Catalog Design
Graphic Connection is uniquely qualified to design your company's catalog. With 25 years of hands-on experience working at a commercial printing company, I have expertise, knowledge and experience that most graphic designers lack.
As a freelance designer, my overhead is low. In addition to having a full understanding of how to properly prepare the art files, I may be able to help your company save money on the costs involved in the printing and distribution of your catalog as well. Photography and photo retouching services are also available.
Catalog Design Tips
Know your Customers - What is the demographic of the person you want to buy your products? What makes your customers buy your products? Catalog design is easy if you just sell replacement parts to customers who need to fix something that is broken, but with most catalogs this is not the case. You want to sell your products, but people tend to buy on emotion. The secret to creating the desire to buy is appealing to the customer's yearning to attain a particular lifestyle. Show the customer how your merchandise will provide them with the lifestyle they desire and you will sell more of the product.
Design for the Audience - The catalog should create a look-and-feel consistent with the product. Design your catalog around conveying lifestyle. Show people enjoying the benefits of your merchandise. The text and photos should not only describe the product to help the consumer to make a buying decision, but it should demonstrate to the reader the results – how the product will help them achieve the lifestyle they want and desire.
Maintain Consistent Style - Once you have established a successful look-and-feel for your catalog, resist the temptation to change it. A Consistent look from issue to issue reinforcing your corporate branding – your customers begin to recognize it as “your look.” Repetition builds brand recognition, favorable reception and sales. If you decide to change the theme of your catalog, do it in small increments over a long time to avoid losing the branding you have built upon.
Product Focused - Avoid grouping items together in photographs unless they are in very small, related groups. Show most products with no background so the merchandise stands out from the clutter of the page. Subtle backgrounds add variety to the design and convey lifestyle moods.
Excellent Photos - Perhaps the single most important catalog feature is the product photo itself. Don’t be frugal on the photography. A picture is "worth a thousand words," but a bad photo can say the wrong words about your product.
Top Right Corners - Put your best selling and most profitable merchandise on the outside top corners - especially the right side . Readers typically thumb through a catalog by first looking at the top right corner first, and then glance to the rest of the page. If nothing catches their eye they'll turn the page. Give your best selling products more space than your less important merchandise.
Include an Order Form - Since much of the actual ordering is done by phone or on the website, some companies believe that an order form is unnecessary. But research has shown that shoppers like to use a printed order form to list and organize their purchases even if their actual order is place by telephone on your website.
Graphic Connection is a freelance graphic design studio based in Lee's Summit, Missouri. We make creative ideas "come to life" in print and on the world wide web.
The first step in the catalog design process is to discuss your company's products & services and the clients you are trying to attract. Once I have a feel for who you are and what you do, we can discuss ideas for the right look for your catalog to communicate your message visually.
As a freelance graphic designer with "on hands" experience in a commercial printing facility, I offer many advantages which can save your company both time and money when it comes to printing your catalogs or other graphic design project.
To see some of sample work in my portfolio click here.
For a price quote on a catalog or any other design project click here.
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