Bill Weber Design Portfolio

2006-10-27T14:04:00.002-05:00

advertising

2006-09-30T17:43:00.002-05:00

business cards

2006-09-28T12:39:00.001-05:00

Business cards have to convey a lot of information in a little space They have to attract and impress the reader and be easily legible. The following examples show how these small cards can carry a big impact.

Foldover business card for a custom jeweler.

New identity, handlettering, and layout for a church business card.

Lively, yet professional, business card for a chiropractor.

Business card (and logo) for a public relations firm. The logo represents the letter "S" along with fireworks and rising temperatures -- two things that this company causes to happen for its clients.

cds and packages

2006-09-27T18:29:00.002-05:00

characters

2006-09-26T11:24:00.002-05:00

custom media

2006-09-26T09:47:00.002-05:00

It's not easy to get people's attention these days. Marketers can no longer sit back while masses of people gather around the tv to watch their ads. Audiences want to be approached on their own turf and on their own terms.

This makes "non-traditional" media (guerilla marketing, branded content, custom media, promotional marketing, packaging, point-of-purchase displays, theme events, social media, email marketing and websites) an increasingly important part of the marketing mix.

I have been solving communication and marketing problems in a non-traditional way my entire career. I have created communications vehicles that forward brand strategies, resonate with audiences, and make good business sense.

For example:

internet

RoleModel.TV
Portal and video channel for families
T-Shirt Memorial Park
Microsoft IdeaWins Challenge, 2007
CampusResources.Net
Commercial-watching site to raise funds for schools

long-form broadcast - family

The Nashville Network’s Salute to Quality Children’s Entertainment
Televised salute to AACE award winners, 1996
The Children’s Entertainment Hall of Fame
Museum, educational facility, and annual televised awards special
The Imaginarakis'
Family sitcom
Ingenuity
Science game show for families
Freight
Adult sitcom

long-form broadcast - children

The World of Ambassador Bird
Animated show for pre-schoolers
Home Made Horror
Sci-fi "how-to" show for ages 7-12
Rheostat’s Restaurant
Variety show for pre-schoolers

live events

All-Star Family Festival at Opryland USA
Theme park show, 1996
The Children's Entertainment Awards
The "Oscars" of the children's entertainment industry, 1996
American Academy of Children's Entertainment
Trade association, 1994-1998

design

TrademarksUSA, 2010. Winner of "Best Trademarks of 2010" for five designs for Park Avenue Christian Church, Northeast Region Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), East Coast Construction Company, Metropolitan Theater Company, The Ladies Room.
SnackBots
Award-winner, Welch's Afterschool Snack Competition, 2007
Magic Television-Watching Socks
PBS Sprout promotional giveaway, 2006
Man Reaching Up To God, God Reaching Down to Man
World Trade Center Memorial Competition, 2004
The Denta-Rhythmic Toothbrush
Krups Design Contest, 1989

print - business

The Super Says: Don't Flush Dental Floss Down the Toilet
2010 (scheduled release)
Designing Powerful Logos
2011 (scheduled release)
Who's Who In Children's Entertainment
Entertainment industry directory, 1996
Children's Entertainment Business
Trade magazine developed for VNU, 2000
Weber's Internet Sourcebook
Computer industry directory
Corporate Image
Advertising and design magazine for small and mid-sized business

print - consumer

Parents & Kids Directory
New York's first local parenting magazine,
affiliated with the Children's Museum of Manhattan, 1984-1994
ParentAge
Newsletter for new parents over 35, 1992
Parents Datebook & Planner
Day runner for parents, 1992
Children's Music Marketing Project
Cooperative advertising in association with Parenting magazine, 1994
The Native New Yorker
Cartoon book, 1987
Marquee
Theatre program magazine, 1980-82
Citizen
National magazine of community involvement and activism

print - children

The Dinosaur Times
Magazine for kids, 1993
Through Tiger's Eyes
Children's book for hospitals, 2007
Hero's House
Children's architecture book, 1977

Years shown indicate the project's debut or street date.

direct marketing

2006-09-25T21:41:00.000-05:00

coming soon

graphic illustration

2006-09-24T18:27:00.000-05:00

logos and trademarks

2006-09-22T22:09:00.005-05:00

A logo is more than just fancy lettering strung together. As the face of a brand, it must convey business functions both tangible (industry category such as financial services, perfumes, retail, manufacturing, etc.) and intangible (integrity, stability, trendiness, and personality). It must be attractive (if you want people to buy your t-shirts and mugs), easy to read (on both a ballpoint pen and the side of an airplane), and easy to reproduce (via fax machine or HDTV commercial).

