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For creative studios and advertising agencies, finding a new angle on a familiar brand is all in a day's work. And that's a good thing. Because if we were to always see brands from one perspective, they'd soon grow stale and ineffective. This fun quiz goes one step further and finds a new angle on finding a new angle. Our guide to everything you need to know about logo design points out that the best brand icons keep things simple and easy to recall., and as you'll see with this quiz, that's certainly true of some logos more than it is others. That's because you're about to see if you can identify a logo from a birds-eye view vantage point. Created by the team over at award-winning audio branding agency, why do birds, this quiz presents famous logos from above, and challenges you to guess them. To get you started, take a look at the logo above. Red background, thin golden icon, what could it be? Of course, it's McDonald's famous Golden Arches, but you probably figured that out already. Now you've got the hang of it, why not try and guess some more logos in our gallery below? How did you do? We'll admit, some of them left us stumped. To see the full set of bird's-eye view logos, head over to the why do birds site. To reveal the brand in question, just hover over the image and watch its shadow reveal all. Well, all except the last one, which is on a black background and will frustrate you forever if you can't guess what it is. And if this quiz has made you want to whip up a logo design all of your own, check out our guide to the best free logo design tools. Although it's up to you if you want to design them with a bird's-eye view in mind. Related articles: Quiz: Spot the errors in these famous logos The Creative Types Quiz: What's your creative style? You probably won't get 100% on this colour quiz View the full article

Parallax motion, the concept of moving layers at different speeds, has been used for years in animation. The official website of Bear Grylls (one of our favourite parallax scrolling sites), takes the effect in new and interesting directions. The background mountains scale down into position, while fading up so that they become fully opaque, and in the background of the page, the text ‘adventure’ rises up into place behind the mountains as it fades in. For more inspiring motion effects, check out our guide to the best CSS animations and how to code them. The Bear Grylls site design is the work of UK creative marketing agency Outpost, and with a target audience ranging from 16 to 55 years of age, and over 7 million followers worldwide, they had a serious task on their hands. "The main feature of the website was the homepage; we wanted visitors to literally jump into the screen and join Bear on his adventures," explain co-founder Chris Wilcock and creative director Dan Williams. "To achieve this, we utilised some clever transitions, coupled with edited videos, dramatic imagery and the overall language on the site." See the site in action at www.beargrylls.com. In this article, we'll explain how to recreate the effect on your own sites. Start by downloading the tutorial files. 01. Create the scaling effect The structure to allow all of the animating content to work is relatively simple. A wrapper holds everything, and hides any overflow content. Then there are essentially three layers of div tags over the top. 02. Start the CSS To make the design, the background gradient image will be added to the body and set to fill the size of screen. The wrapper holds all of the layers, and the overflow for content is hidden so that scaling effects can be applied. 03. Position each layer The next code ensures that each layer is positioned absolutely, one over the other, inside the wrapper. The size of this fills the viewport width and height so the images fill the screen. 04. Add the text The text class really just adds the right image, and sets its start position before animating it into place using the moveUp keyframes that will be added in the final step. 05. Animate the first mountain The first mountain is the one further away from the screen, and this will get a small scaling that will be animated. The opacity of all the layers is also set low so that they appear in place. 06. Animate the foreground mountain The mountain for the foreground is almost identical to the other mountain — it just does much more of a scale into place. Both mountains share the ‘scaler’ keyframes for their animation. 07. Add keyframe animation The keyframes are now created that specifies that. at the end state of the movement, this end state will be held in place. The text is moved up, and the mountains are scaled down, to fit into the design. Pick up a ticket to Generate CSS now for a big discount This article was originally published in issue 289 of Web Designer – on sale now. Subscribe here. Read more: How to add animation to SVG with CSS Dos and don'ts for delightful web animations How to design with CSS shapes: An introduction View the full article

First, let me say that there is no 100 per cent 'right' way to build a design portfolio. Every company looks for something different when hiring a designer, and different roles require varying presentations. If there was one single correct way, Semplice (my customisable portfolio system for designers) wouldn’t exist and we’d all be using the same boring template. However, I have seen designers make certain mistakes over and over again with their portfolios. It's these missteps that mean designers get stuck and fail to launch their portfolio site, or result in a site that doesn't properly sell their work. 01. Turning it into an art project A designer's portfolio is the ultimate personal project. So it’s understandable that we approach it like a masterpiece. We aim to create something fantastic and creative; a site that not only showcases our work but expresses our identity. Why is that the wrong way to go about it? Dazzling animations, overly complicated designs and confusing user flows only distract from the task at hand First, it’s a lot of pressure. Designers notoriously procrastinate before launching their portfolio, and it’s likely for this reason. They either have so many ideas that they don’t know where to begin, or they want it to be so perfect they are never satisfied with their creation. This approach can also lead to an unusable site. I’m all for making a beautiful portfolio, but when we’re too focused on it, we forget our users: the recruiters, companies or collaborators who just want to see our work, understand who we are and hopefully, contact us. UX is just as important for our personal site as it is for our clients, and dazzling animations, overly complicated designs and confusing user flows only distract from the task at hand. 02. Saving case studies for last Case studies may be the most dreaded part of portfolio building. As designers, we are more interested in the visuals, creating a beautiful layout with pictures of our work. We start there and save the case studies for the end. Then we either a) procrastinate on our case studies, putting off launch for months or b) write a case study to fit our layout, which usually doesn’t result in an effective case study or c) skip writing case studies entirely (I can’t tell you how many case studies I’ve seen with just a contextless grid of images). Instead of putting off your case studies, start with them. This will help you create more meaningful project layouts that better tell your story. It will guide any photos you need to take for your projects. And it will get the most daunting task out of the way first. To help make your case studies more enjoyable and effective, take a look at this article on how to write engaging case studies, or explore the visual guide on the Semplice blog. 03. Trying to impress other designers I don’t know when or why designers got the idea that success means impressing our peers. We try so hard to fit into the design community, we forget that the 'community' is not our target audience. In most cases, our potential clients or employers are. We try so hard to fit into the design community, we forget that the 'community' is not our target audience An avant-garde homepage design might look cool, but does it help a potential client understand whether you’d fit their project? Fancy animations may seem impressive to another designer, but do they make it more difficult for your client to find your work? Design your portfolio for what you’re after. Maybe you’re looking for a full-time gig, or perhaps you’re seeking freelance clients. Or maybe you are indeed aiming to impress your community in an effort to collaborate with other designers. In any case, these are all different objectives. Think about what your target audience needs to know to appreciate who you are, how you work and what you are capable of creating. Read more: How to curate a creative portfolio 5 little portfolio details that make a big difference The dos and don'ts of perfect portfolios View the full article

