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Much-loved toy brand Fisher-Price has had a rebrand courtesy of Pentagram. This new iteration feels more fun and playful, and covers everything from a refreshed logo down to bright animations, a new custom typeface that draws on the brand's heritage as well as messaging and merchandise. Headed up by Emily Oberman, Pentgram has tweaked Fisher-Price's existing logo, retaining the brand's classic colours, and changing the awning from four to three semicircles to represent the brand's three founders (Herman Fisher, Irving Price and Helen Schelle, who sadly didn't get her name in the brand). The switch from upper- to lower-case 'F' and 'P' adds a childlike hint to the logo, while the hyphen is now a smile or semicircle, echoing the awning and again hinting at fun. (See our best logos post for more logo inspiration.) The previous Fisher-Price logo There are several iterations of the new logo, a circular logo Pentagram is calling a "bubble" that contains 'fp', and a "flag tag" that includes the awning and abbreviation. The awning itself can also now be used as a graphic icon to decorate merchandise or in promotional photography (see below). There's something a little bit 'Lego' about this branding, but we like it After digging through Fisher-Price's archives, Pentagram found that the typeface Cheltenham was used extensively, and so type designer Jeremy Mickel drew on this when creating the brand's new custom typefaces, Let’s Be Glyphs and Let’s Be Glyphs Bouncy. The new type feels more appropriate for a kids' toy company, although the slightly jaunty angle of some of the letters will no doubt upset some. You can see the new logos and typefaces in use in the video below. There's also a range of playful animations, and while these don't feel quite so coherent as the refreshed logos, they still have that breezy, childlike feel to them. Overall, this feels like a solid brand update from Pentagram. It's one of those rebrands that looks like it's always been there, and it also feels like the designers had a lot of fun playing around with the brand (which is appropriate, considering Fisher-Price is all about play). The team have come up with just enough tweaks to make Fisher-Price feel fresh, while retaining all the good bits of the existing branding. Emily Oberman and team, we salute you. You can read more about the Fisher-Price rebrand via Pentagram's website. Read more: Designers react to the new PS5 logo (and it's not pretty) 12 must-try time management tools 2020 letterpress calendar is the most beautiful thing you'll see all day View the full article

Ready to make 2020 the year of the email for your marketing campaigns? Crafting an amazing message with a trendy design is the perfect combination for sending an email that demands clicks in the inbox. These email design trends for …View the full article

Feeling tense? Finding the back-to-work transition a little jarring? We have the app for you. New to the App Store this week is Sequin, a mesmersing ASMR triumph guaranteed to help you instantly recover your zen. The concept is based on those sequin-flip products that seem to be all the rage with youngsters right now, and the app comes complete with spine-tingling 'sensory audio' and soothing haptics. For something more practical, see our roundup of the best calendar apps. The sequins shimmer in response to your phone's movement, and you can use your finger to flip them up and down. That's about it really, but it's completely hypnotic. Hell, we've been watching this GIF for a good five minutes already, and we've never felt so chill. "You can toggle through presets, choose your own colors for both the front and back of each sequin and even import photos, but my favorite feature is the simple act of flipping a sequin," says Robbie Tildon, the man behind the app. "I tried to connect the haptics, visuals and audio to give it the most satisfying experience possible on an iPhone." Perhaps most intriguing feature for us is the ability to add a photo background... which opens up all kinds of exciting possibilities. Tilton has designed for both Apple and Google and now runs interactive design studio Situated. He tells Creative Bloq how the idea came to him "out of nowhere" on the morning of New Year's Day. "There used to be a fabric store that I would go to that had a big sheet of it on display for folks to play with," he explains. "I then realised I could try to re-create this digitally." Tilton created a quick prototype on social media, and it took off. He decided to turn it into a proper app, using Unity (see our guide to the best web design tools). "The code is very simple, but Unity's physical based rendering helped me achieve a refined look as there truly is a dynamic light hitting each reflective sequin (which happens to be a small 3D cylinder)," he says. "As you rotate your phone I use the gryo as input to dynamically rotate the scene in 3D space so the light adjusts as if it were connected to the real world." Sequins is new to the App Store, but there are already some extremely enthusiastic reviews. Example: "It will drop you into a magical relaxation trip as you dangle your fingers upon the virtual threads," says sloppysteven. It costs 99 cents and is available for both iPhone and iPad. Download Sequin here. Click the image to find out more and book your tickets Read more: 10 best design apps for Windows 7 apps that made us go 'wow' in 2019 The best drawing apps for iPad View the full article

Researchers suspect the cybercriminals attacked using an unpatched critical vulnerability in the company's seven Pulse Secure VPN servers. View the full article

For anyone interested in learning how to make video games, 3D Buzz has long been a really valuable resource. Over two decades the community produced a whole stack of helpful tutorials with a strong focus on 3D training and made them available to download at reasonable prices. However in 2017 3D Buzz's founder, Jason Busby, died, and without him at the helm the site has gone quiet; until now. Sadly, 3D Buzz isn't exactly back; quite the opposite, in fact. Instead the site has updated with an announcement that 3D Buzz has closed its doors, and all subscriptions and recurring payments have been suspended. But by way of a final gift to its community, 3D Buzz has decided to make all of its available material free to download, including plenty of material devoted to the best 3D modelling software. Blender tutorials: 28 ways to upgrade your skills 3D Buzz was a fantastic resource for anyone wanting to learn about 3D and game development What this means is that there's an enormous archive of tutorials ready and waiting for you, covering all manner of subjects related to game design and development. There's over 200GB of material to grab, and among it you'll find project-focused tutorials for 3ds Max, Blender, Houdini, Maya and ZBrush, as well as how-to videos for game engines such as Unreal and Unity. As well as 3D tutorials there's much more, including some great drawing courses You'll also find coding tutorials, a guide to Photoshop fundamentals, drawing tutorials and even an introduction to web design. Now, the downside is that not much of this is cutting edge material; it's been put together from material released over 20-odd years, so a lot of the tutorial videos are seriously dated. You can tell that much when you open one and get a tiny 4:3 window on your 4K desktop. Look, some of this stuff's been around a while, but there's plenty that's still relevant However if you're just starting out in 3D or game development and need to get to grips with some of the fundamentals, there's a whole load of useful stuff here that you won't want to miss. While the advanced features of 3D software tend to get updated all the time, the bare basics of 3D modelling and rendering that you need to get your head around first tend to stay the same. So while much of this content is well past its prime, it's definitely worth scrolling all the way down the page to see what's on offer. You can find the whole 3D Buzz archive here. 20 Cinema 4D tutorials to up your 3D skills The 17 best ZBrush tutorials 17 mighty Maya tutorials to try today View the full article

