2009 October | Webdesigner Depot

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30 Oct
Blog Headers: 20 Great Examples and Best Practices
Blogs, How to, Web Design
60

The header is likely the first thing a new visitor sees on a blog, so it is the first impression — but why is a blog header so much more important, or at least different, than the header of a basic website?
Blog headers need more functionality. Other web designs may differ in terms of their use and therefore, what’s included in the website header and how it’s presented can vary greatly.
With a blog specifically, though, there are best practices that can help the reader navigate through the blog and become better involved.
That’s exactly what this article will do. We’ll help you define what should be a part of a blog header and how to finally implement it, and then we’ll look at twenty awesome examples that do just that. Read more
29 Oct
The Dazzling Digital Art of Archan Nair
Design, Illustrations, Inspiration
30

Archan Nair (alias archanN on the web) is an exceptional 26 year old designer, illustrator and digital artist.
He is currently based in New Delhi, India. As you scroll through his art, keep in mind his goal of creating works was inspired by various phases or moments of life.
Archan comes from a different industry than most graphic designers: Fashion.
He started developing digital artwork in 2006 by editing simple wallpapers, and his hunger for learning more about the world of design hasn’t ceased since.
His skills have been sought out by companies such as Pepsi Co., Microsoft, Tiger Beer, Boss and more.
We’ve gone through many of his sites and have selected some of his best works for your inspiration. Read more
27 Oct
To School or Not to School
Design, Graphic Design
141

Education undeniably changes us. Learning new things completely alters our perception of life and the world around us.
But formal academic training is a touchy subject for some people. Going to school to learn a discipline is still not an option for everyone.
As someone who has worked in the graphic design field for quite some time without an advanced degree, I understand that self-education is not to be underestimated.
But just how far can this type of training get you in life before you reach an impasse?
This is one of the big questions in the world of graphic design: is design school worth the time, money and effort? Does it pay off? Read more
26 Oct
200+ Free Exclusive RSS Icons: “Supra”
Freebies, Icons, Vector
58

Today we bring you a set of over 200 free and exclusive RSS icons called “Supra”.
The icons are provided in both raster and vector formats: The transparent PNG versions are 32×32, 64×64 and 128×128, and we have also included source files for Illustrator so that you can resize and create the icons as needed.
The icons are completely free for personal and commercial use and they’re being released exclusively to all our RSS subscribers.
To download your copy, simply subscribe to our RSS feed and you’ll find the current password at the bottom of each post when viewing the RSS feed.
Below you’ll see a full preview of all icons included in this set. The download link appears at the bottom. Enjoy! Read more
26 Oct
BIG THANKS to All Our Sponsors, Oct. 09
Advertising
7

Today we’d like to thank all our advertisers for their continued support of WDD.
It’s both thanks to them and to our audience that WDD continues to thrive month after month.
We realize that many of you may not click on adverts as you may feel that they may not be relevant to you, or your business.
Why not try something new today and check out some of these awesome companies?
You might just learn about a useful service or product while at the same time helping to support WDD. Thank you! Read more
25 Oct
Our Favorite Tweets of the Week
Oct 18-Oct 24, 2009
Best Of, Compilation, Twitter
13

Every week we tweet a lot of interesting stuff highlighting great content that we find on the web that can be of interest to web designers.
The best way to keep track of our tweets is simply to follow us on Twitter, however, in case you missed some here’s a quick and useful compilation of the best tweets that we sent out this past week.
Note that this is only a very small selection of the links that we tweeted about, so don’t miss out.
To keep up to date with all the cool links, simply follow us @DesignerDepot
Read more
23 Oct
The Weirdest Clouds that You’ll Ever See
Compilation, Inspiration, Nature
216

