Interviews – Web Design Ledger https://webdesignledger.com By Web Designers for Web Designers Tue, 18 Aug 2020 16:45:38 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://webdesignledger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/cropped-Web-Design-Ledger-512x512-Pixel-32x32.png Interviews – Web Design Ledger https://webdesignledger.com 32 32 6 Web Design Concepts Proven To Increase Conversions https://webdesignledger.com/6-web-design-concepts-proven-increase-conversions/ https://webdesignledger.com/6-web-design-concepts-proven-increase-conversions/#respond Tue, 18 Aug 2020 16:45:38 +0000 http://webdesignledger.com/?p=50318

Every business owner wants more conversions. More conversions equal more sales, and more sales mean exponential business growth. But netting those conversions can prove challenging, especially if your website is not in the best shape. This is where web design plays a major role. The web design concepts you utilize directly impacts growth and how […]

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Every business owner wants more conversions.

More conversions equal more sales, and more sales mean exponential business growth. But netting those conversions can prove challenging, especially if your website is not in the best shape.

This is where web design plays a major role.

The web design concepts you utilize directly impacts growth and how many of those coveted conversions your business racks up.

Let’s say your SEO is on point, but conversions are lacking. Yes, optimization is a must-do for your website.

Unfortunately, if you’re not converting site visitors, all is for not.

From New York to Houston, a web design agency could be useful to fix that conversion problem. But you can certainly develop a web design plan starting today.

This is why we compiled the following 6 web design concepts proven to increase conversions.

Let’s dive in!

1. Grab Attention In 8 Seconds Or Less

The human attention span has been compared to that of goldfish.

This may be a myth, but there is no denying that online consumers have a very short attention span.

To ensure you lead potential customers down the path toward conversions, you need to grab their attention fast.

The 8-second rule is a web design concept that can help you increase conversions.

This small window of opportunity is critical, so make it count, because you are on the clock.

For example, you can employ creative imagery to grab attention, like this example from Mailchimp:

This artistic image has little to do with email marketing, the core of Mailchimp’s business. However, it is so unique, it catches the site visitor’s eye quickly.

Other web design assets for grabbing attention in under 8 seconds include:

  • Large signup and CTA buttons
  • Power words and clever terms that are engaging
  • Video and other interactive content
  • Hover effect on buttons and links
  • Animated transitions in sections
  • Pop-ups that add value to the site visitor
  • Big benefit headlines that are concise

Web design is not solely about making Google happy. A clever design that grabs attention quickly can have a serious positive impact on your conversion rate.

2. Encompass Speed And Increase Conversions

“Most industries are highly competitive, and to gain a competitive advantage in your market, you need to have a fast website. This is a search optimization (SEO) essential that is tethered to web design.

This is especially so for image search and compatibility with Google’s spiders. If images & design are slow to render, Google views that as an unfavorable compared to your competitors in a particular SERP” says Matt Bertram, co-host of BestSEOPodcast.

Let’s face it: A consumer’s attention span is pretty low. But not as low as his or her patience level. Did you know that a one-second delay in page loading can decrease your conversion rates by 7 percent?

Is your website fast enough to keep potential customers on-page and off your competitors’ pages? To find out, you can utilize a few different speed check platforms, such as Google PageSpeed Insights:

Pingdom is another good site speed platform you can use to get insight on just how fast your website is, on desktop and mobile, as well as info on what you can do to fix poor page load time.

3. The “Rule Of Thirds” Is Also A Web Design Concept

The Rule of Thirds is a very important photography concept that can also be used in web design.

What is the Rule of Thirds exactly?

This web design concept divides a screen by thirds horizontally and vertically.

The intersections created by this division become very important strategic points.

The Rule of Thirds looks like this for web design:

You can see that the intersecting lines are more enticing to the eyes. This could be why the Apple web design team placed the iPhone image directly in the middle of the bottom horizontal line. 

The price point also sits strategically between the two top intersection points, just above the horizontal line:

The Rule of Thirds can help you design each section of your website with strategic focal points in mind. You can place CTAs on these intersection points, key marketing messages, product images, and more.

4. Maximize Conversions With Powerful Color Design

Color remains an essential part of quality web design, especially when it comes to increasing conversions. But choosing the right color scheme for your website, and subsequently, your brand can prove a bit difficult.

There are a ton of colors to choose from, but you should consider employing a bit of color psychology. That’s right, consumers are more motivated to buy from a website based on the color scheme used.

