LOGO The Steps to Creating a Business Card

California State Standards CTE Standards  AME.A.A2.1 Analyze the way in which technical design (e.g., color theory, lighting, graphics, typography, posters, sound, costumes, makeup) contributes to a performance or presentation.  AME.A.A2.2 Know the component steps and skills required to design, edit, and produce a production for audio, video, electronic, or printed presentation.  AME.A.A2.3 Use technology to create a variety of audio, visual, written, and electronic products and presentations.  AME.FS.4.2 Understand the use of technological resources to access, manipulate, and produce information, products, and services.  AME.FS.4.4 Understand digital applications appropriate to specific media and projects.  AME.FS.5.5 Understand the application of research and analysis skills to the creation of content. California State Standards Proficient:  2.1 Solve a visual arts problem that involves the effective use of the elements of art and the principles of design.  2.3 Develop and refine skill in the manipulation of digital imagery (either still or video) Advanced:  2.1 Create original works of art of increasing complexity and skill in a variety of media that reflect their feelings and points of view.  5.3 Prepare portfolios of their original works of art for a variety of purposes (e.g., review for post secondary application, exhibition, job application, and personal collection).

Objectives  Students will describe the process of designing letterhead and envelope for a business.  Students will create an effective stationery and envelope design for a business.  Students will demonstrate proper knowledge of the tools of industry, standard software for modification of digital images at a proficient or advanced skill level for preproduction, production and publishing.

Purpose of Stationery for a Business Letterhead, also referred to as stationery, plays an important part in a company’s identity. All communication that is sent from a company to its clients (letters, publicity folders, envelopes, invoices, etc.) must represent the company’s identity. The letterhead should be coherent in design with the all of the materials the company produces and should include the company’s logo, color scheme, address and contact information. When the client sees the letterhead they should immediately know who the letter is from. The design of the letterhead should not be too busy. The graphics should also not be too large. There should be a clear area in the letterhead to type a letter. There can be designs on the sides of the page that don’t interact with the typed letter. You can choose to add designs behind where the letter would be typed but they would need to be light enough so they don’t complete with the legibility of the letter.

Steps to Creating a Stationery Design  Step 1: What is the size?  Step 2: What information needs to go on the stationery?  Step 3: How will you make it match your logo, business card, and other business materials?  Step 4: What design elements might you include to make your stationery more interesting?  Step 5: How will you make your stationery appeal to your target audience?

The standard size of standard letterhead is 8.5” wide x 11” high. Generally you don’t want any type that needs to be readable to go to the very edge of the stationery. You want to keep it at a minimum of an 1/8’ away from the edge, but to be safe a 1/4” would be better. Your images and color can go to the very edge of the paper. When you set up the design you will actually have to have them go outside the box by a ¼ of an inch. This is called a bleed and allows for the printing company to print the card with out white space being left at the edge. Step 1: Size 8.5” wide 11” wide

Step 2: Information Information for the Letterhead Business Name (if not on logo) Address: City, State, Zip Phone Fax Website Other contact information: You Tube, Twitter, Facebook, etc.

Step 3: Unity How will you make it match your logo, business card and other business materials? If the company logo uses specific fonts and colors then the letterhead should use those same fonts and colors. If the company uses similar design elements in their logo, business card and advertising then those should be used in the letterhead also. The letterhead, business card and envelope should look like they are part of a set.

Step 4: Design Elements What design elements might you include to make your letterhead more interesting? Are their images, photos or elements of your logo or business card you could use as graphic elements in your letterhead design? Adding design elements to your stationery can make it more interesting and eye catching.

Step 5: Target Audience How will you make your letterhead appeal to your target audience? This is an important question. Who is your target audience? Are you using colors, designs and images that would appeal to that target audience?

Steps to Creating an Envelope Design  Step 1: What is the size?  Step 2: What information needs to go on the envelope?  Step 3: How will you make it match your logo, business card, stationery and other business materials?  Step 4: What design elements might you include to make your envelope more interesting?  Step 5: How will you make your envelope appeal to your target audience?

The standard size of a business envelope is 9.125” wide x 4.125” high. On an envelope, type and images cannot go to the very edge of the envelope unless you pay for a specially printed envelope. The type and images need to be a ¼” away from the edge. Step 1: Size 4.125” wide 9.5” wide

Step 2: Information Information for the Letterhead Business Name (if not on logo) Address: City, State, Zip

Step 3: Unity How will you make it match your logo, business card, stationery and other business materials? If the company logo uses specific fonts and colors then the envelope should use those same fonts and colors. If the company uses similar design elements in their logo, business card, stationery and advertising then those should be used on the envelope also. The letterhead, business card and envelope should look like they are part of a set.

Step 4: Design Elements What design elements might you include to make your envelope more interesting? Are their images, photos or elements in your logo, business card, or stationery that you could use as graphic elements in your envelope design? Adding design elements to your envelope can make it more interesting and eye catching.

Step 5: Target Audience How will you make your envelope appeal to your target audience? This is an important question. Who is your target audience? Are you using colors, designs and images that would appeal to that target audience?

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