Articles by Vandelay Design from June 2016

A consumer app is only as successful as the sum of its parts. Simply take a look at any users mobile app download history, the number of apps left on their devices, and the number of apps that...Click...

Budget limitations are common with non-profit and charitable organizations. As a result, organizations often compromise on the need for an effective and attractive website. However, the websites...Cli...

Most developers will know of URL encoding as UTF-8 encoding. This converts non-ASCII characters into a syntax of %NN where N stands for a unique numeric format. For example, an empty space converts......

Redesigning a website can be a very involved process, and it is important to properly plan and consider the necessary factors that will make or break the redesign. Here is a quick look at 23 factors.....

The use of the hover effect is rapidly becoming commonplace in todays eCommerce websites. This special effect is much more than a simple attention-getter. Hover effects, no matter how subtle their...C...

Office work typically comes with restrictions on the type of clothes you can wear. But freelancers and contractors have the option of working from home in any style of clothes they desire.Theres...Cli...

Your ecommerce site is a great tool for selling your products and services online. If your business is growing there are chances that others might want to make a copy of your website or some of its......

Many designers love to view photographs for design inspiration. In this post we'll showcase some beautiful black and white photos for your own inspiration. If you like a particular photo and you want....

Packaging design can make a profound difference on the sales of a product and how it is viewed by customers. In this post we'll provide a showcase excellent package designs for your own inspiration......

Finding the right WordPress theme for your website or for a client's website is not an easy task. Even with the huge selection that is available, if you have some specific things in mind for your...Cl...

The word “heuristic” simply describes a process where someone can learn something for themselves. In this case heuristic techniques take on a slightly different meaning by defining...Click...

Hundreds of design resources can be found online to improve any web or mobile UI project. Finding quality abstract background images, vector graphics, tileable textures and other resources can be a......

When it comes to inspiration many web designers tend to turn to online sources when attempting to spark new ideas. However, nature can certainly be one of the best sources of inspiration possible....C...

Sure, spending hours looking at hilarious GIFs on the internet can be a valuable way to spend your morning. Better yet, you can choose to spend your time including an animated GIF into your latest...C...

Designers often enjoy creative tools and little trinkets that can enhance their workflow. So if you wanted to buy something creative for a designer (or yourself), how would you know what to get? Take....

When it comes to the skills and characteristics that are essential to having success as a freelancer designer, the most obvious ones involve creative skills and the ability to design. While this is......

Getting your e-commerce site at or near the top of the rankings for your targeted keywords and phrases can lead to a massive increase in sales. The problem is that SEO can be a real challenge for...Cl...

Using a large background image is a great option for making a strong an immediate impression on website visitors. Full-size photos transform the look of a page, and a quality photo can give a web...Cl...

Do you want a eye catching theme for your next mobile app and get more sales? Look no further.Glow is a trendy landing page for your next product or service. It comes complete with a fully layered...C...

Some of the most intriguing photographs are those that perfectly capture a moment during intense action. Well-timed photos stop the action and present an amazing perspective. In this post we'll...Clic...

Working in an industry that allows us to produce new and thrilling designs everyday is something most people would be envious of. But, just like any other career, graphic and web designers still need....

A few years back I launched what was called Vandelay Premier to test my ability to sell premium stock graphics. While I would only consider it a moderate success, one main thing I quickly...Click thro...

It may seem like the design world is all digital but there's still a tremendous demand for print work. Graphic designers commonly jump around to various print jobs or even shift into digital...Click t...

With the advent of hi-res smartphones and the retina iMac its becoming apparent that web & mobile designers need to consider retina displays in their design process. More devices are coming off.....

The tone, lettering, style, and presentation of a business card says a lot about you and your business. While typical humdrum card designs are expected in the corporate world, unique business cards......

Conversion rate is the most important statistic to any online business. Conversions mean that users and site visitors are buying what the business is selling, so a higher conversion rate means more......

Fonts and typography are an important part of any web design, and in recent years the possibilities have increased dramatically for web designers. There are a number of great tools and resources out.....

Designers who keep up with the latest tricks, tools, resources, and trends remain competitive much more easily than those who never check in on whats new. And one of the easiest ways to keep your...Cl...

