How It All Works

The Four Services

Four distinct products are offered; the Custom Personal Logo, the Standard Personal Logo, the Corporate Package Design and various printed materials, each described below. Unlike most of my national mail order competitors, once your custom or standard logo design is complete, it’s yours; you own it and it will be provided to you on a CD in various file formats. There is no obligation to proceed further with Object Design, so you have the freedom to design by yourself whatever collateral materials (business card, letterhead, etc.) you desire with your new logo, and then have those materials printed by any printer you choose. Naturally, I hope you’ll choose to stay with Object Design and allow me to both design and print your Corporate Package.

1. The Custom Personal Logo

The first and most important component of your new marketing effort is this image. To create it, I must get to know you a little bit. An in-depth, preferably in-person consultation designed to let me know what your goals are, is the beginning. The interview focuses on what your aesthetic inclination is and on what the feelings you want to evoke from viewers of your new image are.

Professional photography is the next step and is indeed included in the cost of the logo design if you’re in the area readily accessible by me. This area includes, Bucks, Montgomery and portions of Delaware counties in Pennsylvania. (If you are not within this area, I will provide written instructions and verbal advice so you can create an appropriate photo with a photographer of your choice.) I’ll take roughly 30 to 60 pictures of you, from which one will eventually be used in the final version of your logo. In anticipation of your photography session, I’ll suggest advice about clothing, poses and props, and am certainly happy to accommodate any ideas you may have. The photos can be taken at your location, my studio, or at some mutually convenient location.

With your photographs and the information gained from our consultation, I will then create at least two, and often three or four, different logo concepts for you. We will review them together and, if necessary, revise them as needed to produce your final logo. Once complete, your new logo will be provided to you on a CD saved in various file formats appropriate for desktop printing, professional printing and web publishing. Please note that I do not use templates, clip art or any other sort of canned design solutions. Your logo will be given my fullest, completely custom attention. While it is important and gratifying to be happy and proud of the result, it is equally important that your new logo be an effective marketing tool for you.

2. The Standard Personal Logo

As a more affordable and more quickly produced logo design, the Standard Personal Logo is a great choice. You simply select one of the fifteen Standard Personal Logos shown here on the website and in my catalogue, imagining your own name and photo being used. The designs are quite flexible. You can choose any color you like for your name and also for many of the design elements in the logos. These variable elements include things like the houses, signs and windows in the designs... they can be any color you like. One of the logos allows you to use your own signature, and another lets you put a short message on the sign used in it. At no additional cost you can include a slogan with any of the designs. Nearly all of the Standard Personal Logos will accommodate either a full length or upper-body-only photo of you.

The photography session for a Standard Personal Logo is typically 15 to 30 minutes at Object Design’s studio and is included in the price. Should you prefer to be photographed by someone else, please talk to me first so your photographer can help us produce a perfect result.

As with the Custom Personal Logo, your new Standard Personal Logo must also be an effective marketing tool for you.

3. The Corporate Package

Once your Custom or Standard Personal Logo is created, designs for business cards, letterhead, envelopes and perhaps other items incorporating your new logo are needed. While you may do this yourself, I strongly recommend you use a professional designer to do this work. Many people underestimate the value and impact of proper layout and composition techniques when creating these business documents and end up with less than desirable results.

You may select any three documents you like for your corporate package. Most Realtors (and business people in general) choose a business card, letterhead and business envelope. You may substitute other documents, such as thank you cards, fax cover sheets, mailing labels, or nearly any item you like. Please see the following “Related Services” section for more ideas about what can be designed and printed.

4. Printing

You’re free to have any printer you like print your final materials. Naturally, I hope you’ll choose Object Design as your printing supplier. Please request a printing quotation from me at any time. I am, as are most graphic designers, eager to see my work printed in as high quality a manner as possible. Thus, I have arranged printing that is beautiful, technically superior and an excellent value. Samples of printed items are available at your request.

The Design Process

1. The Interview

There is some psychology involved here and I must get to know you a little bit. An in-depth, preferably in-person consultation designed to let me know what your goals are, is the beginning. The interview focuses on what your aesthetic inclination is and on what the feelings you want to evoke from viewers of your new image are.

I will provide you with a few suggestions regarding what I refer to as your “aesthetic sense”. These suggestions are intended to help you (and I) identify the “feel” you want your new image to portray. Many clients know immediately the exact answer to this, while others may take some time to consider it… there is no rush.

I will also provide you with suggestions designed to have you consider the kind of feelings you want your new image to evoke in viewers of it. These are very subjective, usually subliminal and often powerful ideas. This often requires my client to do some “homework”. That is, to take the time to do some reflective thinking about themselves and how they either currently, or would soon like, to affect people. (It sounds a little heavy, but it’s actually fun.)

Along with all this subjective work, I also want to know a few other more tangible things. Do you have a favorite color or typeface? Do certain shapes appeal to you? These and other objective clues about you allow me to create your successful logo.

The interview process just described regards the Custom Personal Logo only. For the Standard Personal Logo, these kinds of details are not necessary.

2. Photography

For a Custom Personal Logo, either in my studio or at your office or home, or really anywhere that is mutually convenient, we will do your photography. Typically, for a one-person logo, I’ll take roughly 30 to 60 pictures in about 30 to 60 minutes. You are welcome to change your clothing during the session if you’re unsure which outfit works best. (I will then design different logo concepts for you using both outfits.) You are also welcome to use an existing photo of yourself if you prefer.

