We all want to grow our businesses and be noticed.
Perhaps you want to encourage new sponsors to join, have a conference to promote, need to raise funding, re-invigorate a tired brand or simply tell people what makes your business the one to choose.

But how can we do this? We need to be remarkable. Any brand or service that is ‘remarkable’ simply means that
a customer is willing to remark about it. And when that happens, people will talk, the word will spread and sales
will grow.

You may feel you are noticed but is it enough for you?
We want you to be remarkable; that is what we specialise in.


90% of new product developments which use a professional design consultant make profits and the average pay back period is just 15 months.

Design Council

branding, design for print and web;

a personal service with individually crafted, intelligent creativity;

putting clients first and listening to what they want;

a reliable source of extensive design knowledge;

a drive to show that service and quality is everything;

getting results within a budget that makes sense.

print


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How is the cost of design for print determined?

Forbes Design has been designing printed materials since 1998 and our systematic print
design process has proven to be very reliable. Design estimates are based on our
experience of how long each task takes to ensure good value to the customer.


How do I get an estimate?

We prefer to talk to you in person or by phone to acquire specifications. There are too many variables in a print design project to publish a price list. Our estimates are very accurate and we avoid change orders if possible. Estimates are free.

What should I be prepared to provide to the design firm?

Time will be required for an interview and a number of design review meetings. During the interview process, we ask for lists of competitors, industry trade publications and industry trade organisations as a basis for our research. We also ask for any existing graphics files relevant to the project.


How long does the print design process take?

Print schedules can vary widely depending on the complexity of the project. A good rule of thumb is a month for the design process and 7 days for printing of basic projects such as small brochures, flyers or programmes.

How do I find a good printer?

We provide print management services including written specifications, printing estimates from a number of reliable printers and supervision of the printing process to assure a high quality product.

 

branding

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What is a corporate image?

Corporate image is a generally accepted reference to how an organisation is perceived, whether it be the receptionist to the company logo; the brand of a business is multi-layered. At Forbes Design we deal directly with the visual aspects of perception such as logo design, the sector the brand will be working in and the personality of your business.


How is the cost of corporate image determined?

Corporate image is a generally accepted reference to how an organisation is perceived. The cost for an identity can be very varied. Once we have talked to you and understood the objectives and the targets, we will put together a menu of costings so you can see clearly the breakdown at every stage.

How do I get an estimate?

We would need to sit down with you and run though a series of questions relating to your business and what you want to achieve for the potential new branding. When you’ve decided on the level of service required, we will provide a formal proposal for review. Estimates are free


What is the first step in the image design process?

After the budget is approved, we will schedule a meeting to start the process and interview key decision makers. We will initially provide a wide range of ideas so you can see what could work and what will not. Most people have an idea of what they are looking for but not a visual perception until ideas are put in front of them. From the initial designs, they aim is to reduce the shortlist until there is one agreed brand concept.

What should I be prepared to provide to the design firm?

Time will be required for an interview and a limited number of design review meetings. It is very important for the client to establish an internal brand team (or to determine the approval process). Ideally this should be constant throughout the project; if it does change, the progress made can be interrupted and a new learning curve is introduced which can slow the project down.

How long does it take to complete the image design process?

It usually takes from 4 to 8 weeks depending on the complexity and requirements of the client and the establishment of the approval process. Branding is one of the most contentious areas of design so patience is often needed for everyone!

 

interactive

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What is website development?

Website development is generally accepted as a broad term encompassing design programming and upload of a website to a host server so it can be viewed through a website browser. For quality purposes, Forbes Design prefers to keep all aspects of development in-house, including hosting.


What is hosting?

Hosting is the service of providing space on an accessible server attached to the Internet. Forbes Design’s hosting is on dedicated, managed servers located at a facility monitored 24 hours per day.

How is the cost of a website determined?

As a part of the estimating process, we build a site map showing functionality and size. After client approval, we submit an estimate of costs based on the size and complexity of the project.


How do I get an estimate?

Contact us or just let us know you’re interested and we’ll meet with you or call to discuss your needs. Each website is unique and we need enough information to create a rudimentary site map and make an estimate of costs. Estimates are always free.

What is the first step in the website development process?

