Blog
The (unearned) authority of written publications
I love words and writing, but are written publications always the best way to communicate our work? And how can we try and incorporate alternative voices and sources of knowledge into our storytelling?
Project kickoff meetings – how to do them right
Project kickoff meetings are one of the most important tools in my publication design toolbox. They’re the best way to get me what I need to deliver a great design and get everyone on the same page around timeline, reviews, communications, and general expectations – generally set ourselves up for success. Here’s how to do them right.
Capturing learning from your events (yes, even online ones)
Today we’re relying more than ever on online events. And while that can be great news for reducing travel budgets and broader participation, it can also mean that we’re not focusing as much on the learning that these gatherings produce. A solid plan for capturing and sharing event learnings from the outset can help.
Telling stories for the human connection
Do we need to communicate differently with our audiences in times of crisis? Not really – we just need to return to basics and think hard about why we’re communicating in the first place.
How to Communicate in Crisis
Do we need to communicate differently with our audiences in times of crisis? Not really – we just need to return to basics and think hard about why we’re communicating in the first place.
Create breathing room by embracing white space
White space is a powerful tool that can help your designs go from overcrowded and hard to digest, to impactful pieces that give your audience exactly what they need. Here are a few reasons you should embrace white space in your next publication.
The power (and pitfalls) of infographics in emergencies
Infographics can be a powerful way to quickly and memorably share information with your audience. Yet there are some things to consider before deciding whether they’re worth the effort, especially in emergencies when the need to get information out is at its most urgent.
Rekindling that “new project” feeling (even when you’re so over it)
Has your team lost that “new project” feeling? It’s normal for energy levels to wane mid-project – the initial excitement wears off, other priorities creep in. Here are three things I put in place at the start of every project that act as touchpoints that we can revisit when the going gets tough.
Captions: A Love Story
Captions. Maybe not the most exciting part of your publication, but arguably one of the most important! Here are a few tips and tricks I use to make sure image captions are moving an organization’s story forward, not just cluttering the page.
How NOT to provide a design critique (and 9 things you should do instead)
No one likes criticism, but there’s a right and a wrong way to provide constructive design critique that could mean the difference between a “meh” final product and a reputation as an organization designers don’t want to work with and a “wow!” final product and a strong relationship with your designer.
![15 things to think about before, during and after attending your next conference [CHECKLIST]](https://www.jennifergeib.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/is-your-organization-conference-ready-1080x600.png)
15 things to think about before, during and after attending your next conference [CHECKLIST]
You’ve registered to attend or present at that upcoming conference – exciting! But are you and your team set to take advantage of all the great marketing and networking opportunities conferences provide? Use these tips and the download the checklist/sample timeline to make sure your organization is conference ready in no time.
![Brand collateral audits [CHEAT SHEET]](https://www.jennifergeib.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/brand-audit-feature-image-2-1080x600.png)
Brand collateral audits [CHEAT SHEET]
One of the tools you can use to get a birds-eye view of how your brand stacks up is a brand collateral audit. Sounds fancy, but it’s really pretty simple. Brand collateral is all the “stuff” that supports your brand – your website, publications, reports, etc. If you take a macro look at everything, it will give you a good idea of whether you’re expressing your brand consistently across all your collateral.
Getting others to tell your stories: collecting meaningful quotes and testimonials
If done right, meaningful, well-structured quotes can be a key to telling a compelling, rich story. But how do you get those elusive words from reluctant, hard-to-reach beneficiaries? In my post at askinyathelo.org.za I discuss about several points that will help you to get the most from your quotes and testimonials.
Digging for gold: how to mine data and information to add value to your writing
An important element that can add value to your writing and engage your readers is carefully mined data presented as visually engaging, synthesised information. My post at askinyathelo.org.za shares tips finding, presenting and contextualizing data and using graphics to add value to your publications and writing.
Collecting images to effectively tell your story
You know that high-quality, relevant, timely images are important to effectively communicating your story, but whenever you need them you can only seem to find that grainy, poorly lit group shot from the workshop last year that you’ve already used several times. You need a plan. My guest post at askinyathelo.org.za delves into the four steps you need to take to make sure you have the images you need at hand when you need them.
