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Still haven't found the job of your dreams? Becoming a freelancer may be your calling. Working from home has so many benefits that can help you achieve the work-life balance you've always longed for. Whether you're striving to be a freelancer, entrepreneur, consultant, or agency, The Complete Freelancer Master Class Course will show you how to retain high-quality clients and make money by doing what you love. Why would you want to become a freelancer? Here are four reasons you might want to make the move. For more tips on freelance life, don't miss our guide to how to network, or our guide to the best free graphic design software. And if you're looking to deck out your new studio, then see our guides to the best desks and the best office chairs available. 01. You can make your own schedule With a flexible workload, you'll be able to create the schedule you desire. Want to take a Tuesday off? You can make sure not to book anything on that day. A nine-step process helps you take your passion to new heights and organise what days and times you want to work. Streamline your workflow and design a flexible schedule to fit your needs, allowing you to have a career where you're in charge and are not having to work around difficult employees in an office setting. 02. Work from anywhere Not only will you be able to make your schedule while freelancing, but you can also work from anywhere. With access to over 60 lectures and 13 hours of content, with this freelancer course, you will learn how to gain quality clients that you can work with from anywhere in the world. Now is the time to take that trip to Bali and not feel guilty, because you'll be making a living while travelling. 03. Be creative on your terms By building your enterprise, you'll be able to control what projects you want to take on. Create a career with the freedom to do what you want, when you want, and take on all the creative projects that you want. You'll have the ability to accept the types of clients that make your work worthwhile, as well as decline the projects that do not fit in with your philosophy or aesthetic. 04. Have control of your finances While working in a corporate setting may have some perks, it does not always let you control how much you get paid or how much you can spend. By having your own business, you have complete control over how much you want to make, and how many clients it will take to get there. Create your budgets, your pricing costs, and your unique quality control process. You'll never need to ask for a raise again — you can give yourself the bonus you deserve. With access to The Complete Freelancer Master Class Course typically costing $500, you'll be able to launch your freelance career for only $15 (that's 96% off) for a limited time. With all the content available 24/7, you'll be able to effortlessly finesse your business and bring flexible professional and financial growth into 2020. Read more: 8 survival secrets for freelance creatives Everything you need to know about going freelance Freelance finance: How to make more money View the full article

Valentine's Day is nothing if not divisive. For some, it's a day to stare adoringly at your loved one over a romantic dinner, and for others it's a huge pain in the ass. Whatever your personal feelings, though, you don't want to be in the proverbial dog house with your significant other because the day escaped your mind. But designers and artists are notoriously hard to buy for, so what can you get them to best describe how you feel? Luckily for you, we've found a number of items that are sure to bring joy to the creative love of your life. Want a present that's a little less 'Valentine's-y' ? See our list of graphic design books instead. 01. Retro walkman & wireless headphones On the 40th anniversary of the Walkman, Sony has released a wireless music player that has the retro stylings of a cassette tape, perfect for hit of nostalgia this Valentine's day. Note: they also come in other colours, that aren't the hue of your heart. Pair it with some wireless headphones – these Sony noise-cancelling ones are generally regarded as the best on the market right now – and you can crank up the Barry White wherever you are. 02. Chilly's Emma Bridgewater Pink Hearts bottle Everyone loves an insulated water bottle. And why not theme it up with some Valentine's-appropriate love hearts? A gift that'll be used every day, this bottle will remind your one true love of you every time they hydrate. What could be better than that? (If you'd like a less romantic water bottle, you could check out our pick of the best hydroflasks available). Buy Chilly's Emma Bridgewater hearts bottle on Amazon US / Amazon UK 03. Film Map – Original Open Edition Is your intended a bit of a film buff? This clever poster is a map that features over 900 film titles including Jurassic Park, Reservoir Dogs, Carlito's Way, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Valley of the Dolls, Chinatown and The Wolf of Wall Street. Based on a vintage Los Angeles street map, it has it also includes districts dedicated to cult British horror movies, and Hitchcock. The map is printed on 120gsm uncoated art paper with 4 colour litho print, and is H60 x W80cm. Buy the poster from Dorothy 04. LEGO Puppy/Bee You can always rely on LEGO when looking for the perfect gift. Over the past few years, the humble little brick has been transformed into various new Brick Headz designs, which includes this adorable Valentine's Day Puppy. It may not be the furry, four-legged friend your loved one might want, but it's a pretty great – less messy – alternative. There's also a really lovely LEGO Valentine's Bee design too (click the arrow to see image above), if you prefer. But hurry, both these little guys are flying off the shelves. Buy Lego Brick Headz Valentine's Puppy on Amazon US / Amazon UK Buy Lego Brick Headz Bee on Amazon US / Amazon UK 05. You're my Lobster Valentine's Day card Even if Valentine's Day isn't you thing, the very least you can do is buy the love in your life a card. This You're my Lobster design is one of many fun screenprinted designs from Sarah Chapman of Little Red Sparrow. Not only do we love the illustrations, we're big fans of how Chapman has balanced the mushy love aspect with tongue-in-cheek humour. Buy the card on Etsy 06. Bath Tray Artists and designers are busy people, so downtime is vital. This gorgeous bath board is the perfect excuse to relax and unwind with your favourite book or movie while having a long hot soak. But forget wrapping this gift up, get it set up over a hot bath, ready and waiting for your loved one when they get home for maximum brownie points. US: Buy Royal Craft Wood bath caddy from Amazon UK: Buy Relux bamboo bath caddy from Amazon 07. Alessi Espresso Coffee Maker If there's one thing lots of creatives rely on, it's coffee. So what better way to say I love you than with this beautifully designed Alessi six-cup espresso coffee maker. Richard Snapper is the man behind the design, which was the first espresso coffee maker in Alessi's history and the the first Alessi item exhibited at the MOMA in New York. Made of 18/10 stainless steel and a cast iron handle, this highly stylish yet functional item is sure to go down a treat with any coffee-loving creative. 08. Hotel Chocolat Straight from The Heart What works better to get the creative juices flowing than fancy chocolate? Spoil your loved one (and yourself – let's face it, it's a gift to share) with this beautiful heart-shaped box of Hotel Chocolat chocolates. A variety of milk, dark and white chocolate is included, with a range of 35 different recipes to sample. US: Browse the Hotel Chocolat gift range on Amazon UK: Buy Hotel Chocolat heart box on Amazon 09. Laboratory Samphire Eau de Toilette British brand Laboratory Perfumes craft unique, gender neutral fragrances, all of which are made in the UK using socially conscious, environmentally friendly and cruelty free ingredients. Add to that its 'do no harm' motto and you've got a wonderful gift that shows you not only care about the recipient but the planet too. Laboratory has a number of fragrances and candles in its portfolio – Samphire promises zesty hints and juniper berry top notes, while the Gorse is infused with coconut and gorse bush, with top notes of citrus and a "spicy depth". US: Buy Laboratory Perfumes Gorse Eau de Toillette on Amazon UK: Buy Laboratory Perfumes Samphire Eau de Toillette on Amazon 11. Bellroy Travel Folio Help your loved one travel in style with this luxury, compact travel folio from Bellroy. Featuring a leather divider to store cards, boarding passes and cash, there's also space for multiple passports and a handy micro pen. Want to really push the boat out? Fill this beautiful gift with future travel plans for you and your loved one as very special extra. Buy from Amazon: US / UK 12. Movado Watch If money is no option this Valentine's Day, these beautiful Movado watches will make sure the creative in your life never loses track of time. There are a few different styles on offer to suit different tastes, but the whole range is simple and elegant, and all feature the trademark shiny dot on the dial. Browse the Movado range on Amazon US / Amazon UK Read more: The best camera phones in 2020 7 alternative interpretations of love How to begin a figure drawing View the full article

