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Facebook has been fashionably late to the dark mode party, but it seems it's finally ready to dim the lights. For the uninitiated (or the unenlightened), dark mode changes app interfaces and menus from light to dark. Not only does it look cool, but it's also supposedly easier on the eyes. After testing dark mode on desktop for select users, the social media giant has now rolled the feature out on mobile – but there's a catch. Dark mode is now available on Facebook Lite, a smaller version of the main app which, according to Facebook, is "designed for 2G networks and areas with slow or unstable Internet connections". But even if you've already got Facebook Lite, the feature is currently only available on Android, so iOS users are still forced to see the light. Still, we're not sure dark mode is enough to add Facebook Lite to our list of the best Android apps. Hello darkness, my old friend To join the dark side, you just need to head to Settings, where you'll find a new Dark Mode toggle. At present, there are no custom timing options – you can either turn it on or off. So, it isn't a perfect solution (unless you were already using Facebook Lite – anyone?), but at least it's now possible to enjoy a late-night scroll without straining your eyes. We're hoping this means the feature will soon be hitting iOS and the main Facebook app, so everybody can enjoy their first cousin twice removed's holiday photos – even at night. It seems that every app and its dog will soon have dark mode. WhatsApp dark mode is now available in beta and Instagram's is already here. Even Slack has gone dark – even more reason to pull a late one at work. It's nice to see Facebook start to dim the lights – let's hope they switch them off fully soon. Want to enjoy dark mode to the full? Take a look at our list of the best smartphones. Related articles: Facebook's new logo is just about worth a Like How to implement light or dark modes in CSS The ultimate guide to social media for creatives View the full article

Today is an excellent day to be a photographer, and that's because Adobe is offering a fantastic deal on its Photography Plan for users in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The package includes apps such as Photoshop for iPad and desktop and Lightroom, meaning you'll have all the tools you need to create images as rich as your imagination. And for the next few days only, you can get 16% off this comprehensive plan. If you're not sure whether this plan is right for you, take a look at exactly what Adobe's Photography Plan offers: Lightroom CC for desktop and mobile photo editing Lightroom Classic CC for desktop-focused photo editing Photoshop CC on both desktop and iPad to transform your photos Spark Premium to create graphics, web pages and videos Adobe Portfolio to build showcase websites easily Adobe Fonts for all your font needs 20 GB of cloud storage to get you started With all of these tools combined, there'll be no limit to what you can create. Precision editing and compositing tools allow you to combine images into beautiful, multilayered artwork, turn photos into paintings or 3D objects, move or remove objects within your images and play with colour and various effects to transform your images into something extraordinary. Don't miss out – grab this offer today! This deal is available until 27 February in EMEA regions, that's countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. If you're not in those regions, you might want to check out our other Adobe deals post, which we update regularly with all the top offers. Read more: Photoshop 2020 review How to add fonts in Photoshop How to flip a layer in Photoshop View the full article