Want to launch a career in digital marketing? The Complete Guide to Digital Marketing Course can kick off a lucrative career path in this industry. Get your guide for just $11. With this course you'll learn strategies that apply to blogging, copywriting, email, SEO, and a whole lot more. You'll be able to grow your knowledge with downloadable guides, and manage your progress with downloadable checklists to make sure you stick to your goals. What's more, the inclusion of case studies can teach you important strategies through real-life examples. Pick up The Complete Guide to Digital Marketing Course for only $11. Related articles: 5 ways to boost your website's SEO Facebook takes on Patreon, but its terms enrage artists 10 must-know SEO tools for search success View the full article

Want to learn the tricks of the trade where it comes to User Experience? If so, you'll need the Ultimate UI & UX Designer Bundle, and the good news is that it can be yours for just $24. UX has been around for years, but it can definitely be tricky to learn. However, it pays better than graphic design and can be a super interesting field to dive into! The best VPN service 2019 This course will teach you to understand a UX project, illuminate the difference between UI and UX, and show you the responsibilities of a typical UX designer. You'll also find out how to run user testing sessions and how to build user profiles and personas. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Get the Ultimate UI & UX Designer Bundle for only $24. Related articles: 7 golden rules of UX 20 top UX tools and resources Perfect object-oriented UX View the full article

Do you want to create apps like no other? If so, the Complete Master Photoshop & Adobe CC Bundle can help you get there for only $31. Even if you don’t have much coding experience, you’ll be able to get tons out of this master class. It’s a comprehensive, easy-to-follow approach to mobile app design using Photoshop. The best cloud storage 2019 With bundle you'll also be able to master Material Design, understand the principles of colour and typography, and pick up all sorts of design tips and tricks - all for one low price. What's more, you can access the 149 lectures and 14 hours of content any time of the day or night. Pick up The Complete Master Photoshop & Adobe CC Bundle for $31. Related articles: Mobile app design: A beginner's guide Spotify takes on Apple with app redesign The best video editing apps in 2019 View the full article

Swedish furniture giant IKEA has moved into the world of type design with the launch of Soffa Sans. Described by IKEA as the "comfiest font ever", the typeface was inspired by customers who played around with its sofa-building tool. Soffa Sans is unlike any of the best free fonts for designers we've previously seen. That's because the letters are made up of carefully arranged couches, effectively using the furniture as pixels to spell out characters. The font was announced on Twitter, with IKEA acknowledging that the typeface took its lead from people having a laugh with the chain's couch design tool, VALLENTUNA. So what connects a sofa design tool with typography? Well, keep in mind that if you give social media users the chance to personalise something, they'll likely come up with something humorous. Think of Soffa Sans as the Boaty McBoatface of fonts. And VALLENTUNA gives people lots of opportunity for customisation. Originally it was intended to give homeowners a chance to create the ideal layout of their sofas, but it wasn't long until people started getting creative with the tool. And that included spelling out messages. Not one to be left out of the joke, IKEA worked with customer experience agency Proximity London to launch a fully-realised font family built around VALLENTUNA. Speaking to The Drum, the living rooms sales leader for IKEA UK and Ireland, Marcos Tejedor, said: "We've been really enjoying seeing the fun that people are having with our sofas, and the innovative solutions they are creating. "Inspired by their creativity, we've launched Soffa Sans: the world's comfiest font. Its modular form and relaxed letter-spacing makes it one of the most versatile fonts out there and we're looking forward to seeing where it’s used." The font is available to download for free in a range of colours and sizes from the IKEA site. And that's just as well, because The Drum crunched the numbers and realised that it would cost £106,320 to purchase the 1434 sofas that make up the typeface. This is a great example of a brand listening to what its audience is getting up to and owning the joke. And if anyone knows how to use humour, it's IKEA. We're still chuckling at its cheese grater ad, which had a pop at Apple's new Mac Pro. Related articles: IKEA's new logo is... different Adjustable font gets a playful upgrade Font types: A designer's guide View the full article

Welcome to Creative Bloq's guide to the best laptop stands. A good quality laptop stand can be one of the most important tools you'll buy for creative work. Laptops are far more convenient than hefty desktop computers for most tasks, but they're not designed for long periods of work. Ideally, the screen you're working at should sit at eye level, but the design of a laptop means you'll be hunched over, peering at its display instead. The best laptops for graphic design When you're looking for a laptop stand, ergonomics is one of the most important factors to consider, but you'll also want to think about portability – particularly if you use a shared workspace. Some of the stands here even fold up so you can tuck them into your laptop bag. If your device tends to run hot, you might want to choose a stand with built-in fans for extra cooling – or at least a well ventilated design (alternatively, you could pick up one of the best laptop cooling pads). Finally, you'll want a laptop stand that looks great, and fits well with your studio. Stylish stands don't have to be expensive, so there's no need to settle for something bland. Image credit: Twelve South If you've invested in a new Apple device, you'll want a suitably smart stand to match, and the Twelve South HiRise for MacBook is exactly that. Not only does it look the part, finished in brushed aluminum, it's also a practical choice for creatives thanks to its spring-loaded piston design. This feature lets you raise your laptop up to six inches, so you can position it level with a desktop monitor with a flick of a switch. The only downside to its minimal design is that there's no 'lip' to stop your laptop sliding forwards, but the non-skid surface should keep it in place. Image credit: Bovision The super portable Ergonomic Aluminium Foldable X-Stand has a very simple design, but does an excellent job of holding your laptop at a more comfortable angle for working and viewing. It lacks fans, but its open, cross-shaped design means there'll be a good flow of air under your laptop to stop it from overheating, with rubber feet to keep it off your desk. This little stand is also extremely portable, weighing a mere 18 grams and folding up neatly into a package small enough to tuck into your laptop bag. A handy addition to any designer's toolkit, and an affordable one too. Image credit: Thermaltake The Thermaltake Massive TM Notebook Cooler will keep your laptop nicely chilled during demanding tasks like video rendering, preventing overheating and extending the life of its components. This certainly isn't the most elegant laptop stand (it was created with gamers rather than designers in mind), but it's definitely one of the smartest. It features a temperature sensor that detects heat in four different areas and responds automatically, plus manual controls if you want to take things into your own hands. The angle and height of the laptop stand can be fine-tuned using a pair of adjustable legs at the back for more comfortable viewing. Image credit: Rain Design This handsome device is one of Rain Design's best-selling laptop stands, with the added bonus of a 360-degree swivel base. The RainDesign mStand 360 is another stand designed with MacBooks in mind, and is available in a range of colorways that match Apple's designs. It features rubberized grips to keep your laptop firmly in place, plus a cable management hole at the back to keep wires neatly out of the way. If you also use an iPad for work, Rain Design's range also includes a tablet stand that will keep it at the same height for a dual-screen setup. Image credit: Lavolta For comfortable working in bed or at a desk, the Lavolta Folding Laptop Table Desk Tray Stand is hard to beat. Its auto-locking joints rotate a full 360 degrees, enabling you to choose the perfect height and angle, wherever you're working. It features two built-in fans, powered by your laptop's USB port (though there's also a fanless version available if you prefer), and it even offers a removable mouse board to keep your hand in a more natural position (take a look at our guide to the best mouse). Its chunky, articulated design won't be to everyone's liking, but we think this stand's versatility more than makes up for any stylistic concerns. Image credit: Twelve South The Twelve South BookArc Stand is a little different from the other entries on our list. Laptops can take up a lot of valuable desk space when not in use, gathering dust and taking up room you might otherwise use for sketchbooks and other work. That's where vertical laptop stands come in. The Twelve South Bookarc Stand has been specially designed for MacBooks, and will keep your computer neatly out of the way when it's shut down, or connected to an external monitor and keyboard. Its sleek design complements Apple's hardware, and there are interchangeable inserts available for different size laptops. All inserts are soft and flexible, so you don't need to worry about your MacBook getting scuffed. Image credit: WaldenGoods Aluminum laptop stands are fine if you prefer a slick, modern aesthetic, but if you lean more towards natural materials or want something to fit in a more traditional-looking workspace then a wooden laptop stand might be a better choice. The WaldenGoods Portable Wood Laptop Stand is designed to suit 13-inch Macbooks, raising the screen to a comfortable height and providing space for a keyboard to be tucked neatly underneath. Each stand is made to order from solid walnut, so delivery will take a few days more than for other laptop stands – but the result is worth the wait. Image credit: HP If you struggle to get comfortable when working, the HP Dual Hinge II Notebook Stand could be exactly what you need. Its height can be adjusted and locked, it can be tilted to an ergonomic position, and the chunky base offers 360-degree panning. If you own an HP laptop, you can take advantage of this stand's docking station, which allows you to connect peripherals such as keyboards, mice, drawing tablets and external hard drives directly to the stand. However, it also works perfectly well as a versatile, robust stand for any other laptop, and its considerable weight helps keep it stable while you experiment. Read more: The best Dell laptops in 2019 The most powerful laptops right now The best Walmart laptops View the full article

