly monitoring the impact of marketing campaigns and gathering customer feedback allows businesses to refine their brand messaging and ensure it remains relevant and compelling.

In the ever-evolving landscape of business, understanding the distinction between branding and marketing is paramount. While branding establishes a company’s identity and cultivates customer loyalty, marketing promotes products or services, attracting and engaging target audiences. By appreciating the interplay and synergy between these two strategies, businesses can create a powerful and cohesive presence that resonates with consumers, drives growth, and fosters long-term success.

Looking for Design Support?

Are you looking for branding support? We can help! Our award-winning design team have been delighting clients for more than 30 years, and our studio is independently ranked in the top 100 of all creative agencies in the UK.

If you would like to learn more about working with us on your next design project, please get in touch.

Not quite ready to discuss a project with us? Why not join our fortnightly newsletter to keep up to date with the latest studio news, and get updates on the latest articles, giveaways and special offers from PHd Design – click here to subscribe.

This post was originally published in mid-2023 and has been updated to ensure its facts and insights remain relevant for today’s ever-evolving world of graphic design.

The world of graphic design is where colours clash in harmony, pixels tango in synchrony, and imagination takes the lead. It’s not just art; it’s the beating heart of visual communication—and it’s packed with stories that’ll make you see the world differently.

At PHd Design, we don’t just create graphics; we craft opportunities. But first, let’s take a step back and explore some curious, quirky, and downright inspiring facts about graphic design, from its ancient origins to its modern marvels.

Whether you’re a design enthusiast or a business owner considering your next creative project, we hope this insight into the magical world of design will inspire your next move.

Pioneering Moments in Graphic Design

1. Design’s Ancient Origins – Graphic design dates back 17,000 years to the caves of Lascaux, France, where prehistoric humans painted visual stories. These early murals are the world’s first design pitch—arguably directed at fellow cave dwellers!

2. The Birth of the Term -The phrase “graphic design” wasn’t coined until 1922, by William Addison Dwiggins. Before that, designers just called themselves… tired.

3. Design in Stone -The first use of typography? Ancient Greeks carved inscriptions into stone using styluses—a painstakingly slow process that makes modern kerning woes look like a breeze.

Iconic Firsts

4. The First Postage Stamp – The Penny Black, created in 1840, was the world’s first postage stamp. Designed by William Mulready, its profile of Queen Victoria made her the first “brand ambassador.”

5. Coca-Cola’s Flowing Script – Coca-Cola’s iconic logo was created in 1887 by a bookkeeper, Frank Mason Robinson, who chose a script font to ensure memorability. It worked.

6. Designing the World’s First Website – In 1991, Tim Berners-Lee built the first web page, featuring just hyperlinks. No gifs, no animations—how times have changed.

Design’s Cultural Footprint

7. The Hollywood Sign – The Hollywood sign wasn’t always a symbol of stardom. It originally read “Hollywoodland” and was a real estate advertisement.

8. I ❤️ NY – Milton Glaser’s 1977 design for the “I ❤️ NY” logo cost exactly $0 upfront. He donated the design fee but later admitted he wished he’d asked for royalties.

9. Rosie the Riveter – The famous “We Can Do It!” poster of Rosie the Riveter was created in 1943 but wasn’t widely recognised until the 1980s. Today, it’s a global feminist icon.

Business Impact: When Design Meets ROI

Great design doesn’t just look good—it works wonders for businesses.

10. Hilton Foods – We helped Hilton Foods secure a 5-year contract with Tesco, safeguarding over 1,000 jobs. That’s the power of design with purpose.

11. Lioncroft’s Canned Success – Since rebranding and repackaging their products, Lioncroft has seen a 38% increase in sales within 12 months.

12. Hara’s Skyrocketing Sales – A full rebrand for Hara led to a 71% increase in overall sales. Their nail range alone saw a jaw-dropping 119% growth, proving design can nail it (pun intended).

13. South Wales Industrial Cluster – Our branding for SWIC’s landmark government document resulted in 12+ project collaborations and attracted tens of millions in funding within the first year.

Design Trends That Shaped the Industry

14. Minimalism Reigns Supreme – From Google’s sans-serif logo to Instagram’s simplified gradient, today’s design trend is all about clarity. A stark contrast to the busy designs of the early internet era.

