The bundle includes hundreds of professional and exclusive resources such as PSDs, vectors, brushes, icons, textures, UI elements and a bunch more. The files are provided by professional designers and are available for both personal and commercial uses.

Why the name ZeroBundle you may wonder…. well, it’s because it’s 100% free, with ‘zero’ cost to you.

ZeroBundle is available for a limited time only and it will then be gone, so don’t delay to get your hands quickly on this mega bundle of awesome resources!! Check out all the previews at ZeroBundle.com! Enjoy!

To see all the previews and to download the files, click on the image below to head over to ZeroBundle.com….

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The immediate benefits are also abundant. Emerging techniques you learn today can be applied to a client project tomorrow for added value, or to set your work apart from the mainstream.

There was never a point at which successful designers have learned enough. The secret to being cutting edge is to stay sharp. Aside from your local library or book store, and in lieu of returning to college full-time, the internet offers you an infinite number of outlets and resources for learning.

With so many blogs, e-books and forums offering knowledge on hundreds of design-related topics, determining quality and choosing sources can quickly become overwhelming and time consuming. Below are 9 of the best resources I have uncovered and used to keep my own skills fresh, chosen for their high content quality, element of interest, value and relevancy.

1. Sessions College for Professional Design

Sessions College offers a collection of high quality certificate and degree programs aimed at professionals who wish to learn something new or refresh their credentials. Each course is designed to provide new and creative ways to use modern techniques in design, coding and multimedia. Fees are reasonable, and the school offers an easy payment schedule and assistance for securing private loans for those who need them.

2. Lynda.com

The video courses offered through Lynda.com cover a wide range of subjects, from Development to Photography. Courses are carefully tailored to help professionals learn new topics in a short amount of time, and are a perfect way to evolve your work by expanding your knowledge to include complimentary skills such as Photography or Animation. Lynda.com is a pricier option at $25 per month, but may make up for the money you will lose by letting your talents wane.

3. O’Reilly

O’Reilly is an academic standard when it comes to instructional text, and their library sports titles covering every technical subject imaginable. They also sponsor the School of Technology, which offers extensive online courses and certificate programs, covering modern programming languages. Unlike formal online university programs, the School of Technology courses earn you credits at a fraction of the cost and are accessible anytime.

Training courses are excellent for learning specific topics quickly, but the cost adds up. If money is tight, the best solution is to buy a book. Several titles are available for free download from the O’Reilly library, found by entering “free” into the search bar.

4. jQuery

The power of jQuery is quickly becoming a staple in web design, and understanding its basic function and implementation is important, even if you are not a developer. The jQuery website is more than just a repository. Its tutorial seciton is an excellent solution for learning specific techniques and plugin usage. Each tutorial is written by key contributors to the jQuery project, many of which are also authors, teachers or industry pioneers.

5. W3C Schools

Building from standards set by the Worldwide Web Consortium, W3CSchools always has a complete overview on updates in web coding before they are fully supported by browsers. Keeping on top of content as it is published to this site guarantees you will have a strong understanding of the discipline and techniques required to implement it in your designs far before the rest of the web catches up. W3C Schools even offers certification for the benefit of skeptical employers.

6. Free University Courses

You can pay for premium education, or you can get it free. If you are like most designers, free is always a better option. Academic Earth is a compendium of top university resources, seminars and lectures on a variety of topics, including business, art and writing. Berkeley and MIT also offer a huge selection of open courses, video lectures and materials to help you supplement your technical skills.

7. Conferences

They aren’t the most cost-effective or quick ways to learn a new skill, but the contact-building capabilities of conferences and seminars far outweigh the perceived inconvenience of leaving your computer and many of them offer convincing whitepapers aimed at convincing your employer to fit the bill.

Thousands of experts from around the globe gather to exchange expertise and ideas in areas you may not think to pursue as a designer, such as copyright law, business ethics, user experience and agile development.

Smashing Magazine hosts a thorough list of conferences on their blog here and cover everywhere from New York to New Zealand. Conference websites often host videos of past talks, allowing you to gain key insights without having to attend. To keep on top of internet topics outside of design, check out upcoming technical conferences at O’Reilly.

8. Challenge Yourself

Learning a new trick in CSS or mastering HTML5 is not the only way to keep your skills sharp. Your creativity muscle needs new ways to flex itself that go beyond web standards. Use sites like the 100-Day Drawing Challenge and Show & Tell’s 30 Day Challenge to keep your artistic aptitude high and strive for unique and interesting perspectives through physical sketching. If Photography or Digital Art is more your thing, consider JPG Magazine, DP Challenge or Dominance War to help keep that spark lit, and keep an eye on Duuel, a new website aimed at challenging pairs of designers to innovate in specific areas of design.

9. Community

Your instinct may tell you to stay away from others of your kind for survival, but this is counterproductive and counter-intuitive where the spirit of web design is considered. Sites like Forrst, DesignersCouch and Dribbble give you the opportunity to experiment in an open arena, ask questions or share your expertise. Your peers and colleagues offer the best resource for learning new techniques, discovering new tools and gaining valuable feedback, so don’t be afraid to use it.

Written exclusively for Webdesigner Depot by Vail Joy. She is a freelance designer and tech blogger with a deep interest in all things web-related. She also enjoys writing for WIX, the free website builder.

