Madcow Designs - A testimonial

A small sampling of items included in DARIA's mailing

When one of my clients, Daria, was so kind as to send me a testimonial, I was delighted and a little overwhelmed. I mean golly gee whiz:) When someone approaches me for a job, I go at it full force. That is why they come to me isn't it? But to see it in writing, in someone else's words made me realize the experience and knowledge I bring to my clients.


In lieu of that, I wanted to be able to further explain one of the projects that Daria referenced. I thought it would help others in understanding just how I was able to help her and maybe the explanation would in turn help the reader move forward in their next project.


When Daria approached me with her idea of sending presenter packages to potential venues, I was all over it! Daria is an energetic performer whose colorful personality should be reflected in the materials she chooses to represent herself, so I knew this job was going to be a lot of fun.


As with all jobs there was a budget to stay within, but I knew that wouldn't be an issue. By making sure we got off on the right foot and made use of working with collateral she already had, we were well on our way to a very affordable solution to her problem. The widest piece that was being included was her postcard. Basing the rough measurements on this piece, I was able to find a mailer that was small enough to keep shipping costs down but large enough to accommodate her material and provide quite an impact when received.


Knowing that Daria is concerned for the welfare of all living creatures, I researched and compared the costs and types of various materials used in packing and shipping. This way we could implement products that were biodegradable, reusable or recyclable. Some of the materials could easily be used in one of her DIY musical projects!


There were also shipping costs that had to be considered, and this was a two-fold concern. For one, I had to make sure that the most efficient box used to contain the items also complied with shipping regulations. I was also going to be sealing the box with a sticker that was representative of Daria's World Travels. I needed to make sure that doing so didn't interfere with any shipping regulations or result in any returned packages.


Secondly, I had to make sure that the delivery method was affordable, convenient, efficient and trustworthy. Again after researching and comparing various providers, I was able set up a shipping account for her that allowed me to send the requested packages while the provider billed her directly. It also allowed me to set up a notification system so that when the package was delivered to the intended recipient, she was emailed the details. This enabled her to make a timely follow up phone call, thus helping her to establish another point of contact with the client.


As for the content of the packages, Daria knew exactly what she wanted to send and why. After reviewing all the pieces with her, I was able to make suggestions on packing materials that complimented the collateral and didn't overwhelm them. I was also able to suggest additional collateral and ways that all the included pieces would look consistent across the board. Daria in herself is a brand that is being “sold” in these packages and I wanted the recipient to walk away with a clear understanding of who she was and what she was about. We added custom letterhead that would be personalized for each mailing. Sometimes there were specific items added for particular venues and by taking her blank recycled water bottle rattler and adding a label that corresponded with the rest of her material, it helped explained what this water bottle full of spaghetti actually was and what was to be done with it. It helped the receiver understand what Daria's performances were going to entail without ever having heard of her or going online to research her.


From the moment the recipient received this box with its world travel stamp, to opening the box and interacting with all the pieces within, everything they ever needed to know about Daria and how to contact her was there for them. And it had arrived in one convenient package.


Daria and I worked closely together on this project, but when it came down to it, she knew she could trust me to handle whatever she wanted. Daria is an amazing person in her own right and I'm proud to be able to say that she is one of my clients. Working with her is always a treat. The jobs are interesting and I know that she is ready and willing to trust me and my experience. I look forward to many years of my relationship with her and would like to thank her for the wonderful testimonial she penned:


If you are a small business owner – you’ve probably done a lot of adjusting in the past year or so. For me, the changing economy has made me much more frugal in my advertising and marketing budget and I have found myself working more closely with Tracy at Madcow Designs to come up with some, creative ways of reaching my target audience. The results are the good news. I have actually been spending less and getting better results!


For instance, I used to do an annual postcard mailing to between 2,000 and 3,000 potential customers and simply couldn’t afford it this year. So, instead, Tracy and I designed special marketing kits in small boxes that arrived like presents and I got amazing feedback. People stopped, looked, read, listened and ... booked me! We thought outside the box, came up with a creative plan and went for it!


One of the things I like most about Tracy is that she takes a creative idea and makes it better. She adds her own design input or ideas about shipping, handling and tracking. In the end, we come up with a campaign that brings results.


So, if you are considering thinking outside the box, I encourage you to spend a bit of working creatively with Tracy. She can really make a difference in coming up with inventive solutions to help you survive and thrive in these changing economic times.


DARIA
Children’s Musician and Multicultural Performer

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I am the Stig!

I think I may have mentioned before that I am slightly obsessed with cars. Well, vehicles in general. Slap tires and an engine on something and you have my attention. New cars, old cars, slightly used cars all draw my interest. Wash it, shine it, wax it, I’m there. Race it on a circle, in twists and turns or on dirt, I’m there. Put them in a dirt stadium and deliberately crash them into each other and I’m there. In fact not only will I discuss working on them and driving them, but I will also discuss driving regulations and traffic laws.
So at this point you may be thinking that’s great, but what does that have to do with a graphic design blog?
Well, just recently 2 of the biggest new car shows just passed...The Detroit Auto Show and the Geneva Auto Show. And where some of you still may be questioning what this has to do with design, I have a hard time reading the reviews without being inundated with design theories.
Consider this...did GM showcase all their more fuel-consuming models in a slate gray because they wanted the less “green” cars to be unobtrusive? Or does it have to do with the fact that typically the larger models are bought (and thus marketed) to an older, highly professional crowd. Or are they phasing those models out and the newer more advanced cars were in bright attractive colors to distract people from them?
Makes you wonder, especially when typically it is thought a younger crowd goes for brighter colors, but market research has actually shown that to be untrue...at least for cars.
Or how about the new Honda Element that is geared towards the pet lover out there. Did Honda stumble across a market that has previously gone untapped by the auto industry or is it just a ploy to make them look more in-tune with mother nature?
And so as not to bore the pants off my non-gear head followers, consider lastly the Porsche 911. This iconic car hasn’t had a major overhaul in its overall design in years. This car is so recognizable that even non-gear heads can point them out.
Now what does that say about design???
Well, for one, design surrounds us in everyday life. And when it is a good design it makes it’s point without being obtrusive. And two, good design comes from someone who is willing to take the time to do their research and work with the client to determine the best approach to the job ahead. Much like detailing a car, I love being in possession of the right supplies, finding the perfect product that does exactly what I need it too, and then attacking the job head on and working towards the beautiful results.
Ok, so maybe when one starts comparing their job to a car the phrase “slightly obsessed” becomes somewhat of an understatement. But call it what you will, I know one thing is true: I love cars and I love my job!

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