Must Read Design Magazines

7 Must Read Design Magazines

Successful business people never stop learning. Whether it’s The Wall Street Journal or trade and design magazines, business professionals are always flooding their minds with new information to keep up with their industry. These days, valuable industry news is available at your fingerprints, 24 hours a day. College America compiled a list of the top design magazines…

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Psychology of Color

The Psychology of Color in Marketing and Branding

‘What colors will work for my brand?’ is a common question all marketers hear when it’s time for a brand refresh, especially considering the psychology of color in marketing and branding. Gregory Ciotti, a marketing strategist and contributor to Mashable, explores the misconceptions around the psychology of color in marketing, the importance of colors in…

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LinkedIn Photo Checklist

LinkedIn Photo Checklist

Your LinkedIn profile picture is the first chance you have to make a good impression online. A professional LinkedIn picture is essential if you are trying to find a job or make more connections. Consider this LinkedIn photo checklist before you upload a photo to your account. Emmie Martin, writer on strategy and careers verticals…

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Best Practices for Using GIFs and Cinemagraphs for Business

Best Practices for Using GIFs and Cinemagraphs for Business

GIFs and cinemagraphs are showing up across social media. A cinemagraph image is motionless, but has one remote part that moves continuously. Brands use GIFs and cinemagraphs for business to visually engage with social media fans. Brian Honigman explains the importance of GIFs and cinemagraphs in his article, “Best Practices for Using GIFs and Cinemagraphs…

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2014 Design Trend

2014 Design Trend

Keep it simple stupid is an old saying, but packs a new punch in 2014. This year, designers are transitioning back towards simplicity with this 2014 design trend. In a market saturated with “attention-grabbing” technology, it’s the simple things that stand out today. Consider the iconic Hersey Kiss ads from the early 1990’s. The simple,…

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Paper in the Digital Age

Paper in the Digital Age

Remember paper? We often forget what life was like before things went digital. So what happens to paper in the digital age? I was a designer long before the “digital age” and there are some things I still enjoy about paper. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the Internet… It’s filled with endless opportunities, clever…

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Market Research and Design

Bridging the Gap Between Market Research and Design

Experienced designers have seen it all – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Despite having good intentions, things can go wrong when market research and design mix. Understanding the research options, asking the right questions, and relating to your audience can help you balance the results between market research and design. Debbie Millman and Mike…

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What Makes a Great Headshot

What Makes a Great Headshot

The headshot — a formal portrait that includes only the subject’s head, neck, and shoulders — has been around for probably a century. But what makes a great headshot? Used originally by the entertainment industry (“glossies”), a great headshot today is a staple of nearly every professional sector, and headshots are a requirement of social media…

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Postal Changes Affect Direct Mail

How 2013 Postal Changes Affect Direct Mail

A new year brings new laws and regulations. The United States Postal Service (USPS) is no exception.

Earlier this year, the USPS mandated the Intelligent Mail Barcode. The Intelligent Mail Barcode is a sophisticated, mail tracking system that uses a barcode to track mail more efficiently.

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Mobile vs Responsive

Mobile vs Responsive Design

When it comes to mobile vs responsive, let the numbers do the talking. Do the math: 311 million people in just the US alone, half of whom – 155 million – have smartphones, and 28 percent, or 43.4 million people, use their smartphones as the primary way to access the web. So why are companies…

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Taylor Guitar Tour

Taylor Guitar Tour

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to take a tour of the Taylor Guitar factory here in San Diego. As a photographer, I’m excited by any chance to see something new, and as a (bass) guitarist, I’m excited to see how these fantastic objects are created.

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