Archiwum kategorii: Design

10 Tips On How To Generate A Logo

Post pobrano z: 10 Tips On How To Generate A Logo

A logo is one of
the best ways to communicate with your clientele and create a brand name for
your business. Many business owners struggle to create the right logo for their
business. Instead of just picking up a new design, it is better to follow a few
tips when creating the logo for your business. These few tips will make it easy
for you to get the right logo.

We will share with you ten different tips which you can
follow while creating the logo for your business.

1.
Understand your brand:

The first thing
which you have to ensure is the association of the logo with your brand. You
have to write down a few things which you need to associate with your brand.
Once you design the logo, you have to ask yourself if these things associate
with the logo design or not. Doing so will help you choose the right design.

2.
Industry reflection:

You should always
choose a logo design which reflects your industry. It will help you design a
more relevant logo, which can best present your business.

3. Get
the colors right:

The colors in the
logo should be such that they go well with each other. Also, they should
complement each other as well. Only when you get the colors right, the logo
becomes easy to decipher.

4.
Choose fonts wisely:

While designing, or
creating the logo, it is essential to understand that the fonts are not only
for creating the company name but also add a bit of personality to the logo.
Due to this very reason, you have to choose the fonts carefully. They should be
easy to decipher and should add to the look of the logo and the personality of
the business. Doing so will help you create a logo which can brand
your business
.

5.
Decide the type of logo:

Logos can be of
different types. You can choose one which uses only the brand name of the
company, or you can choose one which has an abstract design. When you generate logo
for your business, it is essential to first decide between different types like:

  • Monogram
  • Abstract
  • Mascots
  • Emblem
  • Wordmarks

Only once you can
decide the logotype, you can go ahead and create the right one for your
business.

6. Go
with simple design:

One thing which
most of the business owners and designers ignore is that you should always keep
the logo simple. Only when it is simple enough, people can associate it with
your business quite easily. You should ensure that at the most, you use two
colors in the logo and the fonts should be easy to read. The viewer should be
able to decipher the logo in a single glance. You have to keep this in mind
while generating the logo for your business.

7.
Choose a versatile design:

You need to
understand that the look of your business will not just be on your website. It
can be on your business cards, manuals, pamphlets and a variety of other marketing materials. Hence; you have to choose
a versatile design which will look good on all of these places.

8.
Decide the positioning:

You can generate
the logo in a horizontal or a vertical position. The choice is entirely up to
you. However, before you finalize the draft, it is essential to decide which
one you prefer and then choose accordingly.

9. Be
ready to revise:

You have to assume
that in the very first attempt, you can’t generate the perfect logo. That is why;
you will have to edit it at least a few times. You might have to change the
entire design and start from scratch as well. Instead of getting frustrated,
you have to understand that it is part of the process and therefore; be ready
to change the design.

10.
Make it readable:

Lastly, you have to
generate the logo in such a way that anyone can read it. Only when that is the
case, you can go for mass branding.

These are the ten
tips which you should always follow when generating a logo for your business. You
can easily brand your business with the help of the logo designed using this
guide. Once you follow this guide, it is effortless to get the right design in
a short time.

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What Web Designers Need to Know About Cyber Security

Post pobrano z: What Web Designers Need to Know About Cyber Security

When creating a website from scratch, there’s always a lot of
things to keep in mind. A lot of work goes into designing a website. However, a
lot more work has to go into securing it.

Cybercrime is on the rise, yet 7 out of 10 organizations fail the cyber
readiness test
. To improve the overall
cybersecurity, each member of the organization has to do their fair share. And
that also includes web designers.

Ensuring the code’s good, relying on a VPN to encrypt the
connection, protecting the passwords, etc. All of these things play a major
role in improving cybersecurity, so let’s take a closer look.

First Thing’s First

Writing a quality code takes a lot of time and effort, but it’s essential. Cybercriminals are agile and constantly working on ways that’ll help them navigate around a website’s code. Staying on top of trends and being familiar with the popular methods hackers use could prove to be invaluable.

Investing in ethical hackers after designing a website is a great
idea. They can help find any vulnerabilities and report them so that they can
be fixed.

Navigation

This refers to the general internet navigation rather than the
navigation of the website that’s being designed. Staying vigilant when browsing
the internet from the office computer can save everyone a lot of trouble.

