Woo-hoo, we won! But what does that mean, really? Our experience with the Netty Awards and why we won’t be entering any more awards contests.
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Consistency of fonts is very important when designing your brand assets. Managing to keep fonts consistent across your design materials may be tricky Managing to keep fonts consistent across your design materials may be tricky without a Creative Cloud license.
Rather than viewing AI as a replacement for human creativity, a more constructive perspective is one of collaboration.
What are Infographics?
An infographic is a visual representation of information. An infographic uses graphic design, charts, and other visual elements in order to provide concise information on a specific topic in an easy-to-read manner. Keep reading to learn more about infographics and how to create infographics for your brand!
Why use Infographics?
Infographics are used in a variety of different industries. Non profit organizations, technology, education, real estate, etc. Almost every kind of business can use infographics to communicate information to their staff, customers, and business partners. Here’s why your brand should consider using infographics in your digital marketing strategy:
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The majority of people consider themselves “visual learners”
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Less than 30% of the text on web pages is read
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Humans process images much faster than they do text
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If constructed properly, infographics have the ability to grab attention, engage an audience, portray credibility and thought leadership, educate, and inform
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Infographics can enhance your SEO, grow your brand awareness, build trust with customers and prospects, and help your business make more sales
Who Creates Infographics?
On-brand design and conveying a clear and meaningful message to your audience is key to having a successful infographic strategy. The content creation experts at 90 Degree Design are here to help! For the DIY content creators out there, Canva is a simple to use tool to create great infographics!
How to Create Infographics:
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Understand Your Audience
- Define who you’re targeting with your infographic. What do you know about them? Consider their interests. What kind of information is important to them?
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Select Your Topic
- Now that you know who you’re targeting, select a topic that your audience will care about. Make sure that your topic is relevant, provides accurate information, and limit yourself to one topic per infographic.
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Simplify Your Content
- Keep text concise and to the point. The idea is to portray your information in an organized and simple manner.
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Make it Stand Out
- Use bold and complimentary colors (incorporate your brand colors), include fun visual elements, and catchy headlines.
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Make it Easy to Read
- Information should flow. Use headlines to organize key points. Use 3 fonts maximum, include plenty of white space, and minimal clutter.
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Don’t forget to add your logo!
Where Should I Post My Infographic?
Social Media is the number one place where we recommend using your infographic. Instagram is a visual social media platform. So, that’s an excellent place to start. Many Instagram and Facebook users will not want to spend time reading a lengthy caption, and if your image doesn’t immediately grab their attention, they will keep scrolling. Infographics are great ways to grab user’s attention, get them to read your content, engage with your brand, and earn their following by providing relative and informative information.
In our Instagram Algorithm Article, we discussed how Saves and Shares are more important than ever. Informative and educational content is much more likely to be saved or shared. It doesn’t end with social media. Infographics also make great website content, email marketing, print marketing, training materials, and more!
When Should I Post My Infographic on Social Media?
Now! Ok, maybe not “right-now”… When posting your infographic on your brand’s social media, look at your insights to see when your accounts receive the highest levels of engagement. Try to post during peak times in order to get the best results.
Content Marketing is one of the many ways we help our client’s brands come to life! Interested in partnering with 90 Degree Design? Click here to to receive a quote!
It’s true. Design in general can be somewhat subjective. Everyone has their own personal preferences for what does and does not look good to them. However, when it comes to website design, there are some common things that we as designers often hear that are quite frankly myths and they need to be debunked.
Two Big Website Design Myths We Need To Debunk
Design Myth #1: You Shouldn’t Have Any White Space
Why is everyone always coming down on white space? Scientifically speaking, white does not carry its own specific wavelength of color, but it does have the job of reflecting all other wavelengths of light to create the color that you see; so let’s give white some credit shall we?
It’s true. You can have too much white space, but how much white space there is should ultimately come down to what will work best for the design layout and color palette of the website. Depending on the end goal, white can offer a cleaner, brighter feel to the design.
Check out the example below from our design portfolio. There is plenty of white space, but it there to help balance the bright color palette of the brand’s logo.
Design Myth #2: People Won’t Know To Scroll
This one is simply not true. Yes, your content and aesthetics above the fold are important, but today people are actually more trained to scroll. Think about your experience on any smart phone. When you look at a website, what do you do? When you open up a new email message, what do you do? Ok. Now, raise your hand if you said scroll!
