Why do you go to a fancy restaurant when you can cook at home? Because you want the best services provided by professionals. Plus, with us, the professional service is super affordable! Clearly, there is a difference between drawing some images on a sheet and creating professional design for business. As a graphic designer, one doesn’t simply create artwork but makes use of several important elements of designing which they have studied for long. As professional visual communicators, designers help you with your goals by leveraging the design elements and use concepts such as color, typography, space, balance, form and, lines to create their visual message. Graphic designers are also able to understand the more technical aspects of the design required to create digital assets for a company. Now, not every small business needs to stand out. If you’re a locksmith in a small community, for example, it may be enough to just show up in internet searches and be in the phone book. But if you’re in a market with a dozen other locksmiths, you want to stand out. You don’t do that with a clip art logo or canned flier that looks the same as 10 of those 12 competitors. Using marketing materials that are unique and stand out are a way for people to remember you. And if they think they’ve seen you before, they are more likely to choose to contact you for your products or services. All your marketing materials and your 'brand' as a whole should be the best they can be for your business, or you’ll have some hesitation in presenting them to new customers. Get a professional designer to help you take more pride in your business and marketing materials.

The first concepts are sent to you within 2 to 4 business days, depending on our internal revisions of concepts. The overall time it can take to finalize a design depends on the accuracy of the brief, how quick you give feedback and how focused the feedback is. We generally take between 3 and 7 business days to reach final sign off. Giving us a more comprehensive design brief will allow us to complete your project faster. We follow a general branding process. This consists of the following: Design brief - interviewing the client and making sure you get all the information you need. Research - learning more about the industry/niche, as well as the client's history and competition. Reference - checking out design inspiration related to what the client needs, as well as looking at the current design trends. Conceptualization - sketching and developing the logo around the given brief and the research you've made. Reflection - letting the idea mature following a quick design break. Presentation - choosing a couple of design options to show the client, as well as getting feedback and doing some edits until the design is complete. Alterations - depending on your feedback, we will make the needed changes to the concepts to produce the final design.

Sometimes customers require our services at very short notice. We can usually accommodate rush jobs depending on the size of the project and how full our production schedule is. These jobs are usually subjected to an additional charge on the flat hourly rate.

If you look around, at this very moment while you are reading this, you’ll see several applications of graphic designing. The web page on which you are reading this question, the coffee mug on your table, the pack of cookies you just opened, all of it is the work of creative design. Every day, we see endless examples of design applications around us. Speaking of business applications, here are some basic areas where graphic design is used the most: Logo design Corporate identity Branding Digital marketing Web & Interactive design Outdoor & Signage Package design Printed design Editorial/Composition design Typography Illustration Album Design Electronic Media designs Clothing branding designs Greeting cards

Yes, four addition changes can be made to the original design options. The purpose of the revision limit is to add additional focus onto the design process. Having constraints adds to the quality of logo concepts as well as the quality of the design feedback. I do understand that you need options and that logo design is an organic process. I also need to add a limit to the amount of designs to keep the project scope feasible. If you have reached your revision limit then additional sets can be purchased.

Yes, I can take your current logo and update the colors, style and typography to freshen it up, based on your personal taste and brand positioning. I’ll give you an upgrade quotation based on the complexity of the new version that you are looking for.

Unfortunately not, our logo design process would still be the same. Your illustration would just allow me to have a more relevant initial batch of logo design concepts.

Yes, I offer a recreation service. The end product of the service would be a high resolution vector version of your current file. You can then send it to signage companies or anyone that needs to manufacture large scale printing. A quotation for the recreation would be based on the complexity of the original design. Your printer company can contact me if they have a technical requirement.

You’ll receive the original source files, a print-ready PDF in vector format for large scale printing, JPG files for general use and a PNG file with a transparent background. You can request other formats and we can see if we can export them for you. Generally you’ll only need the ones that we export by default.

A graphic designer does more than just put their creative skills to work. Though most graphic designers are intuitively creative already, they have generally spent time studying numerous design principles. It’s vital to understand how to use design elements to transmit the required messages and values as well as evoke a certain feeling in the viewer. As a visual communicator, they leverage these design elements and use concepts such as color, typography, space, balance, form and lines to create their visual message. Some graphic designers are also able to understand the more technical aspects of design required to create digital assets for a company. For example, a web designer is often able to create wireframes, workflows, and sitemaps and understand how to develop easy navigation for the user experience.

It is a good idea to have a proper logo designed if: You have no logo. A logo is an important visual pointer to what you offer. You made your logo yourself through an online logo making website. These logos are not unique and sold to multiple companies across the world. Copyright infringement and the lack of trademarking could have a significant impact on your marketing campaigns. Going cheap is almost guaranteed to work out expensive later. Give your company its own look, its own voice. Your logo has been created in MS Word, Powerpoint, MS Paint for your company when it was starting off. The logo would likely be low resolution and not usable for large size printing. You need a vector version of your logo with proper color management. Your logo does not properly depict what you do or it may give a wrong impression of what you are doing. Do not pigeon hole yourself or be vague. You had your logo for a long time and you need a fresh design. You can keep the current character of your logo, but add a bit of fresh flair into it.

