When we talk website design with potential clients, one thing we hear pretty regularly is, “I have no idea what this kind of thing costs.” It’s not just about shopping around between different providers, either–there are a lot of factors that can affect your total investment. If you want to get a better sense of […]
Content is Queen: A Case for Content-First Design
A letter without a message is just a blank piece of paper in a fancy envelope. (And who wants to look at that?) How Design Communicates When we build websites, draw logos, and make marketing assets, we’re using our (awesome) creative powers to help our clients share their message. We use colors, shapes, letterforms, photo […]
Put the “Pro” in Creative Professional
At the beginning of August we introduced Janet Price, a Portland makeup artist we love. Janet had so much great advice for achieving professional success that we thought it deserved more than one blog post! Process and technique can sometimes be hard to communicate to the average person, when you work in a creative field. […]
How to Give Feedback to Your Designer
Designers have a reputation for being fussy, opinionated, and disinterested in client feedback, or even for needing to have things their way concerning your project. But your pals at Upswept are here to say that when you work with us, that is simply not the case. We believe that design is a collaborative process between […]
How To Build A Brand That Reaches Your Dream Clients
Branding can be a hard thing to understand. You know that a strong brand can help you land more clients and make more sales, but you may wonder: how does that happen? It’s important to make your brand distinctive, so it sticks in your clients mind. That means knowing your own values and staying in touch with […]
What’s in a logo?
A logo is a key brand element for any company. Whether a new startup venture, or a well-established company, getting your logo design (or redesign!) nailed down feels good, and can help re-energize your company going into the new year. Approaching logo design can be a real challenge. A good logo design will fit the […]
Mistakes to Avoid When Building an Authentic Brand
Building and nurturing a strong brand is a process. It take time and focus, and the process isn’t always clear. It’s easy to put your focus in the wrong places when you create a new business brand, or rebrand an existing business. Here are a couple of mistakes to watch out for during the process, […]
Stealing Photos is Bad
Photography usage in the digital age has, unfortunately, been a big problem. Stealing content is not ok – ever! Knowing the rules and etiquette surrounding using work that is not your own is an important part of being an ethical and responsible business owner or creative professional. I’ve written this post as a quick guide […]
Use Your Web Site to Make Your Business Findable
Summer is upon us in Portland, and that means tourism! People from all over come here for vacations, explore our city, and fall in love with it. You might be making special plans to get ready for the buzz of tourists, especially if you have a storefront or tourism-based business, but there’s one thing you might […]
Getting Real About Timelines
It’s the end of a new client consultation. We’ve discussed your company and why you love what you do. We’ve talked about the features your new website will have. There’s just one question lingering: “How long will it take?” The answer? “It depends.” Not the most satisfying answer, we know! Timelines often vary at least […]