Meade Design Group - The Blog - Interior Design Victoria BC: Graphic Design Victoria BC

Showing posts with label Graphic Design Victoria BC. Show all posts

Saturday, 21 December 2013

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

The team here at MEADE DESIGN GROUP want to wish everyone and their families a very Happy Holidays and all the best in the new year!

We hope you enjoy our extra special video message below!

Sunday, 15 December 2013

One of our favourite projects this year has been the creation of our own delicious line of tea. This has been a really fun internal exercise in which we were contemplating all the logistics of creating a product, branding it, and make it part of our work culture.

We started with the 4 basic kinds of tea: Black, White, Green and Rooibos. From there we collaborated with tea experts that helped us to create our own blends. After a lot of tea tasting we determined which blends reflected our own preferences in flavours, but also blends that would be appealing to a large public, and showcase how unique we are.

Once we had the blends to a tea; we went to the packaging design and label design. We wanted the product to have a reference from the old world but with a contemporary feel to it. Our inspiration word was “Alchemy”.

Initial Tea Prototype

Once we had the alchemy idea we started the hard job of finding the packaging but we were extremely lucky as we found these really cool apothecary glass jars to pack the teas in. We also wanted the tea to be a reflection of our work culture, so planning the graphic design and branding of the labels was a lot of fun.

From there we had one the most difficult tasks – what about the name? What about the brand? We decided to use our own monogram, MDG, as a reference to the studio and we give Latin names to the teas to tie in the concept of alchemy and formulas.

For the black tea we selected the name of “Aurea” which means gold in Latin as we added gold pearls to add a sophisticated and sweet note to it. The white tea was named “Jasminium” to reference the floral and fresh notes on it. The Green tea was named “Citrus” for its Seville orange, mandarin and bergamot notes. Finally the rooibos blend was called “Lavandula” for its French Province notes and the hint of lavender in it.

Final Label and Packaging Design

With the holiday season upon us we took the idea one step further and created a Christmas tea. We combined an exquisite special blend of black teas, bergamot oils and the perfect balance of dry fruits to give it a festive, but yet unique flavour that reminded us of Christmas memories. We named the blend “Ferias” which in Latin means celebrations.

Our Xmas Tea (Special Edition)

During our experimentations to develop “Ferias” we discover that if you mix a half cup of tea, with a 1/4 cup of milk and a 1/4 cup of frothed eggnog you can create the most delicious Ferias Egg Nog Latte – The balance in flavours is truly an experience you need to try.

Even Echo and Jordan had some fun creating an ad for our website with our Xmas Tea Edition. It is all about shameless self promotion, right!

O Christmas Tea, O Christmas Tea

How Lovely is Your Fragrance,

Dried Fruit and Nuts,

Filling Teacups.

You Give Us So Much Pleasure!

O Christmas Tea, O Christmas Tea

A Meade Design Group Treasure!!!

The response to our tea line with friends and clients has been phenomenal. The great feedback has our brains buzzing with ideas for new ways to represent and promote the Meade Design Group brand. I believe it is important to have fun internal projects so that we can have carte blanche where we design without constraints and to flex our creative muscles in new ways.

All that creativity is thirsty work, tea anyone?

Friday, 11 October 2013

autonomous FURNITURE COLLECTIVE

One of the most exciting projects we have worked on this year is the development of the brand and graphic identity for Autonomous Furniture Collective. A Victoria BC based company that develops furniture made with traceable resources by local designers.

I had the pleasure of meeting Kirk Van Ludwig and Jodie Webb a long time ago, and when they decided to start their own furniture company they, invited me to be involved with the graphics and brand direction. Since the first meeting I was blown away with their product and concept for their shop. After our first meeting I knew we needed to design something that is relatable not just locally but globally. Their product has so many unique qualities that I wanted to be part of the brand: traceability, local design, quality design, unique materials, and the list keeps going.

Alta Table by Autonomous Furniture Collective

To have a solid product in the marketplace we needed to start developing a brand that will complement the product and the idea behind it, as well as where the product was going to be sold. After all, Autonomous is a new business and we wanted to use their fresh approach as an advantage.

Walnut Coffee Table and Ebony Bow Tie Detail

After much deliberation, the name was decided: “Autonomous Furniture Collective” – We wanted to give the shop a gallery feel and create a new experience for every customer. Every time you purchase a piece you will know where the history of the wood or other materials used – their former life and where they are coming from; in addition to the designer of the piece – Autonomous’s designers are mostly local and talented artisans that are members of the Furniture Collective. People who appreciates good design, quality, and timeless pieces that act as sculptural forms while maintaining their ability to be used in everyday life. The pieces become a part of your home and lifestyle developing a nice natural patina and depth. Aging as they would in nature.