The world's most attended comic book convention, Comic-Con International, is less than three weeks away. And if previous years are anything to go by, San Diego Comic-Con International 2019 is set to be a real treat for attendees. The pop culture phenomenon will see hundreds of thousands of comic book fans – all armed with their best pencils, sketchbook and a cracking outfit, no doubt – gather in California to celebrate everything comics and Hollywood for four days. Event organisers keep the schedule pretty quiet in the lead up to the event, not usually releasing the full programme until two weeks before the convention (which would put this year’s release date around 4 July, so stay tuned for further updates). In the meantime, let's take a closer look at what we already know about Comic-Con International 2019. Comic-Con International 2019: When is it? If you're worried you're going to miss Amazon Prime Day and all the best Prime Day deals by attending Comic Con, never fear. The San Diego comic convention, known as Comic-Con International, starts just after Prime Day on Thursday 18 July and runs through to Sunday 21 July. The four-day event will be hosted at the San Diego Convention Center. Comic-Con International 2019: How can you get a ticket? The short answer to that is: with difficulty. Comic-Con International is so popular, badges (tickets) sell out in record speed and so trying to get hold of one often requires the power of a superhero. There's very little chance of getting in this year, however plans are already being set in motion to let people register for next year's event. The official website states: "If you are interested in attending Comic-Con 2020, you will need to purchase a badge during one of our two badge sales: Returning Registration or Open Registration. We encourage you to sign up for a Comic-Con Member ID well in advance of any registration event. The Comic-Con Member ID system will close – without notification – prior to any badge sale." Comic-Con International 2019: What's on? The official San Diego Comic-Con International schedule is yet to be released (look for updates around 4 July), but there are many revelations already out in the public domain. Here's what we already know about Comic-Con International 2019: Game of Thrones cast members, including Jacob Anderson (Grey Worm), John Bradley (Samwell Tarly) and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister), will reunite for panels and autograph signing sessions. 'Artists Alley' will once again welcome some of the world's leading comic book artists, where attendees can meet, talk and, in some cases, commission artwork from them. The line up this year includes Eisner-nominated artist Michael Walsh and artist and animator at Pixar Animation Studios Eliza Ivanova. Among the autograph and signing schedules is co-publisher and chief creative officer of DC Comics Jim Lee and The Amazing Spider-Man artist Todd McFarlane. We'll be keeping you updated with all Comic-Con International schedule as it comes in, so make sure to bookmark this page for all the latest news. Read more: The 11 best drawing books Start creating better comic art with ImagineFX 14 imaginative web comics to inspire you View the full article

In this article, we'll take a look at the best Dell laptops available right now. Dell is one of the best-known PC brands. It gained popularity with its dependable desktops, while Dell’s laptops are equally known for reliability, strong performance and great build quality. If you can't find what you want in this list of the best Dell laptops, why not explore our guide to the best laptops for graphic designers? The Dell laptop range spans from the pricey and incredibly powerful high-end XPS 15 mobile workstation, through to the Latitude and Inspiron brands designed for everyday computing tasks, and Precision mobile workstations that are superb for graphic design and creative software. Get 40% off Adobe Creative Cloud As a name synonymous with high-end gaming hardware, Dell’s Alienware brand covers some truly powerful gaming laptops, while at the more affordable end of the market, Dell produces some of the best Chromebooks around, with great build quality and reliability. Possibly more than any other manufacturer, Dell has jumped headfirst into the trend for 2-in-1 tablet/laptop devices. So many in fact, that it can be confusing when browsing Dell’s website, with many laptops sold in both traditional form factors and 2-in-1 variants. We’ve put together a list of the best Dell laptops on the market today. When you’re in the market for a new laptop, there are plenty of good reasons to go for a Dell. Our dedicated tool also checks the best prices on each machine, so you can be sure you're not paying over the odds (for more bargains on creative kit, take a look at our guide to the best Prime Day deals). The Dell Precision 15 5530 is a great all-round laptop, suitable for everyone. Dell’s website hides the Precision line of business-class mobile workstations in a section called 'For Work', but we think this range includes some of the best Dell laptops available. The customisable 15.6-inch Dell Precision 5530 stands out from the rest. It offers configurations with a six-core processor, up to 32GB of memory and uniquely, space to fit up to three internal storage devices, supporting both SSDs and hard disks to keep bazillions of media files directly on the laptop. Best of all, it’s still highly portable, weighing just 1.78kg and 1.6cm thick. The only downside is the lack of discrete graphics in some configurations, meaning this isn’t a first choice for gaming, but professionals working with image or video editing software are certain to love it. The new 2019 Dell XPS 15 is the gold standard for a Windows PC laptop. It's absolutely fantastic for all kinds of graphic design and creative work, and features 9th-generation Intel processors with up to eight CPU cores that will chomp through all kinds of demanding tasks, such as video editing. What’s more, the top-end option has a rather unique display, a super-bright and accurate DCI-P3 4K OLED panel, something you won’t find on most other laptops that still use traditional LCD technology. Bumped-up graphics complete the main upgrades, with a none-too-shabby GeForce GTX 1650 4GB option. Perhaps crucially, this all performance is encased in a highly portable 1.7cm thick chassis that weighs just 1.8kg. The Chromebook 14 3400 stands out from Dell’s Chromebook range as it ticks boxes for performance, value and usability in a traditional 14-inch laptop form factor. This Dell laptop is aimed at education, so features a rugged design that’s intended to withstand the odd extra knock and bumps it may encounter. It also comes in at a very reasonable price point. With the option of a quad-core Intel processor, FullHD display, and up to 64GB of storage this is a well-specced system that won’t disappoint. The 2019 Area-51m is definitely not thin or light, but it certainly is a true powerhouse of a gaming laptop, with a 17-inch display and a chassis that squeezes in desktop-grade components. You can order it with a full desktop-class graphics card, up to a GeForce RTX 2080, and an eight-core 9th-generation Intel processor as standard, if your wallet can handle it. Best of all, most of the components are easily swapped out and can be upgraded, including the processor, considerably extending its potential longevity. The Latitude 7200 is one of the most powerful 2-in-1s on the market, with a flexible specification that offers great performance and will ensure it runs all software as well as any traditional laptop. An 8th-generation quad-core Intel processor delivers strong performance for this kind of device, with up to 16GB of memory as well – enough to handle working on large graphics files or video. Dell is also offering up to a considerable 2TB of internal SSD storage. The 14-inch FullHD screen is, of course, touch-sensitive, with Active Pen support. If your budget doesn’t quite stretch to Alienware’s ultra pricey gaming laptop range, Dell still has more than a few options in its lineup, with the G7 standing out. This beast is absolutely certain to cope with the stress of running even the most demanding modern games, even if it’s unfortunately still far from cheap. It features up to six processor cores and up-to-date Nvidia GeForce cards, up to an RTX 2080, 32GB of memory and dual-storage with SSD and hard disks. And perhaps best of all, the 17.3-inch screen can be ordered with G-Sync and a 144Hz refresh rate, which will make animation in games even more fluid and smooth. View the full article