The Simpsons may be popular, but they're not exactly known for being the most stylish family on the block. However, it seems that the colours in their living room correspond to every single Pantone Colour of the Year from 2010 to 2020. Surprised? Us too. Let's take a closer look. Back in 2010, Turquoise was the Colour of the Year. And this hue just happens to match The Simpsons' phone. In 2012, that year's shade, Tangerine Tango, matches the sailing boat picture on the wall of the family home. And in 2016, there were two Colours of the Year: Serenity and Rose Quartz. If you mix them together, you get a shade very similar to the wall colour in The Simpsons' living room. What about 2020? This one is a bit more of a stretch: Classic Blue bears a striking similarity to Marge Simpson's hair. This is a new kind of colour theory that we hadn't seen coming (see our colour theory post to learn about all colours non-The Simpsons related). It was Apartment Therapy that first alerted us to this surprising The Simpsons fact. And you can see a full colour analysis from Aspire Doors below. The Simpsons really are trend-setters This isn't the first time that events on The Simpsons have predicted real life happenings. Some of you might remember that episode where Donald Trump becomes President – the one that aired back in the year 2000. Or even when smartwatches appeared in a 1995 episode, way before the invention of the Apple Watch (see our best Apple Watch deals). Seeing as Pantone seems to have covered just about every shade in The Simpsons' living room, we are left wondering what's next. Will they move on to the kitchen to predict this decade's colours? Or will we be working through the family's various outfits to predict next year's hottest shades? We can't really imagine Homer's white shirt catching on as a trendy shade, but you never know. If you can't get enough of The Simpsons, you may want to subscribe to Disney Plus so you can watch it whenever your heart desires. And don't miss these floor plans of animated TV homes, which reveals some 'secret' rooms in The Simpsons house that you probably didn't know about. Might those be the source of next year's big colour? Read more: Disney Plus: Everything you need to know Disney characters' homes as Tiny Houses will leave you wanting more Real-life renders of animated bedrooms are strangely disappointing View the full article

The medical device giant has issued fixes for bugs first disclosed in 2018 and 2019. View the full article

US fast food chain Sonic has had a rebrand, and its new look isn't going down as smoothly as you might hope. Officially named Sonic Corp., this drive-through chain is based in Oklahoma City and has restaurants across 46 states. The company announced its new look in a tweet, with the message 'We take "new year, new me" VERY seriously', apparently unaware that it's already February. Let's take a very quick tour of Sonic's various logos before we explore the response to the new look. The logo you're probably familiar with, and the one that appears on most restaurant signage, is pictured below. (For more iconic brand design, see our guide to the best logos ever.) The most well-known Sonic logo, used on most signage There is some dispute about what those overlapping shapes were meant to represent. Some see a connection to atomic orbits, others think it has a more '50s car tailfin vibe. However, this isn't the most recent version of Sonic's logo. Officially, Sonic replaced this classic Americana-style logo with a single-colour version (shown below). This keeps the vibe of the very recognisable original logo, but simplifies the styling and loses elements such as the drop-shadow. This one-colour version officially replaced the above logo, but isn't seen in many places For its new look, the company decided to take the simplification a step further still, stripping the logo of charm and taking it into much more corporate territory. Gone is any hint of the retro-cool overlapping background shapes, replaced by a kind of wonky loop. There's also a bizarre font update that manages to pack an impressive number of typographical oddities into so few letters. The new Sonic logo... not a hit The new look is not going down well. The background shape has been likened to everything from a dog bone to the Budweiser bowtie, and that typography isn't gaining the company any new fans. Brand New has a particularly savage review: "The new frame... looks like a crooked bowtie on a sad party clown and the typography is atrocious... Overall, a solid bad job from start to finish." Or perhaps Don McAllister puts it better with his succinct: "It looks as beautiful as their food is healthy." Gulp. Read more: City of Chicago sues coffee company over almost identical logo The truth about the ampersand will blow your mind McDonald's ditches its brand in new type-only ads View the full article

Independent coffee company Fire Dept. Coffee is being sued by the City of Chicago for trademark infringement. The brand's logo bears a striking resemblance to the one used for the Chicago Fire Department – both have opted for a monogram of the letters C, F and D, and both use the colour red. Take a look at the two logos side-by-side below. Chicago Fire Dept logo (left) and Fire Dept. Coffee logo (right) It's difficult not to see their point – this is not a case of an idea being reused, but what looks like an intentional likeness. The striking CFD monogram is well known, and wouldn't be out of place in our pick of the best monogram logos. It has been around since 1949, and appears on ambulances, trucks and on some uniforms. The City of Chicago claims the logo is an imitation of the Chicago Fire Department’s symbol that the brand has chosen with the aim that "using a mark similar to the CFD mark would greatly enhance the sale of goods". The lawsuit also states that the coffee brand is "intentionally attempting to improperly ride on the city’s coattails and trade on the city’s success and goodwill". And as our logo design guide states, that's not something you're ever going to want to be doing. Sounds pretty cut and dried, right? Well there's more to the story than that. Fire Dept. Coffee, which is based in Rockford, Illinois, has a very valid reason to want to create a visual connection to the fire service. The Fire Dept. Coffee monogram in use The company was founded by Rockford firefighter Luke Schneider and his wife Kate. Many of Fire Dept. Coffee's employees are firefighters and veterans, and 10 per cent of the proceeds from every order goes towards supporting sick or injured firefighters and first responders. "Our company, which is founded and operated by firefighters, is reflected in our logo, a style that is used by fire departments across the nation," said the company in a statement. What's more, it says it got official approval for the use of the logo, which is now used on the brand's coffee packaging as well as merchandise such as mugs and clothing. "Fire Department Coffee pursued all of the correct legal channels and secured an approved, registered trademark for our current Fire Department Coffee logo," the statement says. The lawsuit claims this trademark was erroneously issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in 2006. Who's really in the wrong here? Hopefully it'll all cool down soon. [Via Chicago Sun Times] Read more: Inspirational packaging designs to explore The truth about the ampersand will blow your mind Leaked Dune logo causes major drama View the full article

