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Last week saw the launch of Affinity Designer for iPad, the first full-spec vector graphics app for the device. Armed with features from the Apple Design Award-winning versions previously available on Mac and PC, this iteration of Affinity Designer hopes to go toe to toe with Adobe Illustrator. Serif, the developers behind Affinity Designer, had to completely reimagine how graphic design works on a screen for its iPad release. Artists, illustrators and designers worked in close collaboration with the Affinity Designer team to fine-tune the app so that it delivers everything a creative professional could ask for while on the move. 9 iPad Pro apps that make the most of Apple Pencil Capable of slotting right into a professional workflow, Affinity Designer's export engine can manage all the major file types. This makes the app perfect for working on preliminary drawings, right the way through to developing vector art and handing off the finished design. To give you a glimpse of what to expect from Affinity Designer, which you can download for a 30% discount price of $13.99 / £13.99 / €14.99 (subject to local currency variations), watch illustrator and graphic designer Steve Simpson put the app through its paces below. One of the headline features from the launch is the pencil stabilisation for vector drawings. This feature allows users to create curves with pinpoint precision, resulting in the smoothest and most accurate lines possible with a freehand pencil and brush tool. And with roughly 100 brushes built in, Affinity Designer for iPad gives artists plenty of options to test out this feature. Covering near enough every requirement, these brushes make it straightforward to add rich media textures to designs. Another standout addition is the ability to zoom in by a hyperbolic-sounding 100 million per cent. With this level of zoom users can ensure their work is as accurate as possible. If you're after a more rough-and ready hand-drawn finish, you can of course toggle this feature off. In another workflow game-changer, Affinity Designer for iPad is capable of switching effortlessly between vector and raster work. Users can also simply drag and drop files into emails, making it quick and easy to bring projects out of Affinity Designer and share them with others. Keep your strokes in order with pencil stabilisation There are also advanced layering options. These include 22 non-destructive adjustment layers that fire up previews instantly. Capable of being edited at any time, these can be manipulated by the most advanced layer controls available in any vector-based app. The release has been seen as Serif going head-to-head with Adobe, but it also hopes to on-board people who use Sketch thanks to a Symbols panel that makes short work of providing reusable elements. Rounding off the launch of Affinity Designer came the announcement that Serif will be launching its InDesign rival, Affinity Publisher, later in the year. And if you want to get in on the ground floor with this iPad tool, you can already sign up for the beta release. Related articles: How to create a retro logo with Affinity Designer How to draw with Affinity Photo for iPad How digital is bringing down barriers in art View the full article

July's critical patch update addresses 334 security vulnerabilities (including 61 rated critical) covering a vast swathe of the Oracle enterprise portfolio. View the full article

A high-quality multi-factor authentication bypass submission can win a bounty hunter up to $100,000. View the full article

While there certainly remains a global hierarchy when it comes to cyber capabilities, smaller state and non-state actors are increasingly exploiting the asymmetric nature of cyberspace to achieve a broad range of objectives. View the full article

