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2020 has been a strange and uncertain year, to say the least. But what is sure, is that creativity connects us all and is doing so in ways like never before. Enforced isolation has seen the creative community come out in force online, connecting daily at Adobe Live on Behance – and you can join in too. A livestream of creative content, Adobe Live offers artists and designers the opportunity to connect, share ideas, be inspired and celebrate creativity, all in one place. No matter what your creative discipline – graphic designer, illustrator, animator, web designer or photographer etc – Adobe Live has something for everyone. Adobe Live: Get involved A treasure trove of creative content, Adobe Live is a great way to hone and learn new skills in popular Adobe apps, including Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects and Adobe XD. There’s everything from creative daily challenges, like creating logos and posters, to learning to draw lines and shapes and doodle therapy. Adobe Live has plenty to keep your creativity flowing, but more than anything, it’s an amazing way to connect with like-minded people at this challenging time. Each day you can tune into a livestream, where you can watch guest artists create in real-time. During the session, artists will take questions, share advice and give viewers valuable insights into their ways of working. A watch-over-the-shoulder experience, Adobe Live gives viewers an authentic experience, both inspiring and helping to ease any sense of isolation at the same time. Connect with leading creatives at Adobe Live on Behance Livestreams in the UK start at 12:00 noon BST each day, with post-event on-demand videos available in English, French and German. If you can't make the live events, don't fret, Discord is Adobe's community chat for when the streams aren't live. Here you'll often find Adobe's guests pop in to to chat after the stream, and viewers asking questions, which you are more than welcome to join in with. So what are you waiting for? Join the creative community at Adobe Live on Behance for sessions with creative leaders from all over the globe for your daily dose of inspiration. View the full article

You'd be forgiven for wondering why anyone would need to create a typeface which works across light and dark mode – surely it simply involves changing the colour from black to white? But as independent type foundry Dalton Maag's illuminating new typeface reveals, there's a little more to it than that. The rise of 'dark mode' across several operating systems and their UIs has created an unexpected challenge for those looking to create a consistent visual identity (don't forget to check out our best free fonts if you're looking for inspiration). According to Dalton Maag, white-on-black text is often subconsciously perceived as larger and bolder than the same text presented black-on-white. Enter Darkmode, a new typeface using "innovative variable font technology". Dalton Maag calls it the first retail font family to offer a ready-built solution to the problem. Darkmode offers two slightly different variants for each weight, which have been "carefully crafted to give a consistent appearance when switching between normal and inverse modes." In other words, the typeface offers two slightly different thicknesses: DarkmodeOn and DarkmodeOff (below). Dalton Maag calls Darkmode "a typeface for the UIs of today and tomorrow," which improves digital navigation, on-screen reading and will ultimately help developers to create more reactive and responsive user experiences. You can currently snap up a free trial of Darkmode on Dalton Maag's website. And if you're inspired by the amount of thought and detail that goes into font design, our font design guide is a great place to start your typographical journey. Read more: These bad logo redesigns are the best (and worst) thing you'll see all day You've probably been writing the letter 'g' wrong for years Sun-Maid tries raisin' its profile with subtle logo tweak View the full article

a malicious app installed on a device can hide behind legitimate apps. View the full article

Alongside the likes of Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty, Scrabble might not seem like the most dramatic game around. But when it comes to their beloved board game, Scrabble fans are not to be messed with – as one mobile game publisher has found out the hard way. Mobile app Scrabble Go was only released in March, but its owner Scopely has already been forced back to the drawing board after fans complained about its flashy and fussy design (that's not how you enter our best iPhone apps list), complete with vivid colours and a treasure-style reward system. Scopely has now announced that these extra features have been toned down in a new Classic mode. Scrabble Go has not been a hit with traditionalist fans The war of words began when Scrabble Go was announced as a replacement for the previous, much more traditional app, owned by EA. In a statement on Twitter (below), EA revealed that its own beloved app will be discontinued on 5 June, as Scopely now owns the Scrabble franchise. Along with countless negative app store reviews, at the heart of fans' assault on Scrabble Go is a petition to keep the EA version alive. "I want to play traditional Scrabble, please," one supporter complained, "I don't want silly graphics and things popping up all over the place." "Scrabble GO has the correct name," said another. "You install it, see that it is junk, and then you GO and uninstall it." Ouch. While fans will be sad to note that the EA version has now disappeared from app stores, they can at least take some solace from the fact that Scopely has heard their complaints. "You asked and we listened!" Scopely announced on Facebook. "We’re introducing a “Scrabble Go Classic” option that puts Classic Mode at the forefront." In this mode, features such as boosts and rewards are disabled. We're pleased to see Scopely cater for traditionalist fans as well as those who prefer, er, lots of flashing things. As board game designs go, Scrabble is as iconic as it gets, and the busy UI of Scrabble Go is a far cry from the minimalism of of its namesake. Hopefully Classic mode go some way to placate fans who want more Scrabble and less 'Go'. It doesn't look like Scopely has too much to complain about – according to BBC, Scrabble Go has been downloaded over 10 million times since launching in March. Still, there's no denying that board game fans are a force to be reckoned with – a beautifully minimal UNO concept recently became a reality, thanks (again) to a fan petition. Read More: You can now get retro iPhone app icons – and you'll want them all right now These bad logo redesigns are the best (and worst) thing you'll see all day Is this what iOS 14 will look like? (We really hope so) View the full article

