Business for Design: ViaGrafic Final Look

ViaGrafic logo in corporate colors

Here is the final look of my business plan for ViaGrafic Design solutions. I have prepared 37 pages for the folder and I added a corporate manual at the end. The layout is very clear and simple for exhibiting the company values, financial management and the proper usage of the corporate look.

Sample pages from my business plan

I also have prepared a monthly magazine which company can present new projects for its permanent customers. It is printed on a very light, 80 gr paper in order to make it look like a real newspaper and it has 8 pages divided into sections depending on the monthly work such as; illustrations, graphics or photography.

ViaGrafic monthly magazine

The monthly magazine can also be used as a poster. The back of the pages has a big lightening icon, which is ViaGrafic's corporate symbol and basic contact details.

The back of the monthly magazine

Business for Design: ViaGrafic Business Plan Outlines

Writing a business plan is not a very easy thing to do, so I need to do a lot of research and put together my ideas in order to create something innovative and effective. In this manner, I came up with a small presentation and a couple of maps to clear my ideas. I will not use the design below but those key words are very important for company preface, to show people ViaGrafic's position. Therefore, my company should be; humanistic, modern, and sustainable so presenting those points at my business plan are really important steps to build a notion behind ViaGrafic Design Studio.

Some key words for ViaGrafic Preface, I was inspired by Johnson Banks' maps for the design.

As I mentioned before, I am very happy about our Critical Debates tasks because I am quiet interested in CSR, so I thought that adding a page for company values to my business plan, may help me to create a a strong statement about ethics. Therefore, I will always put Good Design in the middle and build the whole notion around it. At this stage, I want to connect those points to each other to make it a real ideology for ViaGrafic. So I am hoping to improve those ideas below and develop a CSR policy for my company.

ViaGrafic, company values.

Business for Design: ViaGrafic Corporate Identity And Website

I finished my final adjustments with ViaGrafic corporate identity. I didn't change the general outlines of the concept, the only small difference is the lightening icon that I add to the business card and the back of the letterhead. I believe this icon makes my concept a little bit more playful and since it is quiet small it doesn't effects the seriousness of the letterhead. In order to keep up with my schedule, I need to finish the final adjustments of the corporate identity as fast as possible, to start writing my business plan and design my folder. All in all, I love the color combination, general layout and the icons that I've used for this concept, so I am happy with the progress.

The final look of ViaGrafic's corporate identity.

Therefore, I tried to make the website in a harmony with the general concept. The lightening icon inspired my while I was working on the business cards. In this manner, I decided to work around this icon, so I use it in the middle and quiet big comparing the size at the business card. At the home page the menu is around the lightening, when the page opens all the options are red, but when mouse approaches the options they change color and became black, so it's basically a very simple roll-over effect.

The home page of ViaGrafic website.

For ViaGrafic's website I wanted to design a special contact page, so I decided that when a user clicks the hello@vg.com text on the home page this light box can open, and allow users to send e-mails to the company. As a user I truly don't like when you click an e-mail address the way that it opens the computers mail application, so a simple light box won't slow down the user's computer, won't open your own e-mail and it is more coherent with my corporate identity.

The contact page of ViaGrafic website.

So the website has a certain layout, and obviously the middle part is editable and the rest of the design is stable and doesn't changes with different pages. Since I have a certain layout, it is going to be easy for me to add new pages or make small differences. For the archive page, I decided to use my portfolio as small icons to color the page a little, and I like the result of this approach. Also in this page when the mouse comes on a work, it will change color.

The archive page of ViaGrafic website.

Calendar For Second Semester

So, here is the study program that I have been following and will follow during second semester. I am trying to keep up with it and be organized, to finish all my modules on time in a good quality. I am aware of the fact that my map looks a little complicated, I color code the modules and use icons to specify the activities that I am going to do like, presentations or going to printer center. Therefore, I hope it is clear enough, and I can follow it.

My calendar for March.

Calendar for April and May.

