Articles - Page 168

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

Freelancing / 29 Jul 2015

The Art of Saying “Yes” as a Freelancer

You always hear that saying “no” can be one of your best career options, but what if saying “yes” instead is the better choice? While there is no way to say yes to every idea, concept or request, you probably should make it a bigger part of your strategy.

As a freelancer, saying yes can open up more opportunities and help you connect with clients. Particularly as a young freelancer, having doors opened to you – rather than closed – is an important step in building your creative business. So here are a few reasons why you should change your mindset and instinctly think “yes” when asked about a project, rather than no.

Layouts / 27 Jul 2015

Modular Design: The Complete Primer for Beginners

There are a lot of block and card style designs out there right now. For designers, they are both trendy and functional. The look is streamlined and simple and in terms of website design, works great in responsive frameworks.

The root of this design trend is modular design. And regardless of what you think, it’s not new. Modular design is rooted deep in design theory and has been used by a number of designers for a long time. Today we’re delving into the background, and practical applications, of modular design!

Graphics / 22 Jul 2015

Choosing and Creating Backgrounds for Design Projects

From patterns, to videos, to images, there are a lot of things to choose from when it comes to selecting the perfect backdrop to any design project. While the texture or image you choose is not necessarily intended to be a main part of the overall message, it can have quite an impact.

Backgrounds can be subtle, bold, static, dynamic or non-existent. And backgrounds in today’s projects are often more than just a beige canvas, and are an integral – and integrated – part of the overall design scheme. The trend in background design may even lead some to ask where the background ends and the foreground begins. Today we’re sharing a few tips and tricks for how to choose an effective background.

Google Fonts / 21 Jul 2015

Typekit vs. Google Fonts: Pros and Cons

Choosing the right font is an important aspect of any web design project. There are hundreds, even thousands, of great options out there and many can be used with free licenses thanks to tools such as Adobe Typekit and Google Fonts.

But is one service better than the other? Is there a benefit to Google Fonts or Typekit over the other? And just how can you get started with these tools if you have not used them yet. You are in luck, because today we’ll answer those questions.

Reviews / 20 Jul 2015

How to Test HTML, CSS, and JS Programming Skills

How do you know if someone really has programming chops? It’s an important consideration, especially if you are planning to add someone to your design and development team.

Tests for Geeks has a ways for you to find out more about each potential job candidate before you make the hire with a set of tests that can tell you how well someone understands anything from HTML to search engine optimization. It’s one of those little tools that can make life that much easier. Here’s how it works.

Business / 15 Jul 2015

How to Create a Twitter Header Photo: Examples and Best Practices

With more than 302 million monthly users and 500 million tweets per day, chances are you are using Twitter to promote yourself, brand or business. (And if you aren’t using the 140-character platform, what are you waiting for?)

Twitter customization is a big part of your social media strategy. As a designer, creating a great header photo is an important part of the puzzle. Here we’ll take a look at ways to create a header photo and overall profile that stand out among the millions of other Twitter personalities out there and showcase a few pages for design inspiration.

Business / 14 Jul 2015

10 Smart Freelancer Tips to Use Every Day

Whether you are a full-time freelancer or it’s just a part-time gig, you need to be smart about your time and business. The most successful freelancers have developed a set of personal rules and routines that help them work efficiently and effectively.

Here, we have 10 things you can try every day to develop and train yourself to become a better freelancer. Your daily workflow is just one more tool to help you on the path to small business success.

Graphics / 13 Jul 2015

How to Use Stock Photos That Don’t Suck

It happens to all of us at some point: you have been tasked with a design project that just does not have any art. That’s when the idea of using stock images creeps into your mind. But you have to use them in a way that, frankly, doesn’t suck.

The good news is that you can use stock images in projects without looking cheesy or fake. There are a lot of good places to find great stock images that you can use in a number of ways. Your mission is to make sure they integrate with your final design and don’t suck.

Reviews / 9 Jul 2015

Share Your Own Story With a Creative Multi-Purpose Theme

Here at Design Shack, we love tools that make life easier. WordPress themes are one of those tools. Themes can help you save time with a ready-made framework that you can customize on the way to getting a website online quickly.

Story by Pexeto is a WordPress theme worth talking about. Today, we’re going to explore the theme, what makes it special and how it could help you in your own design projects.

Layouts / 7 Jul 2015

7 Website Design Mistakes That Drive Me Nuts

Sometimes websites make me grouchy. I click with anticipation and then… design disaster. Admit it, you have grumbled at the screen more than a few times, too.

From poor type to missing links to usability issues, I am going to share the mistakes that just drive me absolutely bonkers. Take heed! These are things to address and fix on your own site, before someone else comes across them!

Inspiration / 6 Jul 2015

How to Create a Google+ Cover Image: Examples and Best Practices

A Google+ cover image is more than just a photo. It is the first impression you are giving a potential customer or user about your business or website. The photo should represent who you are, what you do, and why users should engage with your page.

It should also serve as a gateway to other actions. Google+ is a business gateway and social media platform. The information you provide and share goes into search rankings and helps more users find you online. It all starts with a great cover photo.

Reviews / 2 Jul 2015

Power-Up WordPress With the Bridge Multi-Purpose Theme

Whether you’re a beginner or expert when it comes to building and working with websites, WordPress is a great option as a framework and content management system. Pair it with a great theme and you can get a site up and running in to time with a level of customization that works for your project.

Today, we’re going to take a look at Qode Themes and how you can use these tools to your advantage when building a website. Qode is one of the top sellers on Envato Market, with plenty of great premium WordPress theme options to choose from, including the popular Bridge Multi-Purpose Theme.