Where are your favorite places online to continue their design education? Let us know in the comments!

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The survey will be used to learn more about the design community and create several posts and infographics about it.

The results will keep designers up-to-date with the latest graphic design practices, trends and technology by collecting relevant data from who else but actual designers like you!

See this page for all terms and conditions, FAQs and more information. You can fill out the survey after the jump. Thanks!

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If you are a seasoned multitasker, you can listen to podcasts while working. Otherwise, the other big advantage of podcasts is that you can take it anywhere and listen to it whenever you want, while riding the bus to work or doing the dishes.

To find the perfect podcast is hard, but there are many good shows out there, especially for designers. Good podcasts usually have the following: a great host that chooses good topics and quality guests, good sound quality and jingles, show notes and links.

The following shows usually combine all those properties, check them out!

Web design news

Web workers rejoice, there are tons of podcasts for you to get better at what you do. Here are my favorites.

The Big Web Show

Website – Feed – on iTunes

Two experienced designers, Dan Benjamin and Jeffrey Zeldman, talking about various topics of interest like web publishing, art direction, web technology, typography, and much more. It is the perfect podcast to learn about what’s going on on the web with two relaxed hosts and frequent special guests. It is a very professional podcast that is aired every week.

The Sitepoint podcast

Website – Feed – on iTunes

The popular web designers and developers hub also runs a podcast on its blog. There are multiple authors and a wide range of topics are talked about, like CSS, iPhone development, freelancing, jQuery, and ASP. Regular guests also make it more interesting. The show is aired about twice a week.

Think Vitamin radio

Website – Feed – on iTunes

Every two weeks, the Carsonified team speaks about web design, business, and development. They have an interesting section called “Tweet of the week” and some frequent guests. This podcast is generally more business oriented than other web design podcasts.

WebDev radio

Website – on iTunes

For the more tech-oriented minds, WebDev radio is a podcast about web development, programming languages for the web, and the life of web workers. Front-end designers may not be so interested by this podcast, but web developers should be glad to listen to shows about Tomcat, Java, Ruby on Rails, and more. Unfortunately, the show is not aired very often, about every two months.

Build & Analyze

Website – Feed – on iTunes

Marco Arment, the founder of Instapaper, talks with Dan Benjamin about an interesting for today’s web designers: the mobile web. The main topics are, among others: iPhone, iPad, iOS, and mobile web development. Every week, Marco and Dan give some expert insights on these topics.

Graphic design podcasts

Keeping up to date is not easy for graphic designers, but these podcasts should to the trick.

Design Matters

Website

Hosted by Debbie Millman, who is not only president of the design division at Sterling Brands, but also president of the AIGA and editor at Print Magazine. In this show, she profiles inspiring, influencial and famous designers. The topics covered are often tied to global news, with a more cultural take on art, design or cultural events. The show is normally aired almost every week, but publications have been a bit sporadic in the past few months.

InDesign Secrets podcast

Website – on iTunes

The best podcast for the afficionados of the popular layout tool. Get tips and tricks, learn new shortcuts and obscure InDesign features, and hear interviews with designers. You’ll be amazed by how many functionalities there are in InDesign, and how much you still have to learn, with this weekly podcast.

Pixel Perfect

Website – Feed

Digital artist Bert Monroy teaches you tips and tricks to master Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. It’s quite art-oriented, so digital painters out there should be interested by learning new techniques from this show. Every episode is short and straight to the point. This show is published every week.

Photoshop User TV

Website – Feed – on iTunes

A weekly show featuring Scott Kelby, Dave Cross, and Matt Kloskowski and presented by the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. Get all the tips, tricks and tutorials you need. It is probably the most famous and authoritative show about the image editing software. If you want to know everything about Photoshop you should definitly watch this show.

Typeradio

Website – Feed

For the type lovers out there, the fine hosts of the show visit different design events around the world to talk with designers. This show is often very short, but always long enough to know what’s going on in the type world. It is not published very regularly, so the best way to keep up to date is to subscribe to it.

Freelancing podcasts

Freelancing can be overwhelming, especially when you are getting started. So why don’t you learn quicker by listening to related podcasts?

Freelance Advisor

Website – Feed

A lot of advice by expert freelancers, with interviews with successful freelancers. Topics covered are numerous and give you tips on everything you could dream of. They have recently given tips about how to take advantage of online marketplaces or about taxes for freelancers, for example. The show is published every two months.

Back to Work

Website – Feed – on iTunes

Dan Benjamin and Merlin Mann, the creator of 43Folders and InboxZero, discuss productivity, work, communication, constraints, tools, and more. If you don’t know who Merlin Mann is, let’s just say that he is a real authority when it comes to productivity for web workers. The show airs every week.

Rookie Designer

Website – Feed – on iTunes

Rookie designer is an excellent podcast for all starting designers out there, but also for others. Talking about the issues a young designer will face and helping you to become a freelancer. There are plenty of topics covered, like working with clients in another country, content strategies or negotiating your dream job. You can listen to all this almost every two weeks.

Six Pixels of Separation

Website – Feed – on iTunes

A general podcast targeted to web workers and designers. Mitch Joel talks about a lot of things of interest for freelancers, marketers, bloggers, and creative people in general. It’s a great show to get insights from a top marketer every week.

