Guest House gets a design makeover

It was quite a while since I completed The Lugano Guest House’s new look website… however I am pleased to say it didn’t end there – I have still been extremely busy helping them refresh other elements within the hotel to be consistent with their new site. 

A visitors experience is influenced by every element of their stay, from the friendly welcome on arrival and the cleanliness of the rooms to the professionalism of the fire notice, presentation of their information pack and finally the breakfast menu in the morning. All these things are equally important and despite the service at The Lugano being up to scratch, these other design elements just weren’t quite to the same standard. But that was back then – things have changed – and you now won’t be disappointed!

I started with their menu – originally this was just a double sided, laminated sheet, which was propped up by the salt and pepper shakers. It did it’s job, but it didn’t wow you! I adopted the content and re-created the menu in a small A5 folded down to A6 format. Still laminated, but this time, the card is trimmed down so there’s no messy rim around the edge.

A bold and eye catching cover speaks for itself and shows you what to expect – not just a full english, but by the looks of it a well thought out, nicely presented and tasty one too.

Inside is simple – to the point and easy to understand. Nothing more, nothing less!

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Within each room you will also see new signage and information pack covers, following the same branding.

and…

It’s natural for us to judge places by their appearance, whether rightly or wrongly. But with a little bit of work, this can work in your favour, letting you stand out amongst your competition and help ensure a new group of customers to come back again soon.

The Lugano Guest House in Weston-super-Mare are available for bookings now! Visit www.thelugano.co.uk to check availability. 

NEW identity for Electrical Renovations

I did say it has been a busy period didn’t I! Here’s another brand I have been working on…

Electrical Renovations is a new company, a reliable and multi-talented company, ready to transform your home.

It’s ever so difficult to find a reliable, friendly and honest electrician/ builder/ decorator these days. Seeing how some companies can manipulate and take advantage of those of us who don’t have the first clue about DIY – it is refreshing to see someone on the scene who is none of things!

Based in Hertfordshire, Electrical Renovations are ready and raring to help you! I have worked with them to create a professional and effective logo and brand identity.

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From a page full of different ideas; with some focusing on one element of Electrical Renovations’ expertise, others looking at their wider spectrum of skills; we took two forward.

This ‘electric bolt’ was the first I developed. Brilliant and bright, you certainly wouldn’t be able to miss their van passing by! Clean, simple and professional – sums them up perfectly so far.

It also worked nicely with on stationery, as you can see…

However, the consensus was that this logo screams ‘ELECTRICIAN’, which yes is correct – however Electrical Renovations are much much, more than just your local electrician. This is their Unique Selling Point (USP) and therefore is something that should definitely be demonstrated instantly through their logo. Why employ several workmen, when you can have one? You can save time, money and keep consistency – seems like a great idea to me!

Idea 2 was the ‘jack of all trades’ concept. As you can see, it covers all aspects of the business and sets out your expectations.

We aren’t being quite as ‘in your face’ here, instead it is just a modest and honest representation of the services you can expect to receive. Nothing more, nothing less. Exactly what you are looking for when skipping through the yellow pages – perfect!

This logo works in a more conventional way, but leaves their business cards looking ultra professional. Using the icons as a pattern on the reverse ties the card together, and with a spot varnish on these icons, it is the icing on the cake!

We cannot forget the paperwork either – all of Electrical Renovations’ paperwork is branded up, here I’ve used the rounded edges to create a strong format.Watch this space as I am still working on adverts and the finishing touches to the rest of Electrical Renovations stationery set.

And remember, if your company needs a help in hand to catch the eye of your prospective clients, get in contact for a competitive quote! Just visit www.helenshillabeer.co.uk to find out more!

Time for a healthy new logo?

I have been so busy lately doing lots of creative gubbins, for lots of interesting customers… So I thought it would only be fair to start sharing some of these things with you… wouldn’t you say?

Having a logo that sums you up perfectly isn’t an easy feat, especially when there are so many different elements that need to be taken into consideration from the outset – relevance, legibility, versatility an most importantly to be iconic and memorable (to name a few).

Ruth Taylor Nutrition came to me needing an image to represent her Nutritional Therapy business. She already has a web presence but no identity.

