When determining a brand identity, it is common to include the basic combination of logos, colors, fonts, and perhaps illustrations or graphics.  While these are all integral elements of a brand, why not push the visual foundation of your brand even further with the use of a unique pattern?  Brand patterns are a great way to boost your brand image, brand personality, and they allow for even more versatile graphical opportunities throughout your branding. Read on to see why it might be a good idea to add a pattern to your brand assets!

 1.    They reinforce brand consistency

Just like a logo that becomes more and more recognizable over time and as a brand grows, patterns can have the same effect.  When you think of Louis Vuitton or Gucci, for example, I’m sure that you can recall their commonly used brand patterns in no time.  These are also great instances of brands using their own logo within a pattern to add even more brand awareness and recognition.  When used consistently, your brand pattern will gain immediate association to the name, which can then allow your brand to eventually be recognized by the pattern alone! This allows for immense versatility in instances that you may only want to use a pattern rather than your full logo or name.

 

2.    2. They add interest and excitement

When branding is kept too limited, it can become difficult to come up with interesting and creative branding solutions.  Using your logo repeatedly as your main branding element can become boring and repetitive at times, so why not introduce something to add a little variety, uniqueness, and excitement! This is where a brand pattern can truly shine and give a special touch that will allow you to stand out from the competition.

 

3.    3. They support your brand personality and message

While color can be a communicator of mood, patterns are great for accentuating your brand personality.  The best part is that your pattern can be anything from simple lines or dots to a step and repeat of your logo, and everything in between (or beyond)! If you want to portray your brand as fun and playful, perhaps a pattern of bubbly shapes and squiggly lines might be the perfect complimentary element, or if you want to communicate your brand as serious and professional, simple subtle lines may be the best choice!

How do you apply brand patterns, you ask? Well, this is the fun part.  They can be added just about anywhere! It is important to make sure that they are not too overwhelming or vibrant, however, when used alongside other important information as to not cause distraction.  They are often times used to fill white space, or to add excitement to a page that is lacking visual interest. A letterhead with just text? Add a faded pattern to the background or corners.  A business card with only a logo, name, and contact info? Add a bold pattern to the other side to balance it out!

 

Below are some more examples of where to apply a brand pattern:

 

1.       Social media graphics

2.       Business cards

3.       Email background

4.       Custom T-shirts

5.       Website Banners or backgrounds

6.       Presentation slides

7.       Letterheads/Envelopes

8.       Custom Packaging

9.       Printed promotional products

10.     Office/store signage

11.     Business Vehicles

12.     Advertisements

Take a shot at introducing a pattern into your branding, and see the difference that it can make! Even if not used often, it is always beneficial to have a pattern on hand for those instances where you are in need of something just a little more than your logo and colors. Happy branding! 

1. The majority of your everyday products are now being made with eco-friendly materials. Wireless chargers made from wheat straw, backpacks made from plastic water bottles, CLOTHING (not a joke.) made with recycled materials! You name it …we got it. We also make it a priority to use paper and cardboard that is made of at least 30% post-consumer waste for all of our printed material orders. Check out our Think Green Collection on the NorthPoint Swag Store to see some examples! (You may even be able to win an item for FREE!)

2. We are now partnering with eco-conscious companies that make sustainability a priority – from the creation of the item to the final product! In addition, we work in tandem with brands that utilize Give Back programs.  Whether your purchase leads to trees being planted, or goes towards helping nonprofits fund sustainable projects, choosing brands that contribute to making the world a greener and better place not only make you feel better about your purchase, but also allow you to actively do your part in the ‘green’ movement. 

 

3. We have implemented the NorthPoint Gives Back program, an effort on our end to offer the opportunity for clients to donate no-longer-needed items to those in need! We have worked with local charities, after school programs, shelters, and more to ensure that leftover products are never being put to waste. 

 

 

4. While we are knocking on your door like a babbling vacuum salesman announcing that we can make your swag dreams come true …we also want to make sure that we stress the more important matters as well. We value our social responsibility and acknowledge the ethical issues that concern labor, manufacturing, material sourcing and more. We believe that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect, and we are doing our part to ensure steps are taken to reflect that.