Nature has always been a source of inspiration for designers to look at things differently.
We all know that a tree doesn’t always have green leaves, water is not blue and clouds are certainly not always white and puffy. As designers, we need to know to look beyond the obvious when looking at things.
Cloud formations such as mammatus or lenticular among others, are perfect examples of how intricate and different nature can be. There are even so called ‘ufo clouds’, which truly resemble the shape of a UFO.
In this post, we take a look at some amazing photographs of the weirdest cloud formations that you’ll ever see, that are destined to inspire your design work and surely blow your mind.
To read more information about any of the photos, just click on any of the images below to be taken to its source. And don’t forget the next time you go out, to look up…
Read more
22 Oct
Systematizing the Graphic Design Process
Business, Design, Web Designers
44

Unlike other forms of art, graphic design is not just about taking paper and pen and letting the work flow.
Graphic designers have to help viewers get the message and help sell a service or product.
Creating a design for a client with little or no strategy just doesn’t work. Unlike traditional art, graphic design has to convey a very narrow message.
Developing a system for the graphic design process can help the designer achieve the best results.
Systematizing any sort of project, whether graphic design, web design, programming or otherwise, gets the work done faster, keeps the project organized and yields better results.
Here is a simple six-step graphic design process, which you may want to take wholesale or build on. Read more
20 Oct
30 Superb Examples of Infographic Maps
Data Visualization, Design, Infographics
42

As you search the web you’ll come across a wide range of interactive and graphical maps.
Deciding when, where and how to integrate or display a map on your site is the first step, the second should be what technology and illustrations to use.
If you’re all about interaction, JQuery, Ajax, or Flash are all effective technologies that hold their own ground.
Map illustrations are a dime a dozen however, a strong and balanced display of graphics, information, and colors is what makes an infographic stand out and reach its target audience effectively.
As designers, we’re constantly searching for ways to improve and style our designs, this is exactly what the following 30 infographics and sites display below; the breaking of rules. Read more
19 Oct
Do’s and Don’ts of Photoshop Retouching
Photography, Photoshop, Web Design
49

A photograph of a stunning model is sitting before you that has serious potential but several flaws.
The shade of the female model’s hair is dull, her eye color just isn’t doing it for you, and she has several pimples across her otherwise flawless face.
What do you do? Touch up the photo using Photoshop, of course!
The number of options available for enhancement are now sky high, but what’s the best way to clean the photo up?
To simplify the retouching process, we have highlighted the best and worst ways to create a clean, professional-looking photo in Photoshop. Read more
18 Oct
Our Favorite Tweets of the Week
Oct 11-Oct 17, 2009
Best Of, Compilation, Twitter
5

Every week we tweet a lot of interesting stuff highlighting great content that we find on the web that can be of interest to web designers.
The best way to keep track of our tweets is simply to follow us on Twitter, however, in case you missed some here’s a quick and useful compilation of the best tweets that we sent out this past week.
Note that this is only a very small selection of the links that we tweeted about, so don’t miss out.
To keep up to date with all the cool links, simply follow us @DesignerDepot
Read more
16 Oct
Preparing and Planning for a Redesign
Tutorials, Usability, Web Design
64

So many businesses out there set up a website and then think, “There, that’s done with” and never bother to re-evaluate their website’s design or position in the marketplace.
But looking at a website as a static, unchanging bit of advertising will put you at a disadvantage sooner or later.
Trends in website design change over the years (and even months). What looked cutting edge in 2006 is going to look incredibly dated in 2009.
Even things that were popular in 2008 are starting to look dated (glossy, Web 2.0-ish designs being one case-in-point).
In this article we’ll review some of the most important aspects of site redesign, so you can use the information below as a guide for your next redesign. Read more
14 Oct
An Analysis of the Amazon Shopping Experience
Review, Usability, User Interface
33

Designers of e-commerce websites today face a number of challenges in attempting to build a user experience that increases the likelihood of visitors making online purchases.
To battle fierce online competition and overcome the apprehension of skeptical shoppers, designers can take a number of steps to improve the usability of their online stores.
Since 1995, Amazon has established itself as the world’s leader in e-commerce. Its success is not a fluke, nor is it merely the result of being in the right place at the right time.
Amazon’s success is the direct result of a strong user shopping experience.
In this article, we will discuss a number of features of the Amazon shopping experience that will, either in principle or practically, offer a model worthy of imitation by e-commerce developers today. Read more
12 Oct
Super Freaky Movie Posters of the 70’s
Design, Graphic Design, Posters
35