Grime artist Stormzy has confirmed that Banksy designed the Union Jack stab vest he wore during his headline set at last weekend's Glastonbury Festival. In an emotional and celebratory Instagram post, Stormzy revealed that the stab-proof custom vest was "made by the greatest, most iconic living artist on planet earth, the one and only BANKSY." Elusive street art legend Banksy had already shared a photograph of Stormzy wearing the black and white Union Jack stab vest he designed on his Instagram page. As we can see, the flag is depicted with the watery paint present in lots of Banksy's work. His caption for the picture read: "I made a customised stab-proof vest and thought - who could possibly wear this? Stormzy at Glastonbury." This post appears to have surprised the 25-year-old rapper. Stormzy took to Twitter to share the image of Banksy's Instagram post with the caption "Absolutely fucking speechless." Considering that Stormzy paid tribute to Damilola Taylor by covering Kanye West's Ultralight Beam, the design of the vest can be read as a statement on Britain's knife crime and racial inequality in its justice system. The pairing of the artist and the rapper makes for a powerful combination because both Banksy and Stormzy are known for making political statements. One of Banksy's most recently spotted works in Paris takes aim at France's tough anti-migrant policy. Meanwhile Stormzy also used his time on the Pyramid stage to highlight how ballet shoes have only recently been made in skin tones other than white. In an Instagram post shared after the event, Stormzy took the time to thank everyone involved with his performance. Stormzy, which is the stage name of Michael Omari Owuo Jr, was the first black British solo artist to headline Glastonbury festival in its 49-year history. Another politically charged moment during his set was when he performed his track Vossi Bop, which includes the lyrics "Fuck the government and fuck Boris." Related articles: How to change the font in your Instagram bio Instagram designers: Who to follow for creative inspiration How to hack the Instagram algorithm View the full article

Love making music? If so, the Pay What You Want: The Synth & Sound Pack Bundle is the perfect toolkit for making your own tracks. With this deal, playing all sorts of music is easy because you'll get an acoustic and electric guitar in one convenient package. Complete with chord recognition, chord voicing, strumming and picking action, plus amp and effects, you’re getting all the tools you’ll need to play guitar. On top of this, you'll be able to find musical inspiration, and use the easy drag-and-drop function to craft your perfect tunes. The best cloud storage 2019 As if this wasn't enough, basic and extended chords are yours for the choosing. So you can build riffs and melodies, scratches and muted, picking patterns, and a whole lot more. Get Pay What You Want: The Synth & Sound Pack Bundle, and pay whatever price you want for it! Related articles: The best noise-cancelling headphones for 2019 The 25 greatest animated music videos 5 top tips for creating a productive workspace View the full article

Creating textures for your 3D artwork is a vital part of creating realistic 3D models. Of course, there are plenty of textures already out there – see our list of free textures – but sometimes you need to create your own to get the results you want. With this in mind, we spoke to texture experts Myriam Catrin of Weta Digital and Quixel’s Wiktor Öhman to discover their best advice for producing stellar texture work. If you're after more 3D tips and tricks, then don't miss our Maya tutorials, or list of the best 3D modelling software. 01. Plan properly "Always start with a clear idea," says Catrin. "Take the time to gather your references to know exactly where you want to get to. When you know the look you want to achieve, even if you don’t have all the details, you’ve done half the work. I consider this the most important tip for any texture artist." 02. Use mood boards Part of that planning stage can also include mood boards, says Öhman (see our mood board tips on creating effective boards). "Have a number of references or mood boards ready for the detailing and colouring of the textures. The base textures in my scene (above) are quite saturated, which helps them stand out in the night-time colour scheme: bright reds, vibrant oranges and crispy blues." 03. Build a texture library As well as planning, being organised is also important, according to Catrin. "Organise your tools: take the time to create your own tileable pictures (mask and colour, displacement) and stencils to paint through or triplanar projection. Take photos, scan materials. Choose with purpose; it takes time to build a texture library, but it will ease your workflow and help you to make something special." 04. Add details last "Work from broad features and finish with fine features at the end," says Catrin. "Start on your textures from mid-distance (large) then get closer and add details (close-ups). Render your textured asset regularly from far away to very close to assess correction priorities. A lot of details with no features will look busy. It has to look good at every distance." 05. Build primitives "Start off by placing the building planes and other primitives in a way that draws the eye of the viewer to where you want and creates a noticeable parallax effect," says says Öhman. "Feel free to place light sources as well. I use lights as a way to guide the eye – in the image above from the top-right to the bottom-middle of the scene." 06. Non-destructive organisation "Organise your work in a non-destructive manner," says Catrin. "Think about compositing. Work with the colour revealed or hidden by a dependant mask (Alpha) and keep filters live to tweak independently. You can re-use Alphas or share them in channels like displacements, speculars, or separated additions like dirt, dust or oil traces. 07. Impose limits "Keep your organisation and your thinking simple," continues Catrin. "Choose one reference or art concept and run with it. Have a limited set of references so you don’t try to mix too many of them. That doesn’t mean your textures won’t be complex or rich. Simplicity is the key to being able to tackle visual complexity in your work." 08. Use displaced primitives "The environment shown above was a very impractical but incredibly fun and educational project," says Öhman. "It consists mainly of real-time displaced primitives in Unreal Engine 4. I can recommend this type of environment to anyone who wishes to work on their composition and colour skills, as it’s rather quick and easy to do." If you're torn between Unity and Unreal Engine, see our handy guide to the differences between the two. 09. Make props "As well as the facades that I made for the project, I also created a number of props, for example, I made the barrels, crates, wheels and so on," recalls Öhman. "These are also tiling textures applied to primitives, such as planes, cubes and cylinders. The crate, in particular, was a rather fun prop to create." 10. Use Quixel Mixer "The facades and all the other textures were created in Quixel Mixer, using a combination of hand-painting and material blending," says Öhman. "I started the textures by creating Base, Height and Normal maps, which I then detailed and coloured. Working with only Height and Normal made it easier to block out the scene." This article originally appeared in issue 130 of 3D Artist. Buy issue 130 or subscribe to 3D Artist here. Read more: 3D art: the best examples from around the web The best free 3D models 10 ways to improve your 3D anatomy View the full article