Typography on the web has come a long way. About a decade ago it was still woefully underused and done very poorly – damaging user experience. Text wasn’t very readable online and the same typefaces were used over and over again. People were throwing their hands in the air, claiming you couldn’t do typography on the web well. But there’s one man that has been trying to convince people otherwise and that's Richard Rutter, co-founder of influential UX consultancy Clearleft. Now there’s a real surge of excitement about web fonts and typography and he’s at the centre of it. Richard Rutter – web typography expert One of the biggest game changers right now is the advent of variable fonts, a technology that enables a single font file to behave like multiple fonts. “It’s really interesting how quickly this has come out of nowhere,” Rutter explains. “Adobe, Microsoft, Apple and Google have all thrown their collective weight behind variable fonts and they all have their slightly different reasons. Google’s in particular will be one of performance because you can save an awful lot of space. You can radically cut down the file size because you can have a regular and a bold wrapped up together Richard Rutter "If you deal with Chinese, Japanese and Korean languages in particular, font files will be a few megabytes in size as opposed to Latin-based font files, which are much smaller," Rutter continues. "You can radically cut down the size of these files because you can have a regular and a bold wrapped up together. You’ve just got one font file for an infinite number of variations. It’s also going to be really interesting to see how type designers will provide stylistic variations in their fonts that are really unusual and that we wouldn’t have seen before.” Variable fonts can be used in real projects now. Browser support has reached over 65 per cent. Both Safari and Chrome already support variable fonts and Firefox and Edge will follow shortly. The latest versions of Photoshop and Illustrator also support them and they’re included in the latest Windows and Mac operating systems as well – Apple’s system font San Francisco uses font variations extensively. Ampersand's website uses variable fonts Clearleft has used a variable font on the website for Ampersand, the web typography conference. It’s one of the first commercial sites ever to do such a thing, something that Rutter explores in his article, how to use variable fonts in the real world. “We set the word ‘Ampersand’ in six different weights,” Rutter enthuses. “Each individual letter is set at a slightly different weight to give it a slightly more hand-drawn feel. There’s no way you would have done that in the past! You would have served it up as an SVG but now it’s real text, and we can do that with a variable font, which is tiny in size because it’s got a very small character set. It’s got the full alphabet and very little else but that’s all we needed for one word.” Rutter initially studied chemical engineering and, long before founding Clearleft with Andy Budd and Jeremy Keith in 2005, began his career designing bits of oil rigs. He first discovered his love for typography in the mid-1990s. The web came along and anyone could build a web page if they could type some simple HTML. Rutter found it very rewarding, so he got into design and with that came typography. Richard Rutter found this book about typography something of a revelation “In my first proper job as a designer at an agency in London, I was introduced to Robert Bringhurst’s book The Elements of Typographic Style,” Rutter remembers. “It was a revelation. I was fascinated by the way he was typesetting pages and the thought processes behind it. I realised – and fell in love with – the fine detail that he was putting into his work. It really resonated with me. There’s a wonderful geekiness to it. "There are a lot of tiny, seemingly meaningless, details that sometimes only you or other typographers can see. It’s your own special code in a way but if you get enough of them right, then the whole thing comes together to be something beautiful and enjoyable. They all improve the reading experience.” There are a lot of tiny, seemingly meaningless, details that sometimes only you or other typographers can see Richard Rutter The discovery of Bringhurst’s book prompted Rutter to start writing about typography on the web. He wanted to show people how to apply Bringhurst’s guidelines using techniques available in HTML and CSS and became a self-appointed web typography evangelist. Ultimately, it led to Rutter’s own book, Web Typography, a handbook for designing beautiful and effective responsive typography. Originally it was meant to be co-written by Mark Boulton and fellow typographer Jon Tan, who Rutter co-founded pioneering web font service Fontdeck with (now closed down). It was also going to be published through Boulton’s Five Simple Steps, which shut down when his agency was acquired by Monotype. Despite the setbacks Rutter was committed to the project and decided to go ahead on his own, without a publisher and with the help of Kickstarter; his campaign reached its target in less than 48 hours. Web Typography is aimed at both designers and developers and blends together typographic theory with the practical and technical. Rutter tried to include everything he could possibly think of that would be relevant to web typography. One of the theories he covers is how you can’t have a good user experience without good typography. “Looking at words is the vast majority of what we do on the web,” he points out. “Millions of people do it every day and the type is the experience much of the time, which is why it’s so important to get right. A few years ago a study done by Microsoft in collaboration with MIT tried to compare the difference between what was deemed to be good and bad typography. There was no significant difference in terms of the speed of reading, retention of information or even comprehension. The core thing they found was that with good typography the speed of reading felt faster and there was an overall sense of relaxation and enjoyment. With bad typography, people were frowning more, so essentially they found that good typography puts you in a good mood. If that’s not the ultimate user experience, I don’t know what is!” This article was originally published in issue 308 of net, the world's best-selling magazine for web designers and developers. Buy issue 308 or subscribe to net. Want to learn more about making the most of typography online? Richard Rutter is giving his workshop Responsive Web Typography at Generate London Richard Rutter has a love and fascination for typography and co-founded Fontdeck, a pioneering web font service. As a self-appointed web typography evangelist, Richard is chief organiser of Clearleft’s Ampersand web typography conferences. At Generate London 2018, his workshop will help you create websites with engaging, appropriate, distinctive, expressive and readable web typography, which adapts for screens of all shapes and sizes. You will learn how to combine centuries-old craft with cutting-edge technology – including variable fonts – in order to design and develop the best experiences for your readers. Generate London takes place from 19-21 September 2018. Get your ticket now. Related articles: 5 web typography trends to look out for The rules of responsive web typography Better web typography in 13 simple steps View the full article