You will find graphic design in company logos, printed materials like brochures, posters, signs, greeting cards, postcards, business cards, billboards and advertisement. Advances in technology have brought us the digital environment complete with websites, social media, online adverts, virtual brochures and presentations, and so very much more.

You need to be prepared to communicate clearly and often about what you want from a graphic designer. The more specific you can be when you fill out your request the more likely the final product will reflect your vision. Communicating clearly and minimizing revisions will hold down your expenses. Our graphic designs include one or two rounds of changes in your project price. Ask lots of questions so you can understand exactly how much your design will cost and how your money is being spent. How long do you estimate this design will take? What will the review schedule look like? How many revisions do I get? What is included with the project rate?

Your branding and marketing materials are often the first point of contact with potential customers. You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression, and therefore your communication materials need to convey the right image. A design agency will produce marketing materials that will help to impress upon potential customers the professionalism of your company and the service you offer. By producing your own marketing materials you run the risk of appearing amateurish, meaning the loss of potential customers.

Copyright for all work carried out by CO Design Studio transfers to the client as soon as the balance has been settled in full. We do, however, reserve the right to use any work for promotional purposes.

Do you have a great idea for a product or service? These are a few things we would recommend to any start-up business to get off the ground: Numerous articles expound on what things you need before seeking angel investors (put together a board of advisors, analyze your market, write a business plan). But you also are going to need some marketing materials that show you are a professional and explain what you do. Yes, you don’t have much to spend on marketing, but a little bit spent the right way will put you in good position to influence potential customers. Here are four things you need to have for your initial marketing: 1. A logo. Start-up companies usually take one of two approaches to getting a logo: One of the principals comes up with something “that will work for now” using Microsoft Paint or Photoshop Elements, a trendy font and some clip art. The problem is – it looks like someone did it in 5 minutes on the computer and doesn’t show a professional approach to your company. The company goes to the “get a logo designed by someone for R50” websites and gets a generic logo that looks like thousands of other companies out there (and may have been stolen from one). Also, by the time you get the logo in the digital formats you need, you’ll probably spend a lot more than the minimum. What’s the right way to get a logo? Hire a professional graphic designer. To minimize the time you spend using the designer’s services (and keep it cost-effective), first put together a page with logos you like the look of. If you have some basic branding ideas, make sure you list them out – but your designer may advise against a particular color scheme or approach based on his or her expertise, so keep an open mind and work together on creating this most important corner stone of your business identity. Use a cheesy, quick logo and you’ll pay for that, both in perception and in getting everything you’ve put that logo on (cards, brochure, clothing, sign, vehicles) reprinted or recreated once you realize that it is badly done. 2. Business cards. These can be simple – the logo and your contact information. They should be printed on good quality card stock, not on the flimsy paper you put in your printer and run off yourself. Having the designer who made your logo put these together shouldn’t cost too much more and can pay off in looking professional. 3. Basic website. This is another thing you can probably put together yourself, but like the logo, you’re probably going to either come up with something that looks like a high school student did it for a class project and/or end up spending more for a web service than you would if you hired a professional local designer to work directly with you and come up with a site that reflects your branding. Your site doesn’t need to be elaborate. At this point, you’re not looking for great search engine optimization – you need a site that can be expanded, that doesn’t do anything to get it banned from Google and other search engines, and that looks good for investors. Start with a few pages: Home, About Us, About our Product or Service, Resources, Contact Us. 4. Good photos. It’s true that “a photo is worth a thousand words.” Make sure you have great product or service photos. These can be used on your website, in your printed materials and in presentations. Grainy, dark and low-quality images will not help you present your company in a professional manner. Need help with any of these materials for your start-up? Contact CO Design Studio today for a quote so you can start budgeting for these essential marketing components.

The type of paper or vinyl we use for your print run will have an impact on the look and feel of your finished product. Other things that have an impact on the cost is the following: - Finishing: Embossing, doming, UV lamination, foiling and more - Double or Single Sided printing - Full Colour or Black and White Printing - Thickness of paper - Lifespan of vinyl - Gloss or matt vinyl or paper - Amount of prints or material used: Costs come down per unit on digitally printed items like flyers, business cards and posters. Litho printed items are also less expensive than digitally printed products. Talk to us about the result you’re looking for, we’ll be able recommend a stock that suits your needs and stays in your budget.

Adding a finish to your printed product can really help it to stand out from the crowd. Laminates, varnishes and bindings can all transform the look of your brochure, book, flyer or business cards, so don’t be afraid to try something a little different.

