Bluehaus Communications

“Bluehaus” is simply a made up word that Ryan Mayer created in 1997 by combining a couple of things about him and things he enjoys. Many people notice the similarities to the German school Bauhaus. The Bauhaus style became one of the most influential currents in Modernist architecture and modern design and he quite enjoyed it. Ryan does have German blood in him and he also enjoys the colour blue. After throwing everything together, he came up with the word “Bluehaus”.

As for the logo, it’s (again) a combination of a couple of different things. The first and probably the most obvious is the overall shape of a lower case “b”. A friend once told Ryan that he must be dripping with creativity and that always made him laugh. So he used a drop to create the upper part of the mark. The lower part symbolizes the process of taking his clients all the way around from point A to point B making sure nothing is overlooked in every project.

Hopefully you enjoy our name and logo and appreciate all the thought that went into it.

There isn’t a quick answer to this question, as there are so many variables involved… It really depends on the project. One organization might need a small informational website that is just a few pages, while a large organization needs one that is 3,000 pages with multiple templates. The same with a brochure, an annual report, etc. But our pricing is basically done in two ways:

Typically we charge projects on a per-project basis. We have experience doing many types of jobs… from print to interactive to signage, even clothing and vehicle signage projects. We base our fees off of the time we have tracked on past projects, therefore our estimates are really pretty accurate based on the scope of work presented to us. If the scope of the project changes, the client will be informed in advance of all additional fees or costs.

There is also the option to have us work on retainer. If you have a steady need for communications work from month to month, and require a long-term partner, this might be a good option for you. We will collectively determine a set number of hours that will fill your needs each month, and we will be available to guarantee your needs are met.

If you would like an approximate quote for our services you may visit our Project Planner page.

However, rather than talk cost, think of design as an investment. Afterall, that is what it is. It’s an investment that when combined with a great product or service will pay off year upon year for the entire life of a business. To give a rough idea, many of our clients invest between $4,000 and $15,000 in brand identity or website design. Ultimately, the figure varies depending on the specific needs of each client. If you understand how profitable good design can be, we’d love to talk.

No. Logos are not just clip art. They are the personality of your brand, and the first item any of your customers will ever encounter on your materials. Whether it’s a website, tshirt, brochure, or business card, your logo has to speak volumes. Therefore careful thought and strategy should go into the creation of your logo. We do a full analysis of a client’s audience, goals, needs and etc before even thinking of the design itself to make sure that the mark embodies all that it needs to say. We also make sure it looks like none of your competitors, and advise you to work with getting your logo trademarked for protection. Therefore it costs quite a bit more than a few hundred dollars.

If all you want is cheap clip art and some type, with all do respect, please go elsewhere. Really. If you want to go the extra mile and create an identity that’s unique, contact us.

Time frames vary from three weeks to three months or more, with the schedule depending almost entirely on project deliverables.

No. Design is not a commodity.

“A commodity is anything for which there is demand, but which is supplied without qualitative differentiation across a market. In other words, copper is copper. Rice is rice. Stereos, on the other hand, have many levels of quality. And, the better a stereo is, the more it will cost.”
— WIKIPEDIA

Just as a client chooses the designer, the designer also chooses the client. It’s up to the designer to work with those who value the service provided.

Because great design starts by understanding your problems, we begin by asking questions. A lot of questions. We arrange a meeting or we take your responses from our Project Planner to understand your self-image, goals, audience, competition, project parameters and desired outcomes. From this research we develop a Design Brief, which defines the strategy to guide the design process, and gets everyone focused on the needs and goals for the project. Only once we have the Design Brief completed do we actually begin designing your project. We present several options for your designs (typically three) and through several rounds of comments and edits we deliver the final design. From there we manage the production of the project to make sure that the final delivered product matches not only the design, but the original expectations as well.

Bottom-line: our goal is to create materials that influence your audience and further your mission, not look pretty in an awards annual. We use our understanding of strategic messaging and communication to do it. Couple that with a strong design sense, and the result is more than a good-looking design. It’s an effective one.

Here’s a brief overview of our design process for your review as well.

We normally send clients a PDF presentation showing effective solutions.

Congratulations on your new venture! Making the move to start your own businesses is great, and Bluehaus Communications is here to help. We know how exciting it is, and how scary it can be. If you’ve developed your business plan and/or attended some seminars on starting up, you know how important your marketing and advertising decisions are.

We love what we do here and we’re inspired by your move to design your brand identity, create a logo, develop your business stationery, website, etc. and cover all the bases. We can offer printing services in addition to the other services we offer. Together we’ll review your budget and develop a plan that fits. Your experience and expertise gets your business going, ours lets people know about it.

Whether you serve a local market or a worldwide one, having a website keeps you in touch with existing customers and creates new opportunities by exposing your company to prospective customers every day, without any additional marketing time or effort from you. With a website, it no longer matters where your business is located, you can reach customers across the globe. Your site is literally an extension of your business, and the right website will maximize your advertising budget by providing 24/7 access to your goods and services, handle customer service functions, give your company unlimited exposure, and give you an opportunity to grow.

Keep in mind, today’s consumer and business customer EXPECTS you to be online. More and more, savvy buyers are comparison shopping, researching products and services, and making purchase decisions based on information from the internet. It doesn’t matter whether you have a retail store, restaurant, service oriented company or other business model, the internet is rapidly outpacing traditional advertising in dollars spent annually according to the Direct Marketers Association. Your competitor is either already online or will be soon. So don’t you miss out, contact Bluehaus Communications for a web solution today.

There are many do-it-yourself programs out there available for creating your own designs. With some time and patience you could try your hand at designing. However, if you’re a fashion designer you probably wouldn’t do your own plumbing, so why would you attempt design? A professionally designed product makes a great first impression with customers and prospects. A professional knows how to get your message to your target audience. You’re certainly an expert in your business, and we are the expert in ours. We can help you put your best foot forward, and blow away the competition. We take care of everything so you can focus on your business.

Spreading the word about your company is the first priority, so #1 is Increase Visibility. You’ll also want to include information on your goods and services so #2 is Increase Awareness. Ready to sell? We’ll develop your ecommerce website with an easy to maintain online product catalog and shopping cart linked to your merchant account or PayPal.

Your custom web design is unique to your business. Your website can sell products, outline services, handle customer service, provide product specifications, give instructions, warranty info, service schedules, and so much more. We provide complete turnkey advertising services – we can do the copy, layout and photography for you – in addition to the online advertising. contact Bluehaus Communications for a consultation, we’ll discuss your specific needs and wants, together we’ll explore the possibilities and then customize a package to turn possibilities into realities.

If you already have a presence online, FANTASTIC! Hopefully traffic is heavy and conversion rates are high. But if not, let us refresh and redirect your internet presence and create a site that will meet your justifiably high expectations with better search engine optimization, more interactive features, better usability and functionality, and an updated look and feel. We also offer Email marketing campaigns, streaming video presentations, product demos, animated product demos, specialty promotions and more! But we are more than a web design company. We also provide complete graphic design and print services for business cards, stationery, flyers, brochures, postcards, product sheets, trade shows, and more!

contact us for a consultation and we’ll review your vision and goals, your current site and give you professional recommendations.

We normally send clients a PDF presentation showing two effective solutions, and of course love.