15. The Rise of Flat Design – In 2013, flat design surged in popularity with Apple’s iOS 7 release. This trend prioritised simplicity and usability—though it sparked debates among skeuomorphism fans.

Quirky Design Tales

16. The $35 Logo – The Nike swoosh, one of the world’s most recognisable logos, was designed in 1971 for just $35. Designer Carolyn Davidson was later gifted Nike shares—good call.

17. WWF’s Panda Power – The World Wildlife Fund’s panda logo was chosen for simplicity and print cost efficiency. Black-and-white printing is cheaper—an early nod to sustainability.

18. The Secret of Google’s Doodles – Google’s whimsical homepage doodles were born when its founders took a day off. They placed a stick figure behind the “o” to let users know they were “out of office.”

PHd Design’s Winning Formula

19. Branding with Results – Our rebrand for Harnce Heating Engineers saw a 44% increase in enquiries for maintenance work in just six months. It wasn’t magic—just strategic creativity.

Graphic Design in Action: Transforming Businesses

20. Timeless Transit – The London Underground map, created by Harry Beck in 1933, revolutionised public transit design. His principle of simplicity still shapes transit maps globally.

21. Design That Sells – A well-designed package can make or break a product. Research shows 72% of consumers admit packaging design influences their purchasing decisions.

22. Hidden Meanings – Logos often hold secrets. For example, the FedEx logo features an arrow between the “E” and “X,” symbolising speed and efficiency.

Why Design Matters More Than Ever

From timeless logos to transformative business results, graphic design isn’t just an art; it’s a strategy. At PHd Design, our award-winning team has been crafting success stories for over 30 years, proving that creativity and results go hand in hand.

Are you ready to make your mark? Let’s talk about how design can elevate your brand to the next level.

Stay Inspired

Keep up to date with the latest trends, insights, and success stories by joining our fortnightly newsletter. It’s free, it’s insightful, and it’s just a click away! – click here to subscribe.

Creating an effective visual marketing campaign is crucial for businesses to connect with their target audience and promote their brand message effectively. But in a world full of businesses vying for attention, it’s important to create visual designs that not only grabs people’s attention, but also communicates your brand message in a way that resonates with your audience.

So, in an effort to help make your next campaign your best performing campaign yet, here are our top tips to create effective visual marketing campaigns…

Use Colour Effectively

Colour is an essential element in visual design. Colour can evoke emotions and convey meaning, whilst still being subtle. When choosing colours for your marketing materials, in addition to keeping to your brand colours, also take some time to think about the personality of your brand, and how colour might induce certain thoughts and feelings for your target audience.

Want to learn more about colour theory? Read our previous article  on ‘The Impact of Colour on Branding’, by clicking here.

Keep Things Simple

Many brands make the mistake of thinking that complex designs will be more effective, but in reality overcomplicating things will have the opposite effect. Designs with too much information, or too many visual elements become confusing and overwhelming. Instead, use clear messaging and visual elements that support your brand message. After all simplicity is key to creating designs that are easy to understand and resonate with your audience.

Make It Memorable

Memorable designs are ones that stay in people’s minds long after they’ve seen them. Aim to create designs that are unique, creative, and memorable, so that your brand stands out from competitors. Use bold and distinctive visual elements to make your designs more memorable.

Think High Quality

As you might have guessed, high quality images can make a big difference in how people perceive your campaign. Invest in professional photography or use high-quality stock images to ensure that your designs look polished and professional. Poor quality images can detract from your message and make your brand appear unprofessional.

Consistency Is Key

Be sure to create a consistent look and feel in your branding and any design work.Use a consistent colour scheme, typography, and visual elements across all your marketing materials to create a cohesive look and feel for your brand. This will help to build brand recognition and makes your brand more memorable.

Who Are You Targeting

When creating visual marketing materials, it’s essential to consider your target audience. Think about their preferences, interests, and needs, and design materials that will resonate with them. This will make your designs more relevant and effective in capturing their attention.

