Tag Archives: graphic design

Meet Sarah

by Erika Firm Posted on March 20, 2013
Meet Delphine graphic designer Sarah Croswell
Meet Delphine Sarah Croswell1.My role at Delphine/what I do all day: 
Make bad decisions look pretty…
2.Describe why you went into graphic design.
It’s always challenging and always changing.
3.Where do you draw inspiration from?
color, other artists, the streets.
4.What would you do if you won the lottery today?
Travel
5.What is your favorite font?
It would be easier to tell you my least favorite(s).
6.How do you stay organized?
I prefer organized chaos.
7.Which super-power would you like to have.. mind reading or invisibility?
Invisibility 
8.What do you listen to while working?
Anything Pandora throws at me… I’ve got pretty eclectic taste. It all just depends on what I’m in the mood for.
Black keys, Black Crowes, Top 40, Kanye West, Jack Johnson and Michael Jackson.
9.What is your Favorite Delphine design and why?
Chevron – its simple, modern & bold.
10.Name 3 things you can’t live without.
1. My Family
2. My Dog
3. My Mac… sad, but true
11.What is the best piece of advice you have ever gotten? (include who it was from)
” Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain” – one of the far decent fortunes i’ve ever gotten in a cookies. I keep it in my wallet.
12.What is the latest book that you have read?
Change By Design – Tim Brown
13.What is your favorite place to eat in Charleston?
Dukes & Hometeam BBQ 
14.What keeps you going throughout the day?
Prozac and Coffee
15.How do you get past creative blocks?
(.)(.) 
16.Are you a Twilight, Hunger Games, or Harry Potter series fan?
If I’m being forced to choose, which i feel like i am…i would have to say Harry Potter
17.What is your favorite thing about Charleston?
Certainly not the drivers… I love the laid back atmosphere and copious amounts of creativity
18.What is the craziest line of text a client has ever asked for on an invitation?
nothing has shocked me yet. I think whats crazy is trying to fit 35+ lines of text on a 15 line card
19.What’s your favorite color?
It changes daily.
20.What’s your favorite movie?
Step Brothers
21.What’s your favorite book?
At the moment… Sarah’s key – Tatiana de Rosnay & Loving Frank – Nanoy Horan
Something you might not know about me are..
 ( well, pretty much everything since we don’t know each other)
22.My pet peeve.
borrowing without asking!
23.Where were you born?
Columbia, South Carolina
24.Best advice for a bride?
  Listen to our design suggestions! Quality printing takes time – order in advance!!
25.Favorite magazine?
 Architectural Digest
 26.Favorite Blog?
Delphine Ephemera… obviously and anything that gives me a chuckle.
I GIVE UP. 
—Sarah C.
 
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Chromatic & Co. Paper Goods | Branding by Delphine

by Erika Firm Posted on January 31, 2013

Stationery company Chromatic & Co. branding by DelphineOf all the branding projects I’ve worked on over the last few years, this one is most near and dear to my heart. As any designer can tell you, designing for yourself is nearly impossible. After many starts and stops, crumpled sketches, head banging, hand wringing, and second guessing I’m beyond thrilled to present our new brand, Chromatic & Co.

It’s our newest paper adventure, and the focus is all about color. Inspired by the golden age of advertising, and the trappings of a graphic design studio circa 1959, the brand has a decidedly retro vibe. You can check out the inspiration board we’ve been using at the studio to help guide our new brand on our Project Chromatic board on Pinterest.

Check back soon for snapshots of our new business cards, press kits, and other collateral. Meanwhile, please pay Chromatic & Co. a visit online, and by all means, follow ChromaticCo on Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook, too! (Instagram & Vine coming soon).

Chromatic and Co. logo and branding by DelphineUPDATE: 5/17/2013: just got word that this logo won a graphic design award from HOW Magazine. Yippee!

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Moretti Polenta | Nice Package

by Erika Firm Posted on July 9, 2012

Moretti Polenta Package DesignIt’s too hot to stand over a stove stirring Polenta right now, which is the only reason I didn’t scoop up a package of Moretti when I was at the grocery store the other day. The packaging is delightful that I can pretty much guarantee my kid would eat this if he saw the package first.

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J. R. Watkins Natural Apothecary | Nice Package

by Erika Firm Posted on March 26, 2012

J.R. Watkins Package DesignYou all (or, now that I’m back home in SC, “y’all”) know I’m a sucker for package design. I love the J. R. Watkins packaging so much that I now skip the tedious step of transferring dish soap and hand soap to another container. I just leave them out on my sink! I first spotted them at Target, but there are lots more products for sale directly from J. R. Watkins and next time I run low I’m going to order directly from the source.