Most importantly, it must be a help, not a hindrance to communication. Too many logos are meaningless acronyms, interchangeable symbols, or cliches. People are too busy and too easily frustrated to click on logos that don't communicate professionalism.

Both the business community and the general public have very sophisticated taste when it comes to design. Luxury vodkas, clothing, cell phones, cars and iPods are thriving today because of design. Even Target discount stores have a designer -- Michael Graves-- design their housewares! For your brand to earn attention, loyalty, and warm fuzzy feelings, you need a logo designed with sophistication and skill.

My designs are multi-faceted works of art that convey your business's personality and potential with clarity, class, and style. As you browse through the designs shown below, you will be able to tell the industry and get a sense of the personality of the company.

bill@billweberstudios.com
Telephone 917-679-7583

Bill Weber Studios Home Page

photo illustration

2006-09-18T14:45:00.000-05:00

postcards

2006-09-17T15:17:00.002-05:00

Postcards can be powerful marketing tools. Cheap to print, with loads of space for pictures and copy, postcards build traffic, communicate benefits, and ask for orders.

Postcard for a theatrical production

Self-promotional postcard.

Oversized postcard for a contractor.

Postcard for a bed and breakfast inn.

Double-sided postcard for an intuitive counselor and healer.

Postcard for an outerwear manufacturer.

Another postcard for another outerwear manufacturer.

posters

2006-09-16T17:48:00.001-05:00

publications

2006-09-12T18:31:00.004-05:00

web design

2006-09-10T19:50:00.004-05:00

The most difficult and time-consuming part of web design is figuring out the "story" or flow of the website. What do you want the visitor to do? What does the visitor want to intuitively do? What process must you lead the visitor through? What frustrations or dead ends can we avoid?

Only after these issues are decided, does the design process begin.

Websites we've worked on:

Websites by Steve Bittrich
Steve Bittrich is my favorite programmer. Together, we create sites that engage visitors and ask for the order.

Park Avenue Christian Church
A complex website that we are now fine-tuning. The site is also being better organized to allow for easy navigation and growth.

ePromos
As the director of internet marketing and merchandising, Bill had a lot of input into this site's customer interface (the hard part, as described above).

Party-Psychic.com
A stylish website to promote an entertainment company.

Valerie Gomes, Singer-Songwriter
This is a fun, yet simple site, designed so that the client can do her own updating after the initial job was done.

Ottegear
A sophisticated site for a wholesaler of "technical operations" outerwear.

promotional products

2006-02-15T17:21:00.001-05:00

Sometimes the best way to market your business is to put your logo on a promotional product -- that is, a pen, calendar, rubber duck, hat, bag, bookmark, or one of the more than 600,000 products available only through authorized promotional products dealers.

I was the director of merchandising for a $20 million promotional products dealer. So I know the latest, most creative products to help you promote your business.

We combine our creative talents with the best suppliers in the corporate gift and promotional products business to create promotions that motivate employees, reward and retain customers, and build traffic at trade shows.

The right promotional giveaway keeps your message in front of your prospects for a long, long time.

This is a picture of custom-printed promotional nail files! If you have a business that targets women, they are an ideal way to get your message out to them. With 4-color printing and superior quality, they will be kept in pocketbooks and used again and again.

IMPORTANT NEWS!

We are now authorized distributors for Logomark products. Logomark is one of the premier suppliers of promotional products, with 24-hour service and top quality pens, computer accessories, bags, drinkware, watches, and games. (We have suppliers for hats, t-shirts, or other categories,too.)

If you are in need of holiday gifts, or are heading to a trade show really really soon, visit our special promotional products website to choose from over 4000 products. Then call or email us for ordering information.

