Dunya Graphic and Web Design

My extended office in Phoenix, Arizona

2012-02-23T10:20:00.001-08:00

I love my job!

Understanding the Benefits of CMS

2012-01-26T09:50:00.000-08:00

Creating static websites and changing the content can be difficult and time consuming. A Content Management System or CMS can be used to make this much easier. CMS systems have become increasingly popular because they make it very simple to adjust the contents on your site without needing to change the code or other settings, nor do they require that the webmaster possess coding related knowledge.

What is a CMS?

A CMS is also known as a Content Management System. This is a very popular piece of software which can be installed on your website. Common examples include Joomla, Microsoft SharePoint, WordPress.

Change Content Without Changing Code

CMS are very useful for websites because it makes it possible for anyone to edit the content. Not everyone who wants a website will be able to edit the code themselves. By using a CMS it’s possible to allow anyone to easily change the information on the website

Fast

Simply changing a small spelling error or piece of information would normally involve changing the website offline and then uploading the files again via FTP This is very time consuming. It’s much faster and easier if you change the details utilizing a CMS package, as there is no need to re-upload the site files once again.

You may also perform modifications without waiting for a web developer to make the changes you request at additional fees.

Cheaper

Designing a CMS might initially be slightly more expensive than a static website. However, actually maintaining it will be much cheaper. You will not require any special skills to maintain the website.

Better Control

Another reason why CMS software is very popular is because it gives people much better control over websites. It’s easy to write content and then save this as a draft. Additionally it possible to control who can write and who can approve content. It also ensures that all content is approved before being posted on your website.

Growth and Expansion

CMS makes it simple to keep track of all the pages on your website regardless of how many you add. This means that you can minimize the risk of any errors affecting your website.

Credits: webhostinggeeks.com

My extended office

2012-01-23T11:21:00.000-08:00

Today I am working from a little cafe in Ridgefield called Tusk and Cups. They have a nice fireplace and good coffee. I love my job!

Should my email marketing match my website?

2012-01-18T08:17:00.000-08:00

It’s very important to use design elements—such as color, art, logos, etc.—to make visual connections between your Web site and your email. When you sign up email list members on your Web site, you want the email to be an extension of the site that your customers recognize. If there is a disconnect because the email doesn’t look like the Web site, your subscribers may think your email is spam.

Conversely, when you send out emails with a call to action that takes recipients back to a landing page, you don’t want to confuse those readers by sending them to a Web site that doesn’t look like the company you portray in your email.

This happened to me recently. I got an email from a major airline that featured a color scheme that was predominately the company’s trademark yellow and orange. Clicking through to the airline’s Web site, I was shocked to land on a page that was mainly blue and purple. My initial thought was that I was on the wrong page. What I learned is that the company rebranded its Web site but has not carried the new branding elements through to its email program.

While it’s not unusual for companies to rebrand or to freshen their brand, it’s important to keep some of the old elements—at least on a temporary basis—to bridge to the new brand. You also need to make sure that your email program catches up at the same time. This can be a struggle if email marketing and your Web site are managed by different groups, but the outcome is worth the effort.

When designing your emails, look to your Web site for design elements and incorporate some of those elements into your email. If you have an html Web site, you can even use elements from the Web site to easily design your email.

Remember: it’s all about integrating the same look and feel from Web site to email, and even to printed marketing materials. Carrying a similar look throughout all these customer touch points makes customers comfortable with your brand, which in turn makes them comfortable pulling out their wallets. Credits: Carissa Newton, xemion.com

GROW YOUR EMAIL LIST, GROW YOUR BUSINESS!

Email marketing helps you keep customers and prospects coming back—by using attractive, professional-looking email communications to stay in regular touch with them and build strong customer relationships. It's better and more effective than regular email. Are you in need of a unique html Newsletter Design, please feel free to contact me.

Dunya Graphic and Web Design

info@dunyawebdesign.com

203.788.0481

A Guide to Imagery: Seeing the Big Picture

2012-01-13T08:08:00.000-08:00

When it comes to your online marketing initiatives, the old adage is true—a picture really is worth a thousand words. Imagine, then, what imagery can do for your organization!

Your web site is more than just a pretty face, and the images you use on it should be, too. Take advantage of the benefits imagery can bring your business by ensuring that each photo conveys the message you want to send. Carefully-selected images on your web site can offer visitors a visual overview of who you are. They can also evoke strong emotions that users will associate with your company and your products. Consistent use of imagery can bolster your credibility, motivate your target audience, and provide almost instantaneous recognition of your brand.

Dunya Graphic & Web Design is here to help with the core imagery of your web site, ensuring that your site instantly communicates who you are. As your organization continues to grow and evolve, you’ll find opportunities for building out your site further. For buying, using, and displaying imagery, here are some best practices to follow.

