SMatthews Designs

08/22/2022

Sharing some recent logo samples I delivered to Chelsea Penumarthy for her non-profit, Grace Landing. I'll reveal tomorrow which was her final choice! Which is your favorite?

08/21/2022

Here is a logo I did in the past that I haven't shared in a while. I love this one, and so did my client! I would love your thoughts on the finished project and color palette!

08/16/2022

Today I want to share with you guys some color palettes I sourced from the same image.

If you have an image you want to use as inspiration for your color palette, it can be utilized in many different ways. You can pull so many more colors than you ever thought -- and each of them can evoke a different response. Your final choice will be the one that conveys the emotion you want your target audience to feel.

Remember, when you look at an image, the colors that speak to you may not be the same for every other viewer. Be open to feedback from your client, and eventually, you will find the right combination and inspiration. for their brand.

The last color palette in this series is a combination of all the other palettes I created.

08/15/2022

I shared some logo samples with you a few weeks ago. I showed you my favorite teal and lavender sample. But when I went to the client, the color palette wasn't what she was expecting. She wanted feminine with bright colors. I dug a little deeper with her, and we decided to merge two palettes together to get the color combination she wanted.

This is a lesson about listening to your clients and putting away your expectations about what they want. Our assumptions are ingrained in us, as people and as designers. But when we use a term such as feminine or bright, we may not have the same understanding as our clients. Design is a collaborative ex[erience, don't ever forget that -- whether you are the designer or client. Concise and intuitive feedback can be so helpful in delivering a product that both designer and client love.

I love what we ended up with, and I have a very happy client. The effort to listen, process, and be open to feedback created a successful collaboration.

08/13/2022

Today, I am going to show you how to use your color palette. You should begin your color palette before starting your logo. Once you have settled on a palette (or palettes), then you can begin the logo process. Sometimes once you see the design, you can eliminate palettes or your palette could evolve. Once you are sure on your brand, color palette, and logo, you should take your branding palette and use it to develop content (social media content, your website, etc).

(I did not create this logo, it is a premade logo from Express. I simply customized it with the example palette so you can see it in actual use).

08/12/2022

On average 70% of your website users will be doing so on a mobile device. It is vitally important that the mobile version of your website is optimized and structured to be responsive for mobile.

If your mobile site isn't the best it can be -- let's chat!

08/11/2022

Ive decided to make my own color palettes for fun to post on Pinterest and share on social media 😅
Which do you like best?

08/05/2022

Just delivered this logo to a satisfied client 😁 What is on your agenda for today?

03/30/2022

Our new episode is live!

In this episode, we are joined by Professional Wordsmith Beth Hess

During our conversation with Beth, we discuss:
The importance of the words that we use
How to use words properly in business and our day-to-day lives
The effects of the words we use
Some Copywriting fundamentals
The matchmaking approach to marketing
and so much more

Listen Here: https://loom.ly/88YhObw

01/25/2022

A recent testimonial from a satisfied branding client:

"Shannon has been the absolute best graphic designer that I have ever worked with! From the get-go, Shannon was a pleasure doing business with, and she always improved upon her work until I was more than satisfied. She respectfully listened to any and all requests and applied each of them into her design until it was perfected. I would highly recommend Shannon to any business owner out there looking for a professional to help create their brand and set them off on the right foot. I will be working with Shannon again in the future and know that I will be in good hands before the final product is all said and done. Sometimes good people and good help are all someone needs to make a big difference in their life. Shannon is one of these people. Thank you for what you do!"

11/16/2021

We are highly recommended on Alignable. We have space for new customers in November and December. Contact us now to get your project started :)

We greatly appreciate your support and referrals. It drives our business, and we couldn't do what we do without you!