Instagram uploads millions of photos every single day. Many of these are personal but others are posted to showcase work in various creative fields. Web designers and digital artist especially like......

Need a new free image editor? Today were taking a look at six free tools you can use to design your own custom image graphics for sharing in blog posts or on social media.While toiling away in...Click...

A good portfolio website can be one of the most effective marketing and business tools a designer or agency can have. Whether potential clients are specifically searching for a designer or whether...C...

Every website owner or marketer needs to know what is going on with their website and visitors to know how to improve their results. Website analytics tools can provide data and show trends that will....

There are some people who seem to have a never-ending stream of good ideas. Whether theyre at work, talking with their friends, or immersed in a side project, their minds are constantly flashing...Cli...

Strong visuals are indispensable for making your site appealing to the audience. Even if you run a financial or business website, bold photography will help you promote your project more effectively.....

Adding realistic watercolor effects can be a great way to enhance your web and graphic design. Today we have a set of 4 watercolor textures that can be downloaded for free. With the help of these...Cl...

Web design is an eclectic industry with a wide range of creative professionals with all sorts of backgrounds. Some of them are very artistic backgrounds. This is evident by the number of design...Clic...

The field of digital design covers a whole lot more than just interfaces. Graphics creation and 3D modeling are becoming incredibly popular, both of which can apply to digital animation like After...C...

If you're looking to make a strong impression or a bold statement with a website, one option for doing so is to use a large full-screen background image. This design approach involves a homepage very....

In the past, we've posted a collection of 25 websites with lighting effects. While these sites can be excellent inspiration for working with light effects in Photoshop, they're not the only source of....

Sitemaps are a great resource for both web designers and visitors. There are two different types of sitemaps: 1) XML sitemaps(also known as Google sitemaps) and 2) HTML sitemaps. Each type serves its....

Last month we published a post that showcased unique business cards. Today we'd like to share another showcase, this time focusing on business cards that use die cuts to stand out. Die cut business......

I find that when I am looking for inspiration on a color scheme and I know the primary color that will be used, it helps to browse other sites of the same color. So today we'll be showcasing blue...Cl...

A solid content strategy can help you turn casual blog readers into qualified leads?Your content strategy is never without lead generation tools. Leads generation can be quite tricky. According to......

Choosing the right font can be the difference between a decent project and a superb project. The design world is full of different typefaces that each serve a distinct purpose. Many of these fonts...C...

Gadgets like smartphones, mp3 players, and tablets have become a part of our everyday lives, and they are often incorporated into designs. There are a lot of quality tutorials available that will...Cl...

Most designers don't particularly enjoy the financial side of running a business, but handling it properly is a necessary part of being a freelancer or running a design agency. The financial side of.....

Prior to selling my web agency, HotPress Web, last year and starting uGurus, a new venture to help web professionals become more profitable, I pitched a lot of website projects.I have lost more...Clic...

Search engine optimization (SEO) and social media optimization (SMO) are two of the bigger concerns for webmasters and bloggers, as they can both have substantial impacts on the amount of traffic a......

To successfully develop PHP sites, you'll naturally want to have a great development environment. When creating a website, you will likely also need to edit HTML, CSS and even JavaScript files, which....

Some of the biggest decisions bloggers face involve their blog theme. Should you change your theme? Should you pay for a premium theme, a custom theme, or a free WordPress theme? What should you look....

Designers love free design resources for several reasons. One of them is that by downloading a free UI kit, for example, you can see how others have created various design elements and how they chose....

The web/graphic design community includes a huge number of active blogs that post articles, tutorials, inspiration, and other types of content. Design blogs are a part of the daily routine for many......

As an ardent designer, I am sure you might have experienced the tedious task of gathering feedback on page layout and navigation. Web design requires proper planning and communication for completing.....

Websites from the travel industry often use excellent photography and attractive designs. Of course, having an appealing website helps for making the subject of the site as attractive as possible to.....

One of the first lessons that most freelance designers learn is the importance of using contracts. Hopefully that lesson is learned the easy way by taking the advice of others, but for most of us it.....

If you are planning or building a new website, you are obviously hoping for some type of success. Of course, success can mean any number of things, and each website's success should be determined by.....

