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We’re big fans of Studio Ghibli’s weird and wonderful output, from the enchanting Spirited Away to the beautiful yet tragic Grave of the Fireflies. In a world of digital effects, its mostly hand-drawn aesthetics are a breath of fresh air, and offer an escape from the real world that's particularly welcome right now. So we were super-excited to discover an exclusive four-part documentary on the studio's co-founder Hayao Miyazaki has just been made completely free to stream online. Originally released in 2019 by Japanese broadcaster NHK, 10 Years With Hayao Miyazaki chronicles the life and creative process of the legendary Japanese animator. (We can't all be Hayao Miyazaki, but we can certainly direct you to some great how to draw tutorials if you're eager to learn). Check out the trailer for the documentary below. Try Disney Plus for free for 7 days! The documentary was over a decade in the making. Starting in 2088, Miyazaki allowed a single documentary filmmaker to shadow him at work as he devised what would become his blockbuster, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea. As well as exploring his creative process, the documentary sheds some light on Miyazaki's personal life. We see the filmmaker butting heads with his son, Goro as they work together on 2011's From Up on Poppy Hill. The documentary is a fascinating insight into the mind and process of a filmmaking legend, and a must for Studio Ghibli fans – or anybody with an interest in animation. Stream it for free over on the NHK website. Whether you're an old or new Ghibli fan, the studio's filmography is almost guaranteed to spirit you away with its kaleidoscopic visuals and fantastical plots. Thank goodness, then, the whole lot is now available to stream on Netflix. The films have been arriving on the platform over the last few months, with the final seven dropping on 1st April – which means there are over twenty now available for your viewing pleasure. While this sadly doesn't apply to users in the USA and Canada, don't despair – all of the Studio Ghibli films are scheduled to appear on HBO Max when the new streaming service launches next month. Whether we really need a new streaming service is a question for another time – but those 21 Studio Ghibli definitely make it a more enchanting proposition. Related articles: 11 top animation tools for digital artists Netflix wins rights to Studio Ghibli films 24 cool CSS animation examples to recreate View the full article

The Microsoft Exchange vulnerability was patched in February and has been targeted by several threat groups. View the full article

A first impression counts in almost all situations, and email marketing is no exception. While some may think that this impression is primarily produced by the design and content displayed inside the most viewed part of the email newsletter, this …View the full article

Android apps launched for citizens in Iran, Colombia and Italy offer cyberattackers new attack vectors. View the full article

These might be strange times, but the Apple rumour mill certainly hasn't stopped for breath. From iPhone 12 concepts to the will-they-won't-they drama of the still unannounced budget iPhone 9, there's been no shortage of speculation among Apple fans over the past few weeks. And today is no exception, with an intriguing iOS 14 concept design thrown into the ring. 9to5Mac reported over the weekend that Apple is working on the first ever widgets for the iOS home screen, and UX designer Parker Ortolani has mocked up a beautiful concept to show us all what these could look like. Ortolani has imagined a framework for developers called Springkit, which would allow them to create three types of home screen view for apps: the standard static icon, a live version of the icon which can display (you guessed it) live information, and a new, full size widget. Looking for iOS apps? Check out our best iPhone apps for designers. Click top right corner to enlarge image In Ortolani's example (above), the Weather app is now a live icon (the size of two standard icons), displaying live weather conditions, while the Activity app is now a full-size widget spanning the length of the entire screen with daily exercise information (we might 'forget' to activate that one). Also according to 9to5Mac, Apple is planning a few changes to the home screen with iOS 14. As well as widgets, it is also working on more wallpaper features including the option to blur the existing wallpaper on the home screen view (while maintaining the original on the lock screen). This makes sense – a busy wallpaper can make navigating icons a little confusing. A leaked screenshot of iOS 14's wallpaper selection screen As with all Apple rumours, it remains to be seen whether these upgrades will see the light of day, but it's always fun to speculate in the meantime. Last week, we saw a brilliant iPhone 12 concept, which did away with the notch completely. And let's not forget, as shown by the recently-announced iPad Pro Magic Keyboard with built-in trackpad, rumours can sometimes become reality. Related articles: iPhone 11 Pro review 25 stunning iOS app icon designs How to make an app for iOS, Android or desktop View the full article

Learning how to draw perspective correctly could change your entire drawing process. Whether drawing traditionally with pencil and paper, or digitally using a graphics tablet, I still construct even the most complicated scenes entirely using the draughting techniques of the horizon line and vanishing points that most people will have learnt in art class. This might seem strangely over-complicated, when it's so easy to quickly mock up a basic version of the scene using 3D modelling programs to guide your drawing, but when you set out a perspective drawing by hand, you give yourself some flexibility in interpreting the method. In following and often slightly bending these rules, you enrich the narrative composition of the image by adding depth, drama and atmosphere. Here are some of the methods that I use most frequently, including one-point perspective and two-point perspective. Also read our guide to the art techniques you need to know, and our roundup of the best how to draw tutorials. The final image, based on the initial perspective drawing above This article was originally published in issue 301 of Computer Arts magazine. Buy issue 301. Read more: The essential guide to foreshortening in art Google's art app turns you into a masterpiece The best pencils for colouring, drawing and sketching View the full article

With people around the world staying at home in order to slow the spread of coronavirus, we've seen lots of brilliant responses from the creative community over the past few weeks. From online drawing lessons to free software, there are now tons of ways to stay inspired at home. And now, Colchester's Firstsite gallery has brought together a crack team of UK artists for a series of activity packs called Art is Where the Home is. The first activity pack is now available to download, and features creative prompts and activities from twelve artists including Antony Gormley, Gillian Wearing and Jeremy Deller. Perhaps the most immediately apparent thing about the document is that it looks like a work of art itself. With its stark, monochrome design, we can certainly tell that this was produced by a gallery. But don't worry, as well as looking beautiful, the pack was clearly designed to be accessible and fun – particularly for children. You don't need any artistic experience to take part (although you should definitely check out our how to draw tutorials if you're keen to learn). The front cover of the activity pack The pack begins with series of prompts (below) from Jeremy Deller, inviting budding artists to "close your eyes and draw a self-portrait", "write a poem in praise of the toilet roll," and more. Things get even craftier elsewhere, with Anthony Gormley offering a lesson in paper chain-making, and Michael Landy encouraging us to build a tower of toilet roll squares because "the grown-ups have bought too much". Many of the activities are guaranteed to raise a smile, such as Gillian Landy's (below), in which we are given template of somebody holding a sign, and asked to draw our own face and write a positive message "to cheer someone up". A few of Jeremy Deller's prompts The packs are designed to be dipped into as you please: "You can choose to do one or two of them, or all of them," the introduction reads. "You can do them on your own or with other people, morning, noon or night." Budding artists are encouraged to share their work online, either with Firstsite's social media accounts, or via its online studio. "Cheer someone up by filling in the blank sign with encouraging words and draw your face on top" - Gillian Wearing It's truly heartening to see so many so many artists continue to inspire creativity while we're all stuck at home – we've put together a list of the best free resources you can enjoy during this time. If the first pack is anything to go by, Firstsite and its artists' offering will be enough to keep people busy and creative for days. You can download the first Art is Where the Home is activity pack on the gallery's website. Now, if you'll excuse us, we're off to write a poem in praise of the toilet roll. Related articles: Netflix concept ads will ruin your day Iconic logos reimagined for the age of coronavirus Illustrator gives free drawing lessons to inspire kids stuck at home View the full article