Making the Most of Imagery

    SEO. Because search engine spiders can only read text, not graphics, they need more “clues” to help explain what the image is about. Embedding targeted keywords into image tags (generally known as "alt tags") and file names will increase the keyword density for the image, web page and the whole web site, which can improve search engine visibility for those keyword queries. This includes both search results across the web and image results like you'd find in a Google image search. Ask Dunya Graphic & Web Design to help you optimize your imagery for search engines.
    Photography Release Forms. Using your own photography will save you research, time, and maybe money. However, if you will be using photography of minors (anyone under the age of 18), there’s one extra step to take. A minor release form must be signed before the photos can be used in a commercial application. The child’s parent (preferably both parents) or legal guardian(s) must sign the form to give permission on behalf of the minor. You can protect your photos further via a members-only login area on your site, allowing you to control who can see which images.
    Be size wise. Display your imagery at its best by resizing images before you upload them. Stretching and shrinking a picture rather than properly resizing it for web viewing can distort the image and reduce its quality.
    Go iconic. Using graphic icons (symbols or representations) on your web site is a great way to seamlessly integrate imagery into pages of text. Icons can be custom made or pulled from files of clip art—your company's logo can even be used as an icon. These images can reinforce your brand, highlight important facts, boldly emphasize a call-to-action, or make a page more visually appealing—and won't distract from your content.
    Keep your image content fresh. Still using outdated photos of your products and staff? Give these images an upgrade with a professional photo shoot. Get detailed images of your products from multiple angles, professional portraits of your staff members, and even photos of your location and facility. These new images will help keep your site looking current, and will reflect your dedication to keeping your customers informed and updated. For high quality results, hire a photographer for these images, or call Dunya Graphic & Web Design! Then, consider keeping your imagery archives organized and accessible by building online photo galleries.

Stock Photography: Before You Search

There are millions of stock images for sale by online distributors—you might be wondering how to know which photos are right for representing your organization. Narrow the pool by asking yourself these questions:

    Who is my target audience? Consider how your target audience might be represented in imagery—think age and ethnicity, for example. Choose imagery that is relevant to and inclusive of those groups.
    How do I want customers to feel about my brand? Imagery’s power lies in its ability to appeal to your customers’ emotions. Choose images that drive the emotions you want customers to feel.
    What kind of imagery do my competitors use? You should take the time to examine your competitors’ online marketing materials. Compare their stock imagery to your own to ensure that there is no brand confusion being generated.

Stock Photography: Before You Buy

    Make sure it’s really you. Your brand's imagery is essential to telling your audience who you are, and again, this is even more important for smaller businesses. Look at imagery as an opportunity to differentiate your brand.
    Check Twice, Pay Once. If you plan on integrating a particular image into your brand or in any way using it more than once, it's a good idea to invest in Royalty-Free (RF) imagery. With this option, you pay a one-time fee for rights to the image, whereas you’d pay “royalties,” fees incurred for each usage, with Rights-Managed (RM) imagery.

The down side to stock imagery? Your fee doesn't give you exclusive rights to the image, which means the photograph or image can be sold again unlimitedly, including possibly to a competitor or other company which might obscure your brand.

Get Started

Whether you buy stock photos or take your own, imagery is a great tool for connecting with your clients and solidifying your brand. So what should you do first when you’re ready to take advantage of the all imagery has to offer? The best way to start is to make sure the imagery displayed on your site is still relevant. Has your target market changed since Dunya Graphic & Web Design built your site? Or have you had new photographs of your products taken for a catalog? If so, it may be time to call us— Dunya Graphic & Web Design

What Makes a Successful Logo Design?

2012-01-06T13:21:00.000-08:00

A well crafted logo design is the face of your business thus, the responsibility of having a fantastic and unique logo design is important. This does not only lie in the hands of the designer but also with the client.   Both should know what makes a logo design successful.
So, what exactly are the secrets to a successful logo design? Read on to find out!

1. Simplicity is the Best Policy
Have you ever taken a look at the logos of major brands and industries?   From Coke to Toyota, you’ll notice that all have quite simple logos. There is nothing flashy to any of them. Most new logo designers have a creative adrenaline to design with a jumble of graphics, text and colors. What they don’t is that a clustered design does not typically click well with the perceptions of a customer.

2. Color Smart
In a logo design, every color has its own purpose, meaning and essence. While some creative businesses require the use of splashy colors, others require very basic colors. Examples of colors that can be seen to reflect professionalism are light blue, white, silver, and so on.   The colors you choose will represent your business, so be sure about what you choose.

3. Power of Words
Text plays a critical role in logo designing. The fonts you use must reflect the professional aspect of the business, but must also be legible. Many company logos are based on the company’s initials, rather than a graphical image. Text, if designed properly, could act as a standalone logo.   A classic example of this is Mc Donald’s logo.

4. Flexibility and Scalability
In terms of size, your logo design should be flexible and scalable. It should be flexible enough to retain its quality if shrunk or expanded. The logo designer should understand that logos will not only go on websites or a business card, but the client might want to later add it to other means of different sizes. Therefore, they must be designed to be scalable. Vector graphics are most suitable for this purpose.

5. Back to the Future
A logo should be able to stand the test of time. 10 years down the road it should still have an exceptional or contemporary look, instead of one that is outdated.   It’s important not to have your logo solely based around the latest trends. As trends die, your logo will start looking outdated. An example of a logo that has stood against the test of time is Coca-Cola!
Every successful logo design relies heavily on the effective and creative use of images, colors and text. If there is clear communication between client and designer, the business will have an amazing logo to flaunt.

Credits: logodesignguru

Welcome to Dunya Graphic & Web Design

2012-01-03T08:23:00.001-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hi, my name is Dunya Kops and I am the founder of ‘Dunya Graphic & Web Design’.

On this website you will find my personal Graphic & Web Design Portfolio.
My design services are currently AVAILABLE FOR HIRE.

I am self-employed as a graphic designer, specializing in the fields of corporate identity (logo) design, web design, print design and branding with the majority of my time spent designing and implementing marketing promotions for businesses such as logos, websites, letterhead, business cards, packaging and more.

My life is design, I love it and I surround myself in it every day.

I am:
1. Passionate (I absolutely love what I do)
2. Enthusiastic (I want to learn)
3. Skeptical (I think critically)
4. Creative (I like to think out of the box)

Design Done Differently