Research: What makes a great letterhead?

Here are some letterheads and stationery systems we rounded up from various design publications. The most successful ones seem to be those with a single distinctive element—color, shape, pattern, etc. They also clearly showcase the client logo in some way, whether it's placed a the top, bottom or side of the page. (The top left corner appears to be a popular spot.) Surprisingly, of the different letterhead and stationary systems posted here, only one makes use of toned paper. Unfortunate, no?

Nice color variation within a system.


Very cool—and clever—use of a die cut.


Repetition of the symbol and logo types within the system helps to tie all the elements together.


Using the logo symbol as a graphic pattern shows just how versatile it can be.


A slightly metallic paper choice really helps this system shine. The details are also a nice touch.


Using an illustration to take up a large section of the paper is different and distinctive.


Breaking up the client's name is a bold choice, but it works well here. Here the letters are transformed into a graphic element.


The pattern on the back of the letterhead picks up on the logo symbol without repeating it. Again, very nice.


Here the letterhead, envelope and business card are three different colors, yet they still manage to work together through similar colors and the addition of the logo on all elements.

All work copyright its respective designer(s)/artist(s). No copyright infringement intended. Unit does not own nor produced any of the work shown here in this post.

Research: What's in a logo?

Giulia here. Found this sweet article whilst my daily blog-hopping. In it, Paul from the very cool UK design firm Peter & Paul describes some of his thoughts on logos and logo design. One of the most important things he mentions is that the point of a logo is "to be noticed, to be engaging, to be remembered." And I can't help but agree.

Think about it. I can't speak for other people, but some of the logos that stick out the most in my mind—UPS, ABC, FedEx—were designed well before I was even born. They've not only stood the test of time, but also public recognition.

When designing Unit's logo, Jess and I were faced with a couple of decisions. The first step was agreeing on what we stand for as a design partnership. We both feel that design is a an equal mix of aesthetics and functionality. Good design should not only look good, but also consider audience, budget, production, and desired client/public response. Because of our different skills and strengths, Jess and I feel that we can address all these issues equally.

Once we figured how the "what" and "why", we needed a "how". We wanted our logo to reflect that we're individuals who work together like a well-oiled, designing machine. After some concept sketches and ideas, we're still working out the details but have a direction mind. Just goes to show that something as simple as a logo can be a lot of work!

Research: What does it take to develop and maintain a design firm?

Giulia here again. So whilst researching the business aspect of this collaborative design effort, I found this great article from STEP magazine.

It has some helpful and nicely designed diagrams that are worth sharing, too:

The main takeaway seems to be that designers need to run their businesses like just that—businesses. While being talented and skillful are absolutely essential, nothing is more important to a designer/business person than good people skills, financial knowhow, and time and project management. As the above diagram shows, being successful ultimately depends on a combination of things, including strong internal leadership and the ability to grow and keep growing. "Competence, credibility, commitment" is a fantastic model to work by. The article also points out the way priorities often change once a startup firm goes big:


It's interesting how having a strong vision is a top priority no matter what a firm's position in the industry. Even more interesting, many of the designers interviewed in the article said that most of their time was spent dealing with business issues, not design. Some firms even hire people specifically to handle to handle business matters and management. (This was the case where I interned last semester.) A bit upsetting for the creative soul in all of us, but such is the cost of doing business, I suppose.

Hello Unit

Giulia here. This is the first post in Unit's process blog! Jess and I have been working hard at researching various letterhead and logo systems as well as sketching and planning for future projects, all of which will be posted here.

By the end of the semester, we're hoping to accomplish the following:

• A resolved logo
• A full letterhead system, including stationary and business card
• A branding guide, showing the complete look and usage of the
  Unit identity
• A self-produced book or publication
• A promotional design product