10 Things To Remember When Building Your Brand

This was originally posted on www.ryanfmc.co.uk by 5or6 Managing Director Ryan McNamara, to view the whole post you can find it here.

There are so many ways these days to get your brand out there, but don't forget the fundamentals otherwise all the money in the world and fancy new websites won't make the slightest bit of difference to their overall experience with your brand.

So let's focus on getting the ground work in before you look to start experimenting with what you can do with your brand, because if you don't make a good first impression it is so much harder to win people back around. So if you are looking to build your brand remember these 10 fundamentals before you choose to really experiment with the boundaries of marketing yourself.

#1 - Make A Good First Impression With Your Logo

If you are looking to build your brand, you need get the basics right first. If your logo and identity isn't up to scratch then your get off to a bad first impression. Your logo needs to represent your brand, your clients and what you stand for, make sure you get it right.

#2 - Get Your Logo Everywhere

Everything you send out should have your logo on, make your brand stick in everyone's mind. If you send out mail, make sure your logo is on the envelope, if you send an email have your logo in your email signature. It may sound like common sense but it is an essential practice.

#3 - Choosing The Right Colours

Colours affect the way people interpret your brand, blue's give off a trustworthy vibe, whilst yellow's have a youthful character, think long and hard as to what your company and brand mean and make sure you get the right colours!

This was originally posted on www.ryanfmc.co.uk by 5or6 Managing Director Ryan McNamara, to view the whole post you can find it here.

Newshouse

We have begun work this week on a new line of branding concepts for Newshouse Cocktail bar. Newshouse have created 5 new nights and needed the right branding to promote the new nights.

As the projects get ticked off we will be posting the logos, fliers and posters up on line.

CSA'09 Video

The video for the Charnwood Sports Awards 2009 is up on YouTube now, so you can view it here.

5or6 + ICP = A great design

For the last 2 weeks we have been putting together a web concept for Ideal Chemical Products (ICP), the sealants and adhesives specialists. ICP have been established since 1988, supplying the highest grade products to building contractors all over the country, with there products being used in the construction of the new Wembley and the renovation of the Docklands.

ICP are looking to create an ecommerece website that can supply there building grade products to the everyone. 5or6 have been tasked with designing a website that is accessible to everyone, easy to use yet modern and inviting.

The website will be launched at the begining of December, keep checking back for more information.

Charnwood Sports Awards Tickets

The Charnwood Sports Awards tickets are in and are being sent out on Monday morning to everyone who has been nominated and invited to the event. Here at 5or6 we are sponsoring one of the awards and when we find out which one we will let you know.

CSA'09

The Charnwood Sports Awards 2009 are nearly upon us. The logo has been chosen and the programme and video for the event are being put together as we speak. This year has seen some very high profile sports men and women from the borough being nominated for awards. Swimming World Record holder Liam Tancock, who trains at the University is up for Loughborough University Student Sport Award with fellow Swimming World Record holder Jo Jackson.

For more information on the event click here, yet for more information on the events design work keep checking back here.

Thinking inside the box - Are branding guidelines a restriction on creativity?

All designers will know that when designing for a client there can be some perceived pit falls, namely the dreaded creativity destroying, 'brand guidelines'... Brand guidelines can seem like such a restriction on ones imagination, you always have to stick to the guide. You're never allowed to 'think outside the box' or 'push the envelope' so to speak. Yet is having guidelines such a restriction? Are they terribly detrimental to the overall design?

I have always found having a simple set of rules to govern or guide my design work, an aid rather than a hindrance. I often find myself setting out simple rules for myself when I begin a project, that way I can focus on what the client really wants. This way it stops me from getting carried away with what I really what from it, and there is often a big difference between the two. Remember rules can give order, direction and a purpose to a design.

So next time you're given 'brand guidelines' or restrictions from a client, boss or even a friend don't think of them as a hindrance. They're there to focus your design talents on what is really needed from the finished product, customer satisfaction.

Can you loc8 me somewhere to live?

Loc8 me the student housing company have approached us to help them redesign their website, fliers and posters for this year. Last year we help them with their corporate image and fliers, and this year they have even more houses and so are looking for a massive push into the student market.

Designing for students can be tricky as everything has to be up to date with current fashions, yet because of our experience working with student aimed companies in the past we feel that this is right up our street.

Charnwood Sports Awards '09

5or6 have won the battle of the tenders to produce the branding, programme design, ticket design and videos for the Charwood Sports Awards 2009. The event will take place on Monday the 2nd of November and will be used to showcase the large amount of sporting talent with in the borough. Awards include senior team of the year, young sportsman of the year and University sportsman of the year. Individuals within the borough have been asked nominate individuals and teams to be shortlisted for the event over the last few months.

Over the course of the next month we will be working hard to make the evening as special as we can by providing the best design possible, we will keep you up to date with everything involved and let you know the winners when they are announced at the event.

Street Athletics Final Weekend

This Sunday Albert Square in Manchester is to host the final of Street Athletics, the amazing sports anitactive set up by Darren Campbell and Linford Christie. The final will see children ranging from under 13's up to under 20's competing to win gold, a years supply of Nike training equipment and mentoring from Darren and Linford themselves. Here at 5or6 we wish everyone the best of luck, and hope that the weekend goes well for everyone.

Running out of Time

Street Athletics is coming to an end... However it will be back next year! Street Athletics is an event run by British Olympic legends Linford Christie and Darren Campbell, and does exactly what is says on the tin, it is an athletics event held on the street. It is designed to give inner city children the chance to compete in an organised athletics event and to encourage them into getting into more sport. The event has been running since 2006, yet and we were comisioned to produce the website, along with the branding from 2008, and we did the same this year... we just made it bigger and better! For more information on how to get involved next year visit the site, or go to nuff-respect.co.uk.

The finals for Street Athletics are to be held in Manchester on Saturday the 26th of September, so get down there and support tommorows sporting stars.

New Revolution Fliers ready to go

Revolution the nationwide Vodka Bar chain commissioned us to create a brand for a night of theirs, and so Superstar Boudoir was born, an up market night at a top class venue. Along with the branding fliers and posters were needed to gain awareness of the night.

Dance:Street Contract

We have recently won the contract for the branding and web development of a new Dance School, called Dance:Street. Dance:Street takes street dance teachers into school to give children the chance to try something different. At present we are working on the website as a whole, yet the branding has been created and the holding page for the website is up.