Client Case Studies
Click here

Contact Information
bill@billweberstudios.com
Telephone 917-679-7583

Bill Weber Studios Home Page

clients

2006-02-14T13:00:00.005-05:00

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Ned Callan, Actor/Comedian
Dog on the Moon Records
Jewish Arts Ensemble of New York
Yvette Helin Studio
Valerie Gomes, Singer/Songwriter
New York Philomusica
Party-Psychic.com
PBS Sprout

EDUCATION

1st Class Coaching
Holis Institute

FASHION

Eric Messin, Artist/Jeweler
Ottegear

FOOD

Joey's Fine Foods

NON-PROFIT

American Academy of Children's Entertainment
A.R.T.S Annual Convention
Arts At The Park
Astoria Center of Israel
Camp Ten Ten
Children's Entertainment Hall of Fame
Congregation Da'at Elohim
Good Deed Foundation
Haiti Children's Wish Foundation
Kids Rocking Cancer
Park Avenue Christian Church
Quest: A Center for Spiritual Inquiry
Seaport District Cultural Association

PUBLISHING

Archive Magazine
Cyber Tiger Press
PeacePlease.com

REAL ESTATE

Aboveground Realty
Century Realty
Don Weber Building Services
Preston Properties

RESTAURANTS

Dodo Cafe
Hillman Caterers

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Bags in Boots Productions
Bill Miller Photography
Riley Sales
RF Resources
Stekel Chiropractic
T. J. Saks Public Relations
Peter Shankman Public Relations & Marketing

TECHNOLOGY

Ludicast

news

2006-02-12T00:05:00.010-05:00

NOVEMBER 2011

Bill attends the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) trade show in Orlando, where he meets with CEOs and designers of theme parks, creators of costumed characters, and suppliers of printed items (like paper cups and banners).

FEBRUARY 2011

On behalf of his faith-based non-profit clients, Bill Weber attended the annual Congressional Breakfast sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York. Bill met with Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, representatives Carolyn Maloney, Gerald Nadler, Anthony Weiner, Charles Rangel, and other elected officials while getting updated on local and national issues.

AUGUST 2010

TrademarksUSA honored five of my logo designs as "Best Trademarks of 2010." They are logos for the Park Avenue Christian Church, Northeast Region Christian Church, Metropolitan Theater Company, East Coast Construction, and The Ladies Room. TrademarksUSA is led by David E. Carter, the dean of international logo and trademark design.

AUGUST 2009

Creativity at Work, the 60-page book version of my design portfolio, is honored as one of 2009's "Best Self-Promotions," and is included in a book by that name published by Harper Collins.

AUGUST 2008

Pasta Doctor wins a product development award from Unilever, makers of Ragu Products.

JUNE 2008

The BBC picks Ambassador Bird as one of 8 top suggested mascots for the 2012 London Olympics.

DECEMBER 2007

Ambassador Bird necktie wins "Best Product" award from e-tailer Zazzle. View, and buy, the tie here. December 8, 2007

Archive direct mail campaign receives a glowing review in Advantages, the magazine of the promotional products industry. Click here to read it. December 1, 2007

NOVEMBER 2007

A chapter from my upcoming book, Designing Powerful Logos, is now available for free download! Click to read The 7 Biggest Mistakes in Logo Design. November 17, 2007.

SnackBots wins a top prize in the Welch's Afterschool Snack Competition! A new healthy snack product designed by Bill Weber with the assistance of teenagers Ross Weber and Lia Weber, SnackBots is an ingenious new way to package "trail mix"-type foods. November 10, 2007.

Through Tiger's Eyes is a new children's book just published by Cyber Tiger Press. Edward B. Snyder was the illustrator, Judy Kamilhor was the writer. I contributed the story idea and edited and designed the book. November 1,2007.

OCTOBER 2007

Ambassador Bird and RoleModel.TV on ZDNet. TV interview with David Berlind, ZDNet Executive Editor, October 23, 2007.

RoleModel.TV on the Radio. BlogTalkRadio's John C. Havens interviews Bill Weber at Sun Microsystems Start-Up Conference, October 22, 2007.

family media

2006-01-14T09:14:00.003-05:00

Bill Weber Interactive Biography
Bill Weber Studios Home Page

I have a long history of contribution to -- and success in -- the family media and entertainment industry. My properties:

resonate with children and their parents
provide iconic characters that serve as role models
empower self-expression
teach the values of love, peace, understanding, brotherhood
celebrate diversity in culture
empower parents and children to be leaders in their lives and communities.

The following properties are in various stages of development.

marquee projects

Ambassador Bird and his friends bring the world of peace and cultural understanding into children's hearts and homes.