After we had the logo designed we needed to position the company, so we came up with a phrase to distinguish them in the marketplace - “the new west coast”. This phrase was born as a way to let the customers know that this is a new product and that it is possible to re-invent what people consider to be pure west-coast design. After all, the main material in their furniture pieces is sourced in the west coast. We further this notion with the phrase “Sculptural forms that are at once urban and rural”.

With all the brand elements and logo in place it was time to start having some fun and develop their stationary package. We wanted something sexy, unique and memorable; just like their pieces of furniture. We selected a beautifully textured, thick paper in black and we foiled the card in gold to reflect that they are current and that the product is pure quality.

The launch of the brand was at IDS West this year and it was extremely well received, the pieces have already been invited to 3 of the most prestigious show rooms in Vancouver. Thanks to the power of social media, design gurus such as Margot Austin and Joe Ruggiero have shown interest in the pieces which is an incredible sign.

IDWest 2013

All in all we cannot wait to see how far Autonomous will go in spreading the product around the world.

Intrigued??? Visit their new showroom and be surprised!!!

2101 Government Street, Victoria B.C V8T 4P2

www.autonomousfurniture.com

Friday, 26 July 2013

CONDESEO – A logo concept

Earlier this year we were invited to brand what has become the most important Gynecology Congress in San Luis Potosí, México – CONDESEO ( National Congress for Safe Pregnancy and Obstetric Emergencies). This is the first time a congress of this magnitude was presented in Mexico, and even though the logo work was pro-bono (as it was a non-profit event), it was also a great opportunity to support my brother Dr. Paulo Meade Treviño who was the executive president for CONDESEO, it was also inspiring to design something that was going to be heavily featured in my home country. He wanted a new and contemporary image that could represent the event and showcase the state of modern medicine in México. When he completed my creative brief for the logo I was actually surprised to see that he wanted something new, fresh and different. - “Please don’t give me another logo with a mother and child” (apparently this is the standard in the industry).

After we discussed the direction for the logo/brand for the congress I was very fortunate to be given carte blanche to design the graphic identity for the event.

Here are the thoughts behind the logo:

1.- First of all, we wanted to convey a message of communication as this was going to be the first opportunity to discuss this particular topic, also, all the best Gynecologists from México and Latin-America were reuniting for the congress.

2.- We wanted to use colours that represented the city where the congress was going to be held – San Luis Potosi, México – We got the inspiration from the colour that you can see when the sky sets at the end of the day. The skies of my hometown are famous for these hues

3.- To maintain the simplicity we used an organic form and reproduced it 3 times, reducing its size to convey the Mother, the Doctor, and the Child while the interactions/transparencies and changes in colour represent the meaning of their relationships, the smallest element, which is an oval figure represents – Life and the moment of birth.

4.- For the typographical solution we used a font from the Zag family to playfully arrange the text in a block using uppercase lettering to represent the importance of the event. The softness and roundness of the typography was selected to add a friendlier atmosphere.

This congress was held last week and it has been considered the best congress ever held in the field. I just want to take this opportunity to say how proud I am of my brother for organizing CONDESEO and setting the bar so high and for inviting us to participate.

I invite you to see a quick video of the congress and the branding elements used throughout. From banners, to pins, and informational brochures, etc.

CONDESEO

Saturday, 15 October 2011

Introducing… Meg de Candia

This is quite possibly our most fashion forward logo yet.

We were thrilled when international handbag designer Meg de Candia asked Meade Design Group to help her re-brand herself with a new logo, business cards, and an invitation/brochure design.

I also believe we had all the right ingredients for this project. The trust of a talented designer, a gorgeous product to inspire us and a dream come true for any designer – Carte Blanche.

We wanted to create a look that would hold it's own against heavy-weight brands such as Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Balenciaga and Kate Spade. Not to toot our own horn, but we think we did with this clean but edgy logo with strong diagonal lines, juxtaposed directions and stacked typography.

The logo also lent itself to a stunning use of repetition with her images and a beautiful custom pattern that was used inside the business cards and layered onto the image at the back of the brochure with a detail shot of the gorgeous hides she uses in her designs

Please visit the identity and print galleries to see the complete project.

Friday, 23 September 2011

Introducing… Edge Architecture

We cannot wait to share our most recent stationery and website package with you – EDGE architecture.

Founder of EDGE architecture Gastón Castaño [maibc] came to Meade Design Group for an identity that would appeal to his design-conscious clientele. His company mantra? "The name edge recognizes the firm’s goal to provide a competitive edge to design practices that want to add value to their project deliverables".

We went for it, with a bold typography style and bleed that is most certainly eye-catching. The stationery was printed in four colours to maximize the punchiness of the edge brand, and even features a die-cut to enhance the unique feature of the offset lettering within the logo.