For most creative jobs these days there's really no need to be tethered to a heavyweight desktop computer. Whatever your design discipline, there's no problem with doing your thing on a laptop, and you gain the advantage of being able to work wherever you want. Whether you're wrangling 4K video or working with the best 3D modelling software, a well-specced laptop will serve you well, and we've unearthed a deal on a powerful MSI machine that you won't want to miss. The MSI P65 Creator-1084 is now $100 off at Amazon, and you and get three free months of Creative Cloud thrown in as well – just enter the code 100CREATOR at checkout. The most powerful laptops in 2020 The MSI P65 Creator-1084 is an absolute monster that's easily capable of handling just about any creative task you can throw at it. Built with photo editors, 3D modelers, video editors, photographers and other creative professionals in mind, it packs the sort of specs you'd happily accept from a desktop PC and crams them into an ultra-light, ultra-thin laptop form factor. From a creative point of view, image quality is what matters, and the P65 Creator delivers with a 15.6-inch IPS-level 4K display that's calibrated with MSI True Color technology to provide close to 100 per cent colour gamut. There's more to its visual prowess than the display, to; driving the visuals there's an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 GPU which will make video editing and 3D modelling a breeze, and won't bat an eyelid at even the most enormous, layer-heavy Photoshop and Illustrator files. And if you need to get a closer eye on those fine details you can simply plug the P65 Creator into a full-size 4K display to get the bigger picture. Alongside the powerful GPU, the P65 Creator also draws its power from a hefty Intel Core i7 processor coupled with a whopping 32GB of DDR4 memory, so even if you're running every Creative Cloud app simultaneously, not to mention a stack of Chrome tabs and Slack channels, this laptop will cope with it all just fine. Finishing off the top-line specs is a terabyte of SSD storage, giving you plenty of space for all your important files and enabling the P65 Creator to start up in a matter of seconds. Despite all that power, the P65 Creator's incredibly portable. It features an ultra-light, ultra-thin chassis that means it weighs in at a mere 4.2 lbs and is just 0.7 inches thick, so it's perfect for putting in your bag and taking anywhere. And if you're creating on the move it won't let you down at a critical juncture; its battery will give you up to eight hours' use on a single charge. The MSI P65 Creator packs a lot of power into a thin, lightweight laptop The MSI P65 Creator-1084 will normally set you back $1,882.13 at Amazon, but right now you can save $100 and get three free months of Creative Cloud thrown in as well. To take advantage of this fantastic deal, simply head this way and enter the promo code 100CREATOR at the checkout and you're good to go; the offer's running until 28 February, so don't hang about. Not in the US? See more top deals on laptops below. Related articles: The 6 best laptops for Photoshop in 2020 The best travel laptops of 2020 The best laptops for graphic design in 2020 View the full article

In this article I’ll be providing advice and insights on ArtRage, a program I use quite a bit. I started painting with ArtRage when it was first released back in 2004, and it remains a primary tool in my workflow. It’s great to see the advancements made in its custom brush engine, which is pretty much all I use in most of my work. I’ll be going over some important areas during the painting process and revealing tips on specific tools that I feel might be beneficial. My goal is to not only showcase the power of ArtRage, but to prove that you don’t have to spend a fortune on certain tools to create professional art. If you’re familiar with ArtRage but have yet to try the latest version (6), some of the new features include now being able to adjust paint depth and lighting to custom brushes. Smoothing has been added to the pencil, there’s improved smoothing for the ink pen and you can create deeper impasto effects and adjustable gloss for the oil brush. (See our piece for how to get started in ArtRage for a beginner's guide.) For more on different types of software, including the pros and cons of each, also see our best digital art software roundup. The final image This article originally appeared in issue 178 of ImagineFX, the world's leading magazine for digital artists. Subscribe here. Join us at Vertex this February Join us in London for our unmissable event for 2D and 3D artists, featuring workshops from over 20 professional artists from film, video games, VFX and illustration. Book now: www.vertexconf.com Read more: Krita tutorial: How to clean up your sketches 11 amazing concept tips for client work 6 quick tips to improve your brush pen drawing View the full article

We know the design industry is always evolving. Changing technologies and trends mean that the skill set sought by potential employers is always in flux. Staying ahead of the game requires keeping up with trends, but also keeping up with the skills that are going to be most in demand. The beginning of the year is the perfect time to think about how your skills fit the direction that the industry is heading. As we enter a new decade, here we look at 6 skills that could help you stay ahead of the game in 2020, from technical expertise to add to your CV and design portfolio to the soft skills that will make clients want to work with you. 01. Illustration Assuming you haven’t had your eyes closed over the past year, you’ll probably have noticed that illustration has become rather popular. Brands big and small are favouring illustration to add personality to web and UI design. This includes line drawings and other hand-drawn elements that feature natural imperfections, almost as a rebellious turn against perfection in digital design. Brands are seeking illustration for everything from attention-grabbing main images on landing pages to personalised icons that reflect the brand’s character and custom hand-lettering to create unique type that can blend with imagery. Cuberto’s concept landing page for a Japanese language school uses illustration where in the past photographic imagery may have been the obvious choice. Colorado-based designer Chelsea Carlson’s unique, stylised hand-drawn icons for cookery site Butterlust follow the rough brush edge style of the brand’s logo to create an emotional and human feel. Drawing doesn’t come naturally to everyone but the skill can be developed by practising on drawing from life, and focusing on the process rather than on aiming for realism in the results. 02. Motion design Brands are looking for movement for everything from social media to email campaigns The year 2020 is all about movement. Brands have realised that adding motion can captivate and engage customers. And in a digital world with faster internet connections and device performance, it can be applied almost everywhere. This means that animation and motion design are no longer niche skills practised by a small group of specialists, but something all designers should at least have an awareness of, and upskilling in this area is an immediate way to stand out in the talent pool. From GIFs to CSS animation and full-blown video, it can be an intimidating world to enter if you’re getting started, but there is plenty of good software for the job. Final Cut Pro, Adobe After Effects, and Cinema 4D are the major tools. A knowledge of colour grading for video will also get you ahead. There are no end of applications that brands are looking for, including email marketing campaigns such as the campaign for women's clothing company LOFT above, animated logos, video tutorials, product walk-throughs and social media content. It’s predicted that 80% of internet traffic will be video by 2021, but even offline there’s demand for motion design in advertising for digital billboards and in-store digital ordering screens. It’s no wonder it’s the skill that most designers want to learn in the coming years. 03. Image editing Image editing skills remain a must for designers in 2020 The growing demand for illustration and motion does not mean that designers can forget about photography and image editing. Photographic images remain the main medium of visual communication in social media and the majority of websites. A growing trend to combine text and illustration with realistic photography to create collages means that image editing skills are still in high demand and that editing needs to be as precise as ever. Graphic designers at all levels will want to make sure they are at least sufficiently skilled up in the basics of Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom to be able to make the little tweaks that can make an image usable. This can include tasks as small as cleaning up dust or flare on an image, or adjusting colour to fit a composition, but the more you know about image enhancement and manipulation the better, the more you can do yourself without having to go to someone else. Courses will get you so far, but image editing is often best mastered by rolling up your sleeves and getting in there. Many designers who don’t find they need to edit images in their usual work develop side projects in order to work on the skills. 04. Coding and UI design A designer who can code will find their skills in demand Drag and drop tools for web and UI design mean that most designers don’t need to know the finer details of code, but a working knowledge can set you way ahead of the competition. With web design and UI evolving from flat pages to become more immersive, designers who can code and design user experiences are in high demand and are often rewarded with higher pay. Even basic coding skills will allow you to avoid being limited to what your software is capable of and allow you to offer something that little bit more personalised than what competitors can deliver. Most designers will want to start with HTML/XHTML, and PHP if you’re going to be working with Wordpress, then CSS to be able to add code to a theme to change the look of a site. JavaScript, which allows the creation of interactive elements like images that change in size or colour when a user interacts with it, is more complex and a steep learning curve, but an understanding can help designers work with functionality in mind, and allow better communication with coders on a project. 05. Communication Designers at all levels increasingly need to know how to communicate their ideas That brings us to communication itself. This is a soft skill that is becoming just as essential as many technical skills in the designer’s toolbox and a vital part of getting ahead in design. Potential employers now look for designers who are able to communicate their ideas and processes well. For freelancers, a great portfolio can make an impression, but it’s your ability to explain your work and your approach that will earn the trust of potential clients. Every day communication skills during a project include reminding people of the project goals, what the plan is, when they can expect delivery, what the fallback plan is, and following up after delivery. Explaining where you are and what you are working on helps others to trust you. Larger corporate work will often demand formal presentations to decision makers. Designers need to know not only how to make a visual presentation, but also how to talk an audience through it in an engaging way. 06. Collaboration Designers need to collaborate with people across many other disciplines Another essential soft skill for designers in the new decade is collaboration. Designers no longer work in a vacuum generating fantastic ideas. They increasingly have to work with complex teams. Not only with other designers, but also with programmers, copywriters, engineers, sales and marketing teams, manufacturing, and management. This means a lot of discussion, and a lot of compromise. In his last Design in Tech report, John Maeda argued that designers sometimes alienate other disciplines and can be guilty of trying to force their own tastes on clients. There can also be conflicts when designers work with their own portfolio in mind. Clients with complex projects are wary of this and now look for designers who show they can collaborate with other disciplines. A good way to improve skills in collaboration is to think more broadly and to develop a greater awareness of other disciplines, from business models to marketing and sales techniques, and manufacturing processes. It can also help to share unfinished work more often and to ask more questions. There’s a general trend in many different industries towards a 'blurring of swim lanes' with people in different roles expected to have a greater awareness of the overall goal and every stage of a project. Read more: 6 questions you need to ask your new client Tweak your portfolio for 2020 The top design trends for 2020 View the full article