Email. It started as as something wonderful; a magical way to communicate with others instantly, no matter where they were in the world. It would revolutionise the way we do business. Well, it did do that. However, it also opened a new whole world of pain and stress that no one really saw coming. Having an email management strategy has become as vital to professional success as having an awesome design portfolio or knowing how to network. Read on for designers’ strategies for managing the ceaseless stream of email pouring into your inbox. You never know, Inbox Zero could be within reach. 01. Automate the process “I try to use tools and technology effectively,” says Pivot Design’s Brock Haldeman. “I use filters to help prioritise and organise incoming mail. I use spam filtering, unsubscribing and black-listing to minimise junk. Any remaining mail that comes through are the ones that are generally most important and since there aren’t nearly as many, they’re much easier to stay on top of.” 02. Prioritise Not all emails are as important as others. “At work, I prioritise responding to urgent matters and those emails that have the potential to become blockers for others,” says Alberta Soranzo, a service designer at LBG Digital. Bukwild’s Jeff Toll checks his emails first thing in the morning, but doesn’t reply to anything that’s not an emergency. “I simply flag and organise response priority,” he says. “Once I get into work and have had a moment to think about my responses, I can knock them all out.” Then, throughout the day, Toll will flag any important emails that don’t require instant responses, and make sure he returns to them before the end of the day. 03. Use ‘Unread’ for messages that require action What do you do with the emails you’ve seen but haven’t had time to deal with? Some sort them into action folders (‘To reply’, and so on), but that approach doesn’t work for Dahlström. “I ended up with a graveyard of forgotten emails,” she smiles. “Now I tend to mark them Unread.” 04. Filter newsletters into a separate folder Want to keep on top of what’s going on in the wider industry? Newsletters are a great way to stay up to date with the latest articles and discussions… but there’s no doubting they can clog up your inbox if you’re too busy to read them when they come in. UX designer Anna Dahlström suggests filtering out newsletters into separate folders. “I use additional +<something> combined with folders for my Gmail account, turning off notifications for that one but having them on for my business account,” she says. 05. Don’t keep your email on all the time Inbox zero is great, but you can’t deal with every message the second it comes in or you’ll never get anything done. Digital art director Clara Ilena turns off her email whenever she wants to be productive. “Apps such as Slack, Todoist and Monday also help me to stay on top of things and keep unnecessary communication to a minimum,” she adds. 06. Use labels and folders to stay organised Your inbox can very easily become a mess of different conversations and topics. If you can, sorting them into different subject folders can make things more manageable. “Whenever an email has been attended to, I file it away in a folder: project-related, team-related or committee/working group,” says Soranzo. “At home, I rely heavily on Gmail’s Archive function and labels. I have labels for everything, which makes it easier to retrieve communications on a specific topic, even when I don’t actually remember who wrote to me.” 07. Treat your inbox like a to-do list As well as using filtering to make sure only the important stuff gets through to his inbox, Digital director Michael Salafia has a novel approach to keeping his emails organised. “I treat my inbox like a to-do list,” he explains. “I pin items that I need to follow up on the same day and set snooze reminders for anything requiring future action. Attachments are immediately organised into Google Drive from Inbox. I create a new contact for each project’s Trello board so I can forward the emails and automatically create cards. I also have a bunch of custom Zapier Zaps to automate tedious actions, which are triggered by applying labels to emails.” 08. Give up and set an OOO “I read with surprise but amusement someone’s recent OOO strategy: ‘I won’t read your email. Please email me again when I’m back if it’s still important’,” recalls digital director Kate Tarling. This slightly controversial approach seems to be gaining popularity. While not all messages are as blunt as this one, it’s not rare for creatives to set an OOO message at busy times, explaining that they’re not checking their emails and the sender is unlikely to receive a response. This article was originally published in net, the world's best-selling magazine for web designers and developers. Buy issue 307 or subscribe. Read more: How to multitask like a pro Nail the art of networking: how to get more from events 50 inspiring examples of letterpress business cards View the full article

Want to make it big in Hollywood? First, you'll have to learn what makes a great filmmaker. For only $19, you can get your hands on The Film Director Essentials Bundle, and save yourself years of expensive film school tuition. You'll learn the steps you'll have to take if you want to become a commercial director. You'll find out what it takes to be a great cinematographer, framing and capturing the perfect shots. You'll also discover whether you have the potential to be a casting director scouting out actors, or perhaps a grip behind the scenes. Pursue your dreams of being a Hollywood filmmaker with The Film Director Essentials Bundle -- it's just $19, 93 per cent off the regular price. Related articles: The best cheap GoPro deals for filmmakers and creatives The best computers for video editing in 2018 The best video editing laptops for 2018 View the full article

