DWC Work: Good Infographics

It's Monday + back to work! Here's another long over due post for "Monday Means Business". This is going to be a short little informative post since I have tons of work to do today and one project that I am working on as we speak is a pretty complex infographic timeline for my client, Redbox. I'll share the timeline once it's complete and live. However, there is one illustrative chart design for Redbox that is currently running on their website called Share Your Love that anyone can participate in. Participants have a chance of winning a Sony Home Theater Package! Visit Redbox.com to learn more.

In this promotion, I created a simple 1-2-3 step by step process in what a participant has to do to enter the contest. It was a fun, simple project, and I like the fact I could explore my illustrative skills in Adobe Illustrator. I love the personality that I was able to give the female character without defining a lot of the details on the face and body.

Share Your Love – Infographic

[Infographic Illustration ©2011 Design With Chon]

And now back to today's topic — Good Infographics. In case you're not sure what an infographic is, here it is as defined by Wikipedia. "Information graphics or infographics are graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge."

Today, I want to expand on the great possibilities with infographics especially for businesses or nonprofits that need help explaining a complex service or point of view. Visual icons like the samples shown below say a lot with very few words, and the average viewer is visually able to understand your point. Like they say, "A picture is worth a thousand words". And when you use these infographics in your printed brochure or digitally in combination with animation on your website, it will keep your audience's attention longer, and they will be more intrigued to learn more about your company's purpose.

All of the infographic charts shown below are from the GOOD website, and they are only a highlight. Do explore the site and see the endless possibilities in telling a story through visual icons. The work shown on their site are really well thought out, and they are sure to be some of the best infographics out there. I visit their site periodically to gain inspiration on how to push the envelope in graphic structure + layout.

 How Does Lack of Water Affect Women & Children?

Renewable Energy Sources

 In Schools We Trust?

One last point, infographics can be simple or complex as the one's featured, but they need to make some sort of logical sense if you are going to request a designer to customize one for your business. Infographics aren't a quick to turnaround project; they do take time, and visually everything needs to work together. Like any design project, it's a balancing act of visuals and type, and it needs to be clearly structured to the viewer to absorb the information at hand.

If used smartly for a corporate company like a law or tax firm's website that lack good photos or visual content, an animated infographic would be a good way to spice it up and explain some insightful point of view/knowledge to your potential new clients. Your website will surely not be forgetful compared to your competitors humdrum sites.

Outbreak – Deadliest Pandemics in History

[Images via www.good.is]

DWC Work: Stephanie + Justin Wedding Invite

Newest client wedding invitation was printed + delivered to the client! To see the original "Enchanted November" moodboard + read the back story for this wedding invitation set, click here.

It's hard to tell the pearlescent nature of the paper in the photos, but you can see the subtle sheen and the shimmer in some of the close-ups. The contrast of the deep red + brown gradients with the shimmery champagne hue is just lovely.

One-Folded, 5 x7 Card – Front + Back

For those who are interested in the production process, here are the technical specs for this job. The one-folded, 5 x7 invitation and the self mailer response card were printed 4-Color, Digital on Citi Paper USA, Autumn Hay, 98C weight paper. The adhesive label was also 4-Color, Digital, but printed on standard adhesive paper that wasn't iridescent for cost efficiency. No printing on the chocolate A7 envelope as per the original design; client opted for addressed labels where she could get custom calligraphy done in chocolate ink. Also, I provided the client with the "H" monogram art file so she could get custom matching stamps.

"Enchanted November" Wedding Invitation Set

One-Folded, 5 x7 Card Interior + Response Card

Self-Mailer Response Card – Front + Back

Adhesive Label on A7 Envelope – Front + Back

[Monogram + Wedding Invitation Set ©2011 Design With Chon]

Next design phase for Stephanie + Justin is to develop the rest of their event day day collateral (wedding program, escort cards and menu) so it coordinates with the established theme and colors. We will be printing on the same iridescent paper stock, too. Stay tuned!

DWC Work: Halloween 1st Birthday Invitation

It's Thursday, and usually the focus is on Interiors, but my basement renovations is on hold until the wallpaper arrives. So in the meantime, I thought I would share some invitation projects that have been completed and printed. This is a short + sweet post for a 1st birthday invitation that I recently designed for a client friend. I essentially had free reign to do what ever I wanted as long as it embraced Halloween and still catered to little kids. This is isn't the normal parameter for most design projects that I receive from clients, and when I do get an opportunity like this, I really look forward to designing it.

This 1st birthday invitation is for a boy so it required masculine colors which worked well with the Halloween theme. Being a themed invite, I didn't want to go overboard with it being gruesome/scary and wanted a "cuteness" factor, because this is a party geared towards little kiddies ranging in ages from 1 to 5 yrs old. And the perfect visual solution that also happens to be on trend with the season are owls. In interior retail stores like West Elm, I see owl designs all over. However for this invite design, I made the owl a baby with big, white googly eyes on an overly rounded body.

In the background, I created a custom pattern with different sized googly eyes repeated, and layered it on a textural, brushed background to add another visual layer of interest. Isn't this baby owl so adorable!? I just want to pinch his cheeks. :)

[Illustration + Invitation ©2011Design With Chon]

The Halloween owl theme doesn't just stop at the invite. I love connecting the invite theme to the actual party event, too. In addition to the invitation, I provided the client with some creative insight on how to bring the owl theme to life. I found some great dessert ideas that I thought the kids would love. Check out the adorable + delish owl cupcake below. Also, I thought it would be fun to include candy bowls of eyeballs lying around. Obviously, these would be chocolate covered candies covered in a decorative eyeball foil. There are tons ideas out there, you just have to do a little research on how to be creative.

Any questions on custom invitation work or need help with ideas for your party, just inquire at designwithchon[at]gmail.com. Thanks for visiting + Happy Halloween even though its a bit early!