Wacom has unveiled a brand new tablet at CES 2020. The Wacom One is aimed at beginners and those creating content for social media, and it's supremely affordable at just $399.95 (£359.99/€399.99). The entry level 13-inch creative pen display is compatible with Mac, Windows as well as a surprising new addition: it works with some Android devices, too. There's no talk of iPhone compatibility, though perhaps that makes sense considering you could just get an iPad instead. The 1,920 x 1,080 full HD display offers a decent size of 13-inches, 72 per cent NTSC colour and an anti-glare treated film. It's got foldable legs, and it's definitely small enough to fit in most bags, making it ideal for working on the go. Could it be a new entry to our list of the best drawing tablets? Wacom's cheapest LCD tablet ever also comes with a cordless, battery-free pen that you never need to recharge, with an impressive 4,096 pressure levels, allowing for a natural feel and flow when designing. But, if you feel you need something different, the Wacom One is also compatible with pens from other leading makers, including LAMY, Samsung and STAEDTLER. Connect your Android smartphone for an extra digital canvas To kickstart the creative process, the Wacom One comes with a software bundle. Included in the line-up is Clip Studio Paint Pro and Wacom's own Bamboo Paper app, which transforms the Wacom One into a paper notebook. For those looking to produce some high-quality video there is Adobe Premiere Rush CC, and compatibility with the new Adobe Fresco is also in the pipeline (see our Adobe Fresco review). With its impressive compatibility and bargain price tag, it looks like the Wacom One could be the tablet to take on the iPad/Apple Pencil combo. We can't wait to get our hands on one (though Wacom's naming strategy is getting ever more confusing) to deliver our final verdict. If you can't wait to buy the Wacom One, it's available now from the online Wacom store for $399.95 (£359.99/€399.99). Read more: The best drawing tablet: Our pick of the best graphics tablets in 2020 Secret Adobe eyedropper trick will change your life The best monitors for video editing View the full article

The new Playstation 5 logo has been revealed, to much fanfare, at CES 2020. To say the moment was an anticlimax would be an understatement. In short the new PS5 logo looks exactly like the old PS4 logo. Which, to be fair, looked an awful lot like the PS3 logo. See it in all its glory above. Sony has been slowly releasing information about its next console over the past few months. It's due to be released "Holiday 2020". Sadly, this latest revelation wasn't quite as exciting as we might have hoped – Sony has clearly decided it wasn't broke, and no fixing was required (for more enduring brand marks, check out our guide to the best logos of all time). We quite like the new logo gives the impression that it's just the '2' of the PS2 logo reversed and flipped (it's not, incidentally, the PS2 logo was a whole lot more angular), but other than that there's not really much to say. Playstation logos through the years If Sony execs thought this was a safe design choice that wouldn't attract too much vitriol from the Playstation community, they were sorely mistaken. The claws are out and the memes are rolling in fast. Read on for our pick of the most savage takedowns so far (you might also want to check out Twitter's hilarious reaction to the Xbox Series X last month). Many commenters are calling out Sony for being lazy... ... but Mike Drucker's tweet is probably a little closer to the truth. Or are there hidden messages that we're missing? Hmm. Makes you think. Find out everything we know so far is our sister site GamesRadar+'s PS5 news and rumours roundup. The 8 best retro gaming consoles CES 2020: Is Samsung Sero's vertical screen the future of TV? New theory claims to reveal the real reason Cats flopped View the full article

Time management tools are critical to making sure that all those important projects get out the door on time. But, while taking control of your time will bring obvious work benefits, it will also ensure that you are not eating into your own personal time any more than you need to. Good time management tips are only part of the process. You will also need to adopt the right tools and techniques to help achieve your goals. (For more handy tools, see our graphic design tools or web design tools.) Here we have put together a list for you to investigate and help improve your productivity, take control of deadlines and ultimately relieve stress and improve your mental wellbeing. 01. Toggl Toggl is a time-tracking application that goes beyond the basics. It has a collection of quick and easy-to-use features such as one-click timers and tracking reminders to get things done quickly. Plus, it boasts a host of more advanced features including email tracking reminders with scheduled alerts and a team dashboard. 02. Zapier Zapier helps connect the apps and services you use every day to create an automated, and more efficient workflow. Link your web apps so they can share data and create a 'Zap' to pass info between your apps. Zapier integrates with over 1,500 apps including Slack, Google Sheets and Google Docs. 03. IFTTT Not everything on the internet plays nice, so IFTTT – a tool for harmonising work between apps and devices – is on a mission to build a more connected world. Choose from over 600 apps and embed them into your mobile app, website or email for a more productive workflow. 04. Trello Trello is a project management tool that is like a virtual pinboard where you can pin notes and lists of items for everyone to see, edit and collaborate on. It's ideal for teams, especially those that work across various locations. 05. Basecamp Basecamp is a project management tool that helps collaboration throughout the different parts of a project. It splits work into separate projects, with each project containing everything related to the job. This includes all the people involved, every discussion, every document, file, task, important date and whatever else you need. 06. Asana Asana is project management tool with a focus on the management of tasks throughout a collaborative project. Create visual project plans to see how every step maps out over time and use automation tools to simplify workflows and reduce errors. 07. Bullet journal Bullet Journal is best described as a methodology (or productivity system as it describes itself) that is designed to help with pen and paper task management and planning. There is an accompanying app that helps users organise paper-based notebooks and journals. 08. Todoist Todoist is a web-based, cross-platform task management tool that works for creatives, developers, students, small businesses and freelancers. Organise tasks into clear and concise sections, ensuring that you get an instant overview of important tasks. 09. Omnifocus OmniFocus is a feature-rich but complex one-time-fee, macOS-only task management tool. Create actions (containing multiple tasks) quickly using Siri, group actions by project, add tags (such as location, people, priority), introduce notifications as reminders for important tasks and sync with all devices to ensure everyone has the latest information. 10. Things Things is a macOS-only personal task management tool. It offers a functional and intuitive interface where users can add calendar events, to-do notes for all parts of the day, introduce headings to create categories and milestones to organise events and tasks, add reminders and much more. 11. Pomodoro technique The Pomodoro technique (developed by Francesco Cirillo) uses a timer to work in single-focus blocks of time, typically 25 minutes. There is a short break after each 25 minutes, these are known as a 'pomodoro'. The technique offers enough breaks to help keep the mind fresh for the next task. 12. Flowtime technique The Flowtime technique is a modification of the Pomodoro technique. The creator has done away with the strict timers but kept breaks and time tracking, and added in a little flow. Check out the 'The Flowtime Technique Cheat Sheet' to get a quick grasp of the technique. This is an edited version of an article that first appeared in net issue 324, the world's best-selling web design magazine. Buy issue 324 or subscribe to net. Read more: 19 ways to streamline your workflow 5 ways a stylus will boost your productivity 10 productivity tools you can't be without in 2020 View the full article