The English language is a treasure trove of eccentricity. It constantly delivers golden nuggets of trivia that are delightfully fascinating, and today's instalment is related to the ampersand. For those not familiar with the technical lingo, it's this '&' symbol, commonly used as shorthand for 'and'. We actually covered this typography trivia in our unknown stories behind everyday icons, but now that it's come up again, we felt it deserved some extra attention. And designers' reactions on Twitter prove that if you didn't know it already, we're about to blow you away. (If you'd like to try out the ampersand in a range of different fonts, check out the best free fonts around). Editor and author Sarah Pappalardo explained the secret behind the symbol with a tweet that has sparked astonishment in the Twitter world. She pointed out that the ampersand is a ligature (a combination of two or more graphemes tied together, if you're not in the know), for the word 'et'. Reactions on Twitter cover the history of the word itself. And people sharing when they first found this out (those clever clogs are very much in the minority, though, we have to say). Other notable ligatures include those representing 'ae' and 'oe', but we reckon there are none so well-known and visible as the ampersand. Another interesting nugget is that the symbol used to come at the end of the alphabet, making it a character in its own right that children would recite up until the 1800s. You can find out even more in the below video. Who knew there was so much to discover about the curly 'and' symbol? Read more: 36 perfect font pairings 5 of the hottest typography trends 35 top graffiti fonts View the full article

Donkey Kong isn't really a character we've thought much about. What we do know about him is that he definitely isn't a donkey. And he has his own game. But recently a new fact about Donkey Kong has come to light, and it's not pretty. In Mario Kart Wii, if you look closely at Donkey Kong (DK) is on the selection screen, you'll see that DK's feet are actually the same texture as his mouth. That's right. He has red, fleshy feet. Or, at least, a red fleshy part to his feet where it looks almost as if his toes have been amputated. Supper Mario Broth pointed this out to the world on Twitter recently, and even provided an explanation as to why this has happened. Apparently, these mouthy feet are a mapping error that mean DK's mouth texture is applied to his feet. This seems a pretty big 3D error, although in all fairness, no one appears to have really noticed until now. To get your own textures to apply on whatever foot or mouth you like, see our free textures post. You could also check our character design tips for advice on creating memorable characters (who don't have mouthy feet). It seems we're not the only ones to be shocked. Some users wished they'd never been alerted to this design quirk. There were plenty of foot in mouth jokes... And nor is this the only place where these mouth feet appear. What's the lesson here? Double check your textures. And try not to put your mouth in your foot when you're creating characters. If you think you could do better, or you want to up your own 3D skills, don't miss our best 3D software picks. Vertex is the place to up your 3D skills Join us in London for our unmissable event for 2D and 3D artists, featuring workshops from over 20 professional artists from film, video games, VFX and illustration. Book now: www.vertexconf.com Read more: 3 reasons we're super-excited about Super Nintendo World Apple Arcade takeover is the best thing you'll see all day Is Baby Nut one Baby character too far? View the full article

Researchers were able to fool popular autopilot systems into perceiving projected images as real - causing the cars to brake or veer into oncoming traffic lanes. View the full article

