Wednesday November 20, 2013 Alizzaa Morrie

The Basics of Mobile Websites

Smartphones are no longer just a luxury for the rich. According to a survey ordered by New Relic there are more smartphones activated each day than there are babies born. More and more, our lives are migrating to our phone as we use apps as part of our daily lives, as well as use our phone it to stay up-to-date on the world and its events. If you are running your own website, you want to consider creating a mobile site to ensure that you reach your intended audience no matter what device they are using.

Sunday July 7, 2013 Luke Clum

Inspiring Interactive Infographics & Microsites

Single-page microsites are a great way to create interactive and informative infographics. By encouraging users to physically engage with your site, you are more likely to interest them in your content and effectively convey your message. Infographics in the form of microsites can highlight a specific element of your brand and provide more detailed information than a full website might have space for.

Sunday June 9, 2013 Luke Clum

What Designers Can Learn From Agile Philosophies  

According to the Agile manifesto, the highest priority of Agile development is to “satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery  of valuable software.” Any designer can appreciate this goal, despite some hesitancy about doing what it takes to get there. But designers who want to stay relevant in a fast-evolving industry should take note: the traditional Waterfall approach is outdated, and Agile is here to stay.

Wednesday May 8, 2013 Adrienne Erin

How Does Web Design Impact SEO?

Every business website should have a clear goal. In most cases, the goal should be one of two things: either converting visitors into leads, or converting visitors into actual customers. The former generally applies to businesses that sell larger products or services like swimming pools, while the latter applies to businesses that sell products that can be purchased online and then shipped.

Monday April 15, 2013 Luke Clum

How To Improve Your Site’s User Experience

User experience fuels the success of web design. Like it or not, functionality trumps a pretty design every time. Internet users most often browse websites with some kind of goal in mind: to find information, buy a product, read reviews, find contact information, etc. The quest to achieve that goal is easily and often met with friction on websites that are slow, require long registration processes and have a messy design.

Friday March 1, 2013 Luke Clum

How To Manage Your Workload As A Freelancer

In recent years, an increasing number of American workers have been leaving corporate cubicle gigs and starting freelance careers. It’s not just the freedom and flexibility that inspires people to branch out on their own. Many of today’s independent contractors didn’t exactly opt for a freelance lifestyle, but rather, started working at home after their employer closed shop or reduced their workforce to save money.

Thursday February 7, 2013 Adrienne Erin

How Designers are Using Pinterest to Gain a Wider Audience

It takes a lot for a social media site to compete with Facebook and Twitter. Pinterest is doing just that, and it’s with the help of designers. It’s no secret that people are photo-driven, and nothing is more engaging than a stunning or shocking photo. That’s the basis for Pinterest, and it’s why you have to be on there.

Saturday December 22, 2012 Luke Clum

The Importance of Functional Design

Any good web designer knows that every decision they make is a balance (or occasionally a struggle) between aesthetic and functional requirements. Each small decision – like the choice to make a clickable link slightly larger, thereby decreasing the difficulty in clicking it – gets tallied up into a sum total of the user experience.

Tuesday November 27, 2012 Luke Clum

Essential Guidelines For Using Photos In Modern Web Design

Photography adds something to a website that even the most sophisticated of vector design and illustration can’t replicate. A photo can add depth and interest, a sense of humanity, and interaction with other elements in ways that are endlessly changeable and interesting. There are a lot of ways that your images can be used, but for maximum effect, try out a few techniques that will take your photos to the next level.