Psychology of the Color Beige

It is said that if you prefer the color beige than you like the simple and basic things of life. You always choose to be back stage rather than out front for all to watch. Cleanliness, order and quiet are your main goals. You are also considered very dependable and tend to get along with everyone.

Beige has a calming effect. It is so often used by contractors in homes and business that almost all neutral colors are referred to as “Contractor’s Beige.” It is suggested that if you add a beige background or feature to a room to balance out bright colors, in two weeks you will feel a new sense of calm.

Beige in Design

You can see in the image above how our client Agave Custom Homes used a beige color on the walls of the inviting master bedroom. There are quite a few colors in this design however beige balances out everything else.

Finding Beige Inspiration

Visit KateOGroup on Pinterest and see our board titled Beiges. This board is full of inspiration. Nothing but variations of beige. All of the images in the first image are on the Beiges Pinterest Board.

Over the next month we will be highlighting designs by KateOGroup, both branding and website, that incorporate the color beige. Be sure to follow us on Instagram.

Want to learn more about other color features on our blog? Click here.

The Purse Building is a historic building in downtown Dallas owned, managed and being renovated by Wildcat Management.

One of my favorite things about this project was that it was all women. Tanya Ragan owns Wildcat Management. She hired Lindsey to design and stage the showroom. Then Lindsey brought me in on the project to help with graphic design.

Additionally women are involved because this building is also the first building in Dallas that was owned by a woman and the focus of the mural in the showroom was Jane Jacobs. Jane Jacobs was an activist with a focus on urban preservation. She was such an important figure in New York City that she has a cameo in seasons 1 and 2 of the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

How cool is that custom neon sign that sits just above Jane’s head?

In addition to working on the Purse Building Mural I also worked on the canvases for the display wall outside the showroom.

Be sure to head to the Purse Building Instagram account see more pictures of the building as it is now and how it was before Wildcat Management began the restoration to bring her back to her glory! I can’t wait to see who will occupy this historic building in downtown Dallas. What a cool place to get to work!

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From the beginning we were all in agreeance on the color scheme for the logo design. There were a few elements we wanted to incorporate into the design. Using circles to mimic the look fo cells felt like a good way to bring in a reference to the Four Corners region where Dr. McLaughlin is based.

Medical Services Web Design

Our goal with the website was to clearly explain to potential patients just what cell therapies are. This non-surgical approach to joint and back pain is still considered “experimental” not many people know what to expect.

To help potential patients determine if this non-surgical technique could help with their back or joint pain we included a quick quiz that can be accessed from the home page.

Because these cell therapies aim to put the healing power of your body to work so that you can get back to what you love to do. We incorporated movement into the site not only through imagery but through the actual movement of various elements throughout the site.

To view the entire McLaughlin Cell Therapies website, click here.

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Large companies often have in house design teams. However, most small businesses can’t afford to hire someone full time. Better yet, why hire anyone at all, when there are tools like Canva that allow you to create your own graphics? Besides, isn’t hiring a graphic designer expensive?

Reasons to Outsource Graphic Design

1. You Bring in an Expert

An experienced graphic designer has the knowledge and tools to get the job done correctly. They know what types of files are needed for print projects vs digital projects. They keep on top of trends in the design world.

Most importantly, they free you up to focus on running your business and stay on top of everything else on your to do list.

2. Save Money & Time

When you outsource graphic design projects you save on the expense of a full time employee. Salaries and benefits can be expensive especially if you don’t have a full time need for a designer. Not to mention you won’t need extra space for a freelance graphic designer in your office.

A freelance designer works on the project you hire them for and delivers in a timely manner. An in-house graphic designer can get sidetracked and bogged down with a long company to do list.

The biggest bonus of all is that rather than focusing on designing graphics, which most likely isn’t your specialty, you can focus on those things that generate revenue for your business.

3. Scalability

An outsourced design partner frees you up to streamline your business and better serve your customers. Both of which allow you to grow your existing business and find new clients.

4. Conserve Resources and Better Utilize Assets

Rather than pouring funds you don’t have into a computer and the programs designers need, you will be able to direct those funds into your business. An outsourced designer will have their own computer and already own the licenses for programs like Photoshop and Illustrator.

