What ever happened to people actually CARING about their profession?

It's not every often that I rant and rave like a little girl on the internet because I figured who is going to listen? I want you to sit back and think about how many times a day you witness people not really caring about their job and just going through the motions? It's shocking huh?


I mean everyone ideally wants greatness but doesn't want to start with themselves! The reason I'm crying here...Waaaaaaaaaa, is something I just experienced that made me question people's work ethics and moral!
So here is the story:


I had  medical paperwork faxed from a drug manufacturer directly to my doctor's office. I needed the doctor to simply sign it and fax it back. Without it, I can not get the proper medication I need! I had this done twice but to no avail. So I called the doctor and inquired about it....the secrataries response to me was, "We don't check our fax machine as we get alot of faxes daily!!".  My natural response was "Are you kidding me?".  Then she said, "We don't communicate via fax!". Meanwhile the secratary was the one who told me to have the drug manufacturer FAX over the information!!

So then I asked to speak with the doctor. The Doctor got on the phone and literally starting yelling saying "It's not our job to handle your paperwork!!" and then HUNG UP!! Actually I thought that was your exact job was to handle paperwork provided and medical files? I mean what happens if the fax was for something that was life threatening? I mean your a doctor, aren't you suppose to have a level of professionalism and care that goes above and beyond others? You have people's lives in your hands and shouldn't you act accordingly? In reality you are providing a service and you are getting paid accordingly!


Look I'm just an artist who builds websites for people....I'm not changing the world or saving lives here but I do strive for greatness! Every project and every client puts their trust in my hands to produce the very best product possible. I think I owe it to them to go above and beyond. If I can't give them something great...then it's time to do something else in life!!

So I say to you DOC....is that your best because if it is, then I think it's time for you to do something else!!

"The price of greatness is responsibility." - Winston Churchill

5 Ways to Simplify Your Logo Design: Less is more!!

I'll be the first to tell you that I often break this rule myself....which is I give my logo designs more detail. I like to use a lot of shadowing, textures, and shading to give my logos depth and pizzaz!! It's really just my style and most of the times it really works out well! 


But the hardest type of logo or even design is always less complicated and simplified! Some of the most brilliant logos I have seen are SOOOOO simple yet effective! Think about some major companies logo's...McDonalds, Apple, Target, FedEx, Microsoft...etc etc. They are so bloody boring and not very clever but they really work. The reason being is because they are simplified and get branded in your brain.


So often with logo design, less is definitely more! What makes these designs so simple are:


1) Limited Color Usage (1-2 Colors Max)
2) Limited Font Usage (1-2 Fonts Max)
3) Flat Design (Rarely do you see shading, shadowing, gradients, bevels or texture). UPS Logo really has all these aspects but that's rare!
4) Less Graphics Orientated: Most fortune 500 logos are text based with very little graphics if none at all. Sometimes maybe a swoop like Nike.
5) Proportioned:  This is the tough one. The logo itself usually is in either square or wide rectangle format. Why is this? The reason is so your logo can fit in different applications. A portrait shaped logo is takes up alot of vertical space....so it can be hard to put in certain spots or even signage. It's not a coincidence that all the big companies have the same shape of design.

Simple but effective design:
2 Fonts, 2 Colors, No shading , No gradients and overall rectangle shape

(KISS.....Keep it simple stupid)....such an old saying but true!!

Check out my other logo designs at www.robertcipolla.com 

The Importance of Font Choice in Advertising and Logos!!

When designing a logo I always ask the client about what font are you looking to work with? I usually know what I want to use anyway but I always want their input. 50% of the times they say "Doesn't really matter...I don't care!". Wow....huge mistake!!


Your logo is your brand and so if your font choice. Your font should have character, style, and portray your image or expression properly. So what does this mean?


Ok, say you are a architect working on getting your logo done...you should avoid fonts that are whimsical, cute, old fashioned or even bold. You would want to use fonts that are sleek, modern, and professional.

Below is a do and don't:

First Font:  Wrong Font Choice

The first font is cooper black. It's bold and bubbly...not really for an architectural design company! It's more suited for kids entertainment or used as a headline. An example of poor font choice.  The second font choice is Panther and it's more sleek and modern looking! To me it's a more snobby and posh font...more geared towards professional business's rather than mom and pop operations. Don't get me wrong, I love mom and pop operations! I feel they are the foundation of this countries small business structure. The point of my rambling is just to really think about font choice while designing.

Font choice is also extremely important when thinking about exterior signage. When designing your companies lighted sign, that sign has to POP! It has to be legible from the street and from moving cars! I would avoid thinner and scripted fonts for signage. So fonts that are think like Panther above won't work....but the cooper font will work because it's bold! So in that case that Font works. See Below!

Second Font: Wrong Choice

Another example of correct font choice would be in the logo below! The client wanted a font that is friendly, bigger in size, and an american style. 

