b1 Group is a full service graphic design agency with expertise across a broad range of disciplines. Our clients find that when they work with b1, all of their marketing and design needs are handled consistently. We thrive on high standards and our work is always impactful and on brand.
27th Apr
Here is a free desktop background for you to download this week – very fitting but a colourful take on this miserable weather!
10th Apr
Print is a product and there is a cost involved in selling it – machinery, paper, ink, print plates and the list goes on. Graphic design is a service and there is also a cost involved in selling it – computers, software but more importantly time, expertise, research, understanding and creativity. So why do many agencies give design work away for free? And more importantly, what does cheap design mean for your brand?
19th Mar
Graphic design is much more than harmonious colours and clean layout, it also relies heavily on clear typography. So much so, that the treatment of a typeface can make or break a design.
27th Feb
Advertising should be memorable and stand out from the crowd. It should have an effect on your target audience. here are some great examples of this. (Click the thumbnails to see more detail)
14th Feb
If you really want to get your brand out there, and build awareness, think about bus back advertising.
10th Feb
Valentines Day is waiting for us all around the corner! Soon men, women and children of all ages will be striving to find the perfect card for their loved one. I don’t know about you, but I feel the romantic edge of this special day has been somewhat lost over the last few decades. The prospect of a now over-commercialised day just doesn’t seem so exciting. What’s happened to the world? Where has the sentiment gone?
30th Jan
At the moment, and with the massive pressure on marketing budgets, its understandable that businesses, more than ever, want great value for money when it comes to creative work. But how do you put a value on ideas?
18th Jan
When it comes to creative work, the more you are prepared to put in, the more you will get out. A good creative brief is crucial if you are to receive creative proposals that hit the mark.
13th Jan
Writing great copy is not rocket science, and with practice is not difficult. We all have it within us to talk with passion and conviction about something we care about, and writing business copy for brochures, ads and web need to be no different.
09th Dec
Merry Christmas to everyone, and a Happy New Year.
07th Dec
As the UK recession looks set to continue well into 2012 and beyond, it’s never been more important to siege every single sales opportunity.
In a shrinking market it becomes vital to grow market share and win business from the competition.
02nd Dec
With the New Year comes optimism and the perfect opportunity to plan for the future growth of our businesses.
I cannot stress enough the importance of planning. A business without a plan really is like a ship without a rudder and it will never achieve its real value.
As business leaders we owe it to our staff and to ourselves to develop a real and meaningful game plan. How else can we assess and evaluate where we are, how we are doing and what needs to change? The game plan is our whole reason for being in business!
29th Nov
I recently attended a show at the NEC and was hit by a number of QR codes. They were everywhere – signage, point of sale stands, t-shirts, hand outs and simply printed and stuck onto stands. I was then also struck by the number of people scanning them – it was good to see!
29th Nov
I recently had a discussion with a client about a mail drop, which failed to generate sufficient enquiries. The client was surprised – I was not.
25th Nov
Every week, we meet new clients who come to us for help and advice in how to grow their business. Most of these clients have no process in place for the acquisition of new customers and find themselves relying upon networking and referrals as their sole source of new business.
15th Nov
I was one of many students who graduated from University this week after completing my four year degree – hurrah! That’s my student days over and I was back to work as an Account Manager here at b1 the following day, a job I started just a month after finishing my course in May. Many of my fellow graduates however, aren’t so lucky. The media are constantly saying how students struggle to find employment after finishing University, and believe me – they’re not lying! It is really tough but there ARE things you can do to get on the career ladder, despite the recent recession. I want to briefly tell you my story…
15th Nov
Photography is key in any marketing piece, ever heard the saying that ‘a picture paint’s a thousand words’? Well it’s true. In the education industry, photos need to be striking and make the right impression. If a potential parent see’s some stunning photos of students enjoying themselves, engaging with each other, in deep thought during a lesson – looking like they never want to leave the school, then the parents are more likely to send their children to your school.
03rd Nov
When years 3 & 4 of Feckenham First School were asked to design a campaign to raise awareness of various conservation projects around the world, the children didn’t disappoint with their creative thinking.
02nd Nov
Don’t accept poor graphic design when commissioning work from your creative agency. A good agency will always push your brand and your business forward. Far too often however, designers will take the easy option. Here’s what to look for:
24th Oct
Advertising sells when done correctly. Why then do so many businesses fail to get the basics right? With over 30 years experience in advertising off the page for leading brands both business to business and business to consumer, here’s a formula that will tighten up your ads, give your message great clarity and hold people long enough to digest and retain your message.
19th Oct
Colour can have huge implications on your design, logo or publications. Make sure you hit the right note…
White symbolises purity and truthfulness. It is contemporary and clinical. It’s the best web background colour. It encourages us to clear clutter or obstacles.
14th Oct
Whatever the size of your company, your corporate image has a big impact on the way your brand is seen and interpreted by your customers. A carefully considered design that is kept consistent through all marketing materials can help customers to understand your brand and what it represents.
14th Oct
How to choose the best creative agency for your business.
Here is our simple A – Z guide!
If you are looking to refresh your brand or need a new agency partner think about the following before you choose;
14th Oct
In the last couple of years you’ll have no doubt seen an increase in these funny square dots, well, they’re QR codes.
Quick Response (QR) codes are providing businesses with an alternative way to pass on information, making marketing incredibly interactive. They are just like a barcode on any product, however they are square and can contain a whole host of information in a small space.
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