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Please take a few moments to enjoy the most recent issue of Printer@Work below before you
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HERRON PRINTING & GRAPHICS PRESENTS
JAN
11
PRINTING IS OUR PASSION.
WELCOME TO TEN MINUTES OF GOOD NEWS AND FUN STUFF FROM YOUR FAVORITE PRINTER!
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Message
A Message from Randy Herron
The Way I See It
 
We love our community. It is such a nice place to live, raise a family and build relationships through our business dealings. We understand the role we play in our community and how our involvement can really impact a lot of lives for the better. It is our privilege to provide services that make your lives a little easier, and we always want the interaction you have with our company to be a positive, uplifting one.

Obviously, our lives are not contained within our print shop. We live full lives with many different dimensions. Our employees are involved in any number of activities and organizations. We are proud that they see the need to serve our community in their personal lives because they are an extension of us as their employer.

Here’s the way I see it: we have a responsibility to be involved in our community. It is ever growing and changing, and we can make a positive impact on the people who live here. Being active in our community helps us to understand the importance of providing high-quality, affordable printing. It helps us serve both our customers who are buying the printing as well as the many people who will be using the information after it leaves our shop. Please give us a call if you have any printing questions. We’d love to help impact your life for the better!
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Idea
Idea of the Week
The Gardener's Approach to Leading Design Teams
CULTIVATING CREATIVITY THROUGH BALANCE

Design leadership is about cultivating creativity while ensuring consistency and quality.

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By adopting the mindset of a gardener—one who nurtures rather than controls—design leaders can inspire innovation and guide their teams to produce exceptional work.

Why Creativity Thrives on Balance

Design work requires a mix of structure and freedom.

Too much control can stifle creativity, leading to predictable or uninspired results. On the other hand, a completely hands-off approach risks disorganized or subpar designs.

As a design leader, your role is to provide clear guidelines while allowing space for exploration. Just like a gardener ensures plants have enough room to grow, you should create an environment where designers can experiment within a framework that maintains focus on project goals and quality standards.

Creating a Shared Vision Through Communication

A successful design team operates with a unified vision.

To achieve this, leaders must over-communicate their expectations and values. Use visual tools like design boards, inspiration channels, and style guides to ensure everyone understands what “great design” looks like for your projects.

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Regular feedback sessions, group critiques, and one-on-one discussions can reinforce these standards. By aligning your team on key principles—such as the importance of simplicity, color harmony, or typography consistency—you empower designers to make decisions that support the larger vision without constant oversight.

Fostering Autonomy in Design Teams

The most effective creative teams function well without constant intervention.

As a leader, your role is to provide tools, establish a clear vision, and trust your team to execute. Let them own their decisions, make mistakes, and learn. This autonomy not only increases their confidence but also fosters a culture of accountability.

When individuals understand the “why” behind their tasks, they are more motivated to meet and exceed expectations. Encourage a mindset where they don’t just follow rules but internalize the standards of quality and creativity.

Shaping Culture Through Influence

A cohesive design team doesn’t just happen—it’s cultivated through shared values and strong leadership.

By fostering a culture that prioritizes quality, collaboration, and continuous learning, you can influence the outcomes of your projects without controlling every detail.

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Think of yourself as a gardener tending to a thriving design ecosystem. Encourage designers to critique and support one another, celebrate successes, and reflect on challenges. When everyone understands and internalizes the team’s design principles, they can make informed decisions independently, producing work that aligns with the broader vision.

Ready to Grow? Let’s Cultivate Creativity

Leading a design team is about finding the perfect balance between guidance and freedom.

Adopt the gardener’s mindset: nurture creativity, establish clear communication, and shape a culture of excellence. By focusing on influence rather than control, you’ll empower your team to create designs that stand out and resonate with your audience.

 

See more great ideas like this!
Click here to visit the Herron Printing & Graphics - Ideas Collection.
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MARKETING
Marketing Tips
Dare to Compare
ONE OF THESE THINGS IS NOT LIKE THE OTHER…
Consider an ad for a color copier with a photograph on one side of the ad, a color copy of the photograph on the other side, and text asking the reader to pick which one is the real photograph. This type of side-by-side comparison advertising is so successful because it offers readers the challenge of telling two things apart. Who can resist a challenge?

This technique captures attention and has staying power as readers scrutinize the ad to determine which is the photograph, and which is the copy. In a world of short attention spans, what could be better than people pouring over your ad? And, including a few lines of engaging text will increase the lasting effect of your ad.

We can help you design and print all your marketing materials. Let us know how we can help you make a statement about your company.
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Tech Tips
Work Comfortably
IMPROVE YOUR POSITION AT WORK.
The ergonomics of your work space has a direct impact on your mood and productivity. If you find yourself sitting in front of a monitor for a good portion of the day, a few adjustments to some basic items can make your work more comfortable. Here are just a few suggestions:
  • Put your monitor at the right height. Sit at your desk looking straight ahead. Notice where you are looking. The top of your monitor should be at or slightly below eye level.

  • Move your keyboard and mouse off your desk. Your arms and forearms should be at a right angle to your keyboard, and the top of your desk most likely places the keyboard too high. Pull-out keyboard shelves can help alleviate this problem. Also, your mouse should reside directly next to your keyboard.

  • Keep your blood circulating. Wiggling your toes, taking your eyes off your screen, and standing up to stretch periodically, are just a few examples of things you can do to keep your body and mind alert.

  • Do you use a notebook computer? Monitor height and keyboard position apply to notebook computers as well. If you use a notebook as your primary computer, connecting a decent keyboard and setting the notebook monitor at the correct height will make using this portable computer a bit less painful.
Here is an excellent site with more details about proper ergonomics: www.office-ergo.com.
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Uncommon Product of the Week
Padding
CONVENIENT SCRATCH PAPER.
Did you know we can make notepads? It’s true. No more searching your desk for a piece of scratch paper. Notepads can be made out of any paper color or weight, they can be plain, or have text added. Whatever your need, we have the equipment to produce sturdy notepads for you. Give us a call today!
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