Here’s a color wheel you can use:

Most consumers don’t even know that color played a role in the purchase. For example, a HealthTech website will need to convey trust, empathy, and security on their website to increase conversions. The colors used could be:

Using this color psychology, a website in the HealthTech industry can convey confidence to buy or signup quickly using a subconscious psychological connection.

However, do not just pick a few colors and start developing your website. Quality web design using color means utilizing the power of contrast as well.

Contrast will ensure headlines, CTAs, and text standout against your primary brand colors.

Contrast looks like this in web design:

You can see how HubSpot used contrast and a mixup of their primary brand colors to create a visually aesthetic website that also serves up a psychological connection.

5. Employ The Law Of Similarity (Gestalt Principle)

The Law of Similarity, Gestalt Principle, is another web design concept worth employing to increase conversions.

How? The Law of Similarity states that the human eye groups similar objects, which enables the human brain to make sense and organize what we see.

This is important for web design since websites have multiple aspects. By grouping together these aspects using the Law of Similarity, site visitors can easily and quickly process website information and make a purchasing decision.

For example, you can group testimonials with CTA buttons to drive more conversions. Here’s how this looks on a website using the Law of Similarity:

You also serve up a powerful user experience when using the Law of Similarity as a web design concept. By having main aspects of your site grouped, like headline, paragraph text, and CTA, information is much easier to process for the visitor.

6. Increase Conversions By Using Real People In Images

To make your business more familiar, it is essential to put real people front and center.

Most consumers can tell a stock image from a unique one, so having the people of your business front and center on your website can make the difference between conversion, or lost customer.

This supports the current shift in marketing messaging for brands. In fact, a study found that 80 percent of consumers are more likely to make a purchase from a business that provides a personalized touch. Images of you and your team can achieve this.

A good example small businesses can draw from is this image from Paradise Service Technologies:

You can see the people that represent this small business. Having a personalized, real-life touch within your web design is paramount. 

Videos are also exceptional for delivering these personalized moments consumers demand in today’s overly competitive market. The same website that served up the team image employed video content as well:

Are You Using Web Design Concepts To Increase Conversions?

Creating a website for your business is more than simply putting optimized text and images together.

You need to add that human element in order to net the conversions you want and need for growth and success.

The above 6 web design concepts can prove useful while revamping your website. You may choose a few to implement, or maybe even all.

Combining every web design concept, and more you find online can ensure that conversion rate continues to rise. Happy designing!

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Pre-Built Websites and How to Use Them to Enrich Your Designs https://webdesignledger.com/pre-built-websites-and-how-to-use-them-to-enrich-your-designs/ https://webdesignledger.com/pre-built-websites-and-how-to-use-them-to-enrich-your-designs/#comments Wed, 14 Nov 2018 17:44:06 +0000 http://webdesignledger.com/?p=45951

How often have you put out work only to wish you could have gone through at least one more iteration? It happens that you want to make what you now see as needed improvements. Don’t feel guilty. We’ve all gone through that. You know you’re capable of doing better and you always strive to do […]

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How often have you put out work only to wish you could have gone through at least one more iteration? It happens that you want to make what you now see as needed improvements.

Don’t feel guilty. We’ve all gone through that.

You know you’re capable of doing better and you always strive to do so, a factor which is definitely in your favor. To help speed up your goal of continual improvement we’ve put together a checklist for you.

It describes 5 ways to improve your designs using pre-built websites. It is complete with examples.

Be Theme and Its Exceptional Library of Pre-built Websites

Sure, you take pride in doing your own designs. But by ignoring any assistance you’re placing limitations on what you can accomplish. Your ability to improve as much and as quickly as you’d like to is also lowered.

They’re professionally designed and crafted. Yet, pre-built websites are not a “lazy man’s approach to web design”. What they provide are structure and inspiration. At the same time, they are leaving plenty of room for you to apply your creative skills.

Be Theme has a library of 390+ of them at a one-time cost to you of only $59. And, more pre-built websites are constantly being added at no additional cost.

They are organized by industry and website type, so it’s easy to find what you need.

These pre-built websites reflect the latest design trends. Each is tailored to their chosen industry or niche.

 

Our Checklist of 5 Ways Pre-Built websites can Improve Your Design Efforts

  1. Am I aligned with the trends in this specific industry?

Take the fashion industry for example. Your work features a luxurious design, rich textures and colors, and plenty of bold images. Then, it’s in line with user expectations – right? Actually, your design will be out of sync with changing times and trends.

This year, fashion sites are taking on a minimalist approach. Simple black and white sketches and an abundance of white space are currently in vogue. So are minimalistic menus.

Be Theme has taken this new trend into account by launching a new series of fashion templates.

