Sensical Design & Communication: Graphic Design Washington, DC

Sensical Design & Communication is a small graphic design firm in Washington, DC, specializing in publication design for non-profits and financial-services companies.

Graphic Design, Washington DC, Publication Design, Print Design, Web Design, Book Design, Creative Strategy, Sustainability, Consulting

Sensical Design & Communication is a premier provider of graphic design, publication design, and web design to Washington, DC. We have provided professional, affordable services to the following clients:

AARP, The world's largest membership organization
The National Association of REALTORS, the world's largest professional organization
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, the leading Middle East policy thinktank in Washington
Kiplinger, the leading provider of consumer financial information

Among Washington DC graphic design firms, Sensical Design leads the way as a print design, web design and creative strategy firm located in the Capitol Hill area of Washington DC. We provide a full range of creative strategy and graphic design services for corporate branding projects, print collateral, advertising, marketing, book design, magazine design, and web site development. Top Shelf Design is led by owner and founder Daniel Kohan. We can deliver an exceptional level of customer service and outstanding results. Call today at (202) 546-8049 or email info@sensicaldesign.com to learn more about how Sensical Design can bolster your look and your bottom line.

The following terms are commonly used to describe our services:

Graphic Designer
Graphic Design Company
Web Design
Web Site Design
Web Development
Logo
Corporate Identity
Brochure Design
Non-Profit Design
Nonprofit Design
Financial-Services Design
Annual Report Design
Business Card Design
E-newsletters
Marketing
Publication Design
Book Design
Book Covers
Magazine Design
Sustainable Design
Green Design
Annual Report Design
Print Collateral
Drupal and Wordpress Design
Information Graphics
Copywriting

Sensical Design provides Graphic Design and Web Design to the following local areas:

Graphic Design Alexandria, VA
Graphic Design Arlington, VA
Graphic Design Fairfax, VA
Graphic Design Reston, VA
Graphic Design Herndon, VA
Graphic Design Springfield, VA
Graphic Design Bethesda, MD
Graphic Design Columbia, MD
Graphic Design Silver Spring, MD
Graphic Design Annapolis, MD
Graphic Design Baltimore, MD
Graphic Design Loudoun, VA
Graphic Design Capitol Hill
Graphic Design Penn Quarter
Graphic Design Georgetown
Web Design Arlington, VA
Web Design Fairfax, VA
Web Design Reston, VA
Web Design Herndon, VA
Web Design Springfield, VA
Web Design Bethesda, MD
Web Design Columbia, MD
Web Design Silver Spring, MD
Web Design Annapolis, MD
Web Design Baltimore, MD
Web Design Loudoun, VA
Web Design Capitol Hill
Web Design Penn Quarter
Web Design Georgetown

Judging the Washington Book Awards

The judges at the awards I was honored to be part of a panel of judges this spring for the Washington Book Publishers’ Design and Effectiveness Awards. This annual competition showcases the best in DC-area book design (Sensical Design received an award last year). The four-judge panel is drawn from different areas of the profession: a publisher (this year, Gina Lindquist from Georgetown University Press), an editor (Bruce Gossett from the American Society of Civil Engineers), a bookseller or librarian (Nancy Davenport of the DC Public Library), and a designer (yours truly). This is unusual for a design competition, as it draws from voices other than just those of designers, and “effectiveness” is supposed to be as important as “design.”

Judging took place on a Friday in May. We judges pored over the 180 submitted entries to choose the winner in various categories and an overall Best of Show. The winners were then presented to a packed ballroom last Thursday, June 11.

All the entered books, winning and otherwise, were laid out in the back of the room for inspection. Outgoing WBP president Betsy Kulamer and incoming president Chris Kelaher presented the winners, and the judges took turns commenting on the winning entries and explaining why they were chosen. The winners then were given a snazzy certificate (designed by our friend Anne Kerns) and a chance to speak.

After the event, several people mentioned how much they appreciated hearing the judges’ comments and getting our perspective on good book design. For me, the most important thing coming out of this experience was a reminder that what really matters, what separates the great work from the merely competent, is not some sort of mysterious creative genius. Rather, it’s precise attention to detail in all things: typography, color, imagery, balance, production, etc.

Incidentally, Best in Show went to the absolutely gorgeous Looking In: Robert Frank’s The Americans, Expanded Edition.

Photos by Barbara Hart of Publications Professionals