How do different paper sizes work? Maybe you’ve seen paper marked as “A4” or “B5”. These labels are part of standardized paper sizing systems that simplify printing, manufacturing and design. Learning how different paper sizes work can help you make sure your graphic design projects fit the right paper size and look great after printing. 

What Are the Different Paper Sizes?

When you see different paper sizes, you might notice they are often labeled with a combination of letters and numbers, such as A6 or B4. These codes are part of internationally standardized paper sizing systems, specifically the ISO 216 standards. 

These standard sizes allow many manufacturers to make paper products that are compatible with one another and familiar to customers. For instance, one company could make a B5 compatible binder while a different company makes B5 size paper and both could rest assured that customers could use the two products together. 

What are the different paper sizes, though? How do they work? 

A Series Sizes

The first group of internationally standardized paper sizes is the A size range. The A sizes run A0 to A10. They’re determined by the height and width of a single sheet of paper. Each size has the same proportions but different measurements. Since this is an international standard, sizes are calculated in metric millimeters. 

A sizes start with the A0, which is 841 x 1189 millimeters. The A1 size is a piece of A0 paper folded in half to make two sheets that each measure 594 x 841 millimeters. 

The A2 size is a piece of A1 paper folded in half, and so on down to A10 size. A good rule of thumb is that as the number after the A label gets larger, the paper size gets smaller. So, a sheet of A5 paper is smaller than a sheet of A4 paper. 

A4, A5 and A6 are the most commonly used A series paper sizes. 

B Series Sizes

The B series of paper sizes is like half sizes in footwear. It was designed to add a wider array of paper sizes by creating sheets that are between standard A sizes. So, as a general rule, B sizes fall between the two nearest A sizes numerically. 

For example, one sheet of B5 paper will be slightly larger than a sheet of A5 paper but slightly smaller than a sheet of A4 paper. B sizes run a bit larger than A sizes of the same number. So, a sheet of B5 paper will be larger than a sheet of A5 paper. 

B sizes are most popular in European and Asian regions, so North American consumers are often not familiar with them. 

B sizing gets somewhat complicated with Japanese stationery in particular. Japan uses their own version of the B size series that doesn’t exactly match the ISO standard B size measurements. Japanese B size papers are slightly larger, often denoted with the label “semi”, such as semi-B5. 

As a result of the slight international differences in the B size range, B size stationery can vary from one product to another. However, it is generally all close in size. If you need B size paper to fit precisely, such as for a binder or envelope, always double check the exact measurements of a specific product. 

C Series Sizes

The C series size range is not actually for paper, but rather for envelopes. So, if you are looking for different paper sizes and encounter a C size label, be aware that the product is actually an envelope. 

Conveniently, C size envelopes are made for corresponding A size sheets of paper. For instance, if you want to mail a piece of A5 paper, it will always fit in a C5 size envelope. 

North American Sizes

The paper size most people are familiar with is US letter size. This is one of four standard paper sizes used mainly in North America. The closest international standard size is A4, although the two sizes are not the same. 

US letter size paper is slightly shorter and wider than A4 paper. Sometimes this doesn’t matter. However, if you’re printing something, it can make a difference since some content could get cut off if printed on the wrong paper size. 

In addition to US letter, the North American paper sizes also include junior legal, legal and ledger. Junior legal size paper is slightly smaller than letter size while legal size is slightly larger. Ledger paper, also known as “tabloid”, is larger than legal size. 

Uses for Different Paper Sizes

What do you use different paper sizes for? Each standard size has popular uses. For example, A4, A5, B5 and A6 are all commonly used in school and office stationery. A4 or US letter size is standard for folders and larger notebooks while A6 and B5 are both popular for smaller notebooks. 

Among the North American paper sizes, letter size is the standard for most folders and notebooks as well as print materials like small posters or flyers. Ledger or tabloid size paper, measuring 11 x 17 inches, is popular for medium sized posters, such as business flyers or local event ads. 

A3, A4 and A5 sizes are popular for small and medium sized paper goods, such as books, cards, calendars and magazines. The smallest A series sizes, A6 through A10, are used for things like pocket sized notebooks, photos, labels or stickers. 

How to Choose the Right Paper Size

The complex standards behind different paper sizes may sound complicated. However, choosing the right paper size really comes down to your end user. Do they need to carry the paper product with them, like a pocket notebook? Or is the paper product going to stay in one place, like a poster? 

Taking some time to think about these questions can help you select the right paper size. Remember, both A and B series sizes get larger as their number gets smaller. 

The post Different Paper Sizes: Letter, A4, B5 and More Explained appeared first on Designerly.

Have you ever gone on vacation and brought home a stack of brochures to commemorate your trip? Perhaps you grabbed a brochure from a doctor’s office to learn more about the latest treatment or medication. One might be surprised to learn these sleek pamphlets aren’t as pricey as they think. In fact, companies can use free brochure design tools to create their marketing materials on the cheap.

Brochures are effective for building brand awareness and attracting new customers. Companies use print or digital brochures to introduce their brand, services, and products to the public.

Marketers can find numerous free brochure designs online, enabling them to customize their pamphlets according to their brand aesthetic. Let’s dive into creating a cost-effective brochure to spotlight your brand further. 

Why Create Brochures?

Brochures might be the easiest way to get the word out about your brand’s mission and offerings. According to The International Association of Visitor Information Providers, 35% of readers share brochures with friends and family. Overall, one printed brochure will circulate among 3.5 readers. 

In a world heavily saturated with digital advertising, brochures are well-liked among marketers and consumers alike. For one thing, they are easy to distribute. You can distribute leaflets to targeted individuals, adding a personal touch to your tangible marketing initiatives. 

Brochures also encourage interaction between customers and businesses, allowing you to go into detail about what makes your brand and its offerings unique.

Some industries benefit from brochures more than others, such as the following:

• Health and wellness: Deliver information about a medicine, treatment plan, or preventative measure
• Automotive: Advertise a specific car model and its specifications
• Retail: Showcase new products and provide coupons, discounts, and sale information
• Real estate: Highlight newly listed homes and recently sold properties in your area
• Higher education: Inform prospective students about a college’s program offerings, campus details, and contact information
• Hospitality: Entice visitors with high-quality imagery of hotels, excursions, restaurants, and festivals
• Travel: Encourage tourists to some of the most remarkable destinations on Earth

A 2018 Bentley University survey showed 85% of people learned about a business or attraction from a brochure, while 61% intended to buy tickets or products they read about. Another 73% said brochures would encourage them to change their travel plans.

Free Brochure Design Templates: A Starting Point

Many websites offer free brochure design templates — but it’s only a starting point. Creating an eye-catching brochure means you must put your creativity to the test. 

Look for graphic design tools with plenty of customization options to integrate your brand’s color scheme, fonts, and overall aesthetics. Consistency between your brand and brochure ensures familiarity with consumers. 

A clean layout also matters — 61% of website visitors will not return if prime user experience is lacking. The same goes for printed marketing materials. You want to impress readers with a clean, readable brochure so they can get all their information quickly.

The type of brochure you’re interested in creating is also an important consideration. There are several types of brochures you can choose from, including the following:

• Introductory: Introduces critical information for readers to learn about your company, products, and services
• Informational: Provides detailed information or instructions about a specific product or service
• Menus: Ideal for users to order takeout and delivery from a restaurant
• Maps: Directs readers throughout campuses, campgrounds, offices, or other locations they may be unfamiliar with 

Of course, the type of pamphlet you choose should coincide with the correct format. For instance, brochures are often folded in accordion style, bi- or tri-folds, single- or double-open gate folds, or something else. 

What About Digital Brochures?

Many companies publish promotional and informational brochures online as live documents, downloads, or gated and ungated content.

While printed materials tend to be more personal, digital brochures allow you to incorporate other media like video, audio, quizzes, and other interactive features.

Brands might turn to digital “pamphlets” to tell their story in an engaging and visually pleasing manner. Savvy creators lean into user experience to improve navigation and presentation, making viewing more memorable and exciting for readers. 

You can also measure and track your success, gaining insight into essential customer behaviors. For instance, your brochure might accumulate views and shares, enabling you to adapt your content as necessary.

5 Free Brochure Design Websites 

If you’re interested in maximizing promotional materials for your brand, you’re in luck. Access to free brochure design templates is merely a click away. Tap into these five graphic design tools to create a brochure that will resonate with your target audience.

1. Canva

Canva has quickly become one of the top graphic design tools for generating promotional materials, ensuring a more straightforward process for designing and distributing brochures than ever before. 

Create an account and search through the different brochure templates. Once you’ve found the right one, customize it by adding some of Canva’s 2 million graphics and order your prints.

2. Microsoft Word

Did you know you can create brochures in a Microsoft Word document? Select “File” and “New” to search for brochure templates ideal for your business goals.

