10 Tips for Designing Static Ads
Designing the perfect static ad is no easy feat. It might even be impossible. Designing ads can go against many of the things you think as a designer. Many companies want to cram as much information into a space as possible and many users put up roadblocks when it comes to viewing ads.
The catch is creating something that people want to interact with, despite the fact that it’s an ad. The advantage of a static ad is that is seems less obtrusive than some animated, audio or video options. They also have a classic style about them that makes designing fun. Here are 10 tips for creating an ad that people will look at, with some ads as they actually appear on popular websites.
January 21st, 2015 Posted in Graphics
Find the Ideal Image or Video With Bigstock
Almost every designer has a need for a good catalog of images. From photos to vectors to video, stock art is a tool that is commonly used in a variety of projects. Having a good go-to place to find these images is vital for every designer.
That’s where Bigstock comes in. The stock image and video site has more than 22 million images, video, vectors and illustrations that you can download and use in design projects. Here, we’ll take a look at the service and even give you the chance to get started and download up to 35 images or videos for free.
January 19th, 2015 Posted in Graphics
This Week in Design: Jan. 16, 2014
Welcome to the new age of design. This week in design we are thinking ahead with technology that may impact our lives from the recent Consumer Electronics Show to posters that make you want to travel to the moon.
Every week, we plan to a look at major product releases and upgrades, tools and tricks and even some of the most popular things you are talking about on social media. And we’d love to hear what’s going on in your world as well. Have we missed anything? Drop me a line at carrie@designshack.net.
January 16th, 2015 Posted in This Week in Design
Get to Know the New 17hats Tool
If you are a freelancer or self-employed professional, you are probably always on the lookout for tools that can make life easier. There’s just not enough time to get all your work done and then follow up with paperwork.
17hats, a new cloud software tool, takes a lot of the work out of that paperwork. It integrates contracts, invoices, questionnaires, e-mail, to-do lists, time tracking, bookkeeping, calendars and more into a single login. Here’s a look at the tool, some of the key features, pricing and information on how to try it out.
January 13th, 2015 Posted in Business
Design Dilemma: The Wrong Way to Force a Client to Pay
A designer was recently relaying a story about a client who didn’t pay for his website and logo — so she took them both down. If you’ve ever seen the movie, Single White Female, Bridget Fonda is a business app programmer who implants a bug in client’s business software so if they don’t pay on time, the site automatically goes down and there’s a message that if payment is not made within 24 hours, all of the information will be unretrievable. A non-paying client goes over to confront Fonda, and is killed by her insane roommate.
While death may be a bit too much for a non-paying client, in this case the client put up the site again with the logo, and the designer was about to pull it down again. Unfortunately, this action can get you into huge legal trouble. So, what can you do when the client doesn’t pay and you feel the only recourse is to deny them of your design work? Join us as we delve into another murderous Design Dilemma, helping to answer your questions, queries and concerns about the murky world of design.
January 12th, 2015 Posted in Design Dilemma
This Week in Design: Jan. 9, 2015
All the best of and upcoming trend lists are fascinating this time of year, and that extends to lists that have to do with design as well. This week, we are taking a look at some of these compilations and how they may impact you and your work in 2015. (Who doesn’t love a great list?)
Every week, we plan to a look at major product releases and upgrades, tools and tricks and even some of the most popular things you are talking about on social media. And we’d love to hear what’s going on in your world as well. Have we missed anything? Drop me a line at carrie@designshack.net.
January 9th, 2015 Posted in This Week in Design
40+ Stunning Vintage Mockup Packs & Graphics
Design is all about presentation. You might have spent hours designing a logo or a layout for your client, but in order to fully reap the rewards of your hard work, it can be incredibly helpful to present your work in the perfect manner.
This is where mockup packs come in handy, to showcase the design you’ve poured time and attention into in the best possible light. Today, you can take a look at our huge collection of free and premium vintage mock up sets that would allow you to showcase your work like never before.
January 7th, 2015 Posted in Freebies, Graphics, Inspiration
Designing for the Interstitial Experience
Yes. Those little pop-ups matter, and are starting to matter more every day. Interstitial space – and content for it – is becoming an increasingly popular part of designing for the web. From ads, to forms, to bits of information, the interstitial experience is a vital part of the design process.
The dilemma for designers is to create something that users want to look at and not feel annoyed by. Here we’ll work to gain a better understanding of interstitial space and how you can work within it well.
January 5th, 2015 Posted in Accessibility, Navigation
This Week in Design: Jan. 2, 2015
Happy New Year! As we roll into 2015, it only felt appropriate to tackle some new ideas, techniques and concepts this week in design. So what makes for a good user experience? How can you create better type? And what are some myths to get over this new year? Read on to find out.
Every week, we plan to a look at major product releases and upgrades, tools and tricks and even some of the most popular things you are talking about on social media. And we’d love to hear what’s going on in your world as well. Have we missed anything? Drop me a line at carrie@designshack.net.
January 2nd, 2015 Posted in This Week in Design
Design Dilemma: Why Are Job Ads So… Weird?
Have you wondered why job ads for designers have become a laundry list of impossible requirements or why job titles have become so diverse? Instead of “web designer” or “graphic designer,” titles read “graphic communications specialist,” “marketing creative associate,” “social media designer,” or “art-thingy person to abuse.” All of these, however, demand full experience and job requirements of an experienced designer.
At a design organization meeting, we all tend to share job postings we have seen and laugh about the ridiculous list of required skills and wonder who among us could ever fill these God-like positions. The answer is: No one! So, join us as we delve into another weird Design Dilemma, helping to answer your questions, queries and concerns about the murky world of design.
December 29th, 2014 Posted in Design Dilemma