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Under Armour has accused fellow sportswear company, Hotsuit, of trademark infringement. According to Under Armour, weight-loss and sauna suit brand Hotsuit is selling too-similar clothing stamped with a logo that's a copycat of the trademark UA design. The lawsuit claims that the design "has already caused confusion and gives Defendant an unfair boost in the marketplace at the expense of both Under Armour and consumers". Under Armour is seeking a jury trial and an injunction that will order Hotsuit to stop using the logo. But is this case justified? Is the logo design really similar enough to cause confusion? Let's have a look. There's no doubt that the basic shape very similar, but the flowing lines and loop of the UA logo sets a very different tone to the blocky pointed corners of the H. The use of negative space in the H does feel reminiscent of the UA, but inverted – with UA's central block cut out and the middle join of the H filled in. The middle part being such a feature on both is part of what gives such a similar impression. But, it kinda just looks like an H. As you would expect from a brand called Hotsuit. Opinions are mixed on the subject, with some pointing out that the context matters: We do see what he means. The fact that the brands share a space in the apparel arena makes for more confusion than if they were in different sectors, as the picture below demonstrates. When in context, the designs do look similar, but do you need to squint to see it? But others still think think it's a real stretch, commenting that you need to squint from a distance to confuse the two. Others have, amusingly, suggested other brands that Under Armour might want to take on: And logos that are even more similar to Hotsuit have also been shared. The diverse reaction shows just how much grey area there is when dealing with infringement cases. Under Armour, though, is convinced that the design is a real threat to the brand. “Since 1996, we have worked hard to deliver great product and build Under Armour into the strong, global brand that we are today,” the company asserted in a statement to WJZ. “We have an obligation to enforce our rights against similar marks and prevent any confusion in the marketplace.” An image from the court filing We guess we'll wait and see what happens with Under Armour and Hotsuit, but we don't envy the folk having to make the decision. Will it go down in history as one of the many high-profile cases of plagiarism or is it too much of a stretch? Read more: These logo design mashups will mess with your head 18 controversial moments in design and branding Where to find logo design inspiration View the full article

Warner Bros, the home of programming spanning from Looney Toons to The Sopranos, is approaching its centenary and has celebrated with a logo transformation. The streamlined update of its time-honoured shield has been unveiled on the famous water tower in the Burbank lot in the presence of more than 500 employees – and a super-fancy Bugs Bunny. The original logo which must be up there with the greats (see here for our guide to great logo design), has been part of the Warner Bros brand since 1923, but has now been refreshed and modernised to take the company into its second century. Ditching the shiny gold/yellow that's been such a feature so far, the shield itself is now blue and the iconic lettering is now in a striking white. Warner Bros' two new logo formats Pentagram is to thank for the studio's cohesive new brand image, which will tie together the many branches of the studio's output. The team, headed up by Emily Oberman, tweaked the original design in an update described as a reincarnation rather than a reinvention. Dee Dee Myers, Warner Bros' executive vice president of worldwide corporate communications and public affairs, described the old visual identity as "a little dated", but it was the mismatch of identity that seriously needed to be addressed – the "logo soup" across departments needed to go. One of the previous versions of the Warner Bros logo That's where the Pentagram team stepped in, not to totally overhaul the design but to tweak and streamline the brand for modern platforms, and the modern era. Oberman told Fast Company that the shield has been reimagined to look "more sleek and clean", put into a golden ratio and thinned out. The letterforms were also redrawn to give more of a sense of balance, as the process below shows. The dimensional quality of previous logos hasn't been lost altogether though, as there are now two versions of the logo in play. The dimensional version will be used by the TV and Film departments, with the flat logo in use everywhere else. Reactions to the change are lacklustre on Reddit, with some users wondering what exactly had changed. Commenter heyimjared asked, "What's new about it? The "B" is angled now?". And others stated their dislike outright. "Doesn't have that glamour to it. I like flat designs but this one I despise", said user thoughtsmachine. On Twitter, opinions were more mixed, but it's clear the reincarnation isn't setting the world on fire. And user Elf340 would rather returned to the retro version. Accompanying the logo is a brand-new mission statement to drive the company ethos forward. Putting storytelling firmly in the centre, Warner Bros' aim is “to be the world’s leading creator and distributor of extraordinary entertainment by partnering with the world’s most inspiring storytellers.” The company's brand message is now summed up in a simple sentence. "We believe in the power of story.” It's a snappy, succinct assertion. And, with WarnerMedia gearing up to release its streaming service, HBO Max (coming next year), Warner Bros' is clearly stating its intention to be a serious competitor in the crowded streaming marketplace. Rather than a total design overhall, it's tweaking a classic logo that seems to be popular right now (see Reebok's redesign), especially for a brand with so much history. It's a branding choice that keeps consumers connected to a company's history whilst stating its intention to march towards the future. Read more: Logo memory challenge befuddled participants 6 of the most iconic drinks logos Where to find logo design inspiration View the full article

What's the best laptop for your creative work? Some cry 'Macbook!', but are they right? We'd argue that when it comes to actually getting things done, with the kind of smooth workflow that allows you to get into the zone and properly unleash your creativity, then – whisper it – there may well be better options out there. Whether you're a designer, photographer, digital artist or videographer, the HP ZBook x2 is certainly worth investigating as an alternative. The jewel in HP's crown, this powerful tablet-laptop hybrid runs Windows 10 Pro 64 and is super-flexible, incredibly powerful, and has a lot of brilliant features (more on that in a moment). But maybe you're worried about the faff of switching from macOS to Windows? Don't stress. Ask anyone in your studio who's used both Macs and PCs (which will probably will be most of them) and they'll assure you that it's really not a big deal these days. It's kind of like when you get a new phone: there are a few key differences that may trip you up from time to time, but you soon get used to them, and if you ever get stuck, a quick Google search invariably provides the answer. Let's face it: fear of change wouldn't make you stick with the same phone forever, and the same logic should apply to your laptop. So read on, as we explain exactly how the superior features of the HP ZBook x2 can save you time and energy, and make you more creative. 01. It's super-flexible Perhaps the most obvious thing about the HP ZBook x2 is that it's a combination of laptop and tablet in one. That means it offers ultimate flexibility wherever you're doing your work; whether that's at your desk, on the train, in a cafe, held up waiting in someone else's meeting room, or wherever. The HP ZBook x2 can be used in four different ways. You can use it as a tablet, using your fingers on the touchscreen, or drawing with an EMR Wacom pen. You can use it as a laptop, by pulling out the stand and attaching the keyboard. You can detach the keyboard and use it wirelessly. Or you can use it docked and connected to an external monitor or keyboard, with Thunderbolt 3 allowing you to connect to a 4K screen. Depending on the task you're engaged in, and the location you're working in, it really is useful to be able to switch things around like this, quickly and flexibly. Can your current laptop boast the same adaptability? Want to create digital art? Just detach the screen and use it as a tablet using an EMR Wacom pen 02. The screen is awesome Whether you work in 2D or 3D, static design or moving images, consumers nowadays are getting used to seeing everything in higher and higher resolutions, and as creatives, we need to be sure our creations are pixel-perfect. So it's great news that the HP ZBook x2 comes with a screen that is simply sensational. The world’s most advanced detachable PC screen, the HP DreamColor provides you with an astonishing one billion colours, in a 4K, multi-touch, 14-inch diagonal display that boasts high-end anti-glare technology, making it easy to use in real-world situations. In non-techie terms, that basically means your creative work will look amazing, and you're able to see everything in the minute detail that you need to ensure your designs are perfect. You can use the Bluetooth keyboard attached to or detached from the screen: it works just as efficiently either way 03. Adobe shortcuts are built in In 2019, the vast majority of creative professionals make heavy use of Adobe's Creative Cloud software. So HP has gone to extra mile, and made these easier to use on the HP ZBook x2. Both the tablet and the detachable Bluetooth keyboard come with built-in Adobe app shortcuts, and there are 18 in total. This might sound like a minor thing, but in practice makes for much smoother workflow, helping you to work more intuitively, as well as adding up over time to some serious time-saving. 04. It's mega powerful and offers great performance If you just wanted to do some light web surfing with your laptop, we'd probably recommend something like a Chromebook. But if you need to do regular professional-level creative work, using Adobe Creative Cloud apps, then you're going to need a device with serious power. And the HP ZBook x2 has plenty of that. Armed with the latest Intel Quad Core processors and up to 4.2GHz of turbo boost, the HP ZBook x2 quite simply enables you to work at the speed that you think. And anyone who's ever drummed their fingers, waiting for their laptop to catch up with their brain, knows exactly how important that can be. And there's more. Nvidia Quadro graphics provide real-time visualisation of your multi-layered artwork and creative projects, and the HP ZBook x2 comes with an impressive 32 GB RAM Dual Channel Memory – twice the memory capacity of any other detachable PC. You won't get slowed down by large assets, either: HP Z Turbo Drive storage is 4 times faster than SATA SSD and 14 times faster than traditional HDD storage. There's an impressive number of ports for a small detachable device. And the Ultrabook-class battery life, along with ultra-fast recharge, means you'll never have to cut your working day short due to a lack of power. Conclusion When it comes to laptop-tablet hybrids, HP ZBook x2 is best in class. Thoughtfully designed, supremely powerful, and above all, hugely flexible, this is a device that's perfectly positioned for professional creative work in the 2020s. Enabling you to speed up your workflow and design more intuitively, this clever laptop will help you to better unleash your imagination and truly raise the level of your creative output. And if your work is important to you, isn't that worth the investment? View the full article