Millions of records containing personal information and medical insurance data were exposed by a database belonging to insurance marketing website MedicareSupplement.com. View the full article

The FDA sent out an urgent advisory warning of serious flaws in Medtronic's insulin pumps, which are used by thousands across the U.S. View the full article

Okay, we admit it, our headline's pretty clickbaity. But on this occasion it's for a good reason. That's because we don't want to ruin the surprise of which brand is behind this overdramatic ad that's been doing the rounds on social media recently. Once you've watched it you'll be grateful that we didn't spoil it for you. We've watched it in the office without knowing where it goes, and we were all guffawing like idiots by the time it finished. So without further ado, check out this cinematic ad that looks like a remake of Boyhood. We've chosen to share it via this tweet from video director Ryan Simmons to stop the video's title on Vimeo from ruining the surprise. And trust us, you really won't see the ending coming... Finished it yet? Yep, we were cracking up too. Why on earth Subway decided it was a good idea to shoot a miniature film following the various poignant moments of a boy's life before taking a hard swerve to promote its sandwiches is beyond us. Now don't get us wrong. Subway is a fine sandwich company. And the ad is brilliantly shot. We also get that the best television and print ads need to find innovative ways to grab their audience's attention. But this commercial is so earnest that you can't help but laugh when the other shoe drops. What's more, this isn't a new ad. It was originally created by Brazilian production company Stink way back in 2016. But once Simmons discovered and shared it on Twitter, social media had a field day tearing it apart. If this ad teaches us anything, it's that you should be more elegant and subtle when trying to weave your product into a narrative, especially if it's a really sincere one. Although, this ad has got us talking about Subway, so perhaps it does its job well after all? You win again, capitalism! And if you want to watch the ad in all its cinematic glory (Simmons cut a flash of nipple from the video in his tweet), check it out below. Related articles: 5 ad campaigns that changed the world 5 ads so entertaining the message got lost 5 ads that tried to be cool, but failed View the full article

Twenty years in, enterprise VPNs occupy a uniquely solid position in a changing landscape. View the full article