To learn more about Gastón Castaño and his firm, please check out his website at:

http://www.edge-arch.com/

Wednesday, 23 December 2009

Our Holiday Card 2009

Happy Holidays from all of us at Meade Design Group!

It was another successful year for our annual holiday card, we gave ourselves high expectations after all of the positive feedback we received from last years card - this year we even included a little gift as a token of our appreciation to everyone who made this a great year for us including our colleagues, trades, retailers, friends, family and of course, our clients!

We wanted everyone to embrace their inner child and enjoy the holidays spending time with those important to them.This has been the year that we have all realized what is really important to us and we wanted a card that would reflect that. We also wanted to encourage everyone to get a little creative during their holiday!

We chose a simple retro-modern theme in a crisp red and white colour scheme (to match our holiday decor), with whimsical fonts and imagery. We also included a gingerbread man cookie cutter (secured with a white, linear textured ribbon) and a delicious recipe for everyone to try:

Ingredients

Makes 36

2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for rolling
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/3 cup packed dark-brown sugar
1/3 cup unsulfured molasses
1 large egg
Decorating sugar or sprinkles (optional)

Directions

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, spices, baking soda, and salt; set aside. With an electric mixer, beat butter and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in molasses and egg. With mixer on low, add dry ingredients; mix just until a dough forms. Place dough on floured plastic wrap; pat into an 8-inch square. Wrap well; chill until firm, 1 to 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Divide dough in half. Working with one half at a time (rewrap and refrigerate other half), place dough on floured parchment or waxed paper; roll out 1/8 inch thick, turning, lifting, and flouring dough (and rolling pin) as needed. Freeze dough (on paper) until firm, about 20 minutes.
Loosen dough from paper. Cut out shapes, and transfer to baking sheets.
Bake until firm and edges just begin to darken, 10 to 18 minutes, depending on size. Cool completely on baking sheets. Decorate with sugar or sprinkles, as desired.

We also included the message:

“Embrace your inner child, have fun, and get creative with your loved ones this holiday season by making some tasty treats for everyone to enjoy.

We wish you all a safe, happy and healthy holiday season carrying into 2010 and beyond.

Cheers!

ivan, echo and jeff”

And finished it all off with a red wax bird-shaped seal.

We hope you enjoyed our holiday card this year – thank you so much to everyone, including our blog readers for making this such a special year for us!

PS – If you didn’t receive your card from us this year – we blame Canada Post!

Thursday, 25 June 2009

Examining the Value of a Solid Graphic Identity and Marketing Strategy During a Recession

There is such a difference between cost and value that people are not always willing to acknowledge during trying economic times. I think this is a perfect time to examine the value of a solid graphic identity and marketing strategy with my readers. Not only as promotion for my own business - I would prefer it if this post can be a resource to help businesses in difficult times - but as a quick lesson that shows the general public the significance of what a graphic designer can do for their business.

Graphic Identity for Meade Design Group

It is very common for businesses to reduce their marketing and graphic work to cut costs and overhead when income is not being produced as steadily. However this can greatly affect your business in negative ways; your graphic image is how others recognize you and look at you in a professional manner. If your image begins to slip, others may view this as a weakness in the company's professionalism and that you may not be as productive or resilient as you once were.

Graphic Identity for The Design District

Furthermore, while other businesses around you are cutting these costs this is the perfect time to make your business stand out from the crowd and to elevate your image and professional package above the competition. It is important for your customers to know that they can trust in you and your business in the years to come, remember: it's not always just getting the clients attention with your graphic image, it's keeping their attention, trust and interest.

Advert for Luxe Interiors

This is also the perfect time to approach a designer or public relations representative as many of them are being cut from your competitor's budgets. They may have special rates or packages available while trying to gain a larger client base, this is the case particularly for return clients.

Graphic Identity for Sprouts

Graphic Identity for Queenswood

In situations like these it is also those companies that expand and try things that are outside of the box that will succeed; your graphic designer or marketing team may be able to come up with unique ways to help possible clientele find you. Often times there are various inexpensive advertising methods that are grossly overlooked although proven very successful for those who are willing to try. They may also be able to help you brainstorm limited time offer packaged services that may get you clients that never thought they could afford you. These clients will be very excited to have their opportunity and will most likely return once this offer is gone.

Labels and Ribbon for Finn & Izzy

Ad for Finn & Izzy

This is also a very important time to make sure your website is current, accurate and easy to navigate. Technology is always on the rise and you may be surprised to find out how much business is now generated over the world-wide-web.

Business Card Design for Tafe Measure

If you are a retailer you may want to consider upgrading your website to accommodate online purchases (e-commerce). Your customers are busier than ever and often turn to the internet to save gas, time and money - help them find you with a website that is easily found by search engines and makes it easy to shop from the comfort of their own home. This is also helpful to you - business is much more cost-effective when done on-line; there is no staff to pay but you can remain open for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and are available to possible customers around the globe rather than being restrained to your own town.

