Toluu : MarnieB.com - A blog about design and the everyday life of a small business owner.

MarnieB.com - A blog about design and the everyday life of a small business owner.

A blog about design and the everyday life of a small business owner.

Despite trawling through hundreds of logos, typing out this post, then doing one last quick Google for “logos with animals” and finding this post on FYC, I’ve decided to still post it. The more, the merrier, right?

It’s no secret I’m obsessed with birds in designs, as I’ve mentioned before, but over the last few months I’ve been noticing more and more animals in logos. Cute elephants, kitties, giraffes and fish are popping up everywhere and I’ve come to love them dearly.

Below are some of my favourite logos that include animals.

Do you have a favourite that I haven’t posted? Leave a comment!

Logos are thanks to Faveup, IncSpring, LogoPond, Five Little Ducks and Monkey Caboose.

7 big beefs with web designOctober 15

Common Design Mistakes, Part 2

In Part 1 of my Common Design Mistakes series I talked about some basic mistakes amateur designers and small business owners sometimes make when designing their own flyers and promotional items. In Part 2, I’m going to talk about some common design mistakes made in that place that is either loved or feared: the world wide web.

I mentioned that small business owners can’t always afford to hire a professional to design their flyers, letters, posters, etc. It’s no wonder then that a website would be seen as even less affordable. They cost more, take longer and it can be hard to find the right designer to get the job done.

I would urge anyone thinking about doing their own website to stop and consider the benefits of having it done professionally, but for those who simply can’t or don’t want to pay a professional, here are a few tips to get you going and some pitfalls to avoid.

splash and intro pages

My biggest beef with websites these days is intro pages. Now, for the moment at least, I’m not talking about splash pages – a pretty page with your logo and a link that says ‘enter here’. No, not those. I’m talking about those pages that just keep scrolling and scrolling and trying to convince you that the product or service being offered is what you need and that you should enter your email address or cred

Marketing outside of the box with creative advertisingOctober 15

Article written by Jon Bergan

As you slouch back into your favourite arm chair, flick on the television and immerse yourself into your regular sitcoms and other programs, you can’t help but feel the boredom settling in as the same old advertisements crop up on your screen during the ever so regular commercial breaks. Without fail, those same string of ads appear. Whether they’re the same old KFC ads or those commercials that look like they were made twenty years ago, its always the same old same boring commercials. You’ll find these culprits on all marketing platforms - radio, print and the web - and chances are you’re wearing a guilty grin right now!

With so many design trends already in place and well over used, businesses now need to visit more creative avenues of getting their message out there. No longer can a business rely solely on the old ‘tried and true’ techniques. Sure, you may get some exposure from your efforts but at the end of the day, there is still a large risk of you getting lost in all of the wish-wash of marketing materials going around. It’s time we all started thinking outside of the box, taking some risks and jumping outside of our comfort zone and the best way to achieve this is via creative advertising.

creative advertising?

To put it simply, creative advertising is the use of extremely unique or utterly obscure imagery to get your message across and combining th

Poverty - 15 Things Designers Can Do to HelpOctober 15

While most of us designers don’t have the time to go out and save the world, there are a few things we can do that will take up little time and money.

Use your design superpowers for good - design a poster or flyer that opens peoples eyes to the issue of poverty and put it anywhere you legally can.
Design an educational website teaching people about the effects of poverty in your area.
Run a mini Blog Action Day type event on your blog - ask people to sponsor you by donating $1 for every post you make about poverty in a 24 hour period.
Host a fundraiser BBQ and invite your clients. Charge them an entry fee and donate the proceeds.
Donate your time - give a talk to a classroom of people trying to free themselves from poverty about the business world or design.
Organise a design competition in your area and speak to your local council or community radio stations about free promotion. Ask entrants to draw or design something to do with poverty, whether a poster or an innovative representation of an idea to end poverty.
Turn your computer and office equipment off when you don’t need it. Calculate the money saved on electricity and donate it.
Donate your design services for free to a charity. Let them call on you when they need flyers designed or a website developed.
Donate your in-house e-commerce software to a charity to allow them to accept donations on their website.
Offer to ma

Blog Action Day Poster Comp - WINNERS ANNOUNCED!October 15

I know I’m late, but… the winners are…!

first place

First place goes to Ab K. of NSW for his interesting take on the poster design. I know I wouldn’t have thought of a comic.

second place

Second place goes to Keri P. of TAS for her very in-your-face design. Great work!

runners-up

The first runner up is Ben R. from NSW. Ben also receives a Box of Stuff thanks to Blue Zamboo!

The second runner up is Melissa Morris of NJ, USA, who is also the owner of the very lovely Operation Nice.

The third runner up place goes to Jacob C. of NSW for his simple but fantastic pink poster! Jacob also receives a one hour of personal or business phone coaching thanks to Crossroa