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Meghan McBain started The Design Bus in 1998 and has developed a good client base, and discovered her niche in the legal industry (stemming from 8 years working in the marketing & design department of a top tier Melbourne law firm). That's not to say she doesn't enjoy designing for a myriad of other industries!
- For just $720, The Design Bus will design 5 alternative logo's that fulfill your brief. The preferred design will be supplied in any format you require. Should you like to develop it further, our hourly rate applies (many businesses do not require further development). The Design Bus's hourly rate is $90 (ex. GST).
- For $2400 (all inclusive), The Design Bus will design and perfect your logo and accompanying style guide.
Turnaround is 5-15 working days (or as negotiated).
Even in this electronic age, your stationery and letterhead design remains the primary method through which your market will get to know your new company logo design. The Design Bus recommends that you reproduce your logo on every scrap of paper that leaves your office. Your letterhead, envelopes and business cards are your company's foot soldiers - promoting your business, service or product as they make their way around from one pair of eyes to the next.
In an ever-competitive world, it's so important to ensure that your business card, or letterhead, grabs the attention of your desired audience before your competition. You need to leave a lasting impression so that your services or products come to mind in the future when they may be required.
The Design Bus can design your company stationery suite whether we've designed your logo or not. The Design Bus welcomes you to send us your logo and/or stationery request to meghan@thedesignbus.com.au.
Design & Publishing
The Design Bus offers both design and desktop publishing for all printed materials. Our experience includes everything from swing tags to giant posters to 176 page hardcover coffee table books.
The Design Bus welcomes your quote requests and queries at meghan@thedesignbus.com.au.
Website Design
The Design Bus has recently expanded to include website design, as a result of many a request, and offer inspiration and fresh ideas when it comes to promoting your business online or providing an online service.
We don't pretend to specialise in programming. We create a great looking interface and liaise with the best suited developer/programmer to have your site built. This way we combine creative skills and technical know-how - a skill set that is rarely found in one person.
The Design Bus welcomes your enquiries at meghan@thedesignbus.com.au.
Print Management
Meghan McBain has 4 years experience working in design departments of offset printing companies, and this has set her in good stead for understanding the complexities of designing for print. Experience teaches much that theory fails to.
The Design Bus have longstanding relationships with a myriad of commercial printers and gladly passes on to you the terrific trade rates it negotiates.
Each of your design jobs will be nursed from approval to print to delivery by The Design Bus for a flat rate of $60 ex. GST.
We look forward to working with you!
The Design Bus : partnerships
The Design Bus is privileged to have worked for the following clients:
The Design Bus : contacts
Meghan
Email: meghan@thedesignbus.com.au
Mobile: 0425 795 640 (voice text)
Phone: 03 5367 5474
Fax: 03 9011 9762
Trevor
Email: trevor@thedesignbus.com.au
Mobile: 0414 903 557 (voice & text)
The Design Bus : tips
It’s not easy when you’re new to business and trying to write a business plan and work out marketing strategies let alone dealing with how best to have all of this rolled into a brand that will present your business in the best light.
The Design Bus hope that we can offer you help from past experience and by leading you to a few critical websites.
Business Name Registration
Before you have a brand or logo design it’s essential that you register your business name so that you don’t have to change the design to fit a variation that wasn’t really what you wanted!. Goto: www.business.gov.au
Trade Mark Registration
If you feel your business is unique, consider the protection that trade mark registration offers. Goto: www.business.gov.au
How To Write An Effective Design Brief
A design brief is a written explanation outlining the aims, objectives and milestones of a logo or design project. It helps develop trust and understanding between the client and designer - and serves as an essential point of reference for both parties.
The design brief ensures that important design issues are considered and questioned before the designer starts work. This means less time - therefore less money - is spent on the result.
Start your design brief with a short, honest synopsis of your organisation or company. Don't take this information for granted, and don't assume that the designer will necessarily know anything about your industry sector.
You are paying for the designer’s ideas, so avoid the temptation to tell the designer what to do. Instead, be clear about what the project needs to achieve, so the designer can explore ideas. This is where you need the designer’s expertise.