Running with Scissors Promotional Items

Running with Scissors E-Commerce Site

Website for Kimberly Williams

Website for Eva Campbell

If you are a service based company, ask your web developer to check on the efficiency of your website: how well the search engines find you, how many people come to your site versus how many contact you from it and what pages they visit. This is very valuable information as to what is working for you and your business. Also be sure to maintain a current portfolio and if possible, change your welcome page often to keep visitors coming back to see what is new and exciting with your business.

Letterhead design for Kimberly Williams

All in all, please be sure never to underestimate value over cost, if you invest and trust in a solid graphic identity and marketing strategy you are sure to reap an abundance of rewards.

Wednesday, 3 June 2009

Bienvenue Milène!

The designers at Meade Design Group are pleased to introduce a new member of our team: Milène Vallin

Mademoiselle Milène Vallin

Milène is a graphic design student from Lyon, France. She is going to be working with us during the month of June as an intern in order to get the necessary credits for her graduation from ESDRA.

Echito, Mademoiselle Milène, Miz Bobbie

We are very excited and honoured that she has come from so far to work with us. She is very talented and very sweet, it s a pleasure to have her in the studio and we are sure you will all welcome her as a part of our team while she is here!

Iván, Mademoiselle Milène and Miz Bobbie

The first task we gave her was to create a new banner to go on the news section of the website. Take a look at the cool design she created for us. She is going to bring a very French eye to graphic design in Victoria, BC while she is here.

Tuesday, 16 December 2008

Our Holiday Card

Our Holiday Cards have been sent and from what we have heard they have been very well received. This year we tried to create a Holiday Card that was different, fun and also environmentally friendly.

In July 2008 we had our Open House with a modern baroque theme to celebrate the completion of our studio. The invitations and signage were inspired by elements of our own studio. The background damask is the same custom pattern that is found in vinyl on our meeting room wall and the royal portrait is a black and white photograph of Salma Hayek (yes that's really her) that is framed in our work area.

After a very successful party we still had several cards left over from printing. We decided to do a more eco-friendly holiday card this year and recycle these in a fun way.

We created custom stamps of the Meade Design Group team as a prelude to what would be found inside. The same concept was applied to the regal Salma and on our home page. By adding a shiny red nose and velveteen antlers to the elegant art work from our Open House Party invitations.

We selected Mohawk Via paper for the inserts. We chose this paper not only for its lovely texture, but also because it's made from 30% recycled fiber and is manufactured with certified renewable wind-generated electricity.

All in all we feel as though we had eco-concious fun with our holiday cards and thought it would be a great story to share with our readers.

REDUCE - REUSE - RECYCLE - RETHINK - REDESIGN

Saturday, 9 February 2008

Introducing our new design studio

I believe that for every designer the best project you can have is your own. This way you are your own client and you know exactly what you want and nobody has a veto power that will repress your creative ideas. In this case the project was our New studio now located in 1316 B Government Street in the heart of Downtown Victoria and just steps away from the new Design District.

When I was hunting for a new space to conceive our next studio I had some clear ideas in mind. I wanted a great location - you know what they say location, location, location... high ceilings, lots of character preferably an older building with my own entrance, east orientation (I myself love the morning light and I believe it is the best light to work with colour), hardwood flooring, a deck would be nice (who doesnt like to have lunch outside in the summer), a real storage room, a really nice little kitchenette, a space that reads classic but yet was contemporary, and a place where I could get my creative juices flowing in a laboratory of my own. I have always loved the word alchemy so why not to have a laboratory where I could create my own alchemy.

Just to keep the entry short and not boring, the hunt started in August and I have to say I just consider myself really lucky that the third place I visited had all of my wish list and even more. This place had excellent bones and a great history behind it. The place I found used to be the Pacific Opera Victoria (POV) home - it had already some talent of its own. I am not really fan of before and after photos but here is what the space looked like when I found it.

Echo and Tiffany checking out the new space

When Jeff saw the space he said "Are you sure this place will work? It is in a very rough shape." I answered YES! Its perfect.

I have this theory that a change its always good. I needed a space that I could make my own, a space where I could manage my own environment. And from there the journey of the new studio started. We had some bumps along the road, delays and some disappointments but also lots of good laughs, new ideas and the hope of having everything done as I envisioned it. Overall though, there was lots and lots of support from the people I have been working with for the last 6 years. I have to say that this entry is an homage to my trades people, my suppliers, my team and everybody who was involved in this project. Their time and their attention to detail is absolutely everywhere and I have to say that this has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. Thank you to all involved in the project !

Now, let me introduce our new studio...