Articles - Page 130

How to Design a Logo / 5 Sep 2018

5 Quick Tips for Fixing a Bad Logo Design

How many times have you walked into a project where the logo is a mess? Bitmap designs. Poor color choices. Lack of contrast. Inappropriate typography. A shape that doesn’t work anywhere. Here’s how to fix a bad logo design.

There are so many issues when it comes to bad logo design. And you’ll know one the minute you see it. These poor instances of design tend to stick out like a sore thumb.

But is there anything you can do? If the client isn’t in love with the miserable mark, you can make some quick fixes to at least turn the logo into something a little more usable. Here are a few tips (starting with a collage of bad logos!) and examples of quick fixes that can help improve a logo.

Reviews / 5 Sep 2018

What’s That Font? Find Out With WhatFontIs

Do you ever get stuck spinning your wheels on a project because of missing font information? From elements with missing source files to clients that want a font that “looks like (insert company name here)”, you need a font identification tool.

WhatFontIs is the best identification service to help you find the fonts you need. Today we’re diving in to see how it works, and what you can accomplish with it.

Typography / 3 Sep 2018

Is Your Website Font Size Too Small? Large Text Is In

The standards for typography on the web have shifted. Designers are going with bigger, easier to read typography that is more seamless and consistent across devices. The trend toward bigger web typography started with oversized treatments above the scroll, from headlines to more artistic hero header text elements.

Body text sizes concurrently started to increase on mobile devices to enhance readability. And from there, the trend started to trickle down to almost all aspects of web type. If you haven’t thought about the size of copy on your website recently, it’s time to revisit that 12 or 14-point/pixel body copy. Large text is in!

CSS / 22 Aug 2018

15 Tips for Designing Terrific Tables

Tables of information are boring. In a sense, they’re meant to be that way. A good table communicates a lot of information in a concise, easy to understand way. Because the emphasis really should be on the information, over-designing a table can kill the effectiveness. However, in the right hands, clever design can not only make a table more attractive but can actually increase readability.

Today we’ll take a look at several ways you can improve the functionality and aesthetics of your tables. One of the most common places we currently find tables online is on a web app’s pricing page so most of our examples will take this form, just keep in mind that these principles can apply to any type of informative grid (whether or not it’s actually a table).

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!

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.

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).

Business Card Templates / 3 Aug 2018

10+ Beautiful Letterpress Business Cards

Designing business cards can be tricky because it’s always difficult to make one which stands out from the hundreds of others in circulation! Letterpress definitely brings a new dimension to business cards.

If you are looking to have a few printed, here’s a range of catchy letterpress designs for inspiration.

The idea of adding depth and an embossed logo adds a completely new element, and could well be the best way to really make an impression.

Design a card that looks unique, feels high quality, and reflects well on your brand.

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!

Trends / 25 Jul 2018

Art Deco Graphic Design: A Classic Trend

Add some old-school charm to design projects, with an art deco-inspired design. Traditional, classic, and vintage styles are on-trend now, making art deco elements a fun and easy way to add a touch of something the evokes classic feelings while maintaining a modern touch.

Art Deco graphic design might be a trend, but it is not a new style. The style dates to the 1920s with the greatest popularity of the style lasting for about 15 years. Art deco took off in part due to a culture where advertising was gaining popularity. Art deco graphic design was a mass-produced style and was in everything from magazines to the lines of car styles to architecture to the clothing styles associated with the roaring 20s (such as flapper girls).

Read on to find out more about this trend, and how art deco graphic design is making a comeback!