Written and compiled exclusively for Webdesigner Depot by Mirko Humbert. Mirko is a graphic and web designer and blogger from Switzerland. When he is not working for his clients, he blogs on Designer Daily and Typography Daily or installs WordPress for free.

Do you listen to design podcasts? Which important design podcast did we miss in this article?

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In such a rapidly changing landscape, what is at stake for web users might well be the quality of what is produced.

Quality assurance often comes down to standards, and for better or worse, design lacks a regulating body.

Some countries (Canada, Norway, United Kingdom, and others) do have rigorous qualifications to belong to professional design groups, but none are required to practice. So how do standards gain traction if they aren’t made mandatory?

With over 300,000 visits since launching in January 2011, The Photoshop Etiquette Manifesto for Web Designers, more or less a standards document, has had no problem gaining popularity. The individual behind the manifesto, the smart and passionate Dan Rose, answered some questions for us about the Manifesto’s beginnings, its challenges, and its future.

How did Photoshop Etiquette come about? What was your inspiration?

Dan Rose: So I was sitting at my desk, just inherited a PSD from someone, at my wit’s end from hunting down what layer something was on. As I reached over to my Twitter app to complain to the world about my plight (as all of us do), I realized there had to be a better way. I got out my notebook and I frantically started writing down the things that agitated me most about inheriting PSDs.

Hours later, I opened up my text editor, tossed my ranting into HTML, and thus, Photoshop Etiquette was born.

Initially, my goal was to make this one-page site of grumblings a declaration to co-workers and colleagues alike. My target audience was originally those 10-20 people I had to share PSDs with. Needless to say, it was an internal document at best.

As I shared the link with Twitter and Forrst folk, I noticed the site catching on and its purpose quickly changed. The site had to be educational and useful, and even though at times it maintained a witty and snarky tone, the goal had to be to promote workplace harmony. Otherwise, it was just a list of complaints that some people agreed with while others felt alienated.

(Image: AGoK)

What do you think is the most important tip in Photoshop Etiquette?

Rose: Anything dealing with external file organization (naming files, using folders, storing assets) comes to mind. The underlying theme of Photoshop Etiquette is that collaboration is crucial, so the manner in which we collaborate should be top-notch. The backbone of the site is about individually raising standards so it benefits the group collectively.

We web people are getting better at creating beautiful, usable websites. However, it’s going to take collaborative efforts to make sites even better, sites built on solid concepts rather than fancy trends and techniques. That’s what adopting Photoshop Etiquette is all about: perfecting your craft down to “insert rule here” so the next person who gets your PSD isn’t wasting time figuring out what you’re trying to do, and people will want to collaborate more.

Take pride in what you do. Don’t take shortcuts. Your awesome design should have an awesome PSD behind it. Okay, I’m stepping off my soapbox.

While a manifesto, your site is also a teaching tool. What is it about teaching “old dogs new tricks” that you find challenging?

Rose: It’s hard to get old dogs to pay attention. It’s the same with those who feel etiquette wastes time. I imagine seasoned pros visited the site, saw the first few rules, and said “Eh, I already do that, this is for beginners.” Therein lies the problem. It’s that attitude that prevents us from collaborating effectively.

Humility plays such an important role in our industry. What other profession so openly shares its knowledge base with tutorials, articles and feedback? It’s inspiring to see fellow web designers sharing their secrets to success and proficiency. Sharing the fundamentals of design and Photoshop seems the least I can do.

(Image: Viola Renate)

Some of your tips are appropriate for both designers and developers. Do you think we web folk increasingly moving toward one shared skill set?

Rose: Just one man’s opinion: I think there is space for varying degrees of web proficiency. Making something amazing depends on passion.

Responsibility is also important. As a designer, I owe it to my developer to be familiar with as much code (HTML/CSS) as it pertains to design and layout. I can get by without such knowledge, but then the probability of my developer finding grief with my designs is higher. So yeah, I guess I’m saying in a best-case-scenario a web designer is also a front-end developer.

With all the amazing resources out there to learn front-end development, it’s worthwhile for those shy designers to dive in. http://membership.thinkvitamin.com/ and dontfeattheinternet.com echo that sentiment.

What is the future of Photoshop Etiquette? How can we help it stick around?

Rose: I’m committed to making Photoshop Etiquette a resource that spans changing software updates and beyond. Adding and modifying some of the rules is definitely in the scope of updating the website over time.

I’d love for Photoshop Etiquette to become more of a community and not just a static resource. People are encouraged to suggest new rules, and a bunch of what’s up there now has come from the suggestions of many. I love the photos of people wearing their Layer Mayor tees, showing support for the cause. Continue contributing via email psetiquette@layermayor.com and following @psetiquette on Twitter.

Most importantly, go get a Photoshop Etiquette poster, hang that thing in your studio, and convince your designers and developers to adopt it. Or come up with your own list of do’s and do not’s. It’ll do wonders for morale.

The future of design standards

It is clear the Photoshop Etiquette Manifesto is a successful case study for how design standards could be regulated, as few other initiatives have garnered as much interest. Such an endeavor does not come without its challenges, as Rose has shared with us here, but immediacy is not one of them; while the case for the licensed designer has been gathering momentum for awhile, design professionals can adopt the Manifesto this instant, even while certifying organizations are still getting their acts together.