Fusion 360 is a new tool from Autodesk that is taking the 3D world by storm. The tool lowers the barrier for entry into CAD software, making it a great way to utilise the precision modelling tools that CAD tools offer, which can then be exported to any 3D modelling software for the advanced texture and animation capabilities that they provide. Thanks to Fusion 360’s straightforward spline and modelling tools, along with an excellent model history paradigm, an artist new to CAD software will find their feet quickly (for more on why Fusion 360 is so innovative, jump to the section on the difference between CAD and 3D software). An example of what can be achieved in Fusion 360 Fusion 360 is an excellent way of creating hard modelling objects, as can be seen from the gun model by Boy Sichterman, shown above. As you can see from the image, a lot of detail can be created directly within the tool. And as Fusion 360 enables the modification of a model via the history timeline, it is easy to adapt as the design develops. Fusion 360 is available as a free product if being used by a student, and has a similar cost per year compared to many of the tools a 3D artist uses from day to day when using it professionally. Let’s take a closer look at the tools of features on offer. 01. Model in Fusion 360 Click the icon in the top right to enlarge the image Autodesk Fusion 360 allows the creation of a variety of shapes, but for bespoke elements, it is often best to start with a spline. Splines can be precisely drawn out in an elevation view. Fusion 360 provides live feedback while drawing, which shows dimension and angles, ensuring that the spline is created to a set size that can be modified later. There are a range of spline drawing tools available, from freehand to standard shapes. 02. Modify a spline and Extrude Click the icon in the top right to enlarge the image The corners of a spline are easily modified using the Fillet tool. When happy with the shape of the line, it can be easily extruded using the Extrude function to a set dimension. When the extrude is complete, another spline can then be created – for example, a circle that can be used as a cutting object when it is extruded into the initial extruded shape. This technique allows the creation of complex objects in seconds. 03. Use the History timeline Click the icon in the top right to enlarge the image The history timeline is a series of icons at the bottom left of the screen showing each creation stage of the modelling process. The timeline can be moved back in time to allow you to modify your design. In the example shown, the original spline has had an offset applied to it to allow the hollowing out of the initial shape via an extrude. The history timeline is a great way to both ensure changes are easy to manage and new designs are easily branched off. 04. Export to a 3D application Click the icon in the top right to enlarge the image To enable the export options available in Fusion 360, the model needs to be saved to the Autodesk cloud. From here, a wide range of file types are available for export. FBX is an excellent format that can be used in a wide range of 3D packages, while also retaining a lot of the detail. It is best to experiment with a variety of different formats, as Fusion 360 makes subtle changes to the geometry dependent on the format used. 05. Explore the interface Click the icon in the top right to enlarge the image One of the great things about Fusion 360 is the amount of work that Autodesk is putting in to constantly improve it. A good example is the user interface, which is in the process of being updated. To access new features, such as the preview of the updated UI, which simplifies the toolsets for new users, you can go to the Preferences menu and select Preview > UI Preview in order to see the latest update. What's the difference between CAD and 3D software? When looking at a computer screen running CAD and digital content creation software, many people would likely find it difficult to tell them apart – they both make models that can then be moved and rotated around the screen. The truth of the matter though, as many 3D artists are only too aware, is that CAD software is actually very different, using another modelling paradigm that utilises NURBS and volumes rather than subdivision surfaces, which are typically found in 3D software. Not only this, but CAD software also differs in that it operates with precision in mind, rather than the more freeform creativity that can be achieved in 3D software. This can lead to a more clunky workflow. Finally, there is the cost, which is prohibitive for many 3D artists, who only use CAD software to convert models. This article was originally published in 3D World, the world's best-selling magazine for CG artists. Buy issue 251 or subscribe. Read more: Has Paramount got it right with this redesigned Sonic? The best graphics cards in 2019 Behind the scenes of Toy Story 4 View the full article

In the past, webpage creation was the sole dominion of expert coders, an unavoidable hurdle that could prove expensive and inflexible. But these days, the world of web design is easier and more accessible than ever, with plenty of tools available to make the process simpler. Before coding a website in HTML, you must first design the UI layout and create assets, either for your own use or to send to a developer. Illustrator is well equipped for this, since it has a pixel-perfect interface, vector graphics, CSS generation, good colour management, as well as access to Adobe Typekit. In this tutorial you will learn how to download a website template from Adobe Stock, customise it for your own use and export as slices. 01. Search for a template When searching for templates on the Adobe Stock website, you can filter the results to only include Illustrator documents. Any design job is a careful balance of inspiration and know-how. If you’re new to web design or want a quick solution, Adobe Stock provides a wealth of templates that can make the job simpler. Illustrator’s New Document window offers a limited choice of free templates, which can be downloaded without ever leaving the app. Access these by clicking one of the tabs at the top of the window: Mobile, Web, Print, Film & Video or Art & Illustration. For a more varied choice, visit the Adobe Stock website, which is home to a library of professionally designed templates, graphics and images. Type ‘website design’ into the search bar and sort the results by clicking on the View Filters button, which opens a sidebar of options. By selecting Illustrator, you will ensure that you are only seeing projects for that specific software. Click on any template you like and license it. I used one of Illustrator’s free templates, which downloaded and opened instantly into the app. 02. Inspect the document Click on the arrows to delve deeper into the Layers panel. Use the eye icon to toggle visibility on or off. This document contains three artboards, designated by the black borders that appear around them. These are all set to a width of 1280px, a standard screen size for web. The height of the page will ultimately depend on the content you add and can be changed later on by going into the Document Setup and opening Edit Artboards. This template is broken down into a nested hierarchy of layers, which can be accessed in the Layers tab. Click on the arrows next to each layer to delve down and find what you are looking for. You can also toggle layer visibility and lock them by clicking on the icons to the left. It can be useful to place a screenshot of a web browser behind your design to see how it will look on a screen. 03. Add your own text As well as adding fonts from Adobe Typekit, you can sync and activate any missing fonts when opening the document. This template comes with textboxes already placed on the page, filled with dummy text. To edit the text and add your own copy, it’s a simple matter of double-clicking inside the textbox and replacing the dummy copy. You can also add your own textboxes with the Type tool, by clicking and dragging onto the artboard. This is the perfect time to experiment with different typefaces – you may have your own preferences or simply want to run down the list in Illustrator’s font family. You can access more in Adobe Typekit, by clicking on the cloud icon in your computer’s taskbar and clicking on fonts. If you are missing any then you can activate them with Typekit when opening the file. Illustrator comes with most of the same text tools that you find in other Adobe software. These include Leading, Tracking and Kerning, which are all useful when editing your text. Don’t spend too much time refining long passages of text, but it is worth kerning any large standout words, as well as your logo. 04. Images and clipping masks With your two objects selected, make a clipping mask to turn one into a container frame for the other. All images are represented as grey rectangles on the page. To replace these with your own images you will need to place images into the document, either by dragging straight in from Finder or using the Place shortcut Shift + Command + P (also found in File > Place). Move your image over the rectangle you wish to replace and send it behind. You can do this by dragging the layer down the Layers panel or by sending the layer back using Command + square brackets (Command + Shift + [ will send the image to the back). Select both layers and make a clipping mask by pressing Command + 7 or Object > Clipping Mask > Make. The image should now appear wrapped in a container made by the rectangle. You can still move the image around inside the mask by double-clicking on it and dragging it around. Repeat this process with the rest of the images on the page. 05. Positioning Spot the difference between snapping and not snapping to pixels by turning on Pixel Preview. After adding your own bespoke content, you may find that it no longer fits the current artboard and you will have to resize and reposition. It is important to use exact measurements when doing this as it will cause you fewer problems down the line. Change the size of the artboard by going to Document Setup and clicking on the Edit Artboards button. You can then click on the artboard and change its height by dragging the handles of the frame or typing new dimensions into the taskbar. It may help if you have previously drawn a rectangle to give you an idea of the correct height. Turn on pixel grid and make sure you have Snap to Pixel turned on in View, which will ensure your edges remain crisp and clean. You can check this by going to View > Pixel Preview, which shows how Illustrator divides objects across individual pixels. Use the Transform panel to make any pixel-precise movements or set your Keyboard Increment to a specific pixel distance in Preferences. 06. Theme it up While you can download icons from Adobe Stock and use in your projects, you don't own them, so cannot use for a trademark logo. Part of Illustrator’s appeal to web designers is its versatile colour management. While it is possible to go through and change the colour of each element individually, it is much more efficient to use swatches, which automatically update any incidence of that colour across the whole document. Go to the Swatches panel and double-click on any of the preset swatches or create a new one. The document colour mode will already be set to RGB, so you will be presented by three sliders to play around with. I used a combination of teal and orange to accent certain parts, while sticking to black and white for text. If you already have your own logo then you can paste it into the top-left corner to replace the dummy text, otherwise type your name in and set it to whatever typeface you require. You could create a quick, temporary logo by downloading an icon from Adobe Stock, but it is important to understand that you don’t own any Adobe Stock images, so cannot use them when trademarking a real logo. 07. Exporting for web Use the CSS Properties window to generate CSS style sheets for character styles and named layers. At this point it might be enough to just send your Illustrator document to a professional web designer, who can then turn it into a fully functional HTML webpage. Alternatively you may wish to do this process yourself. To move elements from Illustrator to a website, you will need to slice your design into pieces, which can then be reassembled in HTML, or export them as svgs. There are two main methods for achieving slices – Create from Guides or Create from Selection. The first requires you to draw guides over your artboard, isolating graphics you wish to export, while the other uses the slice tool to define areas you wish to export. Then go to File > Export > Save for web, selecting the slices you wish to export. To export individual elements as svgs you must first click on the object, go to Object > Artboards > Fit to Selected Art. Then open the ‘save as’ window and select svg in the drop down box and use artboards. You will need to do this for every graphic you wish to export. Illustrator can convert character styles and named vector layers into CSS. It will do this for individual elements, but you can also select all and generate a global CSS style sheet, including image assets as png files. Open the CSS Properties panel and select the style or object for the CSS code to automatically appear. View the full article