Logos are the centrepieces of brand identity. The complex range of stories and feelings they convey can become so deeply rooted that many of the best-known brands are hard to imagine with different marks. Would the brand be seen in a different way today if it had adopted a different logo? Would it even have survived? But many well-known brands did almost have different logos. For designers it can be instructive to look at the abandoned proposals and consider the lessons that can be learned from them (for more logo lessons, see our logo design guide). Here are eight logos that could have been, and the stories behind why they were ultimately ruled out. 01. Sony A longstanding logo can become entrenched in the public mind, coming to symbolise a timeless solidity and reliability. Even so, fear of becoming staid can lead established brands to consider something new. Sony has retained its wordmark practically unchanged for more than 50 years, but the company almost ditched it for a very 1980s crowdsourced alternative. To mark the Japanese corporation's 35th anniversary in 1981, barely a year after the launch of the first Walkman, Sony held an international competition to redesign its logo. Almost 30,000 entries were whittled down to three contenders, which included the above designs from a Mr Vilim Vasata, from the Federal Republic of Germany, and Mr Bruno Grasswill from Australia. Finally, Sony co-founder Masaru Ibuka saw sense and decided that none of the designs was superior to the original. Sony realised its mistake and fudged the competition by dividing the prize money between its board's three favourite designs without adopting any of them. Clearly products of their time, the logos that could have been lack the readability of the classic Sony logotype and would look much more dated by now, while the existing Sony logo has proved timeless (even if the PS5 logo has proved so controversial). 02. Ford Even the most esteemed designers have created work that never saw the light of day. The carmaker Ford has made few changes to its logo since 1917. The classic Copperplate script in an oval emblem is familiar and instantly recognisable. But it almost had a major redesign in 1966 at the hands of none other than Paul Rand, who designed logos for IBM, ABC and UPS. Rand was brought in by Henry Ford II to modernise the logo and its calligraphy script. Rand's proposal retained key features such as the ligatures between letters and the break in the 'O', but adopted a more modern even-stroked lettering and used the tail of the 'F' to create an elongated oval frame. The design achieved a good balance between retaining the heritage value of the existing logo and creating something fresh and dynamic, but Ford finally decided that the change was too radical. The carmaker has changed its logo several times since, but only tweaking only the oval frame and the colour and shading of the blue background. Perhaps Ford made the right decision – the logo was one of the assets the company used as collateral to obtain a multibillion-dollar credit line in 2006. 03. Star Wars Even films have logos, and they can be hugely important for major franchises that go on to produce a whole range of merchandise. As with any brand, the logo has to communicate a lot of information. It has to tell us about the genre of the film and something of what we can expect to experience on screen. However, early versions of the Star Wars logo suggest a camp space opera that's more Flash Gordon than the menacing threat of the Death Star. This early logo was designed before production began by illustrator Ralph McQuarrie, with text added by effects artist Joe Johnston. But the film's script and even the personalities of the main characters changed significantly during production, so that the figure in the logo, which looks more Ziggy Stardust than Luke Skywalker, had to go. Director George Lucas also sensibly decided that the direction the film was going needed a logo that looked more intimidating. He reportedly told designer Suzy Rice to come up with something "more fascist looking". She gave herself to the dark side and turned to Helvetica Black for inspiration. The logo changed as the product itself evolved to reach its final form. (See our favourite free Star Wars fonts or the best Baby Yoda memes for more Star Wars fun.) 04. Tokyo 2020 The proposed logo for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games was abandoned for a very different reason. Designed by Kenjiro Sano, the logo featured a letter 'T' for Tokyo and a red circle that was intended to represent a heart, although many couldn't help see it at the sun of the Japanese flag. But after the logo was made public, Belgian designer Olivier Debie argued that it was a rip-off of a logo that he had designed for the Theatre de Liege in 2013 and mounted a legal challenge. The accusation of plagiarism was denied but the controversy was enough to make the Tokyo Olympic Committee drop the logo and launch a competition to design a replacement. The winning design by Asao Tokolo uses a chequered pattern intended to reference Japanese heritage but also the intercultural aspect of the games. The fact that the original logo had to be dropped showed just how exhaustive designers' research needs to be before submitting a proposal. Olivier Debie's logo for the Théâtre de Liège in Belgium 05. Ghostbusters The Ghostbusters logo was everywhere after the film's release in 1984, but it's another logo that exists because of a legal problem. Originally the team's logo mentioned in the film script was only going to be used on the Ghostbusters' uniforms and the Ghostmobile, so designers hadn't put a lot of work into it. In an effort that's more ghastly than any ghoul in the film, one draft shows what appears to be Thing from the Adams Family in handcuffs. That all changed when Columbia Pictures realised it wasn't going to obtain the rights to the name Ghostbusters in time to launch early teasers for the film. They would need a strong mark that could work alone without the title in promotional posters. The original logo designs that included the word Ghostbusters were dropped, and illustrator Michael Gross stepped in to create the "no ghosts" icon that became so well known, and influenced the way that blockbusters are promoted to this day, with initial teasers often using a mark alone with no title. Funnily, Gross's design ended Columbia in legal problems all the same. The company was sued by Harvey Comics, who claimed that the ghost in the logo resembled Fatso from Casper the Friendly Ghost. The suit failed because Harvey had failed to renew the copyright. 06. Google Google can boast one of the most recognised logos in the world. It's seen by millions of people every time they search online and has inspired thousands of temporary Google Doodles. It's also a lesson in creating a simple, legible logotype. But it could have ended very differently. Google's founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin turned to designer and Stanford professor Ruth Kedar in 1998 to improve their own self-designed logo. Her initial explorations were far busier than the stripped back logotype Google is known for. Kedar settled early on the Catull font and on using a colour scheme that would subvert the usual order of the primary colours to show that Google was about breaking the rules, but she also included illustrative elements to tell a story about what Google did. She incorporated both a magnifying glass to represent the search function and crosshairs to represent the accuracy of Google's algorithm. Larry and Sergey apparently liked the idea, although they were concerned that using both of the elements together meant that there was a lot going on. The final decision to drop both elements was taken less for aesthetic reasons, but because they were already beginning to envision a future in which Google would become more than just a search engine. They decided to avoid adopting a logo that could limit the brand and wouldn't make sense with a wider range of productions. The case shows that when designing a logo, it can serve to gaze into a crystal ball and consider where a company might be several years down the line. 07. Leeds United Sometimes a logo is dropped not because it doesn’t make it past a brand's board or owners, but because it doesn't fly with loyal customers. And there are no brand followers more loyal than football fans, who can be particularly sensitive to changes to their team's identity. Some teams have got away with pushing an unpopular change through, but this redesigned crest to mark Leeds United's centenary in 2019 didn’t even get off the centre mark. The club carried out six months of research and consulted 10,000 people in the process of designing a crest that was intended to serve for the club's next 100 years. It replaced the former blue and yellow insignia with an image that represented a headless fan performing the "Leeds salute", a gesture used by fans in the stadium. But fans weren't saluting the change. "Leeds’ new badge for the next 100 years looks like a bloke trying to elbow his way to the front of the bar," sports journalist Rob Staton quipped. "It looks like something from Pro Evolution Soccer in the early 2000s," a fan tweeted. Others claimed it even looked fascist. The club admitted it had misjudged fans' opinions and the logo was never used, showing that even the biggest research and consultation is not enough if you're not asking the right people. 08. New England Patriots The rejection of a logo concept doesn't necessarily mean it's dead forever. Dropped logos can be brought back to life when the time is right. Back in 1979, The New England Patriots found a simple way to avoid the embarrassing backtracking suffered by Leeds United two decades later. The club wanted to update its logo because the two-decade-old illustration of team mascot Pat Patriot was too detailed to apply easily on different supports. The NFL came up with a simpler logo that showed the face of the soldier with his tricone hat trailing into a flag, but the club took a last-minute decision to let fans decide. At halftime during a home game, the new logo was shown on poster boards in the stadium. It was greeted by overwhelming boos, and the old logo was used for another 14 years. But in a twist to the story, in 1993, a new logo was unveiled that seems to have been influenced by the 1979 reject. This much more streamlined version of the logo is now affectionately known by fans as the Flying Elvis. Its similarity in concept to the logo that was rejected more than a decade earlier suggests that while the original design probably needed a few more iterations, sometimes it can be a case that the timing is wrong and people aren't ready for a proposal. Or perhaps it's just that the designer is ahead of their time. Read more: 8 of the best animated logos The 10 best logos of all time How the world's biggest brands got their names View the full article

A lack of proper code-signing verification and authentication for firmware updates opens the door to information disclosure, remote code execution, denial of service and more. View the full article

