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A well-designed website is an incredibly important aspect of any business. Think of your website as your home base. It’s where most of your customers go to get information about your brand and what you offer. So if you don’t have a good website, it can deter customers and result in fewer conversions and sales. 

As the website is so critical, however, it can often become a point of frustration for many businesses. Getting your website just right can take time, and it can be overwhelming if you don’t know where to start or aren’t having any success. 

There are many aspects of web design, and knowing which areas to focus on throughout the process can be challenging, as there is no one right way to go about it. Is functionality more important? Aesthetics? User experience? Security?

These are all reasonable things to worry about when you are trying to design a new website. But the answer can vary depending on your brand and your company’s specific needs or goals. 

Below, we’ll explore the different elements of web design to help you understand what they are and which ones might be a priority over others, depending on your brand.  

The first step in deciding your web design priorities is to go through all the different elements and think about them in terms of your company’s specific needs and goals. The web design process can be different for every brand, so just because one company does it one way does not mean you should do the same. 

For some, the user experience might be the most important element of web design, for others, it might be cybersecurity. In the end, all of the below elements are important and should be included, but when you are just starting out, and perhaps don’t have the time or money to focus on them all, it’s helpful to identify each one to determine what is most important for your business’s specific needs. 

Brand Awareness

If you are a new business, brand awareness should be one of your top priorities. You need people to know about your brand in the first place before they will even go looking for your website. Once they do get to your website, your brand identity should be clear and easy to recognize. 

Focusing on establishing your brand identity through brand awareness will help you connect with people so they will remember you. In doing this, you will start to establish a new customer base, and those customers will become more loyal to your brand and recommend you to others. 

Think of brand identity as your first impression. If you leave a bad first impression, you aren’t going to attract any customers to your new business, but if you leave a good first impression, you will more quickly establish yourself as a brand to keep an eye on, which means you will grow your customer base and start making sales. 

So good branding is key when designing your website as a new business. This means having an appealing logo, a good brand story that tells customers who you are and what you value, and other memorable brand elements and aesthetics, such as appealing and recognizable color schemes and imagery. 

User Experience

If your company heavily relies on pleasing your customers, as most should, user experience should be one of your top priorities. Customer-focused businesses tend to have more success because they put the effort into prioritizing their customer’s wants and needs. The more you show your customers that you care about them and their experience, rather than seeing them as dollar signs, the more likely you are to have success growing your business. 

So, if you are a B2C business, user experience (UX) design is essential. B2B businesses should also have good UX design, but it is even more crucial when you are B2C and trying to appeal to large customer bases, as 50% of consumers believe that UX affects their opinion of a business. 

You can create a better user experience by following these steps: 

1. Understand who your target customer is — You can do this by creating a customer persona — essentially a description summary of most of your customer’s demographics. This can include their age, identity, experiences, and even their location. 
2. Identify the problem —  Listen to your customers. They may typically encounter a common problem among your site or other sites during their purchasing process. You can gain this data through surveys or other customer service queries.
3. Solve the problem — Once you find out what common issues your target customers experience, brainstorm ideas on how your business or your site’s features can solve that problem. 

All of this indicates that UX design is often primarily about function. It’s about designing a website that is providing the best experience possible for your customers by solving their problems and giving them what they need.

So, if you are an e-commerce business, for example, how easy and satisfactory your website’s shopping and checkout process plays a significant role in the overall customer experience. In this case, your UX design should focus on making it easy for your customers to find the products they are looking for and checkout without running into any major issues. 

SEO

SEO, or search engine optimization, is technically important for all businesses. Optimizing your content will ensure you rank higher in Google search results, which means you will drive more traffic to your website and, thus, be more likely to increase conversions and sales.

If you are a unique business that is offering something that most others are not, then you can likely get away with putting SEO on the back burner. However, if you have a lot of competitors that offer similar products or services, SEO should be a priority. 

If a customer is looking for lawnmowers, for example, and they do a simple Google search for lawnmowers, there are likely a ton of websites that will pop up in the search results. So if you sell lawnmowers, you want to prioritize SEO to make sure your website ranks higher in search results; otherwise, competitors might constantly beat you to the punch. 

