Author: jili

Opinion: Specialist Design

Posted on September 21, 2023 by - blog

My instant thought was yes, as this is advice that I would give to my clients without blinking – to focus on their USP and what they love to do, and the rest will follow. However, talking to myself now, I can understand that this may be a difficult decision to make. 

Having originally qualified (with a first class honours no less – cue trumpet blowing) in Consumer Product Design, my specialisms were in product and fashion. However, as my career and business has evolved, the skill of being able to sit myself in a consumer, client or colleagues shoes and to be able to look at any design project from all perspectives (as we are taught to do in product design) has far reaching advantages for all aspects of design. I have also found that the great richness and complete and utter diversity of my clients; from a pioneering engineering firm, to a self-employed celebrant; keeps me vibrant and excited about what I do.

Could this excitement be distilled into one category? Would I get the same joy from designing a website for an internationally established drinks brand, while also working on a care home brand? Monday, designing pumpkin picking illustrations, and Tuesday, a brochure on decking? I’m not sure.

How narrow to our specialisms need to lie to be effective? Is graphic design too broad a stroke?

We all know the great adage of Jack of all trades, Master of none, but within a trade there are so many facets, where do the boundaries lie? Matt Wheeler of Madeby.studio claims “if you’re speaking to everyone, you’re speaking to no one,” which is certainly true when it comes to brand design. You focus on your ideal client base, and be inoffensive to the rest and you’re on to a winner.

Would you prefer a ‘generalist’ or ‘specialist’ design studio to handle your project? There’s no denying a specialism makes you stand out.

This has genuinely made me think.

Perhaps I need to talk to myself a little more often…

For the moment, however, for any and all graphic design, we’re here for you. Contact us at Jili Allen Creative before we close the open door and pop a bouncer on there with a list.

Read the full article here: Sector specialisms: are the risks worth the rewards?

Design vs. Creativity

Posted on August 29, 2023 by - blog

The word ‘design’ has evolved and I would argue that it has been somewhat diluted from its original form. Design and creativity have always been assumed to be synonymous with each other, with the assumption that all design encompasses creativity.

Design and creativity are closely related but distinct concepts.

There are web ‘designers’ everywhere, who in reality are web ‘makers’ or web ‘builders’. Many Graphic Designers are in fact more ‘artworkers’, either adapting existing templates or putting a given idea into practice. This does not make either of these roles any less valid, but this is where Creative Design stands apart.

Creativity refers to the ability to generate new and original ideas, concepts, or solutions. It involves thinking outside the box, making connections between seemingly unrelated things, and approaching problems from different perspectives.This fundamental human trait exists in numerous areas including art, science, technology and everyday life, and within each domain, it involves idea generation with the ultimate goal of creating something unique.
 

Design, on the other hand, is the process of intentionally creating and shaping something with a specific purpose or goal in mind. It involves applying creative thinking and problem-solving skills to develop solutions that are functional, aesthetically pleasing, and meet the needs of users or clients. Design is often guided by principles, constraints, and objectives, and it requires a systematic approach to transform creative ideas into tangible outcomes.

While creativity is the foundation for design, design develops the practicality of creativity by incorporating additional elements such as functionality, usability, feasibility, and context. Designers use their creative abilities to come up with innovative ideas, but they also consider practical considerations, user needs, market trends, and technical constraints to create effective and meaningful solutions.

So, creativity is the ability to generate new ideas, while design is the intentional process of applying creativity to create purposeful and functional outcomes. Design harnesses creativity to solve problems, meet objectives, and create value.

Now…imagine you had someone at your fingertips that could do both?

A Creative Designer. Someone that could imagine a concept, and action it into reality.

Well, here we are! Contact us at Jili Allen Creative.

—

Pictured: Conceptual research for seating design from my days as a student in Paris

The font of all knowledge

Posted on August 4, 2023 by - blog

I’m a self-confessed fonts geek and own more books on font and typeface than is strictly appropriate, so this is something I really am passionate about.

Sarah Hyndman, (another wonderful font aficionado) is also known as Type Tasting https://www.typetasting.com and is a great advocate for the power of font. As a self-professed fonts geek, I have always found this to be the starting point in any branding process. Different fonts say, or indeed ‘taste’, different to your audience. This works on the subliminal layering of graphic meaning, which is a topic for a later discussion, but what you need to know now is why it’s important.