Sometimes an illustration is all you need to put the finishing touch on your branding collateral. While finding the perfect graphic may seem like a daunting task (especially if it's not your primary skillset), it can be simpler than you think. Bring illustrated artwork into your projects with the ITG.digital Online Illustrations Builder Pro: Lifetime Subscription, now only $29.99. Illustrations add an element of fun to invitations, business cards, digital marketing assets, social media content, and more. Creating them or looking for artists to create them, however, is often a full-time job in itself. Stop wasting crucial time on finding the right assets and get beautiful illustrations quickly and effectively with this powerhouse lifetime subscription. Best yet, you don't need to have any design experience under your belt to use the platform. See our pick of the best websites for stock art if you want more options. Or why not try making your own vector art? A mecca for all things illustrated With nearly almost 700 upvotes on Product Hunt and used by brands such as Mashable and Entrepreneur, ITG.digital Online Illustrations Builder is a mecca for all things illustrated. The illustration builder arms you with a complete library of editable illustration elements, no matter your design needs. With over 1000 predefined vector images, you'll be able to find the right illustrations for any type of project in your queue by using the online builder feature to search for the assets you need. There are more than a million unique combinations meaning you'll be able to change colours, remove or replace elements, edit characters, and more, all while catering to your brand's look and feel. You can even use these elements to create animations, making it a great way to incorporate eye-catching movement into your website or online marketing content. After you find your perfect combination, you'll simply need to click the download button, and voilà, your new asset is ready to be added into any design – whether it be for digital or print. Available in various high-resolution downloadable formats (JPG, PNG, and SVG), you'll be able to completely customize each asset to the desired size you need and use it for professional or personal endeavours. With no app installation required, you'll have access to the content quickly and be able to download the complete composition or just an element of your illustrated design. While a lifetime subscription to ITG.digital Online Illustrations Builder Pro is priced at almost $800, you can start customizing your own illustrations for only $29.99 – that's 96 per cent off. Give your branding materials a memorable update and start your subscription today. Read more: Illustrator alternatives: 6 of the best 4 lessons from the greatest illustrators ever 10 top illustration trends for 2020 View the full article

Voltage, an arm of advertising agency DDB that's responsible solely for Volkswagen marketing, has announced a full investigation will be taking place into the production of ad released on Instagram last week, after it was suggested racist messaging was planted on purpose. In case you missed it, VW ran a (now deleted) 10-second clip on Instagram, promoting its new Golf. The ad followed an interracial couple in Argentina and mimicked the style of a recent Tik Tok trend. But the use of a giant white hand flicking a darker-skinned figure away from its car and into a cafe sparked outrage and disbelief – especially because the café name translates into German as 'Little Coloniser'. Want to see some truly great ads? Here are best print ads around Not only that, but the white hand is also seen giving what looks an awful lot like a white power salute. And then the 'Der neue Golf' ('The new Golf') tagline seems to fade to reveal what is all-too close to the N-word in German. It's such a brazen string of messaging, it's no wonder VW's original Instagram response claiming that the public misunderstood the ad didn't wash. Now, after a series of apologies from VW, Voltage has launched an internal investigation, with CEO Toby Pschorr asserting in a statement: "If there is any evidence that an employee or supplier deliberately conceived and planted racist or bigoted messages within our communication, it will lead to an immediate dismissal and legal repercussions." The agency's website has been down over the weekend. VW has started its own investigation into the processes that could have allowed this to happen, with a statement posted on LinkedIn and Twitter taking full responsibility and emphasizing their horror – as well as referencing the "historical origins and the guilt of our company during the Nazi regime,". It then going on to say "that is precisely why we resolutely oppose all forms of hatred, slander/propaganda, and discrimination." Twitter users are incredulous, both at the initial ad and at the cry of sabotage from VW and partners, with some calling into question the logic of using the word 'sabotage' in the context of a design project this big: It isn't the first time VW has landed itself in advertising hot water for a potentially offensive tone. In 2013, a Super Bowl advert was pulled for showing a white man with a stereotypical Jamaican accent. Then last year saw two incidents – one for an advert portraying gender stereotypes, and another when the CEO used a phrase reminiscent of a Nazi-era slogan. It's hard to believe that a 10-second clip selling a car could get it so wrong, especially when in the hands of an experienced marketer such as VW. And whether or not there are sinister forces at play for VW in this case, the deleted advert will certainly go down as one of the most controversial moments of branding we've ever seen. Read more: Old VW logo specs will make you grateful for Illustrator 7 totally distinct brand Instagram feeds The 6 best branding books in 2020 View the full article

We’re all trying to be a little kinder to each other right now, in big ways and small. And so Adobe has teamed up with hip music producer Marshmello to set a special creative challenge, which lets you show the world an act of kindness you’ve recently bestowed on others. Part of this year’s Adobe Creative Tour, the Be Kind challenge involves crafting a 15-30 second video, using Premiere Pro, Premiere Rush or After Effects, that shows how you’re bringing kindness to the world, set to the music of Marshmello’s latest hit. You can see how some other creatives have already responded to the challenge here (scroll down to ‘Submission Gallery’). But what if you don’t have a Creative Cloud subscription already? Don’t worry: Adobe is generously providing access to its video apps with a complimentary 30-day subscription. And to help you out further, Adobe has curated a selection of assets for you to download for the challenge. These include fonts and logos; textures, illustrations and 3D graphics; Adobe Stock footage; and the Be Kind song by Marshmello. To further inspire you to create your entry, Adobe will be livestreaming a special session on Adobe Live at 12noon BST on Tuesday 26 May, in which a famous influencer will show how they’ve interpreted the challenge themselves. You can just take part in the Be Kind challenge for fun, but if you’re pleased with what you’ve created, Adobe would love you to share it on Instagram or Twitter. And if you’re a resident of the UK, USA or Canada, you might win one of several prizes as a result. ‘Be Kind’ is the theme of the creative challenge The creator of the best video uploaded by June 3 will receive a cash prize, an autographed life-sized Marshmello Helmet, a virtual meet and greet with Marshmello himself, and a 12-month Adobe All-Apps Creative Cloud subscription. Nine second-place winners, meanwhile, will each win a cash prize, an autographed Marshmello poster and a three-month All-Apps Creative Cloud subscription. Finally, these winners and up to 25 other creators will all have their work featured in the official fan video. You’ll find full details of the challenge, and the downloadable assets, here. View the full article