Business for Design: ViaGrafic Company Promotion

During this week, I have been trying to define and create communication strategies for my company. Therefore, I picked up one of the business cards that I have experimented past weeks and worked on the layout for the company's formal letter presentation. As usual I tried to make the design as simple as possible to be in a harmony with business card's layout and of course my logotype. While I was experimenting the look and thinking about the ways to eliminate the waste of excessive paper, I thought that I can print my formal letters on a recyclable and a little bit more thick paper, make the printing double sided and fold one piece of paper in order to use it as an envelope when I need to send the letters somewhere. I strongly believe that this solution will give my letters a different touch and help my company to be more environmental friendly which is a very important matter for me.

ViaGrafic corporate identity, Vol.1

How the letterheads going to function as envelopes.

Moreover, this approach create a lovey harmony among my business card design and letterheads. If this design concept will function and get the approval I expected, I will work on the resume design, folder design, CD cover design, and of course my business plan to bring together my folder. Consequently, I am happy with the results of this concept so far, hope it creates the same effect for everyone.

Business for Design: ViaGrafic Business Cards

After deciding my typeface as ViaGrafics, I started experimenting business cards, and how my logo looks on them. Therefore, I came up with four very simple concepts, however I am still working on them. I believe my other business card design attempts failed because I didn't do enough research, and I didn't have much knowledge about the priority between the informations on the card. But this time I did my task, flick through many design books for some inspiration and information, and on try to keep everything as simple as possible.

The first concept for ViaGrafic.

While I was working on my concepts, the first thing I have checked was how they looked on black and white. Then I tried the colors and some small differences. At this concept, I love the way the mouse hangs from the logo type, according to me it gives the card a playful side and makes the typography more dynamic.

The second concept for ViaGrafic.

To value the empty space on my business card in a better way, I decided to came up with some slogans for my company, ViaGrafic. So I develop those two; "Multidisciplinary Design Studio For Visual Communication" and "Loud Digital Craft". Moreover, I believe the phrase "digital craft" can give a very strong impression to the audience and tells so much about how meticulous, hand-crafted, and hardworking my company is going to be.

The third concept for ViaGrafic.

So at the second and the third concepts I decided to develop some icons to identify my company more efficiently. So I create a mouse and a heart which stands for my love for the graphic design, and a combination of a speech bubble, the same mouse and a pencil. Therefore those three icons stands for my motto "Loud Digital Craft". Moreover, the lightening icon at the third concept was the first icon that I have ever drawn, that's why it is a part of me and I believe it is quiet suitable for a design agency.

So far my last concept for ViaGrafic.

Business for Design: Corporate Identities

During first semester I have worked on 3 different names and logotypes. This semester I include a new name "Via Graphics", however I believe that I need to pick one of them and continue on working that one. Therefore I make a board with all my logotypes to help me to pick one of them.

At this point it is crucial for me to pick the right one, because I want the logotype to be very simple so I can easily apply it to different environments, such as business cards and letterheads.

Business for Design: Via Grafic Studios

During last semester I wasn't quiet done with my logotypes, therefore instead of getting lost with the old ones I decided to came up with a new name and start all over again. Originally I thought that "Via Grafic Studios" is not just narrative at the same time sounds good! So "Grafic" is a combination of Turkish and British versions of the word "Graphic". Moreover this time I want to keep things as simple as possible because the desire of making something very different make me lost my a little throughout this process. In this manner I started to play around a little with my favorite fonts and search for a simple harmony. Consequently I came up with two versions of the same design.

Via Grafic Studios first logotype

Therefore I believe that this logotype is simple and strong, it can be adapted to many environments and it is improvable with variations. And I think I can develop a good looking corporate identity with this logotype.

Via Grafic Studios second logotype

The second logotype emerged while I was working on the first one's variations. Normally I am not a big fan of sans-serif fonts however I love the form of this one and I exaggerate the curves a little. Even though I like the first one more this doesn't looks so bad either!