Given the challenges Rose faces in standards adoption, one larger question remains: Will placing the onus on individuals be enough to make a difference?

Written by Cassie McDaniel, a freelance web designer, writer, artist and illustrator. Cassie has written for A List Apart, Smashing Magazine, Freelance Switch, Six Revisions in addition to Webdesigner Depot. Follow her work at www.cassiemcdaniel.com or say hi to @cassiemc on Twitter.

Are individuals as standards evangelists enough to regulate our industry? Or do we still need regulatory bodies to govern design standards?

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We don’t always get logo design right. And sometimes it’s just time for a newer, trendier logo. We may see it a couple months or years later and decide that it’s time to redesign or update what we have.

Redesigning a logo can be just as hard as creating a new one. Some questions you may ask yourself are: How much do you want to change it? What elements should be kept? And will the redesign still be recognizable as your brand?

Once you go through your list of questions and figure out what’s necessary, here are five ideas you can use to spruce up your logo design.

1. Strip it Down

We are living in a time where minimalism is a huge trend, not just because it looks good but because it works and it makes sense. The main idea is to get rid of the excess so that your audience isn’t confused about what’s going on—in terms of a logo you want your audience to be sure of what is being sold and what a logo represents.

Stripping down your logo design can ultimately end up being beneficial because a simple design is much easier to recognize than a busier design. If your current logo design has a lot of elements, try to figure out which ones are excess. For example, you may have a simple text logo with a couple of swooshes or a design element on it. What if, for instance, you decided to drop the text, and have the design element remain as your logo, or vice versa. Thus, you could rework or redesign only that one element as your logo.

My favorite example of this type of technique is the Starbucks logo. From the logo’s inception, the company has always had a pretty stripped down logo. Recently they went even further with their old logo, and it makes so much sense and looks very good as well. The idea behind removing the “Starbucks Coffee” around the previous logo was because the company plans on creating more ventures outside of coffee—it wouldn’t make sense to sell bottled water or wine with a logo that says “coffee” on it. This logo remains completely recognizable from the last and it simply works.

2. Change the font

Another pretty simple and subtle fix for when you pretty much like everything you’ve got on your logo. Perhaps you just need one thing to really change it but not too much. The question is, if you like everything on your logo, why would you change the font?

Picking a new font for your logo is kind of like the meeting of two new worlds. Let’s say for instance, you have a logo that is mainly all text and for the original you used a serif. Perhaps you did that because you wanted it to appeal to an older generation or you wanted your audience to take you seriously. But now you need a new redesign that appeals to younger folks and is a bit more modern—what would you do? Probably change my font from a serif to a sans-serif.

A logo redesign that works well here is the MSNBC logomark. The original design had this uppercase, super heavy typeface that would make any good typographer cringe. It was extremely strong and powerful—which isn’t always the greatest idea for a media news station. The newer logo flaunts a lowercase, more aesthetically pleasing typeface that makes more sense. It’s as if they went from being a big-headed and wrong news channel, to be a humble and approachable one.

3. Simplify the design

This is quite similar to our first point, but here I want you to consider a complete redesign by simplifying what you have. A lot of times, original logos can end up being extremely busy, as well as generic. The idea here is to break down the design, simplify it and come out with something extraordinary for your brand.

Modernizing the logo is also another way to simplify the design. For example, let’s look at the “Seattle’s Best Coffee” logo. While there’s a split amongst those who favor the redesign and don’t, I definitely agree with the redesign and what it stands for. The previous logo is a bit busy, seems a bit older, and isn’t that different. There are tons of logos featuring seals, especially when we’re thinking about coffee.

Seattle’s Best Coffee, however, has decided to open it’s playing field from not just coffee shops, but convenience. They want to partner with more fast food chains, offer pre-made beverages in stores, and even have vending machines. This simplified redesign conveys the move from your hometown coffee shop to a more convenient coffee brand.

4. Change the colors

Picking the right colors for anything can mean success. We tend to relate colors to certain emotions and feelings as well as certain things. For example, blue is a cool color and is often regarded as welcoming. Red is a warmer color that is seen as being feisty or energetic. Changing the colors on your logo can end up being either a subtle or dramatic change, depending on what it is you want to do.

Even a small change, like a bit less saturation can do the trick. Toys R Us redesigned their logo a while ago. They cleaned it up a bit (a la idea #1), but they also changed the colors around. They ended up being a lot less primary and standard. While the logo just seemed to be due for a redesign, they kept everything else pretty much the same. The color change, however, helped the brand seem a bit more childlike and fun.

5. Company/Product-centric

Sometimes we create logos that do too much and are way too busy. Then there is a completely different spectrum of logo design where our logos don’t do nearly enough. It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that minimalism is the way to go—but the truth is, it’s not appropriate for every company or product.

We sometimes want to be so clean and just create a logomark with some nice typography. That’s not a bad idea if it’s necessary, but sometimes a logo needs a bit of excitement to go along with what the company is doing. If you’re logo is super boring, you may want to apply more of a theme to it that is central to the company or what the product does.