You can also create a brochure template manually by modifying the page orientation from “portrait” to “landscape.” Then, adjust the page size under “Size” and “Page Layout.” Tri-fold brochures are typically 8.5 x 11 inches or 11 x 17 inches.

3. Vista Create

Vista Create has hundreds of premade brochure templates for you to choose from for your print marketing materials. What appeals most to creators is the site’s library of 70 million royalty-free photos, videos and vector graphics. 

Business accounts can also add up to 10 team members to collaborate on brochures and other promotional documents. 

4. Adobe Express

Create a free Adobe Express account to customize your brand’s ideal brochure design. Adobe Express offers hundreds of templates for various industries and a wide range of royalty-free Adobe Stock images.

Those who want to apply their brand identity to all future marketing materials can upgrade to the Adobe Express Premium plan. With a membership, you can automatically add logos, colors, and fonts people will recognize.

5. Google Docs

Google Docs presents a unique ability for you to collaborate with your team to create a free brochure. Like Microsoft Word, Google Docs has premade brochure templates you can customize. 

Invite team members to the document to share their ideas and make necessary changes. Sometimes, multiple heads are better than one when creating engaging promotional materials. 

Tips for Creating an Effective Brochure

Your brochure must be attractive, concise and accurate if you want people to read it. As such, there’s a correct way to create an influential pamphlet. Keep the following tips in mind as you begin layout your free brochure design template:

• Determine your brochure’s purpose — to introduce, inform, or direct.
• Write excellent copy, ensuring it provides all the necessary information.
• Include a call to action to tell readers what they should do next.
• Choose fonts wisely and limit yourself to one or two.
• Select high-quality images.
• Proofread and edit everything, from content to media.
• Know where your brochure’s folds are.
• Decide what type of stock paper to print it on.

A Captivating Brochure Design Will Make the Rounds

If you choose the best brochure design for your brand, it will make the rounds among numerous people. Start viewing your marketing materials as artwork to ensure you end up with a product you’re proud of.

The post Building Brand Awareness With Free Brochure Design Templates appeared first on Designerly.

Infographics have become a staple in the online world. You’ll often spot them on social media, breaking down complex data into visually appealing and digestible formats. While nothing beats a tailor-made infographic by a skilled designer, there are times when budget constraints and tight schedules call for a quicker solution. That’s where an infographic maker steps in.

While these tools may have limitations, they provide a fast way to craft eye-catching graphics for your audience. If you’re curious about the leading infographic makers this year, use this list below.

1. Visme

Visme is an excellent infographic maker, popular for its large collection of templates for various content needs — from timelines to statistical information. Its user-friendly interface ensures even beginners can get started and produce professional-quality designs. 

Yet, what truly sets Visme apart is the tools at your disposal. Easily sync color pallets, choose complementary fonts and integrate videos with only a few clicks. Visme allows amateur designs to become expert creations, streamlining the process for everyone.

Pros

• Extensive template library catering to diverse needs.
• User-friendly for beginners and pros.
• Seamless integration of multimedia elements like videos.
• 100MB for storage.

Cons

• Some advanced features may be locked behind a premium paywall.
• Limited stock of images and GIFs.

2. Canva

Canva is a leading name in graphic design tools — notably popular among non-professionals for its user-centric approach. While it offers many design templates, infographics are among the top categories.

The platform has a knack for social media, offering templates tailored for various platforms. Therefore, it makes sharing your creations seamless. This focus on social media integration and features like scheduling and workflow make it a top choice, especially for enterprise users. 

Beyond its design tools, Canva gives users educational content featuring tutorials, articles and courses at zero cost.

Pros

• Wide variety of templates, especially for infographics.
• Made for easy social media sharing and scheduling.
• No account creation is required to start creating content.
• Download content in various formats, including PNG, PDF and JPG.
• Up to 5GB of storage for free, 100GB for Pro and unlimited for Enterprise.

Cons

• Premium templates are restricted to paying users.
• Can be slightly overwhelming for first-time users due to its extensive features.

3. Venngage

Venngage positions itself as a free infographic tool. Though, it’s important to know that “free” isn’t all-encompassing here. Many of the templates are available for payment.

Venngage is more than an infographic maker — users can craft flyers, presentations and other visual content. A unique feature of Venngage is its initial questionnaire so that it can understand the purpose of your design. It then prompts users to pick from sample designs to gauge preferred styles.

Based on these choices, it suggests templates that can sometimes feel generic. For those new to the platform, Venngage offers a handy walkthrough to navigate its features.

Pros

• Infographic templates are categorical, from statistical data to timelines.
• Many design elements to choose from, like videos, photos and icons.

Cons

• Free versions have watermarks on the design.
• No available downloads for free users.
• Size options are slightly limited.

4. Piktochart

Piktochart is a versatile infographic maker, enabling users to translate information into captivating designs. You can also use Piktochart for more than infographics — it offers the flexibility to craft presentations, reports and flyers. Piktochart is easy to use, so it’s accessible for beginners and experienced users. 

Its collection of templates provides a good starting point, allowing users to pick and customize according to their needs. While Piktochart’s toolkit is fairly robust, the platform’s simplicity and ease of use often win users over.

Pros

• Intuitive design interface for all skill levels.
• Various design options for infographics.
• A wide template collection for quick starts.

Cons

• You can only get two free downloads.
• Some of the best templates and tools come at a premium.
• Downloads only come in PNG and PDF.

5. Appypie Design

Appypie Design is part of the broader AppyPie suite, simplifying the creation process across various domains. The design tool caters to users seeking quickly produced graphics for business, personal or social media purposes. Its beginner-friendly interface makes it easy for those without a design background. The platform’s main strength lies in its AI-generated designs. An average user can make visually-appealing graphics with the use of a prompt.

Pros

• User-centered, AI-powered design platform.
• Many options for your design needs, from infographics to posters and social media graphics.
• Unlimited graphics at only $6 per month.
• Lots of images to choose from.

Cons

• Watermarks on designs for free users.
• Customer support is unavailable for free users.
• Only four projects per month unless you pay for the Pro plan. 

6. VistaCreate

VistaCreate is a free design tool geared towards crafting beautiful visuals, infographics included. This infographic maker is especially useful for those who need more design experience. You can make infographics from thousands of design templates with ease. With a rich library of templates, users can also access customization features to fit specific needs.

Many users favor VistaCreate, particularly for its balance of simplicity and functionality. With ready-to-make templates, you can create infographics that speak to your audience easily. 

Pros

• Easy to use for beginners and seasoned designers.
• Color and photo customization options.
• Background remover and layering.
• Social media scheduling and posting.
• Branding kit

Cons

• Pay for premium designs and features.
• Limited templates and animations for free users.

7. Snappa

Snappa is a straightforward graphic design tool that makes content creation quick and easy. It’s an ideal choice for those who need to whip up infographics in a pinch. With a streamlined interface, users can jump straight into designing without a steep learning curve. 

Snappa has a decent collection of templates, making it easy to get started. It also offers customization options to create attractive designs geared toward your audience. What makes Snappa different from other infographic makers is its efficient integration with social media. You can create a graphic and seamlessly share your content through Twitter or Facebook.

Pros

• Beginner-friendly
• Built-in knowledge base and video tutorials.
• Paid users get unlimited access to photos and videos.
• Includes brand logos for your infographic.
• Download in JPG and PNG file formats.

Cons

• Three downloads per month for free users.
• No photos or illustrations.
• Limited customization options.

Use an Infographic Maker Right for You

An Infographic maker is a valuable tool for beginner graphic designers or when time is of the essence. These tools share common features, but the ideal pick should align with your needs and budget. Consider giving these tools a test run to find the best fit. Giving each infographic maker a spin will let you determine which you like the most.

The post 7 Must-Try Infographic Makers for Graphic Designers appeared first on Designerly.

Being a graphic designer means constantly experimenting with new mediums to extend your skills and draw in various clients. You can interest more people in your skills if you can provide them with the services they need. That can include crafting posters, creating print ads or learning how to design a shirt in Photoshop. However, you don’t need to consider yourself a graphic designer to start making eye-catching designs.

If you’re a small business owner, you know how tight budgets can get. You might not have enough wiggle room to hire a graphic designer. Thus, it’s essential to learn how to create shirts on your own so your employees have clean uniforms and customers are more interested in buying merch. Here’s a tutorial on creating excellent t-shirt designs in Photoshop, plus why small companies should do so and how to make things work on a budget.

How to Design a Shirt in Photoshop Step by Step

Whether you’re a graphic designer or a small business owner, learning to make t-shirt designs in Photoshop can be beneficial. Here’s how to do so in four easy steps.

1. Create the Design

Naturally, this step will take the longest, as this is when you’ll actually make the design. If you don’t feel comfortable starting completely from scratch, Adobe Express does offer some free templates for inspiration.

If those don’t work out, you can follow various Photoshop tutorials out there to perfect the design. Use the Shapes tools to create adorable clip art without having to go looking for it. You could also insert your own photos and take the background out if you want something more detailed. Of course, there are many other things you can do, such as adjusting the hue of the image or fading it so any words you add stand out more.

