Insights
The 2020 Annual Report: Difficult year, tough assignment
In any “normal” year, the annual report is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on great achievements, goals reached or exceeded, and bold strategies realized. But there’s nothing “normal” about 2020. Many companies, including Cleveland Design, took a hit to our...
The nature of design: the Fibonacci sequence and the Golden Ratio
The great thing about being a graphic designer in the Boston area is having the opportunity to take in all the nature that presents itself in New England this time of the year. The sunflowers in my garden are tall, strong and they seem to keep the hope alive that...
How to avoid an infographic fail: do’s and don’ts
Everybody loves infographics. They are a great way to visualize information and engage your audience in an interesting way. But what really makes an infographic successful? A lot more goes into it than just tossing together some numbers with pretty graphics. Bad...
Building trust creates long-lasting relationships
At Cleveland Design, the majority of our clients have been with us for 10 plus years. We have never been an agency that shows up, does a project, then disappears to hunt for the next new client. We develop client relationships that stand the test of time – through...
Blending in and standing out: embracing the blended agency model
Over the past few years there has been a rise in the number of companies creating in-house agencies. The latest report from the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), found that 78% of marketers have some type of in-house agency, an increase from 58% in 2013 and...
Content marketing: when sharing beats selling
The term “content marketing” is a term that has gained increased currency in recent years. But it’s more than just a buzzword. Indeed, content marketing has become an important part of the marketing mix for many B2B companies, including a number of Cleveland Design...
Creating a cohesive family: tackling the challenge of brand flexibility
A crucial step in building strong brands is creating a strong alignment between the visual and verbal elements of the brand. The brand imagery, color palette, icons, typeface, and brand voice must all work in concert to create a solid foundation for the brand....
When TP goes MIA: Brand loyalty vs. rough choices
On a day in early March I went grocery shopping and picked up a pack of Charmin Ultra Strong Mega Roll, the toilet paper I have become brand loyal to for a number of years. (I admit, I’m not a fan of the family of bears discussing their clean bums, but I still love...
The 8 essentials to include in your company’s brand guide
Does your company need a brand guide? The short answer is yes. Brand guidelines are essential for establishing and maintaining consistency across all of your brand communications and touchpoints. Everyone involved in brand building, from designers to CEOs, will be...
The Tokyo Olympic posters are out, and here are our favorites.
The official posters for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics have debuted. This exciting and diverse collection was created by fine artists, graphic designers, calligraphers, and photographers from Japan and beyond. There are 20 posters, including 12 representing the Olympics,...
