7 tips for creating an inclusive website experience
Accessibility is rising in importance when it comes to designing for digital experiences. Did you know a business can be sued if their website doesn’t meet accessibility standards?
If you’re new to design, you might think you can design and create a website in any you can imagine it to be. While that’s technically true, there are important factors to consider like the user experience, and most importantly, are you designing with accessibility in mind?
But what exactly does designing for accessibility mean? In this article, we’ll dive into what web accessibility is, some useful tools to help you check…
20+ wireframe examples from sketch to high-fidelity
Wireframes are the skeleton of a website, they show the content structure and flow. There are different levels of wireframes, from quick sketches to low and high-fidelity. But they all share a common goal to align on content and structure before finalizing the design.
When you design your first website or even a single landing page, it’s tempting to jump right into your design program and start designing. Why take the time to create a wireframe? You’ll figure it out as you go. But this is actually a huge mistake.
Taking the time to wireframe your website will save you…
Improve your type skills with these tips
Typography is a key part of communication in design. Understanding the fundamentals of type and how to choose the best font pairings can improve your designs dramatically. After reading this guide, you’ll know more about typography, and choosing fonts will be a breeze.
Is it a font or a typeface?
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room first. Font vs typeface, what’s the difference? Which is correct? The terms typeface and font are sometimes used interchangeably which can make it a little confusing.
A typeface is a collection of fonts while a font refers to a specific style or weight within a typeface family.
Let’s put…
The 5 types of grids and how best to use them
You open your design program of choice and there it is staring back at you, a blank canvas. It can be a little intimidating. Where do you start? Where do you put the headline? A grid is just what you need to get started.
What is a grid?
Grids are the skeleton of design, they create alignment, help you create order, and organize the content of your design. …
Use these tips to make a killer portfolio site
As a designer, your portfolio website is key to helping you get your next job or client. It’s how you show off your skills as a designer. Without one, no one can find you.
In this article, I’ll share examples of some good portfolio websites and why they work. You’ll also learn what you must include in your portfolio and tips to help make yours better.
What works for the portfolio site
The Papestielliz
This is such a fun example of a portfolio website by The Papestielliz. …
Here are your options if you want to be a web designer
You want to be a web designer but you’re wondering, do I need an online degree? Is a college degree still necessary today?
I’ll share the pros and cons of a traditional degree in web design as well as alternatives to help you choose the best option for you to become a web designer.
There’s no right or wrong answer but by the end of this article, you’ll know what makes the most sense for you.
Decide if web design is right for you
First, let’s go over a few basics on what a web designer is and what their role and responsibilities are to make sure it…
Tips for using color to make better design decisions
Color theory is the art and science of creating harmonious color combinations. But every color has its own meaning and emotions attached to it. In this article, we’ll dive into the psychology and meaning of color.
Knowing what color combinations to use in design is an art. Should you stick to a monochromatic color palette? Or maybe 2–3 complementary colors paired with an accent color? There are so many ways to use color to communicate, to make your design stand out, and to convey a certain mood and emotion.
What is color theory?
Color theory is a set of principles for creating harmonious color…
Follow these tips on what to avoid and what you must include to make a great first impression
You hear it all the time, if you want to get hired as a designer you need to have an amazing portfolio website.
But what you may not hear as often is how important the resume or CV is. If you want to be hired by a company as a full-time designer, contract designer, or freelance designer, you need to have a resume that shares your skills and experience as a designer.
Believe it or not, most companies won’t even look at your portfolio until they’ve skimmed your resume first and pushed you through the next round of interviews. …
Tips for pricing your design work
How much should you charge if you’re starting out as a freelancer? How do you know if you’re charging too low or too high? When should you increase your prices? In this article, we’ll dive into these questions and more on graphic design hourly rates.
Why charge an hourly rate?
If you are just getting started as a graphic designer, the easiest way to get paid is to bill at an hourly rate. At this stage, you are still learning how long it takes you to complete a design project. …
Don’t make these mistakes
Hierarchy is a key element in design, creating a good user experience, and achieving the business goals of a website or app. It’s also one of the biggest mistakes new designers make. When there is no clear hierarchy on a website or an app, you risk frustrating the user and losing them as a potential customer. Let’s dive into what visual hierarchy is, tips for how to achieve it, and how you can use it to improve your websites and app designs.
What is visual hierarchy in design?
There are many definitions of hierarchy. Most refer to a system of organized rankings, it’s an order or…
Monica Galvan
Designer + photographer living in San Francisco. I also make videos about design: https://bit.ly/MonicaOnYouTube
