Then, they needed a website but didn’t have time (with all the other tasks there are in opening a business) to really think through the content. So we designed a quick website (olivemyheart.com) with the basic information so the buzz could start building (they’ve already been written up in one local paper!). Once the store has opened and the dust has settled a bit, we can add pages onto the site so they can share even more information. In the meanwhile, we provided graphics for their Facebook page — so check them out! They will open later this Spring.

You’ve heard us talk about our client Backcountry Pictures and their fantastic, thought-provoking new film “California Forever” (coming to PBS this Fall!). We’ve done the film website as well as the title card graphics, and now we’ve done the DVD packaging for the film as well.

We really love working on meaningful projects, and this project is certainly one of them. It’s the story of California State Parks–their history and their future. With so many budget cuts resulting in park closures and the future of the state parks in jeopardy, it’s important to realize why they were created in the first place, and what we may lose. Whether you live in California or somewhere else, this film is not only enjoyable but important. Watch cal4ever.com for a screening near you, and don’t forget to watch it on PBS this Fall!

It’s no secret how much we love our Over-the-Rhine community, so when the OTR Flags project came about, we were happy to help. Our neighbor, Angela Morrow, is one of the creative geniuses behind OTR Flags, which is a silk flag installation created by members of the community that will grace the renovated Washington Park when it reopens this summer. They had (and were utilizing well) Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and Eventbrite…but they really needed the flexibility of a good old-fashioned website. They really wanted to highlight their generous sponsors, and none of those methods were doing the job the way they wanted to. Since the sponsors are such an important part of this project, we decided to highlight them by level of donation on the home page slider, as well as dedicating a page to them (with links back to their websites). We were lucky to work with great art and colorful photos, so we think it came out nicely. See it at otrflags.com!

In addition to our fine art (located at krandallwilcox.com), we are developing a line of merchandise that is primarily Over-the-Rhine themed. Our first items are greeting cards that are perfect for the holidays, with images we shot last year during our first major snow here in Cincinnati. They are from the viewpoint of our front door on Main Street,  one looking north towards Orchard and Liberty Streets, and one looking south towards 14th Street. We also have an image of berries from a tree on the corner of Main and Orchard.

We have 8.5 x 5.5 glossy cards for $4 each (available at Art Beyond Boundaries), and 5×7 matte cards for $3.50 each or mixed 8-packs for $21 (available at Park+Vine). If you aren’t in the Cincinnati area, you can purchase online or just contact us!

You can like them on Facebook here. We’ll post a demo for their mobile app, as well as their presentation, SOON!

We talk with so many small businesses who either tell us they don’t need any help with their brand messaging (the “I’m just going to do it myself” crowd), or that they don’t think it’s important (the “I just need a logo, I don’t need to get all fancy” group). But here’s the thing, folks: it IS important! It’s like a facial tattoo for your business, and since everyone is going to see it and make a judgement about your business when they do, you ought to put some thought, time, energy and money into creating it. Most of us spend a little more when we expect to have something last a long time (a wedding ring, furniture, a kitchen remodel) — so if you expect your company or product to last a long time, why not invest in quality design for your logo?

When we create logos, we do extensive work with the client to determine who they are as a company, and what they are trying to represent. We talk about target audience and future goals of your company, as well as your current and future marketing needs. We understand font and color and because we’ve been doing this for a while, we will probably ask you some questions that you haven’t yet considered. And I  guarantee you, those online “get your logo for under $300 in a week” places aren’t doing all that. They also don’t view themselves as part of your team, like we do.

Look, we love small businesses (we are one as well), and we understand the economic limitations. But if you amortize the cost of using professional design for your logo (and other marketing materials) over the life of your business, it’s like any other start-up cost. Over five years it would cost less per month than your cell phone bill!

Once a great logo is established, we can use it for your website, your brochures, business cards and any other materials you have. We also provide a style sheet, so you can see the fonts and colors you need to use to stay true to your brand in the future. All this helps give clear, consistent messaging for your brand, which makes your customers feel more secure with your product. And if they feel comfortable, they will keep coming back.

Good visual branding really does make a difference, and it is worth the investment. We’d love to be a part of your team!

Soon after we arrived here in Cincinnati, we started reading Soapbox Cincinnati, an online magazine that covers everything that is Cincinnati. We have learned so much about our town through it, and now we are a featured story! We feel like, though we didn’t go to high school here, we have still been embraced by our community–and we are thrilled. Read the article here!

We are almost finished with our 8-week SpringBoard Cincinnati course, which is part of ArtWorks. What a great experience! The class is geared towards business start-ups and though we’ve been in business for 10 years, we felt like a start-up after relocating to Cincinnati from Los Angeles. SpringBoard came at the perfect time, taking us back to basics by helping us rework our mission statement and business plan for our new environment.

We were also thrilled to meet local business resources like realtors and lawyers, as well as like-minded artisans who are passionate about their work and our neighborhood of Over-the-Rhine. In fact, being in the same room with folks like Olive Branch Metals, VisuaLingual, Such&Such and DixonBranded from Losantiville, MamLuft & Co. Dance, Susie Brand Designs, Audreyesque (and a couple others whom you haven’t heard of–yet) led us to realize how passionate we are about working with local artisans. In turn, this helped us redefine our mission as a company: to strengthen communities by equipping local businesses with the visual tools to succeed.

I highly recommend this program to new businesses, as well as existing businesses who want to strengthen their foundation or re-evaluate their current direction.