Carrie Cousins

Reviews / 9 Dec 2021

Simmmple: Premium and Stunning UI Kits and Templates

Every designer is looking for a faster way to get from design to product launch.

The right UI kits and templates – made for software you use – are the key to jumpstarting those projects. But all UI kits are not created equal, and finding those that are high-quality and easy to work with is key.

Today, we’re diving into Simmmple, a marketplace packed with premium design kits. Plus, we’re looking at some of their tools and products to help supercharge your workflow!

Layouts / 6 Dec 2021

How Many Wireframes Do You Need? (Guide to Effective Wireframing)

Too often new website design projects start with a little wireframe overload.

Creating dozens of wireframes to show a client at the start of the project doesn’t necessarily create better understanding; it can be downright overwhelming.

Like with many other aspects of design, wireframing is an art where, in many cases, less is more.

Here’s a look at how to wireframe more effectively and a guide to how many wireframes you actually need (plus, some ideas on which ones are the most important, and which you can probably miss!)

Business / 29 Nov 2021

Global Supply Chains and Design Considerations

All the shortages and supply chain issues being faced by other industries are beginning to impact designers in a number of ways as well.

From paper shortages to out-of-stock graphics cards, to unstockable e-commerce, almost every designer is having to think about ways to design around (and through) global supply chain problems.

Whether or not these are affecting you yet, it makes sense to understand the situation and plan to get ahead.

Here’s a look at some of the issues popping up and ways to help mitigate the problems as best you can.

Business / 22 Nov 2021

15 Tips for Boosting Your Local, Online Presence

Looking for more foot traffic in your local business? It might start online.

By boosting your local, online presence you can help more people find your shop, restaurant, studio, or office. Think about it, most visitors start with search engines when they are looking for a product or service. That includes local, especially if they are looking for directions to your business or an email address or phone number.

There are a few things you can do to help more people get access to your company when they are browsing online. Most of these are fairly easy steps that can help you connect with more potential customers online before they visit your local business.

Keynote Templates / 10 Nov 2021

Keynote vs PowerPoint: Which Presentation App to Choose?

It’s presentation time! Whether you are creating a template for your boss or prepping slides for a talk, using the right software can make the job a lot easier. We’re pitting Keynote vs. PowerPoint against one another to lay out the pros and cons of each.

For Mac users, there are two pretty obvious choices – Keynote and PowerPoint. But which do you choose? Should you always stick with one, or use different apps for different presentations?

Each has its own set of benefits and costs, and they’re both great for different uses. Hopefully, we’ll be able to help you make the right choice.

Flyer Templates / 27 Oct 2021

10 Tips for Perfect Flyer Design

If you aren’t a print project regular, designing the perfect flyer can be somewhat nerve-wracking. But it doesn’t have to be. With a solid content plan and a great designer (that’s you), crafting the perfect flyer that will entice and engage users is simple.

There’s a wonderful feeling to designing something, then having it printed and feeling it in your hands. This is one reason flyer design can be rewarding and a lot of fun.

We’re going to dive into ten tips that walk you through how to create the perfect flyer. From establishing goals, to considering factors like viewing distance and integrating branding.

How to Design a Logo / 22 Oct 2021

What’s a Logo Grid, and Why Should You Use One?

So you need to design a logo. Where do you start? Shapes? Typography? A grid?

A logo grid or construction guide is a popular starting point for many designers looking to create a logo. The use of a grid system, especially for a design that might often render at extreme sizes – very large or small – can help you create something that has visual harmony, an organized aesthetic and purposeful design.

Are you in the middle of a logo design project? Learn about logo grids, typography, logo types and more in our in-depth guide on how to design a logo!

UX Design / 18 Oct 2021

How to Design a Paywall That Visitors Will Pay to Pass Through

Everything you create online has to have value for the user if you want them to engage with it. This is most important when you are asking visitors to give you something in exchange for content.

Whether your paywall asks for direct payment or just an exchange, such as pay with a tweet, the method you use in creating a paywall can be a factor in the success of subscribers or paid entries.

Here, we’ll look at different paywall options and value propositions you can use to help encourage visitors to pay to play on your website or mobile app.

Business / 14 Oct 2021

Are QR Codes Making a Comeback? (+ How to Use Them Well)

QR codes – once dead by all practical standards – are back in a major way. The little block of squares that link your mobile device to a website has become the new norm in the (post) pandemic world of “contactless” everything. Scan and buy. Scan and sign up. Scan to pay now.

So, what do you need to know to use QR codes well now that users are more readily accepting this web technology?

Let’s dive back into QR codes.

Reviews / 13 Oct 2021

Indy: A Freelancing Platform With Everything in One Place

Freelancers rely on tools to help make work-life easier. That’s especially true for tools that relate to running your business – the less creative part of the job.

Indy is an all-in-one freelancing platform packed with the tools you need to get work done. It helps you out with everything from contracts and invoices, to calendars, chats, and proposals. All with a slick interface, and a seamless way of working with clients.

Here’s a look at how it works.

Graphics / 11 Oct 2021

7 Ways to Design for the Unexpected

What just happened? Why doesn’t that work? Does this look funny to you?

These are all questions you don’t want users to ask when interacting with your website design. But inevitably, they will. The unexpected happens all the time online. From users changing settings on their devices to slow browsing speeds, your role is to expect these unexpected challenges and offer a design solution… before they happen!

From dark mode to people taking an unexpected path through your website or app, we’re exploring lots of unexpected scenarios so you can plan for them in advance!

UX Design / 7 Oct 2021

7 Ways Your UX Needs to Extend Beyond Your Website (And How to Do It)

User experience is a conversation that’s part of every website or app design conversation. It’s likely one of the first things you talk about when making choices about functionality, customer journeys, and visuals.

But do you talk about UX in the greater picture of designing your entire brand?

Your website or app UX needs to extend beyond the website and to everything else you produce in order to create a more consistent and unified brand presence. Thinking about user experience for all designed elements can help users connect brand materials visually and impact how people feel about your organization.

It’s time to start thinking about UX as a visual (and functional) extension of customer experience. (The examples here provide a good UX as a starting point that can extend to other parts of the brand design that you might already know. Think about how you connect their web user experiences to other elements you know them for.)