Hospitals and IoT device manufacturers must take a dual approach in securing connected telehealth devices. View the full article

Grav is a content management system (CMS) with a difference. Content management systems are commonplace in the modern web, with platforms like Wordpress powering a large percentage of websites. They provide an easy-to-use graphical interface for non-technical users to add articles and content while the developers handle the code separately. The major drawbacks come when the CMS is bloated with unneeded features, or forces developers to work in a counter-productive manner. Even a basic CMS-built website that's little more than a landing page relies on a database, which can make migration and management a larger task than it should be. Meet Grav, the CMS built with the purpose of being lightweight, flexible – and without a traditional database. Yet it still has an optional administration panel with a graphical interface, user management and the same features expected of a CMS. While Grav doesn't have a traditional database running on MySQL or similar, it does have a type of database which is stored in folders and plain text files. These files store content with the Markdown syntax with configuration stored in YAML. As with learning any new system, Grav can take a bit of effort in order to get started, and the documentation, though improving, leaves some questions unanswered, leaving you to dig through pre-made "skeletons". This tutorial will help you install Grav and add pages using the default quark theme. Download the files for this tutorial. How to choose the right CMS 01. Configure local environment Grav requires a webserver, such as Apache or Nginx, and at least version 7.1.3 of PHP. Set up a local WAMP, MAMP or LAMP server to work with. git and composer will also be used to ensure that these can be used in the command line. 02. Create a working directory Within the web root of the local server, create a new directory and call it "Grav-project" Open a command prompt or terminal and test to see if PHP is installed with "PHP -v" if a version number is returned. If not, make sure PHP is installed. 03. Install a copy of Grav The easiest way to install Grav is to download the zip file from the website and extract it to the folder created earlier. Use the git installation method to explore the Grav CLI. Navigate to the web root of the local server and run the following command. 04. Install dependencies Use composer to install the dependencies you need Skip if installing with zip. Change directory to "Grav-project", then use composer to install the required dependencies. Once installed, use the Grav CLI to install the theme and plugins. On Windows, Grav commands must be prepended with "php" 05. Test the installation Try not to get a 404 Grav can be accessed at localhost/Grav-project. Opening this page in a browser shows the Grav welcome screen. Click onto the typography page to test for errors. If you encounter a 404 error, refer to Grav's troubleshooting in the documentation. 06. Add a new page Grav pages are stored as text files A page in Grav is a text file in the directory "user/pages". To create a new page, navigate to the "Grav-project/user/pages directory" and create a new folder named 03.about, then create a new file which will be called default.md. Grav uses "Markdown syntax" to render pages. 07. Install the admin panel In order to speed up the process of creating and managing content and unlock the full, user-friendly potential of the Grav CMS, the admin panel module can be installed. From the command line, run the following command: 08. Create an admin user With the admin module installed you can create an admin user Refreshing any page on the Grav website once the admin module is installed will open up a prompt to create a new admin user. Fill in your details and make a note of the password to proceed to the dashboard. 09. Edit with admin interface With the admin panel set up click on pages in the left-hand bar then click the about page made earlier. Once this loads, you will be able to see a content entry area that allows easy editing of the content of the pages. 10. Add child pages Delete the typography page in the admin panel, then add a new page to replace it. Enter services for the title and folder name, then click continue, keeping the rest of the options as their default value. Enter some content for this page and click save. Now create another page with the "add" button, and enter a service name. Make sure that "visible" is set to yes, then continue. 11. Set homepage to modular For more complex pages, change the template to modular While being able to add text and headers easily to a page is quick and easy for basic websites, it is understandable that a website will have more complex requirements. Edit the homepage and on the advanced tab change the page template to modular. Make sure to save the page. 12. Add a module Let's add a hero module Modules are content blocks set by the theme that can be used when building a page with differently styled sections. Now that the homepage has been converted, delete the pre-made content for the homepage and save the changes. Then at the top of the page, click add > add modular and fill in the title "hero" and set the page to "home". For the modular template, pick the "hero" option. 13. Populate the Hero module Modules render into a block on their parent page Modules are treated the same as subpages in the admin panel, but instead of forming a subpage, they render their content into a block on their parent page. Edit the newly created hero module and add a header, some text and add a hero image into "page media". Save the page. 14. Add a features module Repeat the above step, but select features module. When editing the page, notice the "features" tab that allows you to set a layout, and add individual columns with an icon, header and text. Add four of these columns and give them content. 15. Add a text block The last module on the homepage will be a standard content block. Add this and enter the desired content into this area, attaching an image and save the page. Lastly, open each block so far, including the parent homepage, and remove any CSS classes by going to the advanced tab and emptying the body classes field. These are CSS classes set by the theme that allow you to customise each block. 16. Configure options To set the site logo and an array of options for the theme, head to the "themes" menu and then click on Quark, the currently active theme. Adjust these settings, then click on "configuration" to access options such as "Site title". This article was originally published in issue 291 of creative web design magazine Web Designer. Buy issue 291 here. Related articles: Use WordPress as a headless CMS How to animate with the mo.js library 10 reasons you should be using Atomic Design View the full article

Christmas is coming and what better to give your loved ones than a photo book they can cherish forever? Now is the perfect time to snap one up with Mixbook offering up to 55% off all its products until Monday 18 November. This is one of the best early Black Friday deals we've seen so far. Before you jump in for a custom photo book, make sure your snaps are the best they can be. No one wants to see Aunt Clara with red eyes or a blurry Uncle Bob. So check out the best photo apps and photo-editing software for your smartphone. Once you're ready, start downloading your smartphone snaps and start creating with Mixbook's simple and drag and drop editor. At Mixbook, you can choose photo books with a host of styles including Holiday, Family, Seasonal, Romance, Kids, Wedding, Baby and more. They come in different shapes – landscape, square and portrait – and sizes, ranging from 8.5 x 8.5-inch to 12 x 12-inch. It's not all about photo books though, Mixbook offers cards, calendars, and a range of prints for the home. Don't miss out on this offer and get over to Mixbook today. Click the link below and the discount should apply automatically, but if for whatever reason it doesn't, enter the code: ERLYBF19A2 at the checkout. Read more: How to download Instagram photos: a complete guide Photoshop Camera: Adobe unveils super-cool, AI-powered photo app Apple Black Friday deals: The best offers on Apple kit in 2019 View the full article