For a Standard Personal Logo, you must either come to Object Design’s studio to be photographed by me, or provide me with a photo of yourself. If you do the latter (provide me with a previously taken photo), that photo must meet certain technical standards, as well as be an appropriate pose that works with whatever Standard Personal Logo design you’ve chosen. Please consult with me before having another photographer take your picture so that these requirements can be met.

If you decide to have me photograph you at my studio, please be ready with your choice of which Standard Personal Logo you want to do before your photo session begins. I’ll typically take about 10 to 20 photos of you in about 30 minutes.

3. Interactivity

You may have noticed when looking over my logo portfolio that most, but not all, of the designs use techniques that somehow involve the person with the words in the logo (usually the person’s name). This is what I call an “interactive” logo… holding, leaning, or sitting on the words. These reality tricks are both fun and effective, though not a necessary part of a logo composition… some people elect to omit them. It’s up to you.

I always take photos that allow me the flexibility to create both interactive and non-interactive logos. Should you have your photography done by someone else, please be sure to talk to me first about a few tricks that can make the interactivity, and thus the final illusion, more convincing.

4. Clothing

Most photographers will advise you to wear dark, solid colored clothing for logo designs like these. While dark solid colors are terrific, this is inappropriate advice. If you want to wear white, or any other light colors, I will make it work. Bold patterns are also fine. The only restriction I suggest is to avoid small, busy patterns (herringbone, paisley, etc.) as they can be aesthetically distracting and, more importantly, can produce a Moiré pattern when reproduced in printed materials. Moirés are the appearance that an object (like your clothing) is moving around or glowing in an unrealistic way.

5. Poses and Props

There are probably about ten “must try” poses. Beyond these, I just let the creative process take over and see what happens. And I always welcome any ideas you may have. Props are things to be considered very carefully. More often than not, props are only clutter in the final design. However, as you can see from the few in my portfolio (i.e.; the teddy bear in the Vasquez’ logo or the house in Nancy Osborne’s logo), when done properly, they can be quite effective. (The teddy bear?… his name is Clancy!)

6. Photo Retouching

Did you forget about that Band Aid on your ear? Don’t worry. Included in the base cost of your logo is my ability to digitally edit your photos. Virtually anything can be accommodated… slimming, tanning, highlighting or changing the color of your hair, deleting scars, minimizing double chins, or addressing nearly any other feature you may be unhappy with… whatever you deem necessary. I can even change the color of your clothing.

7. The Composition

For a Custom Personal Logo, once I have your photos and the information I need from our interview, I will create at least two (typically three or four) different concepts for you. Sometimes one of these proposals is deemed perfect by the client and other times there is a revision process that involves some synergistic combination of elements from two or more of the concepts. This is a routine part of the design process and is actually quite fun and exciting for both my client and myself.

Regarding the Standard Personal Logo, your image, once it has been digitally edited, will be inserted into your chosen design. You’ll have a few choices to make about several options you have…please see page 7 of my current catalogue for more information about these choices.

Related Services

Photo retouching is included in the basic logo price. It is also a very useful skill I can apply elsewhere. For example, a photo of a listing may need greener grass, a bluer sky or the deletion of a bicycle in the foreground. Perhaps a bent rain gutter or a broken window needs attention, or that hole the dog dug in the front yard needs to be filled in. Any change of reality you may need can be addressed. And yes, if you ever wondered what you’d look like with different color hair or eyes, or with a little different waistline, I can do that too!

Advertising layouts for any printed publication are routine. I speak the same technical language used at magazines and newspapers. You provide the photos and copy to me and I’ll do the rest, including submitting the digital files to the publication if you’d like. I can also photograph your listing for you if needed.

Additional marketing materials like brochures, post cards and thank you cards are items I frequently design and print. You may also be interested in newsletters, tent cards, doorknob hangars, flyers, catalogues, bookmarks, CD labels, DVD labels, menus, presentation folders, posters, stickers, or envelopes of all sizes. All can be designed and printed by Object Design.

Delivery Time

Custom Personal Logo

How quickly the whole process takes is a variable dependent upon how busy I am. The most common scenario is, two weeks from the day we take photos I will return to you with at least two (and likely more) logo concepts. Revisions, if needed, take one more week. When a client initially decides to commit to the project and schedules photography, I will be specific about the exact lead time.

Standard Personal Logo

Typically, one week from the day we take your photos, I’ll provide you with your new logo. The same variable described above regarding how busy I am applies again. When a client initially decides to commit to the project and schedules photography, I will be specific about the exact lead time.

Terms and Conditions

Custom Personal Logos

The payment terms for clients within Bucks, Montgomery and northern Delaware Counties, Pennsylvania are, 50% due at the photography session and the remaining 50% due when the logo is completed and approved by you. You will be given your logo in digital form on a CD once you have provided the final payment.

The payments terms for clients not in the three county area described above are 100% due at the photography session if I am taking your pictures, or 100% due when you enter your order if you are supplying your photographs.

Standard Personal Logos

The payment terms are 100% due at the photography session if I am taking your pictures, or 100% due when you enter your order if you are supplying your photographs. The terms and conditions described herein are subject to change without notice.