Manifesto
What does "good design" mean to us? How do we approach the design process? What should our clients expect from us and vice versa?

If you've never worked with a graphic designer before, the whole process can seem disorienting. Why should you hire a design firm? What can they do for you that a printer or PR firm can't. Why pay us good money to do something that seems to simple?

Great questions, of course, and answering them is critical for us to "tell our story" and convey to clients and potential clients what Cave Dog Studio brings to the table when marketing and communications projects come knocking.

What Does Good Design Mean To Us?
Good design is deceptively simple. It conveys a clear message without inserting itself into the medium too strongly. Good design enhances a message by making it easy to understand and fun or painless (or both) to consume.

Without careful and respectful treatment, complex messages can be misunderstood or perhaps even ignored. A constant challenge in graphic design is presenting information in a way that entices the consumer/reader/customer without overwhelming the basic message with unnecessary fluff or decoration. It's a delicate balance, though, and one which is not always easy to maintain.

A key step in reaching the great goal of "good design" is to first listen. Listen to the client and listen to the client's customers. Understand what is really being said and how, using graphic design as the tool, can the designer ease the flow of information from one party to another.

How Do We Approach the Design Process?