Office Planning Ideas

This is far from an interior design blog... however, aesthetics are a really big deal when moving into a space, especially for a design business. If a business had great design work but a less than pleasing-to-the-eye space, this would not bode well and could prevent clients from wanting to meet with you at the office. Therefore, I'm trying to think this one through very carefully.

In trying to be as green as possible while decorating the place, I've made the commitment to buy as many used items as possible for furniture and accessories. Why buy a brand new table when one down the street may need a new home? I've created an idea board for each room. Of course some of the items are pictured as new, but this is where garage sales and Craigs List will come into play.

The first room one sees when walking past or into the office is the reception/waiting area (I promise I'll take some photos of the interior tonight). I want this to catch the eye, so I've decided to paint the walls the same orange as my logo... plus, from a subconscious perspective, orange is supposed to inspire creativity. Here's what I'm thinking so far (note: click on image to enlarge):



I'll be sure to post my ideas for the two other rooms in the days to come... I can't give away everything at once!

13thirtyone is Moving!

Hello, hello. As mentioned in previous posts, I've been looking for an office space. I officially signed on the dotted line and am set to start moving on July 1st. It's a big step for 13thirtyone, but I feel it's the right one. Regardless, I'm still making the commitment to keep my office space as eco-friendly as I can.

I don't have keys-in-hand yet, but when I do, I'll be sure to take a few photos. The office needs a bit of work, so I'd be more than happy to walk you through the "befores" and "afters" of my office makeover. In the meantime, here's the little street in downtown Hudson that'll be my new home away from home. The tall building in the center (aka "The Hatch Building") is where my office resides. I'll be in the upstairs portion.

Oh yeah, and sorry for the sun spots on the images...

Company Logo Smackdown

I was sent this scan of an article by a prospective client from Fortune Magazine. It takes some of the country's most well-known logos and narrows it down the most effective one. Click on the image to enlarge.

Ha!

I was book shopping on Amazon.com this weekend. Check out the pricing!

The Importance of Brainstorming

Sorry I haven't written in a few weeks. A lot's been happening here at 13thirtyone. Everything from client work to looking at office spaces to self-promotion has been keeping me away. But enough excuses.

Over the past few weeks a lot of items have crossed my desk that require brainstorming. First and foremost, creating effective logos for clients always requires the correct amount of thinking and research. Also, one of my blog readers wrote me an email recently regarding the naming process of her business; she had been idea generating for a while and was beginning to feel frustrated. Finally, a lot of time and energy went into deciding whether or not 13thirtyone was ready to take the next step; should I move into an office and leave my eco-friendly set-up behind to start fresh?

I realized with all of these challenges the importance of thinking things through. We live in a society where we need instant gratification. Drive through winows and TiVo give us what we want in a hurry; whatever happened to smelling the roses? I tried to keep this in mind when I found myself getting bogged down by so many thoughts all at once.

So, while this may not be any new insight regarding the "world of graphic design," let it serve as a reminder to slow down. Take the time to follow through in your thought processes. Brainstorming and truly sorting out your thoughts can only lead to more effective design AND more profitable decisions for your life and business.