Scrolling websites can offer a more seamless user experience when going from desktop to mobile. Another thing to keep in mind when thinking about scrolling is that everyone is looking at things on a different browser size, so “above the fold” will actually vary from user to user. Websites should also be optimized for mobile (don’t even get us started there). If you check in on your Google Analytics, you will likely see that at least 50% or higher (likely higher) of your website viewers are looking at your site on a mobile device. Moral of the story here? Let them scroll!
There are lots of ways to use good website design to encourage scrolling or make it more obvious that a viewer should scroll down for more if you are concerned about it being an issue. In the example below from our WordPress website design portfolio, an arrow has been incorporated into the design to signal to the user that there is more see below.
A good design agency will listen to your desires for a new website design and offer suggestions that will both incorporate your wish list and also take into account usability and user experience. The final product should be a design that both represents your brand and functions well too!
Need help with website design? We would love to hear about your project! Contact us today!
Artists and clients engage in a two-way street when designing potential logos for brands, companies, and other organizations. As designers, there is a need to understand our customers and to know more than just the basic details about them. In turn, if you’re a client, we designers would appreciate it if you’re familiar with our style, and if you do know enough to help you decide if your vision for your logo design is better realized with the artistry that we have as designers.
Collaboration
For the curious, here’s what the process of collaboration is like between a designer and client working to come up with a fantastic and fitting logo or design, so to speak. If it is your first time to call on an artist for his or her take on your logo vision, then know that it takes a lot of communication on top of skill and talent to come up with a design that delivers. Designers may not necessarily agree on this process, as there is really no single approach to it, but here is an outline of what, more or less, happens in the course of designing a logo.
First off, we should all understand that any process of creating art is not something we can just replicate anytime anywhere. There are no guidelines, no standards, methods, or rulebooks for us to follow on the road to a successful collaboration. In any case, art remains an art even when we also involve it in business transactions. Every partnership and design experience are unique for both client and designer, even if we can pick up certain similarities. However, to come up with an output that will please our customers, which inevitably makes us happy as well, will depend on the following basic steps, which we based on the parallels and general practices we have observed from the number of design services we have provided in the past.
The Design Brief
In any transaction, the primary step is for designers to come up with questions and instructions that will outline what our client aims to accomplish at the end of a project. So to begin any planning, proper and clear communication between both parties must ensue. As designers, we must be able to ask the right questions to get the right information we need from our clients. In turn, we’d prefer our customers to be knowledgeable enough to clearly explain what their intended logo design if for, what their business and its identity is all about, what their target market is, and what kind of image or personality do they want people to link to their brand. The answers to these questions are the kind of necessary information we’d want to bring about from our clients. The information will also help us know where to draw inspiration from and to guide us on how to go about with the design.
After arriving at a design brief, we can now decide whether we would proceed with the project or not. Clients may also take the time here to weigh things over and see if they’re on the same vantage point as the designers when it comes to the vision for the logo. If both client and designer agree to take on the project, then the next critical step is to research.
Taking it Further with Research
With our project brief in hand, research helps our design. Learn about the client’s business, industry, goals, and objectives. Understanding the client’s history and competitors guides our logo design.
This guide prevents using elements contrary to the client’s image, characteristics, and values. Research helps create a logo that stands out. This is crucial in a saturated market.
Additional research on design techniques or styles can be beneficial. Not all logos need a formal or corporate vibe; some require a relaxed personality. However, this step is optional, as some designers prefer their methods and aesthetics over others’ styles.
Think and Design
This next fundamental step takes up most of the design design process. It is now time for us logo designers to use the information we gathered prior this step. We might use the design brief together with the research information, or we might set them aside for a while as we look around for inspiration from perhaps something as ordinary as a stone or as amazing as an iris reflecting the universe.
This, however, is not necessarily the time for us to hide away and seclude ourselves in our workspace. This is also a time for us to keep communication with our clients open so we can update them with our design. It is going to be beneficial for both designer and client when we communicate with each other to check on the design, and if it’s going according to how our client envisioned. This will also keep us from finishing work that doesn’t deliver our client’s specifications. After the actual design part, we move to the next step, which is getting feedback.
Fuel the Logo Design with Feedback
Constructive criticism is crucial, especially for results based on customer preferences. Following earlier steps should prevent major issues. Changes should be minor, leading to project completion soon. Without feedback, client dissatisfaction may bring more challenges. Constant communication and feedback prevent frustrations and difficulties. There’s no standard time for designer-client agreement on the final output.