Ben the Illustrator has been running an annual illustration survey for three years now, and there's now less than a week left to fill in this year's survey. The Illustrator's Survey collates responses from illustrators around the globe to provide a snapshot of the industry. Last year's findings include information about who is working in the industry, how they are working and their work-life balance. There's also a particularly useful section on how much illustrators are charging, which includes information about day rates vs hourly rates, as well as charging deposits and more. If you're just starting out in illustration, then you might also want to check out our sketching tips or how to draw tutorials. The Illustrator's Survey is, naturally, beautifully illustrated By taking part in the Illustrator's Survey, you're helping make it more comprehensive and useful for others. The survey is for "anyone worldwide who has worked professionally as an illustrator in any way during 2019, from full-time established artists to part-timers, new creative professionals and students who have started earning from their creative skills". This year, the survey has been curated by 16 professionals from the world of illustration, and consists of 63 questions. Many are multiple choice questions so it won't take up too much of your time. So why not go ahead and fill it in today? You could even share it with your illustrator friends. Read more: 10 top illustration trends for 2020 How to move from animation to illustration The Force is strong with this illustrated Star Wars poster View the full article

There are plenty of reasons to consider one of the best flip phones next time you're in the market for a new handset. Some of the newest models are effectively small, powerful tablets that are ideal for sketching on the move, and fold up small enough to tuck into a pocket when not in use. A more basic flip phone could be a great choice if you already have a powerful camera phone for work. but want something minimalist to help you avoid distractions, or put work behind you at the end of the day. It's also a good idea to invest in a secondary phone on top of one of the best smartphones if you travel frequently and don't want to be seen pulling out a high-end flagship handset in public. A rugged flip phone, which can survive the occasional knock and is less tempting to thieves, would do the job perfectly. We've picked out seven of the best flip phones you can buy right now, whatever your requirements and budget. The Motorola Razr 2019 is a spiritual successor to the hugely popular Razr V3, and blends the older phone's classic design with cutting edge technology. The new Razr's key selling point is its screen, which flips out to give you an extra wide 21:9 display that's well suited to creative work. Unlike the Galaxy Fold, below, there's no visible seam in the screen where it flexes, and the display is bright and crisp. When you're done, fold it shut and you've got a compact, palm-sized block that can be tucked easily into a pocket. The hinge adds a little bulk, but the folding mechanism feels pleasant, and almost as satisfying as the snap of the old V3. This isn't a phone you'd buy on the strength of its camera (check out our guide to the best camera phones if you're interested in mobile photography), but the Razr's 8MP rear camera is sufficient for capturing basic stills and videos. The Motorola Razr 2019 isn't out yet, but you can register your interest on the Motorola website. Although it's not advertised as such, we like to think of the Samsung Galaxy Fold as a flip phone that hinges along the vertical rather than horizontal axis. Its design has a lot in common with the new Motorola Razr, but rather than extending to give you an ultra-wide display, the Fold opens to reveal a 7.5-inch mini tablet that's ideal for sketching with the Samsung S-Pen. In its compressed form, the Galaxy Fold looks and works just like any 'candybar' smartphone (albeit an unusually chunky one). Its cover features a 4.6-inch display that's ideal for messaging and calls, and its narrow body means it's much easier to slide into a pocket than a Samsung Galaxy Note (for example). Unfortunately, the Fold isn't without its problems. Its hinged screen is fragile, and although Samsung has made a lot of improvements since its disastrous early launch, when reviewers (many of whom had accidentally removed a vital protective layer thinking it was a piece of packaging) reported the phone breaking in days. You'll have to take care of the Fold, but when you're paying this much, that probably goes without saying. Looking for a simple secondary phone for travelling? The Nokia 2720 Flip could be just the thing. Its sleek, minimalist design is faithful to Nokia's classic flip designs, and is far lighter and smaller than more feature-filled devices like those from Samsung and Razor. The Nokia 2720 Flip uses Nokia's own KaiOS operating system rather than Android, which greatly limits your choice of apps, but that's no bad thing if you're looking for a minimalist flip phone that'll help you avoid distractions when you're working (or trying to get away from work). But why choose the 2720 when other, older models are available more cheaply? The answer is simple: 4G LTE. You could pick up a five-year-old flip phone for very little, and it may serve you well, but the lack of 4G support will leave you struggling with slow data speeds, which could be a real pain if you need to stream video for work, or send large files. This phone gives you the best of both worlds: a sleek retro design with modern hardware where it counts. Before the Fold, there was the Folder. The Samsung Galaxy Folder 2 was released without fanfare back in 2016, and has largely been forgotten in the shadow of its flashier younger sibling. That's a shame, because it's still an excellent flip phone and more practical than the Fold in many ways. Its design is a little more luxe than the Nokia 2720 above, and the fact that it runs a full version of Android means it could work well as either a primary or secondary phone. Again, it's a great choice if your design work takes you around the world, particularly because it's capable of holding two SIM cards plus a microSD memory card, so you can easily switch networks while overseas and avoid incurring roaming charges. Without a flexible screen to worry about (the phone's lower portion contains a set of reassuringly tactile physical buttons), it's more likely to survive the rigours of daily use than the Fold, and with no screen on the outer shell it's less prone to scratches. This is a sensible choice for frequent fliers. If you like the look of the Samsung Galaxy Folder 2, but are keen to stick with Verizon, the LG Exalt VN220 is well worth your time. Its clamshell design ensures the screen is always protected, and its durable hinge will survive many years of use. The 5MP camera won't set the world on fire, but it's surprisingly good for a budget flip-phone, and sufficient for basic tasks. It's just a shame there's no flash. You do, however, get a generous 8GB storage for your stills and videos. With hearing assistance, text-to-speech and large, clear buttons, the LG Exalt VN220 is also a strong choice if you find modern touchscreen smartphones tricky to use, or are buying a handset for a senior family member. As its name suggests, the Samsung Rugby 4 can take a good kicking and keep on going. This super-tough little feature phone is dust and water resistant, so you don't need to worry about throwing it into a suitcase or it getting damaged if you're working on location. This is a feature phone rather than a smartphone, so you won't have access to the full contents of the Google Play Store, but you do still benefit from GPS navigation, which is all but essential when you're working away from home. It can provide turn-by-turn directions, and even provide traffic updates. The Rugby 4 is a superb flip phone to have in your corner when the going gets tough (or unusually dusty). It's cheap too, so if you do find a way to break it (or, more likely, it's stolen), it won't be the end of the world. A classic flip phone can be a great choice for older users, or anyone who finds slippery glass touchscreens awkward to use. The TTfone Lunar TT750 is specifically designed with seniors in mind, and has been thoughtfully designed to be as accessible as possible. Its smooth, pebble-shaped chassis fits neatly and securely in the hand, and the included charging dock means there's no struggling to plug in tiny USB-C cables. It opens to reveal large, tactile buttons for easy dialling, plus a one-touch SOS button that can be set to call a relative in an emergency. Call volume is easy to adjust, and the dual screen is high contrast, with clear fonts. The TTfone Lunar TT750 is only available in the UK and Europe, but if you're in the US, the Jitterbug Flip is very similar. Read more: The best budget camera phones How to Photoshop on the iPhone 13 free creative iPhone apps for designers View the full article