Many content creators do colour grading every day without realising they're doing it. Changing levels or curves in Photoshop is colour grading. Deciding to take a photograph in black and white is colour grading. Adjusting a person's face colour in After Effects is another excellent example of colour grading. While there are software packages that excel at helping artists change and adjust colour, colour grading really applies to the creative thought process in why colour needs to be adjusted, rather than colour correction, which is making images' work' (see our best photo editing apps for more on this). In this article, I will look at why we need colour grading, and how colour grading can have an intentionally dramatic effect in film and photography. Finally, we will look at some of the best software tools to help with colour grading for video and photography, of which some of the best are free. Is colour grading necessary? A page from the book 'To Infinity and Beyond!: The Story of Pixar Animation Studios' by Karen Paik shows a Pixar Colour script from The Incredibles Colour grading can be used denote mood, character and time. Considering a colour look for a creative project before production is an essential part of any process. Pixar, one of the masters of storytelling, creates a range of colour scripts before production commence, which indicate the colour palette that will be used for each scene. This ensures that the colour is helping to tell the story rather than fight against it. What's the difference between colour correction and colour grading? Colour grading is more about style than 'fixing' things in an image Even though the tools and software are the same, the difference between colour correction and colour grading is the mental approach taken by the creative team. Colour correction includes tasks like removing spots and dust from an image, removal of skins marks and cropping and composition of the picture. Colour correction is also applicable to making footage from different cameras 'match' so that when the colour grader is applied, a consistent look can be achieved throughout a scene. Colour grading is adjusting the image in specific ways to create a stylistic effect. For example 'crushing' the blacks of an image to make it feel contemporary, or taking the matched shots from a camera and tracking and lightening main characters face so that they stand out. The one essential thing is making sure that any colour choice, whether for colour correction or grading, is made using non-destructive methods. If a camera has a neutral colour or flat profile, or a log profile use that. Render CG using a file type that can support as high a bit depth as the equipment can handle. This will ensure the maximum amount of flexibility in both colour processes. Want to improve your photography? See our post on how to boost your photography skills. What is cinematic colour grading? In cinema, colour grading is a creative choice taken by a creative individual or team on how best to represent the story being told by the use of colour. Naturally, colour grading is heavily influenced by decisions made on set by the director of photography (DOP) and the director. If the production pipeline has ensured that they have been shooting in the most flexible way possible (for example RAW recording or shooting in LOG format), this means that decisions can be made regarding colour grading all the way through to the final edit. CG artists are acutely aware of the need to accommodate colour grading workflows, so use file formats such as EXRs, which store a wide range of colour data. Workflows are being developed like the ACES (Academy Color Encoding System) to ensure colour accuracy across as many different input formats as possible, which will hopefully make colour work less about correction and more about colour grading. Because colour grading is primarily an emotional polish on a film, many feature films leave the colour grade to the very end of the production process. Colour grading will involve the director sitting in a dark room with the colour grader, this can be a standalone post (or the editor on smaller productions) making changes to affect the mood of the entire film. Colour grading in cinema (and TV) can be controversial especially as cinemas and TV look to formats such as HDR. An example of where a colour grade was potentially pushed too far was the Game of Thrones episode The Long Night. Here a beautifully graded episode in the colour suite was rendered muddy and blocky by people watching the episode on regular TVs. What is colour grading in photography? Before (left) and after colour grading (right) Photography is another area where colour grading is hugely influential. Adjusting the mood of a food shot to greener hues may make a salad look tastier for an Instagram shot. Adding some blue to the shadows of a photograph will evoke a more urban look. The use of filters in Instagram and other online social apps is very basic colour grading. As there is a conscious decision being made to adjust the look of the photograph to better represent what the photographer wants. Never be afraid to press the edit button in Instagram and become a power colour grader. How to change the font in your Instagram bio The other big colour grading choice with photography, of course, is whether to shoot in black and white. The choice to use black and white in this age of digital colour is a purely aesthetic one. Therefore it falls under the 'definition' of colour grading, as elements like composition and texture become much more important. Fuji cameras, for example, are popular with their owners not just because of their retro industrial design; but because they offer a range of in-built looks. These looks very closely mimic those of older film stocks and therefore colour grade the inbuilt image accordingly. See our roundup of the best cameras for more on different camera types. Best tools for colour grading The Industry standard Blackmagic Design's DaVinci Resolve offers a professional-grade colour grading and editing toolset for absolutely nothing For moving image content creators there is no better piece of software to learn colour grading on than Blackmagic Design's Davinci Resolve. Davinci Resolve started its life as a colour grading tool, which worked with impressive hardware colour wheel desks. Blackmagic Design has added VFX and editing features to resolve to make it a powerhouse creative tools. The best thing of all is that it is free for any artist on Mac, Windows and Linux. For photographers, there are a wide range of tools available, as mentioned above, don't dismiss the edit tools in apps like Instagram. Snapseed from Google is another excellent colour grading tool available for Android and iOS. On the desktop, Capture One is a fantastic photography editing tool that offers professional-grade toolsets with a similar 'page' approach to DaVinci Resolve. Read more: 7 colour trends to watch in 2020 The 10 best 3D movies of 2020 Portrait photography: How to take perfect portraits View the full article