If you sell something more unique, however, like knitted hats for dogs, there are potentially not as many other businesses that sell the same thing. So if someone is searching for dog hats or knitted dog hats, your website might automatically show up higher in search results without SEO because there aren’t many other options out there. 

Cybersecurity

Ensuring the data on your website is secure is always a wise decision if you want to avoid cyber attacks — but some businesses should worry about this more than others. FinTech companies, for example, that deal with a lot of sensitive data should make cybersecurity a priority. 

B2B companies, as well, that deal with major clients that expect them to keep their information private and secure should also focus on quality website security. Essentially any company that keeps a lot of sensitive data on their website, or asks for client information through online forms, should be prioritizing the safety and security of their clients and their company. 

Wrapping Up

There are numerous other things that your business might want to consider when building a new website, but brand awareness and design, UX design, SEO, and cybersecurity are four of the primary elements of web design that tend to matter most. So it’s important to take a close look at these four things to determine which ones should be a priority. Once you get the most important elements out of the way, you can start to work on the rest of your web design as time and budget allows. 

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Introduction

Adobe Photoshop is a photo editing and manipulation software used by everyone from amateur photographers to graphic design professionals. It’s one of the most beloved programs in the Adobe design suite and can be harnessed for basic image retouching, all the way through to compositing digital art, creating mockups, adding effects to images, and even animation.

Keeping on top of software updates and new Photoshop features is essential for designers, as is looking at how other makers and creators are using the software. To set you up for success this year, we’ll explore the biggest Photoshop 2022 updates, including 8 of the most notable new Photoshop features 2022 and how designers are embracing and using the tool right now.

If you’re brand new to Photoshop, start with a Photoshop tutorial for beginners to discover Photoshop editing tips from the ground up. Or try an advanced Photoshop tutorial if you’re looking for Adobe photoshop tricks for experienced designers that extend beyond the basics.

What’s new in Photoshop?

As with most of Photoshop’s new releases, the most recent updates help to improve and evolve the program rather than giving it a complete overhaul. Once released, it doesn’t take too long for designers to identify the new Photoshop tips and tricks, honing in on creative Photoshop ideas and refining their techniques as they explore what’s possible and set new Photoshop trends.

So, what’s new in Photoshop in 2022? From brand new Neural Filters to improved communication with Illustrator, the focus in this update is around enhanced collaboration and more sophisticated finishes on existing tools. For those of us working in the creative industry, this is all very good news as the world forges ahead with increased flexibility and remote working.

How designers are using Photoshop: tricks, tips, and new features

So let’s get into it. We’ll briefly look at the key changes, the best Photoshop tricks, and more importantly, how designers are actually using them. So, what’s possible with Adobe Photoshop in 2022, and what new Photoshop techniques and editing tools should you be using this year?

1. Nailing compositing with Harmonization

First up is the new Harmonization Neural Filter. Essentially, this tool will match the colors and tones between the foreground and background. So when you go into your desired image, select your subject (in the foreground), then select the harmonization tool, you can use it to make your background match flawlessly. This works by allowing you to adjust the saturation, brightness, and overall color balance to find the best match with the background. Why is it so handy? It cuts down hugely on compositing time, which for many designers can be the most time-intensive part of image editing. To try out this tool straightaway, have a play-around using Photoshop add-ons. 

2. Replicating color & tone with Color Transfer

On the subject of Photoshop’s Neural Filters, another one worth taking notice of in this update is the Color Transfer Neural Filter. Photographers can rejoice with this tool. Imagine, you’ve spent the day at a photo shoot, and have hundreds of images ready to use. But what if you have one location where the lighting is perfect, and some of the images you want to use aren’t taken in that same position? Enter: the Color Transfer tool. You can use it to bring all your photos in line with the same color and tone, creating a seamless set of photos for your designs.

3. Playing with gradients thanks to improved Interpolation options

Gradients are having a moment in design – just look at these key graphic design trends for 2022 – and now, happily, Photoshop has upgraded its gradient tool with two new Interpolation options to make creating and adjusting your gradients that much easier. In addition to the Classic Interpolation tool, you now have the Perceptual Interpolation and Linear Interpolation tools. Both tools are designed to create more natural-looking gradients, which are closer to the way the human eye perceives real-world gradients. You’ve got a hint from the names of these tools, but one is for the OKLab color space and one is for use in the linear color space.