It is worth consulting with other people within your organisation before sending the brief. Showing the design brief to different people may reveal remarkable differences in the way people see your organisation's aims and objectives.
Carefully word your brief in an email or as a front page to your copy, and use this as a reference point when you meet. Where possible present your brief face-to-face, or on the phone for smaller projects.
Remember: The more information you provide at the beginning of the project, the more value for money you’ll receive from The Design Bus.
Download Design Brief Template (669kb Word Doc)
Budgeting for Designwork
Many new businesses worry that they’ll break the budget before they even start operating if they commission a designer. This fear is unjustified, as a business with a professionally designed brand is statistically far more likely to succeed than one without. Why not request a quote, and be pleasantly surprised. Email: meghan@thedesignbus.com.au
The Design Bus : contact
Mobile: 0425 795 640 (voice/text)
Phone: 03 5367 5474
Fax: 03 9011 9762
Email: meghan@thedesignbus.com.au
Address: 8 Margaret Drive,
Bacchus Marsh VIC 3340
Hours: 9am - 5pm; Tues - Thurs.
The Design Bus : resources
Design Brief Template
Writing your own design brief (with the help of our template) will help you gather your thoughts on the purpose, direction and aspirations of your business… and enable us to convert these written thoughts into a visual communication.
Download Design Brief Template (669kb Word Doc)
The Design Bus : testimonials
The Design Bus enjoys its business relationships and some of these have taken the time to write testimonials:
Meghan,
You will not be surprised to know that I am very happy with your graphic artistry, business professionalism and personal energy levels. You rapidly develop a good insight into the pictorial and written material you are aiming to enhance and the end products are particularly eye pleasing.
Your quotes are very reasonable given the value add that you bring to each task.
Good luck with all your future endeavours - they will certainly include more work for me.
Malcolm Holdsworth
(Cadeco)
Meghan,
Happy to help. Just get anyone to ring me. I will give u a good plug!
Regards,
David Lyall
Millbrook Finance Limited (previously St Andrews Finance)
Phone: (03) 8663 1803
Many thanks for all your help and patience re our (wine) label. The finished product looks great - we are very happy with it. I'll be in touch again, no doubt.
Keep well, regards Jody Dawson
(Dawsons Patch)
I would highly recommend The Design Bus. If prompt turnaround, attention to detail and a pro-active approach are important to you, I’m sure you will be very happy with The Design Bus, as I always have been. I have relied on Meghan’s service and advice for all my graphic design requirements over the last few years. I have always been very impressed by her can-do attitude and sensible approach. She has a good knowledge of the printing industry and offers a vital interface, thus eliminating the need to shop around for the best printing service at the best price.
Meghan knows what I like in terms of design and always delivers a great result at a very competitive price. Her level of service is exceptional and she continually exceeds my expectations.
Kris Lempriere - Townmouse Childrenswear
TheDesignBus is an essential and indispensable partner in our business. When it comes to graphic design and print management, we can count on Meghan to give us a professional, creative and economical service. TheDesignBus has enabled us to lift our standards dramatically in the areas of branding and corporate identity, marketing and catalogue production as well as the more routine stationery printing tasks.
Frank Hoogenraad
Managing Director
Hoogies of Yarra Glen
If you would like to write your own and have it appear in this space, please email a testomial to: admin@thedesignbus.com.au
BACCHUS MARSH AUTISM AWARENESS:
A simple, content managed website, for an organisation keen to provide as much information and assistance as possible.
Bacchus Marsh Autism Awareness
BUSHLAND FLORA:
Website interface design for
a well established nursery
branching out into web sales.
Consisting flash splash page,
and content management system.
N/A
FITZROY LEGAL SERVICE INC:
Law4Community is a portal maintained by Fitzroy Legal Service. The portal has been designed to draw from a vast database and supply only relevant information. It has 3 functions, Pinpoint being the most complex, offering support to CLC workers. The portal works in conjunction with other FLS sites including Law Handbook Online.
Fitzroy Legal Service Inc.
FLS:
One of the goals
in designing this
site was to achieve
a serene setting in
which Community
Legal Workers can
find information.
Fitzroy Legal Service Inc.