You may have dreamed of working from home for ages, or you might love studio life so much that it's never even occurred to you. Thanks to Covid-19, though, working from home is almost certainly your reality right now, and you might be having trouble adjusting. No matter whether you're a junior designer or an art director, the sudden shift to working from home can be discombobulating, and the hardest part can be coping with all the distractions that you don't get when you're working in a studio with like-minded colleagues. To help you adjust, here are six top tips that'll help you stay focused for the duration. How to work from home more productively 01. Get comfortable This might be your preferred method of working on day one, but you're going to need a more ergonomic setup If you're an established home worker than you probably already have a comfortable and ergonomic working setup that enables you to get everything done without wrecking your posture; if you've suddenly had working from home thrust upon you, you might not be so lucky. And while working on the sofa with your laptop on a coffee table may be an acceptable short-term solution, sooner or later you're going to feel the effects. In an ideal world you'd equip yourself with one of the best office chairs you can afford and a desk to go with it; realistically you may have to improvise. A straight-backed chair (with perhaps a couple of cushions added) and a kitchen or dining table should do the trick, enabling you to work in comfort for the duration, without building up an exciting collection of aches and pains. 02. Close down unnecessary apps The modern computer is a wonderful and versatile tool that's been an absolute boon for designers, but it's also an extremely efficient distraction device. And while this is unlikely to be a problem when you're in the creative zone and the pixels or vectors are flowing smoothly, there are plenty of other times when you're simply not feeling the job you're working on and suddenly you've wasted an hour on the web. The easy solution to this is to just shut down the stuff you don't need while you're trying to focus on work. Close your web browser, your email, Slack, Discord and any other potential time-wasters, and keep open the ones you need to get your work done; while you're at it, put your phone in Do Not Disturb mode. You might miss an important email for a bit, but it'll still be there when you've finished. 03. Make a to-do list A to-do list is the simplest and most effective way of ensuring you get things done Without the structure of studio life it can be hard to focus on what you need to do each day, and if you don't have a clear view of that day's tasks it's all too easy to procrastinate. So, start each day by writing out a list of what you have to do – perhaps adding estimates of how long you think each item will take so that you don't overload yourself – and then work through it, crossing each task off as you complete it. It may seem overly simplistic, but when you're at home and feeling disconnected from your usual working environment, it's easy to let things slide; having a to-do list is a great way of keeping yourself honest. 04. Take regular breaks When you look at your average working day in a studio, it's not non-stop work; there are plenty of natural breaks throughout the day, whether they're for getting refreshments or chatting with colleagues about what was on TV last night. Nobody can sit in front of a computer non-stop every day – at least, not for very long – and so you need to make sure you're getting up at least once an hour to take a break, and maybe get out for a bit of exercise while you're at it. This isn't always feasible, of course; if you find that you've hit your stride on a project then it pays to keep going for longer, because the last thing you want is to take a break, come back to it and find that you've lost your momentum. For the most part, though, regular screen breaks are an essential way to take a breather, clear your head for a bit and then get back to work refreshed and focused. 05. Shut the door Sometimes you need to just shut yourself away from all those household distractions If you live alone then you don't need to worry about getting distracted by other people; however if you're sharing your home with other people, whether they're housemates, partners or families, there's plenty of potential for distraction. And don't overlook the likelihood of pets demanding your attention, too. When you need to focus, you might need to impose a bit of office structure and shut yourself away for a bit; explain that you need to work without distraction for a while, close the door and get on with it. Remember, though, to emerge when it's time for a break, especially if you have kids who don't necessarily understand your need to sequester yourself all day. 06. Get some noise-cancelling headphones Still having trouble concentrating on work? Maybe you just need a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. Whether it's bored kids, housemates listening to music or an outraged cat howling outside your office door, there are any number of noisy distractions around the house that you can only shut down with decent headphones equipped with active noise control. You might use them to put a playlist of background music, or you might prefer some soothing white or pink noise to help you concentrate. But if the noise cancellation's up to snuff then merely having them on without any sound playing can do a great job of eliminating unwanted sonic distraction; you can find our pick of the best noise-cancelling headphones here. Related articles: 12 tips for the work-at-home ninja The best office stationery for working from home 6 ways to make money from home as a creative View the full article

More zero-day exploits coming up for sale by NSO Group and others is democratizing the attack vector and placing them within reach of less sophisticated attackers. View the full article

The FBI is cracking down on the practice of Zoom bombing, saying the hijacking of web conferences can be punishable by jail time. View the full article

The white hat hacker who discovered the vulnerabilities received a $75,000 from Apple's bug-bounty program. View the full article

The attacks are being carried out against Chinese government interests worldwide, according to Qihoo 360. View the full article

Did you know that learning a new language has benefits for everyone, from young to old? The Journal of Experimental Child Psychology published a study showing that, on tasks requiring their working memory, bilingual children outperformed monolingual ones. While, in the largest study so far, scientists discovered that monolingual speakers tend to develop dementia as much as five years earlier than people who speak more than one language. There are all kinds of reasons to learn a new language. It's actually been proven to improve your memory, or even keep dementia at bay. Using an app like Babbel (one of the best language learning apps) can make it a lot easier for you. Other studies show benefits of increased cognitive abilities, attention spans, multi-tasking skills, even developing a bigger brain! And, of course, it is also useful for preparing to travel or communicating better with friends and family. The Babbel app takes advantage of today's advanced technology to let you learn new languages more efficiently. And you can currently get the app at a whopping 60 per cent discount– bringing the price of a lifetime subscription down from $399 to $159. How does Babbel teach you a language? With lessons that are only 10 to 15 minutes long, you can fit them in almost any time. And the skill levels go all the way from total beginner to advanced. So if you already have skills that just need to be built upon, or you're starting from scratch, you will easily progress from one stage to the next. Babbel's lessons focus on practical conversation. Instead of learning random vocabulary, you will become confident when speaking about business, transportation, lodging, dining, shopping, asking for directions and much more. One of the features that makes Babbel an effective language tool is its capacity for personalisation. The speech recognition technology allows your pronunciation to be tested, so you get as close as possible to the way it's supposed to be. The review sessions, as well, are tailored to reinforce the things you need to learn so that they stick with you. Babbel can be used offline, so you aren't limited to practicing only when you have access to the internet. You can download courses, lessons and review items beforehand and access them in offline mode. Between that and being able to sync across devices, you can pretty much study whenever and wherever it's convenient for you. You can learn Italian, French, Spanish, German and more, for a total of 14 languages. The retail price for a lifetime subscription to all the languages is $399. But you can save $249 dollars by taking advantage of the 60% discount being offered today, and get the lifetime subscription for only $159. Read more: The best mindfulness apps in 2020 How to make your app accessible The best travel laptops of 2020 View the full article

