Showing posts with label Today. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Today. Show all posts

Saturday, May 23, 2015

10 Reasons to be a Happy Designer Today (Hint: Freebies Inside!)

Sitting idle browsing through random channels on a Sunday? Why not take some time out to check out our 10 resourceful freebies that can be a saving grace for some (we promise it would be a lot and not just some) of your upcoming projects?


From web marketing templates to colorful typeface, these freebies are a complete must-have. Download them all!


Free Invoice Template in HTML with Auto Calculations


1

Sending an invoice is the happy part of doing any business. But most freelancers (and even some companies) completely ignore the layout. The result is a jumbled mess of information and unclear number.


With this invoice template you not only maintain a more professional look with aligned text and impressive layout, but the information can be sectioned to show cost breakup. The total amount due is highlighted and there’s no need for manual entry of basic information.


And that’s not all. The auto calculation part ensures cent percent accuracy and the HTML format makes editing and sending the invoice relatively hassle-free.


Free Download


Beautiful TriColore Scalable Free Typeface


2

Colorful is good unless you love noir. The tricolored typeface gives you the creative freedom to do more than just use them as font. Use them in infographics and brochures or in the backdrop of a befitting web page, you are spoilt for choice.


Since this is a typeface and if you want to use them as fonts to write with, a basic vector editing app should help with that. Also, the typeface is free for personal and commercial usage except in case of reselling.


Free Download


48 free social media icons


3

Just like social media websites are the most frequented, social media icons too are the most popular icon set in blog and web designing. What can you do with this set of 49 social media icons you may ask?


Well for starters, you can really have fun with it! Put them to bring a colorful freshness to a website or include them in brochures and invites. Icons are versatile in usage and social media icons are no different. This addition to your resources would prove helpful in a lot of projects. The 32 pixel images are available in two formats: .PSD and .PNG.


Free Download


Vector Stars Pack


4

Here’s a Star Wars pack, okay it’s a Vector Stars pack that mightn’t feature light sabers or a trip to the Death Star but it’s packed with classic and contemporary styled stars that comes handy when you are building websites for clients. There’s an indispensible need for stars for websites with a feedback rating system.


The stars can also be featured on the background of web pages or be included in brochures, adverts and posters. As an instantly downloadable vector pack, this set of stars is available in .AI .EPS .GIF and .PSD formats.


Free Download


35 Thin Line Icons


5

Versatility could well be a synonym for line icons. These are so widely used that it’s easy to miss out on them. From battery icons to arrows, these thin line icons visually communicate the message in the most minimalistic way.


If you work a lot on graphic designing, you can create a nuanced visual by subtly including these icons. Churn your creative juices and find a perfect fit for the icons. Either way don’t forget to stock up on these line icons for future use.


Free Download


Add Magic to Your Photos with 8 Free Photoshop Actions


6

There’s more to a picture than correct lighting or ISO sensitivity. In fact what dramatically influences the end result is not a well-shot picture but a well-edited one. That’s what transitions a fairly good picture to a breathtaking one.


And you can do all of that with just a few clicks. Check out the 8 Photoshop actions for ulterior photo manipulation to bring out the best in every click. Enhance your picture or age them, there’s a lot to be done.


These actions are available in two variants- for both Photoshop (CS 4+) and Photoshop (PSE11+).


Free Download


Hipster & Retro Icon Set


7

Love it or hate it, the hipster trend is here to stay. The 60s black-rimmed glasses to tasteful hats and macho beards, chances of you using this set of hipster and retro icon are high. Include them in themed party invites or channel Hendrix or Lenon in your next blog post on these legends.


The hand drawn vectors come in a multitude of variety to make up for the complete picture. Your clients will love this addition to their similar themed website. Licensed for commercial and persona, usage, there are in total 47 different icons.


Free Download


33 Web Marketing Templates


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Whether yours is a startup or an established e-commerce business, there’s no way you can undermine the importance and influence of web marketing. From harnessing the potential of Instagram through visually attracting prospect to connecting with the industry’s who’s who on LinkedIn, there is a growing need to get your web marketing strategies right.


And if you are some with zero to limited knowledge of web marketing and its domino effect on your sales, these web marketing templates will both give you the requisite knowledge to go about strategizing web marketing procedures plus it will do most of the work for you.


The brainchild of Adam Franklin and Toby Jenkins, the set contains 33 templates in total.


Free Download


Seamless Pack of Vector Patterns


9

The right pattern can up the quotient of any background. Use these vector seamless patterns to create the perfect web page, henna inspired borders, theme invites, printed cards, and even for fabric printing.