4. Creating NFTs using Photoshop

A real buzzword of the last few years, NFTs, or non-fungible tokens are digital assets that are bought and sold online via the blockchain. To become an NFT a piece of artwork is ‘minted’, then as it’s bought and sold the transaction history is stored in the blockchain. Photoshop is supporting the growth of NFTs and helping to combat art theft, an increasing problem in the industry, with Content Credentials–currently in BETA. For a more detailed overview of preparing an NFT Adobe has a breakdown here, but essentially it means more insight for audiences and buyers on whether the person selling the art is the Photoshop user who exported it. To take advantage of this new development, you’ll need to enable Content Credentials.

5. Verifying content authenticity with Content Credentials

When you export your file, you now have the option to select to include Content Credentials. This means your jpeg (or chosen file format) will include details like your name, your adjustments, the assets used and their file names (backgrounds, subject, icons, etc.), and which version of Photoshop you created the image in. This functionality is super important for verification when submitting your work, where your client or editor can immediately check the authenticity. Bear in mind, though, that if someone makes adjustments and re-saves the image, your credentials won’t carry through.

6. Working more collaboratively with sharing & commenting

Another anticipated update is the addition of sharing and commenting capabilities. It works similarly to Google Workspace, where your Photoshop work will also appear as a Cloud file. You can then share your file with individuals via their email addresses, or get a shareable link so the file can be accessed by all those who receive it. You have the option to allow commenting, saving a copy, or both, meaning collaboration and feedback just got a whole lot quicker and easier – with no need for file downloading and minimized risk in version control. 

7. Switching more effectively between Photoshop & Illustrator

Designers will rejoice at this next update: a better experience switching between Photoshop and Illustrator due to improved interoperability between the software. In practical terms, it’s now possible to paste vectors from Illustrator directly into Photoshop. You have the option to import with layers – meaning you can keep your Illustrator graphics stroke, fill, opacity, and other attributes. You can edit your Illustrator graphic directly in Photoshop, rather than going back into Illustrator, making your adjustments, and re-pasting into Photoshop. Hoorah!

8. Identifying subjects of an image with advanced machine learning

Last but certainly not least is an improvement to Photoshop’s use of artificial intelligence, via the new object finder tool, and an upgrade to the object selection tool. This tool analyses your image to find the main subjects (and even minor subjects), which you can then select automatically and with enhanced precision thanks to more powerful AI machine learning. You’ll save loads of time adjusting subjects quickly and easily, separate from your overall image. You can even prompt Photoshop to hone in on one part of the subject. For example, you might have a person identified as a subject, but you can highlight a particular detail (like a hat) by drawing a smaller box around it. The object finder tool also comes with its own new settings, for adjusting color, outline, and capacity. 

Conclusion

So, as well as handy improvements to tools, Adobe Photoshop 2022 is looking to the future with practical means to address issues like content authenticity. It’s also taking advantage of AI, and keeping up with our everyday need for more seamless collaboration. For designers, it’s a solid update with truly useful enhancements as well as a few exciting new features to play with.  

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A fantastic logo is created from a variety of distinct components. But you must watch out that you don’t overdo it with the colors, fonts, shapes, etc. The end result is a logo that appears to have not been created by a little child or an inexperienced designer.

The reality is that a simple logo may cut through the clutter and showcase your brand’s actual core, which is crucial for the expansion of your company.

Even if they are not aware of it, individuals are interacting with companies more often than ever before nowadays. Brands are present everywhere, whether it is on social media platforms, television, radio, or email inboxes. Because of this, maintaining a strong brand is essential if you want to succeed. You can stand out from the competition by having a beautiful, simple logo design that connects with your audience.

Because they can convey clear ideas more rapidly than more complicated ones, simple logos frequently have a greater effect. There are several methods to make a simple logo, despite how simple it may seem in its design. For your inspiration, we’ve gathered some very outstanding examples from the internet.

