ANNEX AGENCY TERMS AND CONDITIONS
SERVICE PACKAGE DEFINITION

 

1. DEFINITIONS.

Client Content means all creative: photos, videos, text, sound recordings, web content and social networking account information provided by Client to Annex in connection with using the Annex Services, and Client’s name, trademarks and logos, as described in an Order Schedule.

Client Social Media Accounts means those social media (e.g., Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook) accounts that Client authorizes use of.

Documentation means any user guide, help information and other documentation and information regarding the Annex Services that is delivered by Annex to Client in electronic or other form, if any, including any updates provided by Annex from time to time.

Service Data means all real-time analytics, data and information created, received or processed by Annex in performing the Annex Services, or that result from performance of the Annex Services, excluding Client Content.

Annex Services  means Annex’s services which include general design graphic work, presentation design, infographic creation, print design, web and mobile web design, packaging design, social media publishing (including ability to optimize re-publishing and replies) of Client Content through the Client Social Media Accounts utilizing the the native social platforms, or other 3rd party platforms like Hootsuite, SocialFlow, Sprout Social, and all such other services provided to Client by Annex as may be mutually agreed upon in an Order Schedule.

Annex Tool  means all ideas, concepts, inventions, systems, platforms, software, interfaces, tools, utilities, templates, forms, techniques, methods, processes, algorithms, know-how, trade secrets and other technologies, implementations and information that are used by Annex in providing the Annex Services, excluding Client Content.

2. ANNEX SERVICES.

2.1 Orders.  This Agreement will be implemented when Client chooses an Annex service package, enters their payment details via our payment system, administered through and collected by our finance partner, Stripe.    

2.2 Access to Client Domains, Existing Hosting Services, Social Media Accounts.  Client shall register (or instruct Annex to register on Client’s behalf) an account and authorize the applicable Client Social Media Accounts.   

2.3 Annex Services.  Subject to all terms and conditions of this Agreement, Annex will use commercially reasonable efforts to implement and operate the Annex Services for Client.  If applicable, Annex will provide Client with access privileges that permit Client to access and manage the Annex Services and access Service Data.  Client may use the Documentation solely in connection with the Annex Services.  Annex may provide the Annex Services directly, or indirectly using contractors or other third-party vendors or service providers, provided that Annex remains fully responsible for the performance of the Annex Services in accordance with all terms of this Agreement, and for all acts and omissions of such third parties.  Annex reserves the right to modify or discontinue the Annex Services (in whole or in part) at any time by giving ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to Client, provided that in the event such modification or discontinuance materially reduces the functionality of the Annex Services used by Client in accordance with an Order Schedule. 

2.4 Limitations.  Annex will not be responsible or liable for any failure in the Annex Services resulting from or attributable to (a) Client Content, failures to deliver Client Content to Annex or Client’s failure to comply with the terms of service of an applicable Client Social Media Account, (b) unusually high usage volumes, (c) failures in any telecommunications, network or other service or equipment outside of Annex’s direct control, (d) Client’s or any third party’s products, services, negligence, acts or omissions, (e) any force majeure or other cause beyond Annex’s reasonable control (such as unavailability of Hosting Services, Client Content, or Client Social Media Accounts)

2.5 License.  Client hereby grants Annex a nonexclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, perform, display, modify, distribute and transmit the Client Content, and to access the Client web hosting system, social media accounts, marketing platforms, email tools,  solely in connection with providing the Annex Services during the term of this Agreement.

2.6   No Conflict.  Client shall be responsible for ensuring that Client’s terms of use and privacy policy are consistent with and will not be violated by use of the Annex Services or acquisition of Service Data.

2.7  Ownership: Upon full payment of all fees, the Client shall have full ownership rights to the final approved design work, excluding any Design Agency’s proprietary assets used in the project.

2.8  Portfolio and Marketing Use: Annex retains the right to showcase the project in its portfolio and marketing materials, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing by both parties.

3. PROPRIETARY RIGHTS.

3.1 Client.  Except for the limited rights and licenses expressly granted hereunder, no other license is granted, no other use is permitted and Client (and its licensors) shall retain all rights, title and interest (including all intellectual property and proprietary rights) in and to Client Content. 

3.2 Annex.  Except for the limited rights and licenses expressly granted hereunder, no other license is granted, no other use is permitted and Annex (and its licensors) shall retain all rights, title and interest (including all intellectual property and proprietary rights) in and to the Annex Services and Annex Tool.

3.3 Restrictions.  Except as expressly permitted in this Agreement, Client shall not directly or indirectly (a) use any of Annex’s Confidential Information to create any service, software, documentation or data that is similar to any aspect of the Annex Services or Annex Tool, (b) disassemble, decompile, reverse engineer or use any other means to attempt to discover any source code of the Annex Tool, or the underlying ideas, algorithms or trade secrets therein, (c) encumber, sublicense, transfer, rent, lease, time-share or use the Annex Services or Annex Tool in any service bureau arrangement or otherwise for the benefit of any third party, (d) copy, distribute, manufacture, adapt, create derivative works of, translate, localize, port or otherwise modify any aspect of the Annex Services, (e) use or allow the transmission, transfer, export, re-export or other transfer of any product, technology or information it obtains or learns pursuant to this Agreement (or any direct product thereof) in violation of any export control or other laws and regulations of the United States or any other relevant jurisdiction or (f) permit any third party to engage in any of the foregoing proscribed acts.

