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Over the past year, we worked closely with Lori to rebrand our business. Her process, “Your Business DNA: 12 Questions” guides you through steps to create your new, improved marketing message.

Her creative ability to marry imagery and words to tell our story is a process that magically unfolds! We continue to use Lori for all our marketing collateral — brochures, postcards, site signs and truck signs.

Jennifer Mangiantini Mangiantini Construction

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I’ve worked with Lori on signage for many years on many projects and can say unequivocally that she is a joy to work with, very creative, and a true PRO.

Colin Russell Russell Architects

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Our graphic designer and owner of Explore Creative made the logo designs for both our Nurses Care product and fundraising campaign. Ever the professional, she's one of the nicest people I have ever worked with or met.

Marsha Harrison Founder, Hand to Hand Coast to Coast

About the Studio

Hello from beautiful, friendly Sonoma wine country

Explore Creative is the Sonoma, CA graphic design studio of Lori Winter and team members she brings to expertly produce your design projects. Long-term relationships with craftspeople in printing, photography and sign fabrication ensure quality production and fair vendor pricing for best outcomes, balancing mission and budget.

When your value is crystal clear to your ideal customers, your business will feel it. Explore Creative designs marketing elements businesses, institutions and causes need to express their identity, tell their brand story and accomplish goals.

Lori Winter believes in the Power of Design and the wisdom, “seek first to understand, then to be understood.” Learning the unique “DNA” of a client’s business comes first in order to express it in fresh, stand-out communication design across today’s platforms—logo, print brochure, website, print and digital ads, social media banners, packaging, signage, vehicles, garments, swag and even beer taps!

Explore Creative’s own tagline is Rocket Fuel for Your Business Plan because thoughtful, well-designed branding and promotions is a business strategy and investment that builds credibility and notoriety.

Lori aims to help clients prosper through thoughtful branding, messaging and problems solved.

Process

Once contracted, projects kick off with a Discovery phase. This often leads with a proprietary survey, Your Business DNA - 12 Questions. It crystallizes the design mission and is illuminating for clients, often sparking new energy for their business. Messaging, mood and tone are developed with words and imagery in the next phases of work — Schematic Design, Design Development, Approvals and Production. Then it’s delivery and high fives.

LORI winter BACKGROUND

Focused always on brand message and purpose, her design has served clients ranging from developers, builders, property managers and architects, to hotels, restaurants and wineries, retail centers, realtors, non-profits, school districts, cities and small business entrepreneurs.

Both designer and illustrator, Lori Winter has been designing in 2D and 3D since 1987 after an Applied Art & Design degree from Cal Poly SLO. Bridging the worlds of print design and environmental graphics/signage, she worked inside top SF Bay Area firms SOM Architects, The GNU Group, Debra Nichols Design, Kate Keating Associates, Scott Architectural Graphics and Square Peg Design prior to opening Explore Creative in Mill Valley, CA. In 2003 she moved the studio and new family up to Sonoma wine country. From Sonoma she serves clients locally and throughout the Bay Area, and may just stay forever. :-)