FLS:
It has 3 functions, Pinpoint
being the most complex,
offering support to CLC
workers. The portal works
in conjunction with other
FLS sites including Law
Handbook Online.
Fitzroy Legal Service Inc.
FITZROY LEGAL SERVICE:
A subsidiary site, designed to link to other sites, mirror the navigation and provide lessons for educational institutions and relevant resources.
Fitzroy Legal Service Inc.
MADDENS RISE:
Maddens Rise are a Yarra Valley
winery that recently received an
identity revamp including a website
offering an interesting array of
information such as history on the
property, the staff, the wines and
a fax order form for buying wine
direct from the winery.
Maddens Rise
YOUTHLAW:
This website is accessed by CLC
workers and youth alike. It has a
simple structure, and while currently
text based, is branching out into
video streaming and the like.
Youthlaw
BABY BLACK CAFE:
A logo for a coffee shop with a distinct retro style and the best coffee in town.
Baby Black Cafe
BMAA:
The rubiks cube coupled with a puzzle
speaks volumes to those working with
or living with Autism, and has proved
a fitting identity for this Community Group.
Bacchus Marsh Autism Awareness
BUSINESS NUMBERS:
Logo design for a new accounting company, with traditional clients and a modern approach to record keeping.
Business Numbers
CENTRE FOR ANAESTHESIA & COGNITIVE FUNCTION:
Logo design for medical organisation researching the effects of anaesthesia on cognitive function.
Centre for Anaesthesia & Cognitive Function
CASA PEPE:
In traditional colours, this free-form logo represents the "go anywhere" nature of this Spanish home catering business.
Casa Pepe Spanish Home Catering
CO2 PARTNERS:
All about reducing the carbon footprint of industries, and clearing the skies for a healthier the future, this business required logo and web masthead.
CO2 Partners
GREENFIELDS FINANCIAL SERVICES LAWYERS:
reenfield's is a company of young financial experts, and thus required a logo with a subtle balance of modern and traditional, to convey the confidence which they promise.
Greenfields Financial Services Lawyers
GREEN PLANET GROUP:
Corporate identity for a start-up enterprise with plans to provide consumers with facts and products to enable them to move towards a greener future.
Green Planet Group
HAIR BUSINESS:
Logo design for hair salon under new management, and recently refurbished with a combination of rosewood and black laminate.
Hair Business
HOOGIES OF YARRA GLEN:
Brand development for hardware store, with 3 distinct departments.
Hoogies of Yarra Glen
LE BEAU FINESSE:
Logo design for a beauty salon with a tranquil atmosphere.
Le Beau Finesse
OZ ART TRAILER:
Logo designed for a unique business offering hands on in-house art experiences for short-term or one day within the education and aged care sectors.
Oz Art Trailer
PARKOTURE:
A logo for a financial service company named after the discipline "parkour" and the nature of "couture". A strong, modern design, rich with imagery it is built on.
Parkoture
PLANTINSPIRATIONS:
Logo for online plant nursery.
Plantinspirations
STONES BAKERY:
A logo for a new bakery chain
rivaling the "local main street baker"
and offering ALDI-like specials.
Colours and style chosen to give
customers a feel of familiarity.
Shop front also designed, but
no photo's available.
Stones Bakery
TECH PARTNERS:
Logo for advisory company with vast knowledge of the forestry industry.
Tech Partners Australia
VAL MUNRO:
A logo to represent growth, inner peace, and christian values.
Val Munro Counselling & Educational Support
wedding
ID1224138273
Comben, Shani and Michael
wedding
ID1224138283
Comben, Shani and Michael
wedding
ID1224138293
Comben, Shani and Michael
wedding
wedding
ID1224138399
Comben, Shani and Michael
wedding
wedding
Adams Outdoor Oasis
Andrew McBain Productions
Artica International
Baby Black Cafe
Bacchus Marsh Autism Awareness
Bacchus Marsh Baptist Church
Bambery, George
Bountiful Garden
Bretts Sheep Shearing
Business Numbers
Cadeco
Candlebark Ridge Estate
Casa Pepe Spanish Home Catering
Centre for Anaesthesia & Cognitive Function
ID1224125509
CO2 Partners
Crowley Instrumental
David Lyall Holdings
Dawsons Patch
Federation of Community Legal Centres
Fitzroy Legal Service Inc.
