It’s time to get your shopping sorted and order unique Christmas gifts for all the family! Luckily, I know exactly where to shop, so come and see the best range of family Christmas presents in NZ!
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Christmas is just around the corner and it’s time to get all those unique Christmas gifts sorted for your family. Yup, that’s right – this Christmas it’s all about those functional presents because they’re the ones people love to receive! Usable presents such as T-shirts, hoodies, cushion covers and onesies are always appreciated and unlike that pair of plastic wineglasses, will never be shelved away in the cupboard or regifted.

I’ve put my designer hat on and created a beautiful range of designs suitable for all types of garments and home décor items. I’d love for you to take a look…

Guide to Unique Christmas Presents Your Family Will Love
It’s no secret that I absolutely love Christmas! The opportunity to spend quality time with friends and family, lots of yummy food and the chance to relax and unwind after a busy year. I will admit though, that finding the perfect Christmas gifts does take a lot of time and effort. 

I know that as a Mum, I love it when my husband and kids receive a present they can use. One that doesn’t end up hidden in a drawer and is something that I would possibly have needed to buy in the future are also added bonuses. So, I got to thinking and made a list of Christmas gifts that I know are functional, family orientated and will be loved by all – and I’m sharing them with you!

• Summer Clothing – during the summer months, Kiwis love to get out on the beach. What better way to do that than by wearing a t-shirt, tank top or pair of shorts which highlight your love of those waves. Add a surfer style drawstring backpack for your togs and a tote bag for your picnic lunch, and you’re all set!
• Christmas Themed Clothing – needing a baby’s first Christmas onesie? What about a cute Christmas themed t-shirt for a young child? Forget those ugly Christmas sweaters, because I’ve got one better – an ugly Christmas t-shirt.
• Personalised Santa Sacks – Father Christmas needs somewhere to put all of those presents, and an added bonus is it is a reusable and eco-friendly way of wrapping those presents too! 
• Design your Own Gifts – here is where you can let loose and create a one of a kind piece of clothing or home décor for a loved one. You can use a design you already have or use one of the ones I have created when designing your unique Christmas gifts. If you need a hand doing so, I can help out with the designing too.

What are you waiting for?
Christmas is only getting closer and closer – and I can’t wait!

 5 Key Steps in Starting a Business
Starting a business is a very exciting time. Whether you’re making it your full-time job or using it as a side business to complement your income, it’s important to get the basics sorted right from the start. To help you do this, I’m sharing these five key initial steps to help you get up and running.

1. Nail your business idea – whether you’re making products to sell or you can provide a service that others want to buy, identifying the specific niche for your business is important. This will involve you doing some research into what other businesses are doing that is similar to yours, if your product or service is something that customers will buy and identifying what sets your offerings apart from your competition. Talking with a business consultant such as AJ Pipe can help you with this.
2. Get your business name sorted – it is important to have a business name that is unique and memorable. Try out several ideas on friends and family and see what they think. Once you’ve got some possibilities, head over to ONECheck to make sure your name isn’t being used by someone else first. Then grab your domain name at Website World, as this will become a valuable asset for you moving forwards.
3. Organise your business logo and graphics – to make a positive first impression and demonstrate your business’ professionalism, you need to have a professionally designed business logo and associated graphic images. I can help you with this; check out my Design and Brand Packages, which include options for logo design, social media graphics, letterheads, website banner and branded videos. I also suggest you take a read of my article 5 Reasons to Invest in a Professional Logo Design.
4. Get your website and social media platforms sorted – identify which social media platforms your target audience are using, and set up accounts on them. If you are not sure about what to post, or would like help doing so, Spigot Digital can help you with this. There are a lot of website platforms you could use to build your website on, including WordPress, Wix, Shopify and the locally owned and operated Website World.
5. Create a marketing plan – your business is ready to start selling your products or services, but you will need to have a marketing plan in place to attract those customers. Within a marketing plan you’ll need to include details on how you will build your online presence, what you will post and frequency of posting on both your website and social media, plus any advertising you will pay for. There is a useful guide on these aspects on Business.govt.nz’s website which will walk you through doing this.