UK charity Bloodwise has revealed a brand new name as well as a new visual identity designed by Pentagram's Marina Willer. Now known as Blood Cancer UK, the charity hopes its new, descriptive name will help it reach the people who need the people who need it most. At the centre of the new visual identity is the logo: a hand-drawn heart, placed at an angle so as to also resemble the letter 'B'. It's an ingeniously simple design that not only emphasises the charity's name and focus on blood cancer, but also conveys a sense of kindness and compassion. According to Pentagram, the 'B' also stands for the word 'Because', which is the focus of the charity's latest poster campaign. Looking for more logo design inspiration? Check out our best logos of all time. The charity's new name and logo The new posters, each containing a sentence starting with the word 'Because', highlight the charity's various activities from funding research to emotional and practical support. One reads, "Because we research, we care, we support", while others emphasise the personal impetus behind Blood Cancer UK's work by simply using names ('Because of Carol'). Part of Blood Cancer UK's 'Because' campaign Founded in 1960, the charity supports those who have been affected by blood cancer, as well as funding research. While there are several charities working in this area, Blood Cancer UK is the only one that claims to provide funding and support for all the different types of blood cancer (of which there are over 100). The charity's name change is its second in five years (before Bloodwise it was known as Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research). According to a blogpost on Blood Cancer UK's website, it realised the 'Bloodwise' name was holding it back. In contrast to other charities, the charity had recently seen its donations fall. "Many people didn’t realise we were a blood cancer charity. We wanted to make sure our name makes it as obvious as possible what we do." One of the new posters designed by Pentagram "While the prognosis is positive," says Pentagram, "there is still much work to do." We're big fans of Blood Cancer UK's new identity. The new name makes its purpose much clearer, as does the logo – which even manages to use a blood-red colour in a way that doesn't make us feel squeamish. If we had one criticism, we'd say the heart symbol could potentially be confused with The British Heart Foundation's, although the hand-drawn nature certainly sets it apart. Ultimately, it's a simple yet emotive mark that conveys a sense compassion for those requiring the charity's services as it continues its vital work. Related articles: Durex rebrand hits the spot with a sexy new logo Polaroid rebrand is an instant pick-me-up Where to find logo design inspiration View the full article