When you’re ready to add text, feel free to do it in any color or font you like. Just make sure the writing is legible — customers and employees might giggle at the shirts if they can’t read them or they look like they say something inappropriate. If there aren’t any fonts you like already in Photoshop, you can add more to achieve your desired look. Use the Warp Text tool to add a funky element to your design.

Most importantly, when you learn how to design a shirt in Photoshop, ensure the whole design is cohesive. Can someone read the shirt from a distance? Do all the colors work together? Are the images small, which can make them unclear in printing? Will the hues you chose work with various shirt colors?

2. Add the Design to a Shirt

Once the design is ready, you can add a photo of a t-shirt in the background of the project. You can either use a picture of a model already wearing a shirt or use an image of a shirt lying flat. Using a flat shirt will make making the mock-up easier, but using a person can show you how the design will look once someone’s wearing it.

If your design isn’t transparent and is showing a white background on top of the shirt, don’t fret. Adjusting this is simply a matter of knowing where to look. Go down to the layer window — where you can see all the layers of your Photoshop project — and change the blending mode to Multiply. You can do this by opening the drop-down menu to the left of Opacity.

Now that the background is gone, you can see what the design will actually look like on a t-shirt. Try moving it around and adjusting the size to get the look just right.

While creating the shirt, it could be helpful to poll several designs amongst shoppers and workers to learn which ones they like best. You’ll get a better idea of what people like and discover if something about one of them needs adjusting.

3. Clean Up the Design

After you’ve gotten a bit of feedback, touch up the design to reflect those notes. If people found the font hard to read, make it larger or pick a new one. You can also touch up the image or logo if the polls show it was difficult to make out. Refining it with the Eraser tool or changing the color could make it more visually appealing.

4. Get Quotes from a Printer

Once you’ve finalized the design, it’s time to start looking into printers who can make the shirts for you. Is there anyone who can do it for you locally? Going that route helps minimize your carbon footprint and helps fund other small businesses.

Unfortunately, shopping local can be a bit more expensive. If you cannot fit their quotes into your budget, there are plenty of online retailers that can print shirts for you en masse.

Why Should Small Businesses Make T-Shirts?

If you want your employees to wear a uniform, providing staff with t-shirts can make the workplace feel much more cohesive. Everyone will have a shirt with the same design, which helps staff identify each other and customers spot employees. Having a uniform can improve worker productivity by narrowing down their wardrobe choices, helping them shift into “work mode” appearing as more of a unit. More productivity means more money for your business.

In addition to 59% of employees feeling more positively about their workplace after receiving merchandise, 25% of shoppers feel the same after getting branded items. People love unique clothing items, so t-shirts with your logo or an image relating to your company are sure to catch eyes. Make the designs different from your employee shirts so you can distinguish loyal customers and enthusiastic employees.

People wearing the shirts also provide free advertising. Friends and family who see the wearer often will likely see them wear the t-shirt a few times, prompting them to visit to see what the hype is about. A stranger might stop them to ask about your store, leading the wearer to explain just how much they love it. Typically, it will be your most frequent customers who buy your merch and their glowing word-of-mouth reviews can draw in more buyers.

Do You Need to Use Photoshop for Shirt Design?

Not necessarily. While Photoshop is an excellent tool, it’s fairly expensive for beginner graphic designers and small businesses. Those working in the industry may find the investment worth it, but if you’re only going to use the software to make the shirts, there are a few free alternatives you can utilize instead. Additionally, you could go to a shirt-designing website and make your merch there.

Learning How to Design a Shirt in Photoshop for Your Business

All in all, figuring out how to design a shirt in Photoshop isn’t too challenging. You just need to add a photo and text to a Photoshop project, see how it looks on a shirt, get feedback from your staff and shoppers, polish the design, and find out how much it’ll cost to print however many you’ll need.

While your budget is probably tight as a budding graphic designer or a small business owner, you can design a shirt on the cheap. Then, you just need to focus on printing the design on a quality product people will want to wear.

The post How to Design a Shirt in Photoshop appeared first on Designerly.

Is White a Color? Everything You Need to Know

Is white a color, or is it something else? This age-old question has sparked a debate among color theory enthusiasts — mainly artists and designers with expertise in the color spectrum. Some agree that it is, while others disagree. But what’s the truth?

It technically aligns with the definition of color, but some people don’t think it counts because it doesn’t have its own hue or chroma. 

The debate around the color is a real thing and has plenty of good points on both sides. Let’s explore what white really is in terms of color so you can answer the question for yourself. 

White Throughout History

Cave drawings are the first signs of using white to make art. Early humans used chalk and calcite to create markings and pictures on walls. Eventually, the color was deemed sacred by Ancient Greeks and Romans, symbolizing light and prestige. 

White also appeared in the 4th century B.C. per writings by Theophrast in “De Lapidibus.” People would dip lead bricks in vinegar for 10 days, at which point they scratched decay away from their surface. From there, people would pound the scrapings and strain them until they were left with white lead. Unfortunately, many came down with lead poisoning from this method.

White always carried religious connotations and became the mourning color of choice for widowers and those who’d lost their children. This was mainly due to white being the most affordable colored fabric.

Believe it or not, white wedding dresses didn’t come until much later. Always the trendsetter, Queen Victoria wore the first white wedding dress when she married Prince Albert in February 1840. 

Other European brides and leaders followed suit. However, due to the high cost of constructing the gowns, women wore their wedding dresses many times throughout their lives. Eventually, white began representing purity, innocence, and affluence.

In modern history, white symbolizes simplicity and contemporary aesthetics. It also became the color of the 175-year-old women’s suffrage movement — a tradition that continues today.

What Is the Debate About?

The debate around whether white is a color stems from the fact that it doesn’t have a unique hue. It’s not on the color wheel and isn’t on the visible light spectrum, yet it still shows up. We can still see it because it’s a combination of each color’s wavelength.

Humans can see light with wavelengths of 380 to 750 nanometers (nm) — violet ranges from 380–450 nm while the rest of the color spectrum is between 590–750 nm. However, if we’re strictly sticking with visible wavelengths, we leave out white, black, pink and many others that fall out of range — more on that later.

While some think white is a color because it’s instantly recognizable and unique from more colorful hues, others feel it isn’t because it represents absence and negative space. Basically, if you define color by the above argument, then white does not technically fit the description. However, if you view it as all the ways we process light and dark, these outliers are indeed colors.

The debate is similar to the argument about whether water is wet or not — it’s primarily based on semantics. Still, there are solid arguments for both sides that have roots in psychology and science.

What’s the Psychology of the Color White?

Many people feel white isn’t a color because they think it represents nothing, but it has many emotional and psychological connections. For example, it can invoke feelings of innocence, coldness, purity, sterility, or peace. In graphic design, white often brings images of happiness, cleanliness, or safety to mind.

You’ve heard of a “blank slate” — the opportunity for a do-over. Some regard white as a new beginning to release themselves from past actions and negativity. It also represents open-mindedness, allowing space to imagine whatever you want to create.

Some of the confusion might come from the fact that people use white as a base. It goes well with everything because it’s neutral, so it’s often the starting point for designs and text. Since people view a blank canvas as empty and think of coloring as adding something new, it makes a connection in their minds that white isn’t a color.

What’s the Science of the Color White?

As mentioned previously, the science behind white involves looking at the wavelengths of colors. Red, green, and blue light combine to form white. People who feel it isn’t a color use this to argue their point, claiming it technically can’t be one because it isn’t its own hue on the visible light spectrum. 

While that logic seems reasonable, it overlooks a crucial point. Remember how we said we can see colors that are not on the wavelength spectrum? Red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, indigo, and violet are the only colors on the color wheel, which leaves out white, black, gray, brown, and magenta.

Red and violet are at opposite ends of the spectrum, so the brain glitches and sees pink even though green is the average. It’s not really a “real” color — it’s simply what happens to the human mind when it mixes specific wavelengths. With that knowledge, would you declare that it is no longer a color?

Additionally, people experience color as a visual sensation in their minds. There is a distinct reaction that happens when they view white because they recognize that it is unique. While it’s true that it is only a combination of every hue’s wavelength, perceiving something and getting a particular mental response is the very definition of color.

On the other hand, it provides very little mental or visual simulation in comparison to things like red, yellow, blue, or violet. They each have strong emotional and behavioral connections in a way that white doesn’t. Because of this, most people think of negative space when they see it. It blends into the background and supports other hues instead of standing out.

Is White A Color or a Shade?

Some people argue white is a shade instead of a color because it simply augments other colors — it turns pure colors into tints, making them pale.

So, is white a color or a shade? We’re glad you asked. Color is a hue first, which can appear more saturated — when the color quality intensifies or loses its richness as you add white or black. 