Green Planet Group
Greenfields Financial Services Lawyers
Hair Business
Hoogies of Yarra Glen
Hoogs Multimedia
Hutchinson Legal Services
ICR Youth Affairs Network
Interface Property Management
Le Beau Finesse
Maddens Rise
Millbrook Finance Limited
National Foods
Norton Gledhill
Oz Art Trailer
Ozrax
Parkoture
PineGro
Plantinspirations
Print City
PubScene
Ridgeback Wines
Shine On Solutions
Stones Bakery
Tech Partners Australia
Terasoft
Townmouse Childrens Wear
Val Munro Counselling & Educational Support
Western Suburbs Legal Service
Yarra Glen Chamber & Commerce
Youthlaw
ANDREW MCBAIN PRODUCTIONS:
An ongoing job, designing DVD slicks and disc artwork for a train video series.
Andrew McBain Productions
ARTICA INTERNATIONAL:
Artists Brief for public artwork commissioning.
20pp, full colour including artists renditions
of building still under construction.
Download PDF (4.54mb)
Artica International
BABY BLACK CAFE:
A collage of photography
taken at this cafe by
The Design Bus, brought
together in the form of a postcard.
Baby Black Cafe
BMAA:
BMAA were keen to obtain a
public presence, and this flyer
suits this purpose and
provides valuable information
about the subject for which
they are passionate.
Bacchus Marsh Autism Awareness
BOUNTIFUL GARDEN:
Recent revamp of signage;
and rewards cards for regular
shoppers of this Collins Street florist.
Bountiful Garden
BRETT'S SHEEP SHEARING:
Business cards and small run of
invoice books for sole trader.
Bretts Sheep Shearing
CADECO:
Photography books, calendars and magazine advertising
for a group of railway enthusiasts distributing in Australia and the UK. Download PDF (1.53mb)
Cadeco
CADECO:
Autobiographical, in a sense, this train
photography book shares the memories of the
many overseas trips of Malcolm Holdsworth.
Train tickets, visa etc add to the nostaglia.
Cadeco
CADECO:
A book with a completely different
look to the layout and design.
Yet to be dispatched from the
printers, we hold high hopes that
this book will impress "train
buffs" as previous ones have.
Cadeco
CANDLEBARK RIDGE:
Boutique wines made for friends,
family and guests of B&B on the
estate. The label was designed
without vintage for years of use,
and spot metallic medallions to
differentiate.
Candlebark Ridge Estate
CROWLEY INSTRUMENTAL:
Breaking into a niche market, requires a slick
modern look, and simple approach to layout,
as seen in this music book series.
Crowley Instrumental
CASA PEPE:
An eye-catching postcard
to advertise the vibrant,
fun-filled and delectable
experience this Spanish home
catering service has to offer.
Casa Pepe Spanish Home Catering
CO2 PARTNERS:
Business cards printed on recycled stock,
a positive example of environmental concern.
CO2 Partners
CROWLEY INSTRUMENTAL:
A classy business card with combination matt, gloss and
spot UV varnishes for an experienced music tutor.
Crowley Instrumental
CROWLEY INSTRUMENTAL:
Label design for demo disc
for band - Crash site,
later rebadged as Spinifex.
Illustration by a band member.
Crowley Instrumental
CROWLEY INSTRUMENTAL:
Album cover and disc design
for an emerging band.
Crowley Instrumental
DAVID LYALL HOLDINGS:
Simple single colour stationery
for executive, David Lyall.
David Lyall Holdings
FITZROY LEGAL SERVICE INC:
A Resource Guide designed to disguise it's wordiness and lack of colour with a contrasting cover image and B&W photocopies inside.
Fitzroy Legal Service Inc.
FITZROY LEGAL SERVICE INC:
An A4 binder containing 39 factsheets,
designed for use individually and in conjunction with kit and dividers.
Fitzroy Legal Service Inc.