Jamstack is a method of creating and serving websites with minimal load required by the server. It gets its name from the technologies used in the build process, Javascript, APIs and Markup. Pages are built in markup language ahead of time and served as static HTML files as a user requests them. To build a site and bring these technologies together you need the right tools. Make sure you check out our best code editors post to help decide the best development environment for you. Traditionally, when a user clicks on 
a web page, a series of actions take place. The users browser sends a request to the website’s server, it runs through the backend code, generates the correct page and the data is sent back to the browser and rendered as a web page. Quite a lot that could go wrong, and even when it goes well, it’s slightly slower than a user is comfortable with in the lightning fast digital world we now live in. But using the Jamstack means faster more efficient sites and less to go wrong. In this tutorial we demonstrate how to set up a blog website in the Jamstack to serve as an introduction to the concepts. The tools used will be Hugo as a static site generator, Netlify as the build tool and Github as free hosting for the files. 01. Download the required tools Download a copy of Victor Hugo – this is one of several starter kits to get things off the ground quickly. Also make sure you have node installed on your development environment. 02. Create a working directory and install Hugo Create a directory and name it Jamstack. This is where we will work on our development machine. Extract the downloaded files for Hugo into this directory and open it in command prompt. To install all dependencies, open command prompt or a terminal in the Jamstack folder and run npm install 03. Start the server Once the dependencies have finished, run npm start. The development server is now running a local copy of Victor Hugo, accessible by default at localhost:3000 – opening that link should show the welcome screen if everything was successful. Once tested, press Ctrl + C to stop the server. 04. Add a page and a post Change directory to the site folder, then, using the hugo new command, add a page-one.md and a post-one.md. Developers working in Windows will need to download the hugo.exe file and add a path to get this to work, but easy to follow documentation exists on the hugo website. 05. Add content to the page and post For testing purposes, some content needs to be added to the new post and page. Open the directory for the project in a file browser and navigate to Jamstack/Site/Content. Within this folder the file page-one.md should now exist. There is also a folder named post which contains the post-one.md. Open both of these files and add some content in markdown below the --- (or in some cases +++) 06. Add the theme 
as a sub module The text entered in the previous files can’t be viewed without a theme. As an example, the Ananke theme will be used. Delete the contents of the current site/layouts folder, leaving it empty. Make a new directory in the site folder called themes, then change to it and run the following code to import the theme as a git submodule. Note: normal cloning is not compatible 
with Netlify. 07. Configure the theme and run the server Copy the contents of site/themes/gohugo-theme ananke/exampleSite/config.toml
 to over the one in the site folder. At the top of the page, replace the base url with '/' and delete the line themesDir = '../..'. Save the config file, open a terminal and run npm start command. You can also change the name of the website (if you want to) by replacing the title value. 08. Test in a browser Open http://localhost:3000/page-one/ to see the theme rendering the markdown of the page as a fully styled page. Opening the homepage, the first post will now be visible. This means that the static site generator is now functional. 09. Configure the menu When viewing the website, it is noticeable that the page made earlier is not showing in the navigation. Returning to the content, add a line in the front matter configuration in order to tell Hugo which menu to render the page in. 10. Push the files to a GitHub Next, animate the circle to respond to user clicks. Now the static site is up and running, it will need to be accessible on a development server. The first step is 
to push the code to GitHub. Create a new repository on GitHub, and then either use the command line to push the code from the project folder or the GitHub desktop app. 11. Connect to Netlify Netlify will bring everything together, build the site and serve it on a temporary domain. Start off by creating an account at Netlify and link it with a GitHub account. Once everything is set up click New site from Git. 12. Connect to Github For continuous deployment, click Github, then select the repo that was made earlier in the tutorial. Netlify should automatically detect the best build options for the project. It should read npm run build. If all is well, then click deploy. 13. Build site and view 
on Netlify link Once the site has built, a message will appear saying deployed. Netlify has given the website a temporary domain name which may not make sense – this can be changed simply by clicking site settings. Change the name, then click the link to see the site loaded through the Jamstack. 14. Make a change 
to test deployment The website now loads through the JAMStack. it’s lightning fast, and it automatically updates when a commit is made to github. To test this, return to the local development environment and run hugo new page-three.md from the site directory. Then open the created file, add some content, click save and commit the file to the repo. Within moments you will notice the update is live on the netlify link. 15. Add a CMS to your static site Working in plain markup and using the command line to create pages will not sit well with most clients. To make the website more friendly, install a content management system. Forestry.io is a perfect fit for the current setup. Go to the website and create an account using github. 16. Configure Forestry Click on add new site then select Hugo as the static site generator, git as the provider and fill in the information in the following forms. Click submit, and the new CMS will load, ready for content changes. Now, pages can simply be edited from the sidebar, as well as posts and a huge array of other options. Do you want to learn more about web design? Then subscribe to net, the world's best-selling magazine for web designers and developers. Learn how to build better JavaScript at GenerateJS Join us in April 2020 with our lineup of JavaScript superstars at GenerateJS – the conference helping you build better JavaScript. Book now at generateconf.com Read more: 8 HTML tags you need to be using (and 5 to avoid) 25 of the best JavaScript APIs How to hide your JavaScript code from View Source View the full article

A design brief is a document that helps a designer and client align on project expectations; this makes the project much easier to manage as it’s being worked on. The brief identifies critical pieces of information, such as scope, that …View the full article

Yesterday saw James Bond arrive on the big screen at Super Bowl LIV, in a debut trailer for the 25th Bond movie No Time to Die. The action-packed preview told audiences the film 'will change everything'. However the new Bond teaser offered little in the way of evidence to support such a claim, which left us feeling a little confused. The video clip stayed true to the usual Bond style, opening with Daniel Craig strapped into a small aeroplane, which subsequently falls out the back of a much larger jet aircraft, naturally. Nothing new so far. And the following 25 seconds very much follows suit, complete with everything you'd expect to see in a Bond trailer – a suspense-filled bridge leap, dramatic close ups and lots and lots of gunfire. Now, while we are far from experts in design for film, and have no idea of the overall plot of No Time to Die is, we do know it marks Daniel Craig's final outing as Bond (yes, for real this time, apparently). And we have no doubt he'll go out with a (probably very literal) bang. But we can't help but wonder why if this movie really does mark a change for the famous British spy, why the production company didn't use it as an opportunity be a bit more creative with it's marketing strategy? Our take from this death-defying, stunt-filled spot is that the 25th Bond film will be more of the same Bond we all know and love. And while that's enough to make anyone, even us, go and see it on the big screen, there's an argument that the Bond brand is strong enough to break from the norm on occasion, albeit temporarily. Read more: Apple Arcade takeover is the best thing you’ll see all day Is Baby Nut one Baby character too far? New TripAdvisor logo perks up its spaced-out owl View the full article

Pay a visit to the Apple homepage today and, at first, you'll be fooled into thinking that service is running as normal. But give it a moment and you'll see that the page has been invaded by some of your favourite faces. Designed to promote Apple's Arcade service, the Apple page has been subject to an Arcade animated takeover. This glorious piece of web design is a celebration of some of the best retro gaming character design – and features characters from Apple Arcade games. Click the image to book your Generate 2020 tickets Hazard from Hot Lava leaves a trail of lava in his wake First, Hazard from Hot Lava appears, swinging and leaping across the screen, bouncing off the fanned out iPhones, with lava bubbling up in his wake. Scroll down and say hi to Sonic the Hedgehog, who drives a racing car around and over the keyboard of a MacBook Pro (and if you want to snap one up yourself, see here for the best Apple laptop deals around right now). Sonic puts his driving skills to the test as he runs over the keyboard of the MacBook Pro Lego Minifigures also settle down to watch themselves in HD on Apple TV, and you can make your way to the bottom of the screen where you'll find Pac-Man munching on the terms and conditions. The animations build into a crescendo with the last offering, which sees the characters gather together around the word 'Arcade'. The promotion culminates with the characters gathering around the word 'Arcade' The Arcade app launched on the App Store back in September 2019, and you can now play over 100 games, both original and classic. This production is a brilliant bit of cross-promotion that has got people talking, and we also think it's brilliant inspiration for creating your own animation. It's not clear how long it'll be around for so we reckon you should head over to the site immediately to take a look. Read more: 6 huge web design trends for 2020 The best print ads ever How to take a screenshot on a Mac View the full article

