Articles - Page 157

Browse hundreds of articles, tips, and inspiring design collections. Find helpful design advice, or the perfect resource for your next project.

This Week in Design: May 30, 2014

This Week in Design / 30 May 2014

This Week in Design: May 30, 2014

Every element of change starts somewhere. Some changes happen quickly and with plenty of fanfare; others can go unnoticed. Designers should stop, observe and think about change. How does it happen? What are the implications? What comes next in our creative sphere? This week, that’s what we are focusing on here – change.

Every week, we plan to a look at major product releases and upgrades, tools and tricks and even some of the most popular things you are talking about on social media. And we’d love to hear what’s going on in your world as well. Have we missed anything? Drop me a line at [email protected].

10 Key Features of an ‘About’ Page

Business / 26 May 2014

10 Key Features of an ‘About’ Page

A great About Us page can make — or even break — your website. For many businesses this can be one of the most visited pages on your website and is a chance for visitors to learn about you and your products.

About Us pages need to be written in clear and simple language and should not be put together as an afterthought. Just like any other page on your site, develop a plan for what message this page should communicate and work from there. Most great About Us pages contain many common elements. Here are 10 things your About Us page needs to include (in no particular order!)

This Week in Design: May 23, 2014

This Week in Design / 23 May 2014

This Week in Design: May 23, 2014

It’s a design smorgasbord. From naming your design business – what does it mean – to a branding evolution and a fun design featuring animal tails, we’ve got you covered with a little something for everyone.

Every week, we plan to a look at major product releases and upgrades, tools and tricks and even some of the most popular things you are talking about on social media. And we’d love to hear what’s going on in your world as well. Have we missed anything? Drop me a line at [email protected].

GridGum Theme Marketplace Is Open for Business

Software / 21 May 2014

GridGum Theme Marketplace Is Open for Business

The GridGum launch is official. We first told you about the new responsive themes marketplace in April. And now that the shop is open, you can go see for yourself what it’s all about.

GridGum is a marketplace for only responsive, and highly vetted, themes for a variety of platforms. From Bootstrap to Foundation to Gumby or Skeleton to WordPress or Joomla, you can find a theme for almost any site through GridGum.

5 Tips for Creating a Fun Summer Color Palette

Inspiration / 19 May 2014

5 Tips for Creating a Fun Summer Color Palette

The official start of summer is just around the corner. Longer days, warmer temperatures and splashing in the lake or pool are just a few of the things that come with the change in season. When it comes to design, a change in seasons can create the urge to update your color palette as well.

With warmer days, warmer colors, brighter hues and even the use of more color are popular. And while you may not want to change the color scheme of an existing project — although you can – this season can be a great inspiration for designing a project with a summer-inspired color palette. Here are five tips for creating a great color palette with a few swatches to try based on each concept. Happy summer!

This Week in Design: May 16, 2014

This Week in Design / 16 May 2014

This Week in Design: May 16, 2014

This week you should try to get smarter. This is true every week, but our roundup today is focusing on tools, ideas and items that will make you work and feel just a little more educated. That’s what the design community is all about, right?

Every week, we plan to a look at major product releases and upgrades, tools and tricks and even some of the most popular things you are talking about on social media. And we’d love to hear what’s going on in your world as well. Have we missed anything? Drop me a line at [email protected].

Design Dilemma: Lots of the Wrong Experience

Design Dilemma / 13 May 2014

Design Dilemma: Lots of the Wrong Experience

Case: 11357 (we’re now not even using people’s initials because it’s a widely-read blog and we don’t want to cause trouble for anyone… except problem clients) wrote, asking for advice because he switched careers later in life and now wants to break into design.

He’s having a hard time finding a position and doesn’t know what to do. I could give him advice that will dash his hopes and ruin his life… or help him. This isn’t such an easy dilemma. So, join us as we delve into another Design Dilemma, helping to answer your questions, queries and concerns about the murky world of design

Freelancing 101: How Do I Promote Myself Without Looking Sleazy?

Business / 12 May 2014

Freelancing 101: How Do I Promote Myself Without Looking Sleazy?

One of the toughest things about working as a freelancer can be getting your name out there. How do you connect with the right clients? How can you help those companies find you and your work? And how can you do it without feeling sleazy?

It can be a tough balance. But there are ways to do it. With the right mix of marketing, promotion and word of mouth – and a few design tools – you can find potential clients and feel good about it.

This Week in Design: May 9, 2014

This Week in Design / 9 May 2014

This Week in Design: May 9, 2014

This week has been busy. From a list of the best new typefaces of the year being released to a new PayPal logo, there has been plenty of news in the design world. Add in a few fun topics as well – the Target Photoshop disaster that just won’t go away — and this week in design has been packed with news and information.

Every week, we plan to a look at major product releases and upgrades, tools and tricks and even some of the most popular things you are talking about on social media. And we’d love to hear what’s going on in your world as well. Have we missed anything? Drop me a line at [email protected].

Design Dilemma: The New Designer in Town

Design Dilemma / 8 May 2014

Design Dilemma: The New Designer in Town

This one just came in from Case: 292PLUTO-X (remember, we’re using case numbers instead of names or initials now). He’s a young recent graduate who moved to the big city (Seattle, which is a big tech center) and is confused about doing print vs. digital and wants to know which to pursue (both, of course, but more digital in Seattle) and how can he make connections to find a job.

So, join us as we delve into another Design Dilemma, helping to answer your questions, queries and concerns about the murky world of design

Horizontal Harmony in Design: Keep It Between the Lines

Layouts / 6 May 2014

Horizontal Harmony in Design: Keep It Between the Lines

Horizontal harmony. It’s one of those things that you seem to only notice when it is missing. Horizontal harmony is the relationship between elements across a design. It’s more than lines and rules; it’s also an invisible grid creates a sense of place for design elements.

How can you create horizontal harmony? While some techniques are easier than others, it is not an overwhelming concept. It just takes a little planning. By thinking about things such as a baseline grid, space between lines of text, positioning of elements and the overall aesthetic, horizontal harmony is just part of the design process.

This Week in Design: May 2, 2014

This Week in Design / 2 May 2014

This Week in Design: May 2, 2014

Sometimes a touch of something old reminds you of something new. This week the reminder of a forgotten book helped jog my creative thought process, while a new Wikipedia design concept really caught the attention of designers around the web.

Every week, we plan to a look at major product releases and upgrades, tools and tricks and even some of the most popular things you are talking about on social media. And we’d love to hear what’s going on in your world as well. Have we missed anything? Drop me a line at [email protected].