Social media platforms are excellent places to showcase your best work and promote yourself as a creative. Your online presence could help you to secure a new job, gain freelance clients or creative collaborators, as well as build your professional reputation. But with so many social media platforms to choose from, how do you know which ones to use? To find out, we listened to the advice of a range of creative professionals including artists, photographers, designers and filmmakers. We learned what they like about each social media platform and why you might find each one useful for displaying elements of your portfolio (for more portfolio inspo, see our graphic design portfolio post), or maybe something else. We used their answers to list the most useful social media platforms for artists and designers right now. (Note that we haven't included video sharing app TikTok, but you can read all you need to know about it in our guide to the TikTok app.) 01. Dayflash Greg McMillan's work on Dayflash Never heard of Dayflash? You're not alone. But right now, it's rapidly gaining popularity amongst creatives. And that's because the iOS app, launched last year, basically works like Instagram used to. In its own words, there's "no algorithm and no more missing posts from your friends". Co-founder Rupali Renjen tells us that, in her view, "Photo sharing platforms unfairly use algorithms to dictate which followers get to see a user's posts. And as they push users to spend more time on stories from friends, long-form videos and shopping, all so they can make more money on ads and business accounts, less and less time is being spent on creators, which is taking away visibility and opportunity". You can post full resolution photos, no algorithms, always genuine engagement, no bots David Castillo And creatives do indeed seem to be responding well to the new platform. "I love using Dayflash," says New York photographer David Castilllo. "You can post full resolution photos, no algorithms, always genuine engagement, no bots. And I love the aesthetics of the interface." Scott Terry, a Chicago-based creator and ambassador for brands, agrees. "It’s pretty great because you can post full frame and high resolution, unlike Instagram," he points out. And there's video, too. "For me personally, I love being able to show my work as I’ve made it, rather than being compressed like on Twitter or Instagram," says filmmaker Tyler Palmer. "And even with little following, my work still gets seen." LA-based photographer Torenzo Perry is also a fan. "I personally love the app because it focuses more on the content, and less on the likes and views," he says. While Greg McMillan, an iPhoneographer and co-host of the Tiny Shutter podcast, admires both the app and the philosophy of its makers. "They have it figured out as to what a social platform should be and how it should work," he enthuses. And it's not just photographers who are fans. Take Brazilian character artist Danielle Pioli, who uses it to share her illustrations and comic strips. "I really like Dayflash," she says. "Since I began using it, it has improved a lot. Not only the usability of the app but also the quality of the content inside it. I see this app as a new trend for visual artists of all kinds. It's easy to use, pretty straightforward, and fun. 02. ArtStation ArtStation is a must for 2D and 3D artists Launched in 2014, ArtStation may not have changed a great deal over the years. But it remains the place to post your profile for professional 2D and 3D artists, especially those working in the games, film, media and entertainment industries, or those aspiring to do so. As we reported in our article how to get a job as a video games artist, recruiters nowadays don't just encourage you to post your work on ArtStation; they expect it. Some artists still hold back from doing so, because they don’t want to engage in what they see as a popularity contest. But by and large, recruiters don’t really care how many likes or followers you have; it's purely about whether or not they like your art, and if it fits what they're looking for. “We’re interested in artists who produce the sort of work that we can use; that’s it," says Kevin McDowell, art director for Creative Assembly's Total War series. "So make sure it’s visible to us, and don’t worry about the numbers.” 03. DeviantArt Katy L Wood's work on DeviantArt Launched in 2000, DeviantArt has more of an amateur, hobbyist feel to it than ArtStation. And so while you're less likely to get commissions directly through it, it's a better platform for putting your art in front of your peers and getting feedback. People tend to come and go from DeviantArt over time, and author and illustrator Katy L Wood is no exception. "DeviantArt was the first social media site I joined, about 13 years ago, when I was a teenager," she recalls. "It was a huge part of my growth as an artist, due to all the amazing free resources it had, from tutorials to brushes to stock. Plus, back then, DeviantArt had a great community. People really talked and interacted and had fun." Eventually, though, she felt the community had started to wane and turned her attentions elsewhere. "However, in the last year I've been working my way back into using DeviantArt, especially with its delightful rebrand," she says. "I came back primarily because DeviantArt is straightforward. There are no algorithms to game, it's well organised, and it's supportive of every type of art and writing I do." 04. The Dots Work by Joanna Kosinska on The Dots Launched in 2014, The Dots is an online professional network that aims to be "LinkedIn for creatives". And it's had a fair amount of success in doing so, attracting companies such as Google, Burberry, Sony Pictures, Viacom, M&C Saatchi, Warner Music, Tate, Discovery Networks and VICE to use it as a recruiting tool. There are lot of other things you can do on the platform besides just waiting to be offered a job, though. These include connecting with other creatives in your field, checking out people's side hustles, responding to requests for collaborations, keeping up to the latest events and more. It's very much a case, then, of what getting out what you put in. And unlike LinkedIn, every page you interact with is beautifully designed. Currently, most creatives seem to use The Dots as part of a self-promo mix, rather than focusing on it exclusively. Yorkshire-based freelancer Joanna Kosinska, for example, says: "I will post my work pretty much anywhere where I can gain traction, including The Dots, Behance, Dribbble, and Creativepool. "As a graphic designer and photographer, I have to put my name out there. So any platform that makes it easier to find my work is my friend, and I'll gladly invest time to create a profile and share projects." 05. Dribbble Work by Laundry on Dribbble Launched in 2009 by Dan Cederholm and Rich Thornett, Dribbble was never intended to be a straightforward portfolio site like Behance. Its specific angle was about teasing out small glimpses of what you were working on, when you were unable to share the whole project. Dribbble has since evolved beyond web and mobile app design to take in icon design, branding, animations, prototypes, illustrations, graphic art and other disciplines. But there's still a focus on informally sharing small screengrabs (known as 'Shots'), rather than setting out big and detailed images in an organised and carefully annotated way. As Albuquerque-based web designer Jack Harner puts it: "Dribbble feels more like a community than a portfolio site." That doesn't mean it's just designers talking to designers, though. The platform now actively helps companies such as Apple, Airbnb, Facebook, Google, Dropbox and Slack to hire designers, and many clients use it to find people to commission. "Dribbble has been a great platform for us to generate new business especially within the tech industry," says PJ Richardson, partner at Los Angeles design studio Laundry. "Very graphic and illustrated work seems to play the best, but we've also gotten new clients because of what we post there as well." For others like Nicola Jones, aka Hello I'm Nik Design, Dribbble is a place for posting work that doesn't fit in your main portfolio. "This is where I put my personal project illustrations, which is something I’d like to do more, so if I ever get any illustration enquiries I point them there. Illustration is more of a side thing for me, as I do brand and marketing design before all that for clients." 06. Behance Work by George Kofi Prah on Behance Behance is the closest thing on this list to a pure portfolio platform, but with a social aspect plugged in. Founded by Matias Corea and Scott Belsky in November 2005, the company was acquired by Adobe in 2012, and its reach has since become enormous. Unlike, say, Dribbble or Instagram, Behance offers a way to show more of your work than just a single, eye-grabbing image. As motion designer and 3D generalist Jesus Suarez explains: "Behance is great for sharing the making of and behind the scenes aspects. It allows for more complete look at the project." Of course, you could do all that on your own website, but the social aspects of Behance means that it's worth posting stuff there too, if even you're just duplicating the same content. It is an ideal place for us to share the behind-the-scenes and case study aspects of our projects PJ Richardson And that's exactly the approach Laundry takes, says Richardson. "Our Behance basically mirrors our company site," he explains, "but because it is so shareable and other creatives go to Behance for creative inspiration, it is an ideal place for us to share the behind-the-scenes and case study aspects of our projects." London-based illustrator, designer & photographer Tim Easley takes a similar view. "I use Behance for full projects alongside my website, because there’s a decent chance of being featured there, which brings in a lot of views," he says. While Cliff Nowicki, a web designer based in Michigan, USA says. "I use Behance because it's super easy to just put something up online." 07. Instagram Tim Easley's work on Instagram The rise of Dayflash (number one on our list) is a sign that a few people's love affair with Instagram is waning. But overall, Instagram remains far and away the most popular visuals-based social media platform today, and for most creatives, a presence of some sort on the image sharing platform remains a must. "While, Behance is great for sharing and getting your work in front of professional eyes, I tend to use Instagram mostly," says George Kofi Prah, designer at New York and LA branding agency loyalkaspar. "It's the perfect tool for creatives in the way that Spotify is for musicians. "It provides access to a much wider audience than any other platform and allows me to engage with literally anyone. Using hashtags makes being discovered and finding new and interesting things a lot easier." Ease of use is also an important factor for many. "I use Instagram, followed by The Dots, because these platforms are easier and more accessible in terms of commitment per post," says Welsh/Sri Lankan artist Murugiah. "Behance has too many fields to fill in per post!" We need to promote our work where our audience lives Amy Kilner For Amy Kilner, freelance designer and founder of inspiration blog The Design Fix, using Instagram is a no-brainer. "You have to remember we're designing for our clients' objectives, not other creatives," she points out. "So we need to promote our work where our audience lives. Don’t get me wrong, I love creative sites – I run my own, after all - but it’s not where my clients are!" Laundry follows the same logic, says Richardson. "Artists and clients alike all seem to go to Instagram for design and animation inspiration, which is why we use it," he reasons. "We've even landed projects from it and clients increasingly ask to track our work there. It's also the easiest to share and always has been. Additionally, it is easy to schedule posts without formatting problems." How to change the font in your Instagram bio Luke Manning, creative director of Pencil Studio, is primarily interested in getting work shared amongst the creative community, and for that it’s been Instagram and Twitter that have been the most effective, he says. "Our own posts have been picked up shared by popular design blog sites and we’ve even had direct contact by brand owners via sharing our latest projects," he explains. "I like Behance and how it works, but for us it is yet to be fruitful beyond having a place to store projects." And if you're wondering how to be successful on Instagram, we've got a guide packed full of pro tips on how to increase Instagram engagement. 08. LinkedIn Work by Ben the Illustrator on LinkedIn Even though it's had a total rebrand, LinkedIn doesn't immediately grab you as being a useful social platform for creatives. But art, design and filmmaking are businesses like any other, and many creative pros say they're making good use of LinkedIn regardless of what it looks like. Take Frank Suyker, aka Mr Sugar, an art director based in the Netherlands. "I use LinkedIn to get recurring revenue out of my existing clients," he explains. "By posting my blog posts on LinkedIn, I'm kept top of mind. And when they do have work that needs to be done, they come to me." Laundry has also made a shift to LinkedIn recently, which it has been actively using for the past year. "Facebook used to be a great place to share work but it became cluttered with ads and not design-focused posts," says Richardson. "in contrast, the very work-focused and curated nature of LinkedIn has made it a forum to share design, animation, and behind-the-scenes content, which has garnered a lot of great attention for us." Read more: The best social media schedulers in 2020 The ultimate guide to social media for creatives 8 brands that rule at social media View the full article