Snack company Planters has been making headlines for killing off its long-time mascot, Mr Peanut, and replacing him with a new baby version. Baby Nut is the newest Baby character to go viral on the internet, and he was 'born' in an advert revealed at yesterday's Super Bowl (see below). When the Kool-Aid man sheds a tear at Mr Peanut's funeral, that tear lands on a mound of dirt that sprouts into a plant, and Baby Nut is born. There's already plenty of talk online about whether Baby Nut is cuter than Baby Yoda (he isn't), but as far the rest of the campaign goes, we've got more questions than we have answers. Seeing as we've already had Baby Yoda, Baby Thanos and Baby Sonic, will consumers become wise to this Baby craze? Or is an association between cuteness and a brand a clever marketing move that will keep paying off? Should we be adding a section on Baby characters to our character design tips piece? And will there ever be a female Baby character, or is this trope reserved for male characters only? So far, it's been a mixed bag of reactions online. There have been plenty of nut jokes, naturally, with people not surprisingly talking about nut allergies. There's already a Baby Nut live stream, should you find yourself with some time on your hands. Some people are absolutely not having the Baby Yoda vs Baby Nut comparisons. And there's already Baby Nut merchandise available to buy. This whole campaign seems like it was well planned by Planters. Perhaps our favourite reaction is a request for Baby Jabba, who's been having his own viral moment of late, after the render below was created by 3D artist Leonardo Viti. It seems that for now at least, the Baby trend is here to stay. Who will be the next brand to jump on the Baby bandwagon? We're half expecting to see Baby Joker popping up soon. Now that's a slightly terrifying thought. Read more: Disney characters' homes as Tiny Houses will leave you wanting more McDonald's ditches its brand in new type-only ads Leaked Dune logo causes major drama View the full article

If your goal is to become a full stack web developer this year, you've come to the right place. Learning how to code may not be as daunting or far fetched as you might think. Start on your path to mastering JavaScript programming languages today with The Complete Full Stack JavaScript Course, now only $13. And if you're looking for some useful web design tools, see our post that rounds up the best ones out there. All developers must start with the essential building blocks of programming. With over 20 hours of content, this complete crash course covers the fundamentals needed to start up a new career in full stack web development. You'll learn JS development and work your way to taking on projects using ReactJS, NodeJS, LoopbackJS, Redux, Material-UI, and socket programming. Concepts in calculator application, weblog, and chat application will be thoroughly covered, allowing you to fully absorb each idea. You'll soon be able to explore the full stack elements of JavaScript by taking on what you learn and coding your own REST API. The hands-on projects give you step-by-step instructions to help put what you learn to the test and apply the techniques to real-world projects. With over 85 lessons, you'll have plenty of content to comb through to launch your career. Lifetime access to the material allows you to come back to revisit the fundamentals, and updates in the course are included, automatically providing you with the latest content available. This crash course also comes complete with a certification of completion, allowing for a great résumé booster for your next endeavour. While access to this crash course typically sells for $200, The Complete Full Stack JavaScript Course is currently reduced to only $13 – that's 93 per cent off! Kick-off your schooling in full stack web development and start building an invaluable skillset for future jobs to come. Read more: The best laptops for programming in 2020 6 huge web design trends for 2020 The best free fonts for designers View the full article

Sometimes it seems as if there must be nothing left to say about Disney characters. The internet is awash with Disney quizzes and memes, (we're looking at you, BuzzFeed) and it feels like every aspect of the characters have been analysed from all angles. But just when you think you've seen it all, the concept of Tiny Houses comes up. What would Disney characters' homes look like if they were part of the Tiny House movement? We'll admit, it's not a question that's been keeping us up at night. As you probably know, Tiny Houses are all about saving space and reducing waste, which isn't really something we'd associate with Disney characters – a lot of them live in castles. And fictional castles at that. But ignoring that, imagining that characters such as Elsa from Frozen, Toy Story's Woody and Belle from Beauty and the Beast have jacked it all in to settle for a small home in the woods is sort of comforting. Who are we to assume that Disney characters aren't worried about global warming? And any disconnect you feel when looking at these renders just goes to show how successful the original films' character design is (check out Disney's 12 principles of animation to find out more about how the studio does it). For us, transporting these worlds into real life instantly makes them lose their sense of – yes, we're going to say it – magic. That said, we wouldn't mind a weekend away (especially at Woody's place) if these dream designs did really did come true. Disney Plus: All you need to know 01. Elsa from Frozen We like the frosted-looking glass In Frozen, Elsa leaves her family home of Arendelle Castle to go and live in a new ice palace of her own creation. This ice palace has features such as an ice staircase (sounds slippy) and a chandelier in the shape of a snowflake. In this Tiny House dreamland, Elsa has a gingerbread-like home in a snowy setting. Inside, it doesn't look like anything is made of ice, but there is a blue kitchen and a light fitting that looks like it could be based on a snowflake. Overall, it's really rather nice, and we certainly wouldn't mind spending a weekend there. But a few more royal touches wouldn't have gone a miss. Maybe a chandelier or two, or a crystal Olaf ornament perhaps? Hot chocolate, anyone? 02. Woody from Toy Story Howdy Woody from Toy Story doesn't have a home to call his own, exactly. He starts off living very happily at Andy's house, before going on several adventures. But this imagining of his Tiny House reminds us that Woody is above all, a cowboy. He probably would have a wood burning stove and a leather chair. And a hat stand, of course. While we love the Wild West chic of this home, it's not something we would have immediately associated with the character before now. We were expecting to see a classic saloon-style sheriff's station with a chair outside and water trough for Bullseye. But who's to say Woody and his trusty stead wouldn't prefer this more sophisticated lifestyle. There may well be snakes lurking in this grass 03. Belle from Beauty and the Beast We wouldn't mind being a guest here Belle from Beauty and the Beast's Tiny House has a French cottage feel, and is also beautifully light and airy. There are a lot of books dotted around, naturally. Although it does look like Belle could do with some improved storage solutions as several of them are just piled on the floor. The outside of her home (which is no way corresponds to the inside, where are those big windows?) is also in a fairytale style. It looks like a little turret of a castle. Or else a place where Rapunzel might also be lurking. Ooh la la 04. Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas Here's one tiny home we'll be avoiding Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas lives in a spindly looking house with an eyeball door knob. His tiny house would be the same, just smaller. But here, we can see a glimpse of the inside. It's pretty dingy in there, and it's a Christmas/Halloween mish-mash in terms of decoration, which would no doubt have been right up the Pumpkin King's street. A little bed for his loyal ghost dog would have been a nice touch, as would a framed picture of the film's iconic moon poster on the wall. As much as we love Jack, his tiny house isn't one we'd want to visit any time soon. To see more tiny houses belonging to Disney characters, visit Angie's List. You might also enjoy these real-life renders of what animated characters' bedrooms would look like. Read more: Disney redesigns 20th Century Fox, without the Fox Disney Plus UK is launching sooner than we thought Super Bowl teams have super-similar Pantones View the full article