In contemporary web and app design there are often times when the interaction doesn't open a whole new page or screen. The modern approach to creating interactive content requires transitions between design interface elements so that the user is surprised and wowed by the experience of changing content. This all happens on the same screen or page, without a refresh. Designing these kinds of interactions and refining them to work properly can take time, but it's worth doing before writing your code. This is what Adobe XD has spent the last few months of development getting right. Create content in one state on one screen, move that content to the new state on the new screen and simply choose the 'Auto-Animate' option to transition. All the content that is the same on both screens automatically animates from one position to another. If you don't want all the content visible on both screens, make the content invisible on the first and it will transition into place. 8 essential prototyping and build tools Here we'll show you how to create an app prototype that does just this (for more how to create an app tutorials, check out our rundown of the best ones). And going beyond that, a new feature of XD enables the user to control interactions with their voice. We'll explore this as a design feature and how the app can speak back to the user as well, which can provide some interesting design opportunities. Download the project files for this tutorial. 01. Starting the project Install XD and start a new project If you don't have Adobe XD, you can download and install it here. Once the install has completed, open the software and the welcome screen will enable you to choose a screen size to download for. In this case choose the iPhone 6/7/8, as that's the right size for this project, but you will see there are a variety of sizes available. 02. Import the first image Find your first image and import it There are different ways to import images, but in this first instance go to File > Import. Choose the 'assets' folder from the project files and the first image to import will be 'sky.png'. Place it on the top of the screen and move it a just couple of pixels down. 03. Place the cabin Bring in further imagery The next image for the design will be the 'cabin.png'. Just import this in the same way you did in the previous step and then place it to fill the screen. Finally, import the image 'trees.png' and place it at the bottom of the screen with the trees over the lake. 04. Bring in the logo The reason those images are separate layers is so that when a transition is created between screens they can move separately. Go to the File menu and choose Import. This time select 'logo.ai', which is a vector image. Place this image in the top centre of the screen. 05. Add a circle Use the circle tool to draw around the logo Select the circle tool and draw a circle just slightly larger than the logo. In the Properties panel on the right, remove the stroke and make the background black. Select Background blur and reduce the brightness to -30 so that the circle is still black. 06. Reorder the graphics Send the circle beneath the logo Now the circle needs to move behind the logo. Select Object > Arrange and send backwards. Like in other Adobe products, it is also Cmd/Ctrl+[ to move any graphic backwards in the layer order. Using the right square bracket, meanwhile, will bring an object forwards in the order. 07. Drop the mic Place and resize the mic image, and draw a circle around it Now import the 'mic.ai' image and resize the image to be relatively small. Place this at the bottom of the screen. Draw a circle around this and uncheck the fill so that it's removed. Then make the stroke white and two pixels wide. Position that around the 'mic' image. 08. Text message Use the text tool to add the words 'speak to search' below the microphone. Make the text white and change it to Helvetica Neue Condensed Black. In the bottom left of the screen click the Assets panel icon to open it. With the text selected on the screen, click the '+' icon next to 'Character styles' to save this format for the text. 09. Join a group Select the Layer panel icon in the bottom left of the screen. On the screen, select the 'search' text and Shift-click to add the circle and the mic icon. Go to Object and choose Group. In the Layer panel rename this group 'Search'. It's useful to name groups, especially when animating these. 10. Group the logo Group the logo and circle together Just as in the last step, select the logo and the blurred circle around it, then group them together. In the Layer panel, rename the whole group 'logo' so that it is easily identifiable if you need to edit this again later. For the moment the design for the first screen is complete. 11. Extra elements Bring in some more design elements for animation purposes Even though the first screen is complete there are still more design elements that need to be added. This is how animation is created by changing the elements' positioning between screens. Go to the rectangle tool and hold Shift to add a square on the screen, making the border white. 12. Different import Simply drag images in from your operating system's folders Now open the folder for the assets through your operating system. Select the 'cabin1.png' image and drag this directly onto the square that you created in the previous step. It will automatically be masked inside this. Double click to edit the position of the image and make sure that the cabin is visible in the square. 13. Add a label Use the text tool to add labels to assets Using the Text tool, add the label 'Forest Cabin' below the text and use the Assets panel to style the text in the saved style from step 8. Select the image and the label and group them together. Name the group 'left cabin' in the layers panel. 14. Duplicate the group Copy and paste your interface elements instead of using Repeat Grid Normally repeating an interface element is the perfect job for the 'Repeat Grid' tool. However, this is going to need specific animation, which doesn't work with the Repeat Grid. Select the image and text group, then copy and paste it so that it sits next to the original, and add the image 'cabin2.png' instead. 15. Rename then copy again Update the copied text as needed Change the text to 'Snow Cabin', and in the layers panel name this 'right cabin'. Select both the left and right cabin and duplicate them, position the duplicates below and update their text and images with 'cabin3.png' and 'cabin4.png'. Group both of these together and name the group 'lower cabin'. 16. Text title Add some more text Add text to the page with the text 'Search results for cabins'. Give this the Rockwell typeface and save this to the Character Styles in the Assets panel. Now position the 'lower cabin' group right at the bottom of the screen and take the appearance down to zero so that it is invisible on this screen. 17. Changing opacity Set the opacity for the left and right cabins to zero Now select the left and right cabins, move them to the bottom of the screen and take the appearance slider to zero. Repeat again for the search text. When we move to another screen these will all animate to their new positions. In the Layer panel, move the 'left cabin' above all of the other cabin groups. 18. Duplicate the screen Duplicate the screen then move the logo and make it invisible Select the artboard by clicking on its name, then double click the artboard and change the name to 'home'. Copy and paste the artboard and rename it 'search'. Now select the logo and move it up to almost off the screen, then reduce its appearance to zero. 19. Move the backgrounds Move the background and other elements Select the sky image and nudge it up slightly on the screen. Select the cabin image and move it up until the cabin is at the top of the screen. Then click on the trees image and move it over the cabin. Finally, select the 'search' group and reduce the appearance down to zero. 20. New elements appear Now make new elements appear Select the search results in the Layer panel and bring its appearance up to 100. Move it up on the screen. Repeat this for the left cabin, right cabin and lower cabin. Use the pen tool to draw a simple back button and add a circle around it. Make the background blur and take the brightness of that down to -30. 21. Complete the back button Select the back arrow and circle, group them together and name them 'back button' in the Layer panel. Switch over to the 'Prototype ' mode by pressing 'Prototype' in the top left of the XD interface. Select the homescreen, drag the blue arrow to the search screen and a pop-up panel will appear. 22. Voice command Adding voice commands is easy Change the Trigger to Voice and type the word 'search' as the voice command to control this. Change the Action to Auto-Animate and Easing to Snap. Make the duration 1.5s. In the search screen click on the back button and drag the blue arrow back to the 'home' screen. Just change the Trigger to Tap. 23. Test the prototype Press the play button to test your prototype Over in the top right of the XD interface is a play button. Click on this and a working prototype will now pop up on the screen. On the homepage you will need to hold down the Space bar while you speak the voice command 'search'. When you let go of the Space bar it will take you to the next screen and animate the graphic interface into position. 24. Going back Press the back button to return to the homescreen Once the transition has run you can press the back button to get back to the homescreen. Close the prototype and click on the search screen, then click the blue arrow to the right (don't drag). Change the Trigger to Time, make the delay 0s and set the Action to Speech Playback. Make the speech 'search results for available cabins'. 25. Speech confirmation Test the speech confirmation then go back to the Design view Test this now with the play button to hear a voice confirmation of the search. Close the prototype when you have tried this out. Another screen is going to be created, so let's click back on the 'Design' view in the top left of the XD interface. Click on the search screen by clicking the name, and then copy and paste it. 26. Scaling the image Rename your new screen and resize the cabin image Rename the new screen 'cabin'. Double click the image for the 'left cabin' layer. Resize the corner handles so that it fills the screen, then reposition the image inside so that it covers that screen. Click on the search results text and take the appearance down to zero to remove it from view. 27. New screen elements It's time to bring in some new elements Double click the 'Forest Cabin' text as it is part of the group. Enlarge the text size to 26 pixels and move it up slightly on the screen. Add text to the screen in Helvetica Neue Medium at 14 pixels size and set it to white to stand out against the background. Add a white line with the line tool under the heading. 28. Create a button Create a rounded rectangle to use as a button Use the Rectangle tool to draw a rectangle on the screen at the bottom of the design. Drag in the corner handles to give this shape round corners. Add the word 'Reserve' to this, using the saved character style in the Assets panel for Helvetica Neue in Condensed Bold. 29. Move to Prototype mode With everything in place, switch to Prototype mode All the design elements are in place now for the entire design of the app. Move to the 'Prototype' mode by clicking the word 'Prototype' in the top left corner. In the search screen click on the 'forest cabin' group of the image and text. Drag the blue handle from this over to the 'cabin' screen. 30. Animation settings Adjust the animation settings to keep things ticking along In the pop-up panel for the transition between screens, choose Tap as the Trigger, then make Action Auto-Animate. Keep Easing as Snap but reduce the duration of this to 0.6s. This ensures that the animation doesn't drag – the movement of the first screen to the second screen had a lot of movement that required a longer transition. 31. Link up the back button Once you've linked the back button you'll be ready to test Now select the back button from the final screen and drag the blue arrow from this back over to the 'search' screen. All the settings from the previous transition should be remembered. You are now ready to go ahead and test this by clicking on the play button. 32. Auto-animate Now you can see how auto-animate is working What you will see with the auto-animate now is that the image expands to fill the screen, and the elements that are no longer needed will fade away while the new text will fade in. The opposite happens when going back. This provides a good way to see the auto-animate working across three screens. 33. Save the project Don't forget to save a local copy of your project By default your project should automatically save to the Creative Cloud, but it is a good idea to save a copy to your own hard drive in case there are any issues. Click File > Save, change the location to your own computer and name the project with a suitable name. 34. Sharing the project Use the share button to send your project out to other people The whole point of prototyping is to test the project on other people. Fortunately there is a share button on the top right of the XD interface that makes this a breeze. Click the share button, and in the drop menu that appears select the option Share for Review. 35. Publish prototype Create a public link so that people can test the project in-browser In the next screen you are told that auto-animate support is not yet available for the web, but it is coming soon. Click Create Public Link and then click the link in the top right to visit the public link in a web browser. You will need to hold the Space bar down to use the voice command with the prototype. 36. Video version Alternatively you can record the interface in action as a video Another prototype can be shared by recording the interface in action. Click the share button and choose Record Video. This will open a window, and when you close this you will be prompted to save a recording of the screen as an MP4 file, which is also a useful way to share your prototype. This article was originally published in issue 285 of creative web design magazine Web Designer. Buy issue 285 here or subscribe to Web Designer here. Related articles: Mobile app design: A beginner's guide How to create an app with Vue.js Get to grips with mobile app onboarding View the full article