If you’re new to Adobe’s Creative Cloud on Windows, we’ll explain everything you need to know in this piece, whether you're used to using the software on a Mac or you're a totally new user. Creative Cloud is the collective name for Adobe’s suite of software apps for graphic design, web development, photography and video editing (among others). There are over 20 apps in the suite, though it’s very unlikely you’d ever need them all in one go. It’s a subscription service, meaning that for a monthly fee you can get access to all of the Creative Cloud apps. You can also access only some of the apps should you want to – see more on this below. Adobe’s offline software suite was previously called Creative Suite. The Creative Cloud desktop app is at the heart of the suite How do you install the Creative Cloud suite on a PC? The Creative Cloud desktop app is the key part of the suite on Windows – simply download it and you can then install the various apps from there. It’s divided into categories in the desktop app, so you can see the apps that will be most relevant to you - you won't need the whole lot and the full list can be quite daunting. What do you need to run Creative Cloud on Windows? You’ll need the 64-bit version of Windows 10 to run the Creative Cloud desktop app – if your PC has been made in the last decade, it’s likely it will be a 64-bit machine, but you can check by right-clicking on the Windows logo in the bottom-left of your taskbar and going to System. There you’ll be able to see what version of Windows you have as well as if it is 64-bit or not. There is an older version of the app – also compatible with Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 if your machine isn’t able to run the latest version. The requirements for the different Creative Suite apps are vastly different, but the software is able to scale well depending on what kind of system you have. Crucially for Photoshop, for example, you’ll need to be running at least Windows 7 64-bit and have an Intel or AMD processor clocked upwards of 2GHz, at least 2GB of RAM – though Adobe recommends 8, as do we. You’ll also need at least 3.1GB of free space. You’re also recommended to have Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 graphics or an equivalent as a minimum. Illustrator is actually slightly more demanding in some regards, Adobe recommends you have 8GB of RAM as a minimum but 16GB is recommended. It’s also recommended to have a multi-core processor and graphics support for OpenGL 4.0 or later. What are the key Adobe apps? As well as Illustrator and Photoshop, there are some other key apps for designers. If you regularly design apps, there’s Adobe XD for user interface design and prototyping (using associated XD mobile apps). Adobe InDesign is the industry standard for page layout, while Spark enables you to create social graphics, short-form video and visual stories for brands. Also, we all need to handle, create and process PDFs from time-to-time even if we don’t work in print, so the suite boasts Adobe DC so you can complete any PDF-related task you need. Then there’s Adobe Bridge. It’s a crucial element of the suite that handles all your assets so you can preview, organise and edit all your documents in the various Creative Cloud apps. Assets are easily found with powerful search filters, while it’s also able to bring your local storage together with any network drives. There’s a full list of all the Creative Cloud apps on Adobe’s site, of course, including all the audio, video editing, web, motion graphics and photography apps you also get access to with a full Creative Cloud subscription. What Creative Cloud plans are available? There are four main Creative Cloud subscriptions, but they’re not that flexible. The first is an all-apps subscription that will give you access to everything for $53/£50 a month. Then there’s a version of that subscription that adds access to Adobe Stock for stock images (up to 10 images a month) costing $80/£79. You can subscribe to a single app – which is quite an expensive way of doing it, since that costs $21/£20 a month. But if you really do need Adobe Illustrator and nothing else, there is that option. Finally – although this won’t be much cop if you’re a designer – there’s a $10/£10 Photography plan that gives you access to Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop as well as some online photo storage. If you’re involved in education in any way (as a student or teacher) you can get a discount on the software. What are the main keyboard shortcuts? Creative Cloud apps have many different keyboard shortcuts, but if you can master them you’ll find you get a lot more out of the key apps. This Adobe keyboard shortcut cheatsheet shows you the keyboard shortcuts for Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign so is perfect for designers to get to grips with the key controls. Read more: Adobe Fresco is now available on Windows 13 best Illustrator plugins Get started with Adobe Dimension View the full article

Every brand or retailer's dream is to create an advert that takes on a life of its own and cements itself in the public consciousness. A few brands have managed just this, to create a TV spot that has stood the test of time and remains recognisable and well loved years after it has finished airing. Creative advertising agency Impero has polled 2,000 people to discover the UK's favourite adverts ever – and the winner probably won't surprise you. Coca-Cola's festive favourite Holidays are Coming spot took the top spot – scroll down to check out the rest of the top five. Like it or not, the festive season is edging ever closer (we're starting to see some impressive Black Friday deals going live already), and Coca-Cola wasn't the only Christmas ad to make the top 20. The release of John Lewis' Christmas spot has become an annual event in the UK, and three past ads secured a spot in the top 20: Man on the Moon, Monty the Penguin and Bear and the Hare. Will this year's Excitable Edgar win a place in the nation's hearts? People are certainly getting excited about the teaser trailer that has dropped, with the full version arriving on 14 November (put it in your diary). The festive season is a time to be jolly but it seems the great British public love a side-splitting or smart-thinking TV ad any time of the year. Holidays are Coming may have grabbed top spot, but surely we can all remember the drum-playing gorilla advertising Cadbury's chocolate to the tune of Phil Collins' In the Air Tonight. What about the orange face slapping shenanigans of the Tango-tastic ads, PG Tips' tea-sipping knitted monkey, or the ever-ingrained-in-our-memory moron call of Budweiser's 'Whassup'. Take a trip down memory lane with these must-view top five favourite UK ads... 01. Coca Cola - Holidays are coming 02. Cadbury - Drumming Gorilla 03. PG Tips - Monkey and Johnny Vegas 04. Cadbury - Milk Tray Man 05. Tango - You’ve been Tangoed Poll information from Impero. Read more: Epic phone deal includes a FREE Nintendo Switch or 4K TV! Wacom Black Friday 2019: what to expect this year 5 times classic brands were revived successfully (and 2 when it was a disaster) View the full article

With the turn of the new decade will come a new Reebok brand image. In its first design overhaul since the introduction of the the Delta logo in 2011, Reebok has announced the unification of its signature vector logo and 'drop-R' wordmark across the majority its sports and lifestyle brands, including footwear and apparel. Reebok says the design overhaul aims to celebrate Reebok's rich history and connect its legacy to the exciting future that lies ahead. but what exactly has changed with the logo design? Let's take a closer look. Reebok's new, unified logo wordmark The fitness company's branding has mostly riffed on the same Union Jack-based vector with the company's full name alongside since the introduction of its first vector logo in 1922. And it looks as if the next adaptation won't be too far away from its roots, as Reebok says that the logo wordmark is an "updated, subtle, modern evolution of the original" that serves to unify the brand under one sleek banner. Creative Direction VP Karen Reuther explains: “Under a unified banner, all of our products and experiences will tell a single story that is clear and consistent.” “The Vector was created as a logo version of the iconic Reebok side stripes and cross-check design that dates back more than fifty years. It’s compelling, dynamic and powerfully linked to some of our greatest cultural moments” We have to admit, when we first saw the new incarnation it took a minute to work out what has changed, subtle is indeed the right word to describe the evolution. But on closer inspection, when looking at the two versions side-by-side, we can see that the vector lines have straightened-up and elongated, and the wordmark has become more streamlined, too. Reebok's design evolution video gets more technical. It explains that the vector now has 'a flattened top to create dynamic forward movement', 'a stabilized base for better alignment and stronger balance' and 'wider channels for better legibility at small sizes'. So now we know. The most recent version of the Reebok vector and wordmark, introduced in 2011 The current Delta logo (above) will still appear on UFC-branded and Crossfit products, though, so it's not gone for good just yet. What do you think of the new look? How does it compare to the best (and worst) rebrands of 2019? Read more: Logo memory challenge befuddles participants 5 logo redesigns that got it right Where to find logo design inspiration View the full article

Microsoft tackles 74 bugs as part of its November Patch Tuesday security bulletin. View the full article

The issue is in an Intel chip used for remote management. View the full article

The platform is a favorite target for the Magecart collective of card-skimming threat groups. View the full article

Adobe’s monthly patch load is low for November, with only three critical bugs and eight important ones fixed. View the full article

