Want to learn a new design skill or brush up on the skills you have? There are so many places online to find classes and coursework to enhance your creative abilities. One such site is CreativeLive. They have a wide range of design classes ranging from photography to design to managing time and workflow. Here … Continue reading
We are living in interesting times. The political and social climate has changed considerably since the 2016 election. You may or may not be happy with the results. But can you, as a designer, have an impact in these changing times? We believe the answer is a resounding “yes.” Check out this collection of videos … Continue reading
The other day, I decided to brave the reality of my office mess. It was time to clean. After an hour or so, I got distracted by some interesting items I found while rooting through my treasures. Oh, the things we creative people have hiding in the dark recesses of our offices… I was sure … Continue reading
Take a walk through any neighborhood in America and you’ll see a variety of gardens—from sculpted hedges and rose bushes to overgrown and wild weed gardens. Chances are, if you walk by the garden of a designer/creative, you’ll be in for a treat. It turns out, that some of the most beautiful gardens are right … Continue reading
Involving Designers in the process of creating good products that sell is becoming more and more of a trend these days. According to an article in Techonomy written by Ebay design leader Dane Howard, “Customer-centric companies need a design-oriented corporate culture. The goal is to build products and services driven by empathy.” The idea is that … Continue reading
Given the recent announcement of the big Microsoft reorganization, it’s worth a look at some recent articles describing the evolving Microsoft design principles and aesthetic. An article on Gizmodo actually addresses the “cool” factor in the company’s design efforts and references an article by Steve Clayton, editor of Microsoft’s Next blog entitled “Modern design at Microsoft: … Continue reading
© MARTINA DALTON, Designer, Allovus Design Web designers are, first and foremost, artists. It’s probably not very common for a designer to also be good at code. So, what happens when a client has budget for a web designer, but not for a programmer? Enter Adobe Muse, a product intended for designers who want to … Continue reading
That great. color-coordinated company, Pantone is celebrating a big birthday this year. The big 5-0. To celebrate they’ve released a big, colorful infographic showcasing their color palettes from the last five decades. The company, founded in the early 60s, is well-known for its color matching system and perforated color squares back in the day. Now, of … Continue reading
© STEVE GODFREY, UX Designer, Allovus Design In many ways the UI and UX Designers share some overlapping skill sets. They are both visually sensitive, and understand a great deal about the users’ needs. However, typically the UI designer will start where the UX designer leaves off. User Interface design tasks include: Creating visual explorations. Multiple compositions … Continue reading
A few years ago, when Allovus Director Hayley Nichols was volunteering in her son’s third grade classroom, she noticed almost all of the children were laboring with basic math skills. She stood amazed as she watched the students counting on their fingers instead of quickly calculating numbers in their heads; they were also struggling to get numbers … Continue reading
© STEVE GODFREY, UX Designer, Allovus Design First, a bit of simplified visual history. In the beginning, there was Graphic Design. Graphic Designers could make logos and designs that appeared on things. Cave dwellers did great wildlife symbols that told stories. Aztecs had terrific graphic symbols that look good on T-shirts to this day. Monks with specialized … Continue reading
While the demand for UX designers continues to grow, it’s important to remember each client describes their needs in different ways. As a potential candidate, you should carefully read through the job descriptions to see if your current skills match what is required. While many clients believe they are looking for a UX designer, it … Continue reading
To successfully position and compete in today’s marketplace a designer needs to have a resume and portfolio in tip-top shape. It’s not just a matter of dusting off your old paper resume or stuffing a few current pieces into that old post-college portfolio case. Your work needs to look current and digital. Put together an online site … Continue reading
Interesting BusinessWeek article about the transformation of Microsoft design: To win, or even just to survive, in what has become a consumer-driven industry, products need to be eye candy that force shoppers to take a second look. Microsoft has roughly doubled its design ranks to 600 employees over the past five years and lured talents … Continue reading