See for yourself.

BeModel2

BeWeddingDresses

BeTailor2

Do 2. I know for sure what NEEDS to be on the Homepage?

There are a lot of the difficulties associated with a homepage design. One of them is that what is WANTED all too often gets in the way of what is NEEDED.

Another problem is that a typical homepage design should have the right mix of art and science. Your typical web designer tends to struggle to find the right mix. Some aren’t aware of it at all (WANTS supersedes NEEDS).

A good solution is to use a pre-built website as the basis for your home page. It will have been designed by professionals and have a tried and tested user journey.

Which, as these examples illustrate, is what you need – and “want”.

BeBand3

BeGunRange

BeCakes

 

  1. Should I Follow or Disrupt?

You could place web designers (and much of the rest of the population) in two general categories. The followers who like to play it safe, and those who delight in taking one leap of creative faith after another.

We constantly hear whispers in our ear that tell us to “go for it.” This is not particularly good advice when you’re dealing with “stiff” clients. These are professionals who would rather not be taken down unfamiliar paths.

Pre-built websites give you the solidly-structured templates you need. You can still customize them with a creative touch your client would appreciate.

 

BeRenovate3

BeCar2

BeSpa3

 

  1. Which of these 5 great ideas I have will go best with this project?

When you’re involved with design, too many ideas, even great ones, tend to run into one another. The too many idea (TMI) syndrome is not at all uncommon and it’s not a nice problem to have. None of us like to discard what we believe to be a great idea. If you have 5 of them, you might be tempted to incorporate all of them into your idea.

The odds of all 5 meshing nicely together is about the same as the odds of winning the lottery.

A far better approach is to –

  • Browse Be Theme’s large collection of pre-built websites.
  • Search through them by type of content, industry, or niche.
  • Pick one that closely matches your design ideas or needs.
  • Customize it.

The result? You’ll be able to implement your creative vision on a tried and tested structure and platform.

 

BeRestaurant3

BeMinimal2

BePizza3

  1. Is the client right or should I stick to my ideas?

Taking the approach that the client is always right is usually the best way to go. But there will be times (many of them perhaps) when you’ll really want to change a client’s thinking. It might be simply not the way to go to establish a solid online presence.

You’ll help your client (and yourself) by using a pre-built website. It’s simply a matter of convincing the client that a website structured to his or her industry is the best way to go. Pre-built websites allow you to deliver high-quality work. They will conform to industry standards and feature good structure and content focus. And that’s usually enough to seal the deal.

 

BeAgency3

BeCoffee3

BeEcoBeef

 

Conclusion

Pre-built websites have many things going for them. Two of them are that they are a proven way to improve your designs, and they are fast and easy to work with.

They also allow you to produce designs that are in tune with the latest trends. At the same time, they ensure one of the characteristics of the products you deliver will be a tried and tested UX.

Pre-built websites will help you zero in on the best idea for a new design. They will also give you plenty of room to exercise your creative talents.

Turning out one example of high-quality work after another is appealing. Check out Be Theme’s library of 390+ pre-built websites for only $59.

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5 Crucial Tools for Web Designers https://webdesignledger.com/15-amazing-tools-web-designers/ https://webdesignledger.com/15-amazing-tools-web-designers/#comments Thu, 12 Jul 2018 14:56:03 +0000 http://webdesignledger.com/?p=44655

At Webdesignledger, we always try to help designers the best we can, by gathering all the good stuff the great virtual world aka internet has to offer. After a quick research, we came up with a list of five crucial tools for web designers.    A designer is like a carpenter. In order to get […]

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At Webdesignledger, we always try to help designers the best we can, by gathering all the good stuff the great virtual world aka internet has to offer. After a quick research, we came up with a list of five crucial tools for web designers. 

 

A designer is like a carpenter. In order to get things done, a carpenter needs materials and a professional tool kit. Without it, a carpenter is only a simple man with great dreams, a Sisyphus who never fulfills his aspirations. Because different projects require different utensils, a designer’s tool kit should be as diverse as possible. In order to put together two pieces of wood, a carpenter can’t do anything with a hammer if he’s lacking nails. Also, owning a professional tool kit doesn’t make you a carpenter. In order to become the best of the best you have to diligently study “at the feet” of a master, in a specialized school, or even learn through an online course.

A tool kit is an investment, we won’t deny that. From our experience, designers are passion driven, which makes things a bit easier. When you really want something, you do anything it takes to achieve it. We encourage you all to have the following tools under your belts so that your hard work gets one step closer to success.