FITZROY LEGAL SERVICE INC:
A much depended upon publication within
the legal aid sector, this 33rd edition of
The Law Handbook has been endorsed
by long time celebrity Peter Cundall.
The Design Bus has been involved in
it's design for several years.
Fitzroy Legal Service Inc.
FITZROY LEGAL SERVICE INC:
Invitations, subscription form, posters and flyers to launch the Law Handbook Online, designed around endorsement of publication by Peter Cundall.
Fitzroy Legal Service Inc.
GREENFIELDS LAWYERS:
Regular topical seminars,
heavily branded, and individually themed.
Greenfields
GREENFIELDS LAWYERS:
Greenfields are proud of their commitment
to reduce CO2 emissions,
and send all client invitations via email.
Greenfields
HOOGIES OF YARRA GLEN:
Quarterly 4-page sales catalogue.
Photography, design and layout by
The Design Bus.
Hoogies of Yarra Glen
MADDENS RISE:
A postcard is a visually appealing,
functional and cheap form of marketing,
particulary suited to this boutique winery.
Maddens Rise
MADDENS RISE:
Large aluminium sign cabinets installed by the
highway and entrance to Maddens Rise, both
visually appealing and satisfying council
requirements for subtlety.
Maddens Rise
MADDENS RISE:
A few of a series of 12 labels
for wine bottled annually by
Maddens Rise. Much care went
into the formation of lettering.
Maddens Rise
MILLBROOK FINANCE LIMITED:
Design of company prospectus,
investment statement and
application forms for lending
and investment purposes.
Photography supplied.
Download Prospectus (3.84mb PDF)
Download Investment Statement (210kb PDF)
Millbrook Finance Limited
INTERFACE PROPERTY:
Occasional promotional
mail outs, are a cheap
and effective form of
marketing for this business.
Interface Property Management
OZ ART TRAILER:
Marketing brochure designed to show-case
past Art projects alongside artists profile
and brief explanation of services offered.
Oz Art Trailer
OZRAX:
First of a set of vehicle specific brochures
for tubular aluminum ute accessories.
Designed for web download and print.
Ozrax
PARKOTURE:
Letterhead, business
cards, and "Fashion Aid"
invitations to promote
launch of a new financial
services business.
Parkoture
PINEGRO:
Plastic bag designed to hold Premium potting mix for a large local operation. Another designed for General Purpose potting mix.
5 colour print for maximum impact.
PineGro
PARKOTURE:
MYOB invoice templates, designed and built
for clients of Parkoture, ready to impliment.
Parkoture
PUBSCENE:
Logo and stationery design for
Adelaide online pub guide.
PubScene
PUBSCENE:
Marketing materials produced for
launch, including invitations,
coasters and company brochure.
Download PubScene Brochure (865kb PDF)
PubScene
RACHNA MUDDAGOUNI:
A resource manual written to
assist community legal centre staff.
Download Resource Guide (233kb PDF)
Federation of Community Legal Centres
STONES BAKERY:
Stationery and local newspaper advertising
for a bakery chain determined to beat ALDI
at their game.
Stones Bakery
TOWNMOUSE CHILDRENS WEAR:
Regular magazine advertising for a boutique
children's wear business, including annual
"Villa Mulberry" market invitations.
Townmouse Childrens Wear
WEDDING STATIONERY:
Custom wedding stationery, including invitations, rsvp, place cards, thankyou and family hedgehog recipe, printed in gold ink.
N/A
WESTERN SUBURBS LEGAL SERVICE:
80 page burst bound booklet with colour cover, black & white content.
Download Anti-terrorism Book (2.16mb PDF)
Western Suburbs Legal Service
WESTERN SUBURBS LEGAL SERVICE:
Two other publications produced for WSLS.
Colour covers, and black & white content,
of varying lengths.
Western Suburbs Legal Service
exhibition
ID1223873782
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ID1223873792
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ID1223873800
Hoogies
exhibition
ID1223874032
Hoogs
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corporate
ID1224138527
Hutchinson Stationary
This text would appear at the bottom right of the portfolio area.
Hutchinson Legal Services
corporate
ID1234314838
Plantinspirations