Business for Design: Task 3: A Revision of My Mood Board

Firstly I want to write about an object that describes me the best. It is not really an object but I think what explains me best it writing, text and typography. Because as you can observe I write a lot and that is the way I express myself the best. Therefore I decided that my sketch book-which mainly consists on my notes- is a perfect object for describing me. Moreover I finally manage to put together some images for my Mood Board. This time have made my homework better and instead of rushing it I make a research on the idea of a Mood Board-because ı feel like I didn't get it very clearly last time and after looking at some examples I notice that worked more easily on it. Thus I like this one because it is modern, and I believe it really represents me and the level of my skills. The skull in the middle refers to my imagination and the world because of its color-blue. Consequently I hope that it is more convenient than the former attempts of mine.

Business for Design: Task 2: Developing Design Concepts

ThatsIt Graphic Design Working for that concept was quiet hard for me. I give a lot of thought on the process and after many experiments I decided to use my own handwriting for the identity. Therefore my handwriting can describe me the best. But I didn't wanted to use it like a logotype so I basically use it more like a pattern. And when I was working on the corporate identity, I use orange color that I decided at the fist stage-its my favorite color- and I designed a business card to show how it works. Consequently I am very happy with the results. I have never thought that I might like this concept, but now its my favorite. According to me it's dynamic, positive and most importantly it really represents me. Moreover I combine the curvy shapes and Futura together purposely to refer the idea of versatility.

A page from my sketch book. I use that one when I was developing my concept.

That was how the type looks after a little Photoshop.

Business cards, two options and back of the card.

Business for Design: Mood Board

After working a bit I decided that I'm not a mood board person! As I understand you need to set you mind free and put together images that inspire you on a idea, however I don't like set my mind free and I prefer to express my self by writing using letter forms. Eventhough it was hard for me ı tried to put together some images that I like. I really hope that I can manage to make collages that serves my goal.

This was the second Mood Board I did, but I believe that is more suitable than the other two.

In my opinion the real thing that bothers me about mood board is I can't find a proper way to put the images together, present it better. But I understand that it is important to not think to much when you are making a mood board. That's why I just put together all images that comes to my mind when I think about what I want my brand to be.

This was the first board to did, I don't know where the idea of flipping images came from, but that one is my best.

Most of the images on this board belongs to me, I think this presentation is the best way.

MA Design for Communication: Semester I: Calender Nov/Dec

Here is my working plan until the end of the 1st Semester. I hope I can keep up with that and if any changes occur, I will immediately post the updated version.

Please click to see the bigger version of November.

Please click to see the bigger version of December.

Business for Design: Continue with My Design Concept Development

Any Ideas: Design Solutions Firstly I want to write more about my inspirations on this concept. While I was thinking about Any Ideas my intention was to create something without a logo, just with a basic, vintage and legible typeface. That make me think about old computer games, and the basic, square typefaces of late 80's from Super Mario or Street Fighters. Therefore I find those images very simple and playful and I strongly believe those games are still a link between my generation.

An example of what inspires me and my solutions.

However I had some problems with the legibility and weight of my design. So after considering carefully I decided to create a font family (Thin, medium and bold) to support my design and I use Design Solutions with the same font to create an integrity. Moreover I feel the need to change the location of the Design Solutions and put it under the logo to separate them. I believe the question mark completes the square and the weight of the typeface is equal and proportional. After working on the font family and separating design from the sub-title, I feel the design is more successful than old version so I started to expand my experiment and instead of fixing the existing problems I started to search on new inspirations and created a couple of different versions of my work. Eventually I like this logo and I am happy with my results so far.

Font family of my design.

All the weight and prepositions are explained below.

A small experiment about patterns.

After changing the locations of the letters the logo is still legible but I have some problems with the location of the sub-title.

24: Full-Time Design Solutions For my second concept, the challange was to create a balance between the logo and the typeface. So instead of changing the typeface I decided to use dynamic shadows to compensate the elements of my design in an equal way. For creating that effect I use a little bit mathematics and state a "X" lenght and use this and its doubles for each space on my design. That way I eliminate the need of using perspective on my typeface and increase its legible.

The application of my design.

With the new solution it is easier to read the sub-title.