3.4 General Learning.   Client agrees that Annex is free to use (including for research purposes) and disclose aggregate measures of Service Data, Annex Service usage and performance, and to reuse all generalized knowledge, experience, know-how, works and technologies (including ideas, concepts, processes and techniques) related to or acquired during provision of the Annex Services under this Agreement (including without limitation, that which it could have acquired performing the same or similar services for another Client), provided that (a) Annex may not use Client Content or Client Confidential Information and (b) Annex may not use such data and information in a way that discloses the identity of Client.

4. CONFIDENTIALITY.

4.1 Scope.  Confidential Information means all trade secrets, know-how, inventions, developments, software and other financial, business or technical information disclosed by or for a party in relation to this Agreement, but not including any information the receiving party can demonstrate is (a) already known by it without restriction, (b) rightfully furnished to it without restriction by a third party not in breach of any obligation, (c) generally available to the public without breach of this Agreement or (d) independently developed by it without reliance on such Confidential Information.  Annex Services and pricing information are Annex’s Confidential Information.  For clarity, any Client Content that Client submits to the Annex Tool is not deemed to be Confidential Information, to the extent that Annex may disclose and distribute such Client Content in accordance with this Agreement.

4.2 Confidentiality.  Except for the specific rights granted by this Agreement, the receiving party shall not access, use or disclose any of the disclosing party’s Confidential Information without its written consent, and shall use at least the standard of care used to protect its own Confidential Information, but not less than reasonable care to protect the disclosing party’s Confidential Information, including ensuring that its employees and contractors with access to such Confidential Information (a) have a need to know for the purposes of this Agreement and (b) have been apprised of and agree to restrictions at least as protective of the disclosing party’s Confidential Information as this Agreement.  Each party shall be responsible for any breach of confidentiality by its employees and contractors.  Promptly after any termination of this Agreement (or at the disclosing party’s request at any other time), the receiving party shall return all of the other’s tangible Confidential Information, permanently erase all Confidential Information from any storage media and destroy all information, records and materials developed therefrom.  Each party may disclose only the general nature, but not the specific terms, of this Agreement without the prior consent of the other party; provided that either party may provide a copy of this Agreement or otherwise disclose its terms in connection with any legal or regulatory requirement, financing transaction or due diligence inquiry.

4.3 Compelled Disclosure.  Nothing herein shall prevent a receiving party from disclosing any Confidential Information as necessary pursuant to any court order, lawful requirement of a governmental agency or when disclosure is required by operation of law (including disclosures pursuant to any applicable securities laws and regulations); provided that prior to any such disclosure, the receiving party shall use reasonable efforts to (a) promptly notify the disclosing party in writing of such requirement to disclose and (b) cooperate with the disclosing party in protecting against or minimizing any such disclosure or obtaining a protective order.

5. PAYMENTS.

5.1 Fees.  Client agrees to pay Annex all fees and expenses in the amounts and at the times specified in the applicable Order Schedule or as otherwise provided in this Agreement.

5.2 Payment Terms.  Unless specified otherwise, all amounts due hereunder shall be paid in full (without deduction, set-off or counterclaim) within thirty (30) days after invoice in US dollars at Annex’s address or to an account specified by Annex.   

5.3 Taxes.  All payments required by this Agreement are exclusive of federal, state, local and foreign taxes, duties, tariffs, levies, withholdings and similar assessments (including without limitation, sales taxes, use taxes and value added taxes), and Client agrees to bear and be responsible for the payment of all such charges, excluding taxes based upon Annex’s net income.  All amounts due hereunder shall be grossed-up for any withholding taxes imposed by any foreign government.

6. LIMITED WARRANTY AND DISCLAIMERS.

6.1 General.  Each party represents and warrants that: (a) it is a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated; (b) it has full corporate power and authority, and has obtained all approvals, permissions and consents necessary, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder; (c) this Agreement is legally binding upon it and enforceable in accordance with its terms; and (d) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement does not and will not conflict with any agreement, instrument, judgment or understanding, oral or written, to which it is a party or by which it may be bound.

6.2 Client.  Client represents and warrants to Annex that Client owns all rights, title and interest in and to the Client Content, or that Client has otherwise secured all necessary rights in the Client Content as may be necessary to permit the access, use and distribution thereof as contemplated by this Agreement.

6.3 Annex.  Annex represents and warrants to Client that (a) the Annex Services will be provided in a professional and workmanlike manner and (b) Annex owns all rights, title and interest in and to the Annex Tool, or that Annex has otherwise secured all necessary rights in the Annex Tool as may be necessary to permit the access and use thereof as contemplated by this Agreement.  Any warranty claim under this Section 6.3 must be made in writing within thirty (30) days after performance of the nonconforming Annex Service.  Annex’s sole obligation and Client’s exclusive remedy in respect thereof is to reperform the nonconforming Annex Service.

6.4 Disclaimers.  TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANNEX HEREBY DISCLAIMS (FOR ITSELF AND ITS SUPPLIERS) ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ORAL OR WRITTEN, WITH RESPECT TO THE ANNEX SERVICES INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, QUIET ENJOYMENT, INTEGRATION, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE, RELIABILITY, THAT THEIR OPERATION WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE AND ALL WARRANTIES ARISING FROM ANY COURSE OF DEALING, COURSE OF PERFORMANCE OR USAGE OF TRADE.

7. INDEMNIFICATION.

7.1 Client.  Client agrees to defend Annex against any claim by a third party that is related to (a) Annex’s authorized use of any Client Content, (b) Client’s breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement made herein or (c) claims excluded under Section 7.2(b), and to indemnify Annex for settlement amounts or damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) awarded and arising out of such claims.

