More Design Tips

• • Draw People into Your Story with the Rule of Three
• • Three Steps to Great Design
• • Overcoming Obstacles in Design
• • Try Word Lists for Advertising “Gold”
• • Building the Perfect Letterhead
• • Concept Catalog: Show Your Best Work
• • Attract Magazine Readers with Short-Form Columns
• • Essential Dos and Don’ts for Adding Beauty to Your Page
• • How Geometry Inspires Design
• • Use Color Contrast to Trick the Brain
• • Design that Pops
• • How to Lure in Your Audience with Good Design
• • Boost Your Marketing Prowess with Perfect Postcard Design
• • 5 Ideas to Spark Those Creative Juices
• • 5 Ways to Toot Your Own Horn
• • A Metaphorical Idea
• • 5 Must-Haves in Every Layout
• • Trim the Fat: What Your Logo Doesn't Need
• • Timeboxing: An Outline for More Efficient Design
• • Paragraph Indicators - Make A Dent in Your Universe
• • Designing for Color-Blind Viewers
• • Add Sparkle With the Symbolism Tool
• • Grab Them Right Out of the Gate
• • Depicting Time and Motion with Design
• • Design That's Easy as A-B-C

Concept Catalog: Show Your Best Work

Looking for a way to get your message out clearly and concisely? Many companies use concept catalogs to show the wide range of products and services they offer. By creating a magazine-like catalog, you will look professional and won’t have to cram a lot of information into a small space. You will have the space to display beautiful photos, graphics, illustrations, along with all the text you need.

A concept catalog will provide a great perspective of your business, even if your potential customers haven’t physically been in your building. This catalog spells out what you do, how you do it, and how it benefits your potential clients. It’s better than a brochure because it gives you endless space compared to just a few panels. So, how do you create a concept catalog? Here are a few tips.

Pick a Horizontal or Vertical Layout.

After you’ve chosen your layout, start conceptualizing the catalog, so it reads smoothly and in an organized way. Add a way to find objects quickly and effectively, such as a table of contents or an index.

Capture the Audience’s Attention with Beautiful Photos of Your Work or Products.

Since clients can’t touch the product, using the right images will accomplish this need.

They will see the details and the beauty of what you offer. Be careful to choose the right images that do just that. Be sure to show your product at different angles so clients can have a clear view.

Show Matching or Complementary Products in the Pictures.

This is a great way to upsell more products.

If a customer needs one or your products, show how the other items make their purchase that much better. When you are printing a catalog, you can get away with showing more items per page, but make sure there is some balance.    

Use White Space.

White space can really be any color. It just means you need to have some blank space without text or photos. This will help emphasize the pictures and text that you do use.

Tell Your Story.

Let your words fill in the gaps that the images can’t emphasize. Let customers know what you are selling and how it will benefit them. Not only that but try to include some personality by telling about the creator or designer of your product. This will help build a connection with the reader.

Include a Call to Action.

Make sure you add a call-to-action in your catalog to encourage customers to take the next logical step—to buy. Include your website, email, and other contact information to make it easy for prospective clients to get a hold of you and purchase or even ask questions.

Overall, a concept catalog will help further your reach. It works well for clients to preview what you offer. It creates desire and explains how your product can work for prospective clients. 

101 Design Methods: A Structured Approach for Driving Innovation in Your Organization

by Vijay Kumar

Unlike other books on the subject, 101 Design Methods approaches the practice of creating new products, services, and customer experiences as a science, rather than an art, providing a practical set of collaborative tools and methods for planning and defining successful new offerings. Strategists, managers, designers, and researchers who undertake the challenge of innovation, despite a lack of established procedures and a high risk of failure, will find this an invaluable resource. Novices can learn from it; managers can plan with it; and practitioners of innovation can improve the quality of their work by referring to it.