Collaterals: include a wide range of documents that companies use to promote themselves. They differ from advertising materials in that they are generally more of a soft-sell and often designed to provide on-going PR for a company more than generate immediate sales. Collaterals may or may not be tied to specific advertising campaigns.
Brochures: take many forms. They can introduce an entire company and its products or services or may focus on a specific product. Companies may have a variety of brochures aimed at different types of customers — prospects, new customers, repeat customers.
Fliers or posters: can announce special events.
Product data sheets: often outline specific features or they may be assembly and use instruction sheets.
Promotional materials: can include notepads, calendars, bookmarks, magnets, t-shirts, mousepads, and other "leave-behinds" that are useful to the prospect or customer and provide silent, long-term exposure for the company that imprints their name, logo, and contact information on the items. Specialty businesses can create some of these promotional items but some businesses may engage a designer to create a special design (such as for a t-shirt) and work with the specialty printer.
Certificates: can include award certificates for internal use but can also be customer appreciation awards and gift certificates for new or existing customers.
Cards: can serve as goodwill collaterals when sent as holiday greetings or to say thank you to customers.
16 Categories for Design Specialization:
Finding Your Niche in Desktop Publishing
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Annual Reports, Proposals
Business Forms
Catalogs, Menus, Product Lists
Collaterals
Crafts, Creative Printing
Identity Systems
Marketing Materials
Packaging
Periodicals
Presentation Graphics
Publication Art
Publications
Self-Publishing
Signage
Web Design, Electronic Publishing
Word Processing, Resumes
Finding Your Niche in Desktop Publishing