Let’s start with the basics:

  • Consistency. Consistency is key when it comes to branding. You want your brand to be easily recognisable, and one way to achieve this is by using the same font across all of your marketing materials. This includes your website, social media profiles, business cards, and any other promotional materials. By using the same font, you create a cohesive look that helps to reinforce your brand identity.
  • Legibility. Your font choice can also impact the legibility of your marketing materials. If your font is too small or difficult to read, potential customers may not bother trying to decipher it. This can lead to missed opportunities and lost sales. Choosing a font that is easy to read ensures that your message is clear and accessible to everyone.
  • Personality. Now we’re talking. Your font choice can help to convey the personality of your brand. Different fonts have different connotations, and choosing the right one can help to communicate your brand’s values and tone. For example, a bold, sans-serif font may be more appropriate for a modern, edgy brand, while a classic serif font may be better suited for a more traditional, established brand.
  • Differentiation. Finally, choosing the right font can help to differentiate your brand from your competitors. By selecting a unique font that stands out, you can create a memorable brand identity that sets you apart from others in your industry. This can help to attract new customers and build brand loyalty over time.

Choosing the right font is an important aspect of branding that should not be overlooked. By selecting a font that is consistent, legible, reflective of your brand’s personality, and unique, you can create a strong brand identity that resonates with your target audience.

So, take the time to choose the right font for your business – it’s an investment that will pay off in the long run. Subtle differences in font, may have larger consequences in the communal physche.

Do you need to add consistency to your brand or review the strength of your typeface choices? Whether it’s consultation or actively creating brand guidelines, we can help. Contact us at Jili Allen Creative.

Design Education: what’s your take?

Posted on July 25, 2023 by - blog

I was shocked to read an article in Design Week re: redundancies of part time staff members at the Royal College of Art, in favour of full time lecturers. As a design student, I found the tutors that were within industry, and shared their time between professional practice and lecturing, the most effective tutors.

People with real industry experience, in an industry that doesn’t stand still, are a highly valuable resource. “..the restructure: “effectively jettisons the crucial role of practitioner-lecturer at the RCA, which is also a core principle of art and design education.”

For those interested in the field of design, pursuing a degree at a university used to provide numerous advantages and open doors to exciting career opportunities, but with this new take on design education, are there any advantages to looking at a university degree vs. an apprenticeship? I can only see three advantages left, but let’s explore them anyway…

  • The ability to stretch your wings early as a designer. The world is your oyster like never before. Universities offer a structured program that covers various aspects of design, including graphic design, industrial design, interior design, fashion design, and more. This diverse range of courses allows students to explore different areas of design and discover their true passion. It also forces you to develop creativity within constraint, but equally explore anything in the design sphere that you really want to do. A luxury that few have time for once the working week beckons.
  • Access to State-of-the-Art Facilities. Design is a hands-on field that requires practical skills and experience. Universities typically provide access to state-of-the-art facilities, including design studios, computer labs, and workshops equipped with the latest technology and tools. This access allows students to experiment, refine their skills, and bring their creative ideas to life. You may be able to use equipment apprentice designers could only dream of.
  • Portfolio Development. A strong portfolio is crucial for designers to showcase their skills and attract potential employers. University design programs emphasise portfolio development, allowing students to compile a collection of their best work throughout their studies. Faculty members provide feedback and guidance to help students refine their portfolios, ensuring they are well-prepared to enter the job market. However, there are numerous social resources available to have peer-to-peer feedback and also have people in the industry themselves helping you out in real time.

Some of the most important aspects from when I was at university; expert staff with real jobs in our industry, industry connections, networking and collaborative opportunities are clearly taking a backseat. These do not prepare the student for ‘real world’ design.  University education seems to be a different beast to what it was and moves like this surely just widen the gap between further education and the working world.

As someone that was looking to complete a research masters in design and go in to teaching alongside my design career (to ultimately better serve my students) I find this a worrying turn of events.

What are your thoughts? Contact us at Jili Allen Creative.

Launch of the Ullswater Virtual Gallery

Posted on July 19, 2023 by - blog

We have worked with the Ullwater Heritage team since they built and launched their own highly informative website, a living database of the landscape, people, places and more in and around this magnificent lake.

The Virtual Art Gallery brings together over 40 works of art from the 1700s to the present day. It provides a unique insight into an evolving landscape of people and place.

You can experience the virtual art gallery in three different ways:

  • SCAN THE QR CODES along the Ullswater Way to see the artwork inspired by your location and learn about the artists.
  • BROWSE THE VIRTUAL ART GALLERY on the ullswaterheritage.org website.
  • TAKE AN AERIAL TOUR and explore the landscape from above with all the Virtual Art Gallery locations highlighted.

An incredible resource where you can find the sites that inspired the artists, see the landscape through their eyes, step back in time to imagine life in the past, and explore how the landscape has evolved. 

Visit ullswaterheritage.org for more information.

Do you have a project in mind? Contact us at Jili Allen Creative.

Rebranding done right.