Readability

Your designs should be easy to read and understand, even at a glance. Use clear typography and make sure that your messaging is easy to digest. Avoid using fonts that are too small or difficult to read, and use whitespace effectively to break up text and make it more scannable.

Whitespace

Whitespace is the empty space between design elements, and it can be used to create balance, hierarchy, and emphasis in your designs. Use whitespace effectively to make your designs more visually appealing and easy to navigate. This will help to draw attention to important elements and make your designs more visually appealing.

Make it Shareable

In today’s digital age, shareability is key. Make sure that your designs are optimised for social media sharing by including social media buttons or designing them in a way that’s easy to share. This will help to increase the reach of your marketing materials and make them more viral.

Test and Test Again

Creating effective visual marketing materials is an ongoing process. Test different designs and messaging to see what works best, and be willing to make changes and re-test based on feedback from your audience. This will help you to refine your marketing materials and make them more effective in connecting with your target audience.

Creating effective visual marketing materials is a crucial part of any successful marketing strategy. But by following these tips, your business can create designs that catch people’s attention, communicate your brand message effectively, and resonate with your target audience.

Looking for Design Support?

Are you looking for support with your next campaign? We can help! Our award-winning design team have been delighting clients for just over 30 years, and our studio is ranked in the top 100 of all creative agencies in the UK.

If you would like to learn more about working with us on your next design project, please get in touch.

Not quite ready to discuss a project with us? Why not join our fortnightly newsletter to keep up to date with the latest studio news, and get updates on the latest articles, giveaways and special offers from PHd Design – click here to subscribe.

We all know that branding is a crucial component of a successful business, but did you know that colour plays a vital role in the branding process? Different brands use colour to create unique identities and establish emotional connections with their audience. Let’s explore the role of colour in branding, and how different brands use it to their advantage…

The Psychology of Colour

Our brains are wired to respond to colour in certain ways, and this is why colours are so important in branding. Colours can evoke emotions, set moods, and convey messages without the need for words. For example, blue is often associated with calmness and trust, whilst red is often associated with excitement and passion.

However, it’s worth noting that colours may have different meanings in different cultures, so it’s essential to research how each of your target audiences interpret and react to colours.

How Colours are Used in Branding

You would be mistaken to think that colours are an afterthought in the branding process. Colours are a strategic choice, and can make a significant impact on the success of a brand.

Each industry will use colour in a different way, to help strengthen their brand identity and convey the ‘right’ look. A great example is fast food. The fast-food industry often uses red and yellow to create a sense of urgency and excitement. Think McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, Greggs and Nando’s – they all have either red or yellow, as it helps to subconsciously imply that their food is exciting.

But this technique can be applied to any industry, such as fashion. The fashion industry often uses; black, white and gold to help create a sense of luxury, elegance and glamour. Black is associated with power, sophistication, and timelessness, while white is associated with purity, simplicity, and minimalism. Gold is associated with richness, glamour, and luxury. This is why Chanel, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton all use black, white, and gold in their branding.

Branding with the Wrong Colours

While colour can be a powerful branding tool, using it incorrectly can actually damage your brand. If you choose colours that don’t align with your brands message or values, it will lead to confusion amongst your target audience. Also, some colours may not be appropriate for certain industries or audiences. It’s essential to consider the context and connotations of a colour before using it in any branding.

Choosing the Right Colours

Choosing the right colour for your brand requires careful consideration and research. It’s important to consider your brand’s message, values, and target audience before selecting colour palettes and combinations to help create the perfect unique brand identity. If you are working with an external team for your branding, they should be able to provide simple guidance and advice on the most appropriate colours. But if you’re building a brand in house, it would be best to test colours with your target audience, to get an insight into how your audience perceives different colours.

Colour plays a vital role in branding, and choosing the right colour for your brand can make all the difference. It can evoke emotions, set moods, and convey messages without the need for words. However, it’s essential to consider the context and connotations of a colour before using it in branding. By using colour effectively, you can create a unique brand identity that really resonates with your audience.

Looking for Design Support?

Are you looking for support to make your branding better – we can help! Our award-winning design team have been delighting clients for just over 30 years, and our studio is ranked in the top 100 of all creative agencies in the UK.

If you would like to learn more about working with us on your next design project, please get in touch.

