Tyler Arboretum in April 2013

Every business goes through highs and lows during the year. InnerRealm Designs understands that each business has their own busy season. So we ask, what is your busy season? And how can we help you prepare for the next one on the way?

Best bet, check your marketing materials…are they low? Good chance, when you need them the most that is when you realize your stock has been slowly dwindling. Another way to keep current is by updating your website with useful upcoming information about your business. Keep all your customers engaged and informed about new products or services your business now offers.

Allow yourself to budget design and print projects (if you can) ahead of time. It is possible to be prepared for when your busy season hits. Know your market, know who your target audience is…together we can build a strong design campaign to reflect your business and your message.

Contact InnerRealm Designs today to find out how we can help your business grow!

Last friday was the “Dance Away Cystic Fibrosis” dance at Rowan University Rec Center. Rowan University’s Public Relations Student Society of America, Delta Phi Epsilon, and Rowan Intramural Recreation Sports Association together raised awareness and funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

I had the honor and privilege to meet Kelly McHale who helped form the dance. Kelly is not only co-hosting the charity event to support Cystic Fibrosis research, but she also has the disease as well. Kelly is a ball of light with fiery determination and a passion to help promote awareness of Cystic Fibrosis. She has been working on the project with her friends since August 2012.

Kelly reached out to numerous graphic designers and design companies in New Jersey to design a logo and t-shirts for the event. To my surprise, she said out of the numerous designers she contacted, InnerRealm Designs was the only one who replied “Yes, how can we help!”

Over the course of a week a t-shirt design and logo was created for the event. It came to me one day as I was working on the project, that I wanted to help…and surprise Kelly. I contacted friends, family, and colleagues to see if anyone could donate raffle prizes or monetary donations for the dance.

I had an overwhelming response from the donation letter I wrote that specifically mentioned my initial meeting with Kelly. I was able to be more than “just a graphic designer” or “a design company that did our shirts” for Kelly and her friends.

I met up with Kelly to talk about the event a week before, and was delighted to meet the host of the dance as well, Diana DiNapoli the PRSSA Vice President of Ethics, Advocacy and Philanthropy. Diana seemed just as delightfully surprised as Kelly, so my personal and professional goals were achieved! They were both surprised and excited, and had some incredible prizes to raffle, along with generous donations.

The Dance Away Cystic Fibrosis night was a blast. A ton of students came out for the event, and showed their support by wearing purple, purchasing raffle tickets and dancing. There were Zumba instructors keeping up the dance momentum for the entire night. And just about all who attended were on the dance floor, or eagerly buying raffle tickets!

I got to meet Kelly’s parents and family as well, and had the opportunity to tell them how great it was to meet their daughter and help with the event. They were so proud of Kelly and to see all her hard work for the dance unfold as the night went on. And not to mention Diana was a fantastic host, and she kept the dance party going till midnight!

The dance was a total success and raised over $1600.00 that will go to The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

“It’s really brought a lot of awareness on campus. A lot of people didn’t know what cystic fibrosis is. I feel like we reached a lot of different people,” DiNapoli said.

The most humbling feeling is when Kelly and Diana gave me a token of their appreciation at the end of the night with a Rowan University Blanket. I am usually the one who surprises, or helps…so it was a feeling I am not quite used to, and it truly made my night. I am so grateful to be a small part of that night. And I am humbled to know I surround my company, and myself with wonderful friends, family, and colleagues. Thank you again to all who donated to help with this amazing event!

The Jersey shore has been a very important part of my life, and one of my favorite places to go. It was the inexpensive family vacation as a child, it was a place to go with friends as an arcade-seeking teenager, and it was a sanctuary and source of inspiration in my adult life. With the destruction that has happened due to Hurricane Sandy, the shore as I remember it, is gone…however, knowing of the restoration process has me hopeful of seeing it as it once was. It will not happen over night, nor in one season, but people will come together to lend a hand in hopes of having their favorite place to go to once again.

InnerRealm Designs is working to help businesses and families rebuild our NJ shore. If you know of a business that is still open during the rebuilding process, or know of businesses in need of help personally, please contact The InnerRealm Design Team. We would love to roll up our sleeves and help our fellow small businesses as well as the residents of those affected by Sandy.

Many facilities are still collecting donations and goods to help people affected by Hurricane Sandy. If you are looking for a way to help, but do not know where to start below is a list of ways you can still help:

American Red Cross – https://www.redcross.org/donate/index.jsp?donateStep=2&itemId=prod10002

http://www.salvationarmyusa.org – mobile feeding units/shelters

http://www.feedingamerica.org – food/water/support

http://www.americares.org – medicine/supplies

http://www.worldvision.org – clean up kits/hygiene products

http://www.savethechildren.org – relief to children and families

InnerRealm Designs is a full-service New Jersey Design Studio located in South Jersey. We create solutions for all of your branding, marketing, and advertising needs. No matter what size your company, InnerRealm Designs is ready to creatively tackle your next project!