7.2 Annex.

1. Infringement. If any Annex Service becomes or, in Annex’s opinion, is likely to become the subject of any injunction preventing its use as contemplated herein, Annex may, at its option (1) obtain for Client the right to continue using the Annex Services or (2) replace or modify the Annex Services so that such services become non-infringing without substantially compromising their principal functions.  If (1) and (2) are not reasonably available to Annex, then Annex may (3) terminate this Agreement upon written notice to Client and refund to Client any Annex Service fees that were pre-paid for the then current term, pro-rated for the remainder thereof.

2. Exclusions. Annex shall have no liability or obligation hereunder with respect to any claim to the extent based upon (i) use of any Annex Service by or on behalf of Client in an application or environment or on a platform or with devices for which it was not designed or contemplated, (ii) modifications, alterations, combinations or enhancements of the Annex Services not created by or for Annex, (iii) any Client Content, (iv) any portion of the Annex Services that implements Client’s requirements, or (v) Client’s continuing allegedly infringing activity after being notified thereof or its continuing use of any version after being provided modifications that would have avoided the alleged infringement.

3. Entire Liability.  The foregoing states the entire liability of Annex, and Client’s exclusive remedy, with respect to any actual or alleged violation of intellectual property rights by the Annex Services, any part thereof or its use or operation.

7.3 Procedures.  Any claim for indemnification hereunder requires that (a) the indemnified party provides prompt written notice of the claim and reasonable cooperation, information, and assistance in connection therewith, and (b) the indemnifying party shall have sole control and authority to defend, settle or compromise such claim.  The indemnifying party shall not make any settlement that requires a materially adverse act or admission by the indemnified party without the indemnified party’s written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably delayed, conditioned or withheld).  The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement made without its prior written consent.

8. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.

In no event shall either party be liable concerning the subject matter of this agreement, regardless of the form of any claim or action (whether in contract, negligence, strict liability or otherwise), for any (a) interruption of use, loss or inaccuracy of data, loss or, or cost of procuring substitute technology, goods or services, (b) indirect, punitive, incidental, reliance, special, exemplary or consequential damages including, but not limited to, loss of business, revenues, profits and goodwill or (c) damages in excess of the amounts paid to it (in the case of Annex) or paid and payable by it (in the case of Client) hereunder during the previous twelve (12) months, even if it has been advised of the possibility of such damages. These limitations are independent from all other provisions of this agreement and shall apply notwithstanding the failure of any remedy provided herein.

9. TERM AND TERMINATION.

9.1 Term and Pricing.  This Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date for a one year initial term, and shall continue in effect on a month to month basis after the first year.  Client will choose from a variety of Annex services packages, and pricing will be clearly displayed when Client is prompted to complete payment information.  

9.2 Termination.  After the first year of subscription fees, either party can terminate this agreement with 60 days notice.  In the event of termination after year one, the Client shall pay Annex for all services rendered up to the date of termination, in accordance with the payment terms outlined in the initial order submitted to Annex by Client.

This Agreement may be earlier terminated (in whole, or in respect of any Order Schedule) by either party (a) if the other party materially breaches a provision of this Agreement and fails to cure such breach within thirty (30) days after receiving written notice of such breach from the non-breaching party, or (b) immediately upon written notice, if the other party makes any assignment for the benefit of creditors, or a receiver, trustee in bankruptcy or similar officer is appointed to take charge of any or all of the other party’s property, or the other party seeks protection under any bankruptcy, receivership, trust deed, creditors arrangement, composition or comparable proceeding or such a proceeding is instituted against the other party and is not dismissed within 90 days, or the other party becomes insolvent or, without a successor, dissolves, liquidates or otherwise fails to operate in the ordinary course.  

9.3 Effects of Termination.  Upon any expiration or termination of any Order Schedule or this Agreement, all corresponding rights, obligations and licenses of the parties shall cease, except that (a) all obligations that accrued prior to the effective date of termination (including without limitation, all payment obligations) shall survive and (b) the provisions of Sections 1 (Definitions), 3 (Proprietary Rights), 4 (Confidentiality), 5 (Payments), 6 (Limited Warranty and Disclaimers), 7 (Indemnification), 8 (Limitation of Liability), 10 (General Provisions) and this Section 9.3 shall survive.

10.   GENERAL PROVISIONS.

10.1  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement (including the Order Schedules) constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all prior negotiations, understandings or agreements (oral or written), between the parties regarding the subject matter of this Agreement (and all past dealing or industry custom).  Any inconsistent or additional terms on any related purchase order, confirmation or similar form, even if signed by the parties hereafter, shall have no effect under this Agreement.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but taken together constituting one and the same instrument.  Execution of a facsimile (e.g., .pdf or electronic signature) copy shall have the same force and effect as execution of an original, and a facsimile signature shall be deemed an original and valid signature.  No change, consent or waiver under this Agreement will be effective unless in writing and signed by the party against which enforcement is sought.  The failure of either party to enforce its rights under this Agreement at any time for any period will not be construed as a waiver of such rights, and the exercise of one right or remedy will not be deemed a waiver of any other right or remedy.  If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be illegal or unenforceable, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that this Agreement will otherwise remain in full force and effect and enforceable.  This Agreement is in English only, which language shall be controlling in all respects.  No version of this Agreement in another language shall be binding or of any effect.  If this Agreement is required to be registered with any governmental authority, Client shall cause such registration to be made and shall bear any expense or tax payable in respect thereof.