Next time you’re in a city, examine the way that modern buildings are constructed. What do you see? Repetition, and lots of it. A huge part of the built environment is constructed using repeated modular components. This makes modern architecture an ideal candidate for 3D modelling. Whole buildings can be created with just a few objects, and when combined with procedural modelling techniques, you can very quickly populate entire scenes in your 3D art, which are easy to update and fast to iterate. 40 free textures to download today The RailClone plugin for 3ds Max is ideal for this kind of task. It enables you to define simple construction rules to generate one-dimensional and two-dimensional arrays using a node-based interface. Because RailClone automatically instances geometry and render time, the source meshes can contain a tremendous amount of detail with little impact on render times and memory consumption, even if the scene contains millions or even billions of polygons. In the video tutorial below, we’ll use a scene by Bertrand Benoit to explain how RailClone can be used to model architecture inspired by Ludwig Erhard Haus, better known locally as Gürteltier (Armadillo) or Berlin’s Chamber of Commerce. We’ll examine techniques to make an almost entirely procedural modular atrium by creating glass facades, a detailed elevator shaft, plus a skylight and tiled floor. Even though modular design exists all around us, an issue when reproducing it in CG is that repetition can start to make scenes look unrealistically perfect. To make the environment appear a little lived-in, we’ll finish up by examining how to randomise open windows and blinds in the windows as well as adding texture variations to the marble floor. The written version of this tutorial appears in 3D World magazine issue 235. Buy it here or subscribe now. Read more: Substance Painter 2018 review Master large-scale environments in 3ds Max Big VFX on a budget View the full article