A Logo is born
After much negotiation, planning, and designing, both designer and client need final approval. Check the brief for expected deliverables. Decide on contract completion and resolve final technicalities. This stage ends the working relationship. The project experience determines future engagements between clients and designers.
How to painlessly move WordPress from a Subfolder to Root Folder or From One URL to Another
WordPress is probably, hands-down, the easiest Content Management System available today for building your website. However, one of the trickier aspects of managing a WordPress website comes to light, should you ever need to move it from one folder to another or from a subfolder on your web hosting server to the main root folder.
One common scenario where this might come up would be if you wanted to build your new WordPress website in a subfolder while keeping your current website live in the main root public/html folder.
Example 1: www.yourdomain.com/wordpress/ to www.yourdomain.com
Another scenario would be if you’re changing your website domain URL entirely from one domain to another. Whereas, we demo many of websites on our dedicated development server. However, when we need to move the site to go live, the domain will need to be that of the new website.
Example 2: https://90ddev.com/name_of_website to https://name_of_website.com.
Before I start giving you the blow-by-blow process, the absolute fastest, easiest and hands-down, BEST way to move your website website is to use BackUp Buddy. However, this is a paid plugin, albeit very much worth the money!
With other website building environments, it’s an entirely acceptable – and relatively easy – solution to use your .htaccess file to simply redirect your website’s domain to the subfolder and hide the subfolder in the URL path. Due to the way it generates it’s URL structures, WordPress does not like redirects. So save yourself the grief and do not attempt this with a WordPress website.
It’s easy and logical enough to assume, if you’re a WordPress newbie, that it will work just fine to move the site files from the subfolder right into public_html folder and things will work just fine. If you’ve already tried this, you probably found your website broken and were unable to access the WordPress admin. This is because you have not changed the “Site” and “Home” URL’s. This can be done in the WordPress admin just BEFORE you make the move – and I say just before because it will break your site until you move it to the main folder. However, I save this for a later step in the process because I know I’m going to be searching and replacing all my URL paths anyway, so these will get changed in the process.
This relatively fool-proof, step-by-step process works well for both scenarios with minimal headaches and no additional plugins needed.
IMPORTANT: If you’re not moving the site from one host or server to another, and simply need to move the files from one folder to the main root folder, please see skip to step 2.a.
Step 1: Archive Your Website Files
The best way to do this is via cPanel or whatever website hosting panel your web host offers (they all have some sort of management portal). Once logged in the your hosting panel, locate the File Manager, which will open a window from which you can browse to find the directory in which the site files you will be moving currently resides. Click on the folder and look for a link (usually located around to the top of the window) that says something like, “Compress” or “Archive.” Name your archive something like your_site.zip. This will package and compress all the files so they’re easier and faster to download.
Step 2: Download Your Website Files & Upload them to the New Location
Once you have a .zip archive of your site files, you’ll need to download the zip file to your computer and keep it in safe place for a backup. Then you’ll want to head over to the new server location and upload the zip archive of your site files into the public_html directory.
Step 2.a – If you are simply moving the site from one directory to another on the same server, then you only need to select all the site files and move them to the public_html or root folder. You can do this in the file browser of your hosting cPanel or via FTP. Most FTP clients have some sort of “MOVE” or “MOVE TO PARENT DIRECTORY” option that will make this very easy.
Step 3 – Download a copy of your mySQL database
The second component other than the site files that you need to move is the website database. Once again, you should only need to do this step if you are moving the site from one server to another. To grab a copy of your database, once again start from the cPanel dashboard of your website host. Look for a link or icon that says, “PhpMyAdmin.” Click that link to open PhpMyAdmin. PhpMyAdmin is a handy WYSIWYG tool for administering your MySQL database. It only looks intimidating. Don’t worry; you’re just going to do about three clicks here and then get out. First, turn your eye to the left hand side of the window just under the PhpMyAdmin logo. Click on the title of your database. You may to expand the plus signs if you have multiple databases in your hosting account. You’ll need to make sure you’re clicking on the correct database (Totally ignore the links that say “Information Schema” – those are immaterial to your mission). Once you’ve clicked on your WordPress website’s database, turn your to the right of the page and look for a tab entitled, “EXPORT” and click it. This will open the Export window. Depending on what version of PhpMyAdmin your host is using, you may be given the option to check a box that says “Save as file.” If you see this, check it. If not, simply click “GO.” This will start a download of the .sql file. Make note of where that file went when it downloaded, because you’ll need it in just a few minutes. Store a copy of this file somewhere safe for backup purposes.