Foreshortening in art is a very difficult technique to master. In this article, we're going to walk you through exactly what foreshortening is, and show you how to create believably foreshortened images. It's a technique that every artist has struggled with since its first reported use by Florentine artist Fillipo Brunelleshi, back in 1415, so if you're having trouble with foreshortening then you’re in good company. Luckily, there are a few easy steps to follow that will help you get to grips with the basic principals of foreshortening. We'll go through these in this article. We'll also show you a few drawing techniques that will help you ‘sculpt’ your subject’s dimensions using pencil or brush. At the backbone of foreshortening is perspective –take a look at our article on one-point perspective for more information on that. To hone your skills further, check out out guide to the art techniques you need to know or our roundup of how to draw tutorials. What is foreshortening in art? If you’re having trouble portraying depth in your drawings and paintings then chances are you’re struggling with something called foreshortening. Foreshortening is all about realistically conveying three dimensions in a 2D medium by showing objects moving away from the viewer. Being able to accurately draw objects receding in space will make your drawings and paintings more realistic and help pull your viewer in to the scene you want to set. Figure drawing is a common place to encounter foreshortening problems We’re going to look at foreshortening in the environment most people first come across it: the life drawing class. We'll focus on a figure reclining in strong foreshortening to really push this theory, but the same techniques can be used whatever your subject might be. Foreshortening techniques to try In the next steps we'll outline a couple of techniques to help you bring flesh to the bones of your construction drawings. Experiment and see what works best for you. As long as you have a strong foundation to build upon you shouldn’t go far wrong. If you do find things are looking wrong, go back to your main large shapes and make sure they’re 100 per cent accurate. Whichever technique you go for, a good working knowledge of human anatomy can really come in helpful. Take a look at our anatomy masterclass to help you get started. We'd also recommend investing in a good anatomy book like Anatomy for the Artist by Sarah Simblet or Gray’s Anatomy (take a look at our guide to the best figure drawing books for more options). The greater your understanding of how the human form is constructed the easier you’ll find foreshortening. 01. The geometry technique Break the form into simple geometric shapes Breaking the human form down into simple geometric shapes can be really helpful when you’re trying to get your head around anatomy, especially in a foreshortened perspective. Image the limbs are tapering cylinders and the torso is a selection of cuboids. Also try and imagine how these geometric shapes fit together and fit accordingly. Once you have these simple shapes in place and the proportions are working it can be a simple matter of knocking off the edges to reveal your human form underneath. 02. The coil (or spiral) technique The lines of the spiral should follow your figure's contours The coil (or spiral), technique is all about building three dimensions by drawing form through the application of concentric eclipses, or spirals, that follow the contours of your subject. It's definitely best to use a pencil quite lightly when applying this technique as it can become rather messy and you’ll need to do a fair bit of rubbing out. When describing form that is vertical or horizontal the coils will appear almost flat, or as simple lines. As soon as the form moves away from you or towards you then the coils open up, morphing from lines into eclipses and on into near circles before flattening off again when the form changes direction. It's a great technique for feeling out your form. Read more: How to draw a figure The best pencils for colouring, drawing and sketching The best drawing apps for iPad View the full article

The whole weird Sonic the Hedgehog movie thing looks like it's finally heading for a happy ending. You may recall that Paramount released a trailer for it about six months ago and people got really, really cross about it, thanks to a slightly-too-realistic blue hedgehog with worryingly human teeth that looked like the result of either an illegal genetic experiment or a tragic teleportation accident. We've seen better free 3D models. Naturally the internet was absolutely livid, prompting an embarrassingly quick about-face from the director, Jeff Fowler, who promised to go back to the drawing board. And now, six months later, we can see the results in this new trailer. 8 appalling CGI fails in modern movies The difference in the design of Sonic is hard to miss; this time around the design team have gone for a much more cartoony feel that's more in line with the original games, and they've carried it off well. They've even put white gloves on him, rather than him having weird human-like hands. This Sonic looks like a cartoon character made real, rather than a human trying way too hard to cosplay Sonic, and while there's bit of a Dreamworks face going on at times, there's a whole lot more life and expression to this redesigned version. Put old and new Sonic together and there's no comparison Basically, this one doesn't make you feel like the kindest thing to do with it would be to put it out of its misery with a shovel. It's a lot more fun to look at and, from the trailer, seems to be a lot more fun to be around, too. New Sonic's more Roger Rabbit than Polar Express, with a much more action-packed, madcap feel – although a lot of that's down to scene selection in this trailer, and without the redesign we'd have likely had the same scenes performed by uncanny valley Sonic. Even dogs love the redesigned Sonic Unsurprisingly the fan reaction to this new trailer has been a lot more positive than for the original, which is a bit of a shame for anyone who delights in internet rage, but good news for Paramount. Fans have praised the work put in by the film's animators and designers to focus on Sonic's inherent quirkiness, and there's a definite feel that thanks to Paramount listening to the fans, there'll be a lot more people turning up to see it when it's released on 14 February. That release date feels like one hell of a sick burn, though. Is Paramount having a jab at Sonic fandom by putting the film out on Valentine's Day, when people are kind of expected to have romantic plans that don't involve a cartoon hedgehog? It doesn't really look like a date movie to us. The Sonic movie looks a lot more action-packed now We'll be there to see Jim Carrey's scenery-chewing performance as Doctor Robotnik, though; at least we might be as long as there's nothing on TV. Related articles: 35 greatest CGI movie moments of all time Special effects in movies: 10 stunning examples Check out these incredible posters for movies that never happened View the full article

You don't have to wait until Black Friday or Cyber Monday to get your hands on some great deals. Amazon's Hidden Gems Sale deals store is open now until 23:59 tonight (Tuesday 12 November), and it's serving up some awesome bargains. This set of Faber-Castell Artist Colour Pencils must be up there with some of the best Black Friday deals for artists and creatives. With a hefty 50% off, the pencil set is down from £370 to £185.60! It went live this afternoon at 13:40 but blink and you'll miss it, it's only live until 19:40. Don't miss out! If you are hankering after a more high-tech pencil, check out our handy guide to finding the best Black Friday Apple Pencil deals. But if you want to take advantage of this great price on more traditional tools, here are all the details of this arty deal. Not quite what you want? Here are some other great art supply deals that might entice you. View the full article

Microsoft has only just released the Surface Pro 7, but Best Buy has gone ahead and slashed the price by $260 already. What?! This updated version of Microsoft's leading two-in-one laptop/tablet was unveiled at its Fall Hardware event on 2 October 2019, so we weren't expecting bargain prices quite so soon, but here we are. The Surface Pro range is extremely popular with creatives, thanks to its ultra-slim and light design, impressive battery life and vibrant PixelSense display. The model on offer will usually set you back close to a grand, but Best Buy has dropped the price down to just shy of $700. Amazing! This 12.3-inch device in Platinum boasts an Intel Core i3 processor, 4GB of memory and an 128GB SSD. Plus, there's a black type cover thrown in too. This is a truly incredible deal on such a new product, but if it's not quite what you're looking for, check out our guide to snapping up the best Surface Pro Black Friday deals. If you're not in the US, or want to compare what's on offer from other retailers, the widget below will pull in the best prices in your region. Read more: Surface Pro 6 review Hands on: Microsoft Surface Pro X review The best Microsoft Surface deals in 2019 View the full article

What do you think of when you think of Holland, or the Netherlands? The Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions are hoping it's the colour orange (associated with the Dutch royal family) and tulips, judging by its new logo for the country. We wonder if they got any top tips from our logo design inspiration post? The fresh logo is the result of a strategy developed to more clearly show what the Netherlands has to offer. The Dutch government decided it was time to ditch the old brush-style tulip and hand-drawn 'Holland' text logo and be recognised internationally by a new, more representative logo. Yes tulips are still there, and so is the colour orange, but the two are brought together in a more subtle and contemporary style. And can you spot a hidden tulip hiding in the forms of the 'N' and the 'L'? The informal 'Holland' text also got the heave-ho. Holland is a region of the Netherlands, and while commonly used as the country's name in the outside world, inside the country many think this is misrepresentative. Hence the change to Netherlands in the new-look logo. While the government might like the new logo, it seems Dutch designers have not been so complimentary, as you can see from the comments on Twitter (below). This translates as "The tulip is not symmetrical. I repeat. The tulip is not symmetrical." While the post below is a little more forthright saying "The Netherlands has a new logo. We are no longer the land of tulips. The N and L together form a chimney." This last one has got to be one of our favourites, though. Translation: “I have made the logo future-proof”. There are a couple of questions around the use of 'NL', too. Is there a strong enough association with the NL abbreviation? We only remember it from car bumper stickers. But what we do like that tulip design. It is almost ugly and not immediately obvious, but as soon as we spotted it, we liked it. And the more we look at it the more we like it. That's what we call smart logo design. We're not sure how the world will embrace the new international-friendly identity, but the logo will be rolled out from January. Watch this space. Read more: Logo design: everything you need to know Logo memory challenge befuddles participants 6 of the most iconic drinks logos View the full article

If you're after a drawing tablet but don't want to spend all your money on a device and then have to spend on the stylus too, then a tablet from a brand such as Wacom or XP-Pen could be the way to go. Right now, Amazon is hosting a Hidden Gems sale (lasts until 23.55 GMT tonight). Amongst the bargains available are some incredible deals on a range of different X-Pen tablets. Some tablets have had more than 50% knocked off the price! We've listed all of our favourite deals just in case the one you want has sold out by the time you read this (not all of the tablets listed are in the Hidden Gems sale, some are just generally cheap!). You can thank us later. Note that the drawback of XP-Pen display tablets is that you need to be connected to a monitor or PC in order for them to work (see our guide to the best monitors). This isn't a problem if you want to use them at home, but obviously won't work if you're planning to create on the go a lot. They are all compatible with Windows and macOS and all major creative software, including Photoshop and Corel Painter (click through to the deal for more details). For more bargains ahead of Black Friday, check out our Wacom Black Friday deals and iPad Black Friday deals. Not seen what you wanted? Check out our other drawing tablet deals below. View the full article