10.2  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, USA, without regard to its conflicts of law provisions.  The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods shall not apply to this Agreement.  Exclusive jurisdiction and venue for actions related to this Agreement will be the state or federal courts located in New York County, New York, and both parties consent to the jurisdiction of such courts with respect to any such action.

10.3  Dispute Resolution. The parties agree that, except as to disputes concerning this Agreement which a party seeks to enforce under the sub-section Remedies, below, they will attempt in good faith to settle any and all disputes arising out of, under or in connection with this Agreement, including without limitation the validity, interpretation, performance and breach hereof, through a process of mediation in New York, NY. under the supervision of a mutually agreed upon mediator.  In the event that mediation fails to settle such a dispute, the parties agree that they will proceed to arbitration in New York, NY, pursuant to the then existing rules of the American Arbitration Association.  Upon the rendered award, judgment may be entered in any court having competent jurisdiction.  In the event of arbitration, the non-prevailing party will be responsible to pay all costs of arbitration, the prevailing party’s reasonable attorney’s fees, costs and other disbursements, plus legal interest on the award

10.4  Remedies.  Except as specifically provided otherwise herein, each right and remedy in this Agreement is in addition to any other right or remedy, at law or in equity.  Each party agrees that, in the event of any breach or threatened breach of Section 3 or 4, the non-breaching party will suffer irreparable damage for which it will have no adequate remedy at law.  Accordingly, the non-breaching party shall be entitled to injunctive and other equitable remedies to prevent or restrain such breach or threatened breach, without the necessity of posting any bond.

10.5  Notices.  All notices under this Agreement will be in writing, in English and delivered to the parties at their respective addresses stated herein or at such other address designated by written notice.  Notices will be deemed to have been duly given when received, if personally delivered; when receipt is electronically confirmed, if transmitted by facsimile; the day after being sent, if sent for next day delivery by recognized overnight delivery service; or upon receipt, if sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.

10.6  Force Majeure.  In the event that either party is prevented from performing, or is unable to perform, any of its obligations under this Agreement (except payment obligations) due to any cause beyond its reasonable control, the affected party shall give written notice thereof to the other party and its performance shall be extended for the period of delay or inability to perform due to such occurrence.

10.7  Assignment.  This Agreement and the rights and obligations hereunder may not be assigned, in whole or in part, by either party without the other party’s written consent, not to be unreasonably withheld.  However, without consent, either party may assign this Agreement to any successor to all or substantially all of its business which concerns this Agreement (whether by sale of assets or equity, merger, consolidation or otherwise).  This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the successors, representatives and permitted assigns of the parties hereto.

10.8  Independent Contractors.  The parties shall be independent contractors under this Agreement, and nothing herein will constitute either party as the employer, employee, agent or representative of the other party, or both parties as joint venturers or partners for any purpose.

 

Annex Collective License

Statement of Work and Definitions

Annex’s Collective package provides Client with a wide range of design-related professional services.  Annex Agency leverages skilled designers, artists, and creative professionals who work together to create visual and conceptual solutions that address various design and business needs. 

The Annex Collective license provides for up to ten (10) hours of professional services time per month, and works on one Client request at a time.  Multiple requests may be submitted by client at once, where Annex will work to triage the requests so that time-sensitive Client needs are prioritized.  When a client exceeds 10 hours per month, Annex can continue to support client needs at the rate of $50 per hour.  Below are a list of professional services that can be supported by Annex under the “Annex Collective” subscription package:

Presentation Design

Presentation design services include:

Visual Design: Annex Designers work on the layout, color schemes, typography, and graphics to ensure that the presentation is visually appealing and aligned with your brand

Graphic, Video, and Infographics: Creating custom graphics, charts, and infographics to simplify complex data and make it more understandable to the audience.

Content Enhancement: Annex may help in organizing and structuring the content for clarity, impact, and may suggest ways to improve the flow of information.

Animation and Transitions: Adding animations and transitions may be suggested/created to make the presentation more engaging and dynamic.

Custom Templates: Designers may create custom templates to maintain consistency across presentations and reinforce the client’s brand identity.

Platform Compatibility: Ensuring that the presentation is compatible with the platform it will be delivered on, whether it’s an in person presentation, a webinar, or a stand alone document

Editing and Proofreading: Annex will assist in checking for errors in spelling, grammar, and formatting 

Revisions: Annex will provide multiple opportunities for clients to review and suggest revisions to the design and content.

Brand Identity

Annex brand identity services develop and manage the visual and conceptual elements that define a brand’s identity. These services are crucial for establishing a consistent and memorable brand image that resonates with your target audience and distinguishes your brand from its competitors. Brand identity services encompass various elements, including:

Logo Design: Creating a unique and recognizable logo that represents the brand’s values, mission, and personality. The logo is a central element of brand identity and is used across all brand-related materials.

Visual Branding: Defining the brand’s color palette, typography, and design elements to ensure a cohesive and consistent visual identity. This includes designing templates for marketing materials, websites, and other brand collateral.

Brand Guidelines: Developing a set of brand guidelines or style guidelines that document how the brand’s visual elements should be used. These guidelines serve as a reference for maintaining consistency in all brand communications.

Branding Collateral: Designing and producing various branding materials, such as business cards, letterheads, brochures, and packaging, to ensure that they align with the brand identity.

