Black Doily is a small design firm. We offer people and organizations quality design for print and the web.

In print, we offer you a wide scope of knowledge
which includes design and production for digital and conventional printing.

On the web, your site should be easy to use.
We build accessible websites that are well-organized and user–friendly.

Services

  • Logo & Brand Design

    Logo & Brand Design:  We can collaborate with you to craft a new logo and brand, or simply refresh your existing identity. In short, your brand should communicate clarity, consistency, and understanding of your unique message. Your logo should reproduce well across multiple mediums and sizes, on the web, or in print.

  • Print Collateral

    Print Collateral: Business cards, brochures, booklets, labels, signs and even packaging. We have lots of experience in various printing techniques, and can design all of these and more, and even guide you toward a printer that fits your needs.

    Note: We might love the physicality of nice print jobs even more than you… their texture, smell (yes, even that) and typography. But, we try to keep things smart. Most of this stuff gets thrown away. Some of it gets recycled. We try to help you choose a printer and use printing materials so that when you do print, it's with less waste.

  • Web Design & Development

    Web Design & Development: Black Doily builds simple useable sites based on modern web standards.

    Note: A site built to web standards should adhere to standards (HTML, XHTML, XML, CSS, XSLT, DOM, MathML, SVG etc) and pursue best practices (valid code, accessible code, semantically correct code, user-friendly URLs etc). In other words, a site built to web standards should ideally be lean, clean, CSS-based, accessible, usable and search engine friendly. ( This nice in–a–nutshell description via Russ Weakley at Max Design )

  • Social Media Integration

    Social Media Integration: We’ll help you set up the tools to extend your brand and communicate its message beyond your website using social networks. In other words, we can help connect your Twitter to your Facebook, your blog to your Wall, and —if pressed— maybe add some Like buttons here and there.

    Note: This extra level of interaction with your clients is not for every client in every case. We are happy to talk to you about the differences between networks and how they might best fit together for your unique situation. As with most things, moderation is key.

  • Usability Testing

    Usability Testing: is a technique used to evaluate a product by testing it on users. This can be seen as an irreplaceable usability practice, since it gives direct input on how real users use the system. ( via Jakob Nielsen. Usability Engineering, Academic Press Inc, p 165 )

  • Blogs

    Blog: A blog (a blend of the term "web log") is a type of website or part of a website. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog. ( via Wikipedia )

  • Illustration

    Illustration: We can create illustrations in a variety of styles. However, if your vision is better realized by another artist, we can cooperate with them to insure the art will fit the specifications of its current project, and if needed, future contexts.

The Humans

Picture of Rodney

Rodney: I started my career in digital media designing educational software for children. From there, I overlapped into a more corporate sector of the print industry to help the adults a bit. Now, combining techniques acquired in both fields, and skills built from small web projects along the way, I’ve moved into web design with Black Doily.

That's my career in a nutshell, but what's left? Not much… but I'll try:

I enjoy craft beer, reading, music and films that seem to require excessive patience.

In life and in work, I want to realize ideas and design tools to help others make the world a better place.

Picture of Quintella

Quin: As a versatile designer for Black Doily, I bring clients a mixed bag of skills and experience!

My specialties include branding, packaging, print collateral and web design. I offer a strong understanding of web standards and accessibility.

My expertise in project management and organization gives me the opportunity to execute concepts through effective communication and collaboration. I am an excellent listener, eager to identify any clients’ needs.

I have worked in creative services for numerous organizations from Gene Juarez, Ecolab, Matthews International, and Circuit City (R.I.P).

To keep the creativity flowing I paint abstract acrylics and create fun fabric designs.