I’d love to know more about your business ideas. Let’s have a chat about how I can help you to present a positive and professional image to your customers. I look forward to hearing from you.

​Talk with any business owner who has invested in a professional logo design and they’ll say the same thing: it was well worth it! 

As a professional graphic designer, it is my goal to put the investment of a professionally designed logo within the reach of all New Zealand businesses. That’s one of the reasons why I’ve created my range of affordable Design and Brand packages. 

I also love being able to give my clients the advantages having a professionally designed logo provides, and that’s what I’d like to discuss today. 

5 Benefits of Having a Professional Logo Design
There’s more to a logo than just choosing a few colours, a font and an icon. In fact, there’s an entire planning, design and trial process that needs to be completed first. As a professional graphic designer, I’ve spent years perfecting my design skills and knowledge to create logos which resonate with my clients and provide them benefits which include:

1. Positive and strong first impression
   There’s nothing better than achieving a positive first impression, especially as a business owner. A well-designed logo captures your audience’s attention and demonstrates your professionality.
2. Variety of logo versions and file types
   A business logo isn’t just for your website. It also needs to work on social media, letterheads, business cards, flyers, brochures and posters too. This often requires your logo to have a variety of versions and file types, which a graphic designer can provide for you.
3. Brand loyalty and connection
   When your customers can resonate with your logo, they remember it. When they see it in different places, they instantly recognise it as belonging to your business. The familiarity it provides helps to build an ongoing relationship between your business and your customers.
4. Brand identity and clarity
   Often having a logo designed for you tees off the creation of your brand identity. Things such as the colours, fonts, shapes and icons used within your logo are then replicated to the other places where your business is present. Your logo is a part of your business’ story, setting the stage for all of your branding, print and online materials in the future.
5. Distinguishes you from your competition
   Standing out from your competition is vital. A professional logo shows your customers that your business is unique and has special characteristics which place it apart from others within the industry. A professional graphic designer such as myself, designs a logo to communicate the points of difference a business offers, which help build brand loyalty and recognition.
   
   

To ensure your business takes advantage of these five benefits, get in touch and let’s chat about your new logo design today!

​Let’s dive into what brand consistency looks like within a business, plus four of the key benefits it can provide your business, and how you too can use it to increase your level of success.
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If there was one thing I wish every business used, it would be brand consistency. This simple yet effective tool holds the power to not only reach others, but to show them what your business stands for. By having brand consistency throughout all your business’ website, social media and marketing endeavours, your audience will receive the same message wherever they are.

What Does Brand Consistency Look Like?
A business with brand consistency delivers the same message to its audience regardless of where that audience is or the method of communication with that audience. This includes:

• Using your main and/or logo variations 
• Keeping your colour palette and font use consistent
• Using the same tone and type of voice
• Keeping your image and artwork types similar

Ideally all the visual aspects of your brand would have been identified during your start-up phase. Your visual brand aspects, including logo, colours and fonts, are best compiled by a graphic designer who can put together a comprehensive brand guide for you to follow. I would be honoured to help you with this – check out my Design and Brand Packages or contact me today.

4 Important Benefits of Having Brand Consistency
There are numerous benefits to having and using brand consistency within your business. Four which I strongly feel are important are:

1. Building brand trust and loyalty among your audience – when you use brand consistency, your audience easily builds confidence in your business. 
2. Increasing brand awareness – people purchase from or choose to use a brand they recognise. By keeping your visual message similar, they quickly grow to recognise your logo, brand voice and colours, making it easily visible and memorable against your competitors. 
3. Demonstrating that your business is dependable and trustworthy – as people get to know your business, they build an understanding about what it represents and who it is. Using the same consistency with your brand image helps them feel that your business is reliable and something they want to engage with.
4. Helping balance perceptions and expectations people have of your business – through consistent brand imagery, customers develop an expectation that they will receive the same service and/or products no matter when they engage with you.  