Not quite ready to discuss a project with us? Why not join our fortnightly newsletter to keep up to date with the latest studio news, and get updates on the latest articles, giveaways and special offers from PHd Design – click here to subscribe.

In today’s digital age, where social media and email reign supreme, some may question whether networking is still a valuable tool for building professional connections. However, while technology has certainly made it easier to connect with others remotely, the importance of in-person networking and relationship-building should not be underestimated. And when it comes to making a strong first impression and staying memorable, print items like business cards can still be an incredibly useful tool.

Networking is about building relationships and trust with others in your industry or field. While social media and email can facilitate initial connections, they often lack the personal touch that comes with in-person interactions. Attending events and conferences, meeting with colleagues and clients face-to-face, and participating in professional organizations are all valuable ways to connect with others and build a network of contacts. These relationships can provide access to new job opportunities, business partnerships, and valuable insights into industry trends and best practices.

When it comes to in-person networking, print items like business cards can be incredibly useful. While some may argue that business cards are outdated in the digital age, they can still serve as a tangible reminder of your connection with someone. Business cards with an eye-catching design and clear, concise information can make a lasting impression and help you stand out from others. Plus, having a physical item to give to someone allows them to remember you and your business even after the initial interaction.

In addition to business cards, other print items like brochures, flyers, and promotional items can also be useful aids in networking. Handing out a brochure or flyer at an event can provide more detailed information about your business or services and give others a reason to follow up with you. And promotional items like pens, magnets, or stress balls with your company’s logo or contact information can serve as a useful and memorable reminder of your business.

So there we have it, while digital tools have made it easier to connect with others remotely, networking in person and building relationships with others in your industry is still an incredibly valuable tool for professional success. And while print items like business cards and brochures may seem outdated in the digital age, they can still be a useful aid in making a strong first impression and staying memorable in the minds of your connections.

Looking for Design Support?

If your business cards are in need of a refresh, or you’re looking for additional printed items to help make you stand out from the crowd at networking events – we can help! Our award-winning design team have been delighting clients for just over 30 years, and our studio is ranked in the top 100 of all creative agencies in the UK.

If you would like to learn more about working with us on your next design project, please get in touch.

Not quite ready to discuss a project with us? Why not join our fortnightly newsletter to keep up to date with the latest studio news, and get updates on the latest articles, giveaways and special offers from PHd Design – click here to subscribe.

If you’ve ever worked on a branding project, you’ve likely heard of brand guidelines. Brand guidelines, sometimes also known as brand standards or brand books, are a set of rules and instructions that define how a company presents itself visually to the world. They help to establish the visual identity of a brand, ensuring consistency across all channels and touchpoints.

Believe it or not, brand guidelines are a vital component of a company’s branding strategy. They provide a framework for designers, marketers, and other stakeholders to use when creating new materials, ensuring that every piece of communication reflects the brand’s personality and values.

What Do Brand Guidelines Cover?

Brand guidelines typically include a wide range of information, from colour palettes and typography to logo usage and tone of voice. Here are some of the key components of a typical brand guidelines document:

Logo Guidelines: This section outlines how the logo should be used and provides guidelines on size, placement, and colour usage.

Colour palette: A brand’s colour palette is crucial to its visual identity. This section outlines the colours that should be used across all brand communications, including primary, secondary, and tertiary colours.

Typography: The typography used by a brand should be consistent across all materials. This section provides guidelines on the fonts that should be used, as well as information on size, weight, and spacing.

Imagery: Brand guidelines also include guidelines on the types of imagery that should be used, as well as how they should be treated (e.g., colour treatments, cropping, etc.).

Tone of voice: A brand’s tone of voice is just as important as its visual identity. This section generally provides guidance on the language and tone that should be used in all communications, from marketing materials to social media posts.

Why are Brand Guidelines Important?

Brand guidelines play a critical role in establishing a brand’s visual identity and maintaining consistency across all communications. Here are some of the key benefits of having brand guidelines:

Consistency: Brand guidelines ensure that every communication looks and feels like it comes from the same company, creating a sense of familiarity and trust with consumers.

Efficiency: With clear guidelines in place, designers and marketers can work more efficiently, knowing exactly what they need to do to create on-brand communications.