A new year means a new calendar of events to look forward to. There are dates every designer needs to keep in mind, from major national and international events that can inspire commissions to industry events where designers can network (see our how to network guide), meet colleagues and catch up on the latest trends. Here we round up ten dates for the diary that will be setting the agenda for 2020, in date order. 01. Vertex 2020 Vertex is THE event for 2D and 3D artists in 2020 27-28 February Supported by Creative Bloq, ImagineFX and 3D World, Vertex is the ultimate conference for 2D and 3D artists, even if we do say so ourselves. Taking place at London’s Olympia Conference Centre in February, it's the place to brush up your skills and learn from leading industry artists and the world’s best creative studios, whatever area you specialise in. Themes cover video games, VFX, VR, concept art, real-time creation and much more besides. 02. The UX Conference 2-3 March The theme for this two-day London conference for UX and UI designers this year is collaboration. It's a good place for it, since a limit of 300 guests make it intimate enough to allow quality networking. There are 16 speakers invited to give talks on day one and hands-on workshops on day two. 03. Generate JS Generate JS is a one-day JavaScript bonanza 2 April This one-day event hosted by net magazine and Creative Bloq brings together JavaScript experts for an exciting roster of talks on all things JavaScript, including the latest libraries, trendiest frameworks and more than a hint of vanilla JS. There are also breakout activities, drinks and plenty of opportunities to chat to fellow web designers and developers. 04. OFFSET Creatives descend on Dublin for the annual OFFSET festival in April 3-5 April The eleventh edition of OFFSET Dublin is the perfect excuse for a visit to Ireland with 2,500 other creatives. Presenters include leading graphic designers, photographers, animators, and illustrators as well as people from the worlds of fashion, film, making it a place to get very varied perspectives on creativity, inspiration, trends, collaborations and practice. The event offers a packed agenda of panels, debates and demos, plus a marketplace and networking spaces. 05. Euro 2020 There’ll be no escaping football this summer 12 June-12 July Whether you’re into football or not, there’ll be no escaping the beautiful game this summer as Europe goes football crazy for a month during Euro 2020. To mark the competition’s 60th anniversary, games are being held not in one host nation but in 12 cities scattered across the continent, including London, Glasgow and Dublin. England, in group D, are being tipped as having a good chance to make it through to the final at Wembley on 12 July, so expect to receive design commissions with St George’s flags flying high. Scotland also still have a chance to qualify through play-offs in March. 06. Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games All eyes will be on Japan this summer 24 July-4 August The sporting event of the year though, will be getting underway in Japan just a couple of weeks later. All eyes will be on Tokyo for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad. This year’s summer Olympics adds a few new twists with medals in softball, karate, sport climbing, surfing and skateboarding. Expect clients to be asking after Japan-themed commissions, so get ready to dig out the Kaneiwa and Fat Sushi fonts. 07. London Design Festival London will stake its claims as design capital of the world in September 12-20 September London Design Festival makes a bold claim to celebrate and promote London as the design capital of the world. The Festival returns to venues across the city in mid-September promising major large-scale installations and commissions from some of the world’s best designers and events across 11 design districts in the city turning the capital into a source of inspiration. The festival also features trade shows including Design London, formerly 100% Design, and the London Design Fair at Truman Brewery. 08. Design Matters A good excuse for a trip to Copenhagen this September 23-24 September Run by designers for designers, Design Matters is a two-day conference focusing on new movements in digital design and the role that designers will play in shaping the future. Particular themes of interest this year include the design possibilities opening up in the areas of immersive worlds and mixed realities. On top of that, it's hosted in the design capital Copenhagen, which is worth the trip alone. 09. Adobe MAX Expect new updates from Adobe at this year’s Max in LA 19-21 October Adobe Max is the annual Adobe bash that brings together 10,000 graphic, web, and multi-disciplinary designers as well as creative and art directors, film, video, and motion graphics pros, photographers and other creative leaders in Los Angeles. It's one of the world's biggest design gathering for networking, and there's the option to head into town early for two days of immersive pre-conferences full of productivity tips and tricks. It's also the place to hear firsthand of new Adobe product updates. 10. Expo 2020 Dubai Dubai stages the greatest show in the world from October 20 October-10 April 2021 Held every five years, the world expo has previously witnessed the unveiling of the telephone (Philadelphia, 1876), the Eiffel Tower (Paris, 1889), the Ferris wheel (Chicago, 1893), the X-Ray machine (Buffalo, 1901), the ice cream cone (St Louis, 1904), the commercial broadcast television (New York, 1939), IMAX (Osaka, 1970), touchscreens (Knoxville, 1982) and the humanoid robot (Nagoya, 2005), so just what will Expo 2020 in Dubai have in store? Incredible futuristic architecture for sure, while the major themes include mobility, sustainability and communication. World expos were originally designed to showcase the achievements of nations and may seem like a quaint anachronism in the 21st century, but Dubai is planning to make a splash as the host city of this six-month event running from 20 October. This is the first time that what is one of the oldest international events on the planet is being held in the Middle East, and the organisers are expecting a record 25 million visitors for what they promise will be "the world's greatest show". Read more: The top design trends for 2020 6 incredible design secrets you need to know 12 design fails that were so bad they were actually good View the full article