Step 4 – Download a copy of Search and Replace Database
One the handiest tools out there, this simple, free script has made my life so much easier, and God bless the person who wrote it, it’s FREE. So you’re just going to download this, unzip it and copy it over to the folder in which your current WordPress website resides. Because WordPress makes gratuitous use of absolute URL paths, you are going to need to search ALL the old URLs and replace them with new paths. Otherwise, you’re going to have a whole lot of broken links and image paths once you’ve moved your website files. When the Search and Replace Database folder has finished uploading, navigate to that folder in your browser window:
Example: www.yourmainsite.com/wordpress/Search-Replace-DB-master
If you’ve uploaded the folder and entered in the URL correctly you will see a red and white interface that has two fields at the very top of the page for searching for one string (or URL in this case) and replacing it with another. You will want to be very accurate with what you type in here. Your inputs here will look something like this:
Search for: https://www.yourwebsite.com/wordpress/ Replace With: https://www.yourwebsite.com/
Now repeat this step but leave out the trailing “/”:
Search for: https://www.yourwebsite.com/wordpress Replace With: https://www.yourwebsite.com
Step 5 – Repeat Step 3 – Download a copy of your mySQL database
Just repeat step 3 again to download the new copy of your database.
If you’re simply moving your site from a subdirectory, you’re almost done! You should be able to access your new site admin at the new URL: https://www.yourwebsite.com/wp-admin
Login to the admin and go to Settings>Permalinks and just re-save your permalinks. This will initiate WordPress to rewrite all the permalinks with the new information. If you’re moving from one server to another proceed on to step 6.
Step 6 – Repeat Step 3 – Download a copy of your mySQL database
Just repeat step 3 again to download the new copy of your database.
Step 7 – Create a new database on new server*
From the hosting panel or cPanel, login and navigate to a link which is called something like mySQL databases. Click it and then click “Create a New Database.” Choose a name for the database. You’ll then need to create a user and password for the new database, so go back and click, “Create new user”. Choose a user name and password. IMPORTANT STEP – You’ll then need to ADD that user you just created to the database. You’ll see a couple of drop-down menus in the database admin page which allows you to choose a database (your new one) and then choose a user to assign to that database. Choose the user you just created and click “ADD.” The next screen will give you a page with lots of checkboxes for assigning privileges to the new user. Make sure you click “All Privileges”.
*Your process for doing this may vary slightly depending on what hosting panel you are using. These instructions were written based on cPanel.
Step 8 – Import your database
Once again, go back to the cPanel and launch phpMyadmin for your newly created and currently empty database. Click on that empty database on the left and then click “Import” tab over to the right. Use the “browse” button to browse your computer to locate the most recent .sql file you downloaded (the one you downloaded after you made the find and replace changes). Import that file. When it finishes, you should be done with phpMyadmin.
Step 9 – Update your wp-config.php file
Either via the File Manager browser or via FTP locate and open the wp-config.php file in the root of your WordPress site. Update that file with your new database information, making sure to use the correct database, username and password as well as the correct hosting server path (usually localhost).
Step 10 – Re-save your permalinks
Just as described in step 5, you should now login to the WordPress admin and go to Settings>Permalinks and just re-save your permalinks.
Step 11 – Delete the Search and Replace Folder
Be sure to delete that Search and Replace Database folder from your site files. You don’t want to leave that out on the interweb for anyone to access your database!
That’s it! You’re done.
Even though major social media platforms, Facebook and Twitter, were once only used by businesses for internet marketing, the lines between their roles as business tools continue to blur and both platforms are now being used for customer service. This week Applebee’s has been a hot topic in social media news due to their overnight social media meltdown over a multi-chapter saga between a pastor, a waitress, and the restaurant. The result was a huge response from angry customers who took to Facebook and Twitter to vent their frustrations over the poorly handled situation.
Here are a few tips on how to avoid bad situation when using social media for customer service.
Establish Clear Social Media Guidelines
Add social media guidelines to employee handbooks and go over them with your whole team. Having a social media response plan in writing for your team to reference will be helpful when a negative or overly dramatic posting situation arises. Remind your team members who have access to your social media accounts that they should refer to the guidelines often. Begin responding to comments by thanking the customer for the opportunity to fix the problem and let them know that you are there to help. Do not make the mistake of taking comments personally and responding defensively at the risk of starting an argument in a very public space. Finally, if possible, show them proof that the issue has been fixed.
