Holtzman+Iverson has been hired to design a web site to help promote their expanding catering business, showcase their menu, feature all of the press they’ve been getting and utilize social networking to help expand their market reach.

Keep an eye out in our news for this exciting project’s development.

Holtzman+Iverson develop the site for WordPress which is our publishing platform of choice. With event calendar and standard content management functionality, and WordPress’ inherent SEO, it is sure to be both a powerful marketing tool for the spa and a convenient informational portal for the spa’s patrons.

We will be partnering up with LLI on occasion to design and develop high-end web projects and in-depth online marketing strategies.

Keep an eye out for this up-and-coming interactive agency and our powerful collaboration!

Holtzman+Iverson has completely updated and re-branded Gold Silk Inc., and the web site we designed and built is a large piece of that effort. We’ve designed a new identity, advertising campaign, travel retail website and the new consumer retail eCommerce site pictured.You can see most of these items in our Portfolio.

Holtzman+Iverson worked with owners David G Bau and Daniel Palmer to design the strong identity and logo that adorns the Gallery’s new signage. With a strong Mayan feel, and a jewelry stamp-like icon, the logo reflects the past, present and future of the company.

Keep an eye out for future design work for Mirador, including stationery design, website landing page design and more. Also, be sure to stop by the Gallery’s cafe in back – The Canyon Hideout. They carry an amazing fair trade coffee found nowhere else in Santa Fe!

Chasing a bargain when dealing with something as important as your brand is almost certain to be detrimental to your success and growth. Customers are constantly comparing you with your competitors based on visual perception. If they perceive you don’t value your image, they won’t value it either.

Designers who take on piece-meal jobs generally don’t put much emotional investment in the long-term success of your business, either. Unless you’re in the beginning phase of a long-term partnership, the piece-meal designer will be unwilling to invest the time necessary to research your business. Or to spend long hours, sitting down with you to come to a solid approach to your project. Because of this, he or she won’t be familiar with your company’s needs, goals and visions. Or an understanding of your competitors. But even more importantly, they won’t have a desire to build a working partnership with you.

An excellent long-term relationship with good communication is vital to your company’s branding. Your designer projects your image in a creative way that promotes your business and makes you feel good about how your business looks.

Choose someone who will partner and collaborate with you on the goals, plans and strategies. Do some research; learn about your competitors as well as your customers’ needs. A great designer will pay attention to the small, but often overlooked, details — such as fonts, colors, printing and paper, which will ultimately affect your brand’s appearance.

Work toward long-term image management and overall brand consistency. Each designer has his or her own techniques, so maintaining that consistency is what brands your company. Show your customers the value of a solid partnership by starting with a solid partnership with your designer.

2) The Details Need To Be In Writing.

We’ve all heard horror stories of designers taking payment and not providing the service. A contract or agreement may seem intimidating and unnecessary, but it’s the best way to make sure the job is done the way it was agreed upon in the beginning.

Oftentimes, the project’s details are forgotten or misunderstood. It’s usually simple human error, but it can end up making you feel like your designer doesn’t care. Having the job requirements in writing gives you and your designer something to reference if questions come up as well as giving both parties a clear understanding of what they’re getting into.

Your agreement should state such things as: who keeps the copyright; printing costs; who will order the printing; production schedules; what will happen if the job is canceled; how the job will be priced if it goes beyond the scope of the agreement; the payment terms and what type of payment is accepted.

3) Make Sure You Like the Style

Look at the portfolios of several designers. Style is one of the biggest factors in seeking a designer. His or her style should reflect your vision. If you’re opening a flower shop, you wouldn’t want to work with a designer whose style is full of dark images and heavy typography. It would be very difficult to obtain the look you envision. Conversely, if you’re opening a comic book shop, it might be a perfect match.

4) Go With Experience

A designer with many years in the business will be more expensive than someone who just graduated design school. He or she will also have the experience needed to take your branding to the next level and stay with you through all phases of growth; in the end, the real cost may be less than if you go with the cheapest deal. A less experienced designer can make beginner mistakes, spending precious time on revisions which require more time, attention and frustration for you. And ultimately cost more in the long run in wasted time and money.

In addition to experience, it’s a good idea to find out how long a designer has been living and working in the area. You’ll have to start the search process all over if your designer decides to move.

5) Know Who Will Be Doing The Work

Some firms “farm out” the job, meaning they hire workers who may or may not provide the level of expertise you were expecting. Your jobs may get passed from designer to designer. Consistency may be compromised and it may be difficult to know the status of your jobs.

You will most likely get more attention with a small agency. If you’re working with a small firm, make sure they are capable of meeting your deadlines.

6) It Really Is Okay To Ask For References

Make sure your designer isn’t leaving a trail of unhappy customers. After all, you’re collaborating with this person and the ultimate goal is the success of your business!

Are they willing to work with you on your vision? Or are they stubborn, wanting it their way? You want more than just a “pair of hands.” Your designer should be flexible and eager help you meet your goals. They also should be knowledgeable enough to make suggestions, provide creative problem solving and offer constructive criticism.

In any business relationship, there should be a mutual respect for deadlines. It should be a rare occasion that the designer misses the deadline. On the other hand, great work doesn’t come quickly and your designer will need plenty of time to create your masterpiece. Neither of you want the work “slapped out” at the expense of sacrificing quality.

7) Discussing Cost Is Easier Than You Think

When searching for a designer, don’t base your decision entirely on the short-term cost. Instead, look at the bigger picture and stay focused on your business image as a whole.

A question we hear all the time is “How much do you charge for a [insert item here]?” This question is like asking a home builder how much it costs to build a house. It can be built any size and with the basics or with lots of upgrades. It’s important that your designer have a clear understanding of what you want to accomplish before you ask for a price.

Some things to consider:

Research the going rate in your area. You may be very surprised at how wide the range is. New designers may charge as little as $15 per hour, while large agencies can charge over $200 per hour. For quality, start looking at the mid-range and go up as your budget allows and needs require. Many designers will estimate the job’s total cost based on the number of hours it will take. This will give you an idea of the project price and remove the fear of the unknown hourly rate.

After researching portfolios, talk to your top two or three favorite designers about your project. It will help to know your price range before your meeting. If you aren’t sure, ask how previous projects were priced. If you need to work within a specific budget, ask if that can be done. If the design is more important to you than the price, talk about your ideas and how many concepts you’d like to see. An estimate can be based around the number of concepts.

Some designers will undercut or low-ball the job, trying to get the edge over another designer. These individuals may be more concerned with getting your money than they are about the well-being of your business. The longevity of the relationship may be compromised from the beginning, because they aren’t able to devote the time needed to invest in your business. When you are looking for a relationship that will ideally span many years, both parties need to benefit.

Remember, you ultimately get what you pay for. Be open about your needs and limitations. A great designer will work with you on every level.