There are countless of malicious websites that can compromise the
security of the computer. Over 350,000 new malicious programs are detected
every day. And even with good firewalls in place, some can still slip through
the cracks. Wise navigation is always advised.

Secure Connection

An internet connection that’s open to others poses major risks, as
it enables anyone with some skill to attack a device connected to that network.

The only thing that ensures a truly secure and private internet
connection is a VPN. VPN creates a tunnel between the device and the network.
It routes internet traffic through remote servers, providing an anonymous
connection with almost indecipherable encryption.

Relying on a VPN is especially important for those who often need to connect to public networks to make changes to the website.

Considering All Vulnerabilities

Even if the website itself was designed following the best
cybersecurity practices, there are other vulnerabilities.

Companies with social media accounts must ensure those accounts
are secure as well. Employee emails, personal and other accounts must be
considered as well.

Companies with BYOD policies have to ensure the cybersecurity of
each device. All vulnerabilities must be taken into account to really improve
the company’s cybersecurity.

Sensitive Information

Businesses that sell their products online must ensure all client
credit card information is completely secure.

The countless data breaches of the past few years have made many
people wary. Therefore, if a company doesn’t have proper security measures in
place, customers are more likely to take their business elsewhere.

While storing client information on a computer is essential, that
information must never land on a company’s website. No page should store
sensitive client information. This would only increase the chance of
cyberattack and has no benefits whatsoever.

Password Protection

Creating a strong password for a website is a must. Good passwords
are the first step towards improving the overall cybersecurity. So, web designers
should come up with one that’s impossible to guess.

Any public information about the business should not be in the
password. The best solution here is to rely on password managers that can
generate strong and unique passwords.

The Backup Plan

No matter how well-designed a website is, some mistakes will peek
through. This is why it’s always good to have a backup plan for the worst-case
scenario.

Having a backup plan will ensure that the best course of action is
taken in case of a breach. It will limit the potential losses, and it will be
easier to deal with the crisis.

Having a backup plan,
practicing safe internet browsing, and using a VPN. All of this is necessary to
improve the overall cybersecurity of the whole organization. None of these steps
should be skipped, as cybersecurity is not a single solution to a single
problem – it’s different parts working together.

Thanks for being a subscriber, here is your FREE house vector icons set.

What Web Designers Need to Know About Cyber Security

Post pobrano z: What Web Designers Need to Know About Cyber Security

When creating a website from scratch, there’s always a lot of
things to keep in mind. A lot of work goes into designing a website. However, a
lot more work has to go into securing it.

Cybercrime is on the rise, yet 7 out of 10 organizations fail the cyber
readiness test
. To improve the overall
cybersecurity, each member of the organization has to do their fair share. And
that also includes web designers.

Ensuring the code’s good, relying on a VPN to encrypt the
connection, protecting the passwords, etc. All of these things play a major
role in improving cybersecurity, so let’s take a closer look.

First Thing’s First

Writing a quality code takes a lot of time and effort, but it’s essential. Cybercriminals are agile and constantly working on ways that’ll help them navigate around a website’s code. Staying on top of trends and being familiar with the popular methods hackers use could prove to be invaluable.

Investing in ethical hackers after designing a website is a great
idea. They can help find any vulnerabilities and report them so that they can
be fixed.

Navigation

This refers to the general internet navigation rather than the
navigation of the website that’s being designed. Staying vigilant when browsing
the internet from the office computer can save everyone a lot of trouble.

There are countless of malicious websites that can compromise the
security of the computer. Over 350,000 new malicious programs are detected
every day. And even with good firewalls in place, some can still slip through
the cracks. Wise navigation is always advised.

Secure Connection

An internet connection that’s open to others poses major risks, as
it enables anyone with some skill to attack a device connected to that network.

The only thing that ensures a truly secure and private internet
connection is a VPN. VPN creates a tunnel between the device and the network.
It routes internet traffic through remote servers, providing an anonymous
connection with almost indecipherable encryption.

Relying on a VPN is especially important for those who often need to connect to public networks to make changes to the website.

Considering All Vulnerabilities

Even if the website itself was designed following the best
cybersecurity practices, there are other vulnerabilities.

Companies with social media accounts must ensure those accounts
are secure as well. Employee emails, personal and other accounts must be
considered as well.

Companies with BYOD policies have to ensure the cybersecurity of
each device. All vulnerabilities must be taken into account to really improve
the company’s cybersecurity.