Can a dead brand be brought back to life? In the month that Toys R Us (which went bankrupt in 2018) relaunched in partnership with Target, the answer is clearly 'yes'. But that yes needs to be a qualified one. The history of branding is littered with attempts to resuscitate ailing brands, and while it's easy to generate headlines at the time, it's by no means guaranteed you'll succeed over the longer term. In this post, we look at some of the best examples of how to revive a brand, plus a couple when it all went wrong, and pull out some of the main lessons for branding in general. 01. Old Spice Once seen as old fashioned, Old Spice has been successfully reinvented for the 21st century The problem: By 1990, Old Spice seemed like a brand that would never again be considered 'cool'. The men’s fragrance, which first launched in the 1930s and had become hugely popular in the 1960s and 1970s, was now associated with the ageing 'medallion men' of that era, and the butt of endless jokes. In short, no self-respecting young man wanted to go near Old Spice. But new owners Procter & Gamble were determined to attract a new generation to the brand. So how did they go about it? The solution: Rather than targeting adults who saw Old Spice as old hat, they went straight for the teen market: kids who hadn’t even been alive during its heyday. That way, they were starting with a clean slate. P&G expanded the brand to include washes and deodorants, and worked hard to associate it with sports and health, handing out free samples and promo swag for school health classes, high school games and skate-park events. They also radically improved the product itself, tackling the residue issues of old so that it no longer left tell-tale stains following application. All this work was complemented by the work of ad firm Wieden and Kennedy, who created fun, youth-oriented campaigns such as Swagger in 2008, and the award-winning The Man You Wish Your Man Could Smell Like in 2010 (below). This was the point that most older people started to notice Old Spice again, and many assumed its revival was due to the ads alone. But in fact, it had been the leading brand in the US market for some years already. Lesson learned: A brand revival isn't just about having a hit commercial, even if it might seem so to consumers. Typically, as in the case of Old Spice, it’s only through a larger marketing effort, over a succession of years. 02. Lego Given the success of the Lego Movie, it's weird to think that the brand was in crisis in the early 2000s The problem: It seems weird to say it now. But back in 2003, Lego was in crisis, with $800m of debt and sales down year-on-year by 30 per cent. The solution: Lego's saviour was new CEO Vig Knudstorp, who’s been dubbed the ‘Steve Jobs of toys’. Part of his strategy was simplification: selling off its loss-making theme parks to Merlin Entertainment, and halving the number of individual pieces Lego produced, for example. More significantly, though, Lego began engaging deeply with its fan community; something they had never been done before. Most importantly, Lego started crowdsourcing, promising those who suggested winning ideas one per cent of their product’s profits. This not only meant fans felt valued and engaged with, but it resulted in a continuous series of new and commercially successful products, including sets based on Back to the Future, Ghostbusters, Minecract, and the ninja-themed Lego Ninjago line. From 2008 to 2010 the company’s profits quadrupled, even outstripping Apple’s. Turning to the fans and crowdsourcing new ideas for sets was a transformative movie for Lego Lego had always been about creativity and unleashing the imagination. Harnessing the creativity of its most ardent fans led to an unprecedented period of product innovation, and ensured that the brand would become increasingly popular and valued by generations to come. Lesson learned: Your fans are your greatest resource. Use them (or lose them). 03. Polaroid Dutch company Polaroid Originals has revived the once-defunct brand The problem: Back in the 1960s and 1970s, if you took a photo, you’d have to wait days, weeks even, for it to be developed. It was for this reason that Polaroid’s instant camera, which printed out your photos mere moments after you’d taken them, was a must-buy device for sociable and outgoing youngsters. However, once digital cameras became popular in the 2000s, the instant version seemed suddenly redundant. And sure enough, in 2008, Polaroid filed for bankruptcy and announced it would cease production of its films and cameras. The solution: Although the original company was gone, the brand was acquired by the Dutch company Impossible Project. In 2017 it renamed itself Polaroid Originals. And since then, it’s managed to revive the Polaroid brand and make a commercial success of it once more. The company manufacturers its own instant cameras and film, and while they use the latest technology, from the consumer’s point of view the operation remains basically the same. So how did they manage to succeed where the original firm had failed? Essentially the answer comes in two parts. Firstly, unencumbered by the original firm's massive debts, they were able to operate at scaled down level that’s fully sustainable. But secondly, it’s essentially been a question of time and patience. A special Stranger Things-themed camera has exploited the nostalgia for Polaroid evoked by the hit Netflix show What is embarrassingly outdated and unfashionable one year, suddenly becomes retro and hip a few years down the line. It's happened to vinyl, it’s currently happening to cassettes, and it’s also happened to Polaroid. The thread that links all of them? A yearning for the physical and analogue in a world dominated by the invisible and digital. (And the showcasing of Polaroids on nostalgic shows like Stranger Things hasn’t done any harm either.) Lesson learned: If the pull of nostalgia is powerful enough, you can go a long way on the maxim, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ Keep your operation small and manageable, patiently wait for the trend cycle to renew itself, and a defunct brand can potentially be revived for a new generation. 04. Marvel Avengers Assemble proved beyond all doubt that Marvel's movie strategy had paid off The problem: Marvel had once been king of the superhero comic. But in the 1990s, a general collapse in comic book sales, along with a string of bad business decisions, left it in dire straits and massive debt. In 1996 the Marvel Group filed for bankruptcy, which prompted a nasty two-year court battle for control of the company. The solution: Once things were settled, new CEO Joseph Calamari turned his attention to a new strategy: targeting the movie business. In retrospect, rarely has a company made a smarter move. In the early days of 21st century Marvel movies, though, that wasn’t so obvious. Although the Blade, X-Men and Spider-Man movies were successful, the box office wasn’t anything to write home about. And even worse, Marvel itself made shockingly little from licensing its properties. Of the $70m revenue that Blade generated, for example, it took home a measly $25,000. In 2003, talent agent David Maisel suggested to Marvel that they produce the films themselves. This would give them financial and artistic control, and let them crossover characters from movie to movie. With backing from Merrill Lynch, Marvel reacquired the characters they’d licensed to others, and began work on the first Iron Man movie. Released in 2007, Iron Man made $585m, and kickstarted what's since become the biggest franchise in movie history. Two years later, Disney came knocking, with an offer of $4.3bn. That seemed like an eye-watering amount at the time, but from today’s vantage point, it actually seems like a bargain: the recent Avengers: End Game alone pulled in $2.8bn (and rising). So why have Marvel movies been so successful across the last decade, given that most of the characters, other than the Hulk, were previously unknown outside the comic fan community? Marvel didn't reply on existing star power to promote its movies, but used them to create stars of its own Key has been the concept of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which saw characters appearing across multiple movies, in a way that essentially makes every film like an episode of a TV series... just one that you have to go to the cinema to see. (DC, in contrast, keeps using different actors for the same characters across its movies and TV shows, breaking all continuity). Marvel’s also been smart in eschewing A-list actors and directors, whose egos can often get in the way of smart decisions, and whose salary demands can eat into budgets. (Chris Hemsworth, in contrast, got just $150,000 for the first Thor movie.) Meanwhile, the partnership with Disney ensured the franchise was on a sound financial footing, and added all the marketing, production and merchandising experience of the world’s biggest entertainment company. But perhaps the best thing Marvel has done is to believe and trust in its brand. In stark contrast, Sony had the chance back in 1998 to buy ALL of the Marvel characters for a minuscule $25million. But they rejected the offer, and instead paid $10million for Spider-Man alone, telling negotiators: “Nobody gives a sh—about any of the other Marvel characters.” Marvel knew different. Lesson learned: Believe in your brand and stick to your guns. You'll constantly encounter naysayers, because it's easier to hate than create. But be patient, trust your audience, and in the end you'll have the last laugh. 05. Nintendo The Nintendo Switch is the latest in a string of hit Nintendo devices The problem: Originally launched in 1889 as a playing card company, Nintendo dominated the world of video game consoles in the 1980s and 1990s with products like the Game Boy and SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System). By 1995, it had sold one billion game cartridges worldwide, 10 per cent of those being Mario games. But consumer tech moves fast, and in the 2000s Sony and Microsoft’s superior PS2 and Xbox sent the company reeling. Nintendo’s response, the Gamecube, was poorly received and sent the brand into third place for market share. The solution: With no DVD player, no online capabilities and generally poor titles, the Gamecube was never going to compete with what was dubbed the ‘next generation of consoles’. It also looked kind of dumb. At this point, Nintendo could have doubled down, and tried to improve its tech to catch up with Sony and Microsoft. But instead they decided to retreat, rethink, and come up with something completely different: the Nintendo DS. This little handheld device was initially met with ridicule, but it and its successors turned out to be an incredible success. It also gave Nintendo the confidence to experiment further, launching the Wii, whose motion senor controls heralding a whole new type of gaming. The Wii and Wii U have attracted people who wouldn't normally play video games The commercial and cultural success of both devices lay in charting a “third way” between games aimed at children and those aimed at hardcore adult gamers. Carving out a whole new niche of “casual gaming”, which attracted adults of all ages (the kind who previously would have said “I’m not into video games”), Nintendo successfully reinvented its entire brand for a new era. Lesson learned: When competitors enter the market and do what you’re doing, better, you don't always have to confront them head on. Sometimes it’s sometimes best to pivot into a completely new market instead. The examples of Old Spice, Lego, Polaroid, Marvel and Nintendo all show that it's possible to bring back a classic brand to life. But that doesn’t mean it's going to be easy, or that success is guaranteed. These two examples show how even the best-known brands can sometimes prove un-revivable... MySpace MySpace has reinvented itself as a music site, but has disastrously lost its audience's trust The problem: Launched in 2003, MySpace was many people’s first ever experience of social media. By 2006, it had became the most visited site in the US, and helped launch stars such the Arctic Monkeys and Lily Allen. In 2005, Rupert Murdoch's News Corp bought it for $580 million. So what happened? Facebook happened. MySpace became a desert as its users flocked to Mark Zuckerberg’s superior version of “digital crack”, and in 2011, Murdoch unloaded it at a fire-sale price of $35 million. The attempted solution: The common wisdom at the time was that an “old media guy” just didn’t understand the internet, or what young people wanted. So when the site was bought by Justin Timberlake's Specific Media Group, and relaunched with a cool redesign, a new focus on music, lots of publicity and multiple celebrity endorsements, hopes were high. And indeed, what was called “Myspace 2.0” drew a high of 31 million visitors in its first weeks. Ever since, MySpace has been quietly, gradually, getting its act together again, establishing itself as a platform, refocused on music and entertainment, and boasting 15 million monthly active visitors in 2016. People whispered that it might, just might, actually become cool again. Stranger things have happened. But in 2019, disaster struck. MySpace announced it had accidentally lost every single piece of content uploaded to its site before 2016, including millions of songs, photos and videos, many of which simply didn’t exist anywhere else. Whether you believed, as many conspiracy theorists did, that this was a purposeful act to cut costs, or bought the company’s explanation that it was due to a faulty server migration, this trust-decimating event has made it extremely unlikely MySpace will ever return to its former glory. Lesson learned: Trust in a brand isn’t just about image: it has to be earned. It’s easy to squander the trust people have in you, but winning it back is just about the most difficult thing you can do. Woolworths The Woolworth's brand failed online just as it had in the high street The problem: Originally a division of the American F. W. Woolworth Company until its sale in the early 1980s, UK retail chain Woolworths was once a regular staple of the British high street, with 807 stores at its peak. But in the 2000s, its traditional strategy of offering something for everyone, from CDs to its famed pic’n’mix sweets, failed to adapt to a rapidly evolving retail world. The company went into administration in 2008, closing every single one of its stores overnight and putting 27,000 employees out of work. The attempted solution: Believing there was huge public goodwill towards Woolworths, Shop Direct Group bought the brand and domain, and relaunched it as an online store in 2009. Yet ultimately, the attempt failed. Woolworths.co.uk was closed in 2015, with its URL instead redirecting to Very.co.uk. Ultimately, the failure of the Woolworths brand highlights that what the public SAYS it wants isn’t always the same as what it ACTUALLY wants. In successive polls, Brits have said they’d like to see the return of Woolworths to the high street; but their actions suggest that they wouldn’t necessarily shop there if it did. Lesson learned: Nostalgia alone isn’t enough to revive a brand. There has to be a compelling reason for its existence, which in an age of endless shopping opportunties, offline and online, Woolworths simply didn't have. View the full article

