You know you want to make custom calendars with your logo, but should your entire design focus on your company? That’s a tough branding decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly because your artwork will determine the success of the campaign. In some sectors, such as retail or apparel, you might be able to get away with producing a calendar that only features your products. For instance, a swimwear line would have no problem putting together an interesting calendar of models wearing bathing suits in exotic locations. An auto repair shop could get away with photos of luxury cars or a veterinary clinic can stick to adorable animal patients. Still, what about “boring” professions, such as accounting or construction? Is it best to stick with familiar themes or branch out using a universal angle?
Calendar Design Ideas for Ho-Hum Brands
I say as long as your calendar campaign messaging remains consistent with the rest of your branding, there’s no harm in stepping outside of your comfort zone a bit. For starters, write down a brief list of adjectives used to describe your brand. I already mentioned accounting, so let’s use this profession as our example. An accountant would probably describe his or her personal brand as trustworthy, knowledgeable, experienced, and accurate. What visuals come to mind when you read these words? How can you demonstrate these qualities in a way that connects with consumers?
Emphasize Family Planning- Many people do their own taxes while others prefer to find a professional because they want to plan for the future. If most of your clients have children, then find 12 months’ worth of financial tips for parents along with suitable stock photos of kids, happy families, etc.
Go Natural-Mother nature often leaves us in awe of her beauty, yet these scenes also convey a sense of stability. Choose a collection of calming images (i.e. a babbling brook, a beautiful blanket of snow on the mountains, a sunny tropical beach) and avoid anything that appears chaotic.
Show Your Personality- Do you have a hobby or another passion besides number crunching? Maybe you like outdoor sports or you love solving crossword puzzles. Take whatever you enjoy doing when you’re not working, and put into a truly personalized calendar that helps your clients get to know you better.
Entertain with Games – People enjoy playing trivia games and solving brain teasers. Why not display a different fun puzzle, math problem, or optical illusion each month? This idea would work really well for a desk calendar, although that requires more work on your part.
Community Sound Off
Hopefully one of the ideas above inspired you to get creative in 2014. Do you work for a bland brand? Have you ever designed an exciting promotional item for a surprising industry? Share your advertising tips in the comments below!