1. Approaches in Designing Stationery Systems
08/28/2016 Design for Advertising
Miriam Ahmed

2. Letterhead: First Things First
When designing a letterhead, start by placing the most important elements on the art board first, and design those.
First, most important: the graphic mark
On stationary, graphic marks do not need to be more than 1 inch big, (unless you’re deliberately designing unconventionally). Scale your graphic mark down to suit.
Then decide on a placement. One that is unconventional so that your design will stand out from the crowd and be memorable.
Keep practical letter requirements in mind and leave a large, clear area for typing an actual letter.
Unless bleeding, keep your graphic mark at least half inch margin away from the edge of your paper and within 3 inches from top or bottom, or 1.5 inches from either side.
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3. Letterhead: First Things First
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4. Letterhead: First Things First
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5. Letterhead: Contact Info
Then insert the second most important information: contact info including address, phone, fax, , website, social media icons, etc.
You can also add the name of the contact person and his/her title.
Place this information in harmony with the graphic mark. In an unconventional place.
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6. Letterhead: First Things First
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7. Letterhead: Typography
Then DESIGN the text.
Select a legible typeface that complements the graphic mark design. Quite frequently, the typeface used in the logo, as long as it is legible at small sizes, will work well.
Your contact info should not be smaller than 8 points, and should not be more than 12 points unless your unconventional design demands it.
Add type treatments like tracking, leading, weight, italics, uppercase letters, corporate colors, rotation, type-on-path.
Use type treatments to emphasize and differentiate information
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8. Letterhead: First Things First
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9. Letterhead: First Things First
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10. Letterhead: First Things First
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11. Letterhead: First Things First
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12. Letterhead: Graphic Elements
Then add secondary design elements
Place in unconventional locations
Try large-scale cropped designs that bleed
You may need to slightly reposition previously designed elements (graphic mark and contact info)
Avoid the cliché watermark, instead use saturated colors and opaque elements
Do not take away from the space for typing the contents of the letter
Remember to design the reverse side of the letterhead page
09/5/2013 Design for Advertising

13. Letterhead: First Things First
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14. Letterhead: First Things First
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15. Letterhead: First Things First
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16. Envelope: Consistent Design
Envelope design should contain the graphic mark, contact info, and design elements in locations and sizes that match the letterhead
Remember to design the reverse side of the envelope, and the flap
Flaps can be die-cut into shapes that complement your design theme
Insides of envelopes can also be designed – eg. With solid colors, or patterns
Use US Post Office restrictions
Name and address in top left
To: address in middle
Clear space on top right for postage stamp
Clear space on bottom right for barcode printing
09/5/2013 Design for Advertising

17. Envelope: Post Office Requirements
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18. Business Card: Consistent Design
Business card design should contain the graphic mark, contact info, and design elements in locations and sizes that are consistent with the letterhead and envelope
BUT: business cards should stand out more therefore they should be designed more boldly or innovatively
Business cards have 2 sides. Place the graphic mark on 1 side, and contact info on the other. Don’t put the graphic mark on both sides.
Business cards can be die-cut into shapes that complement your design theme
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19. Business Card Design
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20. Business Card Design
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21. Business Card Design
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22. Business Card Design
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23. Business Card Design
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24. Business Card Design
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25. Business Card Design
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26. Business Card Design
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27. Business Card Design
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28. Assignment 6 – Visual Identity
PART 1: Refine Graphic Mark
Keeping the 4 rules of graphic mark design in mind, refine your designs for both Live on U and Drizzle
PART 2: Stationery Design
Following the guidelines in this presentation, design a letterhead, envelope and business card for both firms
DUE: Wed Sept 30, 2016