Imagining a world without graphic design.
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Imagining a world without graphic design is daunting. It’s hard to imagine a landscape stripped of logos, advertisements, and even our smartphones’ interface layout. It’s a world where communication is limited to mere words, and aesthetics are non-existent.
The Silent Language of Design
In a world without graphic design, a powerful means of communication is lost. Think about the countless signs and symbols that guide us through our daily lives: road signs, public transportation schedules, and even the labels on food products. Graphic design transforms these functional elements into an intuitive visual language that transcends linguistic barriers. A world without it would leave us disoriented, struggling to navigate and make sense of our surroundings.
The Art of Expression
Consider the absence of album covers that convey the mood of the music, movie posters that evoke anticipation, and book covers that hint at the worlds within. Graphic design is an art form that allows creators to express ideas, emotions, and narratives visually. Without this artistic outlet, the world would lose a vibrant storytelling and cultural expression medium.
Business and Identity Loss
Businesses thrive on recognition, and graphic design is the cornerstone of their identity. Imagine walking into a store and being unable to distinguish one brand from another due to the absence of logos, packaging design, and consistent visual elements. In a world without graphic design, businesses would struggle to establish a unique presence, leading to confusion and diminished customer loyalty.
Information Overload
Our digital world thrives on visual content. Imagine scrolling through a social media feed without captivating images or striking graphics – the monotony would be overwhelming. Graphic design plays a pivotal role in grabbing our attention amidst the deluge of information. Without it, our online experiences would be dull and uninspiring, making it challenging to connect with others and stay engaged.
Innovation and Progress
Think of the technology we interact with daily: smartphones, computers, and websites. These interfaces are carefully designed to be user-friendly, efficient, and visually pleasing. Graphic design guides our interactions, making technology accessible and enjoyable. This design expertise is necessary for innovation and technological progress to be stifled, limiting the potential for human advancement.
Aesthetic Void
Above all, a world without graphic design would be aesthetically barren. The beauty of a well-composed photograph, the intrigue of a thoughtfully designed poster, and the elegance of a sleek website layout – all of these moments of visual delight would cease to exist. Graphic design adds colour, vibrancy, and richness to our lives, elevating even the most mundane experiences.
Conclusion: The Unseen Foundation
Graphic design is the invisible thread that weaves through our world, enriching our experiences, guiding our choices, and shaping our perceptions. While often taken for granted, its absence unveils its crucial role in our daily lives. Imagining a world without graphic design underscores its immense impact on communication, culture, business, and our collective visual journey. It’s a reminder of the silent yet profound influence that design exerts, making us appreciate its presence all the more.
As we ponder this imaginary world, we realise that graphic design is more than just aesthetics – it’s a universal language that speaks to the essence of human connection, expression, and progress. It’s the artistry that turns the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Lift up your business with motion graphics.
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Firstly, what is motion graphics?
Basically, it’s a creative way to get information across to its viewer by manipulating graphics and typography within an animation. You would have seen hundreds of these daily without even knowing. Motion graphics will be seen in a massive range of formats, such as in film trailers, animated logos, TV adverts, transitions in apps, website interactions, video games, tutorial videos, video introductions, presentations, lyric videos, and so on… They are everywhere. Why? Because they work!
Use motion graphics to enhance your brand’s recognition.
You know when some things are just hard to explain in an email, so a phone call is your answer? Motion graphics is the phone call! Using motion graphics is your best bet if you need to break down hard-to-get-across information into a lovely little video. This makes it easier for your viewers to understand whatever you need to say and encourage your audience to interact more with your adverts and content, keeping you memorable. Especially where advertising is constantly evolving, you don’t want to be the ones who are behind on what’s new!
Apply motion graphics to your business.
Motion graphics can be so dynamic and fun which are essential to catching the audience’s attention from the get-go. But how can you apply this to your business? Depending which products or services you provide, you can incorporate motion graphics in so many ways. As important as it is to stay on top of your social media, take it that one step further by giving your business that competitive edge with motion graphics. Firstly, an ideal way to initiate your use in motion graphics, is to bring your logo to life, making it captivating, whether it be in your emails or just the start of your web page.
Social media platforms are where it’s at for anything animated, from Instagram stories to TikTok. When you’re scrolling through your phone day-to-day, you often scroll past anything static, until that one visual just pops out at you. With most advertising being motionless, animated ones are instantly going to grab their attention, which boosts audience engagement, and makes your content more shareable. Got any client testimonials you’d like to show off to the world? Are you introducing a new product? Is there an important presentation coming up? Animate them, make them memorable, and watch your results soar!
Top tips on making your content pop with motion graphics.
If you want your audience to really engage with your content, the animation needs to really be appealing to watch. To achieve this result:
- Show diversity by using motion graphics within various platforms.
- Keep motion within your animation as smooth as possible, this makes the viewer captivated, as the motion is calming and easier to follow.
- A great way to use motion graphics is to have the elements of the video, i.e. words or images appear or move along with music. The alignment of these two assets will enhance the cleanliness of the video, making the story-telling more engaging and satisfying to watch.
- Keep the style consistent alongside your branding.
Explore the possibilities of motion graphics.
Have we got you thinking about the possibilities of motion graphics? Get in touch with me to discuss how we can help you take your brand to another level with the help of motion graphics!
Tips for creating accessible design and content.
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What is Accessibility?
Accessibility is the practice of designing and creating content that can be accessed and used by people with different abilities and preferences. It’s important that your content is inclusive for your audience, which is why we’re sharing some great advice on how to make your content accessible for people with disabilities, and users who rely on assistive technologies such as screen readers, magnifiers and keyboards.