The time for Super Bowl 2020 has arrived, and if you're looking for a way to live stream Super Bowl LIV for free, you've come to the right place. If you're a fan of American football but don't live in the US, then there's no need for you to miss out. Here we run down how to live steam the Super Bowl 2020 from wherever you are in the world. The 54th Super Bowl is due to kick off today at Miami Gardens' Hard Rock Stadium, with the players of the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers vying to take home the championship rings. Even if you're not down with American football, from a creative perspective Super Bowl LIV is still an occasion of great interest. As one of the planet's biggest sporting events it's the perfect opportunity for top brands to roll out their most impressive adverts; every single ad slot was booked out back in November, with 30 seconds of ad airtime costing companies upwards of $5 million. And beyond the ads, the Super Bowl halftime show is likely to be an impressive display of costume and set design. There are certainly creative lessons to be learned on the night, outside the sporting action. So how do you get to watch Super Bowl LIV, especially if you don't live in the US and can't simply tune in? Read on for our tips on how to live stream the 2020 Super Bowl for free, wherever you are in the world. How to watch Super Bowl 2020 online Both teams have a strong monogram logo game going on There's an easy way to watch the Super Bowl online from absolutely anywhere in the world; just follow these steps: 01. Download and install a VPN If you can't easily watch the Super Bowl online in your country or if you like the idea of watching your home coverage, then the best way to see it for free is with a VPN service. Our favourite VPN right now is ExpressVPN – it's compatible with practically every device you can think of, supports most streaming services and it's one of the fastest VPN services around. 02. Select your VPN location Once you've set up your VPN, you'll need to connect to a server location. The UK is the best place to find Super Bowl LIII being streamed for free; whereas the US is the best place to catch the commercials. It doesn't matter which area in the country you choose. 03. Choose a stream For no ads: Set your VPN to UK, and go to TVPlayer.com, an online streaming service with hundreds of channels on offer for free. Select BBC One if you're not bothered about seeing the sporting event's unofficial competition – the commercials – play out. The channel will be showing the entire Super Bowl live and uninterrupted by ad breaks. Alternatively, if you want to record the Super Bowl to watch later, you can do that too. You'll need to sign up for a paid TVPlayer Premium account, but the site offers a free 14-day trial. For ads: Set your VPN to the US and choose a US stream. US: How to watch Super Bowl 2020 online for free For US viewers with internet access, watching Super Bowl LIV couldn't be simpler. As well as broadcasting the big game on cable, Fox will be streaming it live through its Sports website. If you'd rather watch on your TV rather than your computer or phone, CBS has you covered as well. It'll be streaming Super Bowl 2020 on top platforms including Chromecast, Fire TV, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox One, Apple TV and Android TV. Verizon subscribers will also be able to stream the game on their mobile devices through carrier-independent sites such as AOI, Complex and Yahoo. Remember: if you want to watch the Super Bowl in the US without commercials, you'll need to follow the steps above. Besides CBS, there are other streaming options available in the US, such as Hulu with Live TV, YouTubeTV, AT&T TV Now and FuboTV. You can easily pick up a free trial from any of them, and as well as the Super Bowl you'll find that they all have plenty of channels and content to enjoy as a subscriber. Remember, you'll need to be in the US with an American IP address to use these services. If you're not, follow our VPN steps above, log in with a VPN and choose a US server location. UK: How to watch Super Bowl 2020 online for free In the UK, watching the 2020 Super Bowl should be a piece of cake. Providing you have a TV licence, you'll be able to see it on BBC One for free. It'll be showing from 11.25PM GMT – and if you'd prefer not stay up half the night it'll be repeated the next day. If you'd rather watch the American coverage, you can watch on Sky Sports, although you'll need a subscription for that. If you want to stream Super Bowl LIV for free instead, that's almost as easy. All you need is BBC iPlayer either on desktop or mobile; you'll probably have to register for free to use it, but it's a pretty painless process, and you'll be able to watch anywhere on practically every platform you can think of. Super Bowl 2020: global coverage This year's Super Bowl is available live in seven languages, and 170 countries and territories. Here are the territories and Super Bowl broadcasters you need to know: Canada (Dazn, CTV 2, TSN 1, RDS), Africa (Super Sports, Zuku), Australia (ESPN, 7 Network), France (W9, BeIN Sport), India (Sony Ten, Sony Six), China ( Fox Sports, BesTV ). You'll find a handy guide to the main broadcasters on NFL's website. Super Bowl LIV: essential information What's the Super Bowl 2020 start time? This year's Super Bowl will kick off at 6.30PM ET (3:30pm PT, 11:30pm GMT). What's the halftime show going to be? It's taken a while to get sorted, but the Pepsi-sponsored Super Bowl 2020 halftime show is going to feature Jennifer Lopez and Shakira. If it doesn't feature a crowd-pleasing rendition of 'Jenny from the Block' we're going to be utterly livid. Where is Super Bowl LIV taking place? The 2020 Super Bowl is kicking off at the at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Originally opened in 1987, it's gone by a number of names over the years, and in 2016 it got its current name thanks to a $250 million, 18-year naming deal with the Hard Rock Cafe chain. The Hard Rock Stadium is home to the Miami Dolphins, who last won the Super Bowl back in 1973. Read more: The best VPN service right now 7 lessons every brand can learn from the Super Bowl 9 inspiring examples of sports imagery in branding View the full article

Researchers have observed the cybercrime group back in action, now using a new tactic for distributing malware. View the full article

Microsoft OS flaws, out-of-bounds reads, ICS gear and a record number of high-severity bugs marked 2019 for the ZDI program. View the full article

Wacom has released a second-gen update of its 13-inch MobileStudio Pro, which sees the popular high-end, mobile creative pen computer getting a powerful boost under the hood. The updated version packs a new CPU (Intel Core i7-8559U) and Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655 graphics card, and offers Thunderbolt 3 for fast data transfer. We're also pleased to see that both RAM and SSD are now upgradeable, bringing the not-inconsiderable investment some extra longevity. Originally launched in October 2016, the 13-incher is the smaller of two Wacom MobileStudio Pro models. The MobileStudio Pro 16 got its own second-gen update in 2019, with similar upgrades to the 13. See our Wacom MobileStudio Pro review for more info, or check out our guide to the best drawing tablets to see how we rank this powerful device against competitor products. Get Adobe Creative Cloud The adjustable stand offers three working angles The MobileStudio Pro is a high-end device that doubles up as both a graphics tablet and a PC. It can run full versions of industry-standard creative software, or you can plug it into any Mac or PC to use it as a standard pen display (for this you'll need a Wacom Link, sold separately). The idea is that the MobileStudio Pro offers complete creative freedom, by providing designers all they need to do their best work wherever they are. That kind of power naturally comes with a hefty price tag. The Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 has an RRP of £3,199.99, while the 13-inch version is £2,399.99 (€2,699.90). To see how this fits into the Wacom lineup, explore our guide to the best cheap Wacom tablet deals, which covers all the different models available. Like the 16-inch version, the Wacom MobileStudio Pro 13 works with the pressure-sensitive, self-charging Wacom Pro Pen 2 (which comes included), and has an anti-glare screen that's designed to offer a paper-like feel. It comes a range of built-in features specifically designed to enhance the creative workflow – namely an adjustable stand, six customisable ExpressKeys and Radial Menus. Read more: Wacom Cintiq 22 review The best tablets with a stylus for drawing and note-taking in 2020 How to live stream Super Bowl 2020 for free View the full article

Larger winnings for underground skills competitions are attracting sophisticated crime groups. View the full article