1. Sketch

Sketch is rapidly replacing Photoshop due to its Bohemian Coding’s vector UI design tool. Rory Berry, creative director at Superrb, affirmed right after using Sketch the first time: “Having been a user of Photoshop for over 10 years, it was hard to change and learn something new. But literally after the first day of using Sketch, there was no looking back. I’m a total convert.”

Crucial Toolkit

2. Figma

This amazing tool connects you with other designers for everyone’s benefit. Figma allows you to design and get feedback from fellow designers in real time. “We were recommended Figma by our web development agency and use it for landing page wireframes. We love that you can quickly create designs for desktop, tablet and mobile,” says David Eastwood content writer and art-worker for Co-o Electrical.

3. Avocode

With this tool coding apps and websites from Photoshop or Sketch is so much easier! Avocode co-founder Vu Hoang Anh says “It gives users everything they need for coding – a preview of the design, and access to all layers and export assets. The best thing is that developers won’t need Photoshop or Sketch at all. The current workflow really sucks and that’s why we created Avocode.”

Crucial ToolKit

4. Zeplin

A time saver tool, Zeplin translates Sketch or Photoshop files into a free Windows, Mac, or web-based app. “The best part is that Zeplin provides quick reference for the colours, dimensions and fonts from your designs. It even generates CSS and style guides. I’ve found Zeplin to be a massive time saver and my developer friends seem to really like it too,” affirms James Stiff.

Tools for Web Designers

5. Canva

The social media content never looked better! With Canva, you can easily create social media images and info-graphics. “Canva is pretty good for making nice images,” says Lawrence Harmer, founder of Solve Web Media. “Images are the window into the soul of your website and social media, so a tool like this can be key to success,” he continues.

Tools for Web Designers

What tools do you use regularly for your designs? Let us know in the comment section below.

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Nick Misani: From Japan to a Fulfilled Dream DOTW#6 https://webdesignledger.com/nick-misani-designer-of-the-week/ https://webdesignledger.com/nick-misani-designer-of-the-week/#respond Fri, 22 Jun 2018 11:35:09 +0000 http://webdesignledger.com/?p=44490

Today we have the honor of having Nick Misani with us, an amazing designer and great letterer from New York, whom we admire very much. Webdesignledger: Nick, at Webdesignledger we’ve been very impressed with your work and we decided that we want to get to know you better. Tell us what are five things you […]

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Today we have the honor of having Nick Misani with us,
an amazing designer and great letterer from New York, whom we admire very much.
Webdesignledger: Nick, at Webdesignledger we’ve been very impressed with your work and we decided that we want to get to know you better. Tell us what are five things you want people to know about you when they first meet you. 
Nick: Well, first off, thank you very much for your kind words and thanks for your thoughtful questions! Okay, my five things are: (1) I’m a freelance designer/letterer living in NYC. (2) I was born in Northern Italy, where I also grew up. (3) I’m fascinated by historical design, decorative arts, typography, and ornament, while also nurturing a somewhat closeted love of extreme minimalism. (4) I have a (not altogether uncommon) type A cocktail of perfectionism, insecurity, ambition, and desire to please. And (5) I’m vegan and gay, both important parts of my identity and both aspects that are strongly reflected in my political views. 
 
Webdesignledger: We read on your blog that you lived in Japan, a country that has a lot to offer. How has that experience influenced your work? What made you leave Japan and move to New York?
Nick: I lived in Japan for a period while I was in high school. I left Japan because the exchange program that facilitated my stay came to an end. My move from Osaka to New York wasn’t direct, however: I first returned to Italy for a year or two, then to upstate New York for college, and finally down to NYC to continue my studies and to start working in the field. Japan has such a rich visual culture and I’m sure living there has influenced my work in many ways, though it’s hard for me to pinpoint one in particular.
Nick Misani
Webdesignledger: Tell us about your workshops in Chicago, New York City, and Boston. How did they go? Do you find teaching about Art Deco Lettering more satisfying than the work itself?
Nick: Chicago, NYC, and Boston were the last three stops of a workshop tour that has taken me all over the States and as far as Australia over the course of the last 10 months. I think they’ve all gone well. I love to give tons of individual attention to my students, which provides real value to the attendees and gives me the opportunity to talk meet a lot of people and connect with them one-on-one. Students seem to leave happy after the intense, 4-hour session and I haven’t had any complaints for far. Both teaching Art Deco Lettering and creating it are equally satisfying to me. 
 