Brand recognition: A consistent visual identity helps consumers recognise a brand more quickly, leading to increased brand awareness and loyalty.

Differentiation: In a crowded market, a strong visual identity can help a brand stand out from the competition, making it more memorable to consumers.

In conclusion, brand guidelines are a crucial component of a brand’s visual identity. They provide a framework for designers and marketers to create consistent, on-brand communications, helping to establish brand recognition, increase efficiency, and differentiate the brand from competitors. If you haven’t yet developed brand guidelines for your company, now is the time to start!

Looking for Design Support?

If you are considering working with a design agency, PHd Design might be the right fit for your business and brand’s needs. Our award-winning design team have been delighting clients for just over 30 years, and our studio is ranked in the top 100 of all creative agencies in the UK.

If you would like to learn more about working with us on your next infographic or design project, please get in touch.

Not quite ready to discuss a project with us? Why not join our fortnightly newsletter to keep up to date with the latest studio news, and get updates on the latest articles, giveaways and special offers from PHd Design – click here to subscribe.

When most business owners think about graphic design, they think about their business logos. A business logo is just one of the final products that an agency produces, along with your brochures, banners and websites. And although you know why your business needs these items, do you know why you should choose an expert graphic design agency to create them?

What a Graphic Design Agency Does

Graphic design agencies, like PHd Design in Lichfield, are creative. Our team are also artistic and technical. But there is a lot more to graphic design than that. We are also experts in communication, marketing and perhaps most importantly, psychology.

We understand that human beings are very visual. We respond to pictures and colours on an emotional level before our thought processes can jump in. You’ve heard the one about judging a book by its cover. It’s true. We make a judgement call on whether we want to pick up a book by its front, watch a film based on the poster, buy a product because we like the packaging and so on. All of these judgments are decisions influenced by details such as the colours used, the type and even size of the font, the placement of the letters and the choice of image.

As graphic designers, we understand how each of these elements will impact on a person’s emotions and influence their choices and decisions.

How Graphic Design Helps Your Business

As every business owner knows, first impressions matter. Whether it’s from meeting you and assessing your clothes, the words you use during networking, or the first page of your website, our subconscious starts filing away details about you that makes decisions on whether you are a business we can buy from.

You need to decide what you want the first impression of your business to be – corporate, friendly or fun, perhaps. Do you want potential clients to feel secure in placing their money with you, or confident that you’re technically efficient, or that you’ll provide a safe, happy environment for their children?

The design of your logo, brochures and leaflets will create your professional image before a single word is read.

Building Brand Awareness

It’s not enough to simply create the right impression, you need your potential new customers to remember it. Every time a client sees your logo or a social media post, for example, the aim is that they recognised it’s you straightaway, and for that first impression and confidence in you to be reinforced.

The more you build your brand awareness, the more well-known and memorable your business will be. Consistency in the design of your marketing and content ensures that your brand becomes stronger each time it’s used. This means that whenever someone sees your brand, they also think of the things you want connected to you – professionalism, positivity, vibrancy, proactivity, and trust.

It’s a lot for a piece of design work to do – which is why you need to choose the right graphic design agency in the first place.

Communication Through Graphic Design

Of course, graphic design agencies don’t just work on your business image or create lasting impressions. Strong clear design is also key to communication. Take, for example, a fire exit sign. This very simple image – a strong colour, internationally recognised to mean ‘go’, and a single running figure – can be recognised in any language.

A control pad for machinery, warning lights on your car, and even the instructions that come with your flat-pack furniture – are all examples of graphic design work that communicates a universally understood message without words. If you have a website or are creating an app, the design is vital to helping visitors find their way around, with clear layouts, obvious buttons and easy steps to your key message. Here, graphic design is used to create a positive user experience.

In business, your communications will be more complex than a simple ‘run this way’ instruction. You will need to explain detailed statistics in an infographic or intricate ideas in a combination of words and pictures. You may want to ensure that the product you are selling appears luxurious and expensive, and the right branding will help to communicate this message.

Graphic design is used to help you communicate visually, clearly and in such a way that your audience understands your message. The layout of the information, the colours and the imagery all combine to ensure that vital details are clear and the reader is not overwhelmed.