Price Point: $11.67-$18.33

Production Time: As low as 5 business days

Available Colors: Bamboo/Gray

Perfect For: Employee Giveaways/Client Gifts/Corporate Swag Store Items/ Swag Store Real Estate /Campaign Ideas/Kit Ideas/ Self Promo Items/Earth Day Items/Sustainability Product

 

HOLD ON…try to wrap your noggin around the fact that we are human beings who are currently living on a floating rock that is hurling through space at a HEFTY speed of roughly 66,700 miles per hour (and according to Google, that is about 1.6 million miles in just 24 hours!!) But who are we kidding…even if vehicles/transportation methods could go at this speed, we would still be late to work, am I right?! (It is called fashionably late Bob. Look it up!) We speak for the majority of humanity when we say that we love our hurling rock home, so we must take responsibility in preserving and protecting our climate and the other living things around us. Earth Day is right around the corner, and this product is the perfect opportunity to show your efforts in taking action against climate change. Meet the Stick and Stone Coaster set. It comes in a set of 2 hexagon shaped coasters that are made with bamboo plates (a renewable and sustainable resource), cement made from limestone, AND a cork lined bottom made from natural oak bark (also a renewable and sustainable resource). Ohhh and hold your horses Frank - it gets BETTER.  For every order of this coaster set, a tree will be planted! NorthPoint can help you add this to your next feel good/do good giveaway not just for Earth Day, but for every day!

Craving an extra pop of something that will make your artwork stand out?! Perhaps you are stuck with wanting more, but not knowing how to achieve it.  Let me introduce you to the special print finishes, or post-print effects, that you didn’t know you needed!

1. Die Cutting

Think of die cutting as a cookie cutter in any shape that you choose for your art.  This is the process that is used for rounded corners, and can be used to cut out just about any shape! The process begins with a custom die that is created based on your requested shape and is then attached to a die-cutting machine.  The printed item is then placed in the machine, and the die is pressed onto the item to cut out the shape!  This finish is most commonly used for business cards, invitations, greeting cards, and even notecards.

2. Emboss/Deboss

Embossing and debossing are similar in the sense that they both include the process of stamping a printed piece between a metal plate and a counter.  Embossing created a raised impression on the paper, giving it a 3D effect, while debossing does the opposite, creating a pushed in depression in the paper. These finished are often used with book covers, pocket folders, business cards, and greeting cards, and debossing can also be used to imprint promotional products like journals or padfolios!

3. Spot Gloss

Spot gloss can be seen as a way to enhance the existing colors in your design.  Add spot gloss over certain areas of your artwork, like your logo, to give it a glossy finish that will pop from the page and stand separate from the other elements, which remain uncoated.  Consider spot glossing your next round of business cards or notecards!

4. Foil Stamping

Make your art SPARLE and SHINE with a foil finish! This process applies a metallic foil to your printed item by using a heated die placed into a foil stamping machine.  This finish works great when used with invitations, cards, or even business cards too!

Try out one of these special finishes in your next printed project to WOW whoever it comes across and to surely leave your audience with something they’ll never forget!

 

Price Point: $41.39- $41.99

Production Time: 10 Business Days from Artwork Approval

Available Colors: Silver

Perfect For: Employee Giveaways / Client Gifts / Corporate Swag Store Items / Swag Store Real Estate / Mailer Item / Kit Ideas / Travel Bags / Raffle Prizes / WFH Items

*SLAMS DOOR*… now that I have your attention - did you know that on average in our lifetime we spend about 900,000 hours working? And with the majority of us working from home these days, we have a wildly large abundance of “office” seating options to choose from…or maybe just one (*cough cough futon*) if you live in a 4x4 cardboard box studio apartment! Whatever the choice of furniture (highly recommend the 2-in-1 bed turned couch!), we have found the ideal companion for when you want to be both comfortable AND productive. We introduce to you…drumroll please…the LapGear Smart-E Pro Lap Desk with Memory Foam! It allows you to prop up an 11-inch tablet in the media slot for hands-free use at a phenomenal viewing angle and/or use the large work surface to place up to a 17-inch laptop. This mobile laptop desk has a foam lap pad with an anti-tipping shape design and a padded wrist rest for when you are typing or using your mouse. We are all about working in comfort here at NorthPoint, so we are excited to introduce a product that will allow you to never have to choose your standard work desk again!