Folded leaflets can be folded in a variety of different ways, in fact they’re so versatile that the number of possibilities can be overwhelming. From gate folds for mailing to concertina folds for menus, whatever type of business you have, there’s a type of folded leaflet for you. Restaurants, cafes, financial service providers, estate agents - you name it and folded leaflets will feature in their marketing strategy somewhere. They don’t just hold virtually endless creative possibilities either, practically there are lots of advantages to the various types of fold, each suitable for a specific marketing message or promotional purpose. Single fold: This is the simplest type of fold, where the sheet is folded once in the middle. For example, taking an A4 sheet and folding in half you will end up with an A5 folded leaflet. For this reason, it is often called a half fold. Roll fold: This type of fold is where each page folds in on itself. It is typically used to produce a trifold leaflet such as a one third A4 leaflet or a DL leaflet. This is where an A4 sheet is folded it to three sections, the right-hand page is folded inwards and then folded in again. If a roll leaflet has more than six pages you simply continue folding each page inwards. As each page has to be progressively smaller than the previous, it best to check with your printer for their specifications. Z-fold (Concertina): A concertina folded leaflet (also known as zig-zag folding or z-fold) looks a lot like an accordion, especially when it has more than 6 pages and depending on its size it can have up to twelve pages. Each page will be the same size and the leaflet will open out to one long document, this can allow information to run from one page on to the next.

The easiest way to send us artwork is to email it to info@codesignstudio.co.za. If the file is too big for email, please use We Transfer or Google Drive and send us the download link. Outputting your artwork to PDF/vectors is the preferred format for high quality printing. We require the following export settings in your PDF: - 3 to 5mm bleed - CMYK for print (RGB will not be accepted) - All text curved - Crop marks - Bitmap Images or Jpegs at lease 300dpi

Yes. Artwork approvals/proofs help to ensure everyone is happy with the finished result and give everyone an opportunity to spot mistakes with the design or format. We do not start production on any orders before receiving artwork approval of the order. Our approval documents have the following terms and conditions on all printed orders.

For us to proceed with your order, please follow these steps: Create an account and fill in all of your details so that we can contact you. Upload your artwork (if you have your own print ready files) at the File Share page for us to process the printing order. This can be done before or after placing your order at checkout. Select the product you would like to have printed from the Shop menu and procceed to checkout. Ensure that you have checked all of the details of the selected product carefully before checkout. If you require designs for your products, please indicate so in the Add Note box with checkout - we will contact you to discuss your ideas and give you a quote on the designs. A pricelist of design services is available for download at the bottom of the website. All products are set for Collection for Pretoria, as a standard, but delivery can be arranged on request. Please indicate this in the Add Note box with checkout - we will send you a quotation for a courier service. We will not ask you for any sensitive information (credit cards, password or banking info) as all payments are done off site, at your own discretion via EFT or cash arrangements. All other personal information collected on this site will stay private and will never be shared. Once you have done the above, we will send you the invoice via email. If you did not receive it within 1 hour, please contact us urgently at 072 649 5756 or email to info@codesignstudio.co.za. You can also pop us a message in the chat box at the bottom right for a quick response to any queries you may have. Please email or Whatsapp the Proof of Payment of 50% deposit. Full balance required before printed product is delivered or final design files are sent. We will keep you updated on the progress of your order throughout the process and we are available for any questions, 24/7.

It’s always important to ask when a job will be completed. Often the lead time depends on a number of different factors, so it’s best to find out when you need to get the artwork through for printing or sign it off to meet your deadline. Every job is different. Some jobs can be produced in minutes while some may take several days to complete. Let us know when you need your job completed and we'll let you know if it can be done.

The technology of design, layout and printing has come a long way to the point where much of the work is done in a WSYWIG (What You See Is What You Get) digital environment. However, there are sometimes noticeable differences in colour calibration and spatial conformity from monitor to monitor and consequently from screen to print. The process for minimizing any variance begins with adjusting your monitor for optimal colour and clarity according to the manufacturer's recommendations as outlined within its product manual or website. Doing this will alleviate a number of potential issues.

Pantone colours refer to the Pantone Matching System (PMS), a colour matching system used by the printing industry whereby printing colours are identified by a unique name or number (as opposed to just a visual reference). This helps make sure that colours turn out the same from system to system, and print run to print run.

All files should be sent to us as press-ready PDF files. If you are unable to send files in this format then a other files can be sent. We will convert this file and send it back to you for approval. If you are happy then we can proceed to print.

Bleed is printing that goes beyond the edge of where the sheet will be trimmed. In other words, the bleed is the area to be trimmed off. The bleed is the part on the side of a document that gives us a small amount of space to account for movement of the paper, and design inconsistencies.

We keep all files on our systems indefinitely. If you don’t want us to keep your files please let us know and we will delete them after printing.

All orders as set for collection from Pretoria East, unless you specify otherwise. If you inform us that you would like your order delivered to you, we will provide you with a courier quote. Products will be delivered to the address received on your profile. Delivery takes between 7-10 working days from the date of your order placed. Your product will only be shipped or available for collection once full payment has been received for the order.