The Children's Entertainment Hall of Fame honors the creative leaders of the past and inspires the creation of quality children's media in the future.

RoleModel.TV is a multi- platform channel for families that features a safe search school library and service programming for the real lives of real families.

long-form broadcast - family

The Nashville Network’s Salute to Quality Children’s Entertainment
Televised salute to AACE award winners, 1996
The Children’s Entertainment Hall of Fame
Museum, educational facility, and annual televised awards special
The Imaginarakis'
Family sitcom
Ingenuity
Science game show for families
Freight
Adult sitcom

long-form broadcast - children

The World of Ambassador Bird
Animated show for pre-schoolers
Home Made Horror
Sci-fi "how-to" show for ages 7-12
Rheostat’s Restaurant
Variety show for pre-schoolers

live events

All-Star Family Festival at Opryland USA
Theme park show, 1996
The Children's Entertainment Awards
The "Oscars" of the children's entertainment industry, 1996
American Academy of Children's Entertainment
Trade association, 1994-1998

design

Magic Television-Watching Socks
PBS Sprout promotional giveaway, 2006

print - business

Who's Who In Children's Entertainment
Entertainment industry directory, 1996
Children's Entertainment Business
Trade magazine developed for VNU, 2000

print - consumer

Parents & Kids Directory
New York's first local parenting magazine,
affiliated with the Children's Museum of Manhattan, 1984-1994
ParentAge
Newsletter for new parents over 35, 1992
Parents Datebook & Planner
Day runner for parents, 1992
Children's Music Marketing Project
Cooperative advertising in association with Parenting magazine, 1994
The Native New Yorker
Cartoon book, 1987

print - children

Peace, World!
Comic book featuring the Ambassador Bird characters, 2011 (scheduled release)
Through Tiger's Eyes
Children's book for hospitals, 2007 (scheduled release)
The Dinosaur Times
Magazine for kids, 1993
Hero's House
Children's architecture book, 1977

Years shown indicate the project's debut or street date.

Bill Weber Interactive Biography
Bill Weber Studios Home Page

a conversation with bill

2006-01-13T13:42:00.000-05:00

In order for you to understand my creative process, I've prepared the following "conversation." Here you'll find answers to the following questions:

what value does a professional designer add to a project?
what is my pricing structure for particular projects?
what is my logo design process?
why are seemingly simple design projects not so simple?

What is my pricing structure?

What is your logo design process?

doubly sure

Consultation.

Research.

Design.

Consultation.

Design.

Consultation.

Final art preparation.

aboveground realty ~ signage, marketing materials

2005-08-30T16:41:00.000-05:00

archive magazine ~ advertising, direct mail, promotional products

2005-08-28T12:01:00.000-05:00

DIRECT MAIL

Archive magazine is "the world's most important advertising trade magazine." It is a source of inspiration and information for advertising agency executives and creatives. Due to intense competition from trade magazines like Advertising Age and AdWeek, their subscription package was getting lost in an avalanche of direct mail. Their envelopes weren't being opened. Their website wasn't being visited. And, therefore, their magazine wasn't being subscribed to.

The "Thirsty for Great Ideas?" campaign was designed to cut through the direct mail clutter, attract media attention, and drive traffic to the magazine's website.

We are about to mail 15,000 lightbulb-shaped sponges to attract attention and drive web traffic and sales. The sponges are packed in a clear cello-wrap with a simple reply card, return envelope, and bonus "buckslip."

I created the promotion, wrote and designed the direct mail, and arranged for the sponges.

The response card is simple and direct.

The bonus "buckslip."

ADVERTISING

Archive is an essential magazine for ambitious advertising executives. It is also a beautiful magazine filled with the world's best advertising photography and visual art. This trade magazine campaign uses the magazine's cover as the jumping off point for the copy.

BOOK LAUNCH PROMOTION

Archive's publisher wanted a gift to give out to the press at the launch party for his new book, 200 Best Advertising Photographers Worldwide. I designed a special bookmark that was wrapped around each copy. The "Creative Mind" design illustrates the four motivations of advertising people: love, awards, ideas, and money.