As designers, there is always the question of what prototyping tools you should use for your project. There is lots of software out there for tasks like wireframing (see our top wireframing tools), prototyping and building complex interactions; however very few tools are capable of handling all of these. Framer is one tool that has all these functions and greatly speeds up the process of creating tiny animations and interactions. The latest iteration, Framer X, now uses React and JavaScript instead of using CoffeeScript for developing micro-interactions and animation. This helps deliver faster load times and better performance. Plus, the use of React components means that users have more scope to add and extend including embedding media players, real-time data and graphs inside prototypes. Testing is a core part of the the prototype building process and while Framer X is great at creating interactive prototypes it needs help to see how good its creations are. Also check out our user testing post for some of the best tools to complement Framer and help build real-world prototypes. How to create an app with Framer X To fully appreciate the power of Framer X we’re going to create a real-life project: a simple cooking recipe application with some content and media. The first thing to build is the homepage. We shall keep things simple with the following elements: Standard search bar to find recipes Recent activity to show the latest recipes viewed Recipe cards showing things like the most popular recipes Creating a detailed view of the recipe with video and sharing options To get started you need to create a new Frame (an artboard) by clicking the + icon on the left navbar. Select any artboard style from a list of standard iPhone/Android templates on the right bar. Now you are ready to go. 01. Build a search bar Let’s begin by building the search bar. Instead of creating a rectangle and adding a search icon like we normally would, we can actually use quick reusable components in Framer X, these are called packages. There are thousands of packages that can be found in the left navigation bar under Store. Click on Store, search for Android Kit and Example Kit and then install them. These packages contain elements like cards, buttons, keyboards, sliders, inputs and navigation menu items. Once you install these packages, you can use the elements from the Components menu on the left. Find the elements you want by searching in the filter – in this case a search bar, which is found under Example Kit. Simply drag and drop it onto the frame. Now you can modify properties such as placeholder text, font size and colour using the right bar. 02. Create a content stack For this recent activity block, first add the text ‘Recent Activity’, which is pretty straightforward. Now we can use a new feature of Framer X called Stacks. This can be done by clicking on the + icon and selecting Stack S from the menu. After selecting the stack, drag and drop an area of 600 x 300 on the working frame to create a stack. This stack will be shown as blue. Now let’s go back to the Components section and under Android kit, search for the Card-5 element and drag it into the stack we just created. Duplicate these cards twice and make sure all the three cards are in the stack. As long as they are in the stack, these three cards can be easily rearranged without you having to worry about the spacing. If you want to increase the spacing between the cards, you can increase the width of the entire stack. It’s as simple as that. 
You can also personalise these cards by changing the name of the title and background according to your liking. Now that we have created a stack, let’s make it scrollable. Move it out of the frame / artboard. Click on the + icon from the left nav and click the Scroll option. Just as we created an area with the stack, create a scrollable area on the frame / artboard that’s the same size as the stack. Now change the property of the scroll in the right bar by changing the direction arrows in order to make it a horizontal scroll. After our scroll container is created we need content for it, which is served by the stack we previously created. So simply connect the scroll container to the stack using the arrow prompt on the scroll container. It works by dragging the mouse pointer to the stack. 03. Create a vertical stack Framer X lets you introduce horizontal and vertical scrollable stacks For the recipe cards, you need to follow a method similar to step 2 but instead of creating a horizontal scroll of cards, you will create a similar vertical one that is essentially a list of the most popular recipes with thumbnails. For this exercise, each card for a recipe has four elements – an image thumbnail, rating, name of the recipe and time needed to prepare it. Do not worry about the details of each card. They can be personalised based on your design taste. Follow the same method of using a card from the components, duplicating them and adding all of them to a stack with vertical scroll. 04. Create a new page Now let’s create a new page to go into the details of a particular recipe. For example, let’s take the case of the second card here: French Pasta. To create this new page, create a new frame/artboard and introduce the elements that we need for showing more details about the French Pasta recipe. This new page can be broken down into a video, a title, the rating, the time needed to make it and a few action buttons, such as save to list and share to social media. For adding video, go to the store and install the YouTube package, which enables you to effortlessly add videos to your prototype. Now go to your Components panel and drag-and-drop the YouTube element from under the YouTube component into the frame. Adjust the width of the thumbnail so that it fits the width of the frame. In the right Properties pane, you can insert the URL of the video that you want to play in the prototype. If you’d like, there is also a way to autoplay videos through the checkbox in the Properties panel. Below this video, you can add the title, rating and various icons. To add icons for our example, I made use of the component from the Icon Generator store. It’s an easy process: simply drag-and-drop the base icon onto the frame and then change the property called Icon on the right-side panel to ‘heart’ and ‘share’. This will change the base icons into the save and share icons respectively. Their colours can also be easily changed using the right panel. To make things easy for visitors, you could add a section called Ingredients, which would list all the ingredients needed for our recipe – in this case, French Pasta. 05. Introduce interactions Add interactions to buttons and elements to make them more engaging Now let’s make our design more engaging by adding interactions for a button. Ideally, when you click on the share icon, you should be prompted with a screen to share the recipe across various social media channels. Let’s build that using a new frame. Make sure that the width and height of this frame is the same width and height as the other two frames we created. The idea is for this new share screen to slide up and replace the present screen when the share icon is clicked. To help make the screen distinct, let’s add some colour to it and fill it with social media icons such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and email. This share screen should also have an X icon added to it, which when clicked would bring it back to the original state. Make sure that all the icons are arranged inside a stack. As soon as the X icon is included, the next step is to link this frame so that it pops up when you click the share icon. In order to do this, select the frame that contains the share icon. In the right-side panel, there is a property called Link. Once you click on that, the application interface will provide you with an arrow that you can drag to the new share frame we created. This will create a link in the background. Now, when you select the share icon, you will observe new properties in the right-side panel under Link, which are Target, Transition and Direction. Each of these properties enable you to change the elements, such as type of transitions and the direction in which the screen should pop up, etc. You can test if the prototype is working or not by clicking on the play icon found at the top-right corner of the interface. Similarly, you need to link the share screen to the video screen so that when the user clicks on the X icon, it returns to the previous screen. This can be achieved using a similar link property and adding the target as the video screen. If you want to have a go at adding a bit of variation, you can make the direction left instead of top and then use the play command to test if the interaction is working or not. 06. Add a save button Now let’s add an overlay interaction to the save icon. Here, our goal is that whenever a visitor clicks the heart-shaped icon, there should be a pop-up window appear that asks if you want to save the recipe to a custom made list. Let’s start by creating a new frame called saved lists. Just as you did with the previous one, make sure this frame has the same width but this time you need to reduce its height because it will appear as an overlay when clicked. For the styling of the saved lists frame, add a header, a text input to enter the name of the list and a button that’s a CTA for saving it. To link, select the heart-shaped icon on the video frame and add a link to the saved lists frame. Now, instead of the transition property being a push, make it an overlay. Adjust it to 80% and then test it using the play button. Modify until you are satisfied with the overlay. Link the X icon on the saved lists icon back to the video page. This is how to use Framer X to easily create actionable interactive prototypes. There are also advanced tools you can use, as well as adding React coding snippets to the elements of the frames. Also, the best part of Framer X is that anyone can master it by trying it out on a few prototypes. This article was originally published in issue 325 of net, the world's best-selling magazine for web designers and developers. Buy issue 325 or subscribe to net. Learn how to build better JavaScript at GenerateJS Join us in April 2020 with our lineup of JavaScript superstars at GenerateJS – the conference helping you build better JavaScript. Book now at generateconf.com Read more: How to stand out and get hired as a UX designer The 20 UX tips you need to know 22 best UI design tools View the full article