On-trend design doesn't always have to mean starting from scratch. Sometimes even the most experienced designers take advantage of up-to-date professionally created assets to speed up their processes. Editable templates, backgrounds and icons can serve as inspiration when you're staring at a blank page as well as saving time so you can concentrate on the finer details. iStock by Getty Images monitors the latest trends and regularly updates curated boards of contemporary templates, backgrounds and icons that can speed up the design process. Here are seven stylish solutions that they have seen trending at the moment and which could just save you a heap of time on your next project. 01. Templates with contrasts Templates with subtle pastel contrasts can offer a starting point for a range of contemporary designs Templates can offer a great starting point when you're stuck for inspiration and need to get designing quickly. A good template can inspire the rest of the project and start other ideas flowing quickly, making them ideal for reacting to last-minute commissions. Templates with a contrast between warm and cool colours are particularly on trend at the moment. Contrasting colours have always been effective, but the trend today is for a subtler and more sophisticated pastel colour palette, for example coral pink on a pale teal background. 02. Retro wave templates Templates can also help designers ride the current retro revival Another trend hitting big in 2020 is the return of retro waves straight from the 80s. They've become big in pop culture and already brands are looking to incorporate a modern take on this retro style. Try bringing in the hot pinks, highlighter yellows, and neon greens from decades past to turn a straightforward template into an eye-catching statement that's very much in vogue. 03. Metallic backgrounds Metallic textured backgrounds can add a touch of class to a design Whether you’re designing for digital or print, a strong background is the foundation to your whole design. It certainly shouldn't be left as an afterthought. The right choice adds depth, texture and supports text and other graphics to create a unified design. It also creates cohesion between different deliverables in a campaign. A major trend in design at the moment is the use of metallic effects. Used as backgrounds, gold, silver, bronze and platinum can communicate elegance and add excellent texture to a background to give a sense of authenticity and realism. Consider using backgrounds that have a metallic glitter or paint effect for textures that really stand out. 04. Liquid backgrounds Liquid shapes also offer eye-catching options for backgrounds The background can be one of the most important parts of any message because the viewer sees it repeated across campaign elements, from a website to social media posts and banner ads, so it's important to ensure it feels contemporary. Liquid shapes have become popular in general to add a modern sense of movement while also creating a warm, rounded feel. Melting patterns and merging objects are being used for decorations and illustrations but can also make for very effective backgrounds. 05. Video backgrounds Video backgrounds can hold the gaze for longer Another option to create fresh, modern backgrounds is to use video. Movement attracts attention, which is why so many brands are opting to embed video backgrounds in the hero area of their websites. Studies have shown that people spend an average 88% more time on websites with video, and there's evidence that video may help increase conversions. Designers can even look to combine trends by using background videos with liquid or metallic elements for a comtemporary look. 06. Icons in flat design 2.0 Icons offer a versatile tool to add information and storytelling to a design Icons can be an outstanding tool for all kinds of deliverables. They can be informative, but can also tell stories and add interest to large blocks of text. The best icons are easy to interpret and usually work across cultural and linguistic barriers, allowing viewers to understand messages more quickly. Since they're instantly recognisable, they also make the message more likely to stick. Icons with flat design have been the rage for some time, but the look is evolving as screen resolutions improve. Icons in flat Design 2.0 look up-to-the-minute fresh as they reincoporate gradient shading and a wider range of colours and textures to add more detail. 07. Isometric icons Isometric icons can be a great way to inject character and personality into a design Icons can also help reinforce brand personality, whether it’s straightforward and serious or bubbly and fun. Isometric icons often help create the latter and can give a brand a friendly and approachable character. This is one of the reasons that isometric projection, or the representation of three-dimensional objects in two dimensions, has made its way from technical drawings into commercial design in such a big way. To stay on trend, try using 3D in 2D icons as navigational elements, within infographics, or to support or simplify web copy. At iStock by Getty, they keep on top of trends and curate boards of templates, background and icons that can be used in any project. To take advantage and gain access to a vast selection of material that can speed up your work, visit iStock by Getty. View the full article

Scottish design studio Tom Pigeon has released six brand new screen prints celebrating Team GB's key sports at the Tokyo 2020 olympics – and we want all six on our wall right now. There's nothing we love more than an eye-catching poster (we've even compiled a list of our favourite poster designs) and these are certainly striking with their minimalist approach and muted palette, along with a graphic nod to the Japanese flag's red rising sun. Can you guess which sports these represent? The designs take inspiration from the movements of athletes in six sports: sailing, cycling, athletics, gymnastics, rowing and swimming. The movement is conveyed through a series of abstract circles and lines, created as a result of studying and sketching over photographs. The Olympics has a particularly strong relationship with graphic design. Just last month, 20 official posters were revealed for Tokyo 2020. Tom Pigeon's Creative Director, told Creative Review they were inspired by classic posters from the 1960s and 1970s, and that this "dream collaboration" with Team GB has been "a really exciting opportunity to explore our amazing athletes through colour, line and shape". We love those curves Visit Tom Pigeon's website to view the full collection. Related articles: Paris 2024 Olympic logo is mercilessly mocked 15 inspiring examples of screen printing Design sheet for the iconic 1964 Olympic logo unearthed View the full article

If you missed a top bargain in last year's Black Friday deals and the January sales, fear not. HP's Presidents' Day sale sees huge price drops on everything from laptops and desktop PCs to printers, monitors, accessories and more. But the one deal that got our attention was this epic $702 saving on the powerful HP Envy 17t. That price cut includes the original $650 discount, plus a cheeky extra 5 per cent off to celebrate Presidents' Day (use code 5PDS2020 at the checkout).That means right now you can get your hands on this impressive piece of kit for just $997.49! This is one of a number of discounts across a range of HP devices, many of which you can use the above code for a further 5 per cent discount. And there's also the chance to get an additional 10 per cent off select PCs and monitors with code 10PDS2020. The HP Envy range has become a popular choice among creatives in recent years, so much so it features prominently in our roundup of the best laptops for video editing. Packing plenty of performance, full HD display and roomy enough to handle the most labour-intensive tasks, it's not hard to see how the HP Envy range has caught many a designer's eye. If the HP Envy 17t's specs don't fit your needs, HP has a lot more to offer. Below are some more of the best HP deals currently running. To see the full range of laptops, and other hardware and accessories on sale, visit the HP website. Not in the US? Here are the top HP laptop models, with the very best prices, in your area: View the full article