Sensitive Information

Businesses that sell their products online must ensure all client
credit card information is completely secure.

The countless data breaches of the past few years have made many
people wary. Therefore, if a company doesn’t have proper security measures in
place, customers are more likely to take their business elsewhere.

While storing client information on a computer is essential, that
information must never land on a company’s website. No page should store
sensitive client information. This would only increase the chance of
cyberattack and has no benefits whatsoever.

Password Protection

Creating a strong password for a website is a must. Good passwords
are the first step towards improving the overall cybersecurity. So, web designers
should come up with one that’s impossible to guess.

Any public information about the business should not be in the
password. The best solution here is to rely on password managers that can
generate strong and unique passwords.

The Backup Plan

No matter how well-designed a website is, some mistakes will peek
through. This is why it’s always good to have a backup plan for the worst-case
scenario.

Having a backup plan will ensure that the best course of action is
taken in case of a breach. It will limit the potential losses, and it will be
easier to deal with the crisis.

Having a backup plan,
practicing safe internet browsing, and using a VPN. All of this is necessary to
improve the overall cybersecurity of the whole organization. None of these steps
should be skipped, as cybersecurity is not a single solution to a single
problem – it’s different parts working together.

Thanks for being a subscriber, here is your FREE house vector icons set.

The Brutalist Incense Holders of Kin Objects

Post pobrano z: The Brutalist Incense Holders of Kin Objects

When you think of exciting design, incense burners are not the first product that comes to mind. With these designs inspired by the brutalist movement, the designers at Kin Objects demonstrate once more that we should look for inspiration in unusual places.

The designs come from a couple of first-generation immigrants who landed to USA and Australia and decided to go back to their roots. With these incense burners, they blend their mixed origins to create unique designs.

The Brutalist Incense Holders of Kin Objects

Post pobrano z: The Brutalist Incense Holders of Kin Objects

When you think of exciting design, incense burners are not the first product that comes to mind. With these designs inspired by the brutalist movement, the designers at Kin Objects demonstrate once more that we should look for inspiration in unusual places.

The designs come from a couple of first-generation immigrants who landed to USA and Australia and decided to go back to their roots. With these incense burners, they blend their mixed origins to create unique designs.

5 Things You Should Never Forget in a Web Design Contract

Post pobrano z: 5 Things You Should Never Forget in a Web Design Contract

It is great fun to design a website. When your client is about to enter into a new project, all they do is put their complete faith on you to bring their ideas into life. Seeing a big smile on your happy client’s face is the most satisfying thing that any designer can ever ask for. But, even the best of the relationship with your client can go wrong if a proper web design contract is not in place.

A complete and solid contract can avert the concerns that you fear and try to avoid. A web design contract can be complicated or simple according to the project’s complexity and size but, there are certain elements that one should never miss even in the smallest of the contract. You and your client can save yourself a lot of trouble and time by simply having a proper web design contract with some of the key points mentioned in it. Here are the 5 things you should never forget in a web design contract.

Things, Your Client and You Own

Web design contract

There are various components when you design a website. When a contract is worked in print, it’s usually believed that the client pays 100% for your services and takes complete ownership of the work produced. But, it doesn’t remain that simple when you actually start developing the website and offering your services. So, it is very important to mention what you are offering and what you are not in the web design contract.

For instance, what should be done if your client wishes to change web hosting in the future, the layout, etc.? Other things that you may include in the web design contract are – theme or web layout ownership, the web design, site development coding, site’s CMS System, any intellectual property owned by the client or you, web copy, and more. To avoid any sticky legal mess, it is important to state each of the points in the web design contract clearly.

Client and Your Layout Responsibilities

When a website is designed, it is a two-way process. Firstly, your responsibility is to ensure 100% perfection in what you deliver and also maintain your repute in the industry. And secondly, your client’s responsibilities to provide all the information you need to complete the project and also offer on-time feedback to help you with the on-going development.

Often clients fail to understand it, so always better to put down in writing like client need to provide the product info, photos, complete plan of the site, key information such as FTP or WordPress detail. One of the most vital things is who is going to upload the content, the client or the designer, which creates a lot of tension. So, it is always better to be clear from the beginning by including these points in the web design contract.