Respond Promptly Within Business Hours
Respond quickly, but keep it to normal business hours. When customers take the time to post a comment or question, they expect a same-day response. Some companies attempt to respond within an hour, but a 12 hour window is acceptable. A timely response shows that you value your customer’s time and input. That being said, posting replies to individual comments during the wee hours of the early morning makes your replies look desperate and reflects poorly on your team.
Take Conversations Offline When Necessary
Take the conversation out of the public eye. Social media channels can be helpful but are not always the best for customer interactions. Use private messages to maintain privacy, then follow up with email or phone calls. Show customers you care by personally assisting them, keeping issues away from public view. Social media can be your best tool or worst enemy, so prepare your team for challenges and respond quickly. Handle social media comments swiftly, and know when to take the conversation offline. Follow these tips to manage negative comments or complaints effectively on Facebook and Twitter.
Looking for help with your social media marketing campaign? Check out our our social media page for more information about the services that we offer and connect with us via Facebook or Twitter.
Understanding Image “Bleeds” and “Safe Print” Zones
When preparing your files for print, it’s crucial to understand the concepts of “bleeds” and “safe print zones.” These guidelines help ensure that your final printed piece looks professional and free from unwanted cuts or edges.
What is a Bleed?
A “bleed” is a term used in printing to describe the area of a document that extends beyond the final trim size. This area will be trimmed off after printing to ensure that the image or background extends all the way to the edge without leaving any white borders. When creating a project with image bleeds, it’s essential to extend the background or images at least 1/8″ (0.125″) beyond the trim edge.
Important Tip: Avoid placing any text or critical information within the bleed area, as it will be trimmed away.
Why Safe Zones Matter
The “safe zone” is the area within the final trim edge where all essential elements, such as text and important graphics, should be placed. We recommend keeping these elements at least 1/4″ (0.25″) inside the trim edge. This practice ensures that nothing important is accidentally cut off during the trimming process, resulting in a more polished and professional-looking print.
When Bleeds Are Not Necessary
If your image has a white border on all four sides, bleeds are not required. In this case, you should prepare your files at the exact dimensions of the desired output without adding any extra bleed area.
When Bleeds Are Essential
For images that are not white on all four sides, including bleeds in your files is mandatory. You must add 1/8″ (0.125″) to each dimension to allow for cutting. For example, if you’re designing a 4″ x 6″ postcard with a full bleed, the image size should be 4.25″ x 6.25″. This additional space ensures that the final trimmed product is a standard 4″ x 6″ postcard, with no unexpected white edges.
Final Thoughts
When preparing files for print, always consider the bleed and safe print zones to ensure your final product meets professional standards. By following these guidelines, you’ll avoid common pitfalls and achieve the best possible results in your printed materials.
Good Design = Good Vibes
Whether consciously or unconsciously, consumers are constantly gravitating towards effective design. As they browse supermarket aisles or flip through magazine pages, their choices are often influenced by what appeals to them visually. Why? Because human nature is drawn to what produces good feelings. Effective graphic design plays a major role in this process.
The Importance of Design Fundamentals
According to UC Berkeley, design fundamentals are critical in creating impactful visual communication. Graphic design is the art of orchestrating imagery, typefaces, colors, shapes, and other visual elements into a harmonious and visually compelling message. The ultimate goal is to trigger an emotional response within the target audience. This requires careful consideration of several design elements.
The Power of Color
One of the most important, yet often overlooked, elements is color. A common mistake is to choose a color based on personal preference. As a visual communicator, it is essential to remember that colors are evocative and possess significant persuasive power. UC Berkeley emphasizes that color choice should be strategic, aiming to elicit the desired emotional response from the audience.
Achieving Visual Balance
Visual balance is another crucial ingredient in effective design. If you’ve ever looked at an ad and felt something was missing but couldn’t pinpoint what, chances are it was lacking visual balance. Effective visual communication ensures that the visual weight is evenly distributed throughout the piece, creating a sense of harmony and completeness.
The Role of Typography
Typography is also a key element that contributes significantly to the success of a piece. The right font choices, along with proper kerning (spacing between letters) and leading (spacing between lines), can dramatically influence the overall look and feel of a design. UC Berkeley’s design guides highlight the importance of typography in creating clear, readable, and aesthetically pleasing content.
The Impact of Professional Design
Well-thought out advertising will always draw attention away from less visually compelling work. This is why it is crucial for any organization to entrust its advertising and marketing professionals. Hiring an advertising agency, graphic design firm, or freelance consultant ensures that the piece of work not only looks good but also effectively communicates the intended message and evokes the right emotional response from the audience.