CES has kicked off with a bang, with Samsung revealing one of the most futuristic home entertainment designs we've seen in quite some time, a TV that rotates by itself. The Samsung Sero (sero means vertical in Korean) made its first global public appearance at the Consumer Electronics Show on Sunday, and its ability to pivot between vertical and horizontal orientations was unveiled. Let's take a look at this mind-boggling piece of tech that's perfect for YouTube (and if you're stuck for something to watch, here's our pick of the best animated music videos). Now, some might say this is a tad unnecessary. What's wrong with a standard flat screen? We hate to tell you that if that's you, you're probably too old to be in the target market. This TV is firmly geared towards Generation Z and Millennial customers who use their smartphones as another mode of entertainment. The TV aims to be an extension of your smartphone, connecting to your phone over NFC and orientating automatically to mirror the content you're watching on your small screen. Websites and content optimised for a horizontal view will stick with the standard TV format, but if you happen across a site that's best enjoyed in a vertical view, your TV will take on a life of its own and rotate 90 degrees to an upright position. Think YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat videos on the huge 43-inch screen. It does beg the question, however, as to what this means for videographers. The use of vertical video has risen dramatically over the past few years with the introduction of Snapchat and Instagram stories. And if the standard orientation of a monitor and TV is set to switch, this could see a big shake up in the video creation and editing industry. Twitter reacts (badly) Unsurprisingly, some might say, Twitter isn't convinced. This tweet pretty much sums up the response, with most users agreeing it's a gimmicky move from Samsung: It's a cool piece of kit that has clearly been designed to solve a problem some people must be experiencing, but we're not sure how this one will sell (unlike this problem-solving slide keyboard concept, which we would love to come to fruition). However attached to their smartphones people may be, is it not enough to just view the content on the phone itself? We can't imagine buying a TV purely to watch social media videos on. Or maybe we're just too old. If you're happy with the usual non-rotating screen set up, here are are some of the top TV and monitors in your area, at the very best prices. Read more: The ultimate guide to screen resolution The best projectors: get your designs on the big screen The best smartphone lenses View the full article

Podcasts are an excellent way to keep up with web design industry news, learn something new, or listen to something fun. With podcasts becoming more popular, there is quite a large selection that covers a lovely array of topics relevant …View the full article

There has been plenty of criticism thrown at the Cats movie since its release at the end of last year. But a new theory has arisen as to what the real problem with the film is: the cats' human noses. It seems too simple to be true, but the more we dig into it the more we think there might be something to it. In contrast to the stage show upon which it's based, which uses heavily stylised cat costumes, the creators of the film decided to embrace the powers of CG when it came to bringing the cats to life. So-called 'digital fur technology' was used give the actors their realistic feline coats (although it wasn't quite finished when the movie premiered, which led to Universal having send out a new version to cinemas with CGI corrections). Problem is, these realistic feline coats are combined with decidedly un-feline hands, feet, and – yes – noses. The result is, to put it politely, distractingly odd. 8 appalling CGI fails in modern movies How the characters are brought to life can have a huge impact on how effective a story is (see our roundup of character design insights for more on this). Writer Dana Schwartz sent out the following tweet last week. Since then the tweet has blown up – and there's plenty of evidence stacking up in favour of Schwartz's statement. First of all, check out these (nose-free) paintovers from artist Sae, showing how the characters could have looked. In her reimagining of Taylor Swift's Bombalurina (above) and Sir Ian McKellen's Gus 'Asparagus' the Theatre Cat (below), Sae has not only done away with those offending noses, but also added some more personality to the characters' coats. While at face value we'd say it's a strong improvement, we know that its one thing to paint over a movie still and quite another to realistically mimic that look in 3D over the course of a feature film. However, there are more examples to consider. One tweeter shared a shot of the 'Catkind' race that featured in classic British TV show Doctor Who. Again, no human noses – and we think all the better for it. There's not much information about how these humanoid cats were brought to life, but it looks much more like prosthetics and makeup than CGI. Finally, we have the original stage show itself. This doesn't even shoot for realism, but instead uses stylised costumes and makeup to capture the essence of its feline characters. And somehow, even that looks more cat-like than Paramount's efforts. While we wouldn't go as far as to say it's are the sole reason Cats has flopped, we can't help but agree a more cat-like nose could have made all the difference. For a look at 3D effects done well, check out our roundup of the greatest CGI movie moments of all time. Read more: Baby Sonic is here to steal Baby Yoda's thunder MPC Vancouver closes doors after Sonic fiasco 3D news 2019 roundup: We look back at the biggest stories of the year View the full article

News of a new iPad Pro 2020 for will come as welcome news to many artists and designers looking to add the powerful tablet to their arsenal. Despite giving many of its core products annual updates, 2019 saw Apple surprisingly overlook the iPad Pro. Rumours suggest this won't happen again this year, and so we're looking forward to seeing what Apple has up its sleeve with its iPad Pro for 2020. So what do we know about a potential new iPad Pro? One thing we know for sure is whatever its new features and specs, there will be some great iPad Pro apps for designers, artists and illustrators to work with. Here we take a look at the leaks and rumours that have started trickling in on the new iPad Pro 2020. iPad Pro 2020: release date and price Late last year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman suggested the release date would be early 2020, which is interesting when you consider Apple usually unveils new tech at its annual October event. Does this mean that Apple skipped a 2019 iPad Pro launch with the intent of releasing two in 2020? Only time will tell. There's no current news on the price of the new device, however with over a year between updates, we expect this iPad Pro refresh to be significant, in terms of both cost and capability. iPad Pro 2020: design rumours In the middle of 2019, Apple registered another two tablet models with the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) regulator. And both of these new models didn't match any models that aren't in the current line-up, which has led to a number of iPad Pro 2020 rumours. One of the most reliable ones, however, comes Sonny Dickson (below). The pictured posted is believed to be the back of a dummy iPad Pro 2020 unit, on which there are three cameras. Being that the current iPad Pro only has one rear camera, it hints that Apple has put the devices photo-taking abilities at the forefront of its focus. iPad Pro 2020: what we'd like to see While we wait for official confirmation from Apple, we can only speculate what the new iPad Pro 2020 will actually offer. However there's no doubt that the new iPad Pro will be a top-end, power-packed tablet. The current 12.9-inch model boasts a very powerful A12X Bionic processor, so expect even more processing power for demanding creative tasks like photo or video editing. Our biggest wish for the iPad Pro 2020 would be a bigger screen. Maybe as there is no MacBook Pro 15" anymore, how about an iPad Pro 15" to fill the gap? The extra space would be perfect for designers, illustrators and artists to express themselves with an Apple Pencil. We'll update this post as and when more news drops on the new iPad Pro 2020. But if you can't wait that long to get your hands on one of these powerful devices, you can currently get some great deals on the 2018 iPad Pro models. Here are the best prices in your area: iPad Pro 12.9 review Photoshop on the iPad is finally here 20 best drawing apps for iPad View the full article

