There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart. Pursue these.

– Michael Nolan

Design captured my heart, and never let go.

It was about this time 20 years ago. After sitting in the biology department sketching everything in sight while I was supposed to be learning bones, muscle groups and sciency stuff, I decided to find my way back to the art department.

First class, 2D Design. That class changed my life. I clearly remember the professor confidently announcing that after leaving her class, we would never again casually flip through a magazine. She was right.

For me, reading a magazine or browsing a website isn’t just about reading the content. It is a full-on study of underlying grid-systems, illustrations, fonts, colors and photography styles.

A simple underlying grid-system can provide some structure to a layout. The perfect font choices can help grab attention and guide the reader. Color and photography can set the tone and speak faster and more clearly than words.

However, strong design isn’t about simply making something look pretty. Strong design helps clients achieve a goal by visually communicating a specific message. That is why every P&P starts with strategy, and why the most important question we ask before every project is, “What is your goal?”

Without asking that one simple question and getting really specific about the answer, the design will always fall short.

At P&P we build strong brands using strategy, stories and design. Interested in learning more about what makes us tick? Hop over to meet the team.