Promoting Graphic Design

[Cubo Magenta]

Hi!!!
well, so I live in Mexico and have my own GD Business....The thing is...We´ve come across the problem that (hard to know why) most people who own large businesses here don´t really value the power and importance of design, and look at it more as a luxury than an investment..
so...we´ve been playing with an idea in our heads for several months aronund what is the best way to promote the importance of graphic design in the success of a business or organization...I´ll probably tell you all about it when we are more clear on what we want to do....but the question is:
Wich do you tink is the best way to make non-designers undestand the importance and value of design?
Thanx!!

[snugbrimm]

good question.....idk

[anjelik]

well its simple,you see design everyday and everywhere,its very important for the business and marketing,how you want to sell the product,for example?if the consumers,or customers doesnt know about it,never hear or see.
When you see great attractive design,you want that product,basics of business and selling.
i say first look to attractive design or ad is everything

[Chung Dha]

You need to go to the companies and say your design is ugly, it sounds rude but you are telling them the truth. Then you can tell them why its ugly and what kind of beneficial they would get from better designs. Some may kick you out some would sit down and listen further because they also don't like the design. And then you got yourself a costumer and if you do it right he could do automatic mouth to mouth promoting and recommending you to other companies. This is a very basic tactic. This is used by allot of new graphic design companies. Here they aim at small new companies or companies that got ugly designs. New companies often see it too expensive to have good design, they often do it them self and wait till they are much bigger and have more money to do it.

Just email them, if they don't reply the next day it's no problem. Just call them up and say you had emailed them and you want to make an appointment. You should approach companies if they there are non searching for you. If they don't come to you , you should go to them.

[anjelik]

and i forgot,what i can recomend,i was in small businness before,great deal will help presentations , exhibitions-great deal people can see your design,talk with them,explain ideas reasons,and its good to gain new clients

[DreamSky]

Chung Dha, your idea seems good and might work but it also may be considered spam by many; after all this is unsolicited advertising of another design company. The result may be a new customer but it also may be an irritated and offended company (after all you are telling them that their design is ugly ).

Unfortunately, I don't have much better ideas (it is always easier to criticize ). Yet, if you are planning to contact companies, try to find "living" examples in your area of how a new design has changed a company's image, how it has improved their business and selling, how it has conveyed professionalism better, etc. I think this will be really helpful in convincing the companies that a good design is not a luxury but rather a necessity.

[Geko]

Im from mexico too, ill type in english for the others to understand. Yes, the design here is not really valued, companies or business dont know what does it involve, what does it need to be a good design. Im studying marketing and please let me know if u need any help, as i said before, im from Mexico too and i really want to solve this problem. Contact me if u need any help, im from San Luis Potosi, i will be glad of helping you.

[Abyss]

Hehe.. Tell um it'll increase profits by 10% and they'll suddenly take an interest =P

But seriously, it really depends on who runs the company and the people within it to whether they think its necessary to have a good logo and graphics etc etc.

[snowden]

What I've learned in this business, is "Know your Client" I have worked on both sides of the coin and when it comes to design, knowing what the client wants is first and foremost. example: a lot of what I see coming across my desk is financial print materiel, some of it is very high end design, but for the most part its a lot of really bad stuff improperly set up. You approach them with the aspect that not only are you going to make their stuff look great with the message they want to convey but you have the means to do it right. Saving them time and money. Like Abyss said, it depends on the people and the company. so if your design niche leans more towards cooperate or whimsical, I would seek out that "not so good designs" in your field of expertise and with tact make yourself available to these possible clients.

What I've seen with a lot of the logo designs that many team members have submitted on this site is that there's a very diverse group of artist here so I hope to be among them someday, but for now I'm enjoying the seeing all these different designs on display.

[g0ld3n_tig3r]

Hello

One of the problems I have faced is that the client really takes interest in designs which have any stupid shape or icon given a little perspective before the logo. They say they just want such an icon before their logo. Whereas such icons do not deliver any message to the audience.

The second problem : the clients want details, effects, etc which make the logo look miserable. They do not understand the power of simplicity .

On one hand it is said that the client is always correct so do whatever he asks for but on the other hand while making such a logo i feel guilty because those logos are meaningless and worthless

I would appreciate any thoughts, remedies or comments.

[Cubo Magenta]

Thanx evryone! that´s great feedback from everybody...we´ve been tying to look for new strategies to sell good design, and we´ll keep on doing what we all love, which is designing! weve been sending eñmails, calling on teh phone and making appointments... As always, some people respond, and some don´t... I think itñs really important for us designers in mexico to work together rather than competeing against each other (i guess, designers all around the world).
Thanx geko! that´s so nice of you! I´m from Cuernavaca, Just Graduated a year and a half ago, and we´re actually trying to get to know a lot of mexican designers... It´s great to know you´re mexican too and know the situation of design in our country... let´s keep in touch!! we are trying to organize an event for mexican designers where we can discuss all this issues, and brainstorm on what we can do.... we´ve got plenty of ideas, and would love for you guys to comment and pparticipate! we´ll keep you posted on what comes up!

[switch_cs]

Nice thread... Well there's really a lot of factors to consider here... The client might have a low budget, or they are not willing to take the risk to shell out some money for something that they are not sure of... But what we need to tell them is every business needs to advertise. They need to be known. It may not be an expensive one but you see, even the smallest store needs a tarpaulin display just to let every passerby know what their services are... As a designer we need to make they're brochure, logos effective. We need to improve their past designs or even revamp them.. Just my two cents worth...