Archive for May, 2010


Networking Sites for Web Design Companies

Filed Under: Web Design
May.19, 2010

Getting your web design company’s name out in the public, as well as networking with other businesses is a great way to draw in not only potential clients but also new ideas. Every web design company should take the time out to create online profiles on various networking web sites.

A company should not limit their online presence to advertising banners and blogging only isn’t guaranteed to get you too far. Powerful networking tools are available, giving the opportunity to connect with a large mass of people and reach specific target markets. It would be wise of a business to use these tools to build their internet existence.

Below is a compiled list of networking sites designed specifically with web design companies in mind. Review the list to see which ones will work best for you and your company.

Design Sites Up
9Rules
Ads of the World
Behance
Colour Lovers
Designer ID
Lo8os
Flickr
GFX Artist
Kuler
Open Web Design
Pixel Groovy
Typophile

Take advantage of networking because for the most part it is free. Branding can carry a company very far if done well. It is also important for companies to explore forums and write/post blogs. Here, you will be able to link up with other professionals, supporters, and consumers who are most likely to gain an interest in what your web design company has to offer.

About CODANK Charlotte Web Design

CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.

For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com

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Typography in Web Design:

Filed Under: Web Design
May.15, 2010

Typography in Web Design:

A very important but often underplayed element in website design is web typography.  Typography itself is as old as the earliest writing systems and has since developed into a very specialised field.

Typography originated after the invention of printing from movable type in the mid 15th century and has come along way since then. Today we find a large number of typefaces on the web.

How you approach typeface in your design, will either enhance or diminish the visual impact of your website. Function and aesthetics are intrinsic in web design and how well your design works is just as important as how it looks.

New liberty in Web Design: sIFR Text

Creative uses for typeface in web design were limited until recently. Today’s new operating systems have made it possible for website designers to move away from the limitations of using standard system fonts.

Scalable Inman Flash Replacement, better known as sIFR text are giving many website designers creative leeway. In simple terms, sIFR text is a flash rendering technique whereby designers can replace on-screen text elements with flash equivalents. In order to display correctly on someone’s web browser, sIFR requires the following: JavaScript and a Flash plug-in.

sIFR allows website headings, pull-quotes and other elements to be styled in whatever font the designer chooses. It is Search engine friendly and will display the website content as text and not an image.

Important Typeface Tips:

The web is saturated with tips on website design and typography. Here are a few tips that can help you with the choice and placement of your typeface in web design.

Space:

Take note of the line spacing/ leading that you give your text. The space between your words will impact the readability of your copy.

Colour

Consider the colour of your design and choose the colour of your text accordingly. The colour of your text should neither overpower your design nor be consumed by it.

Font Size:

Consider the theme and style of your web design and choose the font size accordingly.  Certain typefaces have been designed as small fonts and will therefore not have the same effect if it is too big.

Take into account that your text size should be readable to different users who are making using different browsers and technologies. Don’t make your text too small or too large.

Legibility

Take your user into account. The emphasis in web design today is on user-centric design. Remember that your website is there to communicate information. The objective is to encourage people to read the information on your site.

Too many fonts

Don’t use too many fonts throughout your website, rather make small adjustments to the existing font. This will help you to maintain a sense of continuity throughout your design. We suggest you use two types of font at most.

Font-smoothing

Any windows operating system lower than vista, does not apply “font-smoothing” as a default setting. This could radically change how the viewers see your text.

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Graphic Design Outsourcing

Filed Under: Graphic Design
May.14, 2010

 

Graphic design outsourcing helps in obtaining good graphic designs at affordable rates and in a timely manner. Companies with a strong marketing background are an added advantage for graphic designers. This fact holds true for all mediums of promotion and sales.

Firms that are among the best graphic design companies would primarily analyze details about your company, like the marketing channels, the competitors, target customers, etc. These companies offer graphic design outsourcing services for websites and also printed mediums. You can request to see their graphic design portfolio to see the range of work they have successfully completed.

Graphic design outsourcing is a far cheaper option in comparison to appointing a staff for graphic designing. The number of people preferring outsourcing for their web projects is increasing. These graphic design companies are far more specialized in their respective fields and have expertise in handling online projects.

Look out for any discount schemes or promotional offers by these companies. They typically charge a fixed amount of fees for certain time duration or for an overall project.

The reasons for outsourcing differ from company to company. Some might opt for it as they don’t have the required qualifications and resources. Some need additional time for business core issues, whereas some people might be short of time and so on. Outsourcing helps in focusing on other business goals. Think about the benefit that outsourcing would free you from the stress of creating appropriate designs and logos for your company. Apart from qualified professionals handling your graphic design project, they even give you the choice of selecting the logo from many options designed by them.

The chances of getting the maximum ROI can be expected with outsourcing. For a premium, you can even hire a graphic designer to work exclusively on your project on a part-time or full-time basis as needed. If you want to make any changes in existing designs, it becomes easy and can be done in less time.