Our NJ graphic design studio fully stocked with everything for your next marketing project! If you have a great idea, or need one for your upcoming promotional project…just give us a call, or contact us here…we can help!

We specialize Web Design and Print Design. Some of our Services include:

 ads . apparel printing . auto vinyl work . banners  . brand design . brochure design . business forms . car magnets. cd cover art . corporate art . email newsletters . envelopes . flyers . illustrations . interactive kiosks . inter-office dvd loops . invitations . letterhead . logo design . menus . ncr forms . notepads . office vinyl . photo retouching . postcards . posters . presentations . promotional products . print design . stickers . store signage . trade show units . trade show displays . video editing . vinyl . yard signs . web banners . web design

“A Day of fishing in Sea Isle City New Jersey” ©2012 InnerRealm Designs

InnerRealm Designs has helped companies define their identity and message for many years now. We have a knack for it! We are a team of idea generators that know how to make the right idea come to life…

From start-up companies to global brands, our thinking and creativity generate excitement with measurable results. InnerRealm Designs will keep your company moving forward with cutting edge design and quality marketing materials.

Understanding your needs and perceptions takes more than guesswork.
We are a seasoned design company armed with experience and knowledge in how to execute your project professionally and accurately.

We are also a New Jersey graphic design company that works nationally and globally. So no matter where your company is based we can work remotely or on location for your next project.

InnerRealm Designs provides print design, web design, branding, illustration, and many other design services. As a comprehensive company without limits, our passion, enthusiasm and energy shows with every project we take on.

We break barriers of imagination and creativity by integrating our combined knowledge of design, technology, illustration and the dynamics of advertising.

Baltimore Graphic Designer Meet and Greet!

Have you updated your site lately?

It is a great idea to keep your information current on your website. Customers are able to check out the latest developments and company information before they contact you or visit your facility.

Lately, InnerRealm Designs is generating a lot of web update packages that help customers keep their web information fresh without them having to stop their work day to update. We offer a variety of packages depending upon the needs of the customer. We can do as little or as much as you want, and even set your company up with social sites or blog sites.

Blog sites are also a great way to keep current information flowing towards your customers or back towards your website. They are a way draw in visitors and customers who want to read about what your company is about. It is also a great place to mention charities, events, or upcoming promotions.

Contact us now to find out how we can keep your web information current!

It looks like InnerRealm Designs had a sweet Valentine from The ALS Walk! Well, we love you guys back, and we love all the hard work that you do to help people with ALS, and the awareness that you create!

February is here and it is not as cold as it should be! I love the Spring don’t get me wrong, but I really like having a winter to enjoy too! Busting out the boots, scarves, and fun wooly hats is something I look forward to…I happen to enjoy fall/winter fashion. We may only have a couple of weeks left of the winter, if the weather keeps up…but I will take what I can get of the lack luster winter thrill!

For some reason the chill stays in the air…hop over to The Philadelphia Museum of Art and see The Van Gogh exhibit. It is amazing, inspiring, and moving. I have seen Van Gogh’s work before, but never all these pieces in one room…I also recommend getting the audio tour, I took so much away from this exhibit with the stories behind the particular works.

I won’t spoil it for you, but there are some pieces that you can see the mental anguish and absolute joy…pre medication and post medication during his stay at a mental hospital in France. There is something to be said about seeing a glimpse of someone’s life…from their perspective…and then using your own involuntary thoughts/experiences while you contemplate their work. Some people just see color and texture on a canvas, whereas I tend to feel brushstrokes and color. Sounds weird, but I challenge you to paint something on a very happy day, then paint something when you are angry or sad…you will then see what I am talking about.

This exhibit is a must see for everyone!

This year InnerRealm Designs helped provide a happy holiday for local children, teens, and seniors in need. We were proud to adopt “Angels” through the Salvation Army Angel Giving Tree presented by jcpenny. We provided gifts to people we will never know…but what we do know, is that for one single moment they will have pure holiday delight and the feeling that someone cares about them.

We are dedicated to give back to those in need and we were excited to participate this year in a wonderful holiday giving program!

Happy Holidays!

InnerRealm Designs

Now that the season has changed, and the chill is in the air….you know what is next….The Holiday Season! I am starting to turn on the Christmas tunes while I am working on end-of-year design projects. Something to keep in mind, if you are a business owner, check your marketing materials at the end of December….that way you can re-order or place new orders to ring in your Business New Year! If you can, get out and enjoy the weather, before it turns bitter cold. I like when the weather gets a little chilly…I grab a cup of coffee, a pair of winter boots, knit hat, and I am off!

We took a couple of small trips over the past few months, one to New York City and another to Atlantic City.

