Clay Butler: The Guy Behind Claytowne

Since 1984, I've been providing branding and identity services for aggressive startups and established companies on the move. But this experience goes far beyond your typical logo, business card, letterhead, stationery design packages. Yes, I handle a lot of these bread and butter branding needs, but most businesses don't follow such a predictable pattern. Perhaps you need some top notch illustration and animation work for an investor PowerPoint presentation or viral marketing video. Or maybe you need a trade show booth and vehicle wrap designed, and the deadline was yesterday. Maybe it's a package design for a hot new product and an aggressively search engine optimized website to match. It could even be designing a set of collectable trading cards, storyboarding a 30 second commercial spot, or designing the pattern for an American Sign Language themed wrapping paper. With a background in traditional illustration, photography, television production, web design and graphic design for print, I have have the breadth and depth of experience to deliver an elegant solution on time and on spec.

 

Old School Training Meets the Digital Age

Long before computers became a viable tool for visual and graphical communications, I was hard at work mastering the basics. Fundamentals such as anatomy, life drawing, perspective, fontography, color theory, and layout were stressed along with developing a proficiency with such tools of the trade as ink, pen, pencil, paint and brush. Along the way I also developed an interest and expertise in photography, writing, animation, product package design, web design and television and video production.

Today, terms such as "digital" and "CGI" are thrown around as if they are an ends to themselves, rather than just a means to a creative solution. A computer, as well as software programs such as Photoshop or Illustrator, are fundamentally no different than a paper and pen. They are ALL tools, and as such have no intrinsic ability to create anything themselves except in the hands of an experienced artist.

With a solid foundation in the classic arts supporting my career in digital content creation, I can take your project from a simple thumbnail sketch or idea to a fully integrated, fully formed product. This provides my clients the assurance and peace of mind that no matter what unexpected changes occur, or which direction or medium their project might take, I will have the experience and skills to see them through and deliver their project on time and on spec.

Claytowne... creativity, adaptability, punctuality and speed informed with a solid foundation in the classic arts.

 

The Result: More Than Just Pretty Pictures

You take your business seriously and so should your designer. I understand that you're not just interested in a pretty picture, you're looking for results. And these results are generally measured in dollars. But these results don't happen by accident. This is why I will demand as much from you as I demand from myself. I'll ask the hard questions that every business needs to answer to be successful; what is your value position, who are your customers, who are your competitors, and how will you differentiate yourself. I may also ask you if your intellectual property is clear of trademark infringements, if you have you filed the necessary patents, if you have secured the best possible domain names, if you have your die lines ready, and who will be handling your printing. And this is just a starting point. If you don't have all the answers, don't worry, that's perfectly normal. I will guide you through the process. Only then can we get down to business and create the most compelling, evocative and brand aware solution to your needs.