Font Choice: SF Collegiate....An All American Retro Style Font

This is a prime example of font choice along with choice of medium. You have to use your instinct but also go with the industry norm! When it comes to font choice, it's important to consider the fonts weight, x-height, italic, and tradition! A font is like clothing, it's used to portray stature, style, mood, your professionalism, your anti-professionalism and more!

Remember the small details are what can make or break your design and branding.

Check out my website at www.robertcipolla.com

Avoid COMMON photography mistakes in your photo gallery!

You don't have to be a professional photographer to showcase your portfolio on your website.....especially if your are a contractor that's looking to showing a prospective client your work. BUT there are some basic things you shouldn't do!

Mistake:  Oversaturated...Too Much Light
This shot there is too much light....can't see the detail. 

Mistake:  Undersaturated...Too Little Light
This shot there is too little light....can't see the detail.  

Mistake:  Too Cluttered (Less is More)
This shot its tough to tell what the focal point is. It's just way to busy.

Mistake:  Shot too far away. 
This shot I can't tell if you are trying to feature the gravel or the retaining wall

Some other big mistakes are:

1)  Out of Focus:  Image is completely blurred. It makes you look worse if you post that picture.

2)  BAD Lighting:  Taking a shot where the image is half in the shade or it is late afternoon....almost dark and you can't really see anything

3) Garbage or Junk is laying around in the shot. I see this alot on construction photos or in hair salons and restaurants. Make sure the scene is prepared with no junk laying around. 

My best advice is to be patient, take your time and post only the photos that really portray your work. You don't have to put every picture on your portfolio/gallery page. 

It is about quality not quantity.

Check out my photos at www.robertcipolla.com

Good Photo : Proper Lighting and Setup

5 Reasons why your website needs to be modernized!!

Old Website Design

New Website Design 

You took the initiave SEVERAL years ago to build a website. At the time it looked fresh or at least you thought it did. But websites are like cars....after 5 years it just gets old and boring! So I guess the 64 thousand dollar question is.....why spend the money to update?


1) Social Media Icons:  5 years ago your social networking sites were not around! So you don't have links to your social networks! Gotta add those links


2) Flash Intro: Your old site might off had a bedazzling flash intro or flash page. But now flash really is a thing of the past due to all the browser issues and mobile issues!


3) 1990's Design:  Old Chunky looking graphics....animated clipart, slow moving pages...are signs of old times and could make you look behind times. Now is the time to update to modern designs!


4) Not Enough Action:  Your website is not getting enough action or doing anything for you. This could be due to improper keywords and no opt-in boxes. You need a call to action on your website to gather prospects information. 


5) Your business has changed or grown:  If your business has been altered in any way and your website looks exactly the same and doesn't reflect change....It can confuse the viewer! 


These are just some things to consider if you want to update your website.


Check out my website at www.robertcipolla.com

Lesson #1: KNOW YOUR CLIENT!!

Original Logo (Low Resolution....can't work with)

My Redesigned Logo (Client didn't like....at ALL!!)

Final Logo (Recreated to work on any medium)

KNOW YOUR CLIENT: This is very important and just takes time to really get the knack of!! What I mean by this is that every client is not the same and should be treated differently. Each client has a different taste of design style and even though your design concept might be great...it could still not work for the client!


Prime example....I am redoing a website for a client and wanted to redesign his logo because the old one is outdated and not done by a professional. I wanted to go with a sleek and more branded type of logo. I really struggled with this one not because the design wasn't good but because I knew the type of client I had. He is a more traditional old school type of client that just doesn't prefer more modern logos. So my gut was telling me he was going to hate the new logo and wanted to stick to his old traditional style logo.


My gut was right! My mistake was I should of just recreated his original logo (I had to recreate because the only copy of the logo he had was a low resolution business card)! This would of saved me alot of hours and grief.


Lesson here:  Go with your gut and know your client!!


Check out my work at ......www.robertcipolla.com

10 Reasons why you REALLY REALLY need a website?

Big question.....why do you really need a website? Hmmm...sounds simple but it't not a bad question. Well if you are not on the internet....you are missing a big piece of the pie...BIG PIECE!! There are 1.97 billion internet users as of 2010 and rising!!


Still not convinced? How about 600 million Facebook users....which is a whole different ball game! How about over 90 million people do searches on Google daily? 

Ok, these are just the geeky facts about how powerful the internet is. But here are some more realistic reasons why you should have a website:

1. A website can help you generate a professional image

A professionally designed website is one of the best ways to instill confidence in your new customers who are not familiar with your company already or even increase the confidence of your existing customer base. It gives the customer the impression that they are dealing with a firm they can trust and will generate a sense of respectability with your service and/or product.

