Graphic Design & Public Relations: A Mutually Beneficial Relationship
I’m not a word person; that is more of my talented Scooter Media teammates’ specialty. However, the word “design” itself means to plan artistically or skillfully – and that’s exactly what good graphic design does: It tells a client’s story through the use of images and visuals artistically in a manner where it connects with its observer. Music to a Creative Director’s ears!
The incorporation of graphic design into your plans is one of the smartest decisions you can make in crafting a brand’s image – and that’s why Scooter Media offers graphic design services. It’s exciting for us to craft our clients’ enthusiasm, passion and expertise into print and digital materials that make their services tangible to those they are trying to reach. Their success is our success – and it’s great when success happens by design.
Before ever becoming involved in graphic design, I was focused on a different type of design: interior. I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in interior design from the College of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning (DAAP) at the University of Cincinnati. After graduating, working at a local architecture firm made me notice something I hadn’t before: More often than not, it was the graphic choices – color, fonts, etc. – that elevated the fixtures and furnishes to the point of making the branding effective.
Think about some of the most successful companies today … What do they all have in common? Iconic, easily-recognizable logos to match, be they athletic apparel makers, beverage brands, fast-food chains, sports leagues or big-box retail stores. Logos, fonts, colors, graphics – they all tell a story. That’s why when it comes to public relations, the design choices you make can be just as significant as the words you use. McDonald’s golden arches, the Nike swoosh, Coca-Cola’s distinctive flowing cursive … Each is simple yet iconic in its own right and immediately recognizable. That’s what good design should do for a brand.
My co-workers have been told by members of the media that news releases without some sort of image or graphic are less impactful, which makes sense. It’s one thing to read about something; to see it with your own eyes, however, makes for an entirely different experience. This is why graphic design is essential to achieving public relations goals: Visuals help tell the story in its entirety. In much the same way motion pictures bring thoughts and ideas to life for our entertainment, graphic design reveals a product’s usefulness; coordinates with a lifestyle; and puts values into physical forms through colors, shapes and images.
That’s the power of good design.
