Since the rise of digital marketing, print catalog design has become a dying art form. Scores of companies ineffectively turn to print shops and low-end marketing agencies hoping for a professionally produced sales tool. More often than not, the result is an error-ridden, inconsistent, underwhelming design, fresh off an assembly line with nine other catalogs for different companies—all virtually identical.
As a catalog Design Agency, Aviate Creative specializes in creative design solutions that produce tangible results. Because we have over sixteen years of experience creating custom catalog (or catalogue if you prefer) designs, our creative agency knows how the right catalog design can artfully communicate your company’s products, brand, message, and capabilities.
Choosing a Catalog Design Agency at a Glance
Most marketing agencies, especially the larger ones, aren’t interested in producing catalogs. Because they operate so much in the digital sphere, they don’t understand the value that a great catalog can have for a manufacturing or industrial company. These tips will help you weed through the marketing agencies that see your catalog as a marketing add-on rather than the vital tool it is.
When you look for a catalog design agency, keep in mind their:
- Experience creating custom manufacturing catalogs. How many catalogs have they completed for manufacturers? Ask to see samples from their catalog portfolio.
- Understanding of your project goals. Do they ask the right questions? Do they understand the value of your brand and how you connect with your target audience?
- Catalog design marketing innovation. Do they see opportunities for improvement or to address pain points?
Aviate Creative President and Creative Director Paul Kiesche says:
“A lot of design companies will just populate as many pages as they can with products without concern for how it looks or it’s ease-of-use. When you work with us, we care more about staying on brand and the effectiveness of the catalog. It should be easy to use and function as a quick reference guide that can be easily navigated.”
Experience Creating Custom Manufacturing Catalogs
Part of the reason why many digital marketing agencies choose not to offer catalogs as a service is because they don’t have the print management experience and it’s a risk for them to take on the job. When you make a mistake in digital design, it’s an easy, cost-effective fix. If you make a mistake in a catalog, the risk is significantly higher. Be sure to request samples of catalogs that they’ve not only designed, but also had printed. Printing a simple brochure or business card may be easy for a designer, but when they are printing a catalog that is dozens, if not hundreds of pages, the stakes are higher and there is a lot more to know.
Understanding of Your Project Goals
If the marketing agency you’re courting has uttered the sentence, “But no one reads catalogs anymore!” move on to a creative agency. Good catalogs are used by sales reps, buyers and decision-makers, factory and warehouse managers, and distributors and as a long-term point of reference and as a deep dive into your offerings. A creative agency with a catalog design portfolio knows that your catalog isn’t trying to sell products so much as show your expertise and product innovation to build a relationship with the end-user.
Catalog Design Marketing Innovation
When you compare your current catalog to your competitors, do you see too many similarities and parallels between your content and theirs? Do you feel like you’re staring at a template? If you truly want to stand out from the crowd, you want a catalog design that is the epitome of organization but also speaks to your target market. Enough dry specs and grainy photos of products. At Aviate Creative, we highlight the end-user experience with how the product is used and what issues are solved by your brand.
To help build trust, grow credibility and improve the perception of your brand, your catalog should have elements your target audience can engage with like:
- Vibrant lifestyle images
- Cross-selling between products
- Reviews and product testing results
- Educational information
- Awards and user experiences
Tell Aviate Creative about Your Catalog Project
Now that you know what to look for, you can add value to your brand and our marketing plan by finding the right catalog design company to elevate your project. If you’re ready for a creative design agency to take your catalog design project to the next level, schedule a consultation with Aviate Creative.