If, like us, you've found yourself looking back on simpler times lately, a new web-based app is almost guaranteed to raise a smile. It isn't quite a time machine, but will at least take you back to the early days of app design. Visit Icon Rewind on your iPhone, and you'll be greeted with what looks like an iPhone homescreen from around a decade ago, complete with retro icons for all your favourite apps (including Instagram, Netflix and YouTube) in all their 3D glory. It almost feels strange to recall a time before flat design became the norm. Which icons look more iconic? But the nostalgia trip doesn't end there – by tapping one of the icons, you can even save it to your own iPhone. It won't replace the existing icon, but instead create a shortcut to the app. Still, if you're so inclined, you could bundle the contemporary icons into a folder and banish it to some distant area of your homescreen. It isn't the most straightforward solution, but we're just here for the nostalgia. The old icons might look a little clunky and inconsistent against today's uniformly flat designs, but it's strangely comforting to see all that skeuomorphism – you can almost feel the texture of Instagram's 3D instant camera or YouTube's old TV. The Instagram logo has undergone one of the biggest transformations Icon Rewind is the 22nd "drop" from the mysterious MSCHF, which specialises in absurd and yes, mischievous, products and designs. Other drops have included Jesus shoes for "walking on water", and a rubber chicken-shaped bong (complete with squeak). And if you find today's flat design trend a little dull, you might be in luck – it's neumorphism that's got everyone talking in 2020. Perhaps in another 10 years we'll find ourselves fawning over a similarly retro collection of today's flat icons – and remembering simpler times. Related articles: These bad logo redesigns are the best (and worst) thing you'll see all day Is this what iOS 14 will look like? (We really hope so) You won't believe what Apple's next MacBook might look like View the full article