'Go back to Africa' isn't a phrase that a lot of companies would want to associate themselves with, but travel company Black & Abroad decided it was time to reclaim the term. The founders Eric Martin and Kent Johnson are using the phrase to spearhead a campaign that encourages black travellers to explore the African continent. Black & Abroad defines itself as "a brand dedicated to redefining experiences for the modern black traveller", and wanted to "end the hate" that the phrase 'Go back to Africa' is usually associated with. It's worth noting that when doing research, Martin and Johnson discovered that this phrase was used 4,500 times a month online – often in a negative way. Black & Abroad worked with Canadian agency FCB/SIX on the campaign – watch the full case study above – and there are several clever aspects to it. It takes hateful tweets in real-time and erases the racist context to leave just the phrase 'go back to Africa', displayed over a positive image of Africa (see our post on improving your photography skills if you'd like to emulate the images). These images then become targeted ads for different African countries. The campaign also identified that for black people to want to visit Africa, they need to be able to see themselves there. This was problematic in that most people in mainstream travel imagery are white. To combat this, it developed an algorithm that pulls in images of black travellers from across social media, and puts them onto its website: gobacktoafrica.com. With its hyper-targeted ads and clever use of algorithms, this is already a smart campaign, even without the social message. And a quick Twitter search for #GobacktoAfrica shows that as Black & Abroad aims, some of the hateful narrative around the phrase is already being displaced by talk about the campaign, and the beauty of Africa. Read more: The best travel accessories for designers The North Face tries to 'hack' Wikipedia, fails spectacularly TfL removes creepy ad after complaints of bad taste View the full article

Sir Jony Ive, Apple's chief design officer, announced yesterday that he's leaving the company after nearly 30 years of service. Famous for designing some of Apple's most recognisable and revolutionary products, including the iPod and iPhone, Ive has left to set up his own creative company. However Apple will be his first client. Having led Apple's design team since 1996, Ive was responsible for helping to turn the company's fortunes around by creating some of the most influential pieces of industrial design, starting with the iMac in 1998. His work paved the way for Apple's devices to be regarded as some of the best computers for graphic designers, a position that the tech giant recently built on with the launch of its new Mac Pro. Other Apple products designed by Ive include the iPod in 2001, and the iPad in 2010. Ive can also take credit for designing the iPhone, the Apple Watch, and most recently, Apple's AirPods. So if you've ever used some of the best drawing apps for iPad, you've got Ive to thank. Ive's sleek and recognisable devices are also amongst the most beautiful Apple products, and have helped Apple generate a loyal customer base. The proof is in the fact that plenty of people are eager to pick up a discount Apple Watch ahead of the best Prime Day deals. For many people, Ive's work perfectly sums up the Apple brand. It's functional, simple, elegant, and will be a tough act to follow. Plenty took to social media to share their thoughts on Ive's decision to leave. Ive's decision to leave was revealed in an exclusive interview with the Financial Times. "While I will not be an [Apple] employee, I will still be very involved - I hope for many, many years to come," he told the newspaper. "This just seems like a natural and gentle time to make this change." Ive's new venture, LoveFrom, will be launched fully in 2020 once the designer completes his transition from Apple later in the year. Famed industrial designer Marc Newson will join him at LoveFrom. But even though he's leaving his high profile position, both Ive and Apple say that he will continue to work "on a range of projects with Apple." In a statement, Ive added: "After nearly 30 years and countless projects, I am most proud of the lasting work we have done to create a design team, process and culture at Apple that is without peer." Ive will have no immediate successor at Apple. Instead, Evans Hankey will take over as vice-president of industrial design, with Alan Dye becoming vice-president of human interface design. Has Ive's decision to leave got you thinking about going it alone yourself? If so, you should keep in mind the nine thing you need to sort before going freelance. Related articles: Is Apple ditching its 'i'? Apple Card: Is this Apple's sleekest design yet? It cost 50K to digitise: 5 surprising Apple logo facts View the full article