Besides, I worked on this business card to show how my design works on different environments. And according to my experiments it is possible to use it in variety of forms and subjects. Therefore I am happy with the results again but I am still working and experimenting.

An experimental business card for my corporate identity.

Business for Design: Task 2: Developing Design Concepts

From the company names I listed in my previous post I selected three of them and started working on logotypes via design concepts. My first step was defining who am I as designer and think about my style and how to reflect it. And it was extremely important for me to be clear about what I wanted to refer with my design, because I didn't wanted to make something meaningless. When people looked at my brand's logo they should get an idea about my position as a designer. After a weekend full with sketching and thinking, I hope l manage to create something different for them. The images below are still basics, I am working to improve them and experiment how they work in different environments.

A small experiment to see how my logo system responds to different cases.

Any Ideas: Design Solutions While working on this logo my goal was to create something that can fit in a square to make it look a bit like an old school signboard. And I don't want to use existing fonts like I always do in order to make the design more unique. I learn that using a different typeface can help my brand to locate it in people's minds a part from other design studios. I really like this blocky, geometric shape and I hope that this vintage concept would refer to that same spirit of the 80s, pixel shaped computer typefaces.

24, Fulltime Design Solutions Originally, I designed this logo for my self, to have some material to sketch with but more time I spent on it I started to like the light, fast, energetic image so I decided to use it. While I was working on it, my originating point was a clock and minute hand's crosswise position on the surface. Because I didn't want to use a clock image in my design in order to make it more thought provoking and I am not a fan of using images in logo design. So I used the crosswise position in my design to make the typeface more kinetic.

Variations of the logo with different design concepts.

 

When I was experimenting the logo's response to the different environments, I observe that the color pink creates a conflict with the kinetic move of the design, which really intrigues me. Because in despite of the disparity, there is the harmony of two ideas lying there, that are speed and playing. In my opinion this color gives my a bit aggressive looking design a playful image. Therefor, I am just discovering that play is a key factor of a successful work.

Thatsit Design Solutions I really love this name however, I am well aware that in the same time it may refer a negative meaning too so I was extremely sensitive when I was working on the logo in order to give a positive impression. In my opinion it still requires a bit more research about its shape. I wanted to fit both words in one context to make it shorter and simpler, and I believe bright colors can support my case about positivity. However I still feel like I should add something more unique to locate it in a different position among other design brands. But so far I am happy with my progress and this is just the outline of my work.

Business for Design: Task 1: Naming a Creative Business

Here are my list of ideas for a creative business:

Any Ideas ? I just love this question, it represents a brand which is open minded about new ideas, solutions and collaboration, as naming the business "Any Ideas ?" I am asking this question to everyone, appreciating every opinion. According to me It's simple, positive and it suggests the team spirit to everyone whose interested can be a part of the concept. Can be used like: www.anyideas.com

Advertising Space This name is inspired by Robbie Williams's song which is one of my favorites. Can be used like: www.advertisingspace.com or www.adspace.com

DOT I came up with this name because in my mind it refers to the last point of design. Nothing better. Can be used like: www.dot.com or www.dotagency.com or www.dot
Point Graf 

Negative Space 

Creative Business Nobody use this clear and functional name for a design agency before.

File New Design! Feels energetic and sounds like Ready - Go!

New Layer Design Studio
24 or Full-Time Graphics This names refers how diligent and energetic my company is and I think "24" can show clients how committed l am. Can be used as: www.24.com or www.24design.com or www.fulltimegraphics.com
CMYK I would like to use CMYK color mode as a business name because making a logotype or a corporate identity for this name would be so much fun. Also it is interdisciplinary so most people would know the meaning and in another sense it would refer to variety and option. Can be used like: www.cmyk.com or www.cmykdesign.com and microsites can be named as www.rgb.com
High Resolution or 1080 I like this name because it is involved with the graphic design context and the word "High" has a positive meaning in people's minds. Can be used like: www.highresolution.com or www.1080.com
Exposure Design Studio or Expo Design It can be used as www.expodesign.com or www.expods.com