The newly created homepage for dbirnbaum.com’s therapist website.

Ortner Graphics completed a new website design for Deborah Birnbaum MSSW, LCSW this week. Deborah has started a new Psycho therapy service located in Nyack, New York and needed a website to help market it. Deborah also needed a logo and business cards. Fortunately, Ortner Graphics was able to be a one stop shop for all of her needs.

The first stage of the design process on this project was creating a logo. Ornter Graphics provided six logo designs to choose from. Deborah chose version utilizing a tree as the corporate mark. This was due to the symbolic strength and tranquil nature. Being in the medical field, the site needed to be presented in a clean and simple manner.

In our initial consultation Deborah had requested that the site maintain a clean and simple design. She especially wanted the site to have an overall soothing feeling with an emphasis on a sea green color. Ortner Graphics achieved this by using photographs of woodland settings. The woodland settings had an added advantage of further reflecting and reinforcing the tree logo design. They also helped to compliment the sea green color. On close inspection, the viewer will notice that every page uses a different woodland image.

The tranquil woodland photos were further tied to the therapy concept because they all contain a unifying path. The path suggests the journey of life. To further enhance the photographs’ concept a mysterious light source was added in Photoshop. The goal of this was to make it seem that the pat was leading towards the light. The idea being that therapy will guide you to a better place or help you see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The website’s development was implemented using the WordPress Twenty Twelve theme as its programming framework. This coupled with meticulous styling in HTML and CSS results in a site which is fully responsive.

The ultimate result of the careful planning and design of http://www.dbirnbaum.com is a clean tranquil website. Ortner Graphics sincerely wishes Deborah the best of luck in her new venture. Deborah is a truly kind and caring individual. Certainly don’t hesitate to reach out to her if you reside in Nyack or the Lower Hudson Valley and are struggling with the challenges of modern times.

Anniversary Card commemorating the purchase of home, which utilizes variable data for both the client and real estate agent.

Here’s an interesting concept for the use of variable data with direct mail as a way to maintain a continued relationship with past customers. The anniversary card design is a great tool for keeping your business in the minds of your old clients. In this example, which was designed for Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty, the anniversary of a home purchase is commemorated. However, this same concept could be useful as marketing collateral to remind past customers about any big ticket purchase such as a car or appliance.

Because this example commemorates a home purchase, an elegant anniversary card graphic was created. It utilizes Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty’s standard green branding spot color and what could be considered a typical scrolling, flower motif on the front cover. While the inside of the card utilizes variable data printed in four color on a digital press.

On the inside of the card, variable data consisting of the Real Estate Agent’s photo and contact information is printed on the left side.  The inside right panel of the anniversary card uses variable data of the client’s name giving the direct mail piece a vPery personalized appearance.

To minimize production costs, only the inside of the card is produced using a variable, digital press. The outside of the card is printed on a traditional offset press and left un-scored or folded. The print vendor then stores these shells and prints the variable agent and client data as the anniversary date arrives. The print vendor and mailing house also produces a personally addressed, envelope and then stuffs and fulfills the mailing.

The beauty of this project is that it is a drip campaign that essentially maintains itself using a minimal amount of information. All that is required is a database of the sales staff that maintains their contact information, a corresponding photo, and a list of the names and addresses of their past clients. This data is then fed to the print vendor and mailing house with next to no intervention from you. Just imagine the possibilities of this project for your retail business.

Distinctive Collection Luxury Real Estate Branding ad for Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty.

Working for a real estate company in the Northern Suburbs of New York City certainly gives you the opportunity to market a great deal of luxury homes. A big part of that, though, is convincing the area residents that you understand their needs. Here lies the importance of a luxury branding campaign. Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate currently uses the Distinctive Collection brand to accomplish this.

The above ad was designed with the sole purpose of increasing brand awareness of the new Distinctive Collection Brand. The luxury market and need for an unimpeded prominent logo resulted in a rather simplistic ad design.

The copy for this ad concept was written by the Art Director. Since Distinctive Collection is a relatively new brand I felt that it was only logical and important to include the word “New” in the text. But, how is that accomplished? After some image research for luxury interiors I decided that I really liked staircases for a luxury real estate brand. With that direction and after a bit more brainstorming I came up with “Reaching New Heights in Luxury Real Estate.” A slogan that I felt was simple, to the point and not too kitsch.

It was decided that the first staircase I used for this project just wasn’t luxurious enough. So it was back to iStock Photo for another image search when I found the photo that was ultimately used. It’s perfect for luxury, wrought iron railings with a curved staircase concealing and baby grand piano. I can’t think of a room too much more luxurious than that!