We had so much fun in New York…our first stop to fill our grumbly stomachs was to I Tre Merli (our favorite restaurant in SOHO). If you ever get a chance to wander around the SOHO part of the city, be sure to stop there for lunch or dinner…you won’t be disappointed! They have amazing food, upbeat staff, and a great wine list. My favorite dish is the Porcini Ravoli in Truffle Sauce…..AMA-ZING!! And if you love salads, make sure you get the Spinach salad…which consists of fresh spinach leaves drizzled in a honey vinagrette, with a tasty selection of wild berries, toasted pine nuts, and creamy goat cheese. Jay had Spaghetti with Clams in a White Wine Sauce, which he said was incredible…and I know this is true,  since he was completely silent while enjoying each bite! (this never happens – lol)

So now, that we got the food crush out of the way….we decided to walk from Varrick Street in SoHo all the way to Times Square. It was such a nice day, and there were so many things going on in the city we couldn’t stop. One of my favorite things to do is take photos while I walk around the city…there are so many moments that tend to get lost in the hustle and bustle…so I want to capture as many as I can while I am there. It happened to be Veterans Day, and no one really seemed to recognize it where we were in the city…but then I looked up on our walk, and I saw this elderly woman about 4 stories up, leaning out her brownstone window…and she was waving a small American flag. I quick took a couple of shots of her…it was a feeling as if she had a story….she recognized the day even though the people below her, were on their cell phones striding down a busy street.

Then we ended up making our way to Washington Square Park where we soaked in our surroundings and took some more photos. There was a sweet couple (Howard & Rebecca) that asked us to take their photo on the square by the fountain. So I offered to take another photo with my Cannon Ti2, and send it to them via email when we got home.

We had to get back that night by 6pm to go to The City Winery to seeMartha Wainwright. The show was great, and we had the pleasure of seeing Martha’s sister Lucy Wainwright Roche play a song too….she was awesome. Another treat was when Martha did an Edith Piaf cover…it was ear candy.

We covered a lot of New York that day, and I inhaled every moment of the city – some highlights: a man painted entirely in gold at times square, photography with Hax – Par Kour jumpers at the Metropolitan, The Veterans Day lady, my beer at Gatsby’s Bar, Random Art strewn across concrete, literally running into Wanda Sykes, forgotten streets, dancing paper cups behind glass, the smell of every-other-block SoHo bakery, art vendors selling their wares that I had to look at, The Museum of Sex, people dressed up as disney characters that wouldn’t stop hugging me as I walked by, drummers near Bryant Park……and…..well much, much, more.

For the Atlantic City trip….well….what happens in AC stays in….my head. It was fun, but I was glad to come home.

Now that I landed back into the design grind…I am preparing for all the New Year marketing materials, and web refreshing that is needed. Please contact me if you have some 2012 marketing ideas you need implemented for your business. And for all the companies that are expanding for the new year, keep in mind our start-up packages which include: Business Cards, Brochures, Postcards, Letterhead & Envelopes, Vinyl Banners, Yard Signs, websites, and more!

So what do you do with that shipping box? Well you can recycle it naturally! Or you can let your house rabbit Mr. Butters play in it. You mean to tell me you do not have a house rabbit named Mr. Butters? Well I do!! And I have a great idea for all those who love Keurig K-Cups and have a house rabbit that enjoys a ton of timothy hay.

If you are not familiar with house rabbits, I will fill you in…they need unlimited timothy hay for dietary needs. I prefer to use Oxbow Timothy hay, and both my rabbits love it! The downside to giving hay to your house rabbit every day is  the mess it leaves behind. Tiny chewed bits fall all over the place. Some stores sell little hay holders that are a bit costly, or really don’t hold the hay that well.

So I know you are DYING to know my solution to this little hay problem…and a great way to recycle! Take your empty K-Cup Boxes and use them as HAY Holders!!

Now, please let me introduce Mr. Butters and her K-Cup hay box!

Some of you may be wondering why I am saying “her” and “she” when I am referring to Mr. Butters. Well when I first rescued her, I was told Mr. Butters was in-fact a boy. A few months later Mr. Butters was about to get fixed. Mr. Butters turned into Mrs. Buttersworth apparently! I still liked the name…don’t judge.

So anyhow back to this great little idea…Both of my rabbits love the K-Cup box as a Hay box. They play with it, nibble at it…and I feel pretty good turning trash into something useful and clever.

So I hope this little article helps someone looking for a hay holder option. I am no longer farming my floor filled with hay…I just dump out the box o’ hay bits, refill, and reuse.

Although, sometimes the box starts to look like this…So you just wait patiently until your next order of coffee comes in. Then you recycle the old box, and set the new-fresh K-Cup box out with a huge amount of hay in it….Your bunny will love it!

Mr. Butters Approved!