It’s almost the end of the year and one in which to look back at 2008 with fond (or not so fond) memories as the economy has given us all a hard kick back too. So while you might be rethinking budgets, jobs, and how to do things better and smarter, there are some things tnat you can do that are about personal and business presentation that will get you noticed.
In this economy, if someone no longer has a job or is looking for a new job, having a professionally designed business card on good card stock says a great deal about the person and their professional appearance. Don’t bother with those self-printed flimsy things printed out of your home printer. A serious job-seeker and employer needs to see a well-done business card
Business stationary does the same thing and on a much more visible level, so does a newly designed or refined website and even a carefully developed, finely tuned ad campaign.
Where does one go to find a good designer? It’s not just ripped off a website and it’s not done via printing off your own printer for the best quality designs.
![Sassi_Concepts_logo[1].jpg](http://www.la-story.com/upload/2008/12/that_are_really_different_and_keep_you_in_someones/Sassi_Concepts_logo%5B1%5D.jpg)
Instead turn to an a all encompassing branding site that does everything from invitations, business cards, CD covers, advertising/branding campaigns and much more.- Sassi Concepts and Designs
Marcy E. Pellegrino, President & Creative Director for Sassi Concepts & Designs has a unique perspective on presentations of business, brands, people and advertising. Lucky for us, she managed to give us a quick virtual interview that hopefully will show you how important creative thinking– and stretching the possibilities of what can be done to the farthest limits to ratchet up awareness and get people’s attention!
Questions & Answers:
LA-Story.com How did Sassi Concepts & Designs get started? You started in 2004 and 4 years later have an impressive portfolio of work featuring billboard and print advertising, packaging
design, collateral materials, logos & web design and now it includes custom designed
stationary and invitations. Essentially I am asking how you got started (what propelled you into your own business) and your expanding range of products speaks of monumental growth.
Marcy Pellegrino: My career began working in the field of art direction at various agencies from which I was able to build my extensive portfolio. As a person with a great deal of drive, it seemed the next logical step for me to take the knowledge I learned from my experience in NYC and launch a company of my own–with the obvious goal to help brand others.
As a creative person, it was not enough for me to work solely on the advertising elements I had in the past. I found so many clients in need of branding aspects such as logos, costumed stationary and invitations that it was a natural fit to expand my company to include these types of designs. It is a win-win as it allows me to be as creative as possible while my clients receive the personal attention so needed in these situations.
LA-Story.com What ‘s the fun part of what you do? What are the more challenging parts?
Marcy Pellegrino: The fun is always in the unknown–beginning with the big picture in establishing the creative concept and then determining how that concept can be distinct yet effective in terms of invitations and advertising.
It is always a challenge when you have a fabulous idea creatively which unfortunately does not fit the ultimate goal of what you are trying to accomplish on the behalf of the client and the consumer. You can be your worst enemy! (Laughing)
![invites_8[1].jpg](http://www.la-story.com/upload/2008/12/that_are_really_different_and_keep_you_in_someones/invites_8%5B1%5D.jpg)
LA-Story.com: Advertising, ancillary materials and packaging designs all l seem to fit as a coordinated unit and expanding into web and logo makes sense. How did you end up with stationary and invitations? That’s quite a different niche!
Marcy Pellegrino: I always loved the idea of designing customized creative for all occasions, whether it be invitations for image related events, personal occasions, or corporate events, etc. It bothered me that many websites claimed to customize invites while really they were simply picking a font, paper and color. To me, that is not truly customized.
It struck me while I was planning my own wedding, including creating our invitations and
producing the event. I learned to approach it all from an advertising standpoint. There is a low range to high range in cost.
LA-Story.com What do you feel are the mos t unusual things you have done in stationary and invitations? How far can a person push the envelope (pun intended) with your firm in creating stationarh and invitations? What are the most unique or
complex designs you have done? How long does i take to create a customized
stationary? invitations?
Obviously the client has a lot of input– but they al so aren’t experts in design
and your company is . How much do they rely on your expertise and just let you run with the design?
Marcy Pellegrino: Many clients prefer clean and elegant and want to steer away from that which is too complex, but rather improve on what might be considered “plain” with the usage of unique papers and materials. I have found elements such as expensive handmade papers, fabrics from Europe,items that need to be assembled and adhered to the invitations, die cuts to cards and stationary, etc are wonderful ways to embellish what might otherwise be simple.
For example, we created a fantastic 3- dimensional card that emulated a client’s logo while marrying it with their product simultaneously.
A client can push as far as they want with regard to creativity via their suggestions and ours alike. We encourage them to own the idea and be part of it, after all, they need to stand behind it as much as we need to!
Some clients give us carte blanche. Since each client is unique and their needs and wants vary, every project ranges in time, from research of their company, iterations, finalizing, pre-production to the final product.
I felt a huge, positive impact was created via the invitation Sassi Concepts and Designs, Inc. created for the Avon Breast Cancer Fundraiser Event. It was very conceptually thought-out!
LA-Story.com Where would you like to expand? Do you want to go into the accessories to stationary and paper goods ? (Party accessories that match the invitations; key
tags to go with stationary?)
Marcy Pellegrino: I would love to expand into the West Coast and have another advertising boutique in Miami and NYC. I know my paper goods very well, however I have no desire to branch into key tags and other promotional items. I would rather contact my loyal vendors as needed so that I am free to focus on the creative styles I know best.
LA-Story.com: What’s your trendspotting for unique invitations, stationary and package designs?
Marcy Pellegrino: I feel the average consumer will have a desire for the high-end custom product, but will not be prepared for the cost. Therefore keeping custom invites simple and elegant with some special detailing, while allowing me to provide the proper print vendors, will work in their favor.
Though of course those who desire the exotic invites and have the available budget will be able to do so as well!
LA-Story.com How affordable can it be do have you do stationary or invitations? ?
Can you take on smal projects?
Marcy Pellegrino: Absolutely! We feel strongly there is no project too large nor too small and each client, regardless of his or her needs, deserves the same attention. Regarding custom affordable invitations keeping them…again…simple and elegant is always
my suggestion in keeping costs down. A beautiful, unique paper and a classic font can do the trick. Assembling them in envelopes yourself or with friends can help keep cost down! And adding your own touch via ribbons, wraps, etc. can bring out color in the subtle parts of the invitations.
LA-Story.com What do you do fun?
Marcy Pellegrino: Spending time with my husband Robert, 6-month-old son, Bryson and dog Maxwell! We love visits with our families as well! Oh and spas of course! Big fan of spas! (Laughing)
LA-Story.com
What do you love to go for vacation?
Marcy Pellegrino: We love London and Costa Rica!
LA-Story.com Any dreams or goal s that you want to accomplish?
Marcy Pellegrino: I would love to keep expanding my business.
www.sassiconceptsanddesign.com
Thank you to Marcy Pellegrino, Sassi Concepts & Design for her time and ideas.
Take the time to visit her site and see what amazing things she has done– and could do for you too!
Stevie Wilson
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