Conversely, a shade is a color in its initial hue that has undergone darkening — usually with black. You never add white or gray to create a shade. Therefore, it is safe to say white is a color — mixing a color with white will always change the saturation of whatever hue you add.

However, that point only considers how it affects other hues. The root of the debate is about whether white is a standalone color, so there’s not much point in bringing up shades or tints. While they exist, they’re not very relevant to the main argument.

Even though it may still be up for debate whether white is a color or not, its ability to lighten doesn’t change how the human mind reacts to it. If anything, the point muddies the waters even more because off-white swatches are a very real thing. How pale does something have to be before it counts as white? It’s challenging to say.

Do Variations of White Count as Colors?

Speaking of shades, a pure white living room could feel somewhat sterile. Thankfully, you have the option to paint the room a toned-down white for warmth. But do these variations of white count as colors, or are the different “whites” simply hues that started as a bold color and undergone saturation?

White has various shades and tones that make it look different, so they might count as colors. Many are merely incredibly light versions of hues. Common variations are eggshell, ivory, snow, cream, cotton, and porcelain. Some are bright and bold, while others are soft and subtle.

They fall into two different categories depending on what their undertone is. Warm whites usually appear slightly tan, while cool whites often have a blue-gray look to them. However, there are millions of possible swatches since any color can look white if it’s light enough.

One kind — true white — doesn’t have any undertones. It is actually one of the most common website background colors because it’s so clean and striking. Other hues tend to look more vibrant when they have space to show off. Essentially, it’s the brightest version of the color.  

Still, even that is up for debate because its pureness depends significantly on how much light bounces off it. For instance, scientists at Purdue University only recently developed a version in April 2023 that reflects over 98% of light, making it the world’s whitest color.

While it’s useful, it can be incredibly overpowering to look at and seem blinding because it reflects so much light. Plus, it is particularly challenging to achieve true white, so most variations are basically extremely pale versions of regular colors. The semantics get somewhat complex at this point in the debate. 

If a very light pink that appears white counts as a color, then does white count as one, too, when it has a subtle undertone? While there’s no right answer, it lends to the argument that white is its own color. 

Is White a Color or Not?

Now that you’ve considered the science, psychology, and variations of white, what do you believe? Is white a color or not? The evidence is strong for both sides of the debate, which may not give you the definitive answer you’re looking for. So, let’s recap. 

While white doesn’t have its own hue on the visible light spectrum, many consider it to be a color because it’s instantly recognizable as a separate, unique color. People believe it is devoid of colors, but the opposite is true — black is the absence of color, while white is basically a combination of them all. 

Some people argue that it isn’t because it isn’t on the color wheel or visible light spectrum, while others feel that it is because it’s plainly visible and has an entirely different look than any of the shades of the rainbow. Both points are based on a lot of technicalities — and herein lies the challenges of coming up with a correct answer. You wouldn’t be wrong to think of white as a color or not. 

Pick Your Side

The word “color” encapsulates many different things. Do people use it when they actually mean to say “pigment” or “light radiation” instead? If so, does it matter? In most cases, the answer is no. In that case, is white a color? Whether or not white counts as one may always be up for debate. It’s an argument based on technicalities — meaning you’re more or less correct no matter which side you choose.

The post Is White a Color? Everything You Need to Know appeared first on Designerly.

What if you could have a cost-effective tool to help you tap into your local market and promote your products or services? A well-designed business flyer can do just that. Flyers are a traditional but excellent marketing instrument still highly used today. They’re great for getting the word out about a business event and finding potential customers.

However, a flyer must be visually compelling, informative and concise to capture viewers’ attention. To understand how to make a flyer for a business, use these tips to obtain everything you need to know.

Why Businesses Need Flyers

Flyers are crucial in advertising and promotion. You can use them for word-of-mouth marketing to promote a grand opening, special promotion or an upcoming event. They’re a great way to reach an audience effectively and drive more in-store traffic. 

Another major advantage is their cost-effectiveness. Compared to online advertising and billboard rentals, flyers make an affordable option for small businesses. Since flyers mainly require a hand-out, small businesses advertise cheaply — making them budget-friendly.

Flyers also provide an opportunity to target customers in specific geographical areas. You can distribute them in neighborhoods, shopping centers and trade shows. These are all places your potential customer is likely to be, which is hyper-targeting at its finest.

Lastly, flyers are a tangible asset that increases customer engagement. Physically holding flyers gives them a closer connection to your business without the disruption you get with digital advertising. This experience helps your message resonate more with your target audience.

How To Make a Flyer for a Business

If you’re ready to learn how to make a flyer for a business, consider the following tips that’ll help you grab the attention of potential customers.

1. Establish a Focal Point

A focal point is crucial in flyer design because it’s the first thing that grabs your audience’s attention. It draws them into the message and engages readers with the message you’re trying to convey. To establish a focal point, you could use a compelling headline, a striking image or an intriguing offer. However, the flyer should highlight your core message and invite the viewer to learn more. 

Consider experimenting with size, color contrast and positioning. Doing so ensures your focal point stands out from the rest of the content. This design technique will enhance its visual appeal and improve the effectiveness of it. It achieves this by directing the viewer’s eye to the most important information, leading them to the rest of the content.

2. Use Relevant Images and Graphics

Images and graphics are a great way to quickly convey your flyer’s message and make it more digestible for your audience. However, they should be relevant to the audience and the message so everything makes sense to the reader. 

Use high-quality photos or illustrations to keep the audience engaged. You can ensure every image is high-resolution by using 300 DPI (dots per inch) when printing. Ensure the visuals align with the brand and the flyer’s purpose. Yet, keep in mind that the images should add value to your message and avoid distracting from it. 

Graphics and icons are also essential, as they break up text and make reading and understanding the content easier. When including imagery, try to maintain a balance between the text and graphics. That way, you can avoid clutter and create a good first impression.

Remember, the images and graphics you choose can distinguish between a mundane flyer and a memorable one.

3. Selecting Typography

Make a flyer for a business by carefully selecting typography. Being strategic about this part is crucial because the fonts you choose and their sizes can impact how the audience interprets the message. For example, a flyer for a formal business event may benefit from a classic serif font like Times New Roman or Georgia. These typefaces suggest professionalism and tradition.

On the other hand, a flyer for a creative art workshop would use a more casual and creative font. The Summer of ‘76 font is a classic, retro theme that’s great for capturing a vintage poster style. Garamond also makes an excellent choice if you’re going after a minimalistic theme. While this font is an old style — dating back to the 16th century — it’s still unique and is highly suitable for print. 

One thing to be aware of is that the typography should enhance readability, so size matters. It’s also best to keep your typography limited to two to three fonts, and it should guide the viewer’s eye. 

4. Choose Your Colors Wisely

The colors you choose can impact how the viewer perceives your flyer. That’s because color evokes a kind of emotion and association. 

For instance, red signifies energy, passion or urgency — making it a great choice for sales or clearance events. Blue, on the other hand, can evoke feelings of trust and reliability. Businesses often use this color in the tech or finance industry.

When learning how to make a flyer, consider the psychology behind colors to help you choose the right one. The appropriate color can convey your message clearly and effectively influence your audience’s emotions. 

At the same time, it’s wise to use contrasting colors to make specific elements of your flyer stand out. Contrast is also important for directing attention to key pieces of information. However, if you choose a harmonious color scheme, you can look forward to creating balance and unity. 

5. Strategic Use of White Space and Layout

White space — also known as negative space — and layout are critical elements of a business flyer. They create a clean look that makes your content more readable and digestible.

White space is the unused area that separates different elements in your design. These can include the spaces between text, images or margins. 

Consider a flyer filled with text and images from edge to edge. This design can be overwhelming and deter viewers from reading it. Yet, a flyer with adequate white space guiding the reader naturally from one point to another can make it appealing and easy to understand. 

Try to balance your layout with roughly 30-40% white space. For example, if you’re advertising a bakery — pick a few delicious-looking images of baked goods and let them breathe with room for white space. Doing so lets each image and the accompanying text make a greater impact.

Succeed in Making a Flyer for a Business

Make a flyer for a business stand out by implementing these design tips. From using color to establishing a focal point, your tactics can make a significant impact. Consider designing a business flyer with a template to give you a good starting point. You can use templates for inspiration and save more time in the design process. 

The post How To Make a Flyer for a Business appeared first on Designerly.

Brochures are adaptable marketing tools. They efficiently introduce potential buyers to your company, products or services. You can even make them without the need for pricey graphic design software. Microsoft Word, a widely available word processing program, offers a user-friendly platform for creating great brochures. Learn how to make a brochure in Word to create beautiful and engaging marketing materials that promote your business. 

1. Set Up Your Document

To create your brochure, you’ll need Microsoft Word. Open a new document in Word and set its page size and layout:

• Layout: In the “Page Layout” tab, choose “Orientation.” Brochures benefit greatly from horizontal layouts, so select “Landscape” to build one.
• Size: Set the page size next. Navigate to “Size” under “Page Layout” and select the brochure-appropriate proportions. Standard dimensions for tri-fold brochures are 8.5 x 11 inches or 11 x 17 inches.