This year would probably be known as the year of the dark mode if, you know, there wasn't a whole bunch of other stuff going on. Everything's getting a dark mode right now; iOS 13 has brought it to Apple devices, Android has its dark theme, and loads of apps – most recently, Slack – now have the option to switch to an eyeball- and battery-friendly dark look. Which is great, until you open up one of those iOS or Android apps that haven't been updated and it's like staring directly into the sun. And that's where we're currently at with WhatsApp; it doesn't yet have a dark mode, but reports indicate that it's on the way. How to turn on Instagram's Dark Mode This is what the WhatsApp dark mode looks like on Android, according to WABetaInfo According to WABetaInfo, hints of an impending WhatsApp dark mode are turning up in beta versions of the app. While there isn't an actual dark mode in the WhatsApp beta yet, the 2.19.327 beta update for Android contains a new dark wallpaper based on the same colours as Android's dark theme. What does this mean for you? Not a lot, right now; you could sign up for the WhatsApp beta programme on Android and download the beta, but even with that you're not going to get a dark mode yet. Some of the necessary assets are in place, but the mode itself has yet to be implemented and you'd almost certainly be signing up for a more crashy experience than you get with standard WhatsApp. These dark wallpapers are hidden way in the latest WhatsApp public beta WABetaInfo reckons that the Android WhatsApp dark theme is almost done, while the iOS version is lagging a little behind, with some labels and cell backgrounds still appearing as white. It seems likely that WhatsApp will want to launch its new dark mode on both Android and iOS simultaneously, so we'll have to wait for the iOS issues to get ironed out before it's ready to install on either platform. The WhatsApp sleuths at WABetaInfo admit that they don't know when the dark mode update's going to roll out. However the current state of play suggest that it's looking good for a release before too long, so watch this space. Related articles: How to implement light or dark modes in CSS The 21 best iPhone apps for designers Mobile app design: A beginner's guide View the full article

For many designers, going freelance is the logical next career step after putting in the hours at an agency. Other designers skip the in-house bit altogether and jump straight into the freelance life. And while the benefits of being your own boss can be immense, going freelance is a major step that you need to be prepared for. Whether you're an experienced art director or a fresh-faced graduate, it's near-impossible to be perfectly prepared for the freelance life, but are plenty of things that you can do to ensure that you're ready to hit the ground running when you make the jump. You also need to be ready to take care of your own finances without the safety net of an employer to pay you regularly and deal with your taxes, and on top of all that you owe it to yourself not to work yourself into the ground. There's lots to think about before embarking on the freelance journey; luckily we have a whole stack of essential advice ready for you. Studio vs freelance: The pros and cons Getting started So, you've decided to go freelance. Before you hand in your resignation, though, check out these guides to make sure you've got all your ducks in a row. 4 ways to go freelance Going freelance isn't just about quitting your job and making a break for freedom. There are four main ways of becoming a freelancer, each with their own challenges, and knowing which route you're taking – and how to be prepared for it – can help you make a proper go of it. Here we speak to designers and illustrators who have taken each path, and get their pro tips to help you enter the freelance world successfully. The art of going freelance There's more to going freelance than having an amazing portfolio and knowing how to network. Obviously both these things help, but if you really want to prosper in the freelance world then here's a handy list to help you make the transition, from establishing your goals through to achieving happiness and success (not to mention all the fiddly details in-between). 9 things you need to sort before going freelance There's nothing like being properly prepared to take much of the risk out of going freelance. Eliminate most of the likely obstacles to a rewarding freelance career by ensuring you can tick all the boxes on this list before you make the jump. 6 things to know about getting freelance clients Going freelance means that you have to be a business person as well as a creative, and that can be a barrier to a lot of designers. The long and the short of it is that you're not going to make money if you don't have any clients, so follow our guide to luring them in and making sure that they stick around to give you even more work. 9 tools to help you work remotely as a freelancer One of the best things about being a freelancer is being able to buy new kit in the knowledge that it's tax-deductible (don't forget to keep those receipts). And if you're planning to work remotely then it's essential to have all the necessary tools to do your job, no matter where you've set up shop for the day. Be prepared with this guide to the gear you're likely to need. Money tips Being a freelancer isn't just about the money, but you're not going to get very far without it. Follow these tips for managing your finances, bringing in more cash and not getting tripped up by taxes. Freelance finance: How to make more money There's nothing quite as simultaneously exciting and terrifying as going freelance. Without a regular pay cheque you're entirely dependent on your own efforts, but if you get it right you'll never want to go back to a full-time job. We spoke to a number of creatives who've already made the leap, to get their advice on how to make it work without ending up in a financial hole. How to be a thrifty freelancer The tides of freelance existence can be unsettling; one month you'll be rushed off your feet, while the next you might find that nothing's coming in at all and you're wondering if you'll ever find work again. The easiest way to get through those fallow months is to be thrifty with your money so you always have a comfortable financial buffer when things go a bit quiet; we asked leading freelance artists, designers and photographers for their advice. How to manage your freelance cashflow All freelancers have to face up to three key financial issues: keeping on top of paperwork, getting paid and, crucially, making sure the taxman doesn't throw you in prison. It's the tedious bit of freelance life that takes up time you'd rather spend on actual work, but it has to be done. We asked other freelance designers how they manage it. 9 tax return tips for freelancers If you're in the UK, you have to have your tax return for the previous financial year filed and paid by 31 of January. Save yourself some last-minute pain by following these tips for getting it all done on time and without any nasty surprises. Self-care If you're working every available hour as a freelancer and never taking a break, you might not be doing it right; here's some advice for keeping your head straight and maintaining a decent work/life balance. 5 tips for taking guilt-free holidays as a freelancer The eternal freelancing dilemma is that if you don't take time off you'll burn yourself out sooner or later, but if you do take a holiday then you'll miss out on work, clients will immediately drop you in favour of someone with a better-tuned work ethic and you'll end up dying in penury. In reality, though, it's entirely possible to take holidays as a freelancer without wrecking your career; here are five ways to do it. 25 tips for staying sane as a freelancer Finally, despite the many advantages of being a freelancer, sometimes it can all feel a bit much. When you're out there on your own, working all hours and often having to fight to get paid, the pressures of freelance life can become overwhelming. But you're not the first freelancer to feel like that, and there are plenty of ways to get you back on track; we asked around and gathered up 25 great tips for staying sane and keeping your focus. Related articles: How to cope with a freelance apocalypse Survey reveals how much freelancers are really charging 8 recent changes to social media that freelancers need to know about View the full article