Perhaps your logo isn’t boring, but perhaps it doesn’t quite make sense. Years ago, Amazon.com used a logo that referenced the Amazon River. If you’ve ever been to Amazon.com, then you know they have nothing to do with the Amazon River—it misses the mark entirely. Fortunately, they redesigned their logo to the clever one we’ve got now, which has an arrow stemming from the ‘A’ to the ‘Z’ (they’ve got everything from A to Z), and it also looks to me like a smile. If you’ve ever gotten a deal from Amazon.com (i.e., textbooks), you know exactly how I feel.

Out with the old, in with the new

Redesigning a logo is definitely a timely thing, but usually has to be done at some point. Determine what it is you are trying to do and use at least one, if not a combination, of the ideas presented. Always keep in mind what the client wants and needs and even what the competition is doing. Remain creative and inspired and you’re sure to create a great logo!

Kendra Gaines is a freelance designer from Virginia, USA. Connect with her.

With your experience in logo redesign, what are some techniques you enjoy using?

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QR codes, if you haven’t heard of them or clicked the link above to see the whole explanation, are scanned via a reader application (usually on your smart phone) that will take you to a video or web page.

They have been used in Japan for over a decade (invented by a Toyota subsidiary, Densu Wave), and now the rest of the world is catching up.

Why not just have the URL and let people hand key it in on their cell phones? WHAT? And make people actually expend energy? Charlatan!

Seriously, you can’t fight technology so make the best of it.

The trouble with barcodes is they are linear one-dimensional codes and can only hold up to 20 numerical digits, whereas QR codes are two-dimensional (2D) matrix barcodes that can hold thousands of alphanumeric characters of information. Their ability to hold more information and their ease of use makes them practical for small businesses and individuals, as well as… well… any size company.

When you scan or read a QR code with your iPhone, Android or other camera-enabled Smartphone, you can link to digital content on the web; activate a number of phone functions including email, IM and SMS; and connect the mobile device to a web browser.

QR Codes are even showing up on cemetery headstones.

Although a QR looks like a crossword puzzle, there are ways to manipulate the code. As with barcodes, that could be truncated and limited, colored and designed, the QR has properties that allow creativity.

The twists and turns of the little black squares, as with a barcode, has a unique imprint, recognizable to scanners or readers but there is a 30% correction allowance, so a third of the code can be discarded and replaced with images, type or anything you can imagine. This article on Mashable outlines some ways to deal with the 30% error correction rate.

Patrick Donnelly, owner and creative whiz of QR Arts (and creator of many of the examples included here) was recently interviewed on CNN about the explosion of QRs and the uses:

Patrick also speaks about how he got started and how they fit into internet marketing:

Recently, an exhibition of QR design was held in Paris:

So, are you ready to make the jump into the next wave of integrated digital marketing? Are you ready to design the codes needed by a multitude of businesses? To help catch up on the technology, here’s a site you need to visit often: http://2d-code.co.uk/.

What can be done?

Check out the raw QR. Simple, boring and, as mentioned previously, it looks like a crossword puzzle. You can generate one of these via a QR generator found on many web sites. The next step is up to you. Here are a few examples of QR design.

Color and background are the easiest changes one can make to a QR code. These examples show that you are not tied to just one color and even textures (to a point) as well as gradients (to a point) can be used. Ideally, rather than try to understand the code itself, you should use a QR reader to keep testing the code with each step. It’s easier to take one step back if the code ceases to function, rather than design freely and be disappointed at the end.

Rounding and softening the edges are another design change you can make within the error correction and still be readable.

One of the most popular design practices with QR codes is to insert images within the code. Again, the 30% error correction will help but read this first!

Even small images, scattered throughout the code can cover or delete needed code blocks and/or be read as information by the scanner.

According to QRStuff.com, “Compromising the scanning safety margin of the QR code by adding an image to it can also be further complicated if the scanning software interprets any part of the embedded image as actual data, and then decodes the contents of the QR code incorrectly.”

Hints from that article are surely words to the wise:

If you are going to tackle it yourself, here’s a few pointers on do’s and don’ts if you’re attempting to put an image into a standard QR code that hasn’t been specifically created to accommodate one:

• Keep the size of the embedded image well below 20% of the area of the QR code itself – 15% is probably the best compromise.
• Put the image in the middle of the QR code and definitely don’t obscure any of the 3 big squares in the corners (they have a special purpose and must be retained).
• Always leave a white border (1-2 times the width of a single data square in the QR code image) all the way around the edge of the embedded image so that the data areas of the QR code are separated from the image.
• Make sure that all the data squares left in the QR code are intact – remove any partially obscured squares completely.
• Check that the embedded image doesn’t coincidentally contain any small square (or squarish) elements that may be interpreted by the scanning device as part of the QR code’s data, rather than being ignored as part of the image.
• Most QR code scanning devices scan in grey-scale so using contrasting colors to differentiate the image from the QR code is not going to help you at all.
• It’s probably also a good idea to make the QR code image larger than you would have if it didn’t have an image in it.

If your head is spinning, perhaps it’s better to seek out software that will do this for you.

With all this in consideration, one finds a huge amount of respect for those who created the previous samples as well as this one for Wired:

While these examples for Time make more use of the code intact but still part of the design, they are better suited for beginners or the very nervous.

