If you’re an avid shopper who checks the mailbox once in a while, chances are you’d find a number of brochures mixed with your other correspondences. You’d probably be dazzled at how they look. A post in the Designer Daily postulates it from the other side of the coin:

“When you are a student in design school, designing brochures doesn’t sound like the most exciting task. Nevertheless, it can be a very interesting work if you are not working with brochure templates and let your creativity flow.”

Chicago’s tourism marketing efforts are no less challenging in creating the kind of brochure that will stand out. Some of the more awesome brochures you’ve leafed through over the years may include the Chicago Bulls’ season schedule, the Downtown Transit Authority’s sightseeing guide, and even catalogs by real-estate agents advertising their services. If you are looking to promote your business with a brochure that mesmerizes and educates potential customers, Chicago graphic design experts like Controlled Color, Inc. are ready to lend a hand.

In Living Color

Some visual aid experts claim that color is one of the most striking elements in any brochure design. A number of colors even influence customer or client moods. However, if a brochure is to be used for marketing your business, you must stick to your company’s official colors and consult a graphic designer in Chicago on the proper balance of each color in the final design.

Ad Copy

A hefty dose of content will educate people about your product or service through your brochure. You will need to meticulously analyze the finished content pieces for typographical, tonal, and stylistic errors, then fix them before they are put on the layout. This will save you time and money that would have been spent on reprints.

Your Papers, Please

The paper you use for your brochures is another way to convince your customers that you are willing to do business with them– but choosing paper that feels right to the touch can be dicey. Some marketing experts recommend talking with a printing expert about the proper quality and thickness of paper for brochures, which is measured in grams per square meter (GSM). Many corporate brochures are printed within 130 to 170 GSM, but the lower number may depend on how many pages the brochure has to prevent having a “bulky” feel.

Format Me

Decide on a format during the conceptualization of the brochure, like pamphlet-style, Z-type, or accordion. While the format encourages you to be creative, be careful with formats that are too unique for formal marketing strategies.

A well-design brochure filled with meaningful content can win customers over. Skilled Chicago graphic designers will make it possible.

(Source: The elements of a good brochure design, Designers Daily)