If you haven't yet heard of Google Easter Eggs, you've probably led an extremely productive life up until this point. Well, all of that is about to change, and we promise you won't be sorry about it. Once upon a time, you may have relied on the word on the street and a secret handshake to feel like an insider, but now you can be the one sharing secret tricks, as we've chosen the best of the Google Easter Eggs and listed them right here. If you'd like to insert some Easter Eggs in your site, check out our guide to the best web design tools out there right now. Or if you want some advice on user testing, we've got a guide for that too. What is a Google Easter Egg? The term 'Easter Egg' has two meanings. Both eggs are hidden, but one is likely to be found in a garden during a frantic hunt whilst the other is buried inside a design – a secret feature that only those 'in the know' will be able to enjoy. These Easter eggs are often videos or games built into the code of a program or website that can only be unlocked by performing a certain action. So you have to know what to do to be able to take part. To find Google Easter Eggs, all you need to do is type the search term into the Google search bar then follow our instructions for some Easter Egg fun. Some work slightly differently, but we will keep you updated as we go. But we should warn you, now you know the extent of the content of this deliciously addictive feature, your workflow may suffer as a result. 01. Sonic the Hedgehog Do you miss the original manifestation of everyone's favourite hedgehog? We certainly do. Here's your chance to enjoy the 1991 version of our spiky friend, complete with those evocative jumping noises. Type 'Sonic the Hedgehog video game' into the Google search bar and you'll find Sonic waiting for you to the right of the screen. After a little while, he starts the foot tapping that used to give us all palpitations, letting you know you're taking too long. Click on Sonic to see him jump, and hear the 'boing' that was the soundtrack to hours on end of hoping the Mega Drive didn't overheat. Keep clicking, and after 25 times, he will transform. 02. Google in 1998 For a trip back in time, try searching 'Google in 1998'. Although it's less feature-packed than other Easter Eggs, it's certainly interesting to check out how Google used to look. You can't actually search on this page, but we enjoy the retro aesthetic and pondering how Google has evolved since then. Check out the links at the bottom of the page that suggest the user try searching through some of the other big search engines of the time. That's certainly a feature that's unlikely to return. 03. Minesweeper Sometimes we long for the simplicity of the days when playing PC games was limited to those found in the Windows start menu. Solitaire, Hearts and... that other one with the King's head that turned from side to side. And of course, Minesweeper. Here's your chance to immerse yourself in the numbered battle against the computer. Type 'Minesweeper' into the search bar to partake. 04. Friends Google released this super-fun series of Friends Easter Eggs this year, in celebration of the 25th anniversary (yes, really) of our favourite group of chums. And it's really our favourite. We won't go into all of them, we don't want to ruin the surprise, but try typing in the full names (we know you know them) of the characters and watch what pops up. We've demoed 'Joey Tribbiani', because everyone loves the Joey Special. 05. Wizard of Oz There will be no place like your Google homepage after you type 'Wizard of Oz' into the search bar. Click on Dorothy's sparkling Ruby slippers and watch the world turn upside down as the eponymous tornado comes to town. This one was created earlier this year, for the 80-year anniversary of the film's release in 1939. 06. T-Rex Runner This is a Chrome-specific Easter Egg that the dinosaur-mad among us will get a kick out of. If you've ever tried to browse offline on your Chrome browser, you might recall the Lonely Dinosaur illustration that appears before you. But have you ever taken much notice of it? To start the action, Android/iOS users need to tap on the dinosaur, while desktop users press the space-bar or the up arrow key. This launches the T-Rex Runner game, in which users control the running dinosaur by tapping the screen or pressing the space-bar or up arrow to avoid obstacles. The features of this game are updated periodically, and reaching different point totals changes the entire screen. It's seriously hard to believe that such an abundance of fun has been right in front of our eyes this whole time and we never knew. What a great reason to get offline. 07. Colour Picker This one is not a novelty piece of fun but a useful tool that we bet you'll be using regularly from now on. Type in 'colour picker' and a colour picker tool will be displayed on the screen. You click and drag your cursor inside the picker area to highlight a colour on the right. Add Hex, HSL, RGB or CMYK values to find a certain colour, then click and add to your palette to save it. And you can enter 'rgb to hex' to be provided with a colour picker that is also an instant colour value converter. 08. Pac-Man Remember that Google Doodle from 2010? It is still around and waiting for you to get involved. Type in 'Pac-Man', 'play Pac-Man' or 'google Pac-Man' and an ear-splitting (honestly, do turn the sound down a bit before you start, we had a cat in the room that almost jumped out of the the window) version of the game will appear on the screen. Use your arrow keys to move him around the screen. 09. Breathing exercise If you've ever found yourself stressed or angry whilst sitting at the screen, you might enjoy this one. We didn't realise Google had our backs here, but if you type in 'Breathing exercise' to the search bar, a (sort-of) calming blue screen appears along with some helpful instructions to complete a breathing exercise. Perhaps not as effective as leaving your computer and going outside for a walk, but certainly enough to tide you over in a non-emergency. Thanks, Google. 10. Harry Potter: Fantastic Beasts It's not just the Google search engine that has delights in store for Easter Egg hunters. Google Maps has loads to explore, too. So hold on to your wizard hats Harry Potter fans, as your minds are about to be blown. Diagon Alley, the cobblestone alley from the Harry Potter films, has been added to Google Maps. Peek into the windows of Slug & Jigg Apothecary, and Flourish and Blotts bookshop. You will have to put up with other tourists, though, as the images are taken from the Warner Bros Studio Tour location in London. You can also type in 'Fantastic Beasts, New York City' and drop Pegman onto the map and you'll be transported to MACUSA the Headquarters of the Magical Congress of the USA, the governing body of wizarding in America. You can have a good look around the magical building that features in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, visit The Blind Pig and more. 12. Doctor Who There's a bunch more Google Maps action, such as the option to travel by dragon (from Snowdon to Breacon Beacons) or the Loch Ness Monster (from Urquhart Castle to Fort Augustus). But we are obsessed with this Doctor Who-themed Easter Egg. Type in 'Earls Court Road Police Box' into Google Maps and drag Pegman to the location that appears. Suddenly you're inside the TARDIS – prepare to be captivated by the 360 degree internal view you're treated to. It's, fittingly, actually trickier than it sounds to gain access. You have to aim for slightly to the left of the Police box drop pin, and make sure Pegman's feet are floating to the left too otherwise you'll be rudely dropped onto the boring old road. (NB: Apparently this Easter Egg doesn't work every time on the new Google Maps interface. If you're having trouble, put yourself into incognito mode and things should improve.) 12. Pegman Talking of Pegman (the little guy you drop into Google Maps to see the streets up close), he loves to be involved in Google Easter Egg surprises. Turns out, he isn't always always dressed in yellow. Some places, and special days, will bring him to life and give him a bit of personality. Drop him onto Buckingham Palace to see him turn into Peg Ma'am, or try Groom Lake, Nevada or Area 51 to transform him into a UFO, or near to the ocean in Hawaii to see him shape-shift into a mermaid. 11. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy There is a whole host of number-based Google Easter Eggs that are calculator-related. And this one, based on the Douglas Adams series, is said to be the very first Easter Egg ever embedded into the system, predating the calculator on which the answer is now revealed. Type in 'the answer to the ultimate question of life the universe and everything' to see the famous digits appear. 12. Do a barrel roll Enter 'do a barrel roll' into the search bar and enjoy the somewhat geeky (but awesome) reference to Nintendo's Star Fox as the screen rotates 360 degrees. 13. Snake The retro game that kept us awake all night on our Nokia 3310s, is still with us. We can't believe we didn't know. Type 'Snake' into Google and fill your boots. Use the arrow keys to control the little guy, this is possibly slightly easier on the thumbs than the little keyboard of those old Nokias. It is in technicolour, which was a slight disappointment, but it still provides (almost) the same levels of fun. You can also play Tic Tac Toe, just FYI. Read more: The best new UX books right now Brilliant UX tips you need to know The best Google Doodle designs View the full article