A friend of mine recently posted a picture of a QR code his eight year-old son made out of LEGOs. With no surprise, it WORKED! I’ve seen hand-drawn QR codes that work and these photo QR codes are a huge and impressive undertaking. Still, if all the bottle caps, M&Ms, beans, ink spots, etc. work, why not get creative? There’s even someone who grew crops in Farmville to create a QR Code.

I wonder if builders will design neighborhoods so from the air, the houses and stores form QR codes? The possibilities are endless!

Speider Schneider is a former member of The Usual Gang of Idiots at MAD Magazine and has designed products for Disney/Pixar, Warner Bros., Harley-Davidson, ESPN, Mattel, DC and Marvel Comics, Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon among other notable companies. Speider is a former member of the board for the Graphic Artists Guild, co-chair of the GAG Professional Practices Committee and a former board member of the Society of Illustrators. Follow him on Twitter@speider

Have you used QR codes yet? Have you designed one? Tell us if you had any trouble getting around the coding/error correction and any tips and tricks you want to share with other readers!

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There is also asymmetrical design, where the two halves are balanced but do not mirror each other perfectly. The majority of websites have an asymmetrical layout.

Most often we find the logo in the top left, balanced by some navigational elements on the right. In the body, the side columns are usually balanced by either the main content or other columns.

While perfect symmetry is certainly not new to the web, it is gaining momentum. Expanding screen sizes and the proliferation of platforms and viewing options are making it a more attractive option. By mirroring the halves of a design, you not only get a greater sense of balance, but also improve the flow from top to bottom.

Icora

Icora is a perfect example of how symmetry contributes to the vertical flow of a website. I love how a story is being told here. Instead of throwing a bunch of stuff on the page and letting the user choose where to go, the designer encourages the user to scroll through the content. The designer takes you on a set journey in what is essentially a carefully planned sales pitch.

Pixel Bleed

Pixel Bleed is the type of website that often totally perplexes me. Nothing about it fits the norm. The logo and navigation are at the bottom, which just feels wrong… and yet it works! The symmetry lends an interesting balance to the design. And with the visually heaviest elements at the bottom of the page, the layout feels grounded.

Duuel

Symmetry can occasionally play into the subject of the website. In the case of Duuel, the idea of two designers dueling makes sense. The designers are evenly skilled and evenly equipped, and the symmetry subtly reinforces this idea.

Clocks

Symmetry is also great when you simply don’t have much to say. The makers of Clocks don’t need much to explain their product. One word does the job. In fact, saying more would almost defeat the point. Of course, a clock is symmetrical anyway and so is ideal for a layout like this.

Ryan M. Stryker

One powerful aspect of symmetry is its ability to direct the user’s focus. With everything balanced on the vertical axis, attention naturally goes there. Ryan M. Stryker’s name here is in this pivotal location, ensuring you don’t miss it. The website functions almost like an elevator pitch, starting with the name and flowing into a summary of the designer’s work. Critical information is carefully controlled and powerfully conveyed. The design doesn’t have to be overbearing either; the symmetry does most of the work.

Questionable Characters

Symmetry also allows you to communicate two equally important sets of information. Perhaps your product has two target audiences. Or perhaps two products are the lifeblood of your company. As we see with Questionable Characters, symmetry can ensure equal air time for two halves of a whole.

Foodily

Symmetry is also useful for keeping clutter out of a design. While this is not reason alone to use it, Foodily does make a strong case for it, with its clean and elegant layout. While most recipe websites overflow with content, this one is remarkably simple. Consider your own content and what you would remove if you had to make the layout symmetrical.

Thread’s Not Dead

Thread’s Not Dead combines a few of the principles we’ve seen above, but with some twists. I’m intrigued that the top-most item in this symmetrical layout is a product testimonial. No doubt, testimonials are useful for online marketing, and here one occupies the most prominent part of the page. Nevertheless, the area directly below carries the most visual weight and contains all of the critical information and calls to action. The result is perfectly balanced content that cuts right to the chase. Sometimes, leaving out the heavy extras and getting straight to the point is the best approach.

13 more symmetrical websites

The principles explored above also apply to the designs below. Consider how symmetry helps to control the user experience on these websites.

Conclusion

Symmetry is a basic feature of design and yet is easy to lose sight of. I love thinking about how the basic elements of design apply to the real world. It is often these most basic elements that reveal powerful ways to communicate information.

Patrick is a freelance writer, developer and designer. In particular, he loves to write about web design, train people in web development and build websites. Patrick’s passion for web design trends and patterns can be found in his books on TheWebDesignersIdeaBook.com. Follow Patrick on Twitter @designmeltdown.

Have you had an abiding love for symmetrical design? Do you think this style has its limits?

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Billion-dollar revenue figures aren’t all that uncommon today in cinema, placing many major movies alongside companies such as Facebook when it comes to revenue.

With so much riding on a film’s success, marketing one is a massive opportunity for creative designers.

We’ve looked at some of the most effective film marketing materials out there – the promo posters that have been used on modern releases and older movies – and established some key elements that have contributed to their success.

These aren’t just commercial successes either – everything from smaller cult movies to huge blockbusters benefits from these 7 simple movie poster design elements.

1. Attention – jump out from the wall.

If there’s one simple sales formula that everyone in a performance-based position should know, it’s AIDA. The four-step formula – attention, interest, desire, and action – has been used as the basis of thousands of successful movie advertising campaigns.