2. Select a Template

You can save time and work by using the pre-made brochure layouts that Word provides. To access the template gallery, choose “File” and then “New.” Enter “brochure” in the search box to get the list of available templates. Pick the one that best fits your preferences and goals.

The template will automatically replace the blank Word document when you click to open it.

3. Personalize Your Brochure

It’s time to personalize the template you’ve chosen to reflect your brand and marketing message.

Edit the placeholder text to replace it with your own words. Make sure to offer intriguing details about your enterprise, its goods or services. Be sure to use clear, simple and captivating wording:

• Insert photos: Replace the placeholder photos in the design with high-quality photographs that highlight your items or convey the essence of your brand. Click on the image to upload a different one by choosing “Change Picture” after doing so.
• Change the fonts and colors: The right style will reflect your brand, giving the brochure a more distinctive look. Make sure the fonts are readable and consistent across the brochure.
• Include your company’s logo: You want to help customers recognize your brand. Simply upload your logo to the brochure by clicking “Insert” and selecting “Pictures.”

Be sure to include your contact information, such as your phone number, email address, website and physical location. Make it simple for prospective customers to contact you.

4. Organize Content and Design

Pay attention to how you organize your brochure’s information and how you make the best use of the design components to make it both visually beautiful and simple to navigate.

• Create sections: To convey content coherently, divide your brochure into sections. These sections are frequently included on websites — “About Us,” “Products/Services,” “Testimonials,” and “Contact.”
• Utilize headings and subheadings: Use descriptive headings that are both clear and concise to introduce each section. Subheadings can further divide the text into manageable chunks.
• Maintain visual hierarchy: Make sure key information is highlighted by varying font sizes, utilizing bold or italics and inserting images in the right places. This aids in providing a logical flow for readers as they read the booklet.
• Use white space: Don’t cram the brochure with too many words or pictures. Make your design visually appealing by adding white space — empty space around items to give them breathing room.

5. Add Visual Elements

An engaging brochure must have eye-catching graphics. To increase the overall attractiveness, incorporate graphics, forms, icons and other visual elements:

• Insert photos: Include photos that provoke feelings or highlight the advantages of your offerings in addition to those of your products. Use pictures of satisfied clients or settings that illustrate your company’s problem-solving approach, for instance.
• Use icons: Icons can be used to symbolize features, perks or services. They aid readers in quickly understanding information and give a hint of visual intrigue.
• Insert shapes: Use shapes to separate parts or to draw attention to crucial information. To bring attention to specific information, use arrows or stars.

6. Print Your Brochure

Check that everything is aligned properly and that the colors and graphics seem as you want them to before printing your brochure.

• Proofread: Make sure all of the information is carefully proofread to look for spelling and grammar mistakes.
• Print: Print a test copy to verify the formatting, alignment and color. Before printing additional copies, fix any problems.
• Select a high-quality paper: Pick a paper that goes well with the design of your brochure. A brochure printed on sturdier paper will feel more solid.
• Print settings: To ensure that content prints on both sides of the paper for a professional appearance, select “Two-Sided Printing” when printing.

Pros of Creating a Business Flyer

Creating an effective business flyer has many benefits for businesses looking for efficient marketing strategies. Business flyers offer a practical and adaptable way to communicate with potential clients, from cost-effectiveness to targeted local marketing. 

1. Cost-Effective Marketing

Flyers are an economical marketing strategy when compared to other forms of advertising, making them a great option for startups or small companies with tight marketing budgets.

Flyers give your company’s products and services a tangible, hands-on representation, enabling potential buyers to engage with the material directly. This tactile element can increase brand recognition and leave a lasting impact.

2. Local Targeting

When businesses use flyers, they can reach potential clients in their local communities or neighborhoods. Businesses that depend on local customers may find this localized strategy to be extremely effective.

3. Quick and Easy to Produce

Producing a flyer has become reasonably quick and simple thanks to the availability of user-friendly design tools and templates. Flyers can be printed internally by businesses, saving time and money.

4. Versatile Content

Flyers give businesses the freedom to advertise a variety of things, including sales, events, the introduction of new products or general campaigns to raise brand awareness. This adaptability enables organizations to customize material according to their marketing objectives.

5. Direct Customer Engagement

Flyers give businesses the opportunity to interact directly with potential clients. It offers a chance for one-on-one interaction whether flyers are distributed at events, in-store or through direct mail.

Cons of Creating a Business Flyer

Business flyers provide a number of benefits, but there are also certain disadvantages that need to be considered. 

1. Limited Reach

Digital marketing methods, which can reach a wider and worldwide audience, have a greater reach than flyers. Flyers may only have an influence in the distributed area.

2. Environmental Impact

Flyer production and distribution in large quantities can have an adverse effect on the environment by increasing paper waste. Businesses that care about the environment might need to think about more sustainable options.

3. Difficulty in Measuring Effectiveness

The effectiveness of flyer distribution might be difficult to track, in contrast to digital marketing operations. It could be challenging for businesses to determine the precise ROI and impact of their flyer advertising.

4. Potentially Easy to Overlook

In today’s digital world, customers like marketing messages coming from a variety of platforms. If flyers don’t stand out and grab attention, they might be missed or ignored.

5. Design and Printing Costs

While creating a flyer in-house can save costs, engaging graphic designers with experience or choosing high-quality printing may increase overall costs, especially for organizations with limited funding.

6. Information Overload

Flyers don’t fit a ton of information. Businesses could find it difficult to add all the necessary details. Overloading the brain with information can lead to crowded designs and inefficient communication.

Learn How to Make a Brochure on Word

There are quick and affordable ways to produce marketing materials that make an impression on potential buyers. You can modify your brochure to reflect your brand identity, effectively market your goods or services and draw in your target market. Whether you’re a small business owner or a major marketing enthusiast, learn how to make a brochure on Word that will help your company succeed.

The post A Guide to Creating Stunning Marketing Materials: How to Make a Brochure on Word appeared first on Designerly.

Figuring out what color to pair with blue can be challenging because there are so many variations. Subtle changes to tint, saturation, and brightness require different pairings. Take a look at these palettes to find out what color goes well with blue. 

Why Use a Blue Color Palette?

Looking at different color combinations is helpful for determining what color goes well with blue because it has a massive number of shade variations. Many people favor it because it works well in most designs. In fact, it’s among the most popular website colors for its versatility alone. 

It can create a sense of sadness, tranquility, or stability. Lighter shades reflect optimism and excitement, while darker ones typically are more solemn. Still, color associations vary widely depending on someone’s location and background.

For example, people in the United States feel red represents danger and excitement, while those in China think it stands for fortune and happiness. While many claim universal color psychology drives everyone to view a design similarly, culture affects everyone’s perception differently.

That said, some studies suggest it’s one of the few colors people view positively across cultures. Even though the exact feeling it invokes may not be the same for every viewer, it will still be good. If a design utilizes the color blue thoughtfully, it can be incredibly advantageous. 

1. Slate Blue, Steel Blue, and Sage Green

Slate blue, steel blue, and sage green create a professional, muted palette. It creates a sense of stability and power because each color contains some gray. The connection of each makes it much more cohesive.

Both male and female customers mostly prefer shades of blue in advertisements because it invokes serenity, security, and trust. The subdued nature of this palette could strengthen those feelings because it emphasizes professionalism.

2. Turquoise, Crimson, and Eggshell

Turquoise blue, crimson, and eggshell combine powerful shades to create a bold palette. Blue typically goes well with red because they’re both primary colors. In this case, one is lighter and the other is darker to create balance.

The combination of strong hues and an off-white neutral is ideal for establishing an unconscious association with the viewer. The two primary shades have strong emotional connections, so utilizing both in the same palette can create an interesting mixture of feelings.

3. Classic Blue, Cream, and Off-White

Classic blue, cream, and off-white form a primarily neutral palette. The addition of a solid primary color offsets its lightness, making it helpful in calling attention to certain design elements. 

Realistically, any shade of blue would work just as well in combination with two variations of white. Still, the strength of the original has a unique appeal because it’s instantly recognizable. A robust, bold color makes for a much more exciting palette.

4. Robin’s Egg Blue, Olive Green, and Ivory

A robin’s egg blue, olive green, and ivory palette draws on the color’s environmental associations. It subconsciously ties a design to the sky, forest, and clouds, invoking a sense of natural tranquility. Shade variations work just as well as long as they balance each other. A lighter one may feel more open and positive, while a darker one suggests feelings of solitude and peace.

This palette is ideal for a design with organic elements or a connection to nature because it takes heavy influence from naturally occurring spectacles. For example, a brand marketing ethical, pesticide-free produce could use these colors to draw an unconscious association.