This zesty logo, represents what nutritional therapy is all about – healthy eating and healthy lifestyles. Despite my initial ideas steering clear of using images of  fruit to start with, through several levels of development it became apparent that fruit is actually the iconic option that sums up Ruth’s profession – but we didn’t want to use a cliché image of an orange, apple or pear! Instead this curl symbolises the fruit and creates a memorable shape for customers to recognise. A professional, yet friendly and approachable business – spot on!

It’s amazing how these elements can provide such positive impacts on so many different health issues – why not contact Ruth to see how she could help you? www.ruthtaylornutrition.co.uk

It is so important in todays climate to have yourself some sort of visual identity. So, if your business is in need of a brand make-over or just a logo, like Ruth – get it touch. Logos start from only £100.

Cards for ALL occasions!

I’ve been a little busy lately thinking of new ways to be creative! Over the past few months or so, I have been designing my own birthday/greeting cards to send to friends and family instead of having the usual rushed trip down to the local card shop to buy a card that isn’t quite what I had in mind – but ‘will do’.

I’ve decided that others (maybe yourselves?) would also rather have a card that is actually what you are looking for. All pre-designed cards (a small selection below) are all priced at 75p each. However, if you have a particular BIG birthday coming up, or a certain message you’d like to send, you can get completely bespoke cards, with your own images and design, for just £1.50 a piece.

INTRODUCTORY OFFER – TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE*
(lowest price card is free – just quote ‘BOGOF’ when ordering)

I guess you could say it is a little bit like ‘Moon Pig’ or the equivalent, however you have much more say over what you are getting – no templates where you just change the words and pictures – you will receive a design that is exactly what you want and at a fraction of the price.

At the moment, I am not venturing into free delivery to your chosen recipient, this actually means that you will get to write your own hand written – more personal message – in it yourself!

Postage is the same whether you buy one card, or ten. Just the price of one first class stamp. That’s all.

My catalogue of designs are constantly growing… watch this space to see more.

This is my first batch:

1. Make a BIG wish
2. Birthday type
3. Birthday gift
4. Wedding hearts
5. Blue flowers
6. You star!
7. Birthday birdies
8. Get well soon
9. Bespoke cards – just send me your requirements

Order yours now by emailing me at hello@helenshillabeer.co.uk with the cards you’d like. And don’t forget, GET TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE*, by quoting ‘BOGOF’ when ordering.

*Offer expires on the 13th March 2011

The Lugano Guest House – Website re-launch!

Some would say that taking a holiday in the UK was what our grandparents used to do, before travelling abroad was more accessible… but how wrong could those people be? Now, with the economic troubles we are facing, more and more of us are deciding to stay closer to home for our summer holidays.

Why not go to Weston-super-Mare? It’s by the seaside, has an awesome Grand Pier, a bustling nightlife and as much proper fish and chips you could dream of! Whatever your favourite type of holiday, Weston is bound to deliver.

Now you’ve chosen the destination, the next dilemma is where to stay… and how do you make the choice between one Guest House and another a few doors down? It becomes a bit of a lottery doesn’t it – from the pictures, prices and locations, they all look the same.

I was approached by The Lugano Guest House, in Weston-super-Mare (you can see where I am going here can’t you!) to design them a new website. By this point I had already designed them some snazzy new business/contact cards…

The Lugano is one of those guest houses which is competing for your business, surrounded by guest houses of the same nature, all offering similar services. My challenge over the past month or so was to design them a site which would let them stand out against their competition.

I believe when we search for accommodation, the appearance and functionality of their website can either be the thing that entices us in or makes us hit the ‘BACK’ button sooner than we can say NO THANKS!.

If we see an old fashioned, poorly presented website – what do our instincts tell us?

From my experience it makes me think that the hotel/guest house/B&B will follow suite. Therefore, my mission was to produce a clean, professional and clear website, which will accurately portray what staying at the Lugano will actually be like. It will happily jump out at you whilst you are trawling through the long list of accommodation options, and hopefully impress you!

Margaret and Roy make your stay a friendly and relaxed one, with an AWESOME cooked breakfast (first hand experience!) and their comments and testimonials prove that alone – but we are a visual species and even if the words are singing their praises, if it all looks untrustworthy and amateurish, we just won’t trust it!

