5 Tips for Graphic Designers to Sketch Wonderful Icons
Posted under: Summary: An effective guide on the process of wonderful icon designing.
Icons help us in navigating and emphasizing on some of the key aspects of web content as they are more of general separators and indicators. Icons work similarly like road signage’s and you would know that very well if you have ever been on the road, driving.
Icons help you in guiding through web application or a website to locate necessary information and resources in a timely manner.
Web icons should be clear in first few seconds of scanning, and express the apparent meaning of the web content. They do not distract from general web content while making navigational process simpler outlining important features of the website.
Image Courtesy: Charles Chan
The main values of icons usefulness are general project draft, steady lightning, outlook, considering the market, symbol, etc. Here are some of the important design tips for creative icon designing.
- Consider clear symbol – Make it a point to portray the exact web icon for better presentation of web content.
- Widen your potential market – You should be able to display supple and precise images as icons in place of comprehensive clip arts. Icons published on the page should be identifiable and fit the exact business areas. Simple and recognizable icons should go well with your web projects.
- Use remarkable color blend – You should consider testing different colors and shades. Attention grabbing colors with the unusual images will fetch your visitor’s interest with the desire to click on those icons. Design and create outstanding icons. Keep in mind that flash colors are annoying for the plain interface.
- Always think about prospective clients – Think about using common images that are standard and easily acknowledged by website visitors from any part of the world. You web icons are considered universal regardless of traditions, religions, boundaries and groups.
- Follow a streamlined process – Work on a basic concept and draw a sketch with the help of effective colors and forms. Seek help of a neighbor or a friend in order to find out if you were successful in designing a great web icon concept by grasping their attention within initial 1 or 2 seconds.
You can add some wonderful icons to your website and instigate visitors by being creative and artistic, in our opinion.
Top 10 Designer & Creative Resumes
People keep on switching jobs, or freelance graphic designers are forced to apply for different projects on a regular basis due to rough financial times.
Is there a way graphic designer can stand out from the pack and take hold of the interest of design firms as they are normally flooded with tons of resume applications? The most attractive way of grabbing an attention would be to design resume samples for job rather than penning it. Well designed and creative resume templates will definitely go a long long way at grabbing the opportunity you are waiting for and get you hired for the profession you have eyed all this while.
An eye catching and creative resume design could at least get you few moments of glimpse from a job recruiter that might become the deciding factor between getting the job you have applied for or not.
Here you can have a look at top 10 designer resumes that will motivate you to create an out of the box resume for your own job application.
- Francis Homo Resume
- Doni Kristian Dachi Resume
- Branko Resume
- H Sercan Tunali Resume
- Duhkine Resume
- Jolie Odell Resume
- Pixelprop Resume
- Sofiane Yaya Resume
- Varks Resume
- Yingzhu Luqiu Resume
Let us know about your thoughts and design tips on the creativity of these graphic designers.
Find & Design New Fonts Here
Typography is an awesome way of taking your designs to the next level. With our research, we have tried to find a pair of solution where you can search and create your own designer fonts for your next creative project.
Here are the resources you need:
If you’re looking to find new fonts, this is a great tool to use. It’s a great resource for designers chock full of amazing fonts – some for purchase and some great ones for free.
Not only can you search fonts by type or designer but they have a whole host of resources to help you learn how to use type well: a glossary, a blog, even a newsletter.
But if you really want to step it up to the next level, start creating your own fonts.
Brought to you by the people at Fontshop, with this program you don’ t have to depend on other people’s fonts, you can invent them yourself.
Fontstruct provides you with a grid and lets you create your own fonts with a series of geometric shapes – the options are almost infinite. Then download your font straight onto your computer!
It’s easy, creative and ups your design to the next level. Best of all – it’s free.
Richard Newland Quits as a Design Head of HSBC
Richard Newland has left the group of HSBC Company as the global head of design and retail network development at HSBC. Richard was with HSBC for almost seven years and will now be operating as an independent customer experience specialist.
He had been contracted to work on the creation and deployment of the HSBC’s global retail branch design formats with global workplace design along with HSBC Premier and Business.
There has been no announcement on a replacement for Newland as informed by a spokesman for HSBC bank.
‘My time at one of the world’s biggest brands has been fantastic, working with some wonderful people on some truly global transformation projects. However, the time is now right for me to find a new challenge’ says Newland.
Top 10 Incredible Beer Label Designs
Have you ever wondered why alcoholic beverages and their bottles have some of the best best label designs? Not sure about you, however I have always wondered about why wine containers, beer or whisky bottles dig up the coolest designer labels.
In the collection gathered below, we have tried to focus on some of the top beer label designs. Hope you like them!