5. Sky Blue, Peach Orange, and Pale Yellow

Sky blue, peach orange, and pale yellow make a mellow palette. It works well because the colors are all soft and light, enhancing feelings of calmness and happiness. Also, it connects with natural elements.

Since blue and orange are complementary, they’re instantly recognizable and draw attention. Even though these shades are much lighter than the usual pairing, they still pair nicely together. This palette is ideal for establishing an unconscious association with specific emotions.

6. Mulberry Blue, Tangerine, and Chartreuse

Mulberry blue, tangerine red, and chartreuse are triadic. A triadic color palette utilizes one primary and two supporting hues for balance. Like blue-purple, yellow-green, and red-orange, they must be evenly spaced on the color wheel. 

This palette’s cool, dark main color pairs well with the loudness of the two others, making it ideal for directing attention to critical points in a design. Also, the uniqueness of the shades makes it incredibly eye-catching.

7. Navy Blue, Light Blue, and Bright Yellow

A navy blue, light blue, and bright yellow palette can emphasize certain parts of a design if there is a balance between each color. Since it mainly utilizes cool shades, the single warm one stands out much more. The strategic placement of each one could quickly draw a viewer’s eyes.

The palette works well because yellow is nearly the direct opposite of blue as one of the brightest, boldest colors. Since the first two shades are similar, it creates an attractive cohesion between them.

8. Vivid Blue, Bubblegum Pink, and Yellow

A vivid blue, bubblegum pink, and lemon yellow palette is bright and exciting. Bright pink may not be the first thing that comes to mind when wondering what color goes well with blue, but it works surprisingly well. Each color is loud and unnatural, making drawing a viewer’s eyes easier. Lighter shades are best, considering darker ones feel more muted and may not have the same appeal.

Pops of bright colors work well to hold attention, so this palette is useful for businesses wanting lighthearted product marketing. In print, the strategic placement of each would direct the viewer’s eye to key spots in the design. Since it’s a modern twist on a classic color, it may be useful for engaging a younger audience. 

9. Seafoam Blue, Plum Purple, and Old Mauve

Seafoam blue, plum purple, and old mauve combine to form a cool palette. They look similar but stand out because they’re all mixtures of different colors. Various shades would work well because they blend easily.

The more sophisticated purples balance the fun, casual blue to create a sense of relaxation or stability for the viewer. Since this palette is analogous, it enhances the unique aesthetic cohesion between the colors. It’s appealing to look at, so it is ideal for many different designs.

10. Navy Blue, Eggplant Purple, and Lavender

Navy blue, eggplant purple, and lavender make an aesthetically pleasing chromatic palette. It draws only on cool colors, relying on saturation variations to lead the viewers’ eyes somewhere. Also, it utilizes specific color associations, significantly enhancing the meaning of the design.

While these colors all connect to nature in some way, they will likely shift the viewer’s subconscious perception toward specific emotions rather than the environment. They’re cool and reserved, invoking a sense of calmness, serenity, or relaxation.

11. Royal Blue, Bright Orange, and Marigold Yellow

A royal blue, bright orange, and marigold yellow palette combines many bold colors. A cool temperature accent draws attention, so a design with small amounts of blue in strategic spots would catch the viewer’s eye.

These colors are very bright, so they work best against a neutral background. While they could stand alone, viewing them in a large design may be overwhelming. Strategic placement is ideal for creating emphasis.

12. Spruce Blue, Maple Brown, and Cream

Spruce blue, maple, and cream form a sophisticated palette. Every color is soft and natural, subconsciously reminding the viewer of the stability of nature. The neutral off-white and brown pair well with this shade of blue because they emphasize its saturation without making it feel overwhelming.

The palette is very subtle and relaxed, so it’s ideal for a professional design. Companies often use blue to invoke reliability and security, so it would work best for things relating to health, safety, or finance. 

13. Dark Forest Blue, Salmon, and Pale Turquoise

The combination of dark forest blue, salmon, and pale turquoise gives off a playful aura. The bright, loud colors offset the moodiness of the darker base, making it feel enchanting.

This palette is ideal for a background. With the darker shade as the base, small additions of the lighter colors stand out. While they may be overwhelming on their own — or even on a white base — dark forest blue mellows them somewhat. 

14. Dark Aqua, Hot Pink, and Mustard Yellow

Dark aqua, hot pink, and mustard yellow are an extremely aesthetically pleasing pairing. Anyone wondering what color goes well with blue-green has their answer. 

While each color is bold and intense, their varying shades make them easy to look at for extended periods. Hot pink is the brightest in this palette, so it would be ideal for directing viewers’ eyes.

15. Passionfruit Blue, Chartreuse Yellow, and Stormy Blue

A passionfruit blue, chartreuse yellow, and dark sky blue palette can easily emphasize print or digital work. The electric chartreuse yellow is like a neon bolt of lightning in an overcast night sky.

This palette is perfect for drawing attention and standing out. It’s an unusual combination, which makes it all the more interesting to look at. The bold contrasts invoke feelings of urgency, excitement, and amusement in the viewer.

16. Pale Royal Blue, Steel Gray, and Light Tan

Together, pale royal blue, dark grey, and light tan inspire feelings of serenity and stability. Since brown and gray work with almost every palette — and blue goes will with nearly any color — it’s an ideal pairing.

The professional, solemn tone of this palette would work well for financial, security, or cybersecurity businesses. These kinds of industries need consumers to associate them with trust and safety, so a pairing like this is ideal.

17. Blue Sage, Periwinkle, and Pure White

Blue sage, periwinkle, and pure white have strong ties to nature, cleanliness, and peace. They’re all bright colors, so they inspire positive, simple emotions in the viewer. 

This palette is ideal for those who want nature or safety-centered creations. The shades are very mild, making viewers subconsciously associate the designs with peaceful, grounding emotions.

18. Powder Blue, Blush Pink, and Rasberry Pink

Powder blue, blush pink, and raspberry pink are light colors. They evoke feelings of happiness and calmness. When they’re together in a palette, a viewer would subconsciously associate all of their positive feelings with the design and brand.

The lively, fun nature of this palette inspires emotions like joy and playfulness. Any family or youth-centric business would do well to use it. It’s an especially great choice for those catering to younger audiences because it has a slightly modern feel.

19. Aloe Blue, Navy Blue, and Dark Chartreuse

Aloe blue, navy blue, and dark chartreuse yellow have strong ties to green. Because of this, they work well together. They’re also all mild and moody, so they inspire similar subconscious connections in the viewer.

The strong emotional connection this palette creates is useful for highly professional or modern businesses. It isn’t immediately eye-catching and is very mellow, so they can use it throughout a design without it being overwhelming.

20. Lagoon Blue, Alabaster, and Blackberry Blue

The lagoon blue, alabaster, and blackberry blue pairing mainly consist of blue shades with a neutral base, creating a monochromatic-adjacent palette. It’s useful for any aesthetic design.

This isn’t a particularly eye-catching palette, but it’s extremely aesthetically pleasing. Instead of using it to direct attention, businesses can use it to invoke emotions and enhance a design’s cohesive qualities.

21. Pale Sky, Sunrise Yellow, and Rust Red

Pale sky blue, sunrise yellow, and rust red are reminiscent of a dawning day. This palette works well because the colors each have ties to nature, enhancing their connection to each other. 

This combination invokes a natural tranquility, so it’s best used in designs meant to convey peace, understanding, or serenity. For example, a plastic surgery business could use it in marketing material to put prospective patients’ minds at ease.

22. Deep Navy Blue, Pale Apricot, and Dark Mustard Brown

A dark navy blue, pale apricot, and dark mustard brown palette balances deep shades with lighter ones. This connection makes a design feel more grounded and stable. The earthy tones of each color would add a professional feel to a design.

The combination feels entirely classic at first, but pale apricot gives it a noticeable modern twist. Dark navy and orange are complementary colors, so they mesh incredibly well together. The addition of a neutral shade tinged with yellow brings each color together.

23. Blueberry, Dusty Lavender, and Wine Purple

Blueberry, dusty lavender, and wine purple make for an interesting color palette. While every shade is cool, there are also warm influences throughout. While each has a clear connection, the blueberry shade stands out. It would be a good attention-catching color.

The appealing aesthetic of this combination is ideal for marketing and sales. After all, around 93% of consumers decide to buy something based on its color alone. The pleasing visuals will surely influence their buying behaviors.

Blue Goes With Everything

What color goes well with blue? It works with warm, cool, and neutral colors, making it one of the most versatile shades. Still, its meaning and emotional connection change depending on its saturation and tint. It’s necessary to strategically pick its pairings to create a functional design.

The post What Color Goes Well With Blue? 23 Powerful Pairings appeared first on Designerly.

Have you ever walked down a busy street, and something catches your eye? It may have been a familiar image or logo, and you knew which company it represents exactly. 

It can be incredible how a simple design can speak volumes. That’s the power of a logo — it’s much more than something pretty to look at.