As an independent artist, I enjoy the creative process as much as the satisfaction of a finished painting. I prefer beginning my work in Photoshop because it gives me the freedom to experiment with various ideas quickly. Often, in this early stage of a piece, I like to explore abstract shapes in which I can find a theme or form I'm looking for. Over time I've taken this early digital stage of my process further from sketches, to fully concepting out an idea and finally, to inking a piece digitally. It wasn't until about a year ago that I came upon the idea that's now a part of my process: printing digital line-work on to watercolour paper using pigment-based ink. If you want to work your art skills, head over to learn the watercolour techniques every artist should know. Or, check out the best how to draw tutorials. Why print your line-work? When I first started experimenting with printing line-work, I used to take my watercolour paper to my local giclée printer. I recommend trying this method if possible before investing in a printer. Printing my line-work meant I not only saved time, but also fully re-embraced my love of the digital medium. Incorporating the two almost equally has improved my artwork as a whole because I'm able to explore an idea before paint touches paper. When it comes time to use my watercolours, I can relax and embrace the subtlety of the medium, knowing that most of the hard work has already been thought out. The completed project This article was originally published in issue 181 of ImagineFX, the world's best-selling magazine for digital artists. Buy issue 181 or subscribe to ImagineFX. Read more: Draw on the power of contrast in art The best digital art software for creatives in 2020 Art terms: The ultimate artist's glossary View the full article

Sliders in web design are one of the most controversial user interface units. Some people love them; some people hate them. The same goes to web developers: some developers cannot imagine a website without them; others never use them. The …View the full article

If you’re on the lookout for a fresh Gutenberg WordPress theme that will make your website look great but also give you rich customization options, then perhaps you should give Blocksy a look. In this Blocksy review, we take a …View the full article

A lack of awareness about where and how open-source libraries are being used is problematic, researchers say. View the full article

It's Memorial Day 2020 and the Apple Memorial Day sales are in full swing. So if you've been thinking of investing in some Apple kit, now's the time to buy. The launch of Apple's new 13-inch MacBook Pro 2020 earlier this month means there's some fantastic deals on last year's version of the awesome laptop. The best deal right now is from B&H Photo, where it has the 256GB 13-inch MacBook Pro reduced to $1,199 – an impressive $300 off. The MacBook Pro is one of the most powerful laptops, something that makes it a favourite for creatives. It's 13.3-inch Retina display allows you to see and show off design work in all its glory, and the 8th Gen Intel Core processor can handle even the most complex of creative tasks. Over at B&H Photo there are also some great discounts on iPads. The best deal sees a late 2018 11-inch iPad Pro on sale for just $799 (a $150 saving). We've also found a cracking Apple Watch 5 deal for just $299 – that's a massive $100 saving. These deals are only on until stocks lasts, so don't delay. Also, if you love a good deal, be sure to bookmark our Amazon Prime Day 2020 hub, where we hope to see even more great Apple offers. Browse MacBooks and iPads at Apple.com Apple Memorial Day sales 2020: The best deals View the full article

If you're anything like us, you probably sometimes wish you'd paid a little more attention in school. Thankfully, it's never too late to learn. Not only is this infographic the perfect way for children to master geometric shapes, but it's also a handy reminder for those of us who might have forgotten a thing or two. The complete guide to geometric shapes by AAA State of Play is illustrated in a delightful chalkboard style – perfect for little ones who are missing the classroom right now. It explores everything from one-sided to 20-sided shapes, along with information about the angles within each one. And maybe we're just big kids, but we found discovering each shape (it lost us after decadon) completely addictive. It's fascinating to see each polygon edge closer to a perfect circle with the addition of extra edges. Check out our roundup of the best infographics – or if you want to create your own, take a look at our pick of the best infographic tools. And then there's the names – most of us are familiar with pentagons and hexagons, but if you'd asked us to name a nineteen-sided shape before looking at this infographic, we have to admit that 'enneadecagon' might not have immediately jumped to mind. Scroll down to enjoy the infographic in all its quadrilateral glory. Read more: These bad logo redesigns are the best (and worst) thing you'll see all day How to get Disney Plus for free You won't believe what Apple's next MacBook might look like View the full article

The Apple Memorial Day sales are in full swing. Memorial Day 2020 and the launch of Apple's new 13-inch MacBook Pro 2020 earlier this month means there's some fantastic deals on last year's version of the awesome laptop. The best deal right now is from B&H Photo, where it has the 256GB 13-inch MacBook Pro reduced to $1,199 – an impressive $300 off. The MacBook Pro is one of the most powerful laptops, something that makes it a favourite for creatives. It's 13.3-inch Retina display allows you to see and show off design work in all its glory, and the 8th Gen Intel Core processor can handle even the most complex of creative tasks. Over at B&H Photo there are also some great discounts on iPads. The best deal sees a late 2018 11-inch iPad Pro on sale for just $799 (a $150 saving). We've also found a cracking Apple Watch 5 deal for just $299 – that's a massive $100 saving. These deals are only on until stocks lasts, so don't delay. Also, if you love a good deal, be sure to bookmark our Amazon Prime Day 2020 hub, where we hope to see even more great Apple offers. Browse MacBooks and iPads at Apple.com Apple Memorial Day sales 2020: The best deals View the full article

