Our Process
STEP by STEP
Our process is very collaborative. Our goal is to create a stunning design that coordinates seamlessly with the aesthetic of your project.
DESIGN BOARD
All of our projects begin with the creation of a design board. This is created in collaboration with our clients; a collection of inspiration in the form of relevant photos and visual ideas.
CONCEPT
Through constructive conversation, a bit of research, and the study of the project design board, we start to develop a concept. Sometimes this includes a series of sketches, or sometimes a digital mockup using screen shots from the design board.
The ideas are shared with our client and changes made to refine and further develop the design. Once everyone is happy with the concept, we move forward.
PAINTING PROCESS
The painting process is one of the most time consuming phases of your project. It can take several weeks to complete all the necessary illustrations.
Once painting is complete, we digitise all pieces and assemble to create your first proofs.
PROOFING
You will receive digital proofs of your design. This is an opportunity to see your project come to life and is very exciting for both designers and clientele!
Proofing is your opportunity to tweak your design to a finished product. Colour, layout, and the size of any elements can be changed. We can also add or remove pieces. This is a collaborative process – we provide guidance based on basic design principles and our clients guide us toward their ideal composition.
PRODUCTION & DELIVERY
Invitation suites and day-of stationery will be printed and shipped from our studios in Melbourne, or we can deliver print-ready files directly to you for local production. Assembly and postage services are also available, saving time in transit.
Websites are built in-house and once proofing is completed in a private, local testing environment, the site is transferred to it’s new domain and goes ‘live’ for public access.
All illustration projects, branding, and commercial commissions are delivered as high resolution file packages according to your requirements for the project.
METHOD
faq
Who provides the copy (wording) for my project?
All stationery text, content for a website, and wording is provided by our clients. We are happy to assist with examples and suggestions if you need, or often times an event planner is an excellent resource for wording.
How long does your process take?
- Save the Dates: 4 weeks
- Invitations: 8-16 weeks
- Websites: 6 weeks
- Maps: 4 weeks
- Emblems: 2 weeks
- Branding: 4-6 weeks
- Day-of Stationery: 4-6 weeks
- Textile Design: 3 weeks
- Textile Production: 12-16 weeks
- Other illustration projects: quoted upon request
How many proofs are included?
Once your artwork is painted and you are receiving proofs in colour via email, you have three full rounds of proofing. Each round, be sure you go over everything including wording for grammatical errors, spelling, punctuation, and also layout and colours! Make the most of each round by going over the entire project thoroughly.
Do you provide paper samples?
We do, upon request. The materials used for our thicker, rigid weights are not available for sampling (these are layers of paper and board and are created to order), but we can send you single weight paper options to see texture and colours.
If you would like to see paper samples, please let us know at the start of your project. Shipping can take a week’s time, and often when paper choice needs to be decided we no longer have this time window.
Is a map included in the cost of my invitation?
Emblem and map artwork are the only illustrated pieces of an invitation suite that we consider ‘separate’. This is because you receive a high resolution file package at the end of the project. You can use this artwork throughout your wedding or event, or for any personal purposes you wish, indefinitely. No other piece of your artwork is shared with you as a digital file.
Because of this, they are quoted separately, and are usually completed BEFORE your invitations to establish style, colour palette, and to set the tone for the rest of the artwork.
I have booked a website design and you are 'managing the guest list'. What does this include?
Our guest list management provides all communication with your guests for the duration of your wedding planning. This includes:
- Digital sending of your Save the Date (if needed)
- Initial Save the Date RSVP tracking & follow up
- Emails to guest list (notifications of website updates, accommodation information, etc.)
- Formal invitation RSVP tracking and follow up
- All guest communications up until the dates of the events.
Will you provide several designs for me to choose from?
Our process includes approval of initial sketches and layout, so there should be no surprises when you see the design in colour. We usually present only the version approved during the sketch phase, unless we feel something just isn’t working well. In this case, we will present additional options for you to choose from and make some recommendations to improve the design.
Can I print my stationery myself?
Yes, all our quotes include design fees as a separate item, with estimated printing costs quoted separately. We estimate printing costs at the time of booking. Those costs are only an estimate, and are not included in your initial booking/deposit.
When your design is near completion, we requote a firm printing/production cost, including any foiling, letterpress, or special finishes included in your design. If you choose to move forward with us, these costs will be included in the balance of your project and invoiced prior to production.
I need a Save the Date as soon as possible. How quickly can you create one?
This depends on several factors, the largest one being our availability. If we are able to take a ‘rush’ project, a Save the Date takes approximately 1-2 weeks for design.
If you are also booking a full suite plus other pieces with us, we do our very best to to accommodate your desired time frame.
Please enquire with your desired date of completion, as well as all pieces you would like to commission and we can get back to you with a quote and next steps.