After the budget is approved, w will initially provide a couple of options so you can see what could work and what will not. Most people have an idea of what they are looking for but not a visual perception until ideas are put in front of them. From the initial designs, they aim is to reduce the shortlist until there is one agreed website approach.

What should I be prepared to provide to the design firm?

Time will be required for an interview and a number of design review meetings. During the interview process, we ask for lists of competitors, industry trade publications and industry trade organisations as a basis for our research. We also ask for any existing graphics files relevant to the project.


How long does it take to complete the website development process?

An average website usually takes about 3 months depending on client response times.

 
 

people who want to push forward;

people who believe their existing businesses, services, products, initiatives and brands are better than the
world knows;

people who want to find better ways to communicate;

people who like to work collaboratively;

people who enjoy what they do and want to improve what they do.

Anchor House
Addiction Support and Care Agency
Champions Community Club
Conservative Middle East Council
Gang-Nail Systems
Greenstar
Green Travel Ireland
Food and Drink Industry, Ireland
Hexagon Housing Association
International Council for Shopping Centres
Irish Medical Devices Association
Irish Medical and Surgical Trade Association
JP Medical Publishers
Middle East International Advertising Company
Nicky Godding Associates
Nua Training
Nutrition and Health Foundation
Phoenix Community Housing
Sheridans Chartered Accountants
Wandle Housing Association

 

Forbes is ready and happy to help whenever we have needed him, almost always working to tight deadlines with high expectations, he has never let us down.”
Heather Miller, Greenstar

“Forbes Design have provided comprehensive services from design to print for the Nutrition and Health Foundation since 2007. They work in close partnership with us to really understand our needs. As a company, they are focused on getting the job done to our satisfaction in a very professional and responsive manner. Giving the customer value for money is also a key focus of theirs and is greatly appreciated.”
Dr Muireann Cullen, Nutrition and Health Foundation

“We were substantially impressed with Forbes’s response to our original brief and his personal integrity and flair for design that really responded to where we were at. Forbes was part of a 3 person pitch process and happened to be the first prospective partner we met. The thing that really clinched it for us was that Forbes captured the idea of what we wanted to become.
Guy Insull, Founder, Champions Club Community

more of what we’re good at;

with the kind of people we work best with.
make contact

design and brand specialists;

We work with experienced copywriters, marketers, photographers, printers, proof readers and web experts to help clients build their businesses;

Our work includes:
> annual reviews
> brand building / logos
> brochures
> newsletters
> websites

Our clients:
> public sector including social housing, health and nutrition
> private sector: small businesses across various sectors
> charities/social enterprise


> How I make this work

Forbes Low
Forbes set up Forbes Design Associates over 12 years ago. He graduated in 1988 from the London College of Printing with a BA Hons Graphic degree Design, Graphics/Art History. He has one daughter.

How did you get to where you are now?

It started with a roman burial drawing when I was eight. That got a 9/10 and the written work 4/10 so I knew I was better at art than anything else. My first job was at a large PR advertising company in 1988 and then, after working at two design companies for nine years, I set up Forbes Design in 1999.


What are your influences in design?

My influences have changed over the years but there are a few regular influencers who are constant in my admiration; Peter Saville, David Hockney, David Lynch, Mark Romanek and Peter Blake. Illustrators, filmmakers and painters have an influence simply for how they view the world and how their imagination creates new visual landscapes. Writers like Douglas Coupland have been an influence on my design thinking by their flights of imagination.


Why do you think design is important?

I believe a well-conceived and executed design, whether for print or product design, can elevate the simplest of things to something desirable. Design can create emotion, it can make life simpler and enjoyable.


What’s your personal style?

Bright, floral shirts! What advice would you give about time management? Being disorganised is not clever; in work life you need to be organised and do what you said you would do. By being organised, it allows decent space to think which can be hard at the best of times. Reliability with time is vital for any trust to be gained. What’s your advice for building a successful career? You need to be genuinely interested in people as 90% of the time is dealing with people. By putting yourself in other people’s shoes will allow you to understand what they need or want. Be polite, fair and straight; business is astonishingly karmic; what goes round, comes round.


How do you relax?

I am told that I am not very good at relaxing but I find having time with my daughter (who is 5) makes me switch off completely. Watching endless Scooby Doo and making fairy worlds does wonders for switching from work. Am sure at when she is at 11 that will start changing.