Why would creatives need to learn project management concepts? Well, if you have your own business, are thinking of starting one or work in a big team environment, you'll want to know the fundamentals to streamline your work process. Lean Six Sigma helps you push your business to success with project management skills that will help your creative workflow, and, for a limited time only, you'll get an additional 15% off with code PRESIDENT15. If you're growing your business, you might want to update your business cards. If so, check out our pick of the best business card templates out there. Manage team dynamics Working with different people and personalities can sometimes be challenging. Add the stress of project deadlines and chaos can ensue. Discover how to work with different leaders successfully, and manage your team dynamics better, with the help of Lean Six Sigma. You'll learn how to present projects to instructors, peers and managers in an organised way to increase the quality of your work. You'll soon learn how to assist your colleagues better, and more efficiently. Learn how streamline your resources With access to four valuable online courses and over 30 lessons, this master bundle will also teach you ways to eliminate wasted resources and reduce unwanted activities that may be blocking your growth in the workplace. You'll learn how to streamline everything you do. With over 45 hours of content, these lessons will expose you to Lean's concepts, so you can optimise your processes, increase quality and drive maximum value in any business. Explore data-driven results Amp up your content and make sure you're hitting your goals with Minitab, a critical statistical software project managers count on to explore data. Familiarising yourself with the software will allow you to learn how to communicate valuable information to others and analyse what is and isn't working. You'll also earn a certificate at the end of the training, allowing you to boost your résumé and add it to your list of skills, making you stand out. The Lean Six Sigma Expert Training Bundle is usually priced at over $2,000, but, for a limited time, you can start streamlining your creative business like a pro for only $41.65 with code PRESIDENT15. Transform your workplace and begin implementing values that will help you be more productive and efficient in your craft. Hurry, this offer ends on February 18th! Read more: The best project management software for designers 8 sensational side projects to inspire you 8 survival secrets for creative freelancers View the full article

The Sonic saga has been a rollercoaster. A total character redesign, a release date delay and a studio closure plagued the hedgehog's big screen debut before he even got started. But we're pleased to tell you that it's all been worth it as the opening weekend has surpassed expectations, smashing box office records. Sonic has whirled past his closest movie rival, none other than Detective Pikachu, to take the record for the best opening weekend for a video game film adaptation. If you want to create an equally successful character, check out our character design tips. If you'd like to catch up on the Sonic story so far, see our posts on the redesign and studio issues. Plus, you'll definitely want to take a look at Baby Sonic. The redesign was more cartoon-like (right) and less bizarrely human (left) The Blue Blur's first cinematic weekend has seen box office totals of $57 million (£43 million) in the United States. For comparison, the previous record-holder Detective Pikachu amassed just $54 million (£41 million), $3 million less than his spiky counterpart. Given the turbulent reactions to the first incarnation of Sonic, it's clear the final Sonic design needed to be totally on point to ensure the success of the film. Sonic's signature eyes were a major part of the problem for gamers who grew up with him, as were his human-like features (including his naked hands, devoid of white gloves), and pointy nose and mouth. Director Jeff Fowler knew that the reaction of the fans was the most accurate barometer. “It was pretty clear on the day the trailer was released just seeing the feedback and hearing the feedback… that fans were not happy enough with where we were at,” Fowler said in an interview with our sister site Games Radar. When the second trailer was released (see it below), fans were jumping for joy as it became clear that Fowler had ordered a total redesign that solved the issues. As for the reaction to the film itself, it's an across-the-board hit. Fans on Twitter are thanking Paramount and calling the film a masterclass. And some are going even further with their praise. Sonic's success shows the power of social media in communicating fan feedback, and we applaud Fowler for listening. We bet Paramount is applauding him, too, with returns like that. Read more: Disney characters' homes as Tiny Houses will leave you wanting more 9 character designers you need to know How to draw: The best drawing tutorials View the full article

For social media aficionados, screen orientation across platforms is an irritating issue. While TikTok only displays vertically, YouTube videos are best viewed on full-screen mode, which is horizontal. If you're a content creator, this means either filming duplicate videos or cropping the existing video to fit both screen orientations. But a social media/tech genius has come up with a solution that's bound to catch on, if you can handle the dubious glances that might be directed at you. And all that's needed is the humble rubber band and not one but two of the best camera phones. (Although some awesome photo apps for editing wouldn't hurt). A Vox reporter Rebecca Jennings tweeted the above gem, sharing the ridiculous hack this unidentified TikToker came up with to solve the problem. Again, you will need two phones – one for filming for YouTube and the other for TikTok (see our guide to the TikTok app for the uninitiated), but the double outlay seems like a small price to pay. You need to cross them over each other, one sitting vertically and the other horizontally so that the horizontal phone can film horizontally and the vertical one can film, well... vertically. Then hold them in place with a rubber band and voila! We admire this Blue Peter-style initiative and wonder if it will provoke any tech manufacturers into tweaking the smartphone camera somehow to create a similar effect. After all, the Samsung has already tackled the screen rotation issue head on with its invention of a TV that literally spins on its axis to rotate from horizontal to vertical, so its clearly an issue that's on at least one tech giant's radar. Responses on Twitter confirm this. One user claims to have solved the problem already, with his tongue-in-cheek pitch to Apple. All innovation has to start somewhere, right? And heavy social media users are often the ones to invent hacks that fill in the gaps in the tech (as with this nifty Instagram feed hack) until the technology is tweaked. Read more: The ultimate social media guide for creatives The 5 best Instagram font generators 8 best social media platforms for artists and designers View the full article