An effortless way to beautify your work and thrill your clients! The patterns – available in 78 different designs- are up for instant download.


Free Download


Free UI Kit with a stylish and modern look


10

More like a cheat sheet to creating the perfect user interface when you’re bogged with work. Save time without compromising on either the aesthetics or the functionality.


The UI kit comes equipped with all the basic requirements such as blogging, typography, service and requirements and so much more. All you need to do it just add to cart and download via the link that will be mailed to you.


Free Download


Happy Freebie Day!



10 Reasons to be a Happy Designer Today (Hint: Freebies Inside!)

Friday, April 3, 2015

3 Terrible Excuses For Not Starting Your Own Company Today

In a tech world where hugely successful companies like Apple and Airbnb compete on design, there are surprisingly few designers out there creating their own startups. Why? A lot of it comes down to mentality on both ends. Most designers aren’t taught to think of themselves as entrepreneurs, and lots of businesses are still getting over the idea that designers are consultants you bring in at the end of the day to “make things look pretty”” rather than key players.


Here are three of the biggest sticking points we hear from designers as to why they aren’t starting their own company and why they actually don’t matter.


1. “I don’t know enough about coding/hardware or business”


code-pic


Welcome to what being an entrepreneur is all about. One of the most fantastic things about founding a startup is the opportunity to always be learning something new and flexing your skills on the go. Yes, that can be incredibly stressful, but it’s also exhilarating and one of the things that keeps people coming back to game over and over again. Trust us, no one knows everything they need to when they first start a company.


Secondly, don’t forget about your team, especially your cofounding team at first. Part of the point of cofounders is to close the insanely large sink hole of knowledge that is missing. Then you add in a few choice advisors.


Your cofounders and advisors are there to support you with knowledge that you don’t personally have, and help you learn more about the different angles to what you’re doing. In describing the partnership with his Behance co-founder Scott Belsky, Matias Corea noted, “When I met Scott, I was just a designer…I turned Scott into a designer, he turned me into an entrepreneur”


It’s never too late to learn a bit about these things you don’t know about. Learning the basics of coding can be a great way to enhance your skills as a designer in general, and you don’t have to have detailed back-end skills to be able to make the right decisions and work with others. And you may be surprised to find that design-thinking applies to business in almost every way. Just ask designer entrepreneur Christina Wodtke.


2. “I’m not ready”


How long have you been saying this? Make no mistake, taking the first step is damn scary. But there is never a perfect time. You can choose to wait forever and wonder what would have happened if, or have the confidence to take the first step. A great place to begin is by starting side projects. Not just on your own, but with others.


If you’re struggling to find inspiration, “stop trying to be the next Facebook or have the next billion dollar idea—don’t think about it like that,” says web-design great Jeffrey Zeldman. “Think about what isn’t out there that you wish was out there, and scratch your own itch”


Collaborate with people on projects you’re passionate about, and you’ll quickly see if you like your potential co-founders and if your project is becoming such an obsession that it can’t be a side-project anymore. Then maybe it’s time to take things to the next level. Maybe even more importantly, you’ll figure out what your deal breakers are in a cofounder.


3. “I don’t do work for free”


money-pic


One of the things we often hear from designers is “I don’t work for free” And that is valid. Chrisina Wodtke explains, “This is one of those ‘good things gone wrong,” AIGA and other design organizations have said over and over again, ‘Never ever do work for free.’ While it is important to defend the value of your work as a designer, following this rule to a “T” can keep you from engaging in wonderful opportunities to co-found early on, when nobody else is making money either.


Starting a company is about diving in and creating with your co-founders; it’s not like being taken advantage of by an employer who doesn’t respect your craft. It’s a risk, but one that everyone is sharing together. Rather than thinking about getting paid in money, think about in terms of value. Are you getting value for what you’re doing? Do you have a large piece of the company if you’re cofounding it?


What’s Stopping You?


Of course, there will always be hurdles in the way of creative people who hope to impact the world, but if you’re one of those would-be designer entrepreneurs, a combination of experimentation, confidence and design-thinking can help you take that leap of faith.



Jessica Alter is the Cofounder & CEO of FounderDating, the premier network for entrepreneurs and advisors to connect, share and help one and other. Previously, Jessica led Business Development and was GM of Platforms at Bebo (Acquired by AOL). Prior to Bebo Jessica worked in business development at Hands-On Mobile. She is also a mentor at 500 Startups and Extreme Startups. She holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from University of Michigan and an MBA from Harvard Business School.



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3 Terrible Excuses For Not Starting Your Own Company Today