The plethora of original masterpieces available in the world of design still amazes me. It seems like it could be easy, especially in the designing world, to simply take from what’s already out there and tweak it a bit to fit the client.
When it comes to brochures, this “cheating” method of design does seem to happen quite often, but maybe only because of the generic, standardized templates available for do-it-yourselfers. For when I peruse the inspirational brochure collections on websites such as GraphicDesign, the variety of unique brochures is stunning.
Clients do not need to succumb to a standard brochure printing design anymore. Although I’m sure it costs a pretty penny, die cut brochures in the shape of, say, a leaf or a hand or with holes cut into the front cover to give a peak of what’s inside really turns the head. And spiral bound booklets make for easy page turning as well as an interesting look, especially when used with card stock paper. Embossed initials, heavy textured paper stock, and rope bound booklets all add to the intrigue, but you may need to reserve these options for those clients who can afford such luxuries.
So are there any solutions to amazing brochures on a budget? Some of the most stunning and appealing designs I’ve seen recently were on standard 8.5″ x 11″ tri-fold brochures. Truly great designs are what make the brochure, not the other way around. A unique graphic image, a custom font, brilliant photographs can be the ticket to a winning design. But designers can easily step away from the standard by simply changing the fold or the size of the brochure. Or what about adding some interesting texture by gluing fabric or, as one company did, bubble wrap onto the front cover? Of course, this could take awhile but may be well worth the effort. And you’ll definitely need to charge extra unless clients would like to try their hand at gluing the brochure together.
So, whether your client has an unlimited budget or one that gives you little room for playing around, you can create an inspiring brochure without making your client feel like just another coffee shop, or used car dealer, or law firm, or bank. . . you get the idea. Find yourself hitting a brick wall? Peruse the brochure compilations online (there are many) and get inspired to greatness, without directly copying any ideas you see, of course.
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