Last week, Banksy confirmed that a new piece of Bristol graffiti many are associating with Valentine's Day was his by posting images of it on his website and Instagram. But just a few days later, the work has been covered up by a piece of board and cornered off after it was vandalised, according to the Bristol Post. The new Banksy in Barton Hill was defaced by graffiti that says: "BCC wankers", which is perhaps a shot at Bristol City Council, and a shoddily drawn heart. It looks like the perpetrator had not looked at our how to draw tutorials. Nor do they appreciate the best examples of street art. The pink colour doesn't really add anything The artwork on the side of a house in Bristol's Barton Hill shows a young girl firing roses from a slingshot, creating an explosion of petals that looks not unlike a blood splatter, but is actually made up of spray-painted ivy. You can count on Banksy to bring satire to pretty much any holiday (see his comment on homelessness over Christmas here). Before this latest act of vandalism, a plastic sheet had previously been put over the artwork to protect it, but it was soon destroyed. The flowers placed on the Marsh Lane road sign were also stolen. The graffiti was brought to our attention on Thursday morning by James P. Bullock on Twitter, who had noticed people with scaffolding on the same building earlier in the day. It's in Banksy's trademark style, and the line drawing of the young girl is similar to the girl in his famed work, Balloon Girl. The people of Bristol have been crowding round Marsh Lane to get photos of the Banksy over the weekend. If you're in the area and manage to catch the piece when it is eventually uncovered (which we assume it will be), check out our street photography tips in order to get the best shot. And get yourself one of the best camera phones while you're at it. Read more: The best art easels in 2020 Art terms: The ultimate artist's glossary 34 top free graffiti fonts View the full article

Ben the Illustrator's annual illustration survey is here, and the results once again show some positive things about the industry, as well as some areas for improvement. There's some very positive news straight off the bat: the survey shows that 97 per cent of respondents are proud to be illustrators. That same percentage of people also motivated to be better artists, which is good news (especially because we have plenty of how to draw tutorials here on Creative Bloq). However, only 88 per cent are motivated to improve their business. Perhaps the rest are just nailing it already. Money worries Sadly, it seems that money troubles continue to plague illustrators. The survey reports that only 45 per cent of people were confident giving initial estimates to clients, and 46 per cent were confident negotiating. It'd be interesting to know whether those are the same confident people. Ben comments that "nothing has changed in three years, we're still not confident with money, but we need to be. We're asking for deposits and kill-fees more than before, but still not as standard and still not often enough." In terms of money earned overall, it seems that many are not reaching the AOI's minimum salary of £20,000 a year, with 55 per cent of those working full-time as illustrators not earning this amount. There were also concerns around commissioners and their understanding of illustration and areas such as licensing and the importance of a clear brief. Social media Instagram was cited as being the most beneficial social media platform to illustrators – 84 per cent said it was helpful – with Twitter following close behind on 53 per cent. Interestingly, the image-based Pinterest didn't get much of a look-in, with only nine per cent saying it was useful. Forty-six per cent of illustrators also said that Instagram was one of the ways they got most work in 2019, which was beaten only by regular/repeat clients (whether or not those clients were found on Instagram, we don't know). Despite using social media platforms to get so much work, only 20 per cent of respondents said they were confident using the platforms' algorithms to their advantage. (Perhaps they need our Instagram engagement tips.) When citing their top three sources of inspiration, 66 per cent of people said they looked at other illustrators' work online. Of those 66 per cent, 77 per cent look at others' work on social media. Ben says this is a worrying statistic: "Mimicking illustrators on Instagram is not the foundation of a long-term creative life." We're inclined to agree. Diversity Two-thirds of illustrators don't feel that BAME, LBGTQ+ and female professionals are fairly represented within illustration, nor that the industry is doing enough to be more inclusive. Ben has some suggestions as to how we can combat this: "We need to highlight artists who aren’t getting the attention they deserve. We need events to stop filling the stage with successful white men; we need to help people who can't afford to go to university to still find a way into the industry; we need magazines, blogs and books to ensure there is no bias in who they are featuring." There was also a call for more female illustrator podcasts. For the full survey, which is supported by Adobe, Cass Art, The AOI and Survey Monkey, visit the Illustrator's Survey website. Read more: 10 illustration trends for 2020 Artist's illustrations of TV home plans are oddly fascinating Pokémon fans are losing it over Grand Oak View the full article