T-SHIRTS

This t-shirt design illustrates the magazine's tag line, "Get Motivated. Get Archive."

a.r.t.s. ~ non-profit website

2005-08-26T15:03:00.000-05:00

A local non-profit, with virtually no budget, was struggling to promote its annual conference. By using Blogger.com, I was able to set up a free website for them that they have been able to update themselves with virtually no training.

I also designed their conference logo, supplied nametag lanyards, and provided staff bandanas.

Their website is arts-convention.blogspot.com

1st Class Coaching ~ book cover

2005-08-24T09:17:00.000-05:00

Michael Lipp, a life coach and a novelist, asked me to design the cover for one of his novels.

The cover for The Time Of Ray, Memoirs of a Middle-Aged Hippie, incorporates one of the author's own sketches. I placed it over a psychedelic background, and used clean modern lettering to complete the design.

joey's fine foods ~ logo updating

2005-08-22T15:32:00.000-05:00

Joey's Fine Foods is one of the largest independent bakers of snack foods in the New York metropolitan area. Their produce millions of individually-wrapped servings of cake, cookies, donuts, and pastries each year. Their famous logo, however, was in dire need of a face-lift.

As you can see, my update kept the fun (and tradition) of the original design. I just added a pinch of warm, sunny feeling, a liter of legibility, and a pound of professionalism.

T-SHIRTS VS. APRONS

Joey wanted to give away t-shirts to his customers, who are mostly small deli owners. I suggested that rather than t-shirts, which would just end up on the backs of the owners' kids or in the laundry after a day of wearing, that he give away aprons. The owners would then wear the aprons around the store, increasing both pride in their appearance and visibility for Joey's products. Joey's 2, Owners' kids 0.

PBS Sprout - promotional products

2005-08-20T16:19:00.000-05:00

PBS Sprout, an on-demand network from Comcast, gives hundreds of thousands of balloons away at street fairs and school events nationwide. I was asked by their Director of Marketing to come up with a better product that would last longer and remind kids to watch the network.

My solution was the Magic Television-Watching Socks. The socks combine three things that kids love (funny socks, television remote controls, and imaginative play) with three things that children's broadcast executives love (long-lasting name recognition, positive play value, and low cost).

seaport district cultural association ~ identity, publication design

2005-08-18T15:04:00.000-05:00

A new, non-profit cultural association needed a way to enroll new members and make an impact on the tourist traffic two blocks away.

I designed a logo, window decal and low-cost tourist newspaper. These three pieces work together to build visibility and traffic for the association.

temple of universal judaism ~ marketing materials, direct mail

2005-08-16T13:45:00.000-05:00

DIRECT MAIL

This growing reform synagogue on Manhattan's Upper East Side had a rough year. They needed a fund-raising campaign that accentuated the positive, communicated their unique history and positioning (they are a multi-faith, welcoming and activist congregation), and helped members reach out and invite others to join.

The direct mail piece included a two-page letter and the usual response card and envelope. But we also included a special Jewish New Year card that I designed as both a fund-raiser and marketing tool.

The letter explained the Jewish New Year card:

This new (Jewish New Year card) program raises both funds and awareness of TUJ in the community. Most of us are members because someone reached out to us. By sending TUJ cards – with High Holy Days schedule enclosed – to our relatives, friends, and neighbors, we will be “paying forward” the mitzvah.

I wrote the two-page appeal letter and produced all the artwork for the letter, reply card, and greeting card. I also coordinated the printing, production, and mailing.

My next assigned from TUJ is a membership brochure that will be handed out at services and community events.

BANNERS

TUJ shares the physical facility of the Park Avenue Christian Church on East 85th Street and Park Avenue. In order to stay visible, they place colorful banners on the building to show that there is, indeed, a synagogue active in a church building. I have been designing the banners that hang outside the building on holidays and non-holidays.

archive magazine

2004-07-30T15:03:00.000-05:00

Seasons Greetingsto Quentin and Friends!

2004-06-30T14:50:00.000-05:00

Click on the image to see it bigger!

Happy Holidays to Quentin
and all his (and now our) friends!

From the gang at Bill Weber Studios!

Pictured: The characters of The World of Ambassador Bird and their special guest star. From left to right: Stockholm May, grouchy seagull flying by himself; Ricotta Van Cheddars, handymouse; Quentin, visionary; Rosalia, bird of paradise; Ambassador Avery Bird, dove of peace, Luchow, stray kitten.