Imagine if you have to complete all the small changes in your graphic design on your own. Firstly you have to install new software which would cost you hundreds of dollars. Then you’d have to learn how to use it, thus costing you time as well as energy. These shortcomings are overcome by graphic design outsourcing. It’s worth a try for any project, large or small.

 

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How to Find a Great Graphic Designer

Filed Under: Graphic Design
May.09, 2010

Finding a great Graphic Designer can be about as difficult as finding your life’s calling with a million dollar paycheck. Sure they exist however finding the right one takes patience, diligence, a whole lot of time and a bit of luck, right? Not necessarily. Finding a great graphic designer is easy – when you know where to look.

Begin by asking friends, family and business associates who have great graphics. Unless they did their graphics themselves they had to have hired a graphic designer. Referrals are the best place to find a great graphic designer. However know that great graphic designers are like great babysitters in that once you’ve found one you may be reluctant to share them with others since that may mean they’ll be unavailable for you. Your friends and associates may hold out on you even if they do know a great designer.

Visit websites you like with great graphics. Many businesses will use the same graphic designer for all their design needs. That means designers that do logos may also create website graphics. Often, at the bottom of a website you’ll see the website creator and/or graphic designer listed. It’s usually a link – click on it and visit their website. View their portfolio and if everything looks good, give them a call.

Visit graphic design associations. Every vocation has a number of associations to belong to and graphic design is no different. Participation in these associations isn’t a guarantee that the designer is spectacular however it is a good place to start. Two main organizations are:

- The Graphic Artists Guild – www.gag.org – The American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) – www.aiga.org

Once you have a few names to check out, it’s time to compare. While price may be at the top of your priority list, it’s important to also view their portfolio. A logo and design you, and more importantly your target audience, love is well worth twice the price of a poorly designed logo.

You’ll also want to evaluate their terms, professionalism and the systems they have in place to make sure they understand your needs and the image you’re trying to project. Some graphic designers will speak to you on the phone while others have a form they’ll have you fill out. If a designer never asks about the image you want for your material – find a different designer.

Make sure you get the terms in writing. The terms of your agreement should include payment terms, revisions, and how you’re expected to communicate. While these may seem like small details they can make all the difference between a great relationship with your graphic designer and an unsatisfactory experience.

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Earning Money while We Become a Student is Possible!

Filed Under: General
May.05, 2010

Many university students assume that they cannot earn money as long as they are still in university. It seems that they should focus on studying rather than earning money. In fact, working experience is also important for university students before they graduate. Besides, the money that they get can be used to have fun with their friends instead of asking money from their parents. It will be more prideful for them if they want.

Then, many of them are still confused to find the best job to earn money. They do not need to get a fulltime job since they still can find a part time job, for example as a waiter, a librarian, or as a shopkeeper. Now, if you are in that position where you want to find a part time job, I suggest you to make money using your computer or laptop which has the internet connection. You may be surprised about it. However, it works well. There are some ways how to make money by doing online activities. The first one is using Clickbank and Google AdWorks to do affiliate marketing. Many people have done this way.

Then, you can also make money from Paid Survey. You just need to complete online surveys if you want to do this way. Next, you can also have a business in eBay selling. You can sell your items there. It seems promising because the internet nowadays is developed very well. Are you interested in making money online? Let’s try, then!

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Color Usage Factor When Choosing a Professional Graphic Design Company

Filed Under: Graphic Design
May.04, 2010

Graphic design expresses the creativity of the website’s brand and increases its professional look. You need the best services of a corporate graphic design company, if you are starting a project from scratch, or even planning to redesign an existing website. Most corporate graphic designers offer flash multimedia design, logo & graphic design, and web hosting. Some assure extended services, including domain registration and other marketing strategies.

Before choosing a professional graphic design company, it is very important to understand the different aspects of web color. In general, there are two types of colors used in web graphics: RGB and CMYK. These colors determine the background page elements and photographs. RGB and CMYK colors are generally associated with GIF and JPEG graphic file formats.

Graphic designers use web colors for web page backgrounds, HTML text, table and layer backgrounds, web links, GIF and JPEG files. Most designers employ web safe palette (Web 216 palette) in all computer graphics, web development applications and multimedia. These graphic designers use the following rules:

Flat graphics employing web 216 palettes are saved as GIF files;

Photographs and full color images employing RGB palette are saved as JPEG.

Moreover, a standard web page should be of 600×800, 620×480 or 1024×768 pixels. These important factors make a website look professional and attractive. A professional graphic design firm follows these rules and displays samples, both printed and online, in its portfolio. Always look for portfolios with diverse samples. Also, ensure that the portfolio boasts quality graphics and not poor quality images or basic clip art graphics.

A corporate graphic design company should have a proper background or reference. If you are looking to have a long term project from your graphic designer, check the company’s project report card. Make sure the graphic design company has any long term repeat clients and is not a startup company. Hence, determine whether a corporate graphic design company suits your business!

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