You can use Lightroom Look-Up Tables (LUTs) to improve the look of any photo. They provide an easy way to add all manner of professional effects. They are a must-have addition to every designer’ s toolbox. Today, we’ ll introduce you to some fantastic color-grading LUTs for Adobe’ s Lightroom. These…
Specky Boy
20+ Free Pixel Fonts for Creatives
Everyone loves a retro aesthetic. Pixel fonts offer a great way to add this old-school techno look to your projects. They prompt memories of classic video games, computer systems, and plenty of pop culture references. They’ re also more flexible than you might imagine. App development is a natural…
30+ Business & Corporate Report Templates for InDesign & Photoshop
Business reports can span a wide array of use cases. You need everything from large annual reports to single-page product sheets. Not to mention all manner of niche documents. There’ s often a time crunch when putting these reports together. That means less time for crafting a detail-oriented design…
25+ Essential Event Stationery Templates for InDesign & Photoshop
Putting together an in-person event can be a huge job. For example, consider all the printed stationery you’ ll need. First, you’ ll need materials to promote the event like posters and brochures. They’ re important tools for spreading the word and attracting attendees. From there, it’ s all about giving attendees…
20+ Portfolio Video Templates for Creatives in 2024
A compelling portfolio is an important part of every designer’ s promotional material. Potential clients and employers will use it to judge your skill level. It could be the difference in whether they contact you. With that in mind, why not go all out? For example, employing video is…
30+ Essential Wedding Stationery Templates for Photoshop
Weddings are joyous occasions that create fond memories. It’ s one reason why we love to hang on to keepsakes from the day. Each memento is a reminder of good times. Perhaps there’ s no better keepsake than wedding stationery. The feel of the paper, the elegant fonts, and the…
How to Manage Your Website’s Technical Debt
The web seems to move at the speed of light. The tools and best practices we use today will soon be outdated. It’ s a vicious cycle we repeat again and again. That often leaves us with some form of technical debt. It could be a WordPress theme that…
Those Non-Design Technologies Web Designers Need to Know
We call ourselves web designers and developers. However, the job often goes beyond those narrow margins. Freelancers and small agencies deal with a range of non-design and coding issues. We become the first person our clients contact when they have a question. It happens – even when we…
Aspects of the Early Web I’d Like to See Come Back
The early web (we’ ll define it as 1995 – 2005) was an adventurous place. The narrative was that anyone could participate in this new medium. Thus, it attracted an eclectic mix of creators. We tend to look back to these days with some cringe. Yes, the design and…
How Client Requests Can Undermine Web Performance & Accessibility
We know the importance of website performance and accessibility. Or at least we should. There’ s no shortage of content dedicated to these subjects. That creates awareness. Hopefully, awareness leads to learning. And learning leads to implementing best practices. There, we’ ve made the web a better place!…
AI in Search? The Grumpy Designer Isn’t Impressed So Far
Tech companies are baking AI into everything these days. It seems like you can’ t avoid a heaping helping of bots and large language models (LLMs). I think I ingested some in my breakfast cereal this morning. Thus, it’ s no surprise that search engines have become best pals with…
20+ Best YouTube Channel Premiere Pro Templates
Video editing for YouTube has progressed far beyond the early days of simple home videos. The platform now demands content that is polished, engaging, and professional. Achieving this standard requires a blend of creativity, skill, and the right tools. For video editors looking to improve their YouTube content, …
How to Help Your Web Design Clients Without Being There
The web is a 24/7 medium. But web designers have office hours. That leaves a gap in technical support coverage. What happens if your client has a question about WordPress in the middle of the night? All jokes aside, client needs won’ t always sync with your schedule. And…
The 40+ Best Logo Fonts for Brand Designers
Every font tells a story. Once upon a time, serifs ruled the world. Looking at them today, we can’ t shake the feelings of tradition and elegance. Then, we switched to sans-serifs, which are practical and highly readable. Fonts that amplify your message. Today, we use all types of…
15+ Free Procreate Color Schemes & Swatches for Digital Artists
One of the most important aspects of digital art is the selection of color. Color can transform a piece, set the tone, and create harmony. Color choice is not just about aesthetics but also about improving your artwork’ s overall composition and cohesion. Installing and creating custom…
How to Stay Safe When Updating WordPress
Choosing WordPress to power your website is a smart move. You’ ll gain access to a world of themes, plugins, and possibilities. There are also some responsibilities, though. Making sure your installation is up-to-date is among them. And software updates come frequently. Experts tell us to apply updates as…
The Fight to Own Your Creative Content
As a platform, the web caters to creators. It’ s a place to publish and share whatever we want. We’ ve used it to fuel the rise of everything from blogs to influencer videos. The results are impressive. Think of all the careers kickstarted by online publishing. I am living…
How to Explain WordPress Maintenance to Your Clients
There’ s more to website ownership than meets the eye. However, our clients may not realize this. They might think that the work ends when the site launches. An experienced web designer knows better. A site launch is just the beginning. Content management systems (CMS) like WordPress are a…
Use ChatGPT to Export Data from a WordPress Database
Retrieving data from a WordPress site can be a nightmare. Site data could reside in several places. Pulling from these various sources isn’ t easy. Websites that feature eCommerce or memberships are prime examples. Each plugin may store data in a different spot. Some create separate database tables….
Here Are the Biggest Mistakes Freelance Web Designers Make
The great thing about being a freelancer is that you’ re in charge. That can also work against you, though. You make all the decisions. So, who’ s to blame when something goes wrong? Just take a look in the mirror. That’ s OK. None of us are perfect. And I’ m…