Carrie Cousins

Font Collections / 24 Jun 2022

How to Choose the Right Font for Readability

It’s an age-old question: What is the best font for a website design?

Depending on who you ask, you might get an answer that includes a specific typeface. (Designers will joke about using Helvetica for everything, but it’s doubtful as a best practice.)

The more likely question is this: What is the most readable font for a website design? And the answer is rooted in core design principles that can help you choose a beautiful, and highly readable, typeface.

Here’s how you choose the right font for readability (with examples of great font choices for inspiration).

Reviews / 21 Jun 2022

Ipbase: A Geolocation API Packed With Features and Data

Looking for a geolocation API that includes all the data you need in terms of global coverage? Look no further than ipbase.

ipbase is a feature-rich API that’s easy to use and has a free plan to help you discover how this tool can work for you. Plus, the accompanying documentation is extensive, and clear to understand. You’ll have no problem getting started.

Here, we’re going to take a look at ipbase, key features, and practical application of the tool.

Instagram Templates / 20 Jun 2022

Instagram Grid Templates: 20 Examples + Tips

A secret used by some of the boldest visual brands on Instagram is to use a grid or puzzle template. What this style of template does is create 12 cohesive panels that come together as a single image when someone visits your Instagram profile page.

The trick here is that the panels have to work equally well as single image posts and together as a whole. It can be difficult to pull off if you are not careful.

A template can make it a lot easier to figure out and manage. You can create one yourself, or download a ready-made option (best if you are looking for quick and easy). Here, we are looking at 10 great Instagram grid templates with tips for how you can take the inspiration from each and use it with your images on your social media account.

Graphics / 20 Jun 2022

The Website Redesign Checklist: 10 Key Considerations

It’s something most brands or companies have to do every three to five years: tackle a website redesign.

The speed of technology is constantly changing, design trends evolve, and overall functionality requirements make a semi-regular redesign a must to ensure your presence online is modern and usable. It’s a big project, but with the right planning, it can go smoothly.

Here, we’ll outline 10 key considerations to think about when you undertake the next website redesign project.

You can use this list as a checklist to help manage your project.

Reviews / 14 Jun 2022

6 Reasons to Try Shutterstock in 2023

Almost every designer needs stock photos and videos to complete projects. The tough part can be finding the right service with great visuals that don’t look like typical stock photography.

Shutterstock is the answer for many design professionals. The service has a ton of video and image assets that are top quality and will help your project shine.

If you haven’t looked at Shutterstock before or maybe want to try again, here are six reasons to give it a try (with examples of things you’ll find on the site).

Graphics / 23 May 2022

Brutalism: A New Trend in Web Design

Some designs aren’t polished and clean. They are rough, jarring and ragged. Yet they still work and communicate effectively. This class of websites makes up the raw trend called brutalism.

While it is somewhat new to web concepts, it’s been around for decades as a popular technique for posters and art in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Today’s brutalism is starkly different from what you are used to seeing … and that’s why it’s likely to catch your attention. Let’s take a look at what it is (and I’ll share why I’m already over it!)

After Effects Templates / 20 May 2022

How to Use After Effects Templates

Adobe After Effects is a video-based tool that’s used to add elements to moving pictures and animations. Designers use it to create titles, intros, and transitions between video clips to enhance the production value of animations and video projects.

After Effects is one of those tools that’s packed with goodies, including templates that you can use to speed up project workflows. You can create your own templates or find and download them from other sources.

Here, we have a guide to using After Effects so you have everything you need to get started or better use the software.

Business / 18 May 2022

What Is a Lookbook? (+ 15 Stunning Examples)

Whether you’re a designer wanting to show off work or have a request to create one for a client, a lookbook can be an effective way to showcase a variety of elements in a single design.

A lookbook is a portfolio of sorts and has wide application in a number of fields, including website design, graphic design, and development.

Here’s a guide to what a lookbook is, what to include in one when you start designing it, and some examples that are sure to help you find a little lookbook inspiration.

Trends / 16 May 2022

Design Trend: Animated Hero Elements

Motion is everywhere in website design. From full-on video to more subtle animations, these elements are a valuable tool in generating user interest and engagement. It can help you follow a trend, capture attention, or offer a more branded experience for your site.

Animated hero elements are an almost obvious trend, but there’s a lot of variance in how it’s done and what degree of success it may have.

Here, we’ll look at this website design trend, examples, and how to make it work for you.

Trends / 12 May 2022

Design Trend: Large Typography Scales

Words on the web just keep getting bigger and bigger. And that might be a good thing.

One of the biggest trends in website design right now is large typography scales. We’re not just talking bigger text in the hero image anymore. We are seeing larger type options for every part of the website design.

The result? Maybe a more readable web experience, and one that works in a better way, more often, for more people.

Here’s a look at the trend, with several examples to help you see large type in action!

Email Templates / 6 May 2022

10 Tips for Using (And Choosing) an Email Newsletter Template

You probably know that email newsletters can be one of the most effective methods of reaching people who want to connect with your organization or brand.

An email newsletter template can help you jumpstart the process with a semi-custom design with a visual dynamic that will keep subscribers clicking.

If you’ve never used an email template, they aren’t difficult to get to grips with. The toughest part might be choosing a design that you can customize easily and effectively.

Here are our tips for getting started!

Trends / 5 May 2022

Design Trend: Intricate Illustrations

Websites with an “artistic touch”. They’re popping up more and more often. The intricate illustration design trend is taking the web by storm with detailed hand-drawn and computer-drawn images with so much detail that you can get lost in them.

These designs can be beautiful, engaging, and time-consuming to create. But they go a long way towards giving you brand more character, and setting your project apart in a sea of minimal design!

Here’s a look at this design trend.