When you're desperate to land that dream agency job, or clamouring to win that portfolio-crowning client, it can make you do funny things. Counterproductive, self-sabotaging things. And we're here to help you stop. No more scratching your head in bemusement when you fall at the last hurdle of a pitch, crash and burn in interview, or fail to turn that internship into a steady job. Because all of these things apply regardless of the level you're at. Read on for six of the worst offences you can commit when trying to win work as a designer, and how to avoid them... 01. You're overconfident (or under-confident) Puffing up your chest and shouting your own praises won't win people over Everyone, from a fresh-faced graduate to a well-seasoned creative director, can be guilty of this one – but of course it manifests itself in different ways. And that fine, dotted line between pitching yourself confidently and enthusiastically, and looking arrogant and entitled, also moves depending on who you're dealing with. Design is about relationship building. It's about collaboration – both with your team, and with your client – and whether it's an interview for a job or a pitch for a project, if you come across like you think you're God's gift and won't compromise for anyone, that's likely to be an issue, regardless of the quality of your work. At the other end of the scale, sometimes a little humility and gentle, self-deprecating humour can be endearing – but you'll shoot yourself in the foot if you take it too far. If you're not confident about your work, and the process behind it, why should anyone else be? 02. You forget that other skills matter too Employers are looking for a full package of skills, not just a list of software proficiencies We've all seen those entry-level CVs that list very specific design skills or software proficiency. They're sometimes presented as a little bar-chart, with fairly arbitrary percentages applied: you are 90 per cent of the way towards being an artworking superstar, but your UX skills need work, so you're only at 60 per cent. Word of advice: no one thinks in these terms when hiring, and if anything it'll only draw attention to the weak points. Rather than attempting to rate yourself quantitatively like this, demonstrate your creative skills, and your critical thinking, through your work. Straightforward design skills and software proficiency aren't enough. Design agencies are multi-disciplinary environments where you need to pitch in at various stages of the process, contribute ideas and solve problems. In other words, you need to show the potential for being more than just a Mac monkey. 03. You drown people in your entire portfolio Don't overwhelm people with everything you've ever done – leave them wanting more Again, this is a common mistake that can be made at different ends of the experience spectrum. Whether you're making a creds pitch to a potential client, or showing your first portfolio to a recruiting agency, curation is crucial. Choosing what to put in your design portfolio can be challenging. As a fresh graduate, it's unlikely that they'll be many live client briefs to choose from – as you get more established, you may have the opposite problem. Know your audience, and tailor things accordingly. If you're going for your first job, people want to know you understand the principles of design, and can put them into action – but they also want to know that you're passionate, and can develop interesting ideas. With this in mind, balance out college briefs with personal projects where possible – but be selective. It's much better to talk through three fascinating highlights in detail than to scroll through everything and watch your audience glaze over. Likewise, a creds presentation doesn't have to turn into a blow-by-blow, chronological documentary. A few killer projects that show you have the right attitude, and demonstrate what you can bring to this particular sector or project is more likely to win people over. 04. You burn bridges in front of them If you badmouth previous relationships in an interview or pitch, you might burn more than one bridge The design industry is a surprisingly small place. Some creatives stay put for years and move up the ranks internally, others seek career development elsewhere. Whether from events, or pitches, or previous jobs, many creative directors know each other. So bridges should be left intact. No one will be impressed if you badmouth others, even lightheartedly – after all, what's to say you won't do the same to them? Be diplomatic and professional. Focus on the positives. People want to hire upbeat, motivated staff who can make the best of every situation. They may be able to read between the lines, especially if they have first-hand experience of the nightmare agency or client you're discussing, but that'll make you appear all the more impressive for being able to manage the situation. 05. You reek of desperation You need them to want you as much as you want them: don't just profess your undying (unrequited) love Gushing platitudes and fawning sycophancy will get you everywhere, right? Er, no. Sure, any agency will love to hear how passionate you are about their work and studio culture, and that you'd love to be part of the team. Clients want to know you respect their brand, and want to collaborate with them to take it to the next level. But remember to have some self-respect. In similar way to point one, there's a fine dotted line. You need to play it cool enough to look desirable, but not so cool you look disinterested. Ultimately, it's a two-sided process with mutual benefit at heart. They should want you as much as you want them. If it looks like it's a massive favour to hire you, why would they? Profess your undying love for everything a company does, and not only will it probably make them uncomfortable and awkward, but it also makes it look like they don't need you. Give thoughtful, considered answers that demonstrate what you can bring to the table, and why you'd be an asset that'll make them even better. 06. Your expectations are unrealistic Ker-ching! Going into an interview with a comically overinflated sense of your own value isn't going to do you any favours. Likewise, if a game-changing potential client asks you to quote for a job, don't just see dollar signs. Of course, confidence is everything and you don't get if you don't ask, but there are limits. If a salary bracket is advertised, you have a guideline at least – although that's not to say a company won't be flexible for the right candidate. Pitch a little higher than you're expecting and there's scope for negotiation; pitch outrageously high and you're wasting everyone's time. If no salary is given, ask around and do some research into the going rate at similar agencies in the area. When it comes to clients, the simple reality is that not all of them are used to budgeting for design – and may need the process, and the costs incurred at different stages of it, explained to them. Not only will this help justify your quote, but it'll also help foster a more open, collaborative relationship in the future that makes them feel like an active participant in the process. Related articles: How to attract top talent to your agency 8 portfolio mistakes that drive clients mad The design agency survival guide View the full article

You're reading Express Website Redesign: Using Pre-built Websites to Avoid a Laborious Rebranding Process, originally posted on Designmodo. If you've enjoyed this post, be sure to follow on Twitter, Facebook, Google+! The number of websites in dire need of a redesign makes up a substantial portion of those out there. These websites more than likely comprise a majority. There’s plenty of work to be done, but most of those websites will … View the full article

If you've just moved into a new studio or home or are simply looking to revamp your working space, look no further. Amazon Prime Day is in full swing now, and we've rounded up the best steals to add something extra special to your home studio. (Not a Prime member? Sign-up for a free 30-day trial to take advantage of these home studio offers.) Amazon Prime Day quick links Amazon Prime Day homepage: see all deals Amazon Prime Day smart home deals Here are the 10 best deals we've seen on home office equipment – some smart, some more traditional – as part of Amazon Prime Day... Hurry because it'll all be over at midnight tonight, and some deals expire earlier. The best US home studio deals The best UK home studio deals Jump straight to Amazon Prime Find more Amazon Prime Day deals on Creative Bloq View the full article

In case you haven't noticed, it's Amazon Prime Day. And that means there's no better time to pick up a bargain if you're in the market for a discount camera. We've trawled Amazon to find the best deals and pass them on to you (thank us later). So read on for the best camera deals available right now... Not a Prime member? Sign-up for a free 30-day trial to take advantage of these camera offers. Amazon Prime Day quick links Amazon Prime Day homepage: see all deals Amazon Prime Day camera deals The best Amazon US Prime Day camera deals The best Amazon UK Prime Day camera deals Jump straight to Amazon Prime Find more Amazon Prime Day deals on Creative Bloq View the full article