1. Minister
3. Work beer
4. Shepherd Neame
5. Sailor beer
6. Sigtuna Ace Of Spades
7. Kürzer Alt
8. Water Malt Hops Yeast
9. Spooks Ale
10. Northwestern Style Pale Ale
People’s Choice Design Award Winner; Design Matters
The People’s Choice Design Award was announced by Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum at its annual gala on Thursday, October 20, 2011. Debbie Millman from Design Observer’s, and the originator of the popular Design Matters was the winner of this promising award.
Debbie Millman was behind over 100 shows on Voice America between years 2008-2009 before moving onto Design Observer in August of 2009 and has produced over 33 design podcast interviews. Ever since Curtis Fox started producing the Design Matters show, interviews have been recorded at the School of Visual Arts studio.
According to me Debbie Millman, Design Matters was unveiled in the month of February of 2005 with a basic concept and a telephone. She thought that it would be an awesome way to find out about design tips and know more about the brilliance of designers all over the world.
Design Observer is an exclusive publisher of the show; Design Matters and all podcasts are available for free on iTunes. The current producer is Curtis Fox of Curtis Fox Productions and show is backed by the School of Visual Arts and Sterling Brands. Technical support is endowed by Rainy Orteca and data research by Jennifer Simon.
Top 10 Home Office Design Tips
You deserve a lot more than just a desk and a chair, because it doesn’t really matter if your home office is for occasional errands, chosen space for conducting business, or simply for organizing your schedule and paying bills.
Why so? You will want to spend most of your time with dedication in the office if it reflects the comfort and design of the rest of your home. Here are top 10 home office design tips to keep in mind for creating an appealing, no-nonsense work space.
- Home Office Location Matters
- Home Office Furniture Should Serve You
- Invest in a Great Office Chair
- Paint Home Office Walls with a Color You Love
- Give Yourself an Effective Office View
- Choose Professional Home Office Accessories
- Organize Vertically & Horizontally
- Master Your Technology
- Light Up Your Home Office
- Inspire Yourself
Did we miss something? If you have some home office design tips to share, or you want to tell our readers how to decorate home office, please feel free to leave a comment below!
Graphic Designer Interview: Janak Desai
Janak Desai, logo design and animation pro who runs a design studio at www.DesignStudioSB.com was recently published as the featured designer over at 99designs.com blog.
Interestingly, Janak has won about 44 design contests at the 99designs and is on a roll with his awesome design skills.
We got an exclusive chance to speak with humble Janak Desai who belongs to India, and were able to get insight of an off-shore graphic designer along with some useful design tips. Read on..
DesigningTips.com – Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from and how did you end up being a designer?
Janak Desai – As you know, my name is Janak Desai and I am from India. I completed Advanced Animation Course in MAYA and started my career as a 3D Animator. I was very much interested in post production work of video editing and composting. Besides working as an animation artist, I also jumped into video editing and VFX course. While working on projects of animations, I was also able to make full videos with composting and editing whereas only thing missing was sketches of the logo for logo animation. I used to seek help from other 2D designers, who used to create logos and other design elements of animation for me.
When I started working independently, designing logos and other designs in vector were a challenge for me. I went through some struggle in this part of designing, however learned quite a lot from the online tutorials, e-books & design tip sites. I became skilled in designing logos, graphics elements etc with the help of reading and started taking brand design projects. Now I am a complete graphic designer along with an animation artist.
DesigningTips.com – Is it necessary to go to design school to learn how to be a good designer or is it enough to “attend the school of hard knocks?”
Janak Desai – I don’t think so. I did not learn designing in any design school or institute. But I will definitely like to point out that I had a lot of knowledge of designing being an animation artist. So that obviously helped in sharpening my skills.
I wouldn’t say that you don’t have to attend graphic design school to become a skilled designer however, only going to a design school and learning designing won’t make you a creative designer. You will have to learn a lot, independently of course, work on different projects and also learn from others.
DesigningTips.com – What are the key elements of a good design? Is good design a function of creativity … of sound experience … or both?
Janak Desai – Good design is a package of skills + understanding + appropriate visualization. Experience is helpful for-sure; however you have to attain certain level to use that experience.
DesigningTips.com – What inspires you, and your designs?
Janak Desai – You have to be creative every time and everywhere, not just in designs. If you think creative and act creative, you will be creative automatically when you are working on your design projects. Being creative inspires me the most!
DesigningTips.com – Is there any real difference between designing a brochure/pamphlet/logo, room in a home and clothing for a beautiful woman?
Janak Desai – I think it’s almost similar. I haven’t felt anything different while working on design projects.
DesigningTips.com – How do you work on your design projects? I mean, what design software, applications and design tools do you use the most for your projects?