Your brand’s image is the face people see when they encounter your business. Top performing corporations spend thousands on a new logo. It’s such a crucial part of awareness that organizations are reluctant to change it. How can you create a logo when you’re on a shoestring budget and still get noticed?

In the northeastern United States, there are 74,326 small businesses all vying for competition. Multiply that by the other areas of America as well as the global small business landscape. When you realize just how much noise there is in offline and online advertising, the need for a consistent brand image increases. 

So, how can you create a logo from scratch without spending a fortune? How can you ensure the image competes with bigger players in your industry? Follow these tips.

1. Know the Basics of Logo Design

A good logo should make a positive first impression on customers. When creating a logo, you should ensure it incorporates several crucial elements:

• Simple
• Memorable
• Adaptable
• Timeless

When creating a new design, it can be easy to think it needs to be complex. However, the best logos ensure they’re easily recognizable by including only a few elements. Yet, a simple logo can have unique features so that it sticks into people’s minds. 

Think of Nike’s emblem. The iconic swoosh represents the wing of the Greek goddess of victory. While the sportswear company maintains simplicity in its logo’s design, it still has a unique aspect that people have recognized and remembered over the years.

Additionally, your design should be adaptable so it can be of use in different contexts. For instance, the image should be able to fit on a business card or billboard without losing its impact. 

Lastly, a good logo design should be timeless. This means that it should remain effective and relevant even as trends change. Using a logo with funky typography could become outdated in the near future. 

2. Study the Competition

As with almost anything you do, knowing your niche helps you see how you can stand out from the crowd. What type of logos do other brands in your industry use? Are they word marks? Perhaps they are images. 

If you run a preschool, the colors and shapes are going to take center stage. On the other hand, a marketing firm may rely more on an established name and pull that into their logo.

Make a list of the things you like and dislike about other logos. When you create a logo, you’ll want to make sure it is unique from all the others out there, so take the time and do the research.

3. Choose a Logo Type

There are several types of logos, each with its own strengths:

• Wordmarks or logotypes: Made entirely of text and are great for brand name recognition.
• Pictorial marks: These are symbolic, graphic icons that represent a real-world object. These logos work well once you have a well-established brand. 
• Abstract: Uses geometric forms to represent your business and evoke the right message and emotion. These are ideal for conveying what your brand does at a glance. 
• Combination marks: Blends text and image, making them suitable for various contexts. 
• Emblems: Encases the brand name within the design, perfect for creating a classic, sturdy image. 

The right type depends on your brand, goals and identity, so choose wisely. 

4. Select the Right Color

There is an entire psychology to colors. People feel excitement when they see the color red. Both men and women like the color blue. The hues you choose can help define your brand. Many restaurants and food products use red because some studies show it elicits hunger.

Color makes an impression on people. Around 75% of purchase decisions are based on the shades in a product’s packaging. 

Select your color based on your brand’s color palette but also what will pop against other items of a similar nature. For example, if you sell widgets and all the other companies have yellow and blue packaging, add a pop or red or neon pink to grab attention. 

Your logo needs to look good against different background colors and at different sizes. Think through the color combinations and what grabs attention. A red background with yellow text may be challenging to red from a distance. Make the red slightly darker and use white text, and it suddenly pops. 

5. Tell Your Story

The most memorable brands tell a story. Think about why you started your company and the message you want to send. One example of a logo that defines a brand is FedEx. The letters almost seem to move in the logo, which makes sense since they say they can get a package anywhere fast.

You’ve likely noticed a lot of realtor logos feature keys or houses. What if yours was different from all the rest but still defined warmth and family?

Brainstorm until you come up with the perfect combination of images and words. Finally, cross-check everything to ensure you aren’t repeating what another brand has already done. 

6. Create a Logo

Once you have a few ideas in place, it’s time to take your thoughts to some simple graphic design sites and see what you can come up with. Here are a few you can use that allow you to create a logo for free.

• Canva: Their free version allows you to play around with editing a logo. You’ll even have a few templates from which to choose. Of course, the Pro version gives you access to all their elements, images and more features, but you can certainly start with the no-cost version. 
• GIMP: If you’re familiar with Photoshop but don’t want to pay the monthly costs of Adobe Suite, you can grab GIMP for free. The open source software has a lot to offer and plenty of online tutorials on how to use it. 
• Vistaprint: Sometimes overlooked as a logo generator, Vistaprint helps you come up with a simple, professional look for your brand. You will need to navigate to their logo generator page, and they’ll want you to buy items from them, but their costs are fairly low. 
• Logo.com: Here is another free logo generator. You’ll gain the advantage of a huge library of images but might find the results a bit cookie cutter. If you’re looking for a unique logo, you’ll have to do some extra work to get there with this site, but it’s a great place to start for your logo ideas.

There are hundreds of logo generators online. Find the one that is easy for you to use. If you’re struggling to use even the easier ones, it might be time to hire a graphic designer to do the work for you. There are plenty of reasonably priced freelancers available. 

7. Where to Find Images

Should you choose to add images to your logo, finding the right ones can seem daunting. How detailed do you want to go? Will it translate well everywhere you use the logo? Can you perhaps add detail in some places, such as digital ads but use an outline elsewhere such as on a business card? Will your logo still be recognizable?

Once you choose the type of image and what it will be, start your hunt for a logo you can use commercially. Sites such as Pixabay offer a repository of images. Make sure you always click on the licensing options and either purchase the image for commercial use or ensure it is able to be used freely and without attribution.

Sites such as Canva and Logo.com come with images you can use and change at will. You may even find using an artificial intelligence art generator such as Dall-E might be worth your while, especially in the initial stages of creating a logo. 

8. Choose the Best Font

The text on your logo must be readable. If you use a fancy script, it could be lost as the logo is sized down. Try to stick with fonts that are easy to read at all sizes and device types. You can choose from:

• Serif
• Sans serif
• Script
• Decorative

We recommend avoiding highly flowy fonts with a lot of embellishments for your logo. Save those for poster headings or larger ads. You’ll find there are thousands of fonts from which to choose even when you stick to something basic. 

With any design tool you choose, it will come with some preloaded fonts. You can search for other free fonts and upload them to customize your look a bit more. 

9. Save Your Logo

Once you’ve created your logo, you need to save it. You should save it in multiple formats for different uses. For example, for social media, you probably only need a basic JPG. On a website, you might want a logo with a transparent background so it allows the website layers to shine through. You would need a PNG with transparency to achieve the look. 

Save your logo in different resolutions. You can get by with fewer pixels for digital and need a higher resolution for print materials. 

Create a Logo From Scratch in One Day

It shouldn’t take weeks to come up with a logo. You can brainstorm and create one in a day and get your business up and running. Create a logo that defines your brand. Remember that it should have the power to connect with people and share an unforgettable story.

The faster you get your image out into the world, the more quickly you’ll begin attracting your target audience. Find the look that tells your business’ story and then share it everywhere you can think of. 

The post How Can I Create a Logo From Scratch? appeared first on Designerly.

In today’s competitive job market, your resume should highlight the best parts of your professional achievements and career goals. Of course, it also demands presenting a resume format recruiters and hiring software can easily read.

Structuring your resume accurately could be the very thing standing between you and your dream job. This guide will break down the ins and outs of an ideal resume format, list the most critical elements to include, and deliver helpful resume writing tips. 

Understanding Your Dream Career

Before writing your resume, you must clearly understand your dream career. Researching the industry and position and the qualifications, experience, and education required is the foundation of an effective resume format. 

Compare your background and skill sets to your dream career and write down what you already know, what you are learning, and where the knowledge gaps are.

Identifying industry trends — such as new technologies expected to advance in your field — is especially important. You’ll want to stay adept in these technologies to ensure competitiveness among other candidates.

Elements of an Effective Resume

An effective resume gets you the job. As such, you’ll want to select a readable format with all the vital elements. A solid resume takes time and planning to get it just right. The following components will help you succeed:

Resume Format

The three most common resume formats are chronological, functional, and combination. Each is suitable for different job candidates — the trick is knowing which one you should use. 

Chronological

Most job seekers should format their resume in reverse chronological order. This resume format comprises a list of professional achievements and work history, starting with the most recent job.

Hiring managers prefer this format because it’s easy to skim. It is also compatible with Applicant Tracking Systems — also known as ATS — ensuring software can scan it efficiently. 

Functional

Unlike the reverse chronological resume format, a functional resume lists your skills first and gives supporting information about how you applied them to previous work.

Only use a functional resume if you are a recent college graduate with little work experience, are changing careers, or have unemployment gaps. Some recruiters may question why you lack work experience or suspect red flags, such as dishonesty or a previous termination.

Combination

A combination resume draws from chronological and functional formats, emphasizing skills and professional experience. Junior and mid-level candidates with 1–3 years of experience can use this hybrid resume to highlight industry skills acquired since graduation.