The Canon EOS M3 a great all-round camera that'll easily out-perform older DSLRs, and if you move now you can have it a real bargain price. It's available right now as an Amazon Prime Day Lightning deal for just £349, down £130 from the usual price. It's only going to be available until 9.25pm (BST) tonight, though, so hurry! (Not a Prime member? Sign-up for a free 30-day trial to take advantage of this offer.) Amazon Prime Day quick links Amazon Prime Day homepage: see all deals Amazon Prime Day photography deals If you're feeling snap-happy and your phone's not delivering the goods but you're not ready to fall down the DSLR rabbit hole, we've found the perfect Amazon Prime Day bargain for you. Canon's EOS M3 is a Compact System Camera, which means it falls somewhere between a compact camera and a DSLR – like a compact it's designed to make it easy for you to take amazing photos, and if you want to spread your creative wings a little further then you can buy extra lenses for it as you would with a DSLR. The EOS M3 goes out of its way to help you take the best shot every time with its Creative Assist mode, which gives you touch-screen control over camera settings. It'll even tell you how to implement your favourite settings using traditional manual settings if you're keen to learn. It packs a 24.2MP DSLR-type sensor so you'll quickly be able to take pro-quality photos and even shoot HD video, and it comes with 18-55m f/3.5-5.6 lens that's suitable for most situations, from shooting epic landscapes through to intimate portraits. And if you find you've reached the limit of what the lens can do for you, there's a range of over 70 additional lenses for you to choose from. Jump straight to Amazon Prime Find more Amazon Prime Day deals on Creative Bloq View the full article

We've seen plenty of great reductions on photography kit this Amazon Prime day, but this deal really stood out. It was already on sale with 30% off, but this compact 4K Sony camera has not been knocked down to half price, saving you over £500. Not a Prime member? Sign-up for a free 30-day trial to claim this this offer. Amazon Prime Day homepage: see all deals Amazon Prime Day photography deals This compact Sony camera is highly reviewed on Amazon. It has an EVF, 180-degree tiltable LCD screen, and is Wi-Fi enabled. You can also shoot in super-slow motion (40x), with 1000fps speed and 4K recording. Like all Amazon Prime Day deals, this is a limited offer so be quick – these cheap cameras are selling fast, and we don't expect them to be around for long. Jump straight to Amazon Prime Find more Amazon Prime Day deals on Creative Bloq View the full article

Amazon Prime Day 2018 has started! Deals are rolling out across the world, with Amazon promising over a million in total. The event will run all the way through until midnight tonight (Tuesday 17 July) although some lightning deals expire before then, and some of the best deals are selling out super-quickly (in short – if you spot a deal you like the look of, it's best to buy it then and there!). We're bringing you all the best Amazon Prime Day 2018 deals for designers, artists and creatives right here on this page. And we’ll also list all the best discounts at any other retailers who decide to get it on the deals madness too. Use the jump links on the right to bag yourself a bargain. Prefer to browse Amazon yourself? Here’s where you need to go: Amazon Prime Day homepage: see all deals Amazon Prime Day is the retail giant’s summer version of Black Friday. It's for Prime subscribers only – but fear not. If you don't want to sign up for membership, you can still take advantage of the Amazon Prime Day deals by signing up for a free 30-day trial. The good news is that you can cancel the trial at any time before the end of the 30-day period, so you're not tied in. Get a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime: US | UK | Canada | Australia | India Amazon Prime Day US deals Laptops & tablets – US TVs, smartphones & cameras – US Entertainment & wearables – US Accessories – US Creative software – US Amazon Prime Day UK deals Laptops & tablets – UK Creative software – UK TVs, smartphones & cameras – UK Accessories – UK Entertainment & wearables – UK Pencils and pens – UK What is Amazon Prime Day? Amazon Prime Day is the retail giant’s summer version of Black Friday, the difference being that the event is for Prime subscribers only. If you’re not a subscriber though, fear not: you can still take advantage of Amazon Prime Day 2018 by signing up for a free 30-day trial. You’re able to cancel the trial at any time before the end of the 30-day period, so you can easily opt out after Amazon Prime Day has finished, if you so wish. Prime Day first launched in 2015, when Amazon offered a day of sales to mark two decades of ecommerce domination. It was an immediate success, and has quickly become one of the best shopping days of the year. In 2017 it was bigger and better than ever – and this year the event is already looking set to eclipse anything that’s gone before. At 36 hours, this year's event will be the longest Prime Day the retailer has run so far – and the biggest, with Australia, Singapore and more countries all joining the party this year. Wondering if you can benefit from the best Amazon Prime deals? Read the full list of countries taking part in Amazon Prime Day 2018 on the official announcement from Amazon. Also read: The best laptops for video editing in 2018 The best drawing tablet 8 best external hard drives and SSDs for Mac and PC View the full article

