Diane Higgins Design

product design cork affirmation cards design print graphic designer power thoughts side business thrive for life

PRODUCT DESIGN

I have recently started to work with a new type of client. These are people who run a side-gig, doing what I have started to call a ‘passion project’ This is most often a print product design project, but I am open to creating any type of product design or concept design project that you wish. 

For me this is such an exciting area to work, as in order to make a side-gig (or a side hustle project) work, you need to really have passion! People who come home after their day job and work on something that brings them joy is beautiful to behold. And boy do they have ideas. Usually by the time we are finishing up the product design or ‘passion project’, they are already talking about the next one. 

 (Image source: @thriveforlife on Instagram – affirmation cards designed by Diane Higgins Design)

product design cork affirmation cards design print graphic designer power thoughts side business thrive for life

 (Image source: @thriveforlife on Instagram – affirmation cards designed by Diane Higgins Design)

PRODUCT DESIGN

I have recently started to work with a new type of client. These are people who run a side-gig, doing what I have started to call a ‘passion project’ This is most often a print product design project, but I am open to creating any type of product design or concept design project that you wish. 

For me this is such an exciting area to work, as in order to make a side-gig (or a side hustle project) work, you need to really have passion! People who come home after their day job and work on something that brings them joy is beautiful to behold. And boy do they have ideas. Usually by the time we are finishing up the product design or ‘passion project’, they are already talking about the next one. 

If you have a dream project that you would like to start and you need my help making it a reality, please get in touch and we can have a chat about it. I would love to hear your ideas. I especially love to work on these types of projects. These are the reason I became a designer in the first place.

Types of product design for individuals, community organisations and side businesses

product design cork affirmation cards design print graphic designer power thoughts side business ann marie hodnett

 (Image source: @annmariehodnett on Instagram – affirmation cards designed by Diane Higgins Design)

1. Affirmation Card Design

I have designed a number of affirmation card decks. Affirmation cards have seen a surge recently with the increase in mindfulness and self care programmes. Covid-19 made people especially aware of the importance of having self-care and spiritual routines. 

Clients that I have worked with on these affirmation and power thoughts projects have had words to inspire and share to their followers and designing an affirmation card deck allowed them to have a product that helped to spread their beautiful and empowering words. If you are a spiritual entrepreneur or are looking for a way to share your words of encouragement, a custom affirmation card deck may be a product for your side business.

I will assist you to decide on a concept that reflects your personal brand and your message. I will help you to design the size of your card deck, and help you to navigate through the print specifications from matt lamination, round corners and specialised print finishes to add a touch of luxury. 

Click here to read more about affirmation card design

planner design journal design print graphic designer side business divine empress

 (Image source: @divineempress on Instagram – notebook planner work in progress, designed by Diane Higgins Design)

2. Planner design

As a small business owner, planning your day is so important, and often having the right tools to hand can help you to increase your productivity and get the most out of your time.

If you are looking for a side business that can inspire and share your insight with others, a custom designed planner is a good idea. Many other small business owners are looking for ways to improve their productivity. If this is an area where you thrive, bringing your own brand to a custom designed planner may be the product design for you. I can work with you to create a concept for your planner, prepare your design and get it ready to print. A planner can have many different print specifications from spiral bound to a hardback cover with hot foil stamping.   

divine empress planner journal design notebooks gratitude dream

Planner & Journal Design for Divine Empress

3. Journal Design

Gratitude journals, dream journals and business diaries can all make a beautiful gift product for your side business. I know that I can’t walk past a pretty journal without buying it and I myself use gratitude journals for myself and my kids as part of our mindfulness and mental health self care routine. If you have an idea about a journal that you would like to create, please get in touch with me and I would love to help you to create your dream journal design. 

cookbook design cork print side business

Bun in the oven, cookbook design

4. Cookbook design

A cookbook design is a great way of showcasing your recipes or your food business while producing a product that is in demand from customers. It can also be a great way of showing your customers how to use your food produce in recipes. As a fundraising idea for a group or organisation like a school a cookbook design offers group members to get involved and make their mark on your final product design.

self publishing cork. Wells graves and statues book design

Self published book design and formatting for ‘Well, Graves & Statues’ by Louise Nugent & Richard Scriven

5. Self-published book design

They say everyone has a book in them. If you have an idea for a book, but need some help to design it and format it to prepare it for self-publishing, I can assist you to create a professional book design that will compete with the published books in terms of design. Self published books can take many different formats, but no matter what format you choose, I can assist you to share your book with the world.