During life under lockdown, you can approach TV in two different ways. You can stay glued to rolling news from morning to night, until you’re thoroughly miserable. Or you can focus on the positive: you finally have time to catch up on those streaming boxsets friends have been urging you to watch. But what happens when you’ve finished those? While the Netflix interface is great at letting you search by title, keyword, actor or genre, the one category you’re really interested in, 'good', isn’t actually listed. So let us help. In this post, we’ve unearthed the true, rare gems amongst the hundreds of TV shows dumped on Netflix. These 20 boxsets, beginning with the most recent, and finishing with a few genuine classics, cover a wide range of genres, but are united by one thing: they’re all absolutely first-class. If you've got more time on your hands, also check out our collection of how to draw tutorials. 01. Next in Fashion Next in Fashion is a cut above other reality shows Genre: Reality contest Number of seasons: 1 What happens: Fashion designers compete for big money Why watch it?: It’s colourful, glamorous and super-inspiring Watch in UK Watch in US Broadly speaking, there are two kinds of reality TV. There’s the Kardashians type, where there’s a lot of arguing, but not much actually happens. Then there’s the Bake Off or MasterChef approach, where people step out of their comfort zone, improve their skills, and take you with them on their emotional journey. Next in Fashion lies in the latter category, as a group of fashion designers compete for $250K and the chance to become “the next big thing in fashion”. Two things in particular make this show stand-out: the diversity of the contestants, and the imaginative brilliance of their creations. So even if you’re not at all interested in fashion, or think you don’t like reality TV, believe us: watch just one episode of this show, and you’ll be hooked. 02. The Stranger The Stranger is full of thrilling twists and turns Genre: Thriller Number of seasons: 1 What happens: A stranger goes around town revealing people’s secrets Why watch it?: Every second is filled with intrigue and excitement Watch in UK Watch in US American novelist Harlan Coben is one of the century’s greatest crime writers, but it’s taken a long time for his books to be successfully adapted for TV. Finally, however, Netflix has bottled his genius into a series of UK-set dramas: The Five (no longer available), Safe and most recently and compellingly, The Stranger. In this eight-part series, Hannah John-Kamen is entrancing as the mystery woman who goes around town revealing people’s secrets. This causes a whirlwind of tragic consequences, played out compellingly by top-class actors including Richard Armitage, Dervla Kirwan, Jennifer Saunders, Stephen Rea and Anthony Stewart Head. All in all, this show rises above the norm due to its perfectly formed plotting, its grounded sense of realism, and its empathy for the characters, who invariably come across as sympathetic; even the wrong’uns. 03. You You is captivatingly sinister Genre: Dark drama Number of seasons: 2 What happens: A sociopath creepily inserts himself into a woman’s life Why watch it?: It’s super-tense and full of surprises Watch in UK Watch in US Ever wondered what it’s like inside the head of a sociopath? If not, then maybe give this one a miss. But if you’re intrigued by the idea of a stalker explaining, carefully and methodically, the creepy methods he uses, you’ll find this dark and disturbing drama a wild and fascinating ride. Be warned: none of the characters in this New York-set drama are at all likeable, which is kind of the point. But with its talented cast, nuanced social commentary, and stunning cinematography, You is compelling from start to finish. Plus you’ll learn plenty about the art of preserving old books along the way. 04. Sex Education Sex Education isn't perfect, but it's tons of fun Genre: Comedy drama Number of seasons: 2 What happens: A tough girl sets up a nerdy lad as a sex therapist Why watch it?: It’s funny, smart and very sexy Watch in UK Watch in US The polar opposite to the darkness of You, Sex Education is a colourful, fun and sexually explicit comedy-drama that will put a smile on your face and make you forget all your lockdown woes. It follows a nerdy but empathetic lad, who’s enlisted by a tough teenage girl to sell their fellow pupils sex therapy sessions. And yes, that’s as ridiculous as it sounds... but it’s very entertaining nonetheless. Admittedly, this show is not perfect. For a start, this allegedly British school looks very much like an American one, with its pep rallies, Letterman jackets and focus on the swim team and school band. We also don’t understand how these kids, with their working-class accents and attitudes, mostly seem to live in ski lodges and millionaire mansions. But you quickly forget all of that, because the story does such a good job of capturing the emotional whirlwind that is being a teenager. You’ll soon start to care deeply about these carefully drawn characters, and crave to find out what happens to them next. Or at the very least, you’ll be reminded how glad you are not to be at school any more. 05. Star Trek Discovery (not USA) You don’t need to be a Star Trek fan to enjoy Discovery Genre: Sci-fi Number of seasons: 2 What happens: War erupts between two galactic empires Why watch it?: It’s engaging drama with great storylines Watch in UK There’s been an awful lot of Star Trek since the original show in the 1960s. In the 1970s came the spin-off movies, books and cartoon series. In the 1980s and 1990s, the show returned to TV in the form of Next Generation, followed by Deep Space Nine and Voyager. In this century we’ve had Enterprise, the JJ Abrahms movie reboots, and most recently, two new TV series in the form of Discovery, a prequel to the original 60s show, and in 2020, Picard. If this all sounds confusing, here are two things you need to know. Firstly, Star Trek: Discovery is very good. And secondly, you don’t need to have watched any Star Trek before to enjoy it. Precisely because it’s a prequel, there’s no continuity to worry about, and so it’s a great jumping off point for enjoying this much-loved world of space adventure. In fact, that applies even if you’re not a sci-fi fan in general, because it’s simply a good story, told well. There’s one big caveat, though: it takes a little time to find its way, and the first couple of episodes are in honesty not that great. But stick with it and from episode three onwards, you’ll get a good return on the time you’ve invested. 06. Our Planet Our Planet documents the effect of climate change across the globe Genre: Nature documentary Number of seasons: 1 What happens: Climate change impacts animals in the wild Why watch it?: To educate yourself and marvel at nature’s wonder Watch in UK Watch in US Sir David Attenborough is well known as the guru of BBC wildlife documentaries, which have become ever grander and more epic in recent years. But for his latest series, Our Planet, he wanted instead to partner with Netflix. Why? Because the theme of this particular series is the environmental crisis, and he wanted the widest possible global audience for his message. The show brings us a variety of animals around the world and portrays, in stunning detail, how their personal environments have been affected by climate change and other ecological issues. And as you’d expect it’s a thought-provoking, dramatic, wonderfully shot and endlessly entertaining watch. 07. After Life After Life carves comedy out of the most unlikely subjects Genre: Black comedy Number of seasons: 1 What happens: A bereaved reporter takes out his anger in obscene ways Why watch it?: It’s hilarious, bad-taste comedy with a heart of gold Watch in UK Watch in US Is lockdown life making you miserable? Then you might think a black comedy about a man contemplating suicide wouldn’t help. But in the case of After Life, you’d be wrong, for two reasons. Firstly, the awful ways that main character Tony, played by Ricky Gervais, takes out his anger at the death of his wife are brilliantly, cathartically funny... and at a time like now, a bit of catharsis is no bad thing. And secondly because, in small and subtle ways, the show suggests things can get better, and there is light at the end of the tunnel. That doesn’t happen in a predictable or formulaic manner, though. Throughout the six, perfectly formed episodes, the lives of the ensemble cast veer from tragic to hilarious in a series of unexpected ways, and you’re kept guessing how everything will turn out. Of course, Ricky Gervais is comedy Marmite, and if like many, you find him genuinely irritating, you should probably give After Life a miss. But if you have enjoyed his past performance in The Office, Extras or his comedy movies, do be assured that this is his best, and most endearing work yet. 08. Glow Glow twins '80s nostalgia and glamour with social issues Genre: Comedy drama Number of seasons: 3 What happens: Misfits put together a female wrestling show Why watch it?: It’s a heartwarming tale of triumph against the odds Watch in UK Watch in US American wrestling is all about outlandish spectacle and over-the-top, scripted entertainment, but what lies beneath the facade? That’s the question posed by this comedy drama, set in 1980s LA, which follows a motley crew of outcasts and losers putting together a female wrestling show for late-night cable TV. The story is fictional, but is based on the real-life women's wrestling and variety show that aired during the late '80s, and many of the characters are inspired by real wrestlers, too. So while there’s a ton of fun to be found here, from the witty back-and-forths to the soapy sub-plots, Glow always keeps one foot in the real world. This means that when themes like sexual harassment are introduced into the mix, it doesn’t kill the mood, but only makes you engage more with the easy-to-love characters and their constant challenges. 09. The Good Place The Good Place is a mix of sitcom farce and philosophical teachings Genre: Comedy Number of seasons: 4 What happens: A woman arrives at The Good Place by mistake Why watch it?: To laugh, and learn about philosophy Watch in UK Watch in US Spending time at home on lockdown, with little to do, can prompt you to start pondering the philosophical questions of life. But where do the answers to such questions lie? A fast-paced, high energy sitcom is probably the last place you’d look… but actually, that’s exactly what The Good Place is all about. In this fantasy comedy, Eleanor, an unpleasant woman played by Kristen Bell (above), dies and finds herself in The Good Place, an afterlife for the morally just. Only, she’s in the wrong place due to a case of mistaken identity, and so to avoid being sent to hell, she sets about hiding her past and taking ethics lessons, so she can blend into The Good Place better. It’s a clever concept, and the show keeps things interesting by introducing us, along with Eleanor, to a series of ethical philosophies and dilemmas, and dramatising how they play out in practice. There are a lot of laughs to be had as Eleanor gets increasingly tied up in her tangled web of lies. And unlike the other shows on this list, the episodes are nice and short, so work well for plugging brief gaps in your day. 10. The Assassination of Gianni Versace Discover the grim story behind a celebrity murder Genre: True-life crime drama Number of seasons: 1 What happens: The life of Andrew Cunanan, assassin of Gianni Versace Why watch it?: It’s grim but fascinating Watch in UK Watch in US From the people who brought you The People vs. O.J. Simpson in 2016 (also on Netflix, and also highly recommended) comes another true-life crime drama, but this time about a subject most of us know little about. In 1997, Italian fashion icon Gianni Versace was shot execution-style on the steps of his Miami Beach mansion. This show takes that event as its starting point, and then retraces the life of his killer, portraying in clinical detail the shocking sequence of events that led him up to this point. It’s by no means a fun watch, then, and if you want something uplifting, you’ll need to look elsewhere. It is however, exceptionally well acted, masterfully shot and utterly compelling from start to finish. 11. The OA The OA is the most out-there show we’ve seen Genre: Sci-fi fantasy Number of seasons: 2 What happens: A missing woman returns, shrouded in mystery Why watch it?: At each stage, you have no idea what will happen next. Watch in UK Watch in US We're already starting to miss travel, but here’s a show that will truly take you on a voyage of the imagination. The OA is difficult to describe without giving the plot away, but suffice to say that this is about as far away from formulaic drama as you can get. Instead, it will truly make your mind boggle and, at times, your heart race. With a cinematic and epic feel, this drama tells the story of Prairie Johnson, a young woman who’s resurfaced after having been missing for seven years. She now calls herself 'The OA' and can see, despite having been blind before her disappearance. From here on in, you will spend every episode not knowing where the story is going, or even what genre you’re watching. And take it from us, you will enjoy every, increasingly deranged, minute. 12. Lost in Space Lost in Space is a high-stakes adventure for all the family Genre: Sci-fi Number of seasons: 2 What happens: A family crash-lands on an alien planet Why watch it?: Pure escapism Watch in UK Watch in US Miss going to the cinema to see the latest film? Well, while Lost in Space is technically a television production, every episode of this spacefaring family drama feels like a blockbuster movie; more so than any show we’ve seen to date. They've spend a lot of money on this. A reboot of the 1965 series of the same name, which itself was a reimagining of the 1812 novel The Swiss Family Robinson, it follows a family on their way to make a new life on another planet. But they crash on a much more inhospitable one, and there, they must contend with a series of strange and unexpected terrors, all the time battling their own personal demons. Much more gritty and serious than its camp Sixties predecessor, Lost in Space is nonetheless a great watch for all the family, and maintains its super-high production values through the two seasons that have aired so far. 13. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Life for Sabrina the Teenage Witch is not as carefree in this new incarnation Genre: Teen fantasy Number of seasons: 2 What happens: A half-witch tries to balance the mortal and Satanic worlds Why watch it?: For the clever script and great performances Watch in UK Watch in US Another camp show from times past reinvented as more serious fare, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina couldn’t be more different than the 1990s sitcom Sabrina the Teenage Witch, which starred Melissa Joan-Hart. Set in the same universe as teen drama Riverdale (also on Netflix), this brooding new production follows a half-human, half-magical teenager attending a school in the mortal realm. The servants of Satan, however, wish her to attend the supernatural Church of the Night, a kind of Hogwarts for baby eaters, and Sabrina finds herself torn between two incompatible worlds. What follows is a weird mix of teen drama, camp comedy and grotesque horror that can veer wildly in tone from one moment to the next... but never gets boring. Admittedly, it’s no Buffy, but it is highly original, beautifully shot and frequently enthralling. In truth, people seem to love it and loathe it in equal measure, but watch the first episode and you’ll soon know which side of the fence you’re on. 14. Lucifer The Devil reinvents himself as a detective Genre: Comedy drama Number of seasons: 3 What happens: The devil moves to LA and becomes a detective Why watch it?: It’s charming and witty Watch in UK Watch in US Typical: you wait ages for a Satanic comedy-drama, then two come along at once. Based on the DC Comics character The Sandman, Lucifer uses supernatural horror to reinvigorate the procedural detective show; it’s basically Castle with added brimstone. The conceit here is that the Devil has abandoned Hell for Los Angeles, where he runs his own nightclub and becomes a consultant to the LAPD. If that sounds a little far-fetched, it is, but the actors play everything straight, and you just kind of go with it. While the plots are derivative, it’s the central performance by Tom Ellis that really raises this show; he’s both devastatingly charming and the kind of broken villain you just can’t help empathising with. Plus the production values are super-slick, the supporting cast are compelling, and just when you feel things are dragging, there’s another big twist to pull back your interest. 15. Wild Wild Country The true story behind a cult community will astonish you Genre: Documentary series Number of seasons: 1 What happens: A cult leader builds a city in the desert Why watch it?: It’s riveting, and empathetic to all sides Watch in UK Watch in US Documentary series can be very hit and miss, but here’s one that we couldn’t leave off this list. It traces the story of how a controversial guru built a utopian city in the Oregon desert during the 1980s, causing a sharp conflict with local people. If that’s not a story you’re familiar with, you’re not alone; but it’s one that’s masterfully told, and you’ll soon be on the edge of your seat. Note, though, that while this documentary series is dramatic, it’s also respectful and by no means exploitative. People on both sides get a say, reflecting the true complexity of the situation and leaving the audience to make up their own minds. 16. Queer Eye Five experts give makeovers Genre: Reality show Number of seasons: 4 What happens: Five gay experts give life makeovers Why watch it?: It’s heartwarming and full of great life tips Watch in UK Watch in US There are makeover shows, and makeover shows. Queer Eye, a Netflix reboot of the 2003-2007 ABC series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, is a breed apart. Each episode features a team of gay professionals in the fields of fashion, grooming, interior design, entertaining and culture, who perform a life makeover for someone in need of advice. The team revamp their wardrobe, redecorate their house, and offer advice on grooming, lifestyle and food. There are usually tears. While many makeover shows have a shallow and consumerist focus, Queer Eye goes deep into the family dynamics, communication issues and personal psychology of its subjects, and tries to promote life changes that are more than just surface-level. So even if you think you have little in common with a truck-driving redneck from Missouri, this show might well surprise you. 17. Black Mirror Welcome to the future, and it’s not always what you expect Genre: Futuristic sci-fi Number of seasons: 5 What happens: A series of dramas play out in future worlds Why watch it?: To see where society is heading Watch in UK Watch in US Even if you haven’t seen Charlie Brooker’s sci-fi anthology series, you’ve probably heard people say "It’s just like something out of Black Mirror" when groundbreaking new tech is launched. That’s because this show is set in the near future, and each self-contained episode examines the unexpected effects that imagined technological innovations might have on ordinary people. With a dark sense of humour running throughout it, this British-made, but now Netflix-funded show, has very high production values, is endlessly inventive and will really make you think about where we are going as a society. And apart from anything else, you’ll be able to understand all those conversational references with friends that previously went over your head. 18. Gilmore Girls The Gilmore Girls tackles themes that every family can relate to Genre: Family drama Number of seasons: 5 What happens: The life of a single mum and her daughter Why watch it?: Soapy storylines and witty banter Watch in UK Watch in US The Gilmore Girls may have run from 2000-2007, but it hasn’t dated a bit. Mainly because it’s a show that deals with themes of family, relationships and class that are both timeless and universal. The drama follows the life of a single mother, Lorelai Gilmore, and her daughter Rory, who live in a small town filled with a number of eccentric characters. While it can be enjoyed by viewers of all ages, it's been a particular hit with millennials thanks to its witty dialogue, which is delivered at breakneck speed. (The original promo poster led with the slogan: 'Life’s short. Talk fast'). Plus with an impressive 153 episodes to binge-watch, this is one show that will hopefully last you long beyond the lockdown. 19. Breaking Bad What are people capable of when pushed in the wrong direction? Genre: Crime drama Number of seasons: 5 What happens: A science teacher starts making meth Why watch it?: It’s just awesome Watch in UK Watch in US Launched in 2008, Breaking Bad is the godfather of boxset TV. And yes, your friends are right: it is that good. Just in case you’ve been living under a rock and haven’t seen it yet, it tells the story of Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher in the midst of a midlife crisis. When he gets diagnosed with stage-3 lung cancer, but his insurance won’t pay for the best treatment, he decides to enter the drug business by manufacturing crystal meth. With 139 wins and 229 nominations, Breaking Bad is the most awarded TV show ever, and for good reason. The way it shows a normal, decent man can slowly descend into becoming a violent criminal mastermind is both utterly convincing and terrifying, suggesting that we, too, might be capable of such a transformation. And the ride itself... well, it’s just wonderfully entertaining. 20. Mad Men Mad Men: possibly the greatest TV show ever made Genre: Drama Number of seasons: 7 What happens: Dramatic events at a 1960s New York ad agency Why watch it?: Nostalgia, glamour and characters you’ll fall in love with Watch in UK Watch in US Running from 2007 to 2015, Mad Men is set at a fictional ad agency on Madison Avenue, New York City, in the 1960s. Its main character is the womanising advertising executive Don Draper, and the series tracks the people in his personal and professional life, against the backdrop of changing moods and social mores during the period. The first basic cable series to win the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, Mad Men is widely regarded as one of the greatest TV shows of all time. And really: do you need to know anything more than that? Read more: Top 10 TV logos of all time The top fictional brands from films and TV Ridiculously named colour palettes will make you smile View the full article

