A graphic designers Christmas card

This year we designed and handmade our Christmas Card. This makes a change as we have produced digital cards over the previous years.

The idea is to pin the nose on the reindeer. We created our own versions of famous artworks from up coming artists that will be showing at Tate Modern but with a Christmas Theme.

The images were applied to polyboard and we supplied a pin.

Hopefully those that received the card had fun.

Merry Christmas.

Handmade christmas card

We have just sent out our Christmas card for another year - it always turns into the biggest job of the year, for the toughest client of all... me.

To many hours are spent worrying and wondering what to do and waiting for the spark of creativity.

This year we were inspired by polyboard! Back in the day our clients would expect us to turn up at the their office with all our ideas and designs beautifully mounted on polyboard, to that end we have a cellar full of the stuff, and these days we hardly use any.

As is our tradition is to send out a quiz, game or puzzle, this year is no different, this year its a real card and a game you can really play. Woo hoo.

Check back soon and I will post some more pictures - I don't want to spoil the surprise just yet.

Christmas tweets of wit and wisdom

As it is the season of joy, but with a dash of austerity, we have been tweeting some great quotes from those that have enjoyed a little excess, and some great handy hits and tips. Follow @m_s_d_c and the #witandwisdom. I have to credit the Olio Cookbook for the tips - I really wouldn't try some of them!

Merry Christmas

The world's most expensive website

The most expensive website is the one that doesn't work for your business whether you have a budget of £100 or £100,000.

"Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted, and the problem is I don't know which half" - Lord Leverhulme (British founder of Unilever)

A website that works is one that reflects your business, showcases your work, sells your products and can be adapted and moulded over time to become exactly what you need. Websites are no longer static they should evolve as your business moves on and as the market changes.

These are just the basics, whether your website is successful or not is down to you clarifying from the start what you want your website to achieve.

These are the sort of questions we ask our clients before we start designing and building a website:

1. Who is your audience - who are you targeting and what do they want from your organisation? You could do a straw poll of your current customers. 
2. What are the features of your business - what are your products or services? 
3. What benefits do you offer customers - what makes your products or services different to your competitors? 
4. Who are your competitors - what are they doing? Who is doing it well, and who is doing it badly? What can you learn? 
5. What are your organisation's aspirations? What do you want your website to do - raise awareness - sell products from the page? 

You are now halfway to defining a creative brief - get a designer involved!

We have prepared a guide to writing a brief to help you get your initial ideas out of your head and on to paper, download it here. This guide isn't just for website design, it can help with branding, brochures and marketing campaigns too.

Probably the longest TV in the world

We have made short make of film of the build and install of our digital sculpture for O2. It is over 12 metres long and houses a ribbon of LED screens, it winds its way across the reception area like a digital streamer. The polished exterior surface reflects the surrounding environment and the unique LED screens communicate the latest campaigns, strategies and real time information.

Check out a full description of the project here.

SB Cambria comes to town

Every now and again we are reminded what a unique place Gravesend is to live and work in.Our offices are situated in the old High Street, overlooking the River Thames, the sparkling view of the river also takes in the restored Royal Pier and the ancient Three Daws Inn not to mention Tilbury dock on the far bank. There's always plenty happening if you glance out of the window, huge container ships, cruise liners, tugs, sailing boats and barges all under the watchful eye of the Port of London Authority (PLA), the customs and excise men of the river.The historic sailing barges are an occasional distant sight too but recently Gravesham Borough Council have created new mooring facilities on the embankment and all last week it was great to see the SB Cambria moored there and be able to climb aboard.This was one small step towards reconnecting the people of Gravesend with the river and we are hopeful that these improvements will continue. The town's retailers and businesses eagerly await the approval of the current plans to regenerate the Gravesend Heritage Quarter. The development will consolidate these improvements and switch the focus of the town back towards it’s major asset, the riverside, plus, it will unite areas hitherto perceived to be on the outer limits and provide the links that will enhance the use of the High Street.

Meanwhile the team at MSDC, along with many other school groups and individuals, have all enjoyed visiting the SB Cambria, learning about it's history and appreciating the craftmanship of our riverside heritage.

Graphis design annual

We have entered some work for Estama into Graphis take a look at it here.