Designed by Row » Blog

Logo Part II: The Accessories

rowforbes — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 13:19:08 +0000

Remember the little black dress from Logo Part I? If a logo is your business’ wardrobe, then color, shading and gradients are your accessories. They should be secondary to the actual form and function of the logo.

In the excitement of creating a new image, the embellishments can get out of control. Flash, glitz and color does not necessarily mean a better, more visible brand. In fact, too much bling can detract from the overall effectiveness of a logo; making it too busy and hard for the mind to make sense of in that first split-second glance.

A logo should be developed to move across a multitude of media, from web to print. It should work anytime of year and be easily implemented in every sales or marketing tool. Combining your little black dress with the proper accessories will give your business the perfect ensemble. Your brand will be true to you, your company and your mission.

Logo Part I: The Little Black Dress

rowforbes — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 14:26:43 +0000

A logo must represent you, your company, your beliefs and your product or service accurately, and preferably for the long term. Think about your brand, and namely your logo, as the clothes your business wears. It is one of the first things that potential clients will notice. Okay, this may resonate with the women more than the men, so bare with me.

Let’s take a quick trip down memory lane. Think back to your high school years. What was the going trend? Was it the tall, hair-sprayed bangs, layered socks, rolled up jeans and psychedelic eye shadow? Or maybe cat-eye glasses, beehive hairdo or bushy sideburns? Is that a look you want today? Probably not. It was a fad and, thankfully, it passed.

A business or brand image needs to be a classic, a little black dress for your company. It should be simple in design, flexible in its application and looks good no matter what other fads are going on at the time.

A New Sign for DbR

rowforbes — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 14:23:25 +0000

Instant Gratification is Overrated

rowforbes — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 18:58:47 +0000

We live in an everything-all-the-time-now-now-now society. From PPV and instant downloads to microwave meals and drive through restaurants to email, Twitter, Facebook and the web, we have the world, in a box, at our fingertips. Our children have been born into this culture. As adults we have grown up with the changes and adapted to the speed of now. But at what cost?

The instant high of a quick return is fantastic and makes you crave more. So you start cutting corners, making short-sighted decisions and forgetting about the long term.

Steven Pressfield, author of Gates of Fire and The War of Art, writes “the antidote to these scattering influences is tough-mindedness.” He defines tough-mindedness as the “ability to draw lines and boundaries within which we protect and preserve the mental and emotional space to do our work and to be true to our selves… the ability to play real hardball with ourselves when we need it.”

Whether it is the entrepreneur himself or a member of his realm of supporters, there is bound to be that one person who asks “Why hasn’t your business taken off yet? You’ve been at it for a whole year! There are other people who made it big in a week! Where’s the money? Where’s the right-now return? What’s wrong with you?”

Whoa! Hold on! There are thousands of internet companies and start-up businesses who have flashed to life only to burnout prematurely. With a lack of foundation, these towers quickly crumbled. Oh, sure, there are the lucky ones; I won’t deny that. However, building on experience, a mission and a reputation has a better chance of sustainability than any fly-by-night. Remember the story of the Tortoise and the Hare. The Tortoise wins every time. Slow and steady wins the race.

Slow and steady takes patience and diligence. Steven Pressfield believes that “what produces real work (and happiness for each of us, in my opinion) is depth, focus, concentration and commitment over time.”

Dave Ramsey, nationally-syndicated talk show host and best-selling author, has a theory on how it works. He calls it the Momentum Theorem.

“FOCUSED INTENSITY over TIME multiplied by GOD equals Unstoppable Momentum.”

Dave Ramsey says, “Not many people in our A.D.D. culture can stay FOCUSED, but those who can are on their way to winning. Ad to the focus some serious pull-your-shirt-off-and-paint-yourself-blue-at-the-football-game INTENSITY, and now you have a person who is a difference-maker. But very few companies or people can maintain that FOCUSED INTENSITY over TIME. It takes time to be great, it takes time to create critical mass, it takes time to be an ‘overnight success.’ Lastly, you and I are finite, while GOD is infinite. So, multiply your efforts through Him and watch the areas of your life move toward winning like never before.”

We have become soft and spoiled by the availability of stuff, that too many have forgotten perseverance and how to “play hardball” with ourselves. A good dose of reality is a great place to start when you feel yourself looking for that instant gratification.

Work hard, be true to yourself and be true to your clients and the authenticity of your business will shine through the now-now-now clamber.

No More Leaks!

rowforbes — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 19:39:49 +0000

We have recently made another big improvement on the design studio for DbR. J took a weekend and put a new roof on my building. It was another exciting, and vitally important, step in completing it before winter. We had been having some very heavy rainstorms and found that the old roof was leaking terribly. I was very nervous about my equipment and materials getting ruined. Now, that worry is gone. I feel very secure in the fact that I will stay dry.

The old sheds, which were attached to the backside of DbR, have been torn down as well. Once the reusable materials were sorted out, the family enjoyed a bonfire, including s’mores. Mm mmmm… It was a great way of celebrating the continuation of the renovation process. We still have some clean-up to do, as can be seen in the photo, but that seems minor in comparison to the sheds being torn down.

Our next step will be to remove a few trees that are too close to the building so proper measurements can be taken for the new siding. We have plans to dig a drainage ditch and put the driveway in before winter, as well. We have accomplished so much and yet there is so much left to do.

Now Offering Vinyl Lettering!

rowforbes — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 19:15:43 +0000

I am so excited to announce that Designed by Row is now offering vinyl graphics and lettering for vehicles, signs, windows, and much more. If you need original artwork or have a logo or artwork that needs to be converted for cutting, we can do that too. There are endless uses for vinyl graphics. Let your imagination run and then give Designed by Row a call at 207-227-3236 or email rowmforbes@gmail.com for a free consultation and price quote. Watch for more information on vinyl, application and inspiration.

A Beautiful Young Lady

rowforbes — Sun, 09 May 2010 15:15:01 +0000

My daughter had her 8th Grade Dance last night. I took as many photos as I possibly could, as this was a big night for her and for me. She was so beautiful and made for a perfect model for her mom’s camera crazy ways. She had a blast and I ended up with some great shots.

Design Studio Interior Complete!!

rowforbes — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 01:22:09 +0000

The inside of my shop is officially finished and I have moved in. What a relief and an absolute blessing to have this space available to me. I feel the inspiration swell when I sit down at my computer to work. My printers and new vinyl cutter are all working beautifully and I am so excited to be able to put in some real time there. It’s like Christmas each time I open the door. I love it! I’ve also added a tribute to my grandfather, who used to spend hours working away at his craft within these four walls.

Design Studio Update

rowforbes — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:50:48 +0000

The smell of pine is in the air, as the boards go on the wall, one by one. The transformation is amazing. The ceiling is in, painted and the lighting is up. My new front door is in and just waiting for an open sign. J and M started putting up the tongue and groove pine yesterday and already they are halfway home. We will be staining it this weekend. I am so thankful to my dear husband for working so hard on this dream for me. His support has been incredible. I couldn’t have done it without him. I know that I will find untold inspiration in my new surroundings. I can’t wait!

Design Studio Beginning to Take Shape

rowforbes — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:44:48 +0000

Since I finished tearing out the insulation, changes have been happening very quickly at the shop. J and M have rewired the whole building, replaced a few boards, pulled out the old windows, replaced the front ones with shiny, clean new ones and boarded the back wall up. They have now started putting in new insulation. J is in hopes of having the ceiling sheet-rocked and maybe painted by this weekend. Then the new lights and my new front door will go in and they will begin putting the pine boards on the walls. My new front door; sounds sweet.