5. Get a New Point of View

An outsourced designer brings a fresh set of eyes to your business and brand message. Rather than seeing the bigger picture you can often get stuck on a singular vision as the business owner. An outside designer can help bring a fresh perspective and alternate ideas.

A freelancer can breath fresh life into your brand and projects and create both unique and memorable graphics to help you stand out against your competition.

In Conclusion, Outsourcing Graphic Design Makes Sense

Running a business is hard, when you outsource graphic design you make your life easier. You can easily lower your stress levels through freelancing.

If you’re interested in talking with KateOGroup to see if our team is a great fit for you, we’ve just launched a new monthly graphic design service, click here to find out more. Take a look at our past graphic design work by clicking here.

Psychology of The Color Red

Red is the color most closely associated with energy, passion, and action. It is a warm color that represents power and courage. It is also assertive, daring, determined, powerful, enthusiastic and aggressive.

On the negative side red can represent rage, danger and stress. Being surrounded by too much red can make you irritable, agitated and even angry. 

Red has been my favorite color for as long as I can remember. However, I prefer to work it in as an accent around my house rather than as the focal color. Or even as accessories like my purse or wallet.

The Color Red in Design

Because of the intensity of the color I cautiously use it in branding. Much like in interior design, I think red makes a good accent in branding. Bringing in the passion of red without it’s intensity. One example of this is the updated logo and web design for Barron Custom Design.

Finding Red Inspiration

Visit KateOGroup on Pinterest and see our board titled Reds. This board is full of inspiration. Nothing but shades of red. All of the images in the first image are on the Reds Pinterest Board.

Over the next month we will be highlighting designs by KateOGroup, both branding and website, that incorporate the red. Be sure to follow us on Instagram.

How do you feel about red?

As a small business owner you have to wear a lot of hats. However, that doesn’t mean you’re always the best person for each of those jobs. I know, I know, the truth hurts!

What is collaboration?

Collaboration is a working practice in which individuals work together for a common purpose to achieve business benefits. Collaboration enables individuals to work together to achieve a defined and common business purpose.

Benefits of Collaboration for Your Small Business

Save Time & Money

The number one benefit of collaboration is the savings. When you collaborate you no longer have to do it all alone, but you don’t have the expense or stress of hiring a full time employee.

Collaboration for you might look like bouncing ideas off of someone else so that you get through the creative process more quickly. Or it could look like passing responsibility to someone else for a particular task freeing you up to focus on the things you do best.

Learn New Things

Collaborating with another person or business often exposes you to new things. From techniques to increase productivity, to new software to expand your business and even new design ideas and trends to keep you on the cutting edge.

Sometimes collaborating can be just having a conversation with a fellow business owner. Learning their secrets on how they run their business. Casual conversations are how we have often learned of new resources.

Through collaboration we have had the opportunity to learn about other industries and how they work. This has often resulted in unique ideas for other projects.

Meet New People

Every time we have collaborated with someone we have met new people. From business owners to their employees, other designers to SEO experts. Those people you meet tend to know people who could use your services.

Idea Innovation

Having a second or third opinion on a project can often result in magic! No matter how brilliant you are in your field, having insight from someone else can help you see things from a different angle.

New Opportunities

When you collaborate with someone and it goes well you’ll often have the opportunity to work with them again. We first worked with Claire Attkisson to bring her vision for Roll eBike Rental to life. After that, we have worked with Claire on two additional projects with a third on the horizon.

You have no idea when your work will resonate with someone who comes across you on social media or through a friend. Your finished project from a collaboration could open doors you could never expect.

Benefits of Collaboration Out Weigh the Negatives

Not every collaboration will go well or even work out. But in our experience it is better to take advantage of these opportunities than to turn them down. If nothing else, you’ll learn things to avoid in the future.

Interested in collaborating with KateOGroup?

Kathy Corey is a realtor and broker in North Texas. She launched her own brokerage in 2017. For the design she wanted a clean logo and her one request was that we work a dragonfly into the design.