From Attack of the Killer Tomatoes to Zardoz, the 1970’s were not only home to some of the craziest titles in film, but some of the most interesting movie posters.
The 70’s were also home to some of the more psychedelic and funky designs for movie posters that more recent directors, most notably Quentin Tarantino, have drawn on as inspiration for their own movie poster designs.
In the days before the internet, a movie poster was much more important in the marketing mix for a movie than it is today. It was the historical equivalent to the movie trailer, and as such graphic artists had to pack a lot of message into one image.
Let’s go back in time with a collection of over 70 movie posters from the 70’s that are funky fresh. Enjoy… (to improve page loading, we split the collection into two pages). Read more
11 Oct
Our Favorite Tweets of the Week
Oct 4-Oct 10, 2009
Best Of, Compilation, Twitter
13

Every week we tweet a lot of interesting stuff highlighting great content that we find on the web that can be of interest to web designers.
The best way to keep track of our tweets is simply to follow us on Twitter, however, in case you missed some here’s a quick and useful compilation of the best tweets that we sent out this past week.
Note that this is only a very small selection of the links that we tweeted about, so don’t miss out.
To keep up to date with all the cool links, simply follow us @DesignerDepot
Read more
9 Oct
40 Striking Examples of Graffiti Art
Art, Compilation, Illustrations
45

Graffiti has existed since ancient times with examples dating back to Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire.
In modern times, spray paint, regular paint and markers are the most commonly used materials.
Although the defacing of property is a crime punishable by law, many artists choose to express themselves this way.
This form of art is also used by some for communicating social and political messages.
For this post, we’ve compiled a collection of 40 striking examples of Graffiti Art. Know of any other great examples? Please post them in the comments’ area.
Read more
7 Oct
The History and Evolution of Social Media
History, Internet, Social Media
112

Social media has become an integral part of modern society.
There are general social networks with user bases larger than the population of most countries.
There are niche sites for virtually every special interest out there.
There are sites to share photos, videos, status updates, sites for meeting new people and sites to connect with old friends.
It seems there are social solutions to just about every need.
In this article, we’ll review the history and evolution of social media from its humble beginnings to the present day. Read more
5 Oct
In Defense of The Jack of All Trades
Freelancing, Web Design
118

“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, design a building, conn a ship, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve an equation, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.” Robert A. Heinlein
It seems that the topic of specialization has come into focus yet again in the web world and with it, the people who say being a “jack of all trades” is a useless thing to strive for.
A lot of web professionals are pushing newcomers to specialize in a single area to make themselves more marketable and employable. Without a doubt, specialists will always be needed in any industry. But is it really so bad to be a web generalist? Read more
4 Oct
Our Favorite Tweets of the Week
Sep 27-Oct 3, 2009
Best Of, Compilation, Twitter
17

Every week we tweet a lot of interesting stuff highlighting great content that we find on the web that can be of interest to web designers.
The best way to keep track of our tweets is simply to follow us on Twitter, however, in case you missed some here’s a quick and useful compilation of the best tweets that we sent out this past week.
Note that this is only a very small selection of the links that we tweeted about, so don’t miss out.
To keep up to date with all the cool links, simply follow us @DesignerDepot
Read more
1 Oct
The Art of Branding Yourself and Your Freelancing Business
Branding, Business, Freelancing
79

Just as it is for big corporations, successful branding is essential to the success of a freelancing business and to just one self-employed web worker.
It is often times overlooked, most likely because many don’t realize the large benefits that can come from it.
The first thing we think of when we think “brand identity” is a good logo.
A good logo can do wonders for a self-employed freelancer, but branding identity goes far beyond that, into entire website development, content, business cards, and even into offline scenarios.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at ways to define a brand for something as unique as a freelancing business, and what one needs to do to get started on the right track to a successful brand. Read more