We’ve spotted some absolutely cracking Amazon Prime Day deals on SD memory cards today. Whether you’re into action photography, want to capture 4K UHD video, need more storage on your phone or Nintendo Switch, or just want some reliable, rock-solid back-up for your work, these brilliant SD memory cards have you covered. And at these Prime Day prices they’re an absolute steal. (Not a Prime member? Sign-up for a free 30-day trial to take advantage of these SD memory card offers.) Amazon Prime Day quick links Amazon Prime Day homepage: see all deals Amazon Prime Day memory card deals The best Amazon US Prime Day memory card deals The best Amazon UK Prime Day memory card deals Jump straight to Amazon Prime Find more Amazon Prime Day deals on Creative Bloq View the full article

You're reading 19 Tools to Help Designers and Developers Stay Organized, originally posted on Designmodo. If you've enjoyed this post, be sure to follow on Twitter, Facebook, Google+! In this list, I’m going to go over 19 different tools that will help designers and developers stay organized. I tried hard to make sure to gather non-designer and non-developer specific tools so both professions can benefit from this post. … View the full article

If you're in the market for a lovely new monitor then you're in luck; it's Amazon Prime Day and if you get your skates on you can hook yourself up with a smart new screen without it costing you a packet. Whether you're after a straightforward HD monitor, a whopping 4K monster or something a little more exotic, you're certain to find something in our selection. So read on and give your eyes a treat! Not a Prime member? Sign-up for a free 30-day trial to take advantage of these SD memory card offers. Jump to the deals available in your area: UK monitor deals | US monitor deals Amazon Prime Day quick links Amazon Prime Day homepage: see all deals The best Amazon Prime Day laptop deals The best Amazon US Prime Day monitor deals The best Amazon UK Prime Day monitor deals Jump straight to Amazon Prime Find more Amazon Prime Day deals on Creative Bloq View the full article

Amazon Prime Day 2018's here, and if you're in the market for a new laptop, now's the time to grab one. Whether you need a high-end graphics beast or something small and portable for taking care of business on the move, we've found a bargain for you. So read on for six of the best laptop deals available today! Not a Prime member? Sign-up for a free 30-day trial to take advantage of these laptop offers. Amazon Prime Day quick links Amazon Prime Day homepage: see all deals Amazon Prime Day laptop deals The best Amazon US Prime Day laptop deals The best Amazon UK Prime Day laptop deals Jump straight to Amazon Prime Find more Amazon Prime Day deals on Creative Bloq View the full article

Who doesn't love a Sharpie? Stock up with this box of 24 fine-tipped Sharpie markers and save a whopping 67% off with this Amazon Prime Day deal. Although these deals are exclusively for Prime members, you can still get all the benefits on a trial membership – sign-up for a free 30-day trial here. Amazon Prime Day quick links Amazon Prime Day homepage: see all deals Big savings on Faber-Castell coloured pencils Normally priced at £18.99, this box of 24 assorted Sharpie markers is now reduced to £6.29. You can draw on cloth, plastic, glass, wood or metal – let's face, it most surfaces – and you know you're getting quality with Sharpies markers. If you're just interested in black markers, you can also check out a similar deal on Sharpie's fine-tip black permanent markers which are reduced by around half, from £12.72 to £6.52 for a box of 12. At this price, you could even stock up and get a box of each, or even two of each. That should be enough to last you a little while... Jump straight to Amazon Prime Find more Amazon Prime Day deals on Creative Bloq View the full article

Anyone who wants to create models or play games in VR knows that the kit can be pricey, which is why this Amazon Prime Day deal of £50 off Oculus Rift and Touch Controllers is all the more exciting. The controllers and headset are reduced from £399 to £349, saving you 13%. While this might not be the biggest saving on offer at Amazon Prime Day, it's still an excellent deal. If you're not a Prime member, you can sign-up for a free 30-day trial to make the most of all today's deals. Amazon Prime Day quick links Amazon Prime Day homepage: see all deals Amazon Prime Day gaming deals If you ever feel you want to escape the current world, the Oculus Rift headset and controllers can take you there. This bundle comes with the headset, two controllers and six games (including Robo Recall and Dead and Buried). It's designed for the PC, and 3D artists can also use it to craft their own creations within 3D space. This technology does not come cheap, so a saving of £50 is well worth having. This offer lasts until the end of Prime Day (midnight on 17 July), so get it now. Jump straight to Amazon Prime Find more Amazon Prime Day deals on Creative Bloq View the full article