Choosing the Right Graphic Design Agency

When you consider just how important graphic design is in making your business stand out, you can see why you need to use the right agency for the job. PHd Design is a graphic design agency in Lichfield in Staffordshire, and work on projects for companies all around the UK. We love what we do – being creative and using our magic design skills to communicate on your behalf. We do branding, infographics, packaging, digital design and so on. But do you now know the main thing that we do for you – and why graphic design is important to your business? We help you to sell.

Looking for Design Support?

If you are considering working with a design agency, PHd Design might be the right fit for your business and brand’s needs. Our award-winning design team have been delighting clients for just over 30 years, and our studio is ranked in the top 100 of all creative agencies in the UK.

If you would like to learn more about working with us on your next infographic or design project, please get in touch.

Not quite ready to discuss a project with us? Why not join our fortnightly newsletter to keep up to date with the latest studio news, and get updates on the latest articles, giveaways and special offers from PHd Design – click here to subscribe.

Infographics are a true powerhouse and a fantastic tool in the arsenal of any business. In fact, you might be surprised to learn that they’ve played a big part in marketing since the 19th century. And that a massive 84% of people who have used an infographic, consider them to be useful.

What is an Infographic?

Infographics are a great tool to help condense and simplify complex concepts by using a range of visual aids. They come in many forms, but essentially, an infographic is an aesthetically pleasing way of visually summarising data and making it more engaging to the end user.

Instead of boring the end user with pages of written content, data or statistics, infographics can be used as a way to captivate your audience and keep their attention. And as we all know, the more engaging and interesting you can make something – the more likely it is to be remembered. This is especially true when it’s something complex or topics that tend to be a little dull.

Here’s a great example of an infographic, that covers the wide range of services provided by our team here at PHd Design.

Why Are Infographics So Effective?

Did you know that infographics and other colourful visuals can increase sales by up to 80%? Or that presentations with visual aids, such as infographics, are on average 43% more persuasive? There is of course a significant amount of psychology behind the effectiveness of infographics and how they impact sales and decision-making – but let’s strip that down to a few simple points…

Infographics Catch and Hold a Users Attention

Research has confirmed that consumers tend to focus on ‘information-carrying images’, such as infographics, more than they read a page’s text. Combined with the knowledge that blog posts and news articles that contain an infographic are 30 times more likely to be read in full than those without an infographic – you start to get a picture of how powerful infographics can be in your marketing strategy.

Infographics Will Make it Easier for Users to Learn and Retain Information

It has been found that on average, people remember 65% of the information that they see in a visual, but only 10% of the information that they hear out loud. Meaning that an infographic can have a significant impact on everything from brand recognition to understanding the benefits of buying a product or service.

Infographics Can Boost Your Success on Social Media

It’s common knowledge that social media posts with an image tend to perform much better than text-only posts. But did you know that infographics are the most liked and shared type of content on social media?

A visual element helps to catch a user’s eye on social media, and if you can make that visual element something really informative and valuable, like an infographic – that post instantly becomes more interesting, and of course more shareable. And let’s not forget, sharing is a key factor in how social media algorithms determine whether it should be shown to more users, who will then potentially take action.

Infographics Can Boost Your Sales

Our brains process visual information 60 times faster than written information. So an infographic, not only helps people to understand it far more quickly than asking them to read a multiple-page sales pitch. Two of the most common barriers to sales are time and uncertainty. By making your sales pitch into an infographic, you make it simpler for the user to understand and quicker for them to consume and digest – giving them plenty of time to consider, and enough understanding that uncertainty is no longer an issue.

Infographics Can Be Used Anywhere

Not only are infographics an incredibly persuasive tool, but they’re also very versatile and can be used in a variety of ways. They can be used as social media content, included in a brochure, or a printed ad in a popular publication. They can be used on your company website, in a presentation, and so much more…

In fact, if you’ve visited our office you will have seen a giant infographic on the wall of our boardroom.

