TGD Communications is a full-service, woman-owned firm offering design, marketing, advertising, and Web development. Founded in 1988, TGD is located in Old Town Alexandria, and is one of the top 40 advertising agencies and top 9 design firms in the Washington, DC area (Washington Business Journal).

Our approach is different from many other agencies; we do not have account managers… our clients work directly with their design team. We encourage our designers to be innovative and progressive in their ideas. We believe in a team approach, therefore we become an extension of our client’s staff. This allows us to develop long-term relationships and to produce consistent, functional and creative solutions. Many of our clients have been with us for more than ten years.

TGD combines creativity with strategic thinking and top-notch project management skills to deliver award-winning solutions to associations and businesses on time and within budget. In addition, our full-time staff of 13 art directors, designers, marketing professionals and support staff have access to experienced copywriters, illustrators, photographers and printers. Our clients include associations, nonprofit organizations and corporations.

 

Associations/Nonprofits:

  • Branding/Identity
  • Certification Programs
  • Chapter and SIG Standards
  • Conferences and Trade Shows
  • Direct Mail/E-Campaigns
  • Web Sites
  • Fund Raising
  • Catalogs
  • Magazine Design/Advertising Sales
  • Media Kits
  • Membership Campaigns
  • Newsletters (traditional/electronic)
  • Specialty Web Sites/Multimedia
  • Training and Education Programs

 

Corporations:

  • Branding/Identity
  • Web Sites
  • Corporate Materials
  • Product Marketing
  • Direct Mail/E-Campaigns
  • Advertising Campaigns
  • Newsletters (traditional/electronic)
  • Specialty Web Sites/Multimedia
  • Trade Shows
  • Staff Training and Education Programs

 

back to topBranding/Identity

The need for re-branding must be determined and should be based on the premise that something has changed in the industry mix that dictates a need for evolving your brand. Just as people change the style of their clothes, the look of their hairstyles and home decorating, so must brands change to keep up with the times, changing markets and consumer dynamics. Failure to recognize this and move forward can lead to brand stagnation.

Identity plans include all or some of the aspects listed below. TGD works with our clients to build a custom plan to fit their budgets and organizational requirements.

  • Communications Audit
    - Current Identity Assessment
    - Situation Factors Assessment
    - Executive and External Interviews
    - Literature Review
  • Identity Platform
    - Key messages
    - Value proposition
    - Positioning statements
  • Creative Direction

Identity Packages
Implementation Planning

  • Applications Design Checklist
  • Timetable and Budgeting
  • Preliminary Announcement Planning

Logo Design

  • Multiple Options
  • Secondary/Chapter or Brand Applications

Applications Design

  • Stationery & Forms
  • Web Sites
  • Corporate Communications
  • HR/Administration
  • Legislative and Regulatory Affairs
  • Meetings and Education
  • Membership
  • Signage
  • Vehicles
  • Marketing Applications

Identity Standards & Guidelines

Write and design:

  • Standards manual(s)
  • Employee guide

Identity Launch

Announcement preparation

  • Review launch plan
  • Write & design materials
  •  Direct Mail/E-Campaigns/Web Site

Supervise printing & fabrication

Provide ongoing support

  • Technical support
  • Adaptation to change

 

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Web and Multimedia Services

We spend the time getting to know and understand your organization to develop a site that is uniquely designed with navigation solving your specific problem. We don’t produce cookie cutter sites; instead we design sites that are representative of your brand and exceed your initial goals.

Web services include:

  • Research and Development
    • Organization
    • Information Architecture
    • Content Strategy
  • Template Development/Design
    • Brand Design
    • Graphic Design
    • User Interface Design
    • HTML/CSS Scripting
    • Custom JavaScript
    • Usability Testing
  • Database Structure/Implementation
    • Web Software Selection/Customization
    • Content Management Systems
    • Database Design and Programming
  • Web Programming/Scripting
    • Site-wide Template Implementation
    • Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
    • Functionality Testing/Quality Control
  • Consulting and Training
    • Instruction in Web Software Usage
    • Training in Best Practices for Web Maintenance
    • Design Considerations for Future Edits

 

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Publications and Advertising Sales

A publication can be one of your best sources of revenue and awareness. It immediately communicates your association's image. A well-designed, consistent publication doesn't have to break the bank nor does it have to be stagnant. TGD's designs have increased advertising dollars, built membership retention, and established brand awareness.

We also provide advertising sales for your publication. TGD redesigned one of our client’s magazines, the Journal, which increased advertising revenue and the prestige of the publication and the association. The cost of the change was defrayed by aggressively selling advertisements. The magazine has a very targeted niche audience making selling and maintaining advertisers difficult. However, over the years, we have increased annual sales from $30,000 annually (over ten years ago) to almost $140,000 in 2008.

TGD focuses on many aspects of publications, including:

  • Magazine Design and Redesign
  • Electronic Publications
  • Print Advertising Design and Sales
  • Online Advertising Design and Sales
  • Marketing Consulting
  • Marketing Promotions
  • Web Site Development and Maintenance
  • Media Kit Design and Development
  • Print Advertising Sales
    • Online Advertising Sales
    • Billing

 

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Graphic Design/Advertising/Marketing Strategies/Media Planning

TGD provides a wide range of marketing materials for our clients utilizing our design, project management, media, and production services. We manage and schedule all projects, tracking them on a daily basis. We discuss timing, goals, estimate printing and fabrication costs, provide research, media plans, negotiate and purchase all media and images, and handle direct mail, print and outdoor advertising. When response and test data are generated from campaigns, we compile and analyze it.

We select the most powerful media to promote your information from traditional to multimedia to social networking.

TGD produces many projects such as:

  • Annual Reports
  • Brochures
  • Conference and Trade Show Materials
  • Direct Mail/E-Campaigns
  • Certification Programs
  • Media Kits
  • Training and Education Programs
  • Membership Campaigns
  • Advertising