Providing Visual Value to Your Organization

"My staff are already overloaded with their day-to-day work schedule. They often don't have the time to spend to properly research a product before developing its logo. Logo concepts should be well thought out, not rushed. We deserve better and so do our end users."--AGP Client

Your logo is the core of your organization or product's brand identity. It's important that it positively reflects the visual value of your organization as a whole or at a product level.

Before you get started on a new logo, whether it is created internally or outsourced, sit down and brain storm a list of consumer benefits of the product or organization along with two to three key feelings you want people to take away when they see it.

Your next step is to select a name using the benefit information from your brainstorming session. The product or organization name you select should not only reflect the benefits of your product, but it should also properly distinguish you from your competition, a fact often overlooked by many small to mid-size businesses.

Next, you want to set the mood or tone by selecting the proper use of color, font, placement and images for the design. Think about what feelings you want to convey. For example, did you want to create a mood of excitement for a new cutting edge product you have? If so, you may use bright colors, heavy contrast and sharp edges. On the contrary, if you want people walking away with a more relaxed feeling you could use neutral/pastel tones with little contrast and rounded edges. There are literally hundreds of variables to consider when creating a logo, so it's important that you use someone who knows effective design.

If it's time to create a new logo or breathe life into an existing logo, contact Avant Garde today!
Steps at a Glance

1. Brainstorm product/organization benefits and key take-away emotions
2. Select a name that properly reflects the benefits of your product/organization
3. Choose a color, font, image, and placement that reflects the tone of your product/organization

Copyright 2006 Avant Garde Productions. Questions or comments? Contact us today.

Hot Colors for 2007

Since colors can change their meaning and are essential in setting the tone of your message, it's important you are up-to-date on the hot colors and their definitions so you can effectively communicate your marketing message.

Colors can change their meaning depending on what's going on socially, what fashion is hot "right now," what the Desperate Housewives are wearing on television this week, or even the color trends car manufacturers dream up. For example, what comes to mind when you think of pink? Women's breast cancer, right? Or ever notice how one year it's all bold primary colors such as reds, blues, and yellows, and then the next year it's pastels. Just pick up a magazine or watch a little television and you'll see the media is often a trendsetter when it comes to deciding annual color palettes.


There are traditionally three colors that never change: black, white and metallics. Black is sophisticated and upscale, and according to Pantone, it's statistically shown that people will pay more money for packaging in black. White indicates purity and cleanliness while metallics attract the human eye because they mimic movement.

According to Pantone, red hot for 2007 are the brown, beige, and natural colors. The hot new green is emerald, representing preservation and ecology. Orange is back and no longer cheap, while pink is turning from innocent to serious. Other popular colors include yellow green, yellow, and peach. Use the chart below to be sure you are sending the right message to your clients and customers.

Now you're ready to get started on your color palettes for 2007. If you need any help with your hot designs for 2007, contact Avant Garde Productions today!

*It's noteworthy, that when using yellow text, outline it in black to improve your readability. However be careful, too much black with yellow means caution.

Copyright2006 Avant Garde Productions. Questions or comments? Contact us today.