THE COLLABORATORS

• Erin T., GM of E-Commerce. Project-to-project consult.

• Bridget M., Previous Graphic Designer. Initial job training and procedures.

• James Mitchell Lewis, Graphic Designer. Book content, layout, and example projects.

SERVICES OFFERED

I wanted to help the company to grow and remain consistent in the following years to come. What we needed was a Style Guide; what I got was a journey of self-refinement.

By writing this booklet, I hope that others after me find the information documented useful; or if the circumstances ever called for it, it could always be used as a coffee cup holder. It was my duty to improve the workflow of the position - even after my time at MetroShoe Warehouse.

THE PROBLEM

The start of my position as Graphic Designer was rocky, The training itself wasn’t the issue; the lack of collected resources and concrete representation of what MSW stood for, was. Hard copies and reference materials were scattered.

I felt that information should be readily available at a moment's notice. The longer it takes a designer to find measurements or color palettes, the longer it takes for the whole process to be resolved. Everything ends up being less efficient. It wasn't just about having the information for myself; but also for anyone else that came after me. 

THE PROCESS

I took it upon myself to collect everything I had created those first few years, filing it away until I had enough for my concept. The first thing to settle on was a look and feel for the booklet.

I pulled ideas from other styleguides that were written in appealing layouts. These included FourSquare®, Apple®, Barn’s & Noble®, Easy Group®, and Google®. Inspiration was also derived from the bold elements seen in Draplin Design Company®'s works. 

HANDBOOK CHAPTER BREAKDOWN

Having a physical notebook with me also meant note taking would be easier. Once the notes are done, a new section would be printed and added it to the booklet, keeping everything up-to-date. 

My initial goal was to showcase the fundamental steps necessary to start a project. It would then progress to more challenging aspects in later sections, cultivating those skills. For example, the first few chapters include an introduction to the company, a blurb about what to expect, the logo, color choices, and typography. From there, projects start as a single page 11in x 17in poster and gradually lead to more information intense items such as emails and window displays.

The progression ends in one of the more difficult tasks of creating a Brand of the Month Campaign. These events usually occur throughout an entire month and utilize each printed and digital media in different amounts, depending on said brand.