Successful TV show logos integrate carefully with the opening credit sequence and theme tune, evoking an immediate response for the viewer whenever they see it and building excitement for what's to come. The best TV logos help to build the brand and story of a TV show and, of course, provide a great opportunity for merchandise. We've chosen 10 classic TV show logos that go above and beyond, with clever use of design that doesn't just introduce the programme but conveys meaning about the content and themes of the programme. If you would like to explore more iconic logo design, check out our selection of the best logos. Or if you are in need of some ideas for a new logo, head over to our logo design post, that will tell you everything you need to know. 01. The Muppet Show The Muppet Show logo draws on the ornate lettering of the old-time music hall [Image: logolynx.com] Slapstick, absurdist, satirical, outrageous and above all, very funny, the Muppet Show was years ahead of its time. So much so that in the 1970s, American networks wouldn’t touch it, and its producers had to come to British company ATV to get it made. Based on an old-time variety format, the programme’s whimsical logo is delightfully infused with the spirit of vaudeville. Combining a sense of the ornate with the cartoonish, its design nicely mirrors the conflict within the show’s conceit; between high-minded aspiration and hilarious failure. You can trace the evolution of the various Muppet Show logos here. 02. M*A*S*H M*A*S*H’s logo conveyed the sense of military officialdom that was at the centre of its comedy [Image: logos.fandom.com] It’s rare to see M*A*S*H on our screens these days, but for decades its reruns were rarely off the air. This spin-off from the 1970s comedy movie was set during the Korean War but screened at the time of Vietnam, and its anti-authority, anti-war message echoed the mood of many Americans. Plus it was damned hilarious. The title logo for the TV show makes use of custom stencil lettering and trademark asterisks (which were absent from the movie’s wordmark) to convey a clear sense of military officialdom; the source of much of the show’s comedic antagonism. Oh, and in case you were wondering, the letters stand for Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. 03. Cheers The Cheers logo faithfully reproduces the lettering of an old-time bar sign Anyone who watched TV in the 1980s will be familiar with the Cheers logo, promising half-an-hour of deceptively witty humour in the guise of lowbrow bar-room banter. It was designed by Castle Bryant Johnsen, a three-person LA studio which also designed title sequences for Roseanne, Moonlighting, The X-Files and Frasier. Combining elements of Victorian and Art Nouveau typography, the painterly design combines the look of a vintage hand-lettered bar sign, completed with a swopping flourish reminiscent of baseball team logos (perhaps a nod to the main character, Sam, being a retired baseball star). The letters themselves are derived from the typefaces Candice (for the ‘C’) and Flamenco Inline (for the rest). You can learn more about its creation here. 04. Friends The Friends logo perfectly matches the show’s opening title sequence [Image: logolynx.com] 1990s comedy Friends wasn’t just a successful show, it broke the sitcom mould. Rather than revolving around a family home or workplace, it followed a group of wayward twentysomethings struggling to find their way in the world. Less about character or story development than the chemistry between its hip young actors, it was the perfect show for the rootless ‘Generation X’. The opening titles feature an anarchic sequence, in which the characters goof off around a fountain with colourful umbrellas, to a track by The Rembrants. The artfully scrawled, handwrittten Friends logo mirrors their sense of fun and abandonment, while the six coloured dots separating the letters replicate the colours of the six umbrellas used in the scene. 05. The X-Files Like the show, The X-Files logo is scary but sophisticated [fontsinuse.com] Another mould-breaking 1990s show, The X-Files was the thinking person’s sci-fi, revolving around two FBI agents investigating paranormal and extraterrestrial phenomena. It was a huge hit, spanning nine seasons and two feature films, and returned to on our screens for a tenth season in 2016. Its beautiful logo, designed by the show’s creator Chris Carter, makes brilliant use of a large, distressed figure ‘X’, uncovered by a spotlight in the pitch dark, to denote the shady, secretive nature of their FBI unit. This main graphic element is then bisected by the full title, set in a sleek, modern font that adds a note of sophistication to proceedings, and with the circle around the ‘X’ adding a further touch of mystery. 06. Buffy Buffy the Vampire Slayer had a seriously weaponised logo [Image: thiswastv.com] Long before Twilight, Buffy the Vampire Slayer summoned the spirit of teen angst and gave it the corporeal form of vampires, demons and other monsters, with which its reluctant titular hero had to constantly battle. The seething violence at the heart of the show is mirrored in its logo, with stylishly brutal lettering that conveys the feeling of ancient script. Incorporating a ‘stake’ motif within the opening letter, and with the ‘f’s conveying a sword and dagger respectively, there’s a real sense of menace to this design, leaving viewers in no doubt that Buffy is not your typical teen drama. It was created by graphic artist Margo Chase of Chase Design, whose clients include Cher and Madonna, and who also designed the logo for the Buffy spin-off, Angel. 07. 24 The 24 logo shows that sometimes, simple is best [Image: wikipedia.org] Bringing us, in real-time, 24 hours in the life of counterterrorism agent Jack Bauer, 24 was one of those early 2000s shows that inspired the idea that ‘TV is the new film’. Throughout each episode, a countdown clock ticks menacingly on the screen, reminding us of the latest impending disaster and ramping up the tension. The logo simply casts the show’s title in those same glowing LCD numbers; a masterstroke demonstrating that the simple ideas are so often the best. 08. Lost Lost’s title logo perfectly evokes the show’s sense of mystery [Image: whats-on-netflix.com] The complex and increasingly fantastical tale of the survivors of an air crash on an unknown island, Lost was a show designed for water-cooler discussion, as fans earnestly debated what in the heck was going on. In many ways a metaphor for the post-Cold War era, Lost reflected the fear that America had lost its way in the world as all the old certainties vanished. Its title sequence echoes that sense of anxiety, as the distant, ghostly logo floats through a dark, empty space, accompanied by a discordant, ominous sound, going in and out of focus. This hauntingly effective 15-second sequence was developed by JJ Abrams, co-creator of the show, who created it on his laptop. 09. Mad Men Mad Men’s logo is dripping with Don Draper-style confidence [Image: thecontentauthority.com] Mad Men was to creative agencies what Life on Mars was to cops; a fond look back to a time when big characters and big ideas ruled the roost, great work was done and political correctness was just a twinkle in the future’s eye. One of the few blockbuster shows to ever portray branding work seriously, you’d expect it to have great branding of its own, and you weren’t disappointed. Cast in the Helvetica-style font Swiss 721 Heavy, with a punchy red-white colour palette, this sans-serif logo is swilling with Don Draper-style confidence, and hits the right sweet spot between nostalgia and modern sensibilities. 10. Breaking Bad Breaking Bad’s logo contrasts the certainties of science with the horror of a life gone awry [Image: noupe.com] The hit of the decade, Breaking Bad was the unlikely story of a high school chemistry teacher, Walter White, who turns to the meth trade to pay for his cancer treatment. With hard science playing a pivotal role in the drama, applying the periodic table treatment to its logo and opening titles was a stroke of genius. The chemical symbols are cast in a clean and clear font, symbolising the purity and stability of science, while the rest of the words appear in distressed and fragmented letters that convey how broken up Walter’s sense of self becomes as he descends into the rabbit hole of criminality. (In case you were wondering: the chemical elements denoted, Bromine and Barium, are not used in the manufacture of meth. However, the title sequence does feature the chemical formula for methamphetamine, C10H15N, along with the number 149.24, its molecular weight. Fans loved the logo, which adorns countless T-shirts and other merchandise, and it inspired a number of brilliant design tributes. And as the ultimate accolade, the show’s main actor Bryan Cranston got it tattooed on his ring finger on the final day of shooting. Read more: How to make a logo in Photoshop 11 steps to better logos 10 of the best logos ever View the full article

You're reading No-Skills-Required Design Tools for Entrepreneurs, originally posted on Designmodo. If you've enjoyed this post, be sure to follow on Twitter, Facebook! This is the age of self-employment and entrepreneurship, and a large number of entrepreneurs today are solopreneurs. This means that they themselves handle a variety of tasks – marketing, branding, sales, accounts, etc. Fortunately, the Internet provides them all the … View the full article

If you live in Europe, the Middle East or Africa, you're a lucky bunch. That’s because today Adobe has slashed the price of its Creative Cloud package for individuals by 40%! So if you’ve been holding off signing up to Creative Cloud for whatever reason, wait no more. This amazing offer is only available between the 28 June to 8 July, so don't delay if you want to sign up. Simply click the link below and start saving. And if you’re after more offers, keep track of the best Prime Day deals with our guide to Amazon’s incredible discounts. Get 40% off Adobe Creative Cloud now What's included? Adobe's Creative Cloud All Apps plan includes: The entire collection of 20+ creative desktop and mobile apps, including Photoshop CC, Illustrator CC, and Adobe XD CC 100GB of cloud storage Adobe Portfolio Adobe Fonts Adobe Spark with premium features The option of up to 10TB of cloud storage The programmes are fully integrated, so you can work between them (and different devices) seamlessly – whether you’re out and about or in the studio. Built-in templates help you jump-start your designs, while step-by-step tutorials will help you sharpen your skills and get up to speed quickly. These deals expire on Monday 8 July. Related articles: The best Adobe deals in 2019 60 top-class Photoshop tutorials The best 4K monitors for designers View the full article

Pentesters say a keyless smart lock made by U-tec, called Ultraloq, is neither ultra or secure. View the full article

Researchers have identified security hole in Microsoft Office’s Excel spreadsheet program that allows an attacker to trigger a malware attack on remote systems. View the full article