The creative heart of Games Workshop, the Warhammer studio is inhabited by born storytellers; a diverse group of artists with exceptional abilities and a shared love of the worlds of Warhammer. Every day, their passion and creativity brings complex gaming universes to life – something you could soon be a part of. Right now, Games Workshop is offering talented creatives the chance to join its enthusiastic and inspired team, and forge a long, productive career in a world-class design and manufacturing studio. There are a number of positions available, all of which offer an amazing opportunity to be immersed in an unlimited world of creativity. Read on to discover the roles up for grabs, and, crucially, how to apply. Citadel Miniatures Designer The job of a Citadel miniatures designer is to realise characters, heroes and equipment in three dimensions, as the physical miniatures that the studio produces. Working to a brief, this role requires the creation of amazing models, which will be sold to customers all over the world. “Working as part of the Citadel Miniatures Design team is a fantastic experience," says Citadel Miniatures Designer Darren Latham. "Being in a creative role, surrounded by talented designers is hugely valuable in terms of developing my own creativity. You are constantly learning from others and sharing your knowledge as well. The team is only getting bigger and better because of this, which means our miniatures are always improving.” Citadel Miniatures Conceptualiser The job of a Citadel miniatures conceptualiser is to excite world-class designers with ideas for new models, via sketches and drawings. A successful conceptualiser should be willing to experiment and be radical with designs and ideas, whilst remaining respectful of and informed by the existing backgrounds and stories from the Game Workshop universes. "Being at the starting point of creating a miniature is great fun – you can let your imagination run wild to really explore new ideas," says Citadel Miniatures Conceptualiser David Ferri. "It's also extremely rewarding seeing how other members of the team expand on your sketches and ideas, and watching the direction they take when making the finished product." ‘Eavy Metal Painter The job of an ‘Eavy Metal painter is to amaze Warhammer fans by painting Citadel miniatures in remarkable and inspirational ways. The art is to convey the story of every model through its design, all while remaining faithful to the imagery, colour schemes and iconography of Warhammer Age of Sigmar and Warhammer 40,000. “Games Workshop allowed me to follow my passion in life and inspired me to be the best version of myself, in the best painting team in the world,” says ‘Eavy Metal Painter Natalie Slinn." If you like the sound of any of these jobs and feel that you have the passion and drive to be part of this world-class studio, apply today! Trainee Citadel Miniatures Designers Talent Programme Whether you are a traditional miniatures sculptor or a 3D artist using up to the minute software, everyone is welcome to apply to become the next generation of Warhammer miniatures designers Once accepted onto the programme, the first assignment is to copy an existing miniature. If successful, the second assignment consists of reimagining an existing model, and showing an understanding of the core elements for that character by creating a unique physical miniature. “The great thing about the Talent Programme was the opportunity to get feedback from the artists that made your favourite miniatures," says Citadel Miniatures Designer Trainee Alessandro Columbo. Fancy joining the Games Workshop Talent Programme and getting feedback from some of the best miniatures designers in the world? Apply here, or stop by our booth at Vertex 2020 to meet the team and find out more. Citadel Miniature Designers FAQs Do I need to be experienced in 3D design software to be considered for the Trainee Citadel Miniatures Designer Talent Programme? And if so, which ones? Not at all. Traditional physical sculpting methods and 3D design methods are both applicable. Do I need to have made any miniatures before I apply to the Trainee Citadel Miniatures Designer Talent Programme? Yes, to be considered, you need to have demonstrated your passion for making miniatures by having a portfolio of your own work. Do I need to be a hobbyist to work in the team? No, not necessarily. Many of the team are hobbyists – painters, collectors, gamers, or all three. It would be hard to love Warhammer without channelling that love into the hobby, but not impossible! Do I need to be an accomplished illustrator to be a successful conceptualiser? No, far from it. We don’t need polished illustrations, it’s more important to be able to quickly communicate your ideas and visions in an inspirational, exciting and clear way. Do I need to have won a Golden Demon to be considered for the ‘Eavy Metal team? No, but it wouldn’t hurt! The ‘Eavy Metal team is the best team of miniatures painters on the planet, and to be considered, you need to be that good. View the full article

Generate – the conference for web designers and developers – is offering a hard-to-resist £100 off the price of a standard ticket for one week only. The offer runs until 5pm on Friday 21 February. So make sure you don't miss out by getting your ticket today. To get your reduced price GenerateJS ticket to see the stellar line-up of speakers at this year's event, simply head to the GenerateJS web site, add a few details and input the promo code FLASH100 on the payment page. That's it. Though note that this discount cannot be used in conjunction with other offers and is not available on student tickets. Why should you go to GenerateJS? Below are three reasons you won't want to miss this event. 01. Learn all about JS Catch inspiring, thought-provoking and on-the-money talks from leading lights in the world of JavaScript. Web stuff do-er Jeremy Keith reveals how to design and develop websites that work offline with the help of Service Workers. Remy Sharp brings together a mix of Web Audio, canvas API, cameras, audio jacks, binary, typed arrays, blobs, history of computing and a lot of questionable JavaScript to create a 1980s horribly slow and loud loading screen. Charlie Gerard is a senior front-end developer at Netlify and will talk about how to build a simple gesture recognition system using JavaScript, Arduino and Machine Learning. Nadieh Bremer is going to create an effective and beautiful data visualisation from scratch in her live coding session, and Phil Hawksworth will explore a “serverless” web with the help of dynamic APIs backed with data services. 02. Network with JS stars Conferences are great for networking, and at GenerateJS you can hobnob with our JavaScript experts, mingle with fellow developers and designers and talk shop. Plus, you can brush shoulders with brands and associate with agencies. 03. Free drinks post-conference Once you have had your brain filled with fountains of JavaScript knowledge you can sit back and take it easy. Enjoy a selection of delicious snacks, as well as breakfast and lunch, participate in our Creative Bloq break activities and at the end of the day enjoy a few free drinks with all attendees. See you there? Book your discounted tickets here. Read more: 25 of the best JavaScript APIs 13 of the best JavaScript frameworks to try Revealed: The latest JavaScript trends View the full article

Security experts say that 5G supply chain concerns should be taken seriously – whether it’s in the context of Huawei or not. View the full article

The malicious Chrome extensions were secretly collecting users' browser data and redirecting them to malware-laced websites. View the full article

Top stories of this week include a new Emotet Wi-Fi hack and Robbinhood ransomware operators using a "bring your own bug" technique. View the full article

PlayStation has unveiled a new advert, which is designed to truly stick in the memory. Not to spoil things for you, but the focus in on hearts, and not in the way you'd expect to see on Valentine's Day. It's the work of adam&eveDDB, the ad agency best known for its work on the John Lewis & Partners Christmas adverts. But the Bear and the Hare this is not. The scene is set in a dingy, dramatic tunnel. Uneasy soldiers navigate the gloom with their torches. So far, we're firmly in traditional war game territory. But then our poor soldiers happen upon a scene that throws all that out of the water. The tagline for the spot is 'Feel the Power of PlayStation'. Watch it for yourself below. For more impactful ads, see our roundup of the best print ads. The aim is to capture what it feels like to play a great PlayStation game – thrilling, tense, new. Once you've got over the weirdness of the whole thing, it's actually an extremely effective advert, and more great work from adam&eveDDB. The sound design is immersive; the scale is cinematic. There's something about the sound of an accelerated heartbeat that makes you, as a viewer, feel excited. The collection of beating hearts also calls neatly to mind the social aspect of the gaming community. The odd, dark style and subject matter is reminiscent of PlayStation ads of old. And we're all for it. The dramatic unveiling of the new PS5 logo at CES was met with widespread mockery (there's nothing wrong with it... but some argued it was a little too obvious, and some designers tried their hand at creating alternative versions). So we're pleased to see PlayStation is back on form when it comes to promotion. Read more: Banksy confirms new Bristol Valentine's Day graffiti is his The 8 best retro gaming consoles 27 top character design tips View the full article