Science tells us why we love simple logos

Recent research support what several businesses have previously found. People are naturally drawn to simplicity. It is derived from the idea of cognitive fluency. According to the hypothesis, our brains are programmed to look for information that is simple to digest. Our brains don’t appear to want to work very hard. Clean and straightforward logos appeal to our minds like sweets.

How It Works

Our eyes process visual data from an image into an electrical signal that is then sent to our brain. The brain receives the color and light information from this signal.

Our brains have to work harder to comprehend and recall information when processing complex logos with more colors and light changes. It takes longer and is more difficult for us to remember the image as a result. On the other hand, When you see a straightforward logo, you might assume that it was simple to make; however, there is a lengthy process of brainstorming, trial and error, revision, and sometimes even starting over to find the ideal logo for your brand. You may seek assistance from a skilled designer that specializes in basic design to make a distinctive, eye-catching logo that will help you connect with your target market.

Here there are some examples of simple logos

Typography Logos

Businesses whose brands lend themselves to form, shapes, or art may find simple typography advantageous. Its minimalism makes other design elements stand out. 

It’s crucial to maintain your brand values and the message you want to convey to your audience in mind while designing your own typographic logo. Your logo should be concentrated on telling your story and invoking the feelings you want to convey the key message of your business.

Then, make sure your logo is simple and straightforward to understand. You won’t have much success making an impact if your logo is difficult for your audience to understand at a glance.

Geometric Logos

Simple geometry has been used in many different types of logos over many years. The main reason why geometry can be used in simple logo designs is that it contains mathematical resolutions. Although simple geometric shapes such as triangles and rectangles are generally used, asymmetrical geometric shapes are also commonly used in simple logo design.

If you think you need a stronger logo design with more catchy, sharp lines, you can turn to geometric logos by using the power of mathematics.

Symbols or Icons

When used well, such logos can represent the company in a simple and bold way. In many cases, the design is abstract and aims to arouse interest. Although such logos are basically simple, they can be used as a product in many different designs, so they should be preferred primarily by large companies or companies that plan to grow.

Wordmarks

Wordmark logos are uniquely styled text that spells out the brand’s name, as opposed to symbols and icons. In order for such logos to be unique, a logo-specific font design is required. Since using the Wordmark logo makes the company’s name stand out much more, it contributes greatly to increasing the company’s name awareness. Since it is a type that provides simplicity, elegance, and usefulness at the same time, it is a type that is widely used by many companies.

Line Drawing Logos

Another way to simplify logo design is to use line drawings. Line drawings form the basis of typographic and geometric logos.

By integrating line drawing into their other designs, designers can obtain more elegant products while maintaining simplicity. Another advantage of line drawing is that it adds a more fluid and luxurious air to the design it is used in.

Looking more accessible

In the business world where everything is complicated, you can change your perception in people’s eyes by simplifying your logo, that is, your first impression in people’s eyes. Being simple and appearing that way will also help you become a more successful company in the long run, as it will make you look more accessible outside of people.

The post Simple Logos – Why They are More Attractive? appeared first on noupe.

Anime is a particular type of cartoon created or influenced by Japanese animation. The best-known qualifications of this special type of art are large eyes, tiny noses, wild hairs, and long limbs.

With these features, one can easily recognize anime style. For many, it is fun, but not that easy to draw anime. Here you can find the best tips to create an anime drawing step by step.

STEP 1: Drawing an Anime Head and Face

Before diving into details, first, you should create a structure. The basic principle for this is drawing a circle and extending the chin below the circle. Then you need to draw two lines, one horizontal and one vertical, passing through the circle’s center. Now, you can add ears and eyes symmetrically right under the horizontal line and eyebrows above the eyes. You can use simple curves for eyebrows, a little thicker in the middle. The mouth can be placed at the bottom, and the nose -a tiny vertical dash- between the eyes and mouth.

After finishing the facial details, you can start drawing the hair. Anime hair consists of different small parts instead of one direct line. Therefore it is better to divide it into pieces. Splitting into three parts may be the easiest way—basically, the front, the back, and the sides. 

Adding several tufts from the front is a good starting point. Then you can draw sides, again separating the hair into clumps. Instead of drawing a straight line, you should add a slight curve to make it more real. Lastly, add relatively straight lines for the back. You can extend it under the shoulders for long hair. If you want to add a bun, you can do it right after this step. You can add one to the middle or two to each side. For the best bun, the starting point is a circle. After, it can be turned into natural hair by adding curved lines in it.