Digital interface design follows many of the same rules as print design. Composition refers to the overall layout and white space plays a big role. Many things help to define a composition, but white....

Designers have been slowly pushing from Adobes growing monopoly on creative software and GIMP is an open source alternative. Its a powerful graphics editor opposing Photoshop that offers most of...Cli...

Designers get inspiration from all different kinds of sources. Photography is a favorite source for many designers, and architecture is a good source of inspiration as well. In this post we'll...Click...

In the past we've published showcases of landscape photography, architecture photography, animal photography, and other topics. Today we're focusing on people and portrait photography. In this post......

While the content is the most critical element to a blog's success, having an attractive design can certainly help to capture the interest and to make a positive first impression with your visitors......

Whether sculpting a new identity or working with an existing one, brand guidelines can be exceedingly important to the whole creative process. A branding guide (also known as a style guide or brand......

The phrase growth hacking equates to a creative mindset towards online marketing. Its a way to drive large leads on a low budget and was covered extensively by Ryan Holiday, the writer of Growth...Cli...

Infrared photos are taken using a filter, allowing infrared light to pass through the filter while blocking other light. When used with infrared-sensitive film or sensors amazing results are...Click t...

For any business or website, choosing the right host is an important decision. However, when you’re using WordPress to power your website there are some additional decisions that need to be...Cl...

If you are a photographer in need of icons to add to your business designs, look no further. Here we've gathered a few of our favorite free photography icons for you to download and use in your...Clic...

Today we have an exclusive freebie from our friends at MyDesignDeals. The set includes 10 vintage seamless textures for digital scrapbooking. Tileable textures are always useful for creating seamless....

Creative steampunk enthusiasts glorify the concept of steam engines and classic 20th century machinery over futuristic ideals. Modern designers still incorporate steampunk art into their design...Clic...

Designers love free icon sets. Having quality icons can help to make a site's design look complete, and can also help with the usability of the site. Social media icons are some of the most commonly.....

New intriguing search engines frequently pop up as a replacement to the juggernaut that is Google. But its tough to find alternative search engines that actually work and provide real value to your......

Most designers and freelancers wish there was more time in the day to work. It seems like no matter how much you are able to accomplish in a day there is still more that you would like to have done......

Synergy is defined as the interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects. In other...Cl...

Good stories leave a lasting impression. Even if the audience can't remember exact details, years down the road, they will still remember if it was "awesome," "horrible," "sad," "funny," and even to.....

As one of the most complicated and interactive types of sites, a web store can be a daunting task for the uninitiated. Even if youve been working in web design for years, you might not know where to.....

As a web designer, you understand the importance of keeping up with the latest trends. This is not as difficult as it may seem, even though trends are forever changing.Trends in web design...Click thr...

Most designers, regardless of whether you are self employed or an employee, have a to-do list full of all kinds of different tasks that are fighting for attention. It may include finalizing a project....

Choosing the right color scheme is one of the most important decisions of the website design process, and it can also be one of the most challenging. Fortunately, there are a number of great tools...C...

Sometimes it's the little details in web design that make a big difference. The use of background patterns can be a subtle detail that some visitors may not even very much attention to, but they can.....

Urban decay can serve as an excellent source of design inspiration for textured, grunge-style designs. Taking in these scenes first hand is a great way to get some inspiration offline from your...Clic...

Every great website features a number of common pages with similar usability techniques. One of the most common yet unrecognized pages that every site should have is the 404 error page. This guides......

Every one of your clients wants to (or at least should want to) stand out from their competition. To be distinguished is to be memorable. Your client's job is to provide a solid business. Your job as....

In this post, we're featuring some excellent pieces for your own 3D design inspiration. There is a wide variety of subjects and artists represented here. If you see something you like, click through.....

The Internet allows designers and aspiring designers to teach themselves anything they'd want to learn. Talented folks often publish videos and written tutorials on all subjects from UI design to...Cl...

Should freelancers blog?In my opinion, this shouldn't even be a question. There are so many business benefits to blogging that it only makes sense for most web designers and other freelancers to...Cli...

E-commerce web design and development presents some unique challenges that you won't always face with other types of web design. For sites that exist primarily to sell products, it's very easy to...Cl...

