CHALLENGE Idealware is a nonprofit organization dedicated to researching and evaluating software for the nonprofit community. Once or twice a year they compile a comprehensive review of open source (free) Content Management Systems (CMS) that enable organizations to modify website content inhouse. The 82-page report compares WordPress, Joomla, Drupal and Plone.

FULL DECK DESIGN PARTICIPATION FDD’s expertise with layout software Adobe Indesign helps reduce report production time. Master page templates with page numbers, footers and page text boxes ensure consistent positioning and automatic page numbering. The table of contents was generated automatically with page header and subheader levels. The complicated charts were easy to duplicate using chart styles. Because the final report will be printed in hard copy as well as posted online as a PDF, image files were converted printable format and resolution verified. By the way, if your organization is considering a CMS for your website, this report is a must read.

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU? If your organization produces reports or newsletters, we can help you save money by reducing production time, too. Give us a call at 845-266-3852 or email us to get an estimate.

CHALLENGE Blue Belt Janicik, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization with the goal of promoting bicycle safety and awareness to cyclists and motorists across the U.S. The organization was founded by Colleen Janicik whose son was tragically killed in a bike crash. Blue Belt’s brochure lacked visual appeal and didn’t present information clearly.

FULL DECK DESIGN SOLUTION Blue Belt’s bike safety goals are immediately conveyed with a full-size cover image of a bicyclist riding on a country road and three smaller images that highlight bike safety rules. Blue Belt’s mission and donation information are prominently displayed on the foldover panel. On the inside, bright colors and photographs reinforce safety facts. Full Deck extended usability by adding a mailing panel on the back. Most importantly, the brochure conveys a sense of professionalism that will hopefully translate into increased donations for this worthy cause.

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU? Our creativity and original thinking can help your organization develop a brochure that appeals to potential donors, too Give us a call at 845-266-3852 or email us to see how.

CHALLENGE Water Without Borders helps people get clean drinking water all over the world. To save money, they had volunteers and board members handle their website. As a result, the pages didn’t have a consistent design sometimes giving viewers the false impression that they’d left WWB’s site. The varying designs also made it difficult to get information about their projects.

FULL DECK DESIGN SOLUTIONS To immediately establish WWB’s mission, Full Deck put the jarring statistic “Nearly 1 billion people don’t have clean drinking water” in oversized type inside a circle of water being held by a group of multiethnic hands. A clear, consistent secondary navigation bar makes it easy for viewers to explore the wealth of information on the site. To add visual impact to every web page, we selected the most eye-catching images from their archives; photo animations were created to illustrate their most developed projects. An easy-to-use WordPress blog was installed within the site for staff members to post news about the latest events and fundraising efforts. Embedding a blog has the added benefit of prompting search engines to reread a site with every post. WWB is hosting their Second Annual Walk for Water and Dash for Splash, a kids’ fun run on Saturday, October 2 at 10 am at 78 Stringham Road in LaGrange. Join them if you can!

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU? Our creativity and original thinking can increase interest in your organization, too. Give us a call at 845 266-3852 or email us to find out how we might help revitalize your website.

CHALLENGE Art Studio Views is an open studio tour event organized by participating artists in the Rhinebeck area. The tour is held annually on Labor Day weekend, but artists and organizers vary from year to year.

FULL DECK DESIGN IDEAS The first year Full Deck was involved, we designed the complete ASV brand based on vibrant colors and dynamic shapes. This year we were able to reduce our time by more than half by limiting design changes to moving colors around and using last year’s files as templates for all print and web materials. Having the brand already established also freed up time for the organizers. This year’s tour is coming up soon! See some inspirational art and get a behind-the-scenes look at artists in their studios September 4^th and 5^th.

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU? If your organization holds an annual event, consider developing a brand that will last for several years. Give us a call at 845-266-3852 or email us to see what ideas we might have your next gala or special event.

CHALLENGE Previously, budget restrictions forced the Hudson Valley Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to compile their Gala Book inhouse using word processing software. Short staffing inevitably made this a project carried out in a last-minute frenzy without benefit of design advice.

FULL DECK DESIGN IDEAS As part of its philosophy to give back to the community, Full Deck offered to help the struggling JDRF with their 2010 gala materials. We suggested they reconsider their whole approach to the Gala Book. We felt the book should be something gala attendees wanted to take home as a keepsake instead of leaving it behind on the dinner table. Full Deck organized the entire flow of the book to showcase JDRF. We developed a four-page centerfold insert highlighting JDRF key advances and partnership programs that could be reprinted later as a separate marketing piece. Brief callouts featuring JDRF fundraising programs and research programs were included throughout the auction listing. Support ads were tastefully grouped together and care was taken to ensure good print quality. Of course, the book looked beautiful, too!

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU? Our creativity and original thinking can increase interest in your organization, too. Give us a call at 845-266-3852 or email us to find out how we might help with your next gala or special event.