STEP 2: Sketching an Anime Body

Again, you should start with a structure to create a perfect body. Generally, there is a rectangle for the chest, small circles for showing shoulders, leg, and arm joints, and finally, an oval for the hips. After completing that step, you are ready to connect these shapes. Draw curved lines from chest to hips and from neck to shoulders. In the end, the body should look like an hourglass. Then you can add legs narrowing from top to bottom and arms in any position. Here you can use small circles to help you when you are separating the upper part of the limb and the lower part of the limb.

After completing the big parts, you can start adding details like hands and shoes. For the hands, the first step is drawing two widening lines and adding a rectangle starting from the left side. The next step is drawing another line to show the knuckles. After that, divide the shape slightly symmetrical for the fingers and curve the straight lines. Now, it is time to connect all the lines you put before and create fingers. You can use different hand positions, but the fundamental principle is always the same: creating an outline and connecting the points.

Drawing shoes are easier than drawing hands. After drawing the feet in the desired position, create an outline for the shoes relatively wider than the feet. Erase the feet line. Then, add some details, such as shoelaces and designs on the shoes.

STEP 3: Adding Clothes

For an anime character, there are lots of options when it comes to clothes. However, for a beginner, the simplest option is a combination of a shirt and jeans or a shirt and skirt, depending on gender.

To draw a shirt/t-shirt, firstly, create a sketch as in the other parts. Draw loose lines around the arms and body. If you are having trouble doing it directly, you can use basic geometric shapes like a rectangle for a shirt. If you do so, you can curl the lines afterwards according to body shapes. Then add the collar if it is a shirt. Make sure to draw the collar’s outline far enough from the neck and body so that it appears to have some volume. After drawing the outside, keep going with the details. Add creases around the breast, armpit, waist, and elbow. Do not forget to add buttons to the shirt. 

Drawing a jean might be seen as the simplest part. Since you already have the lines for the legs, all you need to do is to draw loose curved lines along the body lines. After finishing outlines, erase the leg lines and add creases, especially to the ankles. Finally, add the button and a small shape for the zip. 

If you want to draw shorts, follow the same steps but instead of covering the whole part of the legs, make it shorter around the knees.

To draw a skirt, begin with the outline again. To show the folds’ dimensions, draw several vertical lines. It’s essential to remember that the folds in this specific pattern point in one way before gently curving in the opposite direction.

Last but not least, add some colors to your character to make it more real and attractive.

Here are some easy drawing examples:

Some master arts

Knowing the body shapes of anime characters is an essential point in creating perfect drawings. When drawing a figure, always start with a scratch. In other words, do not forget to use a sketch as a starting point. Afterwards, you can add all of the details as you want. Also, remember that you will find your own technique over time; you just need to practice before becoming a master.

The post How to Draw an Anime: Best Anime Drawing Tips appeared first on noupe.

There’s no doubt that branding has become an important part of a business’s competitive edge in today’s economy. With so many companies competing for customers, it is essential to have a strong branding strategy. Read this guide to understand the benefits of using a branding agency for your business.

Access to Experience and Expertise

If you’re looking to achieve success with your branding efforts, you need access to the best expertise and experience. Branding agencies can help you with skills, a wealth of experience, and knowledge of making a successful brand.

Top branding agencies can provide you with the resources and support you need to create a successful brand, such as identity design, website, social media management, internal communication material, presentations, etc They can also help you identify and market your brand to the right people. They know how to create a strong reputation for your brand and how to attract new customers.

So stop reinventing the wheel, and start freeing up your time by hiring top branding agencies to tell your story to the rest of the world. 

Eye-Catching Campaigns

Branding agencies can help you create eye-catching campaigns that promote your business.

The branding agency can help you create a campaign that is unique, and attractive to consumers and that brings more engagements to their business. They can help you design marketing materials that are effective and persuasive. Their efforts will result in campaigns that are well-executed, creative, and visually appealing.