If you live in the UK and have been thinking of investing in Adobe Creative Cloud, now might be the time. Today Adobe has shaved a whopping 40% off individual Creative Cloud subscriptions, meaning you can now get access to its entire suite of apps for a monthly cost of just £30.34 – that's a whopping saving of almost £20 a month. The price reduction is exclusively for readers of Future Publishing's brands and applies to the complete Adobe Creative Cloud suite, which encompasses over 20 different apps. That includes all the big players – photo editing favourite Photoshop, digital artists' go-to Illustrator, video editing software Premiere Pro, web prototyping tool Adobe XD and motion effects creator After Effects. You'll also be able to explore the new additions to the Adobe family, tablet-based art app Adobe Fresco, and Photoshop on iPad. Just in case you need some extra encouragement, remember that when you buy Adobe's full All Apps package you're also getting 100GB of cloud storage (with the option to upgrade to 10TB) and premium features like Adobe Portfolio, Adobe Fonts, and Adobe Spark. The programmes are fully integrated, so you can switch between them (and jump from one device to another) seamlessly. Built-in templates help you jump-start your designs, while step-by-step tutorials will help you sharpen your skills and get up to speed quickly. This deal is valid until 13 April for Creative Bloq readers, so if you're in the UK and want to save big on Adobe's entire suite of creative software, grab it now. If you live outside the United Kingdom, here are the best Adobe CC prices in your area: Related articles: Top-class Photoshop tutorials to hone your skills The 13 best alternatives to Photoshop The best web hosting services for designers View the full article

