Carrie Cousins

Trends / 3 Oct 2022

Design Trend: Creative Scroll Arrows

Scroll arrows are a common design element with many sites using a small icon to help users navigate down the page. It’s nothing new, and it’s been around as a visual indicator for decades.

What’s new is that more designers are experimenting with more creative ways to use these elements to create additional engagement and visual interest. Whether it’s the design of the scroll arrow itself, it’s placement, or animation and visual effects. There’s a lot of creativity at work!

Here’s a look at the creative scroll arrows design trend and ways to make it work in your projects.

Business / 27 Sep 2022

How Often Do You Need to Redesign Your Website? (7 Ways to Know It Is Time)

Does it seem like as soon as you finally get your website design right, it’s time for a change?

You are not alone. With the speed at which technology – and design trends – are changing, that’s a common feeling. But how often do you really need a redesign? When do you know that it is time?

It’s a balancing act. You don’t want to waste resources on an unnecessary redesign, but equally you don’t want to fall behind and risk a dated online presence.

Let’s walk through the answers to those questions with some website template examples from Envato Elements to help jumpstart your design thinking.

Business / 22 Sep 2022

9 Tips for a Great Newsletter Signup Design

If newsletter signups are one of the desired conversions on your website, a great design is vital to achieving success. A clear, well-designed newsletter signup form will help draw attention to the element on the page, and encourage people to use it.

This form is often see as a small element in the overall website design, but it can pack a big punch. So don’t overlook it in your design process!

Here are nine tips to help you make the most of your email newsletter signup design.

Reviews / 21 Sep 2022

Readymag: Create a Website Right in a Browser

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced web designer that needs to create a site that looks great with ease, Readymag has all the tools you need to do it right in your browser.

The design tool is made so you can create cool projects – including animations and trendy design elements – without any code right in your browser.

Here’s a look at Readymag and how it might work for your projects. (As a bonus, the example sites in this article were all created with Readymag!)

Business / 19 Sep 2022

11 Places to Show Off Your Work (Portfolio Sites You’ll Love)

Most designers probably have their own website, but do you share work on portfolio sites to help that work get even more attention?

There are a variety of sites that accept website designs for inspiration so you can get more eyeballs on your projects. These are sources of great inspiration, as well as solid backlinks for your website.

We’ve collected 11 options for you to share and show projects, from portfolio sites that allow for all general submissions to a few that are more niche-based (plus, a few that have really innovative ways of showcasing design projects!)

Business / 16 Sep 2022

What Is a Design Brief: Templates, Examples & More

Anyone who’s ever submitted a proposal or tried to snag a design project has probably been asked to submit or create a design brief for the project. It’s a fairly standard practice but can often be intimidating, particularly if you aren’t used to it.

A good design brief is a tool that can help you and design clients get on the same page for projects and help them move along more smoothly.

You’ll outline deliverables and timelines so that clients are comfortable with your process.

Let’s break it down with some best practices, examples, and templates.

Trends / 15 Sep 2022

Design Trend: Neon Colors

The web is a little brighter right now. Neon colors are making a comeback. And we’re all for it!

From bright, neon yellow to other popping hues, this design trend is showing up all over the place on a variety of project types. What’s nice about neons is they have an upbeat happy feel – something the world seems to need.

Here’s a look at the neon colors design trend, with examples, and best practices for use.

Ditch the monochrome, get out your neon colour palette, and join us on a journey into the bright and vivid!

Accessibility / 12 Sep 2022

Pros and Cons of Live Chat in a Web Design

Live chat has become the go-to customer service solution for many websites. Users can log in and immediately “talk” with someone about whatever they need help with.

Live chats can be text-based or include a video call. The key reason it is used is to connect with customers immediately and help provide a better customer service experience. But there’s a catch – not all live chat is actually a conversation with a person.

Here’s a look at the pros and cons of live chat in your web design projects.

Business / 2 Sep 2022

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.

PowerPoint Templates / 26 Aug 2022

Pitch Deck Design: 10 Tips to Stand Out

A good pitch deck is designed for specifically one thing – to help your startup get funding from investors. But how do you stand out from the crowd, and make a memorable impression?

There’s a delicate balance to creating a deck with just enough slides to entice potential funders, without providing so much information that they are overwhelmed.

Most pitch decks contain less than 20 slides. So how do you create a pitch deck design that stands out? Here are our ten tips to help you get started.

Figma Templates / 25 Aug 2022

10 Pro Tips for Using Figma in Your Workflow

If you are using Figma for website or app design, logos, or other digital projects, it’s likely you are always looking for ways to get faster and more efficient.

Because this tool is so robust and allows for collaboration, sharing, and reuse of components and parts, it can really help boost your workflows.

Here are 10 pro tips for using Figma to create faster and smarter design workflows.

Background Textures / 22 Aug 2022

Risograph Style Backgrounds: An Organic Design Trend

High-color, print-style backgrounds are making an impact in what is known as the “Risograph style”. Packed with charming imperfections, bold colour overlays, and hints of duotone style, it’s a winning style to experiment with.

Typically associated with printing, this design technique is making its way into digital projects as well, most commonly as a background element.

Here, we’ll look at the Risograph style for backgrounds, how to use this design trend to your advantage, and a selection of templates that can help you get started quickly.