Webdesignledger: Walk us through your Fauxsaics collection. What are your favorite illustrations?
Nick: I really enjoy the illustrations where I experimented with different tiling patterns, like the Kansas City piece—with it’s alternating of square and irregular tiles—and the Saratoga Springs piece—where there’s lots of movement happening in the background. Among my favorites are also Milan, San Diego, London, and Paris. 
Nick Misani
Webdesignledger: Every designer has at least one project that he/she is very proud of. What is the project that has the most emotional value to you, that helped you express your style the most?
Nick: One of my favorite recent projects was a book cover for a series of short stories by Josh Weil called, The Age of Perpetual Light. I was inspired by the bold graphic shapes and airbrushed gradients found in Art Deco poster design, but wanted to create something a little more mysterious and evocative to reflect the title. The author was keen on trying on option with Edison bulbs, so I immediately knew I wanted to do create type from the incandescent filament and really have fun with the distortions and reflections in the glass. I’m attached to this project because it’s an example of an occasion where the sketch was fairly conservative, but I chose to push myself a bit farther. That, coupled with a very supported editor and author made for a really fun and exciting designing experience. 
 
Webdesignledger: If you could choose the era you were born in, what other century would you choose design-wise?
Nick: It’s a tough question to answer. On the one hand, I’d be tempted to say somewhere between La Belle Epoque and Art Deco. I love that a desire for modernity lived alongside traditional crafts. That said, moving to that time period would also mean dealing with two World Wars and very few rights if you’re not a straight, white, Christian man. Ultimately, I’m pretty happy with the time I’m in: I get to choose the historical style I want to work and do so with the aid of a computer in the comfort of my 21st century apartment. 
Nick Misani
 
Webdesignledger: Being your own boss comes with many responsibilities. Do you use a certain time or project management software to make your workflow smoother?
Nick: I use Trello to keep my projects more or less organized and also keep a master spreadsheet on Google Docs. I do my invoicing with Quickbooks, but I work with an accountant for the heavy duty filing and itemizing of expenses. I’m also represented by an artist agent, who helps with outreach and managing clients as they come in. 
 
Webdesignledger: Describe your creative process. What are the major steps? Do you follow a certain routine?
I can’t say I follow a rigid routine. I get up rather early, around six, and after eating and walking my dog, I pretty much get right to work. The process itself also changes depending on the client or project, but it usually starts with a sketch on my iPad Pro which is either finished in raster or vector.
 
Webdesignledger: Are you currently working on a project? How is it coming together?
Nick: Yes. I usually have around 4 to 6 projects going at the same time, which often include a mix of book covers, mosaic illustrations, traditional lettering, and upkeep work. One project I’m working on at the moment is quite different. I am making a (real) mosaic out of tiny vegetable cubes. I’m a bit nervous, since I’ve never done anything like this, but also excited by this new experience.
Nick Misani
Webdesignledger: What is something new that you learned as a designer in your past experience (jobs & internships)?
Nick: Before going full time freelance, I was the senior designer at Louise Fili Ltd, a very small studio in NYC that specializes in historically-inspired typography and lettering. At LFL, we often worked from primary sources (old type specimen books, original ephemera, vintage posters, etc) and gradually I learned how to really look at a historical piece and decide how it can be used in a modern application. Reference material, especially when there is a lot of it, can get overwhelming, so being able to take it apart and evaluate which elements can be used for a specific project has been very useful.
 
Webdesignledger: What advice would you give to a new lettering artist/illustrator?
Nick: Don’t worry too much about finding a voice, just follow your passion and interests and do lots of experiments and your voice will develop naturally from that journey. It’s advice I often forget to listen to myself. 
Work by Nick Misani:

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Kadie Smith Finds Her Passion For Design During a Career Day in High School (DOTW#5) https://webdesignledger.com/kadie-smith-finds-passion-design-career-day-high-school-dotw5/ https://webdesignledger.com/kadie-smith-finds-passion-design-career-day-high-school-dotw5/#respond Fri, 15 Jun 2018 17:15:52 +0000 http://webdesignledger.com/?p=44408

We’re super excited to continue our series of interviews “Designer of the Week” with an amazing and passionate designer, Kadie Smith.  Webdesignledger: Kadie, at Webdesignledger we’ve been very impressed with your work and we decided that we want to get to know you better. Please tell us five characteristics you want people to know about […]

