Graphics / 22 Aug 2018
10 Poster Design Ideas & Inspiration
Creating a poster can be one of the most fun – or frustrating – design projects that you ever take on. Posters are a highly visible, public design project that can lead people to attend an event or generate buzz about something.
These designs are often large in scale and there’s nothing like seeing something you create in a physical form. Here, we’ve rounded up some great poster design ideas and inspiration to get you excited about your next poster design project.
CSS / 20 Aug 2018
The Best CSS Gradient Generators for Designers
We’re taking a look at ten of the best CSS gradient generators that you can use to create a variety of gradient styles (and have the CSS output directly!). Coding a gradient by hand is no fun (especially once you get past a simple two-color gradient), so these tools are a must-have in your bookmark folder.
One of the trendiest elements in website design is using a gradient background or color overlay. A two-color linear gradient is the most popular variation of this trend. And while gradients might look fancy and complicated, they are actually quite easy to create and deploy… if you are using the right tool!
Business / 20 Aug 2018
5 Tips for Making Better Video
Everywhere you look, there’s video. From social media sites to full-scale web projects, a video can be an integral part of today’s online user experience. We have five tips to help you make any web video better, and improve the quality of what you publish.
While some projects require the time commitment of a professional production, other uses are perfectly suitable for DIY. How can you create better video to use in web projects yourself, without a full crew or large investment?
Business / 15 Aug 2018
What Is a Web Design Proposal? (And How to Write One)
The most successful design projects often start with a successful business foundation. Whether you work on an agency team with other creatives or are a freelancer trying to sell your own products and services a solid web design proposal can help you win clients and set expectations for work.
Here’s everything you need to know about creating a web design proposal that will help you land new clients. We’ll discuss what a web design proposal is, how to write one, and share some helpful templates to get you started fast.
Reviews / 15 Aug 2018
Adobe Stock: A 101 Introduction
Navigating the world of stock images can be tough. There are a lot of sources and even more photos to sort through. Finding a reputable vendor for stock images that’s easy to use can be a lifesaver.
That’s where Adobe Stock comes in. Adobe – the same company you know for making software that you probably use daily – also offers stock photos, templates, and 3D assets to help jumpstart your projects. And the best part is that that assets are high-quality; you’ll actually want to use them.
Here’s a look at how Adobe Stock works.
Graphics / 13 Aug 2018
Black and White Design: 10 Stunning Examples (+ Tips)
A black and white design scheme can be one of the most striking combinations for a project. The deep contrast and simplistic nature of these colors (or lack thereof) provide plenty of opportunities to explore other techniques to make the most of the design.
Black and white designs have always been pretty popular, shifting most recently to more minimalist styles with a mostly white background and black elements. But as you’ll see from this collection of stunning black and white design projects, there are so many other options to explore.
Typography / 13 Aug 2018
Serif vs. Sans Serif Fonts: Is One Really Better Than the Other?
There is an ongoing debate among designers – both print and digital – about what makes an ideal typeface for a project. The debate almost always breaks down to a single question: serif or sans serif?
Before you answer that question, think about all of the things you know about serif and sans serif typefaces and all the myths associated with them. Today, we’ll take a look at both categories of type and try to determine if one is really better than the other, and in what circumstance.
Graphics / 8 Aug 2018
Border Design: 8 Tips & Modern Examples
Graphic designers have been using borders for as long as they have been designing things. And they’re a fun element to play with. We’re taking a look at eight border design concepts (most of them you can actually download as project starters), along with tips for usage and some examples that you can try in projects.
Sometimes a great border can help separate your design for other elements, such as around the perimeter of an ad. Other times, a border can serve as an element to help break up different parts of a design, or frame messaging or content.
While borders are most frequently thought about in terms of print design, they can be a valuable digital design tool as well. A good border defines a space so that users know where a design begins and ends. (Pretty simple, right?)
Reviews / 6 Aug 2018
Copper: The Customer-Centric CRM
Are you tired of your CRM? Or are you looking at CRM options, but just don’t know where to start? Do you want a tool that helps you connect to customers in a more authentic way?
A strong customer relationship management system is less about records and data and more about a tool that can help you build relationships with potential customers or clients. Today, we’re going to dive into Copper, a customer-centric CRM that does just that.
(If you like what you see, Copper is offering a free trial so you can try it for yourself.)
Trends / 6 Aug 2018
3D Typography: An Inspiring Design Trend
An injection of realism can take a design project to the next level. With so many VR and realistic style effects gaining popularity, it is no surprise that 3D typography is part of this design trend.
Three-dimensional typography has extra depth and can be a great display option. While 3D type isn’t necessarily made for readability, it is a fun design trend that is worth a try. Here’s a look at how to get started with 3D typography (with some pretty cool examples for inspiration).
Graphics / 1 Aug 2018
How to Design Wedding Invitations: 7 Simple Steps
Your wedding day is a showcase of your love story, and you can highlight your story with a custom wedding invitation that you design. Today we’re looking at how to design wedding invitations, with a few key steps to remember along the way.
A custom wedding invitation will help show off your personality, save money and is something you can hang on to forever. With proper planning, it’s not that hard to do. Whether you start with a wedding invitation template, or you create a design from scratch, it’s a beautiful way to brand your special day.
Inspiration / 1 Aug 2018
7 Design Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Content
Design mistakes can happen to anyone. Maybe you’re trying to finish a project too quickly, or you’re working on a complex site design where something gets merely overlooked. But, when they happen, you have to fix them… immediately!
Some design mistakes can ruin your content, cause users to abandon your site, or lose trust in the information you provide. It can be tough to recover from if you don’t make corrections. And so you aren’t confused, each of today’s tips comes with an example of a design that does it right from the Design Shack Gallery!