Since the arrival of COVID-19, more businesses than ever have turned to social media to connect with their audience. Those that demonstrate a consistent visual brand do well because they are instantly recognised, grow brand loyalty and increase the number of followers. Using professionally designed social media templates is an important tool, and one that I can provide, as well as a complete branding package. 
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Be noticed and remembered for all the right reasons by using a consistent visual brand image – get in touch with me today and let’s talk about it! 

First impressions matter!
​A prospective customer or client will decide whether to use your business or not within the first two seconds, based upon what your business looks like. But why do people make that decision based upon what your business ‘looks like’ and not what it can do? Because our brains analyse visual information much easily than any other type. In fact, we process visual information 60,000 times faster than written text and around 90% of the communication within our brains is through visual impulses. This makes having great visual content for our businesses vital to achieve success.

​Getting Your Business Noticed Visually
 
To get your business noticed, it needs to present an attractive appearance to the world. The best way to do this is to utilise the skills of a professional graphic designer. They will ensure all your design work is:

• Branded for your business – a business name without a graphic is simply a piece of easily forgotten text. It is when you turn your business name into a logo that it becomes far more memorable. A graphic designer will work with you to create a visual marketing package for your brand which incorporates the colours and images which both of you feel represents your business. The branding created for your business must be unique, clearly identifiable and professional in appearance to make that vital positive first impression.
• Uniform – all your business marketing resources needs to be uniform, regardless of where they are found. That means the fonts, colours, logo and graphics used on these materials need to remain the same. Customers and clients are more likely to recognise your brand over another if you keep all the visual aspects the same. It may sound strange, but when things remain constant over a variety of mediums, customer loyalty is also increased.
• Professional – your business’ credibility is essential for you to gain more customers and grow. Therefore, all your graphic work must look professional and the best way to achieve that is by hiring a graphic designer. Research has shown that of the ten most critical factors people use when determining the perceived credibility of a business is, the sixth most important was a professional looking and well-presented website. A graphic designer can help you achieve this by creating headers or banners, suggesting which text type, colour and size to use, as well as creating a logo which personifies your business.

​How One Bite Graphic Design Can Help You Get Noticed
 
Helen can help you with creating professionally designed logos, business cards, Facebook covers, social media graphics and website graphics for your business. She will work with you to alter your existing branding or create new from scratch. Having had over two decades of experience in the graphic design industry, Helen knows exactly how to create memorable and attention grabbing visual content so important to get noticed and grow your business.
 
Contact Helen today to discuss the ways she can help improve the visual appearance of your business and get it noticed! 

Chances are that you have a new business which does not yet have a logo or that you want a new logo designed.  Maybe you do have a logo but it was designed by your friend and not a professional graphic designer. Before you jump in and make any decisions about logos, you need to really understand the importance of having a professionally designed logo.

Why Are Logos Important?
A logo does two things; firstly it shares the name of your business and creates a visual symbol representing your business. It is vital that your logo creates a positive first impression as it is the face of your business.  Your logo will become both the main image your business is known by and one which you represent your business with. A professionally designed logo from a graphic designer will show the world that your business is stable, professional and focused. A logo designed by a friend of a friend will instead show your business as being the opposite – unstable, amateurish and unfocused. 

Designing A Business Logo
Once you have chosen a graphic designer to create your business logo, they will start this six step logo design process with you;

