tech•berculosis

Design for the individual, make it count.

A continuing thought from our last post on humanizing design. When you’re designing something for an individual make it count. Take it beyond the next level. Whether it be for a soul mate, friend, or a thank you to a very important client, make the communication matter and move someone on the inside.

How do you take a communication to the next level? Put your heart and soul into it and make it into something bigger than it is. The communication will become the gift. Then it’s meaning will always be remembered.

A re-purposed vintage cigar box as a presentation vehicle.

Inside, a handmade communication packaged in a thin jewel box.

Handmade communication.

Using art to humanize design work in digital days.

Employing art, play and hand techniques in business promotion is nothing new, but in the day of digital abundance it can be a powerful persuader. After all, we remain human and will always respond to the personal touch of the handmade.

The first image is a Halloween promotion created for Isabel Lawrence Photographers (Private Revolution also designed their website). The pre-made box meant to carry goodies, was painted, distressed and stained. A faux tintype photograph was created and tacked to the lid of the box. Finally, an antique (about 100 years old) page from an already colored children’s book added a haunting touch as the liner. It was important to use the actual page giving each piece true individuality and a very personal touch.The following series of images show a handmade album used as a photography portfolio. The cover was treated in the same manner as the box. The introduction pages were designed in photoshop and output digitally. The photos were printed on velvet fine art paper and tipped on to hand cut watercolor paper with photo corners.