Mention Upfront or Part Payment

Create a few milestone for a big project

It might be a tricky situation when it comes to the payment part but it is the most vital one too. In order to ensure that you receive the full payment, never feel shy to get your payment upfront. Completing work and then getting paid is what you would never look forward to, as there are chances of the client ignoring or delaying your payment. If you cannot ask for the payment upfront, ensure to get part payments as you keep completing the work.

Mention each of the milestones whatever is discussed with your client regarding payment in the contract to avoid any confusion at a later date. For instance, if you have a $6000 project, you may divide and detail your milestone into 50% and 25%-25% ratio. Like 50% as deposit, 25% at the completion of the design phase and another 25%at the final site delivery phase. Never start the work without getting any upfront fees.

Charge for Any Kind of Additional Work or Time

It is important to note that if you do good work, clients will automatically come to you for your web design/development services. You don’t need to do any work other than the work mentioned in the contract or revisions free of cost to please your client. If you are given any additional work by the client, you might feel it is just a matter of 30 seconds so let’s fix but never do so without charging the money.

Any kind of additional work must always be billed hourly. Even if you are visiting a client, ensure to charge for it, whether effort or your time, it is your money. Apart from web design, if you also offer hosting services, mention the same in the web design contract. Keep the detail handy about how often and how much your client needs to pay you.

Contract Termination or Change of Terms

If you don’t wish to work with a client for whatever reason it might be or if you want to change any clause, your contract must have the point that you are allowed to do so to avoid any problem in the future. It definitely has to be fair for the client as well, for example, giving a notice period before leaving or coming to a decision from both parties before changing a clause.

In case of termination of the contract, the web design contract must have the details like within how many days the client properties like discs, images, etc. have to be returned, etc.

You must think of every situation and then draft the web design contract.  Do you have any other important points to share that must be included in a web design contract? Feel free to share.

10 Examples of Business Cards that are the Perfect Conversation Starters

Post pobrano z: 10 Examples of Business Cards that are the Perfect Conversation Starters

In the age of online branding, some would think that business cards are a thing of the past. It’s far from true!

Printed business cards are still a very simple and practical way to give out your information to anyone, in any situation. In some cases, handing out a business card can be the best conversation starter, especially if you have been creative with your design.

How to create an impact with your business card and start a conversation

To create an impact, your business card has to be different from others in one way or another. It can be with a creative idea, special folding, or a provocative text on it, but it can be more simple. If your business card is well-crafted and printed, it will often be enough to have people asking questions.

1. Go with different shapes

Not all business cards should be rectangular. Modern cutting techniques make it very affordable to shape your cards differently. Pull out an oval-shaped business card and you will see some surprise in the eyes of your interlocutor.

Image source

2. Be creative with your paper choices

The people who are handed your business cards will not only be able to see it, but they will also feel it even if they are not looking at it. The right choice of paper can say a lot about your business and it can be a great conversation starter.

3. Add a quote on your business card

There is a reason people like to share quotes on social media, the quotes are an easy way to let someone famous say something deep better than you would have said it yourself.

Add a quote that reflects your business values on your card, and people will surely start talking about it when they are handed the card.

4. Don’t put a phone number

Or don’t put another information that people are expecting to see on your business card. People will notice it and ask about it, which can be the beginning of a conversation. You can for example answer that you are generally too busy to take phone call, but that you are willing to give them your phone information, this will make them feel more unique.

5. Choose a creative job title

If you are in a large corporation, you may not have your word to say on this, but if you are a freelancer or a small business owner, it’s up to you to choose the job title you want, and, let’s face it, CEO or General Manager sound a bit weird when you are a sole proprietorship.

Why not try something a bit different and go for “Chief Visionary Officer” or “Master of All That Is”, it will surely get you more reactions than a dull title.

6. Use a QR code

Nowadays, QR codes are popular enough to be used safely and know that people will know how to use them. The nice part about QR code is that they let you expand the reach of your business card. You can use them to send people to your website, of course, but you can also use them to let people add you on LinkedIn or any other creative thing that you can think of.

7. Use AR on the card

Augmented Reality is the amazing new technology that allows you to add all kinds of content to a visual when filming it with your cell phone. Using AR, you can, for example, add some video introduction to your business card.

8. Use photography

A picture is worth a thousand words. Everyone knows that, or at least everyone should know it. Using powerful photo imagery is a great way to have people more interested in your business card.