1. The first stage of logo design is the client design brief. You will need to share with your graphic designer your visions and thoughts on what you want your logo to represent. Providing background information about your business and sharing with them some examples of logos you like and dislike are examples of what may be asked of you in your brief.
2. Here your designer will undertake some research about the industry your business is in and your competitors.
3. The third stage involves your designer researching successful logos within your business industry and identifying the new logo design trends and styles which relate to your design brief.
4. Now your designer will begin to conceptualise your new logo, bringing all their research and your design brief to life. 
5. During the fifth stage and after they have reflected on their work, your designer will share with you their best designs. You will generally choose one of the designs to work further on with the designer. You can share your feedback what you like and don’t like, as well as being able to ask them to change certain aspects of a design.
6. Finally both you and the designer keep working on the one design until you are both happy with it. The end result is your new logo!
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Graphic design is a form of art and just like art it is subject to people’s tastes. One of the biggest mistakes I see business owners make is asking for too many opinions about their logo design. You don’t need to post your logo ideas on social media for everyone to see and comment on. Instead you need to work closely with your graphic designer and a couple of close friends or other business owners. 
At One Bite Design we take logo design seriously. We know that the logos we design give our clients advantages over their competition. Get in touch with us today and let us design a logo which will help your business to swim!

On the face of it, you may wonder what graphic design and digital photography have in common.
One uses a computer and one uses a camera.

How could they work together?

Well, graphic design is an intricate art that requires a comprehensive understanding of composition, colour, and balance. There is a lot that goes into creating the perfect image. That is much the same as the creative discipline of digital photography. There are many aspects that go into photographing the ultimate web-worthy shot.
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When you look at it that way, it is no surprise that the two go hand in hand.

And they go hand in hand for One Bite Graphic Design & Photography now too… check out this example of stunning photography used in a Facebook cover design, all done by me, Helen.

Qualification Complete!
I am really excited that I have completed my Diploma in Digital Photography. After 3 years of intense study, assignments, and taking more photographs than I can count... I am finally done! While it was hard work to juggle study, my business, and family life I am so glad that I did it.
I am very proud of myself. By undertaking this qualification, I have proven to myself that hard work and dedication pay off. I received high marks for each of my assignments, which reflect the hours that were invested into each.

And now, I get to offer my new expertise to my clients!
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As well as the graphic design services you already know and love, I am also able to offer product photography, business photography, corporate photography, food photography and headshots.
 
How Graphic Design And Digital Photography Align
Graphical elements don’t happen by accident. There are a lot of painstaking choices to make - the right font, colour themes, and layout to effectively communicate your message. There is no denying the visual impact of a powerful image to convey mood, emotion, and intent.

The perfect image is indeed worth a thousand words, and when combined with other graphic design aspects, is a compelling medium.

It is also a key part of your branding. Having all of your images align with your brand is vital. Your headshots, your social media templates, your product shots and your logo should all align and be consistently recognisable for your audience. Each graphic element should use the same look and feel, as well as your brand colours.

When it comes to the image content, graphic designers often spend hours trawling through stock photography websites looking for the right image to blend in with their concept. But often, stock photos never quite hit the mark. It is near to impossible to find the right image to match my expectations and stock images are definitely not unique. There are also very few that are kiwi themed.

That is where my own digital photography skills come in.

As a graphic designer, I have been trained to manipulate and adjust photographic images. But, if you don't have the right photo to start with, then all the adjusting in the world will not make the desired end result!

There is a clear benefit to hiring a designer who is also a skilled photographer. Someone who knows exactly what image they need to use and has the ability to capture it themselves.
 
The Benefits Of Using A Graphic Designer With Photography Skills
Photographers have a deeper understanding of composition and visual balance. They learn how to effectively tell a story by not only using the subject of the photo, but also by using the rule of thirds.
What is that?

The rule of thirds is an important aspect of graphic design. The thirds are tone, colour, brightness and layout. The use of colour and contrast in both creative arts cannot be understated. Tones and hues that are subtly different can produce varied emotions and moods. They tell a story about your brand or product without the use of words. A graphic designer understands this well, but perhaps even more so when they are required to capture the perfect photographic image to match.

Images remove language barriers and can connect with an audience in a split second. They don’t even need to read any text. Think about the most powerful websites, memes or posters you have seen recently. Chances are, the image was the thing that captured your attention and stuck in your mind long after you had forgotten the associated text.
 