Welcome to our round up of the best Memorial Day sales 2020. Memorial Day is just around the corner (Monday, 25 May), and the sales are already in full swing. So if you've been wanting to get some quality kit for less, now's the time to buy. Here we've compiled the best Memorial Day deals on everything from laptops, tablets and monitors, to mattresses and home and garden furniture. The Memorial Day sales will take place right through the weekend, and we're going to curate the very best deals right here. If you want to browse around the shops, use the quick links below to head to your favourite retailers. Otherwise, scroll down for our pick of the best Memorial Day sales, which we will update as and when new offers arrive. This will be the last big US sale event until Amazon Prime Day 2020, so be sure to make the most of the deals while they last! Memorial Day sales 2020: Adorama – laptops, monitors and more with up to $300 savings Amazon – big savings on home items and appliances Apple – save on your old iPhone with select trade-ins B&H Photo – deals on laptops for creatives, with up to $300 off Best Buy – save up to $250 on TVs, laptops, appliances and more Dell – up to $250 off its brilliant XPS range of laptops Home Depot – up to 40% off tools, appliances, home furniture and more HP – weekly deals on laptops, desktops, monitors and more Huion – great entry level graphic tablets for under $50 Lenovo – massive savings on laptops: up to $800 savings! Mattress Firm - get top-rated mattress brands for up to 50% off! Microsoft – huge savings on select Surface Pro models and more Purple – save up $400 on quality mattresses Target – save up to 25% on patio items Tomtops – up to 52% off a huge range of accessories Wayfair – save up to 65% in Wayfair's huge outdoor sale Memorial Day sales 2020: Top picks Memorial Day sales 2020: All the best deals When is Memorial Day 2020? As well as being the unofficial start to summer, Memorial Day has been an American federal holiday that falls on the last Monday in May since the 19th century. It is a day that honours everyone who died while serving in the US military. This year Memorial Day is on Monday 25 May. When do the Memorial Day 2020 sales start? Many Memorial Day sales begin a whole week before the bank holiday, some won't begin in earnest until the weekend before. However, if you bookmark this page, we will be updating all the sales that we find from now until the end of the sales, usually at midnight on Memorial Day. It is the biggest sales event until Amazon Prime, so it's the perfect time to snap up a great saving if you don't want to wait until later this year. Related articles: Apple sale: 13-inch MacBook Pro gets a HUGE $400 price cut Shocking new iPhone 12 leaks suggest big design changes Create stunning designs with the big design graphic bundle View the full article

On the hunt for some Apple kit? You're in the right place. With the Memorial Day sales kicking off this weekend and Apple's new 13-inch MacBook Pro 2020 released earlier this month, there's some fantastic deals on last year's version of the awesome laptop. The best deal right now is from B&H Photo, where it has the 256GB 13-inch MacBook Pro reduced to $1,199 – an impressive $300 off. A slightly lower priced deal is on 2019's 128GB model of the 13-inch MacBook Pro on sale for $1,149. That's an impressive $150 saving, and currently the lowest price around. The MacBook Pro is one of the most powerful laptops, something that makes it a favourite for creatives. It's 13.3-inch Retina display allows you to see and show off design work in all its glory, and the 8th Gen Intel Core processor can handle even the most complex of creative tasks. Over at B&H Photo there are also some great discounts on iPads. The best deal sees a late 2018 11-inch iPad Pro on sale for just $799 (a $150 saving). These deals are only on until stocks lasts, so don't delay. Also, if you love a good deal, be sure to bookmark our Amazon Prime Day 2020 hub, where we hope to see even more great Apple offers. Browse MacBooks and iPads at Apple.com MacBook deals: iPad deals: Outside the US? Here are the best offers on these and similar devices in your area: View the full article

The best deals on the ever-popular Dell XPS 13, and its bigger brother the Dell XPS 15, can come and go in the blink of an eye, so we've updated this selection of the best prices on Dell's XPS 13 and XPS 15 laptops in May 2020. There are a few savings on great models that have caught our eye, detailed below, on two of Dell's best-selling and most popular laptops – the XPS 13 and XPS 15. The XPS 13, with its improved battery life, stunning visuals, HD webcam and sleek design, is a great choice for if you need an allrounder laptop. Whereas the XPS 15 is a great choice if you're looking for a step up, boasting oodles of power, stunning visuals and excellent design. And since you're in the mood to bag the best deals around, be sure to check out and bookmark our dedicated Amazon Prime Day 2020 page, where we'll be bringing you all the best deals when the big day comes around. US Dell XPS laptop deals View all of Dell's XPS laptop deals in the US UK Dell XPS laptop deals View all of Dell's XPS laptop deals in the UK If you live outside the US, there's no need to feel left out. Here are the best Dell XPS deals in your area, including a range of iterations of the ever popular XPS 13: Read more: The best laptops for under £500/$500 The best laptops for students in 2020 The best laptops for graphic design in 2020 View the full article

Are you looking for a bit of guidance on your next logo-making project? Do you need assistance with finding the best way to finesse your company's social media branding visually? You've come to the right place. The Ultimate Adobe Illustrator's Guidebook Certification Bundle brings you everything you need to start bringing your visuals to life – plus, it's currently price-dropped to only $34.99. Want to expand your Illustrator skills for free? Here's our roundup of the best Illustrator tutorials on the web. And here's how to download Illustrator right now. Learn the ins and outs of Adobe Illustrator Adobe Illustrator is one of the most-used design software programs in the world of design, making it an always evolving platform where there is still more to learn. Taught by top-rated industry professionals, this 51-hour guidebook certification course bundle will start by bringing you basic best practices and techniques to navigate the flagship platform. Throughout your journey of nine in-depth courses, you'll learn the ins and outs of logo design, digital design for graphic designers, understanding typography, how to transform your creations digitally, and more. You'll dive deep into advanced design concepts and learn how to market all your creative designs into platforms such as t-shirt designs, social media, websites, e-books, and so much more. Improve your design workflow Not only will you learn all of Illustrator's basic and advanced tools, but you'll also gain access to essential time-saving techniques for a productive workflow. Courses on how to make the software work for you and your needs will allow you to start building on time-saving design strategies that will take your business skills to another level. You'll be provided with hands-on tutorials on how to bring these practices into your current daily flow and make the best out of your current creative routine. Enhance your design portfolio Every course is packed with real-world design projects that let you practice what you learn. Redrawing famous logos, creating your own repeating wallpaper patterns, and practicing advanced anchor point/pen tool tricks are just a few of the assignments you'll be tasked with to learn the concepts head-on. With a certification of completion included at the end of all the courses, you'll gain a powerful résumé booster for your next job interview or project. The Ultimate Adobe Illustrator's Guidebook Certification Bundle brings you everything you need to jumpstart your creative career in Illustrator, or simply brush up on your design skills. Usually priced at $1,500, you can learn the industry-leading Adobe CC program for only $34.99 (that's 97 per cent off). Add valuable skills and credibility to your ongoing creative portfolio and start designing like a pro today. *Prices subject to change. Software not included. Read more: Illustrator alternatives: 6 of the best 10 top illustration trends for 2020 Find free vector art online: the 20 best sites View the full article

