Interested in how the design process works? Here is a glimpse at the steps, but first be sure to say hello!
 

Consultation

Before the design gets underway, let’s discuss your project needs. We’ll chat about the nuts & bolts of the project, plus some fun details too (Lets talk color palettes, creative clippings you’ve collected, or a business card design that really struck your fancy!). All these little details will help me learn about you and start to establish the stylistic direction of your design.

Estimate & Contract

Once I have a sense of your design needs, I’ll draft a proposal outlining the details. This will include a price estimate, a general timeline for the project, and a contract for the design services. Upon your approval, a 50 percent deposit is required to start the design process.

Design

After receiving the signed contract, deposit, and the written content, the design can begin. I like to kick off the visual direction of your design with a round of style boards, and then follow with 2–3 initial design options. Upon choosing a direction, we’ll move onto the revision process to finalize your design.

Final Draft & Production

Once the revisions are done, a final draft of the design will be sent for your approval. You are responsible for final proofreading at this stage, and once approved, files will be prepared and released to a trusted vendor—or in the case of branding, back to you in a variety of formats. The remaining 50 percent of the design fee will be due with your approval, as well as the full amount for any additional costs associated with the project (such as printing). A quality check is done on any printed pieces, and then (much to your excitement!) they’re shipped to you.

Finishing

The Curious Ink is available to collate, assemble, or even coordinate calligraphy for your wedding or event invitation materials. If you need help putting it all together (save for postage and sealing), be sure to let me know in the consultation phase.

Wedding Stationery

Custom design cost begins with the experience: Need 50 invitations? Or 300? No matter how many invitations you need, you'll get the same high level of care and attention from me that makes sure your paper goods are perfectly tailored to you and your event. This also means you can mix and match your custom design with the printing technique that best fits your style & budget, from flat digital printing to letterpress.

Pricing for custom wedding stationery starts at $1,800. Because of their one-of-a-kind nature and the investment of time they require, custom paper goods will be more expensive than readily available options. Please contact me for details of what is included, and a full pricing guide is coming soon. 

Timing: Let’s start chatting 6–9 months prior to wedding, 9-12+ months if you plan to coordinate your Save the Date with the rest of your wedding materials. Invitations should be mailed 8-12 weeks before your big day; Save the Dates should be sent 6-12 months in advance.

Branding

A strong brand is vital, especially for small businesses! It sets you apart from others in your field and draws in the type of clients you want to work with, because good branding represents who you are and what you do best. It goes beyond just a logo: before the design even begins, we'll take a strategic look at what your brand personality is, where you want it to be, and then figure out how that personality can best be represented visually.

Pricing: for small business branding starts at $3,000. All branding experiences include concept development, (such as developing targeted keywords and visual styleboards to establish a tone and feel of your new brand) logo options, and refinements until your brand is perfect for you, in a variety of formats and ready for print, web, and social media.

TIming: You should allow 6–8 weeks for brand development; longer if you’re interested in business cards, a website or other support materials. Contact me for details.

Other paper & digital goods

Interested in an event announcement, blog header, or website? A full pricing guide is coming soon, but until then please contact me regarding pricing information.

Still curious?

For more information or specifics, please feel free to say hello! Fill out a questionnaire or send me a message to get an idea of what it might cost and how long it might take to turn the project you’re imagining into real live ink on paper.