The onboarding email newsletter is a part of a welcome email series that plays a crucial role in creating a comfortable environment for the subscribers. Not every company needs them, but if you are planning to sell goods, offer services, …View the full article

An art critic has broken a sculpture valued at $20,000, by either standing too close to it with a Coke can, or trying to rest her can on the piece: the details are disputed. The piece by Mexican artist Gabriel Rico was entitled Nimble and sinister tricks (To be preserved without scandal and corruption) I (2018) and consisted of a sheet of glass with objects suspended through it, including two balls, a stick, a feather and a stone. It was on display at Mexican gallery Galeria OMR. The art critic, Avelina Lésper was less than impressed with the piece, and as a critical comment, she set her empty drinks can on the floor next to it, in order to show that the artwork would remain unchanged: "it could be two balls as it could be two cans", she told Milenio. Avelina Léspe, shortly before the sculpture broke Lésper said that as she moved the can towards the stone, it was "as if the piece had heard my comment, as if it had felt what I thought of it," and it shattered and fell on the floor. Some reports have said that Lésper placed the can on one of the stones, and that's when the piece shattered. The gallery said on Instagram that it is "irrelevant how it happened," and that Lésper getting too close to the artwork is what destroyed it. It added that the incident suggests a "huge lack of professionalism and respect". In her statement, Lésper talked about how art can be improved by its destruction, suggesting that the piece should be exhibited as it is. She said she was sorry for what had happened, and added: "I didn't do it on purpose, I didn't break it, I didn't hit it, I didn't touch it." Spanish speakers can listen to her whole statement, below. Whether or not Lésper touched the artwork seems to be the sticking point here, although perhaps the details of the incident don't really matter. The breakage brings up the question of whether fragile objects should be on display where people can get so close to them. Or maybe whether drinks cans should be allowed in galleries. Either way, we hope the artist's dreams haven't been completely shattered. Read more: Banksy confirms new Bristol Valentine's Day artwork is his How to draw a rose: Beginner and advanced tips 8 alternative representations of love View the full article

There are plenty of reasons you might need public speaking tips. Perhaps it's a big fat wedding, a significantly round-numbered birthday or a much-loved colleague leaving a long-held job. All of these special occasions call for a few well-chosen words to mark the moment. In short, they all need a speech. But here’s the thing: most designers hate speaking in public. In fact, some of us hate it so much we’d rather eat a D&AD annual (even a really fancy one from the late '90s) than speak in front of an audience. It’s against our very nature. It's a bit like telling us all we need to learn how to network, immediately. Think about it: many designers enter the profession because they’re naturally predisposed to the sorts of behaviours that make us good designers (and bad public orators) in the first place: we’re quiet, introverted, diligent and obsessed with detail and minutiae. We love nothing more than quietly losing ourselves in a creative challenge. Ideally alone, with a posh pen and a swanky sketchbook. Not on stage under swivelling spotlights, with a head-mic and some booming intro music. Matt Baxter speaking at a design event The requirement to present publicly in front of audiences becomes increasingly pressing as our careers progress. And I’m not talking here about presenting to a design team or a small audience of clients or stakeholders. Both of these things are vitally important for the success of your projects, but they’re also both things that we eventually do with enough regularity for them to become a natural part of the job. No, what I’m talking about here is the sort of speaking that involves lecterns, theatre-style seating, multi-coloured lanyards and tickets. The sort of speaking that fills up the schedules of design events all over the world, from beer-fuelled Pecha Kucha-style six minute and 40 second-long quickies, to hour-long career retrospectives. What I’m referring to here is the dreaded ‘design talk’. If you’re making great work, or if you’ve designed something that made the industry sit up and take notice, or if you’ve been slogging in the industry for long enough that your insights are of value, then you’ll find yourself invited to talk about your good fortune to audiences. The good news is that you can learn all about public speaking very much as you might learn whizzy new Photoshop skills If you’re in that fortunate position, fear not trepidatious speaker: help is at shaky hand. The good news is that you can learn all about public speaking very much as you might learn whizzy new Photoshop skills via Photoshop tutorials, or ninja-level project management techniques. For starters, you can simply take yourself to a design talk and learn from the seasoned experts. A busy and vibrant creative industry means there’s no shortage of design events all around the country. You can also read about this stuff, too. The business section of your local bookshop is chock-full of books about public speaking. Some good, some terrible. I’m afraid you’ll have to read a few to sort the former from the latter. And as for my advice? Well, based on my own board-treading experience, here are four things I’ve learned so far. (If you like, you can imagine me standing on a stage, telling you about them.) 01. Find your style Think of the very best design talks you’ve been to. Can you picture them? Good. Were they excruciating, monotonous, pompous or self-aggrandising? No, of course they weren’t. They were charming, surprising, entertaining, and (most importantly, I think) sounded natural, right? I bet that the speaker looked like they were at ease on stage and spoke in a way that seemed genuine. They were speakers who had found – most likely through years of terrifyingly live practice – their own style. And to be clear, I don’t mean that they were slick (though some most definitely are). One of my favourite industry speakers is avuncular polymath Supermundane, known to his mum as Rob Lowe. He most definitely has his own style and – while far from slick and all the better for it – it’s genuine, charming and very funny (and may well involve wigs). 02. Make it personal Talking about yourself to an audience of ticket-buying punters takes some skill. Get it wrong and you risk looking either irritatingly self-regarding or dispiritingly self-deprecating. It’s a flipping minefield. But done well, the inclusion of a personal perspective can transform a talk. Pentagram partner Michael Bierut does this brilliantly well. I’ve seen the New York-based designer speak many times and I feel like I know as much about his background and upbringing as I know about his opinions on Helvetica. He’s (almost) as happy to talk frankly about his failures as he is to talk about his successes. The result of this personal approach is that we feel like we’re getting a sneaky and privileged peek behind the design curtain. 03. Be opinionated If you’ve been invited to speak to an audience at a design event, then it’s likely to be because your work is good and lots of people like it. Which means that audiences want to hear you speaking about that work. They want to hear about the process that lead to your brilliant solution. But I’d also suggest that they want to hear about what you think. They want your opinion, rather than just a description of a process. Design speakers like Michael Johnson, Paula Scher or Michael Wolff don’t just tell you about the work. They tell you what they think. About the work, about the industry, about the world. 04. Rehearse And finally: practice! When my sister, ace copywriter Kate Van Der Borgh and I were invited to talk at last year's D&AD Festival in London, we planned and practised, and it still didn’t feel like enough. Our talk – called Beat The Bullshit: Finding Creative Clarity – was, by its very nature, strongly opinionated. Our session aimed to define exactly what is meant by ‘brand bullshit’, before exploring why it’s a barrier in our industry, and showing how we can all cut the confusion and find the creative clarity that produces outstanding work. Because we didn’t have the crutch of project imagery to lean on, it felt important to know our stuff and to deliver it clearly. Kate insisted that we rehearse our double act thoroughly, and she was right. So what are you waiting for? It's time to say a few words… This article originally appeared in issue 300 of Computer Arts, the world’s leading design magazine. Buy issue 300 or subscribe here. Read more: Design for good: 8 ways to use your creativity to make a difference 5 tips for presenting your work on social media The events every designer should know about in 2020 View the full article