Amazon Prime Day is full to the brim with incredible offers on everything from laptops and cameras to kitchen and homeware. But some stand out from the rest, including this 50% discount on Sennheiser's over ear wireless headphones, now just £89.99. (Not a Prime member? Sign-up for a free 30-day trial to take advantage of this offer.) Amazon Prime Day homepage: see all deals Amazon Prime Day headphone deals When it comes to quality, Sennheiser is up there with the best of them. A best seller on Amazon, these headphones deliver exceptional wireless sound quality. With bluetooth connectivity and noise gard active noise cancellation to reduce ambient noise levels, these are all about a quality listening experience If all that wasn't enough to tempt you, right now you can get hold of these stylish, high performance headphones for just half the usual price - that's a saving of £90! Team that with a 19 hour battery life and two year warranty and you've got the perfect pair of listeners. Like all Amazon Prime Day deals, this is one time only offer so be quick, we don't expect they'll hang around for long. Jump straight to Amazon Prime Find more Amazon Prime Day deals on Creative Bloq View the full article

This is our pick of the best smartphone offers around this Amazon Prime Day. Right now, you can pick up a Samsung Galaxy S8 with nearly a third off the usual price. Although it's over a year old now, this is still an absolutely brilliant smartphone – and in this deal you'll get a 64GB microSD card chucked in, too. To take advantage of this awesome offer (or any other Amazon Prime Day 2018 deals), you need to be an Amazon Prime member. However, you can get all the same benefits on a Prime trial (sign up for a free 30-day trial here). Amazon Prime Day quick links Amazon Prime Day homepage: see all deals Our pick of the best deals for designers and artists The Galaxy S8 is a top-notch flagship phone from Samsung, and this deal gives you a SIM-free handset with over £200 off the usual price, taking it down to £439. And for that, you get a 64GB microSD card included. Our sister site gave it four and a half stars in its review, describing the bezel-free display as 'truly iconic and beautiful' and flagged up the camera as being one of the best you'll find on a smartphone. For more details, take a look at the full Samsung Galaxy S8 review. Jump straight to Amazon Prime Find more Amazon Prime Day deals on Creative Bloq View the full article

If you want to give an older desktop PC a new lease of life, treating it to a graphics card upgrade can be an excellent way to squeeze out some more performance without having to trash it and buy a whole new computer. And if your PC's showing its age, Amazon Prime Day's the ideal opportunity to treat yourself to a bargain uprade. We've hunted down the three best GPU deals on the block. Whether you need a cheap performance boost or want to turn your PC into a 4K, VR-ready graphical monster, we've got you covered. If you're not a Prime member, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial to take advantage of these graphics card offers. Amazon Prime Day homepage: see all deals Find more Amazon Prime Day deals on Creative Bloq The best Amazon US graphics cards deals The best Amazon UK graphics cards deals Jump straight to Amazon Prime View the full article

If you're looking to pick up a laptop for less, Amazon Prime Day is the perfect time to get spending. Take this ASUS VivoBook thin and light laptop, which you can buy today at a knock-down price. You can only grab this deal on Amazon Prime Day, so be sure to add it to your basket now if this looks like the device for you. (Not a Prime member? Sign-up for a free 30-day trial to take advantage of this offer.) Amazon Prime Day homepage: see all deals Amazon Prime Day laptop deals With a regular price of $799.99, this laptop has already won over users thanks to its super light body and speed. Perfect for carrying around campus and even capable of dealing with light gaming, the ASUS VivoBook balances performance with practicality, and now you can grab it for less. Powered by an 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8550U quad-core processor, the ASUS VivoBook boasts an impressive 14" full HD WideView display. This is paired with 8GB DDR4 RAM and 256GB SSD, and a Windows 10 Home operating system. So if you're after a easy to use laptop that doesn't compromise, the ASUS VivoBook could be the choice for you. Don't hang around though, with this saving we're not sure how long stocks will last... Jump straight to Amazon Prime Find more Amazon Prime Day deals on Creative Bloq View the full article