 Click here to read more about self publishing books

As a designer, this is an area that ignites my passion for new ideas, the realm of possibility. Similar to working with start-ups (another favourite customer type of mine for the same reasons), this is design where there is no committee of decision makers: decisions are made from instinct. The look and feel of products is made from gut feelings rather than guidelines and the marketing is driven purely by getting people on board to your way of thinking. These people are backing themselves and putting their new ideas out into the world and I have so much admiration for them.

If you have any questions about product design in Cork, Munster or Ireland, please contact me or get in touch below. I would be delighted to chat with you and to work together to co-create your dream project.

The design process:

Web design brief Cork web designer website design Ireland web desgin agency Diane Higgins Design website designer

1. Design Brief

My process involves listening first. I offer a free consultation where we go through your product design project and what it represents to you and to your target audience. We can talk on the phone, or on zoom (as is the new normal). You can come to my Cork office on the South Mall, and have a chat and a Nespresso on me. (It has just been renovated so it’s a fantastic place to visit), or I can meet you in Cork city for some lunch. I eat lunch at least once a day!

When we chat, I will take out my notebook. You may not understand my writing, but it means something to me, and helps me to create a design brief of what you want, and sometimes what you don’t want.

Diane Higgins Design Process

2. Concept design

I think carefully about what we have discussed for your design project, and while listening to ‘The Spice Girls’, ‘Right Said Fred’ or some other 90s nostalgia loudly on my headphones, I begin to create a concept design for you. At this point I look at visual research and trends to help me to inform my creation. I test colour combinations and font combinations that I feel will best reflect your brand, and then I set out my draft proposal.

product design concept draft stage

3. Draft proposal

I present the draft design to you at this point, and we look at what is known in the industry as ‘look and feel’. We make sure that you are happy with all of the elements of the concept. 

product design cork affirmation cards design print graphic designer power thoughts side business

4. Design tweaks & Print Specifications

You may want to make some changes to the colours, fonts, layout or the design elements within the design and now is the time. I offer one set of major changes to the design and two sets of minor changes as part of my standard terms and conditions.

product design concept draft stage print finishes

5. Handover

Your product design project is complete. The handover involves preparing the print files if it’s a print or packaging project, giving you the correct formats for your publisher, and making sure that you have everything you need for a hassle free project.

My absolute favourite part of the process is sending the shiny new design out into the world. It’s almost like dropping my children off at school for the first day knowing that it’s the start of a very exciting journey. Usually I am just as excited as you to be sharing the project with the world.

If you have any questions about product design and print in Cork, Munster or Ireland, please contact me or get in touch below. I would be delighted to chat with you.

Enquire about Product Design in Cork, Munster & Ireland

I have a range of experience from GRAPHIC DESIGN to WEBSITE DESIGN and DIGITAL MARKETING.

If you would like to work with me on a product design project, give me a shout and we can chat over zoom and together we will create!

I love to work with a range of clients from the seed setting stage of a start up, which fills me with joy and optimism, to the strategic solutions for a more established business.

I also love to design for people, from a personal creative project you have in mind, to a book you wish to publish or bespoke stationery design for your wedding day.

Contact Me





    Enquire about Product Design in Cork, Munster & Ireland

    I have a range of experience from GRAPHIC DESIGN to WEBSITE DESIGN and DIGITAL MARKETING.

    If you would like to work with me on a product design project, give me a shout and we can chat over zoom and together we will create!

    I love to work with a range of clients from the seed setting stage of a start up, which fills me with joy and optimism, to the strategic solutions for a more established business.

    I also love to design for people, from a personal creative project you have in mind, to a book you wish to publish or bespoke stationery design for your wedding day.

    Contact Me