Although your skills section still comes before your work experience — similarly to the functional resume — your professional experience should heavily support and elaborate on the soft and technical skills mentioned.

Structuring the Resume

You’ll want to include six key elements when structuring your resume. Leaving them out could land your resume in the “discard” pile. Of course, their placement on the document depends on the resume format you choose.

Contact Details

Regardless of resume format, your contact information should appear at the top of the page. It’s best to bold and enlarge your name for easier identification. Most candidates include their phone number and email address and link to their LinkedIn profile or portfolio and location.

Your city and state should suffice — many people forgo listing their home addresses for privacy reasons. Likewise, ensure your email address is appropriate — you wouldn’t want to use the same silly email address you did in high school.

Professional Summary 

Your professional summary should appear under your name and contact details, delivering an overview of your candidacy. Highlight the most significant accomplishments and expertise relevant to the career and industry. 

Skills and Qualifications

Your resume should include 9–12 soft and technical skills to underscore your abilities. Listing software and programs is essential, especially if relevant to your dream career. However, don’t forget to include soft skills. About 93% of employees say soft skills are crucial, including reliability, flexibility, and a willingness to learn.

Work History

Once you’ve decided on your resume format, list your previous roles, starting with your current position. Include a few bullet points under each, describing your responsibilities and achievements. Quantifiable triumphs are also crucial to showcase your abilities.

Education

Position your education near the end of your resume, including the institution’s name, degree title, major, and years attended. You may choose to leave your graduation date off, depending on age. Likewise, only include your grade point average if you graduated within three years and received a 3.5 or higher.

Miscellaneous Sections

Other sections to include in your resume are certifications, licenses, awards and honors, publications, volunteer work, and projects. However, anything you include should be relevant to the job.

Tailoring Your Resume for a Job

ATS programs use advanced algorithms to screen for keywords in your resume — this helps recruiters sift through qualified candidates for specific positions. Tailor your resume for each position in the following ways:

• Customize your resume to match keywords, skills, qualifications, and programs directly from the job description.
• Research the company to understand its mission, values, and goals.
• Spend more time on the top half of your resume.
• Adjust your target title to the position.
• Customize the professional summary to match the job description.
• Select relevant miscellaneous sections based on the job description or company.

Tailoring your resume may seem tedious, but it is essential if you want your resume to get past ATS and into a recruiter’s hands.

Bringing Creativity to Your Resume

When it comes to a resume format, creativity is more about making practicality aesthetically appealing than going out of the box. Even so, you can still tweak your resume in ways other applicants may not. Try these effective tips for getting noticed through strategic creativity.

Include Icons

Icons impress employers because they’re subtle yet impactful. Recruiters often skim through resumes to get the answers they need, making this approach more effective. For instance, they’d instantly realize the connection between a small envelope icon and an email address. 

Besides keeping their eyes moving across the entire resume, this tactic draws their attention to crucial points. This is critical because they usually spend so little time on every candidate.

Order Experience Creatively

While it seems like a creative resume format would impress employers, they often prefer legible content over flashy designs. It only takes a few seconds to make an impression, so proper formatting is essential.

Generally, applicants should format their resume so it’s two pages or less. Additionally, they should try to use reverse-chronological order, giving employers the most relevant information quickly. 

Still, sticking to a traditional resume format doesn’t have to feel boring. On top of their skills, education, work history, and contact information, people can make additional sections. For example, they could include honors, awards, or industry knowledge. 

Choose the Right Typography

Even though most experts recommend leaving out graphics and images, it’s still possible to make a resume format creative. Focusing on typography is ideal since it capitalizes on readability and design appeal.

While most people stick with their computer’s default font, changing it can be beneficial. Graphic design recruiters often look for people who understand which fonts offer stylish readability.

Still, it’s essential to keep potential technological limits in mind. According to one survey, 99% of the largest companies in the United States use ATS to filter resumes. This software can usually only read classic fonts like Times New Roman or Arial.

However, many ATS tools are advancing so fast that this may soon become a limitation of the past. For instance, most modern ATS typically relies on artificial intelligence (AI) with natural language processing capabilities to read through and filter resumes.

Use Custom Bullet Points

Bullet points are essential to resumes because they make them much more skimmable. Additionally, they can help the AI in the ATS find relevant information, increasing the chances of humans reading the document.

Any symbol can be a bullet point as long it’s small, dark, and uniform. However, it’s important to properly format the list so ATS software can read it. 

In fact, around 94% of employers feel their ATS overlooks skilled candidates by removing them from the applicant pool if they aren’t an exact match for its preset standards

Each bullet should go under a clear, straightforward header like “skills” or “education” even though they’re not creative. The AI may have trouble categorizing bulleted lists that say something like “where I studied” or “what I achieved” instead. 

Use a Custom Logo

A custom logo will impress recruiters as long as it looks professional and high-quality. For example, the applicant can create a miniature graphic of themselves, stylize a basic icon, or create a logo from scratch. It should sit in the same place on the resume and cover letter to connect them. 

A recruiter is more likely to remember someone with a unique visual identifier they subconsciously attach to their name. Plus, it wouldn’t cause issues with ATS software.

Make Paragraphs Into Snippets

Even if a resume makes it past AI screening tools, a recruiter will spend around three minutes of their time on it at most. Also, they often develop an opinion on the applicant far sooner than that. Turning paragraphs into information snippets can appeal to them, raising the chances they’ll continue reading.

A streamlined resume format is much more visually appealing than one with long, clunky groups of text. It makes the document much easier to read, meaning recruiters can quickly determine what’s important. Plus, they should appreciate the thoughtfulness and organization.

Consider the pro tip that quantitative data draws attention. For example, applicants should write how they improved operations by a certain percentage rather than simply stating they did.

Include Social Media Handles

Once a recruiter looks through a resume, it only takes them one minute on average to decide whether to schedule an interview. Be creative enough to catch their attention, but stay within the traditional resume format to get past AI screening tools. Including social media handles may be the best approach. 

In fact, around 84% of employers recruit through social media, while 43% use it to screen candidates. Using custom icons or designing a graphic to accompany the handles would impress them. Plus, people who are more private can just connect their LinkedIn or any other professional platform.

Utilize Empty Space

The empty parts of an applicant’s resume are as important as the text-filled ones. Instead of writing everything in blocks next to each other, utilize white space to give the information a hierarchy. 

Each part of the document will appear more meaningful with its own space, and it can hold a recruiter’s attention for longer. They’ll also likely appreciate how the change is so subtle yet visually appealing.

There are dozens of ways to creatively use white space. For example, an applicant could separate every section with a thin horizontal line. Alternatively, they could keep the headers on the left side of the page and the information on the right. 

Have a Colorful Background

A recruiter will only spend up to seven seconds looking at a resume on average, so intriguing them is crucial. Blocks or stretches of color would make a document stand out in a pile of black and white. Plus, an ATS could still read dark text on a light background. 

Instead of making the entire background colorful, applicants should try adding a bright square behind the contact section or using a strip of color down the length of the document. It’s important to consider what will look best and have the most impact. 

Include a QR Code

Many people think putting a picture on their resume will make them stand out, especially with companies starting to diversify their workplaces. That’s reasonable logic, but putting any identifying images on a resume is not a good idea. 

On top of taking up valuable formatting space, it could unconsciously bias the recruiter before the applicant gets invited to interview. Someone who wants to showcase some of their personality should use a QR code instead.

It can highlight their creativity or skills before an interview. For example, they could link the code to their portfolio, a business card, or a custom graphic. Plus, QR codes are instantly recognizable, prompting recruiters to scan them.

Resume Writing Reminders

Writing your resume is tricky. Obviously, you want to include as much information about yourself as possible in a limited space. Consider the following tips for success:

• Include industry buzzwords for your position.
• Hone in on positive outcomes and achievements throughout your work history.
• Format your work history with bold and italicized text and bullet points.
• List the most relevant or essential information first.
• Ensure your professional summary makes an impact.
• Don’t just focus on yourself — find ways to bring value to the organization.
• Regularly update your soft and technical skills.
• Write solid and action-oriented statements.
• Avoid generalized words and cliches — 53% of employers discard resumes for including too many cliches. 

Most importantly, you must always proofread and edit your resume before submitting it to a company. Consider using an AI tool to help. One study found doing that caused an 8% boost in the likelihood of getting hired.

Additional Tips for the Perfect Resume Format

The ever-loved objective statement is obsolete in this new age of writing resumes and looking for work. Instead, your professional summary or branding statement should read like an elevator pitch to grab attention.

Submit a Word document version of your resume to an ATS system, as some cannot read PDFs. A PDF is preferable if you email a resume directly to a recruiter or employer.

A Smart Resume Format Gets You the Job

Your resume is one of the most critical components of job hunting. Submitting the correct resume format based on your background, aptitude, and career level will ultimately lead you to your dream career at a great company.

The post The Best Resume Format to Land Your Dream Job appeared first on Designerly.