2. Business Information is available 24/7

You are able to communicate address, phone numbers, fax numbers, hours of operation and client’s awareness of special offerings.How much time do you spend on the phone giving out all of this information? Directions, wat you do and don’t carry, what hours you are open, the price of some service, how one of your services “works”, directions once again, and yes you are open on Sundays too.

3. Promote Your Services

Lawyers, doctors, financial consultants, entertainers, realtors and all service oriented businesses should let customers know that they have a choice. Millions of users are referring to the web and are using company’s websites to make major decisions when they need a specialized service.

4. Provides Instant Gratification

People are busy and don’t like to wait for information. Give them what they want, when they want it. You can lose a bid on a job because your company doesn't have a website and your competitor does....it's that simple.

5. Gather Information and Generate Valuable Leads

You can gather information about your customers and potential customers by using forms and surveys. Rather than going out and getting leads, let them come to you. This is a great tool for prospecting targeted customers looking to use your products and services.

6. It’s Your Online Brochure / Catalog...

That Can Be Changed at Anytime. A website is easier, cheaper and quicker to update than print material. Its’ capacities are almost limitless which allow you to provide users with more comprehensive information. This will save you money on printing and distribution costs as well. You can show your portfolio of work virtually on any web page!! Viewers LOVE to see your finished work online....especially contractors and service industry! 

7) Keep up with your competition...
Sounds like a no brainer but if your competition has a website and you don't....you are step behind!

8) Cut down on useless questions or estimates:

If you put a Frequently Asked Questions section on your website....this could drastically cut down on wasted phone time or running around on estimates that could be avoided

9) Put your customer testimonials online:

People like to read the good stuff about your company!! Its a good sell

10) There is only so much room on your business card!

Simply put...you can put an unlimited amount of data and photos on your website!! 

If you are not moving forward.....you are moving backwards!!

Checkout my website at www.robertcipolla.com

It's important to update your OLD SUCKY Website!!

Old Site

New Site

Ok folks, I'm gonna make this one short and sweet! If your website is old and outdated....it's time to update it!! I know this personally because I honest feel that my old website really SUCKED!! Yes it was 8 years old and yes I created it when my skills and technology are not what they are now!


But why did it take so long? I guess I thought there was not enough time....or I was too busy with current projects. ERRONEOUS (Wedding Crashers reference...3rd time I used this)! Not updating it means I might of lost potential business! I can GUARANTEE I lost alot of business because it didn't look up to snuff!!


So overall....point is stop the excuses and get your website to look modern and not 1985!!


Check out my website at www.robertcipolla.com

10 Common Logo Design Mistakes!!

Logo Design for Blue Diamond Realty

Your logo is your thumbprint for your business....its your brand. When starting up a business, you may spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in your investment but then you try to cut corners with your logo design? This is SUICIDE!!  


Your logo is the most important thing...its your foundation and it has to work: Below are 10 common logo mistakes:


1) Designed by an amateur:   maybe a friend or a relative designed it...who has no concept of design, marketing or color schemes. They don't have the experience to know what works and what doesn't. Your business is professional....so should be the marketing and designs!!


2) Contains STOCK art:  This is such a NO NO....your business is unique and personal.... why wouldn't your logo be? You can derive an idea for clipart but not use it entirely!!


3) Design for your own preferences:  I am sometimes guilty of this myself! I sometimes design based on what I prefer and not the client. You have to remember that your tastes are not always universal. The solution to this is to put your own spin on your clients idea!


4) Too Complex:  A logo with way too much going on can be confusing to the eye and then becomes confusing to the consumer. The hardest logo's to design are often the most simple. 


5) Poor Font Choice:  I see this a lot. The type face is very important with a logo. You can have a sleek and corporate design and then use a kids comic font with it. They counter act each other in a bad way!! Everything has to makes sense and gel together!!


6)) Too Many Fonts:  I see this a lot also. A logo should have no more than 2 fonts. You can use 2 different font weights to give the logo some contrast but more than 2 is just waaaaaaay too much!


7) Wrong Color Scheme:  Another problem I see often. You are not going to design a logo for say a church and use aggressive colors like Reds and Blacks nor would you design a logo for a construction company with pinks and purples?? The color scheme has to make sense.


8) Too Much Color:  If there are too many color schemes....the logo relies strictly on color and not on proper design. Plus too much color can turn people off. 


9) Too Trendy:  The styles that are in now may not be in a year down the road. Swoops are a big example...alot of logo's I see now (including a few I have done) have the standard swoop....looks good now but if the market is flooded with that similar design....it becomes lost in the pack!! Try to be unique


10) Not suitable for all mediums: When designing you really have to think about if the logo will look good on signage, print materials, apparel, multiple backgrounds, website....etc etc. You have to think steps ahead on the design before moving forward!!


Check out my logo designs at:  www.robertcipolla.com