An investigation traces an NSO Group-controlled IP address to a fake Facebook security portal. View the full article

It's not often that a smoothie ad comes with a content warning on YouTube, but then this no ordinary smoothie ad. Swisse Me has released a rather fruity new promotion for its range of ready-to-drink smoothies, and it's got the UK's ad-clearance body a little hot under the collar. Subtly titled FOODPORN, the ad (below) shows various fruit looking somewhat suggestive. By which we mean downright dirty. Bananas are caressed, kiwis are groped and oranges are... violated. All in sensual slow-motion and with the aid of some creative lighting. It's all very naughty (like many of the best print ads), and if you thought Marks & Spencer's food ads were sexy, you've got another thing coming. According to PR week, the UK's clearance body Clearcast has deemed the ad unsuitable for pre-watershed viewing, suggesting it only be shown after 9pm thanks to the “sexual innuendo involving genitalia, breasts, and porn”. To be perfectly honest, we'd say it's all fun and games until the yoghurt comes out. Until then innuendo-laden direction is enjoyable artful yet cheeky. Did Swisse Me really have to reach for the yoghurt? Even if we're only looking at food, some things are best left to the imagination, lest they enter put-you-off-your-smoothie territory. No comment YouTubers seem to be enjoying the ad. "If an adult looks at it, it's clearly meant to be taken as innuendo," one comments, "but if a child looks at it it's just fun with fruit, making a mess." Another simply declared, "I love fruit and this video just confirmed that I need to eat more fruit." Job done. The video, created by UK agency PLAY, is by no means the first suggestive ad we've seen – even this year. This March, a German DIY brand's insect sex ad had us squirming in our seats. The most important thing to remember, of course, is to stay safe – as Durex's sexy new rebrand is here to remind us. Read more: Whimsical new KFC ad will brighten your day Is this Heinz ketchup puzzle the most infuriating jigsaw ever? Coronavirus-Olympics mash-up sparks outrage View the full article

Some logos should never have seen the light of day, and designers will be hyper-aware of the mistakes that litter the designs we see every day. Typography mismatches, ambiguous images – the list of potential design fails is endless, leaving designers itching to tweak and redesign what they see. Emanuele Abrate began 'fixing' the worst logos he had ever seen for his project: 'Worst Logos Ever Redesigned'. He chose nine of the most badly designed logos he could find (and truly, some of these designs are hilariously, and famously, bad – they definitely could have benefited from our logo design rules), then analysed the problems with the original logos, and set to work making them better. One thing the project has shown us is just how many logos contain a very specific unfortunate resemblance. What is going on in the design world? The Instituto de Estudos Orientais' famously ill-conceived logo has been cleaned up Kicking things off is a hilarious (and very well-known) example of ambiguous imagery, from Instituto de Estudos Orientais. We're sure there isn't a designer in the land who hasn't wanted to get their hands on this one, and we're happy to report it's been tackled here. As Abrate describes on his Behance page, though the shapes of the image are essential and simple, there's too much going on (as well as the obvious, and unfortunate visual connotations, of course). Abrate simplified the design, working with negative space, aligned the typography and switched it to a sans serif to 'better match the symbol'. Nothing could be saved from this design The original Computer Doctors' logo is a hot mess, with confusing typography, and a flaccid, almost-but-not-quite-computer mouse interrupting the key word. As Abrate says, 'nothing could be saved of this design', so he went for a totally new concept – with clean typography and a clever use of negative space to create a medical cross. No words. What is it, exactly, that Mama is baking here? And where? Something is on fire, and it ain't the design. This is another example of a logo famous for ambiguous imagery, and one so well-known that most designers probably have a bunch of ideas for how it could be transformed. Abrate 'decided to start from the figure of the oven mitt as an iconic symbol: an oven mitt that joins the figure of the heart to convey the sense of love and passion.' He also modernised the use of colour, and used a rounded, friendly font. The complete redesign project There are six more examples to explore over on Abrate's Behance page, including well-known and not so famous designs, plus mock-ups showing the logos in situ on products and business cards. Redesigning logos is a great creative exercise, and finding your own angle for approaching a redesign project creates more interest – like these coronavirus logos. Not only is a project like this a fun way to flex your creative muscles, it's also a fascinating problem solving exercise and a provides a welcome challenge to see how you measure up against other pros. Plus, it's a creative way to flaunt your design skills and personal style. Would you have approached these designs in a different way? Read more: 6 magnificently minimal logos The best logo designer: the best paid-for and free logo designer software Where to find logo design inspiration View the full article

A brand new collaborative platform dedicated to destigmatising mental illness has launched to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week, featuring a striking identity designed by Pentagram partner Paula Scher and fashion designer Kenneth Cole. The Mental Health Coalition unites the leading US mental health organisations, along with advocates and celebrities (such as Whoopi Goldberg and Kendall Jenner), all dedicated to changing the way people talk about mental health. The new identity's logo (below) centres around the phrase "square peg in a round hole", representing the fact that there is "no normal" when it comes to mental health. It's a strikingly bold look – check out our logo design guide for more inspiring designs. With its bright colours and tall, bold typography, Scher describes the identity as "exactly what you wouldn't expect from a mental health site", and we're loving the empowering design. According to Pentagram, the Mental Health Coalition is hoping that the 'square peg' icon "will become the global symbol for mental health" – an ambitious aim, but perhaps it could one day become a universally recognisable design. The circular icon is also skilfully integrated into the coalition's wider campaign. It takes the place of the 'o' in the logo for the coalition's new digital storytelling platform called How Are You Really? – which encourages those with mental health challenges to share their own stories. “I like the way that Pentagram captured the ‘How Are You, Really?’ identity, as distinct from but still cohesive with the Mental Health Coalition,” says Cole. "It will be a hub for oftentimes serious discussion, but it is also interwoven with pops of colour and fun to lighten the mood and increase engagement.” Check out our best web design tools if you're inspired to create your own masterpiece. We love the bold, empowering design For us, this empowering new identity is another winner from Pentagram. We loved its recent simple rebrand for Blood Cancer UK last month, as well as its nautical new look for publisher Thames & Hudson. But while its track record is generally top-notch, even Pentagram can make the odd misstep – this year's TrueCar rebrand failed to reinvent the wheel. Read more: Whimsical new KFC ad will brighten your day Is this Heinz ketchup puzzle the most infuriating jigsaw ever? We love the new Cadbury logo – but is there a problem? View the full article