How You Can Utilise The Skills In Your Business
Whether it’s a banner, brochure, webpage, or poster, the fine art of combining texts and graphics can make an impact. It can transform your content from a piece of media that gets scanned and overlooked, into an eye-catching and valuable asset that raises brand awareness, draws customers in and converts into sales!

Engaging the services of a graphic designer/photographer is a wise move. Not only do they have a deeper understanding of design concepts, but you can also save yourself money. You don’t need to hire separate specialists and then try to explain the brief to both of them. By engaging my skills in both areas, it makes it easier for us all.
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Quite often, one of the most time-consuming aspects of my design work is searching for an image that is “just right” and fits both my vision and yours. Because I can produce my own images, it saves me hours of time! And, all of them will be tailored to the right size and composition, creating a quality end product that is consistent with all your associated media and theming.

So, if you are looking for a one stop graphical design shop, then get in touch with me here at One Bite Graphic Design & Photography. I would love to help make your business shine.

So for this blog I decided to do something a little bit different than usual. I am not going to talk about graphic design, photography or even anything to do with business.

At this time of the year when our thoughts and actions tend toward kind and thoughtful encouragements to our families and friends has led me to share something personal about myself and my family. Through this I hope to raise awareness in the hope that people will think before they speak and type, especially on social media, and be very careful about what can come across as hurtful comments.

As we near the end of the year and Christmas time especially when we spend time with family, friends and loved ones. We think over the years and memories we all share, the good and the bad. I know this time of year is not happy for everyone so please hear my heart in this and please only comment positively if you feel you would like to comment at all.

Our youngest child was born on Christmas Day, yes December 25th. Our family were absolutely delighted about this and have celebrated her birthday joyously! But I am sad to say but there are a lot of people who have some very negative things to say to my daughter and myself over the years.

My First Two Children
To give a little perspective she has an older brother and sister who both needed special care medical treatment after they were born. They both needed to be resuscitated for different reasons straight after being born and needed some ongoing monitoring. It took me a while to process all of that after their births and took longer to feel up to having another baby considering the possible risk to another baby. I suffered post natal depression but also had such a deep love and gratefulness for their survival and for them as precious gifts to our family. I managed to love and care for them very well with the love and input from my supportive husband and family. There is only 20 months between them so life was pretty busy.

Restoration
Around four years after the brith of our second child we decided we would be open to the possibility of having another child.... it wasn’t long before we found out we were pregnant and due in December. We were over the moon with the idea of having another blessing and me being in a much better state of mind to cope with everything having a baby would require. I kept relatively well during the pregnancy. As December started I wondered when my little bundle of joy would be born and it everything would be ok.

Timing
I was aware of the days in December being ticked off and the possibility of my new baby being born on Christmas Day. I knew that I didn’t want my baby to be born on Christmas Day but it was something I couldn’t control . It was Christmas Eve when I started to get some contractions... so many things were going through my mind. Will my baby be ok, a boy, or a girl? Would I cope with the pain? Would my baby be born on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?... So I laboured through the early evening until early morning. We had Life FM playing so I laboured to all the lovely Christmas Carols. At 1.30am my precious baby girl was born - and born healthy! My husband and I were over the moon!

Subsequently
I am sad to say that many people seem to have many comments to say about the date of my daughters birthday not only to me but also her. I have had people say to me “she is going to hate you for that” when I replied to their question of when she was born... “Oh no you poor thing”... “do you still give her a birthday party?” and so the list goes on. She is so so special and has such a heart of gold. The way she cares for others is amazing. You just have to read about her mission for the homeless to get the picture. She LOVES Christmas and getting gifts for others. Every year she has a party with all her friends! On Christmas Day / her birthday we all open Christmas presents and have loads of yummy food and come afternoon tea time… the second round of celebrations begin... more presents - more food and of course another birthday cake. She will be nine this year and despite what people have said to her, she LOVES her birthday.

My Goal
So my hope with this blog is to not only honour my beautiful girl, wonderful son, older daughter, my husband and family but to also raise awareness for others out there with birthdays on or near Christmas or any other special days. Please stop and think before you say anything to anyone about their birthday, even if you think it is a lighthearted or humorous comment. Pause and make sure that "if you can’t say anything positive that you don’t say anything at all”.

