From Concept to Reality: How We Do Design

There’s one thing everyone here at Websolutons.ca has in common: we all appreciate pretty things. Luckily, part of our job involves planning and designing both physical and digital media, and we have some immensely talented and creative artists on our team ready to turn ideas into delicious eye candy.  

With several years of marketing and social media management under our belts, we’ve built up a rather impressive portfolio of nifty designs and head-turning artistic creations. From brand logos and ad carousels to car wraps and billboards, our team’s track record is full of unique and stunning designs that our clients (and our clients’ clients) continue to use and love. 

In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the behind-the-scenes work that goes into a design project, with some wonderful insight from our fantastically talented designer, Vanessa.

You know what they say: fail to plan, plan to fail. No project can truly begin without first establishing what needs to be done in order to meet the client’s expectations. 

For Vanessa and our team, this comes in a few different forms that vary depending on the scope of the task. However, there are some universal aspects of their planning process that hold true no matter what kind of project we’re working on.  

For our team, we find it most effective to treat each new design project as a  “puzzle” in need of solving. In order to approach this puzzle, Vanessa and our team need to ask a lot of purposeful questions so that they can better understand the direction and purpose of whatever it is they’re working on. 

For example, Vanessa always goes into a project with a few key questions in mind: what is the problem that needs to be solved? What is the best way to fix this problem? 

Specific and intentional questions get better, more detailed answers that give our designers a better understanding of the project and its main goals. For example: who is the target audience for this design, and what emotions should it instill in that audience? What impact is the design meant to have for the brand/product? Have any competitors already answered these questions, and if so, how did they reach those answers?

If the design is totally original, like it was with StudyNB, there are so many other things to consider, too. Aspects like fonts, textures, colours, and how the design will be displayed are all important things to consider before a project can get underway. 

Once that’s all been established, it’s time to doodle! With a strong idea of what the design is meant to communicate in mind, Vanessa can start putting ideas to paper. She calls this a “mind map” and she uses it as a way to gather all her ideas in one convenient place. Most of these sketches will never see the light of day, but sifting through the bad ones is how you eventually reach the ones that stick. 

Whether a design is based on something that exists or is brand new, there’s no understating the importance of proper planning. A strong and sturdy blueprint can make or break an entire project before it even begins, and our team takes this into account with every new design they take on.   

We’ve created lots of designs here at Websolutions.ca, so naturally, certain projects have emerged as extra memorable for our team. When asked about what her favourite projects have been, Vanessa expressed how much she loved working on printed designs and media. 

For Vanessa, it’s all about “the satisfaction of creating something that goes out into the world for people to see.” With that sentiment - plus her background in auto body work - it should come as no surprise that the ExploreNB vehicle wrap she created for Tourism New Brunswick is something of a magnum opus for her. 

Projects of this scale often come with a laundry list of specifications and require extensive research to get right. Since every vehicle is unique and this design in particular was very intricate, the hours of work that went into this project quickly added up.The end result, though, is something that Vanessa continues to be ecstatic about to this day - and with good reason!   

Also top-of-mind for Vanessa was the 13 Barrels beer cans. These designs offered a unique chance to translate particular sensations like taste and smell into thematic, fun and eye-catching visuals.

With quirky flavours like Dog Daze and Sour Power, our team really got the chance to flex their creative muscles with these can designs, making this a standout project. With cans this charming, it’s no wonder that 13 Barrels has become such an iconic element of the Downtown Bathurst area. 

Some other noteworthy Websolutions.ca design projects are the illustration work we’ve done for ExploreNB, including billboards, magazine ads, and a stunning road trip map. Getting the chance to create art that so beautifully reflects the province we call home is truly a privilege, and we’re always proud to show off these projects. 

There's a clear theme here: we love creating printed designs that we get to see out in the world! That being said, digital media is also rewarding in its own way. Just take a look at some of the digital brands we've developed. There's no denying that our designs still make a great impact, even when they stay on the screen!

Ultimately, as it is with most art, soaking in that finished product - and appreciating the visual storytelling that comes along with it - is what makes it all worthwhile in the end. Thanks to Vanessa for giving us an equally exciting and informative glimpse into her thoughts and design process!