Benefits of Infographics

In our opinion, infographics are severely underrated! Not only are they the perfect tool for condensing complex ideas or large amounts of information, in a way that’s far quicker and simpler to digest – but it’s also a format that’s incredibly popular with users. Let’s have a quick recap of the benefits of using infographics;

– Infographics can help boost sales by up to 80%

– Infographics can make presentations up to 43% more persuasive.

– Infographics are more likely to catch the attention of a potential customer.

– Infographics make it easier for people to learn more about your brand/ product.

– Infographics are the most liked and shared type of content on social media.

– They can be used in every area of your business and across any platform or medium.

Looking for Design Support?

If you are considering working with a design agency, PHd Design might be the right fit for your business and brand’s needs. Our award-winning design team have been delighting clients for just over 30 years, and our studio is ranked in the top 100 of all creative agencies in the UK.

If you would like to learn more about working with us on your next infographic or design project, please get in touch.

Not quite ready to discuss a project with us? Why not join our fortnightly newsletter to keep up to date with the latest studio news, and get updates on the latest articles, giveaways and special offers from PHd Design – click here to subscribe.

Did you know that physical, printed brochures are as popular as ever? That’s right, even though digital solutions dominate most areas of modern marketing – when it comes to brochures, print is more powerful than ever…

There is just something about a printed brochure, that a digital version cannot replicate. Perhaps it’s the weight of the paper, the feel of the paper when touched that instantly gives an indication of quality, or maybe it’s the sharp print?

The Benefits of Brochures

Like any marketing material, printed brochures need to ensure that they will inform, sell or encourage a user to take action, such as signing up for a subscription. But how is it that brochures are so effective?

Informative

Brochures are a fantastic way of compiling a lot of key information in a small area. Now brochures of course come in many sizes, from just a handful of pages, right through to hundreds of pages – meaning that whether your business is simple, or something quite complex – a brochure can give you as much, or as little space for information as you need.

Easy to Distribute

It goes without saying that brochures are easy to distribute. They can easily be posted out to prospective clients for minimal postage, passed out to delegates at a conference or even displayed on a table for people who visit the office to review and take away with them.

Builds Trust

Brochures are a great way to build trust with your target audience. Not only do brochures clearly detail your product or service, but they’re the perfect opportunity to share more information about your company. Many companies opt to include their objectives and goals, and this is a great way to build trust. When clients can easily learn more about your company, they know that they can trust your business.

Cost-Effective

The cost of a brochure can vary, depending on a number of variables, such as; what paper weight is used, the number of copies required, etc. But generally speaking, brochures are very cost-effective and one of the more affordable methods of print advertising.

Leaves a Lasting Impression

Brochures are of course a fantastic way to leave a lasting impression on a potential client or customer. This can be especially helpful with any clients who may not be quite at the ‘buying’ stage yet. It gives them the information they need to make the purchasing decision but also serves as a handy reminder that your business can give them what they need.

Brochure Design

When working with us, we start by outlining your goals and brainstorming ideas and concepts, before we put pen to paper. We then start with sketches, using pencil and paper and don’t move to digital design until later in the process.

Our motto is that ‘the pen is mightier than the mac’, so our solutions are sketched and refined with your input first, allowing us to explore possibilities and finalise solutions much faster. This means that we won’t eat into your budget by testing ideas and shapes on the computer.

Only then do we diligently and accurately design everything onto beautiful on-screen visuals. Our design team use the latest technology and software, including the entire adobe suite, to create high-quality brochures for your business.

Size, Shape and Contents

Within reason, we can create a brochure of virtually any size or shape, to make it as impactful and visually appealing as possible.

Before we start any concept work, we ask the client to provide us with the following;

• Goal of Brochure
• Colour scheme
• Content ideas
• Photographs
• Brand Guidelines

We make sure to take the time to really understand your industry and your area of the market. A brochure becomes a physical connection between you and your client, so we make sure that you become eye-catching and memorable.

A great brochure will include just the right amount of information, not too little and not too much… You want the reader to be engaged, to hold their interest. The brochure should educate the reader without overwhelming them with more information than they need.

Whether you need a prospectus, a report, or a sales brochure – we aim to make it attractive and valuable for your target audience. We’ll help you to create a beautiful brochure that will impress your customers or prospects and leave a lasting impression.

Looking for Design Support?