Messaging and Brand Voice: Establishing the brand’s tone, messaging strategy, and communication style. This includes crafting taglines, slogans, and key messages that convey the brand’s unique selling points.

Brand Storytelling: Creating a compelling narrative that communicates the brand’s history, values, and mission to resonate with the target audience.

Brand Positioning: Identifying the brand’s position in the market and helping to develop strategies to differentiate it from competitors.

Digital Branding: Extending the brand identity to digital platforms, including social media accounts, email templates, and online advertising.

Brand Management: Providing ongoing support and guidance to ensure that all brand-related materials and communications adhere to the established brand identity.

Illustration & Infographic Design

Annex takes an art and science approach of presenting complex information or data in a visually appealing and easily digestible format. Infographics use a combination of text, icons, illustrations, charts, and graphs to convey information efficiently.

Purpose: Infographics are widely used in journalism, marketing, education, and other fields to simplify and clarify data, statistics, processes, or concepts. They are effective for storytelling and making information more engaging.

Magazine & Brochure Design

Magazine and brochure design are needed marketing and sales elements, and are often an afterthought, or an item on the “to do list” that never gets done. They serve as visual tools to follow up with prospects, convey information, and promote products, services, or ideas.  Annex helps you tailor the pdf design to the target audience preferences and needs.  The designers will help organize the content hierarchy, including headlines, subheadings, and body text, choosing fonts that are legible and appropriate for your audience and brand.

Annex designers will select a color palette that aligns with your brand and the message you want to convey.  We work to maintain consistency in image styles and sizes, and look at your website and other projects to ensure cohesion, maintaining a consistent style for headings, subheadings, and body text.

We’ll help include clear and compelling CTAs that guide audiences to take specific actions, such as contacting you, visiting your website, or making a purchase.  Our team will carefully proofread to minimize errors, checking content for consistency in spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Packaging Design

Effective packaging design goes beyond aesthetics; it also communicates information about the product and brand while engaging consumers. Here are key components of Annex’s packaging design services:

Visual Elements: This includes graphics, images, colors, typography, and branding elements (such as logos and slogans) that make the packaging visually appealing and recognizable to consumers.

Product Information: Packaging often contains vital product information, such as ingredients, usage instructions, safety warnings, and nutritional facts. This information should be clearly and legibly presented.

Brand Identity: Packaging plays a vital role in brand recognition and brand identity. It should reflect the brand’s values, personality, and messaging to create a cohesive brand experience.

Shelf Appeal: Packaging design should grab consumers’ attention on store shelves and convey the product’s benefits, features, and unique selling points effectively.

Print Design

Print design refers to the specialized field of graphic design that focuses on creating visual materials intended for physical, printed formats. Annex designs are typically produced for various printed media, such as brochures, posters, flyers, business cards, packaging, magazines, newspapers, banners, and more. Here are key elements of print design that Annex’s design team can support:

Visual Elements: Print design involves the use of visual elements such as typography, images, illustrations, colors, and layout to convey information, evoke emotions, and engage the audience.

Typography: Carefully selecting fonts and typography styles is crucial for readability and conveying the intended tone and message. Typography choices should align with the brand and design aesthetics.

Images and Graphics: The selection and placement of images, photographs, icons, and illustrations play a significant role in conveying the message and capturing the audience’s attention.

Layout: The arrangement of text, images, and other visual elements within a printed piece is known as layout. Effective layout design ensures visual hierarchy, readability, and balance.

Color Palette: Choosing an appropriate color scheme that aligns with the brand and design goals is essential. Color can evoke emotions, convey information, and enhance visual appeal.

Resolution and Image Quality: High-resolution images are necessary to ensure print materials appear crisp and clear. Designers must account for image resolution and quality when preparing files for printing.

Bleeds and Margins: Print design often requires the use of bleeds (extending design elements beyond the trim area) and margins (safe areas for critical content) to accommodate the printing and trimming process.

File Formats: Design files must be prepared in appropriate formats (e.g., PDF, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator) and meet specific technical requirements for the selected printing method.

Proofing and Quality Control: Before printing in large quantities, designers and clients should review and approve proofs to ensure accuracy and quality. This may involve color proofs, test prints, or digital proofs.

Consistency: Maintaining a consistent visual identity across all printed materials is crucial for brand recognition and professionalism.

Digital Advertising

Digital advertising services refers to the Annex team supporting marketing and promotion of products, services, brands, or messages using digital channels and technologies. It involves the creation and dissemination of advertisements or promotional content through online platforms, targeting specific audiences to achieve marketing goals. Here are the key categories of digital advertising that Annex supports:

Online Platforms: leveraging various online platforms, including websites, social media networks, search engines (e.g., Google), email, mobile apps, and streaming services, to reach target audiences.

Ad Formats: There are numerous digital ad formats, such as display ads, video ads, search ads, native ads, social media ads, email marketing, and sponsored content. Each format serves a specific purpose and may be more suitable for different marketing objectives, and will required a “paid media” budget for the ad units.  Annex can support various marketing goals, including awareness, email sign ups, webinar/event registrations, and direct response campaigns. 

Targeting: Annex can work with the platforms to provide clients with precise audience targeting. Advertisers can define specific demographics, interests, behaviors, and geographic locations to ensure that their ads reach the most relevant potential customers.

Performance Tracking: Advertisers can measure the effectiveness of their campaigns through metrics like click-through rates (CTR), conversion rates, impressions, and return on investment (ROI).

