Carrie Cousins

Business / 16 Dec 2022

17 Tips for Speeding Up Your Website in 2023

It’s not a trick question: is your website fast enough? Page load times can impact everything from how long users stay on your site (or if they see the content), to search rank and overall conversions.

Speed matters on two fronts – for desktop and mobile devices – with mobile speed mattering more than ever. Not only does your website have to load fast; it needs to load fast everywhere.

So how do you do it? Start by running a Google PageSpeed test to see where your site ranks (you’ll get a few suggestions for speeding up your site there as well). Then, start making these tweaks to make your website lightning fast this year.

Software / 15 Dec 2022

The 10 Best Photoshop Alternatives for Mac (2023)

You don’t have to use Adobe Photoshop on your Mac to edit images like a pro. There are plenty of Photoshop alternatives for Mac that you can download or use in-browser to create just the right images and graphics for your projects. And some of them are completely free!

None of these are necessarily one-size-fits-all solutions. Each tool tends to serve a specific purpose; Do you want to edit online or on a desktop? Are you editing photos or multiple file types? Is all the work for web or will images get printed?

Here’s a list of the best Photoshop alternatives for Mac in 2023, but not in any particular order. Have a read through to find the one that’s right for you.

Christmas Templates / 13 Dec 2022

The 2023 Christmas & Holiday Gift List for Designers

The countdown is on and retailers are telling shoppers to get their gift orders in early. So now is the time to get your holiday shopping taken care of.

We’ve collected a list of super cool gift ideas for designers, to help you be the perfect secret (or not-so-secret) Santa this holiday season. We all know that designers can be tough to shop for, so our gift list should be a life-saver!

Find something unique and different for the person close to you, with these wonderful gift ideas.

Inspiration / 12 Dec 2022

20+ New Year’s Resolutions for Designers in 2023

Happy New Year! Today, we’ve got a nifty guide to resolutions that are specifically for designers. What changes do you hope to make in 2023?

Did you know that people have been making resolutions to improve themselves and their lives since the time of ancient Babylonians? I’ll admit to making a few of these myself… now if I could only manage to keep them all year!

Good luck with your resolutions and have a wonderful New Year.

Trends / 5 Dec 2022

18+ Top Graphic Design Trends for 2023

What’s hot in graphic design? One of the things people always want to talk to me about is graphic design trends. Here’s a preview of what’s going to be hot in the coming year.

It’s such an interesting topic because there are trends that change slowly over time – just look at the long evolution of flat design to where we are now – and others that seem to flip overnight.

Should you always rush to use the latest graphic design trends in your work? Of course not. But it’s helpful to pick up new ideas, find inspiration, and see what types of techniques and styles are shaping our industry.

Trends / 5 Dec 2022

15+ Video Marketing Trends for 2023

Almost every marketing prediction, resource, or how-to guide includes the same advice: video needs to be part of your strategy. But what type of video marketing is most important right now?

From super-short (micro) video clips, to live video on social media, to full-production ads and stories, we’re going to look at some of the top video marketing trends for the year and how you can incorporate them into your design and marketing plans.

And here’s why it matters, U.S. adults spent 149 minutes per day watching digital video in 2021 and that number is only expected to rise.

Let’s dive in, and embrace video as the new marketing channel you need to get right!

How to Design a Logo / 30 Nov 2022

22+ Key Logo Design Trends of 2023

Need a new logo? Whether you’re starting from scratch or just planning a tweak to a current mark, understanding shifts in logo design trends can help you create a design with a modern touch.

The theme in logo design is to create something simple and distinctive. With so many new websites and brands and companies coming online almost every day, it’s no wonder that logos are trending toward designs that stand out.

Here’s a look at a few logo design trends, and how you can make them work for you (and while you’re at it, be sure to look through our full guide on how to design a logo!)

Trends / 28 Nov 2022

16+ Photography Trends in 2023

Photography trends can be a major influence on how print and digital designs come together. From filters to styles to photo angles that are trending, this part of the visual aesthetic can greatly impact how a project comes together.

Photography trends are dictated by a few things. The visual style of photographers, techniques that are gaining popularity in projects, the ability for images to work with other design elements, and even things such as social media filters.

The same photography trends that you might see in stock images (which we use as examples here) have parallels with custom photos as well. Understanding photography trends is important for any designer because you’ll want to discuss photo options (and looks) before you begin a photo shoot for any design project to ensure that your visions are on the same page.

PowerPoint Templates / 21 Nov 2022

12+ Presentation Design Trends for 2023: Create PowerPoint PPTs With Impact

Looking to knock your next presentation out of the park? Start with one of these design trends that will help you create a PowerPoint presentation with a lot of impact.

Here are some trending examples of current trends and techniques for delivering a modern presentation. From big, bold colors, to photo stories and big backgrounds. There’s no excuse for picking a standard design and delivering a stale, tired presentation anymore. Your audience expects more!

The best thing? If you like any of the examples here, you can download each one from Envato Elements!

Christmas Templates / 17 Nov 2022

12+ Creative Ideas for Your 2023 Christmas Photography

Before you know it, you’ll be sending (and receiving) holiday cards and greetings. For many families – and designers – the perfect holiday image can make your card special.

So how do you level up photos to have just the right Christmas feel?

It’s all about photography. Here, we’ve got a variety of ideas to help you frame holiday photos to fit the season perfectly.

With a mix of styles, techniques, and backdrops, we’re approaching it from all angles!

Trends / 16 Nov 2022

18+ Web Design Trends to Watch in 2023

The average life of a website is three years. And design elements – such as color and typography – often get updated more frequently than that. That’s why it is so important to keep up with web design trends.

Doing this allows you to make small tweaks to your design today so that it won’t be out of date tomorrow.

This guide will help you create an on-point design plan all year long, incorporating some of the best trends for 2023.

Reviews / 15 Nov 2022

CF Spark: A Powerful Text to Image AI Design Tool

Sometimes your design idea needs a little extra push to bring it to life. A new tool from Creative Fabrica allows you to create designs from text to image, backed by artificial intelligence.

You can design and post images for yourself or even use the tool to create design elements that you can use and monetize in projects or marketplaces. You simply enter a text-based search query, which generates four images using powerful AI technology.

Here’s a look at the tool, how it works, and how you can use it.