If you would like to learn more about working with PHd Design for your next design project, then please feel free to get in touch with our team.

When discussing a new piece of work with a client, we’re often given a vague direction of colour for the project. Something along the lines of; ‘Can we make it red and black?’. Now this is always a helpful start, but selecting a colour is not quite so simple…

Each colour has a significant number of shades to choose from. Let’s look at red as an example, there are currently over 130 standardised shades.

So as you might expect, the first step is to drill down to a more specific shade. Let’s go with a medium dark shade of pink-red, or as we like to call it ‘PHd Design red’…. But it can be difficult for even those collaborators who are very comfortable with the colour spectrum, such as printers to understand exactly which shade we mean when we say a medium dark shade of pink-red. This is where colour models come into play.

What is a Colour Model?

In it’s simplest form, a colour model is a system used to describe a colour, so that it is consistent across all devices and materials. This standardisation of colour, means that you can be confident that everyone involved is working to the exact same shades of colour required for your project.

Believe it or not, there is more than one standardisation model. The 3 most commonly used colour models are: CMYK, RGB and Pantone. On the surface, it may seem counterintuitive to have multiple systems for standardisation. But each model has its own individual strengths and weaknesses.

So let’s look deeper into the most popular models…

CMYK

CMYK is an abbreviation of the main colour components, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key. To make this a bit simpler, the colours can be thought of as; blue, red, yellow and black. However, this method is sometimes referred to as ‘four colour’.

Now that we have the basics, let’s move on to ‘halftone’. CMYK printing uses halftone, where tiny dots of each colour component is printed in a pattern that we perceive as a solid block of colour. This makes CMYK a subtractive colour model, which means that when the colours overlap, the light wavelengths are absorbed, so we see the remaining wavelengths that weren’t absorbed. It often helps to think of it being similar to mixing paint to get the right shade. But in design work, instead of mixing paint by hand we use digital tools to assign a value to each of the four colour components to select the desired shade with precision. Interestingly though, if you get close enough (depending on the project you might need a magnifying glass), the image will appear pixelated, as you perceive the individual dots.

However, colour consistency can be an issue with CMYK printing, as the CMYK value may look different depending on variables in production.

Yep, we know it’s complicated…

RGB

Next on our list we have RGB, which stands for Red, Green, and Blue.

RGB is used for electronic and digital colouring, so you will likely have seen it in use on digital cameras, TV, and HTML.

Unlike CMYK, RGB is an additive colour model, which means that instead of layering colour to block light, it instead adds the light wavelengths together in order to produce new colours.

The main drawback of RGB is that it is a device-dependent colour. For instance, if you adjusted the presets on your TV for a ‘warmer’ picture, or adjusted the brightness and contrast on your computer monitor, then those specific colours you had so carefully selected, would look a little different depending on which device you viewed it through.

Pantone

The Pantone Matching System, commonly referred to as ‘Pantone’ has become the standard in colour matching and standardisation.

This system starts with a CMYK code, and then converts this into a ‘spot colour’. This spot colour then prints as a solid colour, rather than the CMYK halftone dot colours. But the Pantone system has a wider range of colours than the CMYK system and can even produce metallic and fluorescent colours.

But, as you might have guessed, this method is still open to ‘misinterpretation’, as colours can look different on different devices, and different again when compared with the final print. This concern was resolved by Pantone as they produced a range of physical swatches in both coated and uncoated formats. This allows designers and clients to not only see the actual colour, but to see how the printed colour would look depending on whether coated or uncoated paper was used for the final print.

When it comes to printing, it’s well known that Pantone will always produce consistent and sharp colours, but there is a downside… Each colour requires its own ink and screen, so can become quite expensive depending on the project.

So, Which Colour Mode is Best?

Most designers prefer to work in Pantone and will then find the closest match in another mode should the project be better suited to that mode.

But generally speaking, CMYK is best for printing at home, where budget is a concern and collateral prints. RGB is best for digital projects. And Pantone is best for colour accuracy, textile or product manufacturing and screen printing.

If you need support on a design or print project, we might be the perfect graphic design agency to help. Get in touch with our team today, by emailing info@phddesign.co.uk or call 01543 473 191.