Budget Control: Advertisers can set specific budgets for their digital advertising campaigns, allowing for cost control and flexibility to adjust spending as needed.

Ad Creativity: Effective digital advertising requires attention-grabbing visuals, compelling copywriting, and engaging multimedia content. Creativity plays a significant role in capturing users’ attention – Annex can provide suggestions and fresh ideas.

Ad Placement: Deciding where and when to display ads is crucial. Advertisers can choose to display ads on specific websites, within search engine results, in social media feeds, or in mobile apps, among other options

Ad Retargeting: Retargeting (or remarketing) is a digital advertising strategy that targets users who have previously interacted with a brand or website, serving them personalized ads to encourage further engagement or conversions.

Ad Fraud and Brand Safety: Advertisers need to be vigilant about ad fraud, which includes practices like click fraud and fake traffic. Brand safety concerns involve ensuring that ads do not appear alongside inappropriate or harmful content.  Annex will help clients navigate these waters.  

Social Media Creative

Social media creative refers to the visual and textual content created specifically for sharing on social media platforms. It includes a wide range of elements designed to capture the attention of the audience, convey messages, and engage users on social media. Social media creatives can take various forms, such as images, videos, infographics, GIFs, memes, and more. Here are social media creative services that Annex can support

Custom Visuals: Visuals are a fundamental part of social media creative. This includes images, photos, illustrations, and graphics that are eye-catching and resonate with the target audience.

Video Content: Social media creatives often include short videos, live streams, stories, and other video formats to engage users.

Text and Copy: The written content accompanying social media creatives is important for conveying messages, providing context, and encouraging actions like clicks, shares, and comments.

Branding: Social media creative should reflect the brand’s identity and maintain consistency in terms of logo usage, colors, fonts, and overall design elements.

Messaging: Effective social media creative communicates specific messages, whether they are promotional, informative, entertaining, or emotional. The messaging should align with the overall marketing strategy and campaign goals.

Engagement: Social media creatives are designed to encourage user engagement, such as likes, comments, shares, and clicks. They may include interactive elements like polls, quizzes, and call-to-action buttons.

Platform Optimization: Creatives need to be optimized for the specific social media platform they are intended for. Each platform has its own image and video size recommendations.

Localization: For global audiences, it’s essential to consider cultural and language differences when creating social media creatives. Content may need to be adapted for different regions or languages.

Landing Page Design

A landing page is a specific web page that serves as the entry point for visitors who click on a link or an ad often as part of a marketing campaign. The primary purpose of a landing page is to prompt a particular action or conversion from the visitor, such as signing up for a newsletter, downloading an e-book, registering for an event, making a purchase, or requesting more information. Here are some services and components of Annex landing pages:

Call to Action (CTA): A prominent and persuasive CTA button or form is typically featured on the landing page. The CTA instructs visitors on what action to take, such as “Sign Up Now” or “Buy Now.”

Minimal Navigation: Landing pages usually have limited navigation options, if any at all. Extraneous links or menus that could lead visitors away from the intended action are often removed.

Compelling Content: The content on a landing page is designed to inform, persuade, and reassure visitors about the value of taking the desired action. This content can include persuasive copy, bullet points, images, videos, and customer testimonials.

Form Fields: If the goal is to collect user information, a form is often included on the landing page. However, the number of form fields is typically kept to a minimum to reduce friction and increase conversions.

Visuals: Visual elements like images, graphics, and videos are used to enhance the appeal of the page and convey information more effectively.

Mobile Optimization: Landing pages are designed to be responsive and mobile-friendly, as many visitors access them via smartphones and tablets.

A/B Testing: Marketers often perform A/B testing on landing pages, creating multiple versions with slight variations to determine which one performs better in terms of conversions.

Analytics and Tracking: To measure the effectiveness of a landing page, analytics tools are used to track visitor behavior, conversion rates, and other relevant metrics.

Integrations: Landing pages are often connected with email marketing software, marketing automation, and/or customer relationship management (CRM) systems in order to streamline lead capture, routing, and follow-up processes.

Privacy and Compliance: Landing pages can include privacy regulations and disclose relevant information, such as data usage policies and terms and conditions.

Landing pages help businesses and marketers convert website traffic into valuable leads or customers. By providing a clear and focused path for visitors to follow, Annex landing pages are effective tools for achieving specific marketing objectives and improving overall campaign performance.

Newsletter, Email, and Blog Post Design

Annex newsletter, email, and blog post design services support the visual and structural elements of a newsletter, which is typically distributed via email or in print to a group of subscribers. Newsletters serve various purposes, including sharing news, updates, promotions/deals, educational content, and engaging with an audience. Effective newsletter design involves combining graphic design principles with content organization to create a visually appealing and informative publication. 

Blog post design services refers to the visual and structural elements of a blog article, which enhance its readability, engagement, and overall appeal to online readers. It encompasses various design components and considerations aimed at making written content more visually attractive and user-friendly on a website or blog. Effective blog post design plays a crucial role in conveying information, capturing the reader’s attention, and improving the overall user experience. Here are key elements and considerations in blog post and newsletter design:

Branding: Incorporating branding elements such as logos, color schemes, fonts, and visual style to ensure consistency with the sender’s brand identity and create a unified brand experience.

Layout: Organizing the content within the newsletter with headers, sections, columns, and margins to provide a clear and structured reading experience.

Typography: Selecting fonts and typography styles that enhance readability and convey the intended tone and message of the newsletter.

Images and Graphics: Using high-quality images, illustrations, icons, and graphics that are relevant to the content and enhance the visual appeal and engagement of the newsletter.