Laptops will always be popular for creative work, because you never know where you’ll need to work or present ideas – but when you’re not moving around, you need a bigger display. That’s why we’ve collected the best monitors for MacBook Pros, the perennial laptop staple of all kinds of creatives. What makes a great display for a MacBook Pro? The main things we’re looking at are: colour accuracy; resolution; brightness; ergonomics; connectivity; resolution; and budget. But the balance of these that best suits you will come down your own requirements. We’ve looked at the best monitors for MacBook Pro options to fill a bunch of needs here, whatever your priority: from perfect colours, to affordable 4K, to pro-level HDR, to high-capacity connectivity, to ultrawide monitors with more space for tools… we’ve got it all (if you want to charge your laptop at the same time, be sure to check out our round-up of the best USB-C monitors too). But with all our picks, we’ve started from the assumption that you’re looking for reliable colour reproduction and that you want some extra connectivity, so that they’re more like docking stations for extra equipment you don’t take away with your MacBook Pro. Those are the minimum – from there, you can just see which of these best suits your working needs. The best monitors for MacBook Pro This screen was developed by Apple and LG together, so it couldn’t be a better fit for a MacBook Pro. You can connect it over a single cable that delivers up to 85W of power to your laptop (enough for even the 16-inch MacBook Pro), plus sends video out from your MacBook to its 4K display, and can carry data to accessories too. The UltraFine 4K is more than a monitor – it’s also a Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C hub. The giant bandwidth of Thunderbolt means you can daisy chain this to a second 4K display still running off that single cable to your MacBook Pro – or plug in loads of external storage, connection hubs, cabled internet… whatever you need. It’s a 24-inch screen with a resolution of 3840x2160, so it’s highly detailed, and supports the DCI-P3 gamut. Its brightness of 500cd/m2 is strong as well. And if you need more space, there’s a 27-inch 5K version, with a resolution of 5120x2880 – enough to display a 4K video at full size and still have some control panels around it when video editing. Hands down, one of the best monitors for MacBook Pro around. It’s no surprise that the best monitor for creatives who need a screen to meet exacting standards is one that’s damn expensive. The big draw here is the self-calibrating nature of the screen – a built-in sensor will run regular checks to ensure what you’re seeing is what you should be seeing. Eizo’s specialist software helps you choose the colour profile you want to work to, as well. The resolution is DCI Cinema 4K (4096x2160), in a 31.1-inch screen – you’re getting a lot of real estate to work in here. It also has HLG HDR support for video compositing and grading (though the brightness isn't HDR rated), with 10-bit colour support and 98% DCI-P3 and 99% Adobe RBG coverage. Overkill? For some. For others, the exact correct amount of kill. If you can’t spare the capital for the higher-end monitors here, this gives you a great screen to work on without busting the budget. This aims to be professional grade, delivering 100% sRGB colour gamut coverage and Delta E of less than 2 (so its colour accuracy should be indistinguishable from perfect to the human eye). Being a smaller 24-inch model with 1920x1080 resolution, it’s made for photographers or designers to focus on getting the looks perfect – you could see more detail from a 4K monitor, but something had to go for this price, and 1080p is still more than enough for a lot of people. It also has ergonomic features to adjust height, tilt, pivot and swivel. It’s a great package for the price. Dell’s monitors tend to be practical, and we mean that in the best way. This gives you 99.9% sRGB coverage (at Delta E < 2 accuracy) and a 3840x2160 4K screen that’s a generous 27 inches in size – it’s a lot of workspace for the money. On top of that, you’ve got height, tilt, pivot and swivel adjustment options, so it’s easy to work ergonomically with it. It supports HDR, though its brightness rating of 350cd/m2 isn’t high enough to do professional justice there. But if you need something packed with detail that can be made to suit any physical working environment without being a ludicrous price, this is a great buy. We should say up front that we’re not claiming that this is a replacement for a reference monitor when we say it’s great for video pros – we’re looking at the more attainable end of things… emphasis on the ‘more’ rather than the ‘attainable’ there, we admit. One of the best monitors for MacBook Pro, this product is made for 4K HDR video – its resolution of 3840x2160 at 32 inches lets you see everything that’s up on screen, and its HDR1000 rating means it can show you HDR at full whack, backed up by 95% DCI-P3 colour support (and 99.5% Adobe RGB, 100% sRGB). The really key thing here is its mini-LED full-array backlight – this enables highly localised dimming of the backlight in areas where your footage needs to show dark areas, but should also be good for even colour reproduction for still images. There are 384 dimming zones, which will still mean a small amount of blooming when light and dark areas are next to each other, but in general enables true high contrast. If you need even more precision, the ASUS ProArt PA32UCX-K is the even more pro version of this, hitting 99% P3 coverage and an astounding 1,152 local dimming zones in the mini-LED backlight. This is, to be clear, over twice as many as you get in Samsung’s flagship 8K TVs – we're talking about the real good stuff here. Ultrawide monitors are great for productivity because they can basically be dual-monitor setups but take up less space. This screen is 35 inches diagonally, but is a pretty standard monitor height – it’s just wider. The resolution of 3440x1400 gives you much more space for keeping more tool palettes visible (or reference material, or email, or video conferencing, or anything else you need) right alongside your canvas. 100% sRGB coverage means you can see colours just how you need them, and there’s even HDR support (though, again, the brightness is too low for meaningful use of it for video work). It also supports up to 100Hz refresh rates, so digital artists looking for minimal lag will find a friend here (or it doubles nicely as a gaming display). Read more: The best laptop for graphic design How to calibrate your monitor The best 4K monitors for designers and artists View the full article