The Designer Next Door

[Bobbie]

Graphic design solutions from The Designer Next Door

I am excited to present my home-based graphic design business, The Designer Next Door. Specializing in print design for small businesses and discerning individuals , my services include:

• Business collateral -- logos, business cards, letterhead, business forms
• Promotional materials -- advertisements, sell sheets, brochures, direct mail pieces
• Publication design and page layout -- newsletters, catalogs, magazines
• Special events materials -- invitations, programs, posters
• Photo editing and illustration
• Web media -- non e-commerce Web sites, banner ads, interactive PDF
• Copy writing, editing and proofreading

My freelance services are backed by over nine years' professional experience in graphic design, art direction and print production. In addition to a deep love of the visual arts and written word, I have a B.A. degree in studio art with a graphic communications minor. My goal is to communicate your intended message in a way that is fresh and user-friendly while providing no-nonsense customer service.

I charge an hourly rate for all of my services, although I may occasionally offer special packages for a flat fee. I intend to provide special offers and discounts to my fellow OUAL members -- please watch this thread. Estimates will be provided before work begins; I believe an informed customer is a happy customer. If you have a limited budget, we can discuss how to meet it.

A bit about my history: Losing my job in a downsizing maneuver while pregnant spurred a remarkable journey. Out of necessity, I eventually took a wonderfully refreshing job-sharing position as printing coordinator for a large company. While hiring and working with graphic designers in this role, I saw a need for competent freelancers. After much consideration, The Designer Next Door was born out of the desire to meet this need, advance my skills and continue to do the work I love while being the best parent I can be. I am hoping to meet with enough success to permit me to work from my home part- or full-time indefinitely.

I invite you to visit my Web site, www.thedesignernextdoor.com, for more information and work samples. I'd love to hear about your project ideas -- please consider The Designer Next Door for your graphic design needs.

[Bobbie]

Here are two wedding-related projects:

For this project, the designs were printed onto iron-on transfer paper and applied to T-shirts.




Multiple versions of this design were created and e-mailed to the client, who printed and applied them to canvas bags via iron-on transfer.

[Bobbie]

Below is my daughter's birth announcement and the invitation for her second birthday party (we had a "2" theme ). 4.25" x 5.5" cards such as these can usually be delivered via e-mail and printed from your home computer on the paper of your choice. This results in a huge savings because you are not paying for shipping, commercial printing or assembly costs. It's a great way to get a custom design for your special event -- print as many or as few as you like.

Some of the information is blurred for privacy.



This is a design I created as thank-you gift for the therapist who helped my daughter conquer her eating problems. (The objects in the upper left and lower right are her toddler utensils. ) It was 4" x 6" in size and presented in an acrylic frame with a magnet on the back.

[Bobbie]

Here are some pieces I designed while working at a nationally-distributed magazine -- two full-page ads, a logo and a series of three covers.

This ad for Elmira Stove Works replaced a design that lacked the warmth and charm of the company's products.



Good-Earth Flooring & Wood Products, Inc., supplied no materials for the creation of their ad other than a typewritten page of jumbled text and a handful of snapshots taken at an awkward angle. I called the owner and talked to him about his company. Then I wrote some copy and created the ad below.



This logo was used to identify portions of the magazine relating to -- you guessed it -- small homes.



The Floor Plan Annual issues afforded special creative opportunities.

[Bobbie]

Here is some photo-editing "before and after:"



I think of this as my "floating baby picture." I actually took this picture with the intent of removing the background electronically.



I cropped and resized this photo of K and I and removed two electrical cords and a few other small distractions, part of a tractor and part of a person. I also increased the saturation in some areas, increased the brightness and contrast in our faces (effectively removing the blue cast) and did several other touch-ups including whitening my teeth. I had the resulting image put on a mousepad as a Christmas gift for my husband.