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We’re super excited to continue our series of interviews “Designer of the Week” with

an amazing and passionate designer, Kadie Smith

Designer Kadie Smith

Webdesignledger: Kadie, at Webdesignledger we’ve been very impressed with your work and we decided that we want to get to know you better. Please tell us five characteristics you want people to know about you when they first meet you.
Kadie: Thank you! If I were to meet someone for the first time, I would want them to know that I’m sincere, a good listener, observant, enjoy brainstorming creative ideas, and love collaboration.
Webdesignledger: When did you discover your passion for design? What originally made you want to become a graphic designer?
Kadie: I found out I was passionate about graphic design when shadowing a family friend who owned a branding agency for career day in high school. The thing I loved most about graphic design was the visual organization and editing process. I never quite felt like a pure artist, but as a designer, I loved creative problem-solving and that it was rooted in an understanding of communication.
Webdesignledger: Your agency offers a wide range of design (branding, logo design, brand development, marketing graphics, brand experience, creative direction, lettering, illustration, layouts). Which of these branches offers you the most satisfaction as a graphic designer?
Kadie: I find the most satisfaction (personally) in the branding process. I enjoy building a personal relationship with new clients and walking through the whole evolution of the brand from start to finish. In this process, design becomes an opportunity for my client to express their dreams and ambitions and translate their passion for their business in their style and visual communication. From there, my team and I get to play and see just how far we can extend a brand’s experience and create opportunities to add a personal touch to the brand’s growth and development over time with different visual elements.
Webdesignledger: What are the top three fonts you love and use the most?
Kadie: My favorite go-to fonts are Coromant, Gotham, and Garamond.
Webdesignledger: Every designer has at least one project that he/she is very proud of. What is the project that has the most emotional value to you, that helped you express your style the most?
Kadie: My favorite project to date is Bossladies Magazine. Chelsea came to me right after Volumen One released and she unexpectedly built a large following. We worked for a year together putting together issues two and three as our friendship and mutual trust grew. After issue three, Chelsea gave me the green light to rebrand the magazine and I had never felt such a personal connection to a branding project, having worked with the client for so long before getting to start the process. It became an extension of my own style since I had come to identify so closely with the heart and mission of the magazine, and was the most rewarding experience I’ve had in a branding project.
Webdesignledger: We love the way you organize your portfolio and take time to give all the details describing your clients’ business. We understand that the designer-client relationship is important to you. Have you ever disagreed with the client’s feedback? How did you handle it?
Kadie: I have! I think almost every designer has at one time or another. When I was just starting out, I felt so personally tied to my designs that I had a hard time understanding feedback and became really disappointed if the project went in a direction I wasn’t excited about. Now, I first take time to try to understand the root of the feedback – is it a misunderstanding? different style preference? fear? My role as a brand designer is to communicate my client’s vision for the company, not to create my own version of their business, so I try to keep as much of my personal bias in check as I can. Sure, I want the end result to be beautiful, but I also want it to resonate with my client and give them passion and confidence to take ownership of their brand. If I feel like their feedback is rooted in a genuine lack of understanding or fear of taking a risk, I try to work through those fears and uncertainties with them as a co-collaborator. If it’s merely a different style preference, I do my best to execute their style and vision for the brand as best I can!
Webdesignledger: If you could choose the era you were born in, what other century would you choose design-wise?
Kadie: Design-wise, I would love to be in the Art Deco era! I love the typography from that period in design and still take so much inspiration from the way they pushed the limits of traditional letterforms.
Webdesignledger: Being your own boss comes with many responsibilities. Do you use a certain time or project management software to make your workflow smoother?
Kadie: Asana has really helped my team workflow, but personally I am still so old school and just use my Moleskine planner! I need to be better at being more digital (my project manager would love it if I was!) but I’ve found I always gravitate back to pen and paper.
Webdesignledger: Describe your creative process. What are the major steps? Do you follow a certain routine?
Kadie: I do have a creative routine. I start with extensive time in the discovery phase, asking lots of questions, researching ideas and putting together mood boards, meeting with my client, and making sure I understand their style and brand message as best I can before designing. Once I start designing, I try to keep the options pretty minimal to help with decision paralysis. I spend time explaining why I’ve developed each concept and how I see it developing. Once a design concept/direction is selected, I build it out and refine the design, adding mockups and additional visual elements to create a full experience. Then we start the revision phase to further refine and perfect the design to make sure it’s ready to launch!
Webdesignledger: Are you currently working on a project? How is it coming together?
Kadie: We are currently working on several projects! This month, we’re working on branding for a children’s clothing brand, an interior design firm, a fertility specialist, a travel agency, a financial firm, an elementary school, and an app for wedding photographers, as well as some packaging and illustration projects. We stay busy, but we have fun!
Webdesignledger: What is something new that you learned as a designer in your past experience (jobs & internships)?
Kadie: I have learned so much about discipline, creating buffer in timelines (at least 40% for all the unexpected mishaps and creative blocks!), and the importance of forming relationships in the design and local community.
Webdesignledger: What advice would you give to a new designer?
Kadie: I would tell a new designer to work on lots of different projects before settling in on the type of design they want to do. And then keep experimenting! Reach outside of your comfort zone to try different creative hobbies to spark your inspiration. Often it’s when I’m painting, collaging, or sewing that I’ll think of a solution for a logo or come up with a color palette for a client. Develop a broad skill set and form lots of relationships – go to events and conferences, reach out to designers you admire online, and join online groups and forums. There’s so much out there that you can use to grow as a professional designer if you put yourself out there!
Webdesignledger: Thanks for letting us get to know you and we wish you best of luck!
You can stay updated with Kadie’s work on the following platforms:
Instagram: dropcapdesign