Content Hierarchy: Emphasizing key content elements, such as headlines, subheadings, and call-to-action (CTA) buttons, to guide readers through the newsletter’s main messages.

Whitespace: Implementing whitespace (empty space) effectively to create a clean and uncluttered design that makes it easier for readers to focus on the content.

Responsive Design: Ensuring that the newsletter design adapts and looks good on different devices, including desktop computers, smartphones, and tablets, as subscribers may access newsletters using various devices.

Color Palette: Selecting a harmonious color scheme that complements the brand and content, with good contrast for readability and visual appeal.

Call to Action (CTA): If the goal of the newsletter is to prompt specific actions (e.g., visiting a website, making a purchase), including clear and well-designed CTAs to encourage reader engagement.

Legibility: Optimizing text size, line spacing, and contrast for readability to prevent issues like overly small fonts or low-contrast color combinations.

Privacy and Compliance: Ensuring compliance with privacy regulations, data usage policies, and relevant terms and conditions within the newsletter content and design.

Testing and Optimization: Conducting A/B testing and performance analysis to refine design elements, including subject lines, CTAs, and content placement, to improve engagement and conversion rates.

For Blog posts, we recommend:

Author Information: Including the author’s details, such as a bio, profile picture, and social media links, adds a personal touch and credibility to the blog post.

Social Sharing Buttons: Make it easy for readers to share the blog post by including social sharing buttons for various social media platforms.

Related Posts: Suggesting related articles or posts at the end of the content encourages readers to explore more of your blog and keeps them engaged.

Comments Section: A well-designed comments section allows readers to engage with the content, share their thoughts, and interact with other readers.

Motion Design

Annex Motion designers use various digital tools and techniques to bring static visuals to life, adding movement and interactivity to create compelling and engaging experiences.  Here are key motion design services offered by Annex:  

Animation: Motion design primarily revolves around animation, where objects, text, graphics, and images are manipulated to move, change, and transform over time. Animations can be simple, such as text fading in and out, or complex, involving intricate visual effects and 3D elements.

Typography: Animated text and typography play a significant role in motion design. Designers use animated text to emphasize key points, create visual interest, and guide viewers’ attention.

Graphics and Illustrations: Motion designers incorporate graphics, illustrations, icons, and symbols into animations to enhance storytelling and provide visual context.

Video and Audio Integration: Motion design often includes synchronized audio elements, such as music, voiceovers, sound effects, and dialogues, to enhance the overall viewer experience.

Transitions and Effects: Smooth transitions, visual effects, and dynamic transitions between scenes or elements are commonly used in motion design to maintain viewer engagement and continuity.

User Interaction: Interactive motion design elements can respond to user input, creating engaging user interfaces for websites, apps, and presentations.

Branding and Identity: Motion design is used to strengthen brand identity and recognition by incorporating brand colors, logos, and visual elements into animations.

Advertising and Marketing: Motion design is widely used in advertising and marketing campaigns to create attention-grabbing promotional content, explainer videos, and commercials.

Educational Content: Motion design is an effective tool for creating educational and instructional materials, including tutorials, e-learning courses, and informative animations.

Technical Expertise: Motion designers use software tools like Adobe After Effects, Blender, and others to create animations. 

Video Post Production

Annex provides a variety of services to support and enhance client commercials, online video, or any other form of visual media. Video post-production services include:

Video Editing: This is a central aspect of post-production where the raw footage is assembled, rearranged, and trimmed to create a cohesive and engaging narrative. Video editing involves selecting the best takes, arranging scenes, adding transitions, and ensuring visual continuity.

Audio Editing: Sound editing involves tasks such as cleaning up and enhancing audio recordings, adding music and sound effects, adjusting volume levels, and ensuring that the audio quality matches the video quality.

Color Correction and Grading: This process involves adjusting the colors, contrast, and overall visual appearance of the footage to achieve a desired look and maintain consistency throughout the video. It can create mood, correct lighting issues, and enhance the visual appeal of the content.

Visual Effects (VFX): When required, visual effects are added during post-production to create elements that were not possible or practical to capture during filming. (Studio, onsite crews, and video capture gear is not included with Annex subscriptions, but may be able to be sourced if needed.)

Titling and Graphics: Post-production includes adding titles, credits, subtitles, and any necessary graphics or animations to the video. 

Sound Design: In addition to basic audio editing, sound design involves creating immersive soundscapes by layering and manipulating sound elements to enhance the viewing experience. This can include foley (sound effects), ambient noise, and more.  Please see the Annex Music Services definition below for more on this category.

Quality Control: A crucial step in post-production involves reviewing and quality-checking the video to ensure that there are no technical issues, errors, or inconsistencies. Any necessary corrections are made at this stage.

Rendering and Exporting: Once all elements are in place and the video is finalized, it is rendered or exported into the desired format and resolution for distribution, whether for broadcast, online streaming, or other platforms.

Distribution and Delivery: Post-production also involves preparing and delivering the final video to the intended audience or distribution channels. This may include encoding for specific platforms, creating various versions (e.g., for web, social, email.)

Photo Retouching

Photo retouching refers to the process of enhancing or altering a photograph to improve its visual quality, correct imperfections, and achieve the desired aesthetic. It involves using various editing techniques and software to make adjustments to an image, typically with the goal of making it more visually appealing or suitable for a specific purpose. Photo retouching can range from subtle enhancements, such as removing minor blemishes or adjusting color balance, to more complex alterations, such as reshaping objects or people within the image. Here is a list of  photo retouching supported by Annex

Skin Retouching: This involves smoothing out skin texture, removing acne, scars, wrinkles, and other imperfections while maintaining a natural appearance. It is commonly used in portrait and fashion photography.

