Cut Costs
Benefits of a well-designed PowerPoint template
In looking for ways to produce visually stunning presentations for clients or end-users, Microsoft PowerPoint can be a design powerhouse. However, most users don’t make the most of PowerPoint’s design capabilities and miss out on the benefits that come with a well-designed template. Office suite’s “power users” – like the expert design team at Bluewave […]
Version Control
Version control may not sound like a big problem, but here’s a typical scenario that can drive budgets up quickly. The client sends the designers a file. The design team assumes they have the final file and no one is still working on slides. Unbeknownst to the designers, the client has one or more people […]
The Top 7 Ways to Save Money on Your Project
1. Follow a standard subject line protocol in all emails involving the project. Project number and client name – description EXAMPLE: 12-0000 Big Hot Co. – Event keynote sample slides 2. Use a consistent name for the project. Too many times, clients have varying nicknames or acronyms for projects and we can’t tell if it’s a new […]
High-quality Prints from Slides
We are occasionally asked to turn presentation graphics into printed posters, white papers, newsletters, and so on. If you think you’ll need high-quality print output from slides, it’s best to let us know in advance. Here’s why: Presentation graphics do not need to have anywhere near the same resolution as high-end print graphics—they only need […]
What Bluewave Needs to Get Started
Here’s what we need to nail down before beginning a project: Do you have an existing color palette? If not, we can create one. For color palettes that we develop, we’ll discuss general color directions with you. Any special graphics you want us to use? Your event may feature a unique theme, logo, illustrations, photos, posters, etc. […]
Slide Aspect Ratios: What You Need to Know
Many PowerPoint presentations are formatted at the default 4:3 aspect ratio, which is the display size used by older TV screens and projectors. Widescreen shows, with a 16:9 aspect ratio, are becoming more and more common. Keynote conferences and other high-end events will likely be displayed in widescreen environments. For smaller venues, widescreen HD-capable DLP chip projectors are now very […]
The First Quarter Inch — Developing Project Guidelines
Life is like a yardstick. In some ways, the easy part is the last 11¾ inches. The hard part is often the first quarter inch: getting organized and defining goals. Don’t cut corners on that first quarter inch, for it often moves the project from good to great. Many of our clients have clearly defined […]
Cut Costs on All Your Creative Projects with These Six Rules
Rule #1 — Allow plenty of time. Not enough time is the most common problem any design firm faces. Too often, the client is expecting a fast turnaround at a low price. Rule #2 — Respect the design team. Respect their creativity, judgment and effort. They are professionals and deserve to be treated as such. […]
How a Design Firm Works
All a design firm has to sell is time — time to create artwork. Clients don’t always understand the full scope of the design process. All parts of the project must be billed. Here is a list of billable items in a typical presentation project, in timeline order: Discuss the project. Often free, but it […]