Redesigns and Rewrites

It must be Free Design Month in the nonprofit world. Last week, Amy at NetSquared reported that Idealist.org has launched a Pro Bono Design program. Today, a colleague alerted me that Good Ink and Not Dead Yet Studios are cosponsoring a contest to provide one nonprofit with a comprehensive marketing package. You can even submit a proposal on behalf of your favorite nonprofit, if you know someone who needs design help but won't ask for it.

In the past, I've made no secret of my cynicism about a lot of nonprofit design work. I've seen nonprofits apply shiny designs to an unclear message like layers of paint on a 1987 Volvo. What I like about Good Ink's contest is that they're offering a full package that includes both graphic design and copywriting. Redesigns are best when they go hand-in-hand with rewrites. Looking at both studios' portfolios, I'd say that this has the potential to be a great gift to the lucky organization.

If you're undergoing a redesign at your nonprofit, TechSoup has you covered with some valuable product donations like the brand-new Adobe Creative Suite 3.3 (Mac/Windows) and Microsoft Expression Design 2. For more design thoughts, check out A Few Good Page Layout Tools for Nonprofits.