9. Use a coupon on your business cards

A business card is not only a medium to share some printed contact information, it also acts as a proof that you have met a certain person. To reward the people you have met in person, add a coupon code for your services or products, this way you will be sure that they will not forget you.

10. Use 3D on your business cards

3D or embossing will bring your business cards to a whole new world. It allows you to be more creative and add special effect, but also to ensure that people will be able to feel your business cards, not only to read them.

Not Your Ordinary Matchbox Art: Drunk Cats at the Bar

Post pobrano z: Not Your Ordinary Matchbox Art: Drunk Cats at the Bar

On the Internet, there are two types of content that people never seem to get tired of: cats doing silly stuff and drunk people doing even sillier stuff. These premisces set, you can easily imagine the viral potential of these illustrations of drunk cats doing silly things.

These matchboxes with a vintage look-and-feel illustrative style were created by Arna Miller, a Denver-based artist who worked on this project with her husband Ravi Amar Zupa.

Not Your Ordinary Matchbox Art: Drunk Cats at the Bar

Post pobrano z: Not Your Ordinary Matchbox Art: Drunk Cats at the Bar

On the Internet, there are two types of content that people never seem to get tired of: cats doing silly stuff and drunk people doing even sillier stuff. These premisces set, you can easily imagine the viral potential of these illustrations of drunk cats doing silly things.

These matchboxes with a vintage look-and-feel illustrative style were created by Arna Miller, a Denver-based artist who worked on this project with her husband Ravi Amar Zupa.

5 Watch design trends we’re seeing in 2019

Post pobrano z: 5 Watch design trends we’re seeing in 2019

If you’re a watch brand in 2019, you’d best be doing something different, otherwise you’re just going to get lost in the sea of companies out there all vying for our attention. At Designer Daily, not much slips past our nets when it comes to noticing the design trends currently happening in the world of watches! That’s why we’re going to list a few of the noticeable crazes we’ve been seeing lately. Strap in and watch out for these.

Big watch faces

Go big or go home, it seems. Diminutive square faces and circular watch faces the size of a quarter coin are no good here, as wrist-swallowing designs are the order of the day in 2019. We can see why such designs are prevalent, after all, why buy a watch if it doesn’t get noticed? Jaeger-LeCoultre is doing some pretty cool world-changing things with its Geophysic Universal Time steel watch, in particular, as it’s literally a large map of the world. This is done quite tastefully and is elegant enough to stand side-by-side with Jaeger-LeCoultre’s other models, but its $14,300 might be a little off-putting for some. Despite that, it could be worth checking on Chrono24 to see if there’s a cheaper one online.

Notable collabs

Hublot has collaborated with Ferrari, Nixon with Metallica, and even Swatch with a famous painting pig called Pigasso. These days, joining forces with big names for a cooperated design is a wise marketing move, as you get two camps interested in your watch that may not have been otherwise. Which metalhead fan could honestly say they would have bought a Nixon watch if some designs didn’t feature album art from ‘Ride the Lightning’ or ‘Master of Puppets?’ Sponsoring celebrities to be brand ambassadors for your watch brand will always be a thing, but working together on new projects is a trend that will only get bigger.

Weird and wonderful

It’s not completely uncommon for unusual watch designs to pop up here and there, but 2019 will see them more than ever. Swatch has always been known to push the boundaries for what’s considered a “normal” design, but respected watchmaker Richard Mille has even gone a bit wacky with a series of sweets-inspired watches. Of course, let’s not forget H. Moser & Cie., which recently made a watch from living plants and even a model that simply chimes you the time instead of having hands.

Simplistic

Why so fancy? Swiss watch brands are known to release highly complex watches, with what you could call a “busy” watch face and too many dials than you even know what to do with. In going the opposite direction, companies like MVMT, Daniel Wellington, and Skagen are keeping things simple and producing designs which are literally a blank watch face with hour indicators, as well as an hour and minute hand – literally all you need to know the time during the day. These designs are a lot cheaper, too, which generally keeps customers interested.

Fitness features

Finally, if your watch isn’t checking your heart rate or counting your steps, is it even a watch? Smartwatches like the Apple Watch and Samsung Gear have become increasingly popular, as consumers love to have the apps that keep track of everything from the amount of calories burned to how much water was drunk that day. TAG Heuer even released its Connected Modular 45 smartwatch, a true sign that even longstanding Swiss companies are feeling the pressure of staying relevant in the modern age.