Posted on July 7, 2023 by - blog

This brand refresh was handled particularly well. If you’re thinking of rebranding, here are ten steps to follow before, during and after. Launching a rebrand requires careful planning and execution to ensure its success. Here are ten steps to follow when launching a rebrand:

  • Define your goals: Clearly articulate the reasons behind the rebrand and what you hope to achieve. This could include attracting or refocussing on a slightly different target audience, refreshing your brand image or offering, or aligning with a new strategic direction. Businesses evolve, and so should your branding!
  • Conduct market research: Understand your target audience, competitors, and industry trends. This will help you make informed decisions about your rebrand and ensure it resonates with your intended audience. A good brand designer will also do this for you.
  • Develop a brand strategy: Create a comprehensive brand strategy that outlines your brand positioning, messaging, visual identity, and brand personality. This will serve as a roadmap for your rebrand and guide all future brand-related decisions. While this is more a marketeers remit, we can partner with Marketing and/or help you pick the right person.
  • Involve stakeholders: Engage key stakeholders, such as employees, customers, and partners, in the rebranding process. Seek their input, address their concerns, and ensure they understand and support the rebrand. While this can at times feel ‘too many cooks’, getting people involved at the start can shape a brand into something that works for everyone, and ensure the transition is smoother.
  • Create a compelling brand story: Craft a narrative that communicates the essence of your rebrand. This story should explain why the rebrand is happening, what it means for your audience, and how it aligns with your brand's values and mission. (This step sits hand in hand with the previous step)
  • Develop new brand assets: Enter Jili Allen Creative stage left! We will design new logos, visual elements, and brand collateral that reflect your rebrand. We will also ensure consistency across all touchpoints, including your website, social media profiles, packaging, and marketing materials, so don’t forget these aspects when you’re budgeting.
  • Plan a launch event or campaign: Create a launch plan that includes a timeline, key milestones, and promotional activities. Consider hosting a launch event, organising a social media campaign, or partnering with influencers to generate buzz around your rebrand.
  • Communicate with your audience: Develop a comprehensive communication plan to inform your audience about the rebrand. This may include press releases, email newsletters, social media announcements, and website updates. Be transparent, address any concerns, and emphasize the benefits of the rebrand for your audience.
  • Train employees: Educate your employees about the rebrand and provide them with the necessary tools and resources to represent the new brand effectively. Ensure they understand the messaging, visual identity, and brand values to maintain consistency across all customer touchpoints.
  • Monitor and evaluate: Continuously monitor the impact of your rebrand through metrics such as customer feedback, sales, and brand perception. Make adjustments as needed and learn from the process to improve future branding efforts.

Remember, a successful rebrand requires careful planning, effective communication, and a deep understanding of your target audience, but most of all, it requires involvement and the ability to see your brand from the outside and adjust accordingly.

Time for a rebrand? Contact us at Jili Allen Creative.

Web hosting + maintenance offer!

Posted on July 4, 2023 by - blog

We already offer fantastic value for our Secure SSL web hosting and maintenance packages, but we’re looking to extend this even further by offering a limited deal to fellow business owners.

50% off your first year of web hosting + maintenance, PLUS a free website review!

What makes our hosting different? Apart from Secure SSL web hosting as standard, we are at the end of the phone, or a mere email inbox away if and when you need us. That’s right, actual humans, helping other humans navigate the wonderful world of web hosting. What’s more we’ll throw in a free website review to set you off on the right foot.

Based in Cumbria, we offer our hosting nationwide and have been quietly doing this for years. Now is the time to come into the sunlight and help our fellow independent businesses weather this unseasonal storm.

If you’d like to take advantage of this offer, visit www.jiliallen.com/hosting for more information, or email digital@jiliallen.co.uk to get yourself started.

Are you one of our wonderful existing hosting clients? Take advantage of our refer a friend offer. If you refer a friend that takes up our hosting and maintenance offer, we’ll give you the following year at half the price!