Mark Segasby is co-founder of Lightmap, developers of HDR Light Studio lighting software. Lighting makes a huge difference to the quality and effectiveness of any final render. After hours of hard work modelling your scene, it deserves to be seen in its best light. However, lighting is often undervalued or even misunderstood by 3D artists, and it's not easy to find trustworthy resources on the topic. Here are my own top 5 tips to help artists avoid common mistakes – and score a well-lit studio shot. 01. Use the right models and materials A poor model with wobbly surfaces (left) vs a high quality, smooth model (right) If your model or materials are not right, the lighting process will (quite literally) highlight this. You can be fooled into thinking your model looks great in the viewport. But try checking it inside a zebra striped HDRI map to see how those lines are reflected on the model's surfaces. Render the model at different angles and see if you can spot any issues. Strange, wobbly reflections will show that the modelled surface is not as smooth as you might think. You'll thank yourself for fixing modelling issues early – they'll only appear worse in the final render with lighting. If the materials are not correct, they will react incorrectly to reflections from your lighting. Try testing your model in a variety of HDRI maps, such as studios, and indoor and outdoor environments. Does chrome look like chrome? Does metallic paint look metallic? Basically – does it look real? If you don't get the materials correct now, you will need to keep tweaking them during the lighting process. If you get your materials right first, lighting will be much easier later. 02 Give your light sources character A fake-looking light (top) vs a light with more realistic character (bottom) The appearance of light sources in reflections is essential. A perfect, white rectangle will look fake – real world lights have a shape, as well as hotspots where the light is brightest. They have character and imperfections. 3D artists are often aware of the importance of texturing their model, but the same goes for lighting. Using a library of HDR light source images to map to your area lights is ideal, or you can use gradients in your 3D software to create a more realistic effect. 03. Lighting can reveal materials and form The product being lit is most likely made from various materials. If a single light reflects across a change in material, this reflection will give the viewer a clue as to what those materials are. In product shots, hard-edged lights are often used to highlight this. The edge remains sharp when reflected in chrome or glass, and the reflection spreads on more textured materials. The form is the actual shape of the object. Lighting should help to communicate this. Reflections should flow in the direction of the form, not against it. Remember, a good product shot visually describes the product to the viewer. Off-the-shelf HDRI maps can be too generic when it comes to lighting products. For a realistic result, you need to perfectly position and control each light to reveal the model's materials and form. 04. Avoid unwanted reflections Sometimes you will place a light in a position that creates a really great reflection effect, only to find it creates another awful, unwanted effect somewhere else on the model. Really, you should reposition the light to avoid these unwanted effects, but sometimes they are unavoidable. Try using a softer light appearance – these are much more forgiving when seen in reflections. 05. Keep it simple You can't run out of lights using 3D software, so it’s easy to create too many. In a real photography studio, only a handful of well-placed lights are used, each added to create a specific effect. So, when lighting your shot, research how others have lit the same type of product when photographing it, and use these images for reference. It's easy to work out what type of lights have been used by looking at the reflections. Many successful 3D artists have learned to light by using reference images. Remember, photography is the benchmark by which all CGI product shots are judged, so we can learn a lot from it. Once your shot is lit, look at your render as a small thumbnail. It should still look good, which means you should still be able to recognise the form and materials, and the lighting shouldn't be distracting. It's easy to focus on one small area of lighting and forget about the image as a whole. If it doesn't look right as a small thumbnail, you probably need to simplify the lighting. Follow these five tips, and your lighting should look great. HDR Light Studio is a 3D lighting app that connects to your existing 3D software and vastly improves the lighting process. Lighting becomes as easy as 'drag and drop'. HDR Light Studio ships with a vast range of HDR studio light source images, so you have the right light appearance at hand for any project shot. Try HDR Light Studio for free at: www.lightmap.co.uk (prices start at £95 for a 1 year Indie licence). View the full article