The first step, and the one most important for designers, is attention – grabbing the attention of passers-by and encouraging them to look.

This doesn’t have to be achieved with provocative pictures or flashy graphics, although given their advantage at grabbing attention, it’s no wonder Hollywood’s turned to them en masse.

By using the film’s characters or a major plot point, designers can establish some level of plot while still gaining the attention of anyone that views the poster.

Check out The Hangover posters above for a classic example. None are particularly beautiful, nor are they real iconic designs, but they’re very effective at getting people to look.

The flashy gradient background, head-and-shoulders character pictures (which can improve response rate,) and bright lighting make it difficult not to stare at one of these posters.

2. Iconography – showing without telling.

The most effective movie posters are iconic, presenting the themes in the film without resorting to flat out saying what it’s about.

They use imagery, whether a close-up of a character or item that’s a major plot point, or a simple graphic, to establish the film’s plot. Combined with an eye-grabbing design, this can be an incredibly effective way to gain attention and create interest at once.

The Jennifer’s Body poster above is a classic example of this, albeit one that borrows quite heavily from True Blood.

It uses tactics honed in on by advertisers over the decades – sex appeal, contrast, and spacing – to grab your attention.

At the same time, it also gives a glimpse into what the film is about. This allows it to market to casual observers and horror fans at once, all through imagery.

3. Interest – create an incentive to see the film.

When using icons and more abstract imagery doesn’t work with your film – say, for example, it’s a serious drama or a thriller that can’t be explained with iconography – using an image that provides viewers with an idea of the story is a great idea.

Many of the best modern film posters use pictures that put the viewer in the middle of a scene from the film, creating tension and a major incentive.

The incentive is that in order to resolve the situation, the person looking at the poster needs to see the film and find out what happens.

The Inception poster above uses this strategy – it puts viewers in the middle of a scene from the film that can only be explained by seeing what occurs before and after it. As a result, the curiosity created by the poster translates into on-the-spot ticket sales.

This type of design strategy tends to work best with films that cover unrealistic, fantasy-type events, particularly those that deal with the supernatural or psychological.

Since it’s hard to offer insight for this type of story using icons and simple colors, a still from the film can work wonders.

4. Appeal – create desire with fans and non-fans alike.

With film studios cranking out comic book adaptations at a rapid pace, it’s the ‘true fans’ that end up last in the marketing line.

Studios can rely on them to see their new releases regardless of its review coverage or promotional materials, since chances are fairly strong they’re already aware of it. Great film posters, particularly those for adaptations, use this dual appeal to enhance their advertising.

Look at the Inglourious Basterds poster above. It’s made by one of the world’s most celebrated and well-known film directors,yet it barely states his involvement on its promotional poster.

The reason is that Quentin Tarantino fans are probably already aware of the film itself – it’d spend several years in production before finally being released – while newer fans are less interested in its history.

Compare this type of promotional poster to the marketing materials used for films that draw appeal from the involvement of a certain actor.

Since fans’ ties with actors are generally weaker than those with directors or producers, their names usually appear in large print to grab attention. The stronger the audience’s bond, the less important it becomes to highlight features that appeal to current fans.

5. Style – a look that’s consistent with the film.

Whether you’re marketing an art film or a blockbuster, style matters. Some of the most memorable film posters out there have used bold, unique artistic styles to their advantage.

What separates these posters from their ineffective art-for-art’s-sake rivals is that they’re consistent with style, in both the movie’s promotional materials and throughout the film itself.

The poster for Watchmen above is a classic example of this technique succeeding. Since it uses an instantly recognizable comic book style, it grabs the attention of fans of the book.

It’s accurate too, using the same type of stylized imagery as the film itself. This consistency means that it isn’t just a great theater-based marketing tool, but a recognizable image for DVD and other releases.

6. Lasting Appeal – a look that suits other formats.

Here’s the danger in getting too ‘arty’ and delicate with your film poster: it’s eventually, after release and theater shows, going to be shrunk to a fraction of its original size for the DVD release.

While a growing number of films now use different designs for their DVD cover than their in-theater promo posters, most of the classics and high-budget blockbusters still use the same poster for both.

This means that your imagery, your titles, and your major points of interest need to be just as visible on a small DVD case as they are on a giant movie poster.

The Jurassic Park poster above really gets this feature, using imagery that’s just as visible and clear when it’s small as when its gargantuan. For your poster to work for the long-term, it needs to have scalable, clear, and lasting design appeal.

7. Recognizability – if it’s a sequel, make it obvious.

From time to time, the entire box office seems to be made up of sequels.

There’s a good reason for it too – some of the most financially dependable films are sequels to successful franchises.

From films that dominated both the commercial world and the awards scene to purely commercial releases, few films can guarantee studios income like a good sequel.

That’s why sequel posters tend to be highly related to the first release, generally with a giant title in the top third of the canvas and instantly recognizable imagery throughout it.

The Godfather and the two sequels in the franchise are a great example – all three use the same style and design, using the critical and commercial success of the previous films in the franchise to draw in would-be viewers.

Written exclusively for WDD by Mathew Carpenter. He is an 18-year-old business owner and entrepreneur from Sydney, Australia. Mathew is currently working on Sofa Moolah, a website that teaches you how to make money online. Follow Mathew on Twitter: @matcarpenter. Follow Sofa Moolah on Twitter: @sofamoolah.