The mobile responsive website layout has become a very common apparatus for designers. Building a layout is never easy and each website generally requires a unique solution. Responsive design...Click ...

When it comes to coding, a good code editor is a must-have tool for most developers. Since CSS is highly popular among web developers, CSS text editors are available in plentiful and you can pick the....

Navigation menus are a critical part of web design because of their importance for usability and creating a position user experience. Websites with poor navigational structure or a lack of clarity in....

Textures are commonly used in web design and other types of graphic design, and fortunately, they are relatively easy to work with. You can use a photograph to create texture, but Photoshop brushes......

In today's marketplace, every company needs an effective website. Of course, the purposes and needs of each company's site will be unique, but every company should have a site that presents a...Click ...

One of the challenges of being a web designer is the need for continual improvement. While you will certainly gain experience and improve skills through client projects, it's also necessary to...Click...

A growing topic for interface designers is user experience and usability. This area of expertise defines how easy an interface is for new users, and more specifically how easily new users can...Click ...

Web design and web development are popular career choices right now. One of the great things about getting into the industry is that there are a variety of different ways to build your knowledge and.....

Restaurants that use their websites effectively are able to have a significant impact on their business. Whether it is allowing customers to view menus and specials, find a location, make...Click thro...

PhotoSpin launched the first subscription based services for stock images back in 1999 and has been around ever since. The company was developed by, and continues to be managed by, creative...Click th...

Creativity in web design, graphic design, illustration, and any other creative profession is an integral part of daily life. And if you, as a creative professional, have ever experienced a creative......

Modern identity design is a detailed subject with many moving parts. The techniques and styles vary whether youre designing a bar logo or in this case a food logo.Ive collected 25 stunning...Click thr...

In my book, Learning to Program, I teach the concepts, principles, and tools needed to program the right way. Im not going to try to do that here. This article will teach you just enough JavaScript......

Email is widely considered the best route for ROI across most businesses. You get the chance to reach an audience directly with updates, sales, product info and corporate announcements. People choose....

If you've had a bad experience with a client, you may have thought about using your blog or social media to shame them. The practice of client shaming seems to be growing. Just in the past month,...Cl...

Online marketing is one of the more important aspects of a successful business, large and small alike. For freelance graphic designers, web designers, web developers, or other freelance creatives, a.....

A few years back I launched what was called Vandelay Premier to test my ability to sell premium stock graphics. While I would only consider it a moderate success, one main thing I quickly...Click thro...

For most designers pricing services is not something that is the highlight of the job. Still, it is something that you'll have to deal with if you're freelancing or working for a small firm. Here's......

Searching for design inspiration takes a lot of time if you browse galleries because you will not find only high quality design works, but also some that are simply average, or below. Having a few...C...

Being the first one who greets the Sun with the newly born day, Japan is one of those who push boundaries and test the limits, occupying the first position in various leading spheres, especially...Cli...

More and more people across the world are using their mobile devices to access digital content. According to eMarketer, mobile phone use will grow from 61.1% to 69.4% worldwide. The same article also....

Splatter effects can be used effectively in all types of graphic design. There are a number of Photoshop brush sets and vector sets available for adding splatter effects to your work, or you could...C...

Ease of navigation is one of the biggest keys to the usability of a website. If visitors can easily find what they are looking for they will be more likely to stay on the website rather than leaving.....

Photography is one of those skills that comes in handy for any creative career. If you know how to take and edit a great photograph, then you can save yourself some time and make a little extra...Clic...

I run a company called Envato. There are two hundred and fifty people who work here, and every month our sites notch up thirty five million visits. Its a pretty successful business and one Im very...C...

Next is Adobe's vector design suite Illustrator. This has its own Illustrator CC cheatsheet in the same pack with Photoshop and others. Using this keyboard shortcuts for Illustrator cheatsheet you...C...

Theres no denying that photoshop is the most-used design software. It offers tools for photo editing, compositing, UI design, digital painting, and a whole lot more.I recently found this...Click throu...

In this post we'll take a look at a lot of responsive WordPress themes, including free and premium themes. The majority of the themes showcased here are premium. Although there are some good free...Cl...

Grids are an essential tool for designers. A well-designed grid system can make all the difference to your design, giving you a solid structure on which to flaunt your creativity.Historically, on...Cl...