Boost Awareness and Recognition

Branding agencies can help your business to boost awareness and recognition. They can help to create a unique identity for your company and help to promote it across the internet, in print media, and on radio and television.

Creative agencies can help you to create marketing materials that will help you to reach your target market. They can design logo designs, advertising campaigns, and even marketing slogans for your business.

By using a creative branding agency, you can ensure that your business is well-known and respected in the marketplace.

Build Brand Trust and Loyalty

When you choose a branding agency, you’re investing in its ability to create a unique and memorable brand for your business. This is essential if you want your customers to trust and be loyal to your product or service.

A branding agency can help you build trust and loyalty among customers by creating a strong brand identity for your company. They will create a logo, website, and marketing materials that reflect your company’s values and personality.

With a reputable branding agency, you can ensure your business has the foundation it needs to move in today’s competitive marketplace.

Improve Your ROI

When you’re looking to improve your business, it’s important to find a branding agency that can provide you with the best possible results. A branding agency can help you increase your ROI by creating a unique brand for your business.

Experience with Multiple Technologies and Methods

Branding agencies can provide a variety of benefits when it comes to using technology and marketing. They are experienced with a variety of technologies and methods, which can help you reach your target audience.

A good website design agency can help you create a website with a user-friendly interface and visual appearance to match your professional brand. By ensuring your website is attractive, they can also help you increase its visibility on the internet.

Branding agencies can help you reach the right person on social media. They create campaigns that are tailored to the individual or group of people targeted. They can also help you to manage your social media accounts effectively so that you remain compliant with all the laws governing social media platforms.

Easy accessibility to assets

Branding agencies offer a wealth of resources. This means that you can find the information you need without having to search through numerous websites.

Branding agencies can help create solutions that are specific to your business. This means that you can customize your branding strategy to fit your specific needs.

Branding agencies have years of experience in the area of branding. They can help you develop a successful brand by generating quality content and guarding your reputation.

A Fresh Perspective

Branding agencies can offer a fresh perspective on your company and help to create a unique identity.

Branding agencies can help you to ideate and brainstorm about your company in different ways that address its needs and goals. They can help you to develop a new identity for your company that will be unique and appealing to potential customers. This approach can help you to break through the clutter and make your company more visible.

A branding agency can also provide guidance on how to market your company effectively. They can give you advice on how to create marketing campaigns that are tailored to your company’s needs and target audience. 

A Strong Brand Boosts Revenue

Many businesses believe that a strong brand is key to success. This is because a strong brand can boost revenue in several ways.

A strong brand can increase the demand for products and services. With a recognizable brand and established reputation, people are more likely to spend money on products or services that they offer.This means that the company will be able to sell more products and services than other companies in its industry.

A strong brand can increase the visibility of a company. This increased exposure may lead to more customers and more business opportunities.

Gain Access to a Versatile Talent Pool

One of the benefits of using a branding agency is its diverse talent pool. This pool contains experts in marketing, design, and other fields. They can help you create a special and efficacious brand.

Another benefit of using a branding agency is its flexibility & versatility. This means that you won’t have to waste time and money trying to create a brand that doesn’t fit your business.

Overall, branding agencies are an important resource for businesses of all sizes. Their versatile talent pool and ability to customize services make them valuable assets.

Rely on Creative Agility

When it comes to finding the right branding agency, you need someone who can provide you with creative agility. This means that the agency can quickly adapt to changes in your business and create a unique branding strategy that stands out from the rest.

Branding agencies have the skills, years of experience, and knowledge to help you market your business. They are likely to know what will work best for your business and can help you to reach your target market. In addition, they can help you to develop a consistent brand message that will be effective across all aspects of your marketing efforts.

Cost-Effectiveness

The cost-effectiveness of using a branding agency is hard to beat. Branding agencies can help businesses with a range of branding needs, from developing a new logo to creating a marketing campaign.

Branding agencies can also provide assistance with other strategic business decisions, such as choosing the right location for a business or determining the best way to market the company. 

Branding agencies can also help businesses to attract new customers and increase sales in a cost-effective way

Conclusion

Branding has come a long way in the past decade or so, and there are plenty of benefits to using a branding agency for your business. From increasing brand awareness to creating more engaging content, a good branding agency can do wonders for your business.

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