First step is always gathering design inspiration:

The color palette was a beautiful combination of navy and lime green. The navy represents sophistication while the green brings in a sense of fun. The combination of fonts is a continuation of this combination of formal and comfort.

Real Estate Branding

The final design includes both a handwritten font and a serif font. The serif font ads structure while the handwritten font adds relatability to the logo design. The little detail of the dragonfly can be included or omitted depending on where and when the logo is being used.

We incorporated the dragonfly into the business card design and the listing signs. How fabulous does this yard sign look?

Real Estate Website Design

The House and Home Real Estate WordPress Website allows visitors to easily search listings throughout North Texas and connect with Kathy. The design is clean and simple to keep the attention on home listings.

To experience the newly launched website yourself, head over to HouseandHomeTexas.com.

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Bunky’s Raw Bar & Grill is a part of Prodigal Hospitality Group. While the restaurant may be decades old, it has recently undergone a renovation. Not only to the interior of the restaurant but also to the menu.

The long standing fan favorites still remain on the menu but are now accompanied but new and updated menu items.

Being located on the eastern coast of Florida the seafood is a fresh as it can be. Bunky’s offers a variety of items from oysters to wings. In fact they’re famous for their fresh wings. There are over a dozen sauces for you to choose from to customize them to your taste.

Restaurant Website Design

Bunky’s offers a wide range of menus from Brunch to Dinner to Late Night and even a Kid’s Menu. Through the site it is easy to find the menus and find out what Bunky’s has to offer.

To view more about this project head to our portfolio. You can also head to BunkysRawBar.com to view this project first hand.

You can also see our additional work for Prodigal Hospitality Group that includes a Sugar Skull Logo Design and Restaurant Logo Redesign. Both projects also include a WordPress website design.

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This author web design for John R. Paine is a project I feel honored to have worked on. 

I met John when I was a junior in high school. Not long after his oldest daughter and I became fast friends.  Spending time at the Paine’s house is always so entertaining.

I can still remember the day, senior year of college, Amanda called to tell me that her dad had ALS. I had no idea what that was or exactly what that meant. She went on to tell me that John most likely had about 3-5 years to live.

Just over after 18 years after that phone call, John R. Paine, took on a new title: Author.

With the book release, he needed a website to serve as the hub for everything.

Author Web Design Project

Here is a look at a few of the interior pages on Author John R. Paine’s website:

A few years before the book came out a local organization, Fotolanthropy, did a documentary on John’s life. We, of course, wanted to be sure and include information about that on his website.

You can head to John R. Paine’s website to explore the site and find out even more about this remarkable man. There will be more information about this author web design project in the portfolio very soon.

Or, you can head to your favorite spot for buying books and purchase your own copy of The Luckiest Man!

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Psychology of The Color Navy

Blue represents both the sea and the sky, with an association to wide open spaces. Think freedom, imagination, expansiveness, inspiration, intuition, and sensitivity. It represents loyalty, sincerity, wisdom, confidence, stability, faith, and intelligence. It is one of the most widely used shades of blue around the world.

Navy adds an element of sophistication that other shades of blue do not have.

Colors play an important part in the branding process. It is important to take into consideration the colors you use in your logo and their meanings.

Blue is the number one choice for a favorite color. Because of it’s popularity you will often see it in logo designs. It creates a personal connection and helps the brand relate to the largest amount of people possible.

The Color Navy in Design

Navy is a timeless, gender-neutral color that fits in everywhere. It doesn’t call attention to itself through print and digital design.

As you can see below, in photos from our client Agave Custom Homes, navy is a popular color to use in interior design. Navy is often seen in both paint and textiles in interior design.

Both of the above images are by Mark Adams Media from a home by Agave Custom Homes.

Visit KateOGroup on Pinterest and see our board titled Blues. This board is full of inspiration. Nothing but shades of blue, including navy. All of the images in the first image are on the Blues Pinterest Board.

Over the next month we will be highlighting designs by KateOGroup, both branding and website, that incorporate the color navy. Be sure to follow us on Instagram.

Are you a fan of navy?