Simplifying Your Designs for the Smartest User
You probably know that putting too much food on your plate is usually a bad idea. Since research indicates that you’re more likely to overeat if you fill your plate,…
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Addison Duvall (72 Articles)
Addison Duvall is the author of Food Identities, a blog that explores the crossroads of food, design, art, and culture. She’s written some things, designed other things, and eaten a whole lot of food.
Developing a Sense of Mythology Around Your Designs
There’s a legend among the cheese connoisseurs of New York City. In most of the US, it’s illegal to sell raw (non-pasteurized) dairy products. The reasons why are complicated, but…
Is It Time to Quit That Failing Creative Idea?
We’ve all made excuses for why we haven’t gotten started on something we really want to do. We’re too busy, or we haven’t prepared enough to get started. The truth…
Educating Clients About the True Value of Your Services as a Designer
Okay, freelance designers. Stop me if you’ve heard this one: you’re working on a project for a client, and all of a sudden there’s a discrepancy with your payment. Perhaps…
Including Your Personal Passions in Your Design Work
Anyone here have a bunch of strange, unusual, or, shall we say, “quirky” hobbies? Perhaps you like to collect bottle caps from around the world and photograph them as found…
Good Font, Bad Font: 5 Simple Ways to Tell the Gems From the Junk
Type can be confusing for designers today, who have access to thousands upon thousands of different fonts, many of which are free to download and use. This results in an…
The Importance of Storytelling in Design
Several years ago, I worked as an in-house copywriter and designer for a prominent marketing firm. When I first applied for the job I didn’t have any of the credentials…
How to Handle Indescribable Uniqueness in Design
Quick, how many flavors are there in food? We’ve all probably heard that there are four: sweet, salty, sour, and bitter. But what would you say if I told you…
Taking the Occam Razor Approach to Design
Did you know that designers can use a tool that mathematicians, philosophers, and other academics have known about for hundreds of years? It’s called Occam’s Razor, and it’s a law…
How To Avoid Design By Committee
Here’s a scenario for you: a woman has three young children, each armed with a handful of crayons. They’re happily drawing on a large sheet of paper, cooperating and sharing…
The Role Design Plays in Your Client’s Sales Funnel
Your designs aren’t technically meant to sell anything. In fact, it’s actually almost impossible for them to do so if the viewer has never seen them before. In this article…
The Deadly Communication Sins Freelance Designers Commit
Alright, freelancers – it’s time to confess! How many of you are guilty of not communicating regularly enough with your clients? Maybe you’re running behind on your deadline, and you’re…