Banksy has confirmed that a new piece of Bristol graffiti many are associating with Valentine's Day is his work. Or at least, he posted about it on Instagram at midnight on 14 February. The caption-less image is probably about as much information as we're going to get from the mysterious street artist. The artwork on the side of a house in Bristol's Barton Hill shows a young girl firing roses from a slingshot, creating an explosion of petals that looks not unlike a blood splatter, but is actually made up of spray-painted ivy. You can count on Banksy to bring satire to pretty much any holiday (see his comment on homelessness over Christmas here). Like many of our favourite street art examples, the artwork has already had a piece of perspex placed over it, presumably to protect it from being vandalised. Although according to the BBC, this piece of plastic has already been stolen, along with the flowers placed on the road sign. The graffiti was brought to our attention by James P. Bullock, yesterday morning on Twitter, who had noticed people with scaffolding on the same building earlier in the day. It's in Banksy's trademark style, and the line drawing of the young girl is similar to the girl in his famed work, Balloon Girl. The people of Bristol have already been crowding round Marsh Road to get photos of the Banksy. If you're in the area, check out our street photography tips in order to get the best shot. And get yourself one of the best camera phones while you're at it. Read more: The best art easels in 2020 Art terms: The ultimate artist's glossary 34 top free graffiti fonts View the full article

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Some new graffiti has popped up in Bristol's Barton Hill that looks like it could be a Valentine's Day present from Banksy. The artwork shows a young girl firing roses from a slingshot, creating an explosion of petals that look not unlike a blood splatter. You can count on the mysterious street artist to bring satire to pretty much any holiday (see his comment on homelessness over Christmas here). The graffiti was brought to our attention by James P. Bullock, this morning on Twitter, who had noticed people with scaffolding on the same building earlier in the day. It's in Banksy's trademark style, and the line drawing of the young girl is not unlike the girl in his famed work, Balloon Girl. (See our favourite street art examples for more inspirational artwork, or our best Valentine's Day gifts if you'd like to purchase something a little less bloody for your loved one.) So far, there has been no confirmation of whether or not this is a real Banksy. That doesn't mean the people of Bristol won't be crowding round Marsh Road this evening. If you're in the area, check out our street photography tips in order to get the best shot. And get yourself one of the best camera phones while you're at it. Read more: The best art easels in 2020 Art terms: The ultimate artist's glossary 34 top free graffiti fonts View the full article

The Liga Latinoamérica is the Latin American league for League of Legends – Riot Games' wildly popular online game. There were previously two Latin American leagues, one based in Mexico and one in Chile, but they have now merged, and DesignStudio has given the new, combined league a funky identity. The Liga Latinoamérica (LLA) now has a striking new monogram (see our best monograms) with bold colours and a custom type. "This new raw look and feel encourages LLA to infuse its fiery spirit – 'Fuego' – into all communications," says DesignStudio on its website. While we agree this new look from the studio behind the controversial Airbnb and Deliveroo rebrands packs plenty of punch, it's rather weaker on the legibility front. If you don't know what you're looking at, you may well mistake 'LLA' to read 'UA' or even 'HA'. (See our graffiti fonts if you'd like to recreate the look.) We see what DesignStudio was going for, and we like it We do love the tape type though, and the look overall, which portrays an edgy feel that we wouldn't normally associate with online gaming. This seems like a smart move from Riot Games, whose recent update of the League of Legends logo was pretty much universally slated back in October last year. To avoid too many messages getting lost, this fiery new logo is paired with what DesignStudio calls a "more authoritative new type", Hielo (which means ice in Spanish). Thankfully, this one is a lot more legible. The juxtaposition of the two fonts enables LLA to "communicate facts while injecting messages with a sense of irreverent humour". The new identity's eye-catching new look on mobile DesignStudio had previously updated the European league's identity and given it a similarly fresh and funky feel. It seems that League of Legends is now a whole lot cooler than we previously imagined, and on a global scale, too. Read the full DesignStudio case study here. Read more: The 8 best retro gaming consoles Pokémon fans are losing it over Grand Oak Controversial Sears logo gets a hasty update View the full article