Usually, a designer strives to think outside of the box. While this is what we (should) do best, when it comes to the web, sticking to standards will make it easier on the user. Magazines have a table of contents near the front, and page numbers in the corners. Newspapers are divided into sections, headlines…
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Many designers come up with amazing concepts while brainstorming for a project, and everything appears to be perfect up until the actual design starts. Many times, the artwork doesn’t always emphasize the potential of the original idea. One of the biggest problems is the wrong use of typefaces. Something every designer should understand is the…
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Ultimately, in any project, we want the client to receive a website that not only works, but is easy to navigate and visually pleasing to them. So let’s say we did our research and cranked out the best design ever made, if the client doesn’t like it, then tons of time has been wasted and…
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There are several tools that I don’t think I could do web development without. They give me the power to find out valuable information about the pages I’m viewing. They even let me edit the HTML and CSS directly, without having to refresh the browser window! I can debug JavaScript, test the page with different…
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Note: There is a much better, up-to-date blog from Holly on this topic, 15 Stock Photo Resources. Stock photography is an excellent resource to designers because we don’t always have the time or outlets to take our own pictures or hire a photographer. When I was just beginning as a designer and visiting these stock photography…
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I have always wondered what open source tools are out there for web design just in case I decide to boycott Adobe or Adobe goes bankrupt or something. It turns out there are some pretty good options for web design. None of them are quite as good as Fireworks or Dreamweaver, but they do get…
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The process of designing is obviously different for everyone, and it’s also hard to reflect on your own method. I often find myself alternating between routines and never sticking with one in particular. One of the most important things for me to remember is the resources that are available to me. I would say my…
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Probably one of the most important pieces of knowledge a designer could have is understanding the difference between CMYK and RGB color modes. Say you have white paper with black dots, and you allow 50% of the paper to show through: you would have a shade of gray. Depending on the concentration of the dots…
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So as an aspiring designer in the digital world, I am always looking for ways to increase my knowledge about the programs I use to design, mainly Photoshop, Illustrator and Flash. Personally, I got my footing through school, and then started reading books and looking at tutorials online. All of these have helped me gain…
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File formats are essential when it comes to compatibility and storing images. We all have heard of a .jpg, but what exactly is it? Below, I will give a simple definition of the common file formats used for images.
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