Veganuary is now officially a thing, and Italian/American restaurant chain Frankie & Benny's is trying to get in on the action with its vegan menus. Its campaign ad spot sees Meat Loaf's new manager trying to convince him to change his name to Veg Loaf. He's not impressed. In an increasingly ridiculous bid to get Meat Loaf to agree, his team try to lure him in with food such as the Viva La Vegan burger and the No Cheese Cheesecake. Meat Loaf becomes increasingly irate. It's worth watching till the end (see video below) for the inevitable line about what Meat Loaf will and won't do. For comedy value, we think it's up there with some of the best print ads around. The campaign was created by new agency Idea Farm and Lucky Generals, and is based on an actual pitch. "Funnily enough, our new video isn't far off the original real-life pitch to Meat," says Elise Ash, director of strategy and brand at Frankie & Benny's. "While we couldn't convince him to rebrand to Veg Loaf, we're delighted he's the headline act for our new vegan menu to help spread the word on the benefits of tucking into our meat-free dishes." Meat Loaf has apparently agreed to go plant-based for Veganuary. It was just the name-change thing he didn't want to do. We think this is a clever piece of advertising. With more and more outfits trying to break into the vegan or veggie market, Frankie & Benny's has shown how laughing at yourself is sometimes the way to go. Of course, getting a big name to sign up helps, and one with a meat or veg-based name is even better. Might Halle Berry or Kevin Bacon be next? Read more: Creative agency spends $10,000 on blank ads New ads lead people to imaginary Burger Kings 2020 letterpress calendar is the most beautiful thing you'll see all day View the full article

The aviation industry is a giant industry with millions of passengers booking flights to journey from one part of the globe to another. With over 100,000 flights taking off and landing every day, it is evident that the industry runs …View the full article

That annoying switcheroo between tablet screen and keyboard may not be the most dramatic issue you're facing today, but it's certainly irritating enough to interrupt your workflow. A Korean designer has recognised the issue and created a nifty bit of kit to solve the problem. Enter: the SLIDE keyboard. Sometimes it feels as if you need a desk the size of a table tennis table to fit everything onto it, and shifting around between the tablet screen and the keyboard doesn't help. This keyboard design integrates the two pieces of tech. Why have two products on your desk, when you could only have one? Park's mood board, highlighting how desk space comes at a premium Conceived by industrial design student Cheolsu Park in a project for Chung-ang University’s Aura Design Lab, the design incorporates a tablet within the base of a keyboard. You can see his project detailed on his Behance page, which includes an impressive mood board detailing his process (see our mood board post on how to make your own). "SLIDE is a combination of tablet and keyboard," explains Park. "I designed this product to relieve the inconvenience of using tablet and keyboard at the same time. "Having two products on your desk at the same time takes up a lot of space on your desk, and when you need to use only your keyboard, you need to put the tablet aside," Park continues. "However, with SLIDE, you can use the tablet simply by pushing it up. Once you've used the tablet, you can simply get it down and it's back in the form of the keyboard." The SLIDE's base is weighted, to ensure ideal weight distribution when the keyboard is extended, and the keyboard also locks into place so that it doesn't spring out of place when in use. There are handy buttons at the side of the keyboard to block the slide. Park has also created sleek tablet pens to match the keyboard. The SLIDE keyboard and stylus Park has been working on other problem-solving products, too. These include a smart suitcase for blind people, self-driving and designed to identify surroundings in the same way as a walking stick. We think the keyboard is great bit of design. It looks weighty and professional, and we bet the slide function feels pretty satisfying to operate. This innovation solves a problem in a similar way to this AI website prototype, which attempts to fix our posture. Both creations are courtesy of young designers who were looking for solutions to everyday issues, a great starting point for successful design. Read more: The top design trends for 2020 The best tablet keyboards in 2020 The best keyboards for designers in 2020 View the full article

Having your own small business can be daunting, especially when it comes to the workflow and administrative aspects. As creatives, these tasks are often the last thing we want to deal with at the end of the day. ProjectDue, a complete business suite for small businesses and self-employed entrepreneurs, can be the ticket to getting all your ducks in a row and organising your projects. But there's even better news – for a limited time, you can get this lifetime bundle for just $29.99. Keep your creative team on track If you're looking for a place for your team to connect with seamless communication, this feature will be your knight in shining armour. With an easy to use interface and simple to follow instructions, you'll be able to assign tasks to employees (or yourself) and track the progress of each project as each assignment is added. Advanced time trackers and a Kanban Board logs your complete timeline and clarifies who does what for flawless communication. Get detailed reporting and analytics on your projects, so everyone is on the same page. No more vague duties, your projects will all be recorded and assigned in an easy to follow work chart. Manage your freelance gigs If you are your boss and employee, you'll love the freelancer software features. You'll be able to easily invoice your clients and manage payments all in one spot. Other features include tracking your expenses, creating estimates, and adding notes to invoices in case something changes last minute. With your time tracked and everything in one place, you'll be able to access financial reporting and updates on each project efficiently. Find future potential clients With so many projects in the works and so little time, it may seem daunting trying to organise potential new leads. ProjectDue makes it simple for you to easily track progress made with any lead, as well as every detail about your clients, efficiently keeping your lead follow-ups on course. The software even provides your employees and clients with their dedicated portals, where they can manage all project-related activities. While a lifetime subscription to ProjectDue.co is valued at $900, it is currently only $29.99. Give yourself the gift of making your business workflow a lot easier in 2020 and focus on the things that matter to you and your brand. Read more: 19 ways to streamline your workflow 10 productivity tools you can't be without in 2020 Grow your influence and increase your income View the full article