COVID-19’s effect on work footprints has created an unprecedented challenge for IT and security staff. Many departments are scrambling to enable collaboration apps for all -- but without proper security they can be a big risk. View the full article

How far would you go to avoid finding out what happens in the TV show you're currently devouring? Spoilers are a universal irritant, and the creators of this Netflix concept ad have used the world's avoidance of them to deliver a topical crucial message on the subject of isolation. Note: This post contains spoilers. A pair of Thai students aimed the prospective campaign at those who aren't heeding the advice to stay at home during the coronavirus outbreak, and we think it's genius enough to be a contender for our top billboard advertising campaigns. The message is simple: if you go out, you'll be confronted by spoilers of hit shows, such as Narcos, Love is Blind and Stranger Things. So it's safer to stay at home. Had enough of Netflix? Or binged all there is to binge? Try Disney Plus. A digital mockup of one of the infuriating billboards The attention-grabbing designs were created by Seine Kongruangkit and Matithorn Prachuabmoh Chaimoungkalo, students of the Miami Ad School in Germany. The billboards, which imitate the Netflix styling, feature a stark 'Spoiler:' tag (in red), followed by a key plot giveaway (in white). The words sit against dark backgrounds with images of the show in question. Overall, the design is sharp, to-the-point and makes a big impression. Two more of the concept billboards "The best way to stop the spread of Covid-19 is to #staythefuckhome, but some people still think it’s okay to go out and chill, spoiling it for us all," the spec ad reads. "So we took an extreme measure: we spoil their favourite Netflix shows." People on Twitter agree, with many being fooled into believing the digital mockups were genuine Netflix ads. They are pretty believable, but it would have been an incredibly bold move from Netflix, who actually passed on the design. It has been proven, through the McDonald's logo controversy at least, that brands need to be very careful about how they handle the coronavirus outbreak in their messaging. So though it's unsurprising Netflix passed, we are still impressed with this fizzy campaign that speaks volumes. And Netflix probably isn't lamenting the attention it's bringing the brand, either. Read more: Iconic logos reimagined for the age of coronavirus The genius concept Guinness ad we don’t want to love (but really do) The best print adverts ever View the full article

Mozilla Foundation rushes patches to fix bugs in its browser that could allow for remote code execution. View the full article

Your organization is unique. So is your IT team and their approach to managing the IT estate. But what isn’t unique are the vulnerabilities in your environment. They affect every organization. And in the current state of the world, where teams are scattered and scrambling to get their organizations up … Source Continue reading Discover Intelligent Patch Automation for Your Software Vulnerability Management at Flexera Blog. View the full article

As part of Serif's efforts to help creatives during the COVID-19 crisis, the team behind Affinity Photo, Affinity Designer and Affinity Publisher have pledged to buy work from 100 creatives over 100 days. The 100 Days, 100 Commissions initiative will take place over the next three months, and Serif is asking designers, photographers and publishers to send in their existing work for consideration. The emphasis here is that it is not asking for spec work, nor for projects created for a specific brief. Though of course, the work must have been created in an Affinity app (Serif's offerings are some of our favourite iPad Pro apps, so that shouldn't be too much of a problem). "We’re always looking for real-world projects that have been created in Affinity apps and we know many people would have been working on briefs that have just been cancelled. Alternatively they may have unused projects or even something just done for fun," says managing director Ashley Hewson. "That’s the sort of work we’re looking to license, so contributors don’t waste time and effort preparing new work to pitch (unless they really want to) and might even get paid for something that’s been cancelled by a client." So basically, if you have a really exciting project up your sleeve that you're unfortunately now not likely to get paid for, and it was made in an Affinity app, you can send it to Serif in the hope of being snapped up. Serif says it is looking for the following types of projects, although these aren't the only types it will consider: Print documents made in Affinity Publisher such as flyers, brochures, magazines, reports and book layouts Illustrations, graphic and UI design projects made in Affinity Designer, including website or app layouts, icons, logos and packaging Projects created in Affinity Photo such as portrait retouching, compositions, focus stacking, astrophotography, panoramas, HDR, fashion and product photography And if you don't have a finished project that's ready for submission, you can send in an idea, as well as your portfolio (see our favourite design portfolios for some inspiration). Interested? You've got until 12 noon (BST) on 20 April to submit your entry, which is limited to one per person. Note that any branding that you've already made will need to be "fictionalised", which could be a fun creative challenge. Those who are commissioned will be paid USD $1,500 for their work. You can read the full terms and conditions of the initiative, as well as submit your work on Serif's website. Also note that Serif is offering a free 90-day trial of its apps at the moment, so even if you're not already using the Affinity suite, now could be the time to give it a whirl. And if you want to buy the apps outright, they are also currently 50% off. Read more: Affinity 1.8 updates make apps even more tempting Affinity Designer: How to use effects and styles Free online resources for creatives stuck at home View the full article

Bootstrap, the most popular front-end framework built to design modern, responsive, and dynamic interfaces for professional design web pages, is currently undertaking a major update, Bootstrap 5. Bootstrap is a free and open-source collection of CSS and JavaScript/jQuery code used …View the full article

NASA is bringing back its 'worm' logo, and has used the symbol on its new Space X Falcon 9, which is due to take off in May – marking, as NASA puts it, the return of human spaceflight on American rockets from American soil. But never mind the wonder of human spaceflight, people are really, really excited about the return of NASA's previous logo. What's the big deal with the worm? Well, the logotype known as the worm was used between 1975 and 1992, and is much-loved for its clean and sleek forms, although it was quite controversial when it was initially brought in (read more in our NASA logo piece, or see our logo design guide for more on logos in general). After 1992, the logo known as the 'meatball', which was the original NASA logo, was brought back. But could this new appearance of the worm mark a wider change for the NASA logo? The meatball (left) vs the worm (right) In short, the answer is yes. "There's a good chance you'll see the logo featured in other official ways on the mission and in the future," says NASA on its website announcement, entitled 'the worm is back'. "It seems the worm logo wasn't really retired, it was just resting up for the next chapter of space exploration." So now we know. And we can't help but wonder if this departure from the meatball has anything to do with the rebranding of the Space Force logo, which was more in the style of the meatball (and some suggested, Star Trek). Is NASA trying to distance itself from the Space Force? On Twitter, people seemed pretty overjoyed at NASA's announcement, made by NASA administrator, Jim Bridenstine. There were also a lot of gifs, some of them courtesy of NASA. We look forward to seeing how this develops. To infinity and beyond? No, we mean, one small step for man, one giant leap for worms. Read more: New NASA logo celebrates women on the moon The 10 best logos of all time New Bing logo has curves in all the right places View the full article