In closing I would like to wish you and all your loved ones a safe and happy holiday season.
In all things be kind!

When you come across a new business, what is one of the first things you look at? Yes thats right, its their business logo.

Your logo not only sets you apart from other businesses, it can help give clients an idea of who you are, what you do and what they can expect from your business.

While logo design is a science in itself, once you have the perfect logo, how and where can you best use it to promote your business?

Let’s look at some of the options for where you can use your business logo...

Traditional Business Logo Placement
First up, your logo should be added to some of the, physical components of your business. That means your business cards, letterheads, invoices, email footers, and other routine aspects of your day to day business.

Once you have the paper options covered off, it is time to look at the fabric options. Of course you want to have your logo appear on company uniforms. But even if you don’t necessarily have a uniform for your business, a branded shirt or hoody can do wonders to drum up interest in your brand.
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Lucky for you, we design and print custom apparel here at One Bite Design. So whether you are manning a market stall, doing a Facebook live, or simply getting your groceries, you can get your logo and branding out there!

Have a look at how well Sharon from Totally Balmy uses her logo and branding to promote her business! This brand is one of my favourites! Love seeing it in so many places!

Packaging
If packaging is part of your company’s operation, you have a big opportunity to showcase your logo. You can print it on tissue paper or other packaging materials, boxes, address labels and printed inclusions.

Get creative - restaurants can present burgers in logo-printed wrappers, fruit sellers can pop stickers onto their produce - when it comes to packaging, think outside the box, as it were!

Social Media
Your online presence is just as important as your offline one. Your business logo should feature heavily on your website and the various social media platforms you choose to use.

From your Facebook cover image, to branded social media templates, to your YouTube profile pic, each appearance of your logo needs to fit the right dimensions and format for the platform.
For decades, businesses have been printing their logos on “freebies” - notepads, fridge magnets, pens, desk calendars, mousepads and other rather mundane office supplies. While this is still a great idea in the right framework, there are almost unlimited options available to get your name on any number of products relevant to your business.

Got a business with a tech slant? Print your logo onto flash drives. Own a sporting goods store? Get some Frisbees branded. Have a café in your workplace for clients, with a barista (lucky you) - impress potential customers by having your logo created in coffee art on top of their cups of joe!
You can even be environmentally friendly and help save the planet by printing your logo on reusable straws, shopping bags, water bottles or travel mugs.

The options are endless - from cellphone cases and tote bags to lip balms and umbrellas, you can make your mark on a wide range of swag.

Signage
Get creative with your signage. Whether it’s a physical business, trade show or other event you don’t need to rely on one store-front sign. Technology provides you with so many more cool solutions like wall or window decals, A-frame chalk boards, ceiling or floor tiles, or digital display boards.

How about a “gobo”? This is a stencil cut out of glass or metal which is slotted in front of a spotlight - the shape can be projected onto any backdrop - tables, floors, ceilings or feature walls.
Don’t forget your vehicles - branding your company car, truck or van with your logo can be invaluable for drawing in new customers.

Go Viral
Social media is an integral part of your marketing strategy. But it can be hard to get traction on many of the platforms. A great way to get exposure for your business is to go viral!
Everybody loves a good meme, so if you come up with any for your business, make sure that your logo appears on them. That way when they get liked, loved, and shared, your branding will be in front of lots of interested eyes.
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When it comes to where you use your business logo, you are only limited by your creativity and budget. Regardless of where you are going to put your logo, you need to make sure you have an attractive and professional design to begin with. Here at One Bite Graphic Design we specialise in logos and can provide you with the perfect design and format to ensure your logo really makes its mark. 

Get in touch with Helen today and start the amazing journey of branding your business. If you already have your logo designed but want to further enhance your brand awareness get in touch today as well. There are infinite places you can use your logo and branding! Get stuck in to it!