Have you been itching to acquire the skills needed to become a master photographer? Learn how to take stunning photographs and edit like a pro with The Photography For Beginners Mastery Bundle, a comprehensive look into all things photography. Read on to learn more about some of the captivating master photography courses included in this complete bundle. Get started with the basics We all need to start with the fundamentals to build a foundation for our career. With over 30 hours of training across all five courses, you'll get started with The Ultimate Photography Course For Beginners. This comprehensive course covers everything you need to get started in photography. You'll learn composition techniques to help improve your images, understand fundamental treatments known in the world of photography, a successful workflow for capturing and editing seamless photos, and so much more. Learn the techniques of master photographers As you get more familiar with the elements of photography, you'll move on to courses such as Advanced Creative Photography Skills. You'll gain an understanding of more complex fundamentals, such as learning the science of light and acquiring the necessary composition techniques used in street and city photography. With access to 15 easy-to-follow lectures and content that's available 24/7, you'll be able to come back and visit each lesson whenever you need to. Take your photography to the next level and get guidance on artistic tips and tricks from the pros. Capture fascinating images with any camera Not only will you learn the essentials needed to use any camera, but you will also gain a complete understanding of how you can capture breathtaking images of your own. With a Creative Photography Composition Master Class and The Complete Photography 101 Master Class, you'll master how to use manual mode, gain an understanding of studio settings to create beautiful portraits, master photography’s visual language, and so much more. You'll even learn how to sell your images and grasp how to kick off a photography business of your own. While a lifetime membership to The Photography For Beginners Mastery Bundle is valued at almost $1,000, it is currently price-dropped to only $19.99. With over 200 lessons covering everything photography, it's undoubtedly a great way to get started on shooting and editing impactful images for creative projects of all types. Read more: How to use photography in design Street photography: 11 expert tips How to take perfect portraits View the full article

If you have your own business, you know how competitive the landscape is. The key to standing out is making sure your branding is comprehensive and impactful, and true to your cause. The Personal Branding Bootcamp Bundle brings you everything you need to make your brand thrive in a sometimes oversaturated world. Read on to learn more about some of the helpful courses included in the bundle. Personal branding for creative professionals You've got the beautiful work you've spent so much time creating for your brand – now what? This 16-hour course will teach you the skills you need to successfully build your creative brand and set up an online and offline presence, and so much more. You’ll learn exactly how to make a lasting first impression, create strategies for connecting with the right people in your industry, and how to successfully craft and convey the exact message you want to voice about your work. Dorie Clark, the author of Reinventing You: Define Your Brand, Imagine Your Future, shows you how to make your brand thrive by giving you the best ways to showcase your creative projects. You'll soon be equipped with the best strategies to display your portfolio, make your work stand out, and so much more. Communicate like a boss Learn to communicate better with this course It's no secret that one of the essential milestones of seamless branding execution and career advancement is having strong communication skills. With lifetime access and nine comprehensive courses, this master class will equip you with the tools you need to communicate while remaining true to yourself and your brand. Dia Bondi, a renowned communications strategist/coach, will help you develop your skills as an effective communicator by showing you how to deliver your message in compelling ways that come from the heart. Improve your skills and finally get the guidance you need to become a great communicator. Become an engaging presenter If you're the type that dreads presenting, this course may be for you. With 15 lectures and plenty of tips and tricks, you'll learn how to improve your presentation skills and start actually (gasp) enjoying the entire process. Andrew Whelan, Late Night with Conan O’Brien performer, accomplished career coach, and small business owner, teaches you the ins and outs of becoming an engaging and magnetic presenter. Whether you need to pitch a new idea, present the latest findings for your business, or need to present a deck on your most recent campaign, you'll be able to refine your process, manage anxiety, and handle the unexpected. Access to the Personal Branding Bootcamp Bundle is valued at over $200. This month only, this bundle is price-dropped to only $19. With all the content available 24/7, you'll be able to effortlessly finesse your branding skills and make your beautiful work stand out and thrive, no matter your industry. Read more: Has branding become boring? Branding quotes: The good, the bad and the ugly The 6 best branding books View the full article

The start of a new year and decade can only mean one thing. Yes, it's time for some new stationery – hurrah! If you've not yet managed to find a 2020 calendar you like the look of, you're in the right place. As calendars go, they don't come better than this stunning letterpress design. The Mr Cup creative manifesto letterpress calendar is the brainchild of Fabian Barral aka Mr Cup. Available in two editions (standard and deluxe), this calendar design is a thing of a beauty. The deluxe version is fully hot oil printed on dark papers, and the standard has a hot oil printed front cover, with each month's design letterpress printed on light papers. There's something so appealing about the tactile nature of letterpress. The design is stunning but more than anything we just want to run our hands over it. A collaborative effort, Barral enlisted the help of 11 graphic designers and typographers to create unique works for each calendar month. An annual project, this year's edition features exclusive designs by Scotty Russell, Srdjan Vidakovic, Nikki Mihalik, Viktor Baltus, Cody Petts, Jason Carne, Reno Orange, Salih Kucukaga, Jef Millotte, Kelsy Stromski and Benjamin Charles. If it's motivation you're after in 2020, having this hung on your wall is sure to help. The combination of quality craftsmanship and printed words of wisdom are guaranteed to inspire you all year round. You can buy both editions of the letterpress calendar via the Mr Cup online shop. Read more: 40 inspiring examples of letterpress business cards The best calendar apps of 2020 10 productivity tools you can't be without in 2020 View the full article