What do you think of the importance of these elements on a movie poster? What other elements can make a great movie poster?

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From online distractions to technical malfunctions, online entrepreneurs and freelancers face thousands of potential setbacks, each one threatening a decline in income or a pause in cash flow. We’re all familiar with this problem.

Yet the problem doesn’t affect every designer and developer. With so many tools available, anyone can optimize their work routine and increase productivity.

Becoming productive is about changing not only your behavior, but also your office environment, work style and software.

By using the right collection of software, online applications and utilities, changing your routine and managing your business can be fairly simple.

The following 14 applications are geared toward the design industry but would be effective in almost any online field.

1. EchoSign

From security to legal simplicity, there are hundreds of reasons to insist on a contract before starting a project. EchoSign is a simple online contract application that allows you to send and edit agreements before commencing a project. The pricing plans are clear, and the system itself is secure-some of the world’s largest banks, wholesalers and client-driven businesses use it.

2. Google Apps

Technically, Google Apps is a collection of several applications, but for the sake of simplicity, we’ll consider it one all-purpose suite. If you host email through your server or hosting account, forward it through Google Apps’ hosted email service. It will help you not only set appointments efficiently, but also manage your contacts and other data easily.

3. RescueTime

Don’t be fooled into thinking that working productively from home is so easy. RescueTime is a simple time-management application that could dramatically change the way you approach work. Instead of blindly racing to complete design projects and tasks, use RescueTime to track how you spend your time, to filter unnecessary tasks and to see how you can be more efficient.

4. Meetifyr

Need to set up meetings with friends, colleagues or employees? Use Meetifyr to keep track of everyone’s daily schedule. Users can block out entire days as “Busy” or “Free,” keeping you from having to split your days into segments. While other scheduling applications might offer greater power or categorization features, Meetifyr is overall the most simple.

5. Piwik

Tired of Google Analytics? Piwik is a free open-source alternative to Google’s popular data- and behavior-tracking application. If you’re overwhelmed by the amount of data that Google Analytics offers, you’ll appreciate Piwik’s simpler and user-friendlier approach. Installation is straightforward, and the dedicated development community makes the support fantastic.

6. Smartsheet

Streamlined collaboration, project management and scheduling is the focus of Smartsheet. While not a unique service, this is one of the few scheduling and collaborative applications that is completely seamless. For a stress-free alternative to managing projects with employees, contractors and partners, give Smartsheet a whirl.

7. Clicky

Clicky is a web analytics application that comes in a variety of configurations. While users will have to pay a little for it, the program offers numerous advantages to free alternatives such as Piwik and Google Analytics. Setting user goals is easy; monitoring behavior and on-site mouse movement is a cinch; and optimizing your website is a direct, guided process.

8. Doit.im

Need some motivation? Doit.im is one of the easiest productivity tools to use. Input a schedule, add tasks and track your progress while switching between different projects and clients. While lacking in power features, Doit.im has a clean interface that makes it perfect for crucial tasks. If you’re keen to maintain a narrow, defined focus, give it a shot.

9. Doolphy

For more advanced project management needs, Doolphy is worth a look. Like Doit.im, this application is minimalist and plain. But below the hood lies a productivity app that’s perfect for small teams. If you work with freelance designers, developers or virtual assistants, then Doolphy is ideal for keeping your projects under control.

10. WORK etc

WORKetc is equal parts project management, client management and lead generation software. An all-purpose suite of tools and tracking features, this application is perfect for businesses that have to monitor both sales and ongoing projects. But while basic billing tools are included, most designers might find third-party billing solutions such as Quicken and Blinksale (covered below) more suitable.

11. Bantam Live

Do you need to collaborate with employees, freelancers and consultants? Bantam Live is a powerful CRM that integrates with Google’s application suite. Designers who use Google Apps for email or calendar hosting can quickly import tasks, contacts and data into Bantam Live for more advanced management and collaboration. Being pricey, Bantam Live is better suited to large design firms.

12. Bill4Time

While most designers bill per task, Bill4Time offers invoicing functionality for designers who prefer to charge by the hour. The online application integrates with iCal for Mac users and is even available on the iPhone. Competitively priced and fairly simple to operate, Bill4Time is a useful design and consulting application for hourly billing.

13. LiveBall

If Google Website Optimizer isn’t quite right for your needs, then LiveBall might be worth a try. It offers straightforward split-testing website optimization and direct marketing features. The interface is simple enough for any webmaster. If your e-commerce website isn’t converting like it used to, use LiveBall to root out the problem.

14. Blinksale

Emailed invoices are legally debatable and can taint your brand’s image. Use Blinksale to send attractive, clear and easily payable invoices to clients and customers. Blinksale and EchoSign are the perfect combination for getting projects off the ground, completed and paid for on time.

Written exclusively for WDD by Mathew Carpenter. He is an 18-year-old business owner and entrepreneur from Sydney, Australia. Mathew is currently working on Sofa Moolah, a website that teaches you how to make money online. Follow Mathew on Twitter: @matcarpenter. Follow Sofa Moolah on Twitter: @sofamoolah.

Got suggestions? We’d love to hear them! If a tool is integral to your work routine, provide a link in the comments section for the rest of us designers and developers.

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