Color Correction: Adjusting the color balance, saturation, and brightness to enhance the overall appearance of the photo and ensure accurate representation of colors.

Background Removal: Removing or replacing the background of an image to isolate the subject or place it in a different context.

Object Removal: Eliminating unwanted objects, distractions, or elements from the photo to improve composition.

Teeth Whitening and Eye Enhancement: Enhancing the brightness and clarity of teeth and eyes in portrait photography.

Body and Facial Reshaping: Making subtle adjustments to body proportions or facial features for a more flattering look, often used in fashion and beauty photography.

Texture and Detail Enhancement: Increasing or enhancing fine details in the photo, such as adding texture to surfaces or making textures more pronounced.

Noise Reduction: Reducing or eliminating digital noise (graininess) in photos, particularly in low-light conditions.

HDR (High Dynamic Range) Processing: Merging multiple exposures of the same scene to create an image with a wider dynamic range, resulting in more balanced lighting and enhanced details.

Lens Correction: Correcting distortions, aberrations, and vignetting caused by camera lenses.

Cloning and Healing: Using cloning and healing tools to remove or replace specific areas of an image seamlessly.

Composite Images: Combining multiple photos or elements to create a composite image or artwork.

Special Effects: Applying creative effects, filters, or styles to give the photo a distinct and artistic look.

.Web Development

Website development services refer to a range of professional services provided Annex to create, build, and maintain websites.  These services encompass the technical, creative, and strategic aspects of designing, developing, and launching websites. Annex website development services include:

Website Design: The process of conceptualizing and creating the visual layout, user interface (UI), and overall look and feel of a website. This involves designing graphics, selecting fonts and colors, and ensuring a user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing design.

Front-End Development: The coding and programming work focused on creating the client-side of a website, which is the part that users interact with directly. Front-end development involves HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and responsive design techniques to ensure the website functions well on various devices and screen sizes.  Annex may leverage third party tools to speed in the coding and creation of client websites.

Back-End Development: The development of the server-side of a website, which includes databases, server scripting, and other technologies that enable the website to function, store data, and interact with users.

Content Management System (CMS) Integration: Many websites are built using content management systems like WordPress, Drupal, or Joomla. Annex developers integrate and customize these systems to enable easy content creation, editing, and management by website owners or administrators.

E-Commerce Development: For businesses looking to sell products or services online, e-commerce development involves selecting and customizing secure and user-friendly online shopping platforms with features like product catalogs, shopping carts, payment processing, and order management. 

Custom Web Application Development: Building web applications tailored to specific business needs, which may include customer portals, inventory management systems, booking systems, and more 

Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Implementing SEO best practices during the development process to improve a website’s visibility in search engine results. This includes optimizing content, meta tags, site structure, and load times for better search rankings.

Web Hosting and Server Management: Providing or advising on web hosting services and server management to ensure the website is accessible and runs smoothly. 

Security and Data Protection: Implementing security measures, SSL certificates, and encryption to protect user data and the website from cyber threats and vulnerabilities.

Maintenance and Support: Annex hosting providers provide ongoing maintenance, updates, and technical support to ensure the website remains up-to-date, secure, and functioning correctly. This may include fixing bugs, applying security patches, and adding new features or content.

Analytics and Performance Monitoring: Integrating tools for tracking website analytics and performance metrics, such as user traffic, conversion rates, and user engagement, to ensure client is able to report on site activity.

Music Services

Annex provides a fast and efficient source for a world of music that has traditionally been difficult for brands and marketers to navigate.  We provide the quality product and high-level curation of the larger music publishers and major labels with the speed, ease and flexibility of price of a stock library.  The catalog is made up of real music sourced directly from innovative artists and labels around the world.  Our music is 100% pre-cleared and ready for licensing.

 Like paid ads, music will have an incremental cost.   Music supervision services are included in base licenses, where Annex works closely with partner https://interval.agency to source music for your project.  Custom edits are also included in Annex subcriptions, to maximize the impact of your music at any length (:06, :10, :15, :30) with custom cutdowns.

 

 

SERVICE LEVELS

1. Annex Support services will be available by email and Slack during weekday office hours from 9:00 a.m.to 6:00 p.m. eastern time, Monday to Friday, excluding major US holidays.
2. .Annex Hosting Services will be available ninety-nine percent (99%) of the time in a given month (Minimum Service Level), excluding scheduled maintenance or downtime resulting from unavailability of Client Content or third party services. Annex will inform Client, by email (or other prompt means if email is unavailable), of any service disruption, unless such disruption is of an insignificant nature (less than one (1) hour).  Annex will inform Client by email (or other prompt means if email is unavailable) once service is restored.
3. If Annex fails to meet the Minimum Service Level as set forth above, then as Annex’s sole obligation and Client’s exclusive remedy, Client shall be entitled to a five percent (5%) credit of monthly subscription fees for each sixty (60) minute period below the Minimum Service Level set forth above that the Annex Service remains unavailable, provided that in no event shall service credits in any calendar month exceed thirty percent (30%) of the monthly fees for the given month.  Any such credit shall be paid to Client by the end of the following calendar month.  Client must request such service credit within ten (10) business days following the end of the calendar month in which the failure occurred.