The importance of secure web hosting

Posted on June 29, 2023 by - blog

  • Protects sensitive data: Secure web hosting protects sensitive data such as customer information, financial data, and personal information. This is especially important for businesses that collect and store sensitive data. Secure web hosting ensures that this data is protected from hackers and cybercriminals. Not only this, but even if you do not collect data on your site, there is a trust being built.
  • Prevents downtime: Secure web hosting helps to prevent downtime, which can be costly for businesses. Downtime can occur due to security breaches, server crashes, or other technical issues. Secure web hosting ensures that a website is always up and running, which is essential for businesses that rely on their website for sales and customer engagement. That cheap hosting? The reason it's cheap is because it has thousands of websites on one server, and if one of them goes down? A digital pandemic begins...
  • Improves website speed: Secure web hosting can improve website speed, which is important for user experience and search engine optimisation. A slow website can lead to a poor user experience and lower search engine rankings. Secure web hosting ensures that a website loads quickly, which can improve user engagement and search engine rankings.
  • Builds trust with customers: Secure web hosting builds trust with customers. Customers are more likely to trust a business that takes security seriously and acknowledges and protects their data. Secure web hosting can help to build a strong reputation and increase customer loyalty. 'Not secure' on the other hand is an instant no-go...
  • Compliance with regulations: Secure web hosting ensures compliance with regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS. These regulations require businesses to protect sensitive data and ensure that it is stored securely. Secure web hosting can help businesses to comply with these regulations and avoid costly fines and legal issues.
  • Protects against cyber attacks: Cyber attacks are becoming increasingly common, and websites are a prime target for hackers. A secure web hosting provider will have measures in place to protect your website from cyber attacks, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and malware scanners. This will help to prevent your website from being hacked and yours and your customers' data from being stolen.

By investing in secure web hosting, businesses can protect their reputation, increase customer loyalty, and avoid costly legal issues. If you’re worried about your hosting, or have a question, we can help!

Find out more about our Web Hosting and Maintenance packages, contact us at Jili Allen Creative.

AI: should designers be scared?

Posted on June 21, 2023 by - blog

I believe that creatives should not be scared of AI, but they should be aware of its potential impact on their profession, as we have seen it impact other professions. Take supermarkets, for example, and scanning your own shopping. I am an advocate of always going to the human I have to admit, but by automating certain tasks, the role of the staff member shifts and changes – they are more about customer service and helping us with the damn machines, you can in fact, have more of a conversation and feel better served by your mutual frustration of unknown package in the bagging area than you would from the rush of scanning and asking for your card. So we need to look differently at this. An adaptation rather than an obsolescence; a chance for growth, rather than a closed door.

AI is not capable of replicating the creativity and originality that graphic designers bring to their work. AI can assist with certain tasks, but it cannot replace the unique perspective and artistic vision that human designers bring to their work, as well as their understanding of local subtleties, tones of voice and experience gained nuances.

AI can therefore be a valuable tool for graphic designers, allowing them to work more efficiently and effectively. So, let’s highlight some positive aspects of this somewhat disconcerting development.

  • Automation of repetitive tasks: AI can automate repetitive tasks such as image editing, layout design, and font selection. This can save designers time and allow them to focus on more creative aspects of their work.
  • Improved efficiency: AI can analyse data and provide insights that can inform design decisions, allowing designers to work more efficiently and effectively.
  • Personalisation: AI can be used to create personalised designs based on user data, such as preferences and behaviour. This can lead to more engaging and effective designs.
  • New design possibilities: AI can generate design options based on specific criteria, allowing designers to explore new design possibilities that they may not have considered otherwise.
  • Redefining the role of designers: As AI takes on more tasks traditionally performed by designers, the role of designers may shift towards more strategic and creative work.

Interesting take from Design Week, and Swedish furniture designer Ebba Lindgren, who are encouraging us to invite AI as a member of the team and celebrate its strengths. I also heard earlier this week that quiz questions on BBC Radio 1 were written by AI rather than the production team themselves!? However, I saw this quote on a LinkedIn post and thought it summed up the situation well. “In order to replace creatives with AI, clients will need to accurately describe what they want. We’re safe.” With this in mind, I would like to thank our AI overlords for helping with the content for this blog post. (beat em, join em, etc)

If your brand is looking for the human touch, however, contact us at Jili Allen Creative and let’s discuss face to face, your fabulous design plans and how to conquer the world…

Winners of Web Excellence Award 2023

Posted on May 24, 2023 by - blog

We won the category Website / Environmental Awareness for the Zero Carbon Cumbria website, built and designed on behalf of Cumbria Action for Sustainability, which is something that is very close to our hearts here at Jili Allen Creative. We work with more than one environmental charity to try and encourage and support sustainability and eco-awareness of our actions.

The Award of Excellence is given only to those entrants who are able to represent themselves as the best on the web. The 9th Web Excellence Awards competition set a record by receiving over 1,350 submissions from 29 countries worldwide, including 38 US states and other countries such as Australia, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, India, Turkey, Sweden, the Netherlands, Iran, and more.

The Web Excellence team said “Once again, congratulations; your project is among the best on the web, and this is a tremendous honour!”

Well we can’t ask for more than that!

We built the website with the then Head of Marketing and Communications at Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS), Jaki Bell. The focus was on informing, educating, and involving the people of Cumbria to come together for the shared goal of creating a Carbon Neutral County. The website has been built with accessibility in mind and we followed current accessibility guidelines for alternative text, contrast, and more.

www.zerocarboncumbria.co.uk

Are you looking for an award-winning website? Get in touch and see how we can help.