Published in Upskilling·Sep 6Member-onlyGetting Started: Don’t “Over-Font” Your Designs!The way a typical human mind processes looking at a typeface is that it takes in the “biggest” or “most noticeable” features first. After that, our attention goes to the smaller details. This means that if you want your audience to actually read the text on your design, you need…Type3 min readType3 min read
Published in Upskilling·Sep 6Member-onlyGetting Started: Don’t forget about negative space if you want to communicate quickly.The truth is that our minds search for meaning in everything we see, even blank space. Knowing this can e a big bonus for a visual designer because you can intentionally use “negative space” to send a message. Negative space is the area around and between the subjects of an…Negative Space4 min readNegative Space4 min read
Published in Upskilling·Sep 5Member-onlyGetting Started: Design can be broken down into a few basic elements.Color, Typography, and Placement — If you’re a student or just a non-creative trying to put together a visual design and wondering how to get started, try breaking down the process, focusing on color typography, and placement. The Color Palette Start by considering what colors you want to use. A good place to start is by looking at…Colors3 min readColors3 min read
Published in Upskilling·Aug 15Member-onlyThe value of perception in brand recognition.The easiest way to explain the value of perception is to look at art. A painting that is worth millions in the mind of one person might also be worth much less to someone else. An example of this is the famous painting “The Scream” by Edvard Munch. …Branding5 min readBranding5 min read
Published in Upskilling·Aug 14Member-onlyVisual Communication & Design GoalsListen to the client! What do they want, and how will that inform your design choices? — The criteria for evaluating the success or failure of design outcomes is nested within design goals. A design goal can be usability, engagement, cost, positioning, performance, sustainability, brand image, etc. When a visual communicator works on a project, their design goals will be informed by the client’s needs and wants…Visual Design3 min readVisual Design3 min read
Published in Upskilling·Jul 31Member-onlySmall Business Data Analysis: How data leads you to believe brand problems you identified exist.Module 6 Concept — Imagine you own and operate a small private daycare center. Recently, you’ve noticed that your enrollment has been declining, and you’re not quite sure why. You’ve asked around and done some research, but you can’t seem to pinpoint the exact reason for the decline. However, you have collected data on…Data3 min readData3 min read
Published in Upskilling·Jul 27Member-onlyBasic data comprehension is an essential skill today and a critical skill for tomorrow.Data literacy is the ability to collect, understand, critique, analyze, and communicate various types of information, primarily numbers and often complex. Let’s look across the design field at all of the jobs were being able to comprehend and communicate data matters. Designers are often data-driven, meaning they use data to…Data5 min readData5 min read
Published in Upskilling·Jul 26Member-onlyUnderstanding your authority type helps you become a better leader.Which do you hold? Charismatic Authority, Formal Authority, or Traditional Authority. — Imagine that you are a new manager at a company. One of your first tasks is to lead a team meeting. You’re nervous, but you’re also excited to get started and show your team what you’re made of. You start the meeting by asking everyone to introduce themselves. As you…Leadership5 min readLeadership5 min read
Published in Upskilling·Jul 25Member-onlyPeople commonly substitute complex ideas for simple ones to communicate and solve problems.Analogical Reasoning — Have you ever metaphorically ‘drawn a line in the sand’ or ‘leveled the playing field?’ These are examples of analogies we use in our thoughts and in communicating with others to make sense of a complex idea and bring persuasion and reasoning to decisions. Analogical thinking is a type of…Thinking5 min readThinking5 min read
Published in Upskilling·Jul 23Member-only20 Ways to Stop Lying to Yourself — Just because you can’t reach a goal doesn’t mean the goal’s value is diminished.Sour Grapes — It’s called sour grapes, a term created from a story about a fox who wanted to eat some grapes but couldn’t reach them. The fox decided that the grapes must not have been that great after all, since he couldn’t have them. Even in the 6th century BC, the human…Bias5 min readBias5 min read