Janak Desai – It all starts from your research. If I am able to find useful inspiration and proper material, I mix all the stuff, visualize and then sketch down the ideas. After that I start with Adobe Photoshop, and Illustrator.
DesigningTips.com – Are there ever times when design changes are radical?
Janak Desai – A lot of times 
DesigningTips.com – Can you tell us about your design portfolio and clientele (people you have worked with & for)?
Janak Desai – I have worked with a variety of clients around the world. All have different needs and diverse choices. Sometimes clients make me learn. And, I have ended up with quite a few awesome designs that I could never imagine before. Sometimes you have to make something which you don’t like but your client insists on working and you have to design it. I rarely put those designs in my portfolio.
DesigningTips.com – Any design tips you would like to share with fresher’s just starting out in the design industry?
Janak Desai – Don’t be afraid of the graphic design industry. Don’t start your career in this industry if you are forced to be a designer. If you like being creative and love designing then you will definitely grow in this industry with your passion. No specific design tips as such, just be yourself & love what you do!
You can find more about Janak Desai from his website here and his 99designs profile here.
Top 10 Creative Coffee Table Designs
You cannot compare coffee tables with an idle inventory anymore, and or useless furniture lying inside your house. Coffee table is one of the best interior design accessory to make your living room look good. And, you can confirm this by checking out our post today where we have gathered some of the best, actually top 10 creative coffee table design concepts from around the world.
As per our research, all these stylish and creative coffee tables are available for purchase from their respective designers. You can either Google search with their name for their designers information or leave us a comment and we will try our best to gather as much information available.
So what are we waiting for coffee lovers? Start scrolling below to browse through the images of top 10 coffee table designs and see if something inspires you to be an interior designer, or how to decorate your living room. Get home decorating ideas below!
Gloria Coffee Table
Venus Coffee Table
Theta Coffee Table
Baxton Studio Barbara Wenge-Color Adjustable Coffee Table
Serena Oval Coffee Table
Chrome Plated Coffee Table
Ida Black Oak Coffee Table
Istikbal Stella Glass Top Coffee Table
Howard Miller Round Glass Table with Clock
Dekon 2 Coffee Table
Top 10 Toilets in the World
Toilets are always an important part of individual on the go, whether we call ‘em a loo, bathroom, restroom, washroom, toilet, lavatory, or the facilities. Here we have tried to compile a list of best designed, top 10 toilets around the world. Our sources for this article include Yahoo, Reuters, Virtual Tourist etc…
- Bryant Park, New York City, New York
It’s a spotlessly neat and clean washroom. Would you have ever thought of a toilet with an attendant, pleasant music, and lovely flowers in one the most populous and busiest cities of United States? Well there is one in Bryant Park of New York City forsure. - Covent Garden, London, United Kingdom
Believe it or not, Covent Garden facility in London was chosen as the best one around and honored with 2011 “Loo of the Year” award for its efficiency and cleanliness. - Madonna Inn, San Luis Obispo, CA
It’s a waterfall urinal that comes to life when used and located in one of the peculiar hotels of the San Luis Obispo, CA. Unacquainted; be careful! - Thornbury Castle, South Gloucestershire, United Kingdom
While trying to find this hidden washroom, you can also get to walk in the footsteps of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII. Now can you actually locate it? - Place De La Madeleine Public Toilets, Paris, France
Noteworthy Place De La Madeleine lavatories are almost a century old, dating back to 1905 and quite a stunner still like most other conventional attractions in the city of Paris. - Scholastica Baths, Ephesus, Turkey
The extraordinary public toilets here at Ephesus not only offer a glimpse of traditional set of values but also welcome tourists to take a seat on the no-longer functional commodes. - The Outhouses of Elk Falls, Elk Falls, Kansas
Must check-out the annual competition held in November each year with grand prize money of $60, and tour that features The Outhouses of Elk Falls in-and-out. - Opera Toilet, Vienna, Austria
The Opera toilets in Vienna are the best attraction around with complete operatic music, show posters, murals of the interior of the city’s opera house-proper, and even stalls referred to as “loges,”. - UFO Restaurant, Bratislava, Slovakia
The UFO Restaurant urinals face large windows in Bratislava, however have enough frosted glass to keep an appropriate view for the public outside. - Hundertwasser Toilets, Vienna, Austria
The randomly shaped tiles with playful colors of Hundertwasser Toilets dub it as the “Toilet of Modern Art”. That’s the second facility to get on our list from Vienna, WooHooo!!
We hope you have enjoyed our list of world’s top 10 creative toilets with best design. If, by any chance, we missed your favorite toilet, please feel free to let us know about it in comments section below.
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