So… if you ever decide to pop down the Weston-super-Mare, pop in and see Margaret and Roy. You won’t regret it!

www.thelugano.co.uk
01934 628 207

If you are a business in the same situation, get in contact to discuss how I could help you too - www.helenshillabeer.co.uk

SNEAK PEAK – Buntings Nursery re-brand

I have been working on the re-brand for the children’s nursery, Buntings. This is an exclusive sneak peak, as the brand will not be launched until the Autumn!

Old Buntings Logo

Buntings came to me, wanting  a refresh for their existing brand. Having used this existing logo since opening, they thought it was time for a new look.

I put myself into the shoes of a youngster who spends their weekdays at Buntings – looking into what they get up to and what stimulates them.

I believe that colours are a large part of childhood and wanted to use them strongly in their new identity. The soft, rounded typeface is friendly, childlike and approachable.

The logo is like a rainbow, bright and inspirational. Nursery life is all about learning, making new friends and having fun, and I think this simple logo sums this up!

New Buntings Logo

Buntings Nursery is based in Buntingford, Hertfordshire. 01763 272 868, email info@buntingsnursery.co.uk or visit www.buntingsnursery.co.uk for more information.

Give your business or group a boost with some professional, affordable design – visit my website to take a look at what I can do for you! www.helenshillabeer.co.uk

Hertfordshire Nanny Agency website now LIVE!

Hertfordshire Nanny Agency have now officially launched their new business and subsequently their shiny new website!

I would like to thank everyone for the feedback I received about how this site should function, and the ways to make the site more interactive… It was very valuable to know what the prospective customers would want from a site like this! Although you will not see any interactive contact forms on the site at the moment, we are working on it, so watch this space.

This site has multiple functions, other than being  informative and letting everyone know what Hertfordshire Nanny Agency do, it is also used as a tool for Parents and Nannies alike. There are different downloadable forms to fill in, to either register yourself as a Nanny or for a parent to put in an application for a new position. It was essential to make it easy to navigate for these different groups of people, so we have two areas of the website dedicated to each group. It couldn’t be easier!

The photography used throughout the site was commissioned from Carolyne Burton Photography and I feel it adds to the site tremendously. Her photos compliment the shape of the panel at the top of the site, which tightens the whole design. A good job, well done!

Why not take a closer look?

Long time, no see!

It has been a long while since I last posted, and I apologise! Now some might think I’ve been having a break from work, unfortunately you are all wrong. I have been really busy creating new identities, redesigning old identities, building websites and designing for charity…

It is often the case, when in the middle of lots of different, interesting projects – there is just nothing ‘new’ to report, all I can say is watch this space for lots of new design ideas and creations to surface in the next few weeks or so.

Hertfordshire Nanny Agency website – what are your thoughts?

Last week was a busy week, with the elections taking up a lot of my time! Now I have recovered from the long shift in the polling station on Thursday – I am ready to tell you about some other things I have been up to.

I am currently working on a website  for Hertfordshire Nanny Agency. Having already developed a brand identity, logo and series of application forms for the company, the next step is the build them a functional and attractive website!

A nanny agency is a company we should trust – especially as we are trusting that our children will be safe with them! I have developed this very traditional logo, to express the companies values of being professional, trustworthy and well established.

I love this font – Century School Book – it flows beautifully and works nicely with it’s Helvetica counterpart.

Their website will have two sections, one for the parents wanting to register for a nanny and the other for the nannies themselves to register and search for any available job opportunities. The design and navigation of the site is going to focus around these two areas, making it as useful and informative as possible.

It is always great to get some consumer comments and ideas, as it really helps a project blossom. As I am still in the development stages of this site , it seems an ideal opportunity to ask you some questions!

– what would you want to see from a nanny agency website? (ie. amount of words, images, interactivity?)

- would you be happy to download an application form, fill it in and send it back?

- what imagery would make you feel at ease about the company and therefore like to see? (ie. posed/natural shots, photos of children and/or nannies?)

Thank you for your help!

BIG birthday invites!

We all love a good birthday party, but a 90th birthday needs that extra special touch!

I have designed bespoke invitations, which will be sent out soon, to invite friends and family to come together to celebrate! They are printed on textured cream 300gsm card – making them feel amazing!

Everyone needs to RSVP to such an important event – however I didn’t want this to distract from the overall design, so my solution was this little tab, which can be cut away and returned, leaving the invite intact!

These were a true pleasure to design and my little contribution to Mary’s day!