Carrie Cousins

Reviews / 3 Jun 2021

Userwell: Better Understand What Your Users Want Online

Insights into the user journey are a valuable tool for any website designer, developer, or business owner (regardless of industry). The right tool can help you make the right product decisions from real user feedback.

That’s just what you get from Userwell. It is product feedback management software to help you create and build products that users will want and love to use.

Here’s a look at the tool and how you can make it work for you.

Trends / 3 Jun 2021

2021 Mid-Year Design Trend Report: What’s Still Hot

At the beginning of each year, Design Shack does a roundup of trends that will likely influence the design landscape for the coming year.

Now that we are halfway through 2021 (can you believe it?) it’s time to look at which of those trends are thriving and which ones you can pass by.

Here, we’ll look at some fresh examples of the trends that are still hot for inspiration in your projects.

Graphics / 31 May 2021

How to Create a Disruptive Design (So It Will Get Seen)

If you really want to create a design that will make people look, it has to be disruptive.

While “disruptive” can be a bit of a hackneyed catchphrase, it is also at the core of what you do when you create something new. The goal is to get people to stop, look, and interact.

Disruption works because it is different from the norm. This can include anything from being at the forefront of a new trend to designing with an interesting font, color palette, or design pattern.

This description from Layla Acaroglu explains it perfectly: “Design is about creating something that adds to or iterates on the existing, and disruption is about creating a disturbance with the intent of changing a system. When combined, the practice of Disruptive Design is to create intentional interventions into a pre-existing system with the specific objective to leverage a different outcome, and more importantly, an outcome that is likely to create positive social change.”

Now how can you do it? We have a few ideas (and examples) for you.

Business / 27 May 2021

Pros and Cons of the “No Code” Movement

There are a lot of people touting the value of “no code” website design right now.

Some of these people are companies that have built no code or low code website builders that are designed for small businesses and those that want a quick website.

Bigger platforms are starting to show some no code/low code elements. You could even argue that WordPress blocks are in this style of website design. Depending on your needs, you might be aligned with a no-code website build.

Here, we’re going to examine the no code movement and the pros and cons that come along with it.

Reviews / 25 May 2021

SlideSalad: A Marketplace for Premium Presentation Templates

Why create a PowerPoint from scratch when you can jumpstart projects with a stellar presentation template?

SlideSalad offers a wide selection of premium templates in an online marketplace that you can browse and find just what you need.

Here, we’ll take a look at some of the different premium presentation templates you can find to see if this tool can work for you.

Read on!

Accessibility / 24 May 2021

8 Ways to Design Clever Error Messages

Question: What happens when someone gets lost on your website or when someone stumbles upon a bad link or missing content?

Answer: They get to see your 404 page.

Now here’s the real question: Is that 404 page a well-designed Easter egg that will help users on their journey or did you forget to add design or informational elements?

Clever error messages and 404 pages are a website design art form. Some designers sneak these little nuggets in, to surprise and delight users. One thing is common, good error microcopy and design can actually help users connect with the content when they might otherwise bounce, making it important to use this element to your advantage.

UX Design / 17 May 2021

7 Elements of a Highly Usable Landing Page

A highly usable landing page design is one that compels visitors to act in some way.

Sounds pretty simple, right?

Many websites include multiple landing pages for different audiences with different conversion goals. Here are seven elements that almost every successful landing page includes.

Just for fun, we are using examples of landing pages from different music streaming services for you to compare.

Minimalist Graphic Design / 6 May 2021

The New Rules of Minimal Design: Best Practices, Examples, and Tips

While there is nothing new about minimalism as a design trend, the application and techniques are ever-evolving.

Some of the most notable changes with modern minimal designs are the use of space, color, and typography treatments. These design elements can make the overall aesthetic seem new and fresh or show a more dated style.

Here, we’ve put together a guide on how to do minimal design right with some best practices, examples, and tips for creating a modern feel.

Let’s dive in!

Reviews / 4 May 2021

IPWhoIs: A Fast IP Geolocation API

Geolocation features are a growing element in website and app design, providing a more robust user experience.

IPWhoIs is a geolocation API that can help you deliver the right content to the right users by determining their location.

The API makes it easy for you to add this feature and create more relevant and customized options for website visitors. Here’s a look at the tool and how you can make it work for you.

Web Standards / 3 May 2021

10 Things Every Email Newsletter Design Needs: Best Practices

There’s an art to crafting the perfect email newsletter design.

It’s a combination of visual presentation and just the right words. It’s delivering quality content in a way that resonates with subscribers and generates opens so that your messages avoid the spam box.

A few email design best practices can help you find inbox success and generate greater conversions for this type of targeted messaging.

And if you need some help, each of the email design examples here is available as a downloadable template.

Business Card Templates / 29 Apr 2021

How to Design a Modern Business Card

Everyone wants a business card that stands out. As more people begin to return to work and physical meetings and spaces, now is the time to revamp your card to make a solid first impression.

There are a few different things that help create distinction among business cards and a modern design is at the top of the list. Let’s dive into some modern and trending design concepts.

Plus, every example is something you can actually download, customize and use.

Graphics / 26 Apr 2021

Data Visualization Design: Tools, Examples & Tips

Data visualization is one of those design trends or techniques that just seems to keep growing in use and value. From simple infographics to full data stories, this informational format is almost everywhere.

And for good reason: A good data visualization makes complex content that much easier to understand.

Here, we are breaking down data visualization tools, examples, tips so you can design with data successfully.