Read More at Kadie Smith Finds Her Passion For Design During a Career Day in High School (DOTW#5)

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The Colorful World of Marta Cerda Alimbau DOTW#4 https://webdesignledger.com/the-colorful-world-of-marta-cerda-alimbau-dotw4/ https://webdesignledger.com/the-colorful-world-of-marta-cerda-alimbau-dotw4/#respond Fri, 20 Apr 2018 13:12:12 +0000 http://webdesignledger.com/?p=43953

Marta Cerda Alimbau is that type of designer whose work is appreciated not only by the expert eye but also by the uninitiated people who simply stumble upon her work. You’ll find yourself scrolling through her pieces of work, trying to understand hidden messages and genius ideas. The talented designer combines personal fonts, complex shapes, […]

Read More at The Colorful World of Marta Cerda Alimbau DOTW#4

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Marta Cerda Alimbau is that type of designer whose work is appreciated not only by the expert eye but also by the uninitiated people who simply stumble upon her work. You’ll find yourself scrolling through her pieces of work, trying to understand hidden messages and genius ideas. The talented designer combines personal fonts, complex shapes, and vivid colors in a way that lets you recognize her work from afar. This is why we believe that Marta Cerda Alimbau deserves a place in our Designer of The Week Series. Without further ado, we invite you to get to know Marta better by reading our interview with her.

WebDesignLeger: Tell us about you (a short bio).
I am an Amsterdam based independent artist, type designer, illustrator and art director. At the end of 2008, after working in agencies and studios between Barcelona, Düsseldorf, and Munich, I won the ADC Young Guns and decided to found my own studio. Since then, I work for arts, culture and advertising clients abroad, and my main body of work is focussed on the boundaries between typography and illustration. I also lecture about design at creative conferences and universities internationally.

WebDesignLeger: How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Marta Cerda Alimbau: Expressive, awkward, persistent.

WebDesignLeger: When did you discover your passion for design?
Marta Cerda Alimbau: Well, this is something that came little by little, at least in my case. Since I was a kid that I could isolate myself by drawing. Hours went by so quickly and it allowed me to express things I couldn’t say. Now it’s different, but the final effect on me is kind of similar.

WebDesignLeger: Where does your inspiration come from?
Marta Cerda Alimbau: Depending on when my inspirations are organic and change with time. But I usually look backward at the history of design for inspiration.

WebDesignLeger: What do you think are the most important 3 skills for a designer?
Marta Cerda Alimbau: I think it’s more about the attitude than the skills. The skills, you can learn them with patience. The attitude is something deeper, and harder to change. So for me, the three more important attitudes are being curious, hard worker and perseverant. All these mixed with a good eye for the type and art direction. the

WebDesignLeger: How do you stay updated with what is new in the design world?
Marta Cerda Alimbau: Instagram is now for me the best source to know what’s going on right now.

WebDesignLeger: Who are your favorite 3 designers?
Marta Cerda Alimbau: Herb Lubalin, Takenobu Igarashi, and Roger Excoffon.

WebDesignLeger: What kind of people do you love to work with? 
Marta Cerda Alimbau: I love to work with great art directors and to team up with them, it’s the best way to learn and move forward. They give good references but also give room to develop yourself, and have a good knowledge of the direction their client needs to take.

WebDesignLeger: How do you handle stress and pressure?
Marta Cerda Alimbau: I start working really early in the morning, around 6 am. There’s silence and I can focus a lot. And I can look at my day with no rush. Also, I don’t accept new projects if I am not sure I will be able to give them my 100%.

Marta has worked with many influential brands, fact that made her name notorious among the important contemporaneous designers. If you’d like to contact her or to check more of her amazing work, make sure you follow Marta on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Youtube, and Behance.

Make sure you stay updated with our DOTW series and latest posts by visiting our blog daily.

