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David Appleyard

David Appleyard

David Appleyard helps to build fun things for the design community, including Design Shack, Theme Junkie, Creative VIP, and Themelantic.

Reinventing Design Choices for Privacy Permission Elements

Web Standards / 27 Oct 2022

Reinventing Design Choices for Privacy Permission Elements

A personalized experience is one of the most highly valued features of a modern website design. However, gathering the right consumer data is essential to provide customized services to website visitors. After all, you can only enhance consumer experience and provide a better service if you recognize customers to a degree.

The problem is, sometimes, such personalization comes at the cost of your users’ privacy.

There’s a way around this though. You can prioritize privacy UX, build trust, and still generate revenue. If done correctly, a user-focused approach can turn into conversions and make you a stronger player in your market.

Let’s see some common pitfalls and opportunities that you can use for your business or personal website.

Top Tools Every UI/UX Designer Should Know

Software / 26 Oct 2021

Top Tools Every UI/UX Designer Should Know

Wondering which tools successful UXers use to design top-notch digital products?

From ideation to developer handoff, UX designers rely on a variety of programs to execute each phase of the product development process. If you’re getting started with UX design, you’ll need to know what these tools can do for you and when to use them.

Fledgling UXers can build hands-on experience with essential design tools through a bootcamp course like Springboard’s UI/UX Design Career Track. With a diverse lineup of UX tools in your pocket, you’ll be able to optimize your deliverables at each stage of the design process.

Read on to learn more about the top tools you’ll need to master to create wireframes, prototypes, and more.

7 Best Instagram Tools for Designers in 2024

Instagram Templates / 21 Dec 2020

7 Best Instagram Tools for Designers in 2024

As one of the most popular social media channels, it is important to make the most of your presence on Instagram. This applies to business and individual brands.

Your photos, videos, stories, and reels can say a lot about you and your business. Much of that starts with a good design that’s representative of the work you do.

Here, we’ve collected seven of the best Instagram tools to help you make the most of creating and sharing online.

Design Your Own Logo With LogoMyWay’s Logo Maker

Reviews / 21 Feb 2020

Design Your Own Logo With LogoMyWay’s Logo Maker

Creating a professional-looking logo design that effectively markets your company and its services is an essential part of creating a new startup – and thanks to the wide array of tools and platforms available online you now have a range of options to choose from when it comes to how you will go about procuring a great logo for your company.

One such option that offers several considerable benefits is designing your logo using the new online logo maker by LogoMyWay. To help you take full advantage of this promising new logo design tool, we’ll take a look at the top benefits of using the LogoMyWay Online Logo Maker as well as the four-step process you can follow to ensure the best possible results.

Handy Collaboration & Site-Shipping Tools for Creatives From SiteGround

Reviews / 26 Nov 2019

Handy Collaboration & Site-Shipping Tools for Creatives From SiteGround

Many creatives and developers would agree that building and managing websites for their clients is fulfilling, yet quite time-consuming work. It can become increasingly difficult when many people are involved in such projects for handling different tasks like coding, preparing content, design, and in the end, shipping the final product to clients.

Luckily, our friends at SiteGround Web Hosting now offer a useful set of website management tools in one simple interface that help freelancers, developers, and web agencies work more efficiently and conveniently. Here is how these tools can help you streamline your work.

The Best Web Tools in 2019 (And How They’ll Help You)

Software / 28 Aug 2019

The Best Web Tools in 2019 (And How They’ll Help You)

Freelancers, businesses, and professionals all use a range of web tools and services to get their job done. The landscape changes every year, so today’ we’ve collected 45 varied and versatile choices to help you in your job.

You can let these web tools and services handle your daily time-consuming tasks (invoicing, WordPress installation, maintenance – hosting, image optimization, collecting content, and more) so you can focus on growing your business and projects.

Why build a website from scratch when you have some great themes at your disposal? Or why work on optimizing your landing page, when there are tools available to help you with this?

Let’s dive in.

A Year of SiteGround in 2018

News / 15 Feb 2019

A Year of SiteGround in 2018

Hosting Design Shack with SiteGround has been a great move for us. We’re here to share a quick update on how things are going, alongside some new developments from SiteGround in 2018!

Whether you’re looking for managed WordPress hosting, or something much more custom and complex, SiteGround has you covered.

They’ve released a host of new updates and features (many with WordPress in mind), making it a great choice for hosting a site that runs on this CMS.

What’s a Progressive Web App (And Why Should You Care)?

Mobile / 10 Oct 2018

What’s a Progressive Web App (And Why Should You Care)?

In 2016, mobile users first surpassed those accessing the web from desktop devices. Since then, mobile hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down.

As everyone looks for how to make websites, and web apps, more mobile-friendly, you’ll increasingly start to come across the phrase “Progressive Web App”. Today we’re looking at what this is, how it differs from other technologies like AMP, and how you can get started.

How (And Why) to Grab a .design Domain for $5

News / 1 Jun 2017

How (And Why) to Grab a .design Domain for $5

Choosing a domain name is a tricky thing. You want something smart, original, and easy-to-remember. And you’re trying to find something that hasn’t already been snapped up.

Today we have a great deal for Design Shack readers, on a smart new TLD for designers — .design. Usually $35 per year, today’s your chance to grab your choice of domain for just $5! Read on to find out more.

14 Useful Tools & Websites for Designers

Business / 7 Sep 2016

14 Useful Tools & Websites for Designers

We thought we’d do something a bit different today, and feature a collection of some useful online tools and websites that we’ve recently found ourselves using more and more.

We’ll be looking at a design marketplace, a wire-framing tool, a HTML conversion service, and even a few lighter pieces, including a geeky comic. A broad range of different tools and services, but something for everyone. Hopefully you’ll stumble across something that you find useful in your next week at work!

Reality Check: Getting the Most Value for Your Money in a WP Theme

Business / 17 Aug 2016

Reality Check: Getting the Most Value for Your Money in a WP Theme

What does the value for money concept teach? Try this example: You’re in a restaurant, one of your favorite foods is a hamburger, and there are a dozen different hamburgers on the menu. Some cost more than others, but they all sound tasty.

Without giving it a second thought, you select the one that appeals to you the most. It may be the least expensive one on the menu, or the most expensive. It doesn’t matter. Selecting the one you’re in the mood for is what counts. That’s a choice based on value, not price.

As you eat the burger, it turns out to be exactly what you were expecting. If someone else had pointed out a different selection, and sold you on it, that might not have been the case. It’s the same in business. A smart business decision is based on value, and not the price tag.

The Benefits of Paid vs. Free Stock Images

Business / 20 Jun 2016

The Benefits of Paid vs. Free Stock Images

Are you ready to take your design projects to the next level? A great visual presence is the best way to make a first impression and grab hold of a user.

From web-based projects, to posters, or even packaging or billboard design, a great photograph is your best entry point. But where do you find high-quality images if you aren’t a great photographer? And how can you get them fast? What are the pros and cons of finding a commercial stock images vs. a free one? Let’s take a look…