Are there one or two productivity tools that can help you get the routine and boring parts of your job done more quickly, and allow you more time to spend on the creative, imaginative and fun sides? At the dawn of a new year, it's an important question to ask, and if you're honest with yourself, the answer will very probably be yes. Of course, we know it’s a tough ask to spend your hard-earned money on paid-for tools, especially when there are free alternatives available on the web. But think about that phrase "hard-earned". If the best productivity tools make your money easier to earn, aren't they worth the investment... and then some? We recently found some of the best web design tools to help you work smarter in 2020. In this post we round up some of the best productivity tools for creatives, and explain what they do, who they're aimed at, and how they can help you in your creative work. If you’re seeking productivity tools for a creative collaboration, then your first stop should be Trello. Available across web, iOS and Android, it’s a great tool for keeping everything on track, in a delightfully visual and frictionless way. Trello is basically a to-do list that you share with others and update in real time, so everyone on your team knows what’s going on at any given moment. Based on a system of cards, which are essentially like virtual Post-it notes, the system is very flexible and easy to adapt to however your project is structured. It lacks some of the advanced features of a fully featured project management tool, such as time management and reporting. But that said, its beauty lies in its simplicity and we’re not sure we’d want its interface to become too overcomplicated. Trello has been widely adopted across the graphic and web design professions, so your collaborators stand a good chance of being familiar with it already. But if not, it’s very intuitive and easy to use anyhow. Best of all, Trello is free for most purposes, and you’d only need to graduate to the paid-for versions for large-scale enterprise use. Over the last three decades, Apple’s launched a lot of laptops and had as many misses as hits. So we’re pleased to report that its latest offering, the MacBook Pro 16-inch, is a real winner. With a larger screen, double the storage, a higher-resolution display, a better keyboard and generous battery life, it’s an all-round excellent performer that will handle multiple tasks smoothly and efficiently. In short, it's the perfect laptop for busy creative professionals, especially those who do a lot of processor-intensive work like animation and 3D modelling. As ever with Apple, it’s not cheap. But if your current machine crashes and slows down a lot, then consider how much more creative work it might help you get done in a typical day, and how much money you could earn as a result. There's only real downside we could find with this model: it features only four Thunderbolt ports, so for devices with a USB connection you’ll need an adaptor. For full details, read our review of the MacBook Pro 16-inch. The Adobe Creative Cloud is a subscription service providing a full suite of desktop apps, mobile apps and services from Adobe. The best known of these are Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Photoshop Lightroom and Premiere Pro, but there are plenty more you may not have heard of, such as notably Prelude (video logging), Flash Builder (app building) and Story Plus (screenwriting). Note though, each tool needs to be separately downloaded to each Windows or Mac OS device you use it on: despite the ‘Cloud’ name, this is not browser-based software in the Figma or Google Docs sense. Your subscription also gets you access to typefaces via TypeKit; cloud storage for your projects; Adobe Portfolio, a tool for building your portfolio; and stock images, videos and templates with Adobe Stock. While there are some decent alternatives to Photoshop and other Adobe apps these days, there’s quite simply nothing to rival the Creative Cloud ecosystem, and as the industry standard it’s a no-brainer for most professional graphic and web designers, not to mention photographers, digital artists and illustrators, and increasingly, 3D artists and animators. Having to pay a monthly subscription might put you off, but the productivity benefits of having access to the entire CC ecosystem cannot be understated. To take one example, Adobe Stock allows you to find, try out and licence stock images directly within apps like Photoshop, which can save you an awful lot of time and effort. Check out the latest Creative Cloud deals to help you save some money as well. Are you struggling with an old-school stylus that suffers from a lot of lag? Then you'll likely get a huge productivity boost by investing in a newer model, and if you're an iPad user, we'd highly recommend the Apple Pencil for its accuracy, speed and precision. In short, it's the best experience we've had drawing on the IPad, and the closest to using a real pencil on real paper. It looks pretty darned stylish too. There are actually two versions of the Apple Pencil available today: the first generation model, originally released in 2015, and the Apple Pencil 2, released in late 2018. Both offer the same level of performance, but the later version justifies its slightly higher cost because of its nicer feel in the hand, its flat edge (which keeps it from rolling away when put to one side), the ability to double-tap said edge for extra functionality, and the way you can attach it magnetically to the side of an iPad Pro. (For a full rundown of the differences, see our article Apple Pencil vs Apple Pencil 2.) If you've been struggling on a low-powered tablet, then here's some great news. Although Wacom has long led the market in high quality, responsive and powerful drawing tablets, they've also been very expensive... until now, that is. The Cintiq 22 offers a device that's cheaper than similar predecessors, and yet still provides all that a digital artist or graphic designer needs to create high quality, professional work: a large, anti-glare and full HD screen, a capable, pressure-sensitive stylus, a flexible stand to set up the perfect drawing angle, and the reliable performance you'd expect from a Wacom. The main downside of this model is the colour gamut, which at 72 per cent is a little limited, but overall the Cintiq 22 offers outstanding value. Okay, it's still not the cheapest drawing tablet on the market, but for any professional creative it's going to be worth the investment over time, enabling you to work faster and more accurately, and just generally making your work more enjoyable. For more details, check out our Wacom Cintiq 22 review. There are many great apps to keep track of our daily activities, but at the end of the day there's nothing nicer than the feel (and smell) of a new, physical diary. And if you want elegance, style and quality, then there's really nowhere else to go but Moleskine. The Italian notebook brand is beloved by creatives around the world for its superior quality and attention to detail, and this large softcover daily diary is no exception. Featuring a new page for each day, ruled for notes and appointments, it also includes a ribbon bookmark, an elastic closure, and three sheets of organisational stickers. Quite simply, it's a gorgeous piece of design that won't just make you more productive, it will make you want to be more productive. The Surface Pro 7 is a tablet that’s powerful enough to run full Windows 10 programs, while remaining sleek and light. It also doubles up as a laptop with the separately sold keyboard. Using Intel’s latest 10th generation processors, the Pro 7 is a step up from previous models in terms of performance, and the more expensive model does a great job at handling graphic-intensive tasks, such as video rendering. While this device is still no match for the performance of a powerful Windows desktop, it does offer a superbly flexible way to stay up to date on the move, for anyone who needs to run full Windows 10 tools like Photoshop and Illustrator, rather than lower-powered Android or iOS alternatives. Want to do some digital painting while you're away from your desk? Then you need to check out Procreate, a raster graphics editor app for digital painting for iPhone and iPad. Closely replicating the feel of physical drawing in a digital format, it supports a range of styluses, including the Apple Pencil, along with hundreds of high quality brushes and a suite of innovative features. In short, everything you need to create sketches, paintings, illustrations and animations while you're out and about. And if you want to analyse your process and improve it, there's a very handy feature that lets you make recordings of every single brushstroke. Prefer the physical approach to sketching to the digital? Then you'll need a quality set of pencils, and we'd highly recommend these graphite drawing pencils from Derwent. Sold individually and in sets, they make smooth, easy lines on the paper and are ideal for both fine detailed illustrations or adding shading and texture. Crucially, they're also easy to sharpen and break-resistant, helping to smooth and speed your workflow while sketching. If you're a freelancer, then you may find that keeping track of how you spend your hours, and charging for it accordingly, is taking up an unreasonable amount of time and energy. In which case, we'd recommend introducing an element of automation by using Harvest, a time and expense tracker that includes tools for invoicing, expensing and team management. Available for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS and browser, it's easy to use, integrates with many similar apps, such as Quickbooks Online, and there's a free plan to get you started, although you'll probably need to upgrade to the subscription version once you get going. If using Harvest means your clients pay you faster, though, it's going to be well worth it. Read more: The best calendar apps of 2020 This year's top design trends The best travel laptops right now View the full article

The tech space is more significant than it used to be in the past few years. The rate at which innovative products evolve has set one into deep thought on how our future is being shaped by technology. Wherefore, as …View the full article

Cisco patched three authentication bypass bugs tied to its DCNM platform used to manages NX-OS. View the full article