 

                              

Read More at The Colorful World of Marta Cerda Alimbau DOTW#4

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George Cibu: Modesty Is The Key #2 DOTW https://webdesignledger.com/george-cibu-modesty-key-dotw2/ https://webdesignledger.com/george-cibu-modesty-key-dotw2/#respond Fri, 09 Mar 2018 15:17:28 +0000 http://webdesignledger.com/?p=43724

Today we are talking about typography, lettering, and branding and I am very excited to have George Cibu sharing his experience in these fields with us. George is a freelance designer who specializes in typography, lettering, and branding. He is 22 years old and comes from Cluj-Napoca, the heart of Transylvania. The talented designer has […]

Read More at George Cibu: Modesty Is The Key #2 DOTW

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Today we are talking about typography, lettering, and branding and I am very excited to have George Cibu sharing his experience in these fields with us.

George is a freelance designer who specializes in typography, lettering, and branding. He is 22 years old and comes from Cluj-Napoca, the heart of Transylvania.

The talented designer has begun sketching at the early age of 18 and everything that followed after came as a nice surprise.

“I started doing graphic design about 4 years ago, doing all sorts of things to practice my skills. Sometime later I got to know some people on Instagram who did typography and lettering and I was very impressed. I found out that lettering is a great way to express your creativity.”

George describes himself as creative, ambitious, and motivated and rightly he does. Through hard work and dedication, he has become an illustrious designer who enjoys the fruit of his work.

But in order to know more about him, we invite you to read an interview where he talks about his sources of inspiration, his most important projects, hobbies, and his overall experience as a designer.
Also, if you’d like to stay updated with the designer’s work, make sure you follow him on Behance, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

So without further ado, here’s the interview section with our favorite designer this week. <3

WebDesignLedger: Where does your inspiration come from?
George: Instagram & Pinterest and books.

WebDesignLedger: What is your favorite piece of work and why? How did you create it?
George: Hmm, I don’t have a favorite piece, to be honest, I always think that the next piece that I am going to make will be my favorite.

WebDesignLedger: What do you think are the most important 3 skills for a designer?
George: The most important 3 skills for a designer are CREATIVITY, SOFTWARE (knowledge/skills) and COMMUNICATION.

WebDesignLedger: How do you stay updated with what is new in the design world?
George: In order to stay updated I usually browse design galleries and read and collect books & magazines.

WebDesignLedger: Have you worked with any major brands?
George: My clients are usually photographers but I’ve done some work for brands like Lookslikefilm, The Visuals Collective, Folk travel, Hope Outfitters, and also I did some branding work for a coffee shop, Genus Coffee and some lettering for Panemar, a bakery from Cluj-Napoca.

WebDesignLedger: Who are your favorite 3 designers?
George: My favorite artists are Jon Contino, Joshua Noom, and Zachary Smith.

WebDesignLedger: What is something new that you learned as a designer in your past experience (jobs & internships)?
George: I think the most important thing I’ve learned is how to be more productive and also I’ve learned some new tricks in Adobe Illustrator and InDesign.
Other things I’ve learned is to remain friendly and respectful to everyone I work with. It is extremely easy to get frustrated or become overly-confident and obnoxious, but that will bring you down real fast. Modesty and respect are vital characteristics of any good designer.

WebDesignLedger: What kind of people do you love to work with? What kind of people don’t you love to work with?
George: Every client is important to me and I value each of them.

WebDesignLedger: Do you have enough free time for your family, friends and for your hobbies?
George: I always make time for my biggest hobby that I have, which is playing guitar

WebDesignLedger: Do you remember about your first project? Tell us more about it.
George: My first project was to create a poster for an event and I also did a lettering for this project. It’s a great feeling when someone appreciates your work and they also pay for it. I think that was the moment that I’ve decided to be a graphic designer.

WebDesignLedger: What do you think the future of graphic-design holds?
George: Since technology changes so fast, it’s hard to say what the future of graphic design holds, but I’ve thought it would be fun having a lot of tools and resources that would help designers to be more creative and more productive in a shorter time.

Below you can take a look at some of George’s stunning designs. Make sure you share your impressions with us in the comment section.

LOGO

 

 

LETTERING

Wild

The Mountains

Travel

Love is the answer

Adventure

Beautiful Places

Faith Can Move the Mountains

Escape

 

Hope and Strength

Ready For Adventure

Adventure Awaits

Rich in Memories

Alive

Magic

Show Me How To Love

Best Things in Life

Read More at George Cibu: Modesty Is The Key #2 DOTW

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