I do some package design for a Scandinavian apothecary, and my goal is always to design something that the user will display on their counter, not hide in a cabinet. From a designer’s perspective, this brand is getting it right: the branding and design is consistent, but not boring. The color palette references the scent of the product, and I like how they have left the actual product clear/free of dyes. I looked around the web and can’t find credit for who is responsible for the design, so I think they are doing it in house. Love it!

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Papershell Pecan Trees | Nice Package

by Erika Firm Posted on March 12, 2012

Papershell Pecan Trees Packaging DesignWhile out shopping for supplies for the new house last weekend I saw this cool packaging at the local Lowe’s garden center. I love the retro illustration and typography.

photo//Erika Firm

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Social Media for Creatives: A NCGD Meetup Thurs. Feb 9, 2012

by Erika Firm Posted on January 25, 2012

social media for creatives It’s time for another functional North County (San Diego) Graphic Design event! Please join us Thursday, February 8, 2012 from 5:30pm — 8pm at the Smart & Social office (inside Cedros Works at 444 S. Cedros Ave. in Solana Beach, California) for a free seminar about Social Media for Creatives.

Sondra Drahos and Sugar Jones of Smart & Social, will discuss how to use social media to help grow a creative business.

“The name Smart & Social came from the idea that we can help smart business people with their social media.” — Sugar Jones

Sondra and Sugar are professional bloggers and social media managers. They love working with local companies and connecting them with national brands. Their client list includes GM, Invisalighn, Vicks, Nintendo, Ford, Nissan, Tiny Prints and Fisher-Price.

R.s.v.p. by leaving a comment on this blog (or on the LinkedIn thread or email Kathy or I directly). To join our LinkedIn group: do a GROUPS search for “North County Graphic Designers” on LinkedIn to join (free). As always, feel free to bring a recent or i progress project to share.

Hope to see you all there. All creatives welcome. NCGD co-founded by Delphine and KMG. Logo/artwork by Kathy McGraw. This is a free event. We will probably order pizza, so bring a few dollars to chip in.

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North County Graphic Design Meetup: Wed. Feb. 1, 2012

by Erika Firm Posted on January 23, 2012

north county san diego graphic design meetup february 1 2012North County San Diego Designers: Please join us Wednesday, February 1, 2012 |  8 am – 9 am at E Street Café in Encinitas, California

Kick off the day on a positive note with other North County graphic designers. Feel free to bring a recent project to share.

R.s.v.p. by leaving a comment on this blog (or on the LinkedIn thread or email Kathy or I directly). To join our LinkedIn group: do a GROUPS search for “North County Graphic Designers” on LinkedIn to join (free).

Hope to see you all there. All creatives welcome. NCGD co-founded by Delphine and KMG. Logo/artwork by Kathy McGraw. This is a free event. Coffee/snacks available for purchase at the café.

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Creativity Lesson

by Erika Firm Posted on January 5, 2012

David Lecours Powerpoint Slide Lesson Tips

Design is all about communication. David Lecours is sharing some of his communication tips next week with seminars about how to design and deliver a professional slide presentation. The class is geared toward non-designers (though I’m sure fellow designers could learn a few things from David!)

Some designer “secrets” David will share:

+ Why Multimedia Creates a Deeper Connection With Your Audience
+ How to Avoid Death by PowerPoint
+ Where to Find Great Photography and Illustration
+ Motion: How To Use Builds, Transitions and Video
+ How To Write Memorable Content That People Will Share
+ How To Make Sure Your Presentation Is The Right Length of Time

David has a few scholarship slots available! I’m talking to you, interns!

For more information and/or to register visit slidebyslide.

 

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Krak-n-Coke | Nice Package

by Erika Firm Posted on January 3, 2012

Kraken Rum and Polar Bear Coke PackagingI’ve always been a sucker for good packaging. I can remember agonizing over Hello Kitty purchases at the mall, then hating to open the package when I got home so as not to ruin my new treasure.

These days I still love pretty packages. I try to only buy stuff I need, but I just couldn’t resist the awesome Kraken Rum bottle when I first spied it in the grocery store last summer. (Sidenote: California is awesome! We can buy alcohol in the grocery store!!) That was a few bottles ago, and it is now classified as a need. I’m slightly embarrassed to say how many we’ve gone through since that first bottle.

I also adore the cute white polar bear Coca Cola cans. Instead of hiding them in the pantry, I have them displayed on a shelf in the studio. Apparently the cans were a bust for Coca Cola, and they quickly revised the art to a red can because people were “confused.” But I think they’re great, don’t you?

RECIPE: Here’s how John makes Krak-n-Coke: fill highball glass with ice; add 2oz. rum; throw in a squeeze of lime (or a whole keylime); fill with Coke.

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