Tip 1 – Use clear and concise language
Avoid using jargon, slang, acronyms and abbreviations – this may confuse or exclude your readers. It’s always best to use clear, plain language that is easy to understand and follow, and make sure the text is punctuated, capitalised and grammatically correct. Instead of writing in passive voice, we also recommend that you write in an active voice. For example, “Creative62 published an article on accessibility best practices”.
Tip 2 – Add alternative text to images and videos
Tip 3 – Use hashtags and emojis sparingly and appropriately
Hashtags and emojis can add personality and engagement to your social media posts, but they also create barriers for some users.
Hashtags are difficult to read and pronounce for screen readers, so it’s best to avoid long, complex tags. Only use hashtags when they are relevant or meaningful, and separate words in hashtags by capitalising the first letter of each word, which will help make it easier to read and pronounce. Finally, avoid using too many hashtags, as they can clutter the screen and distract from the main message.
Emojis can be confusing and misleading for many people with cognitive or visual impairments, as well as for readers who use different platforms or devices. Provide a text equivalent for emojis that convey information or emotion. You should avoid using emojis that are ambiguous, offensive or culturally insensitive, and test your emojis on different platforms and devices to ensure they are displayed correctly and consistently.
Tip 4 – Use colour contrast and legible fonts
Make your posts easier to read for people who have colour blindness, low vision, or dyslexia, by choosing high contrast colours and fonts for your text and backgrounds. Avoid using colour alone to convey a meaning, or a text colour that is too similar to the background. Use fonts that are clear and large enough to be seen, and if you highlight an important piece of text, make sure it’s noticeable by making it bold.
Tip 5 – Videos and audio
Add captions or transcripts to your videos and audio clips for users with hearing challenges, but also for people who prefer to read rather than listen. Where possible, avoid flashing or excessive moving elements that may trigger seizures or distract attention. If you do use them, always provide a warning notice at the beginning, with an option to turn them off.
And finally, the best advice…
Test your content with different devices and accessibility tools. You can use online tools like WebAIM or WAVE to check for accessibility issues and get suggestions on how to fix them. But best of all, welcome feedback from people with different abilities and preferences who use screen readers, keyboard navigation, or magnification technology.
The importance of UI/UX in your website
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What is UX/UI?
UX (User Experience): It’s the vibe of your website—how users feel, find what they need, and enjoy the journey. UX aims for a welcoming experience, ensuring easy navigation for everyone.
UI (User Interface): This is the look and feel—the buttons, colours and fonts. Like the disco ball at a party… good UI is visually appealing, organised and guides users effortlessly through the website.
0.5 Seconds of First Impressions Matter
Just as meeting someone new with a stumble can be awkward, websites experience similar moments. If your landing page resembles a toddler’s doodle, users may exit swiftly.
Craft a polished UX/UI for your website – it’s like offering a warm smile and a firm handshake. Those initial 0.5 seconds matter; make them inviting to keep users exploring
Things to consider:
- Streamline Navigation
- Speed Matters
- Visual Appeal
- Mobile-Responsive
- Clear Call to Actions
- Consistent Branding
- User-Friendly Forms
- Accessibility
Happy Users, Happy You
Picture finding yourself in a foreign country without a phone or any means of communication – not the most comfortable or enjoyable experience. A well-designed website is like having a knowledgeable tour guide, offering clear paths, informative signs. When users effortlessly discover what they’re looking for, it leads to contentment, contributing to increased sales, sign-ups and well-deserved recognition for you!
Things to consider:
- Clear Navigation
- Informative Signage
- User-Focused Design
- Responsive Communication
Your Brand Gets the Respect it Deserves
Your website is your virtual storefront, your digital billboard and a megaphone to the world. A solid UX/UI is like dressing in your finest attire and styling your hair – it reflects your commitment to making a positive impact.
A polished, professional and user-friendly website conveys trustworthiness, establishing your brand as reliable.
Things to consider:
- Authentic Brand Images / Real Photography
- Layout and Visual Appeal
- Colour Harmony
- Consistent Branding
How can social media increase brand awareness?
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Most businesses will know that brand awareness is completely essential to growing your business sustainably. But, many businesses are unlikely to have thought about the huge part social media can play in generating that brand awareness. Here’s how social media increases positive brand awareness for thousands and thousands of businesses every single day.
Show some personality!!
Social media offers an exciting new avenue for your business to add a touch more personality, to create your very own community and to get involved in activities which other outlets don’t allow.
Whether you’d like to be seen as professionals in your field, as a page for inspiration or to build more of a fun community, you’ll need to decide on a tone of voice which will achieve that for your business. Choosing something a little more unique will help your business stand out and could help your business to become more memorable. It’s certainly a brand awareness opportunity not to miss out on!
The importance of consistency.
Although it’s likely that a large number of businesses do now have a presence on at least one social media platform for their business, are they using it effectively to positively impact brand awareness? One of the biggest pitfalls for busy companies is neglecting their social channels. Consistency is always preached when it comes to social media, but for good reason. If you push posting on social media down to the bottom of your to-do list, your account can start to look a little neglected. Sometimes, even looking so neglected that when people search for your business and see that you haven’t posted in weeks, months or even years, there’s a good chance they’ll get the impression that you’re no longer in business anymore.
A stat to get you straight onto that content calendar of yours is that 21% of consumers are more likely to buy from brands that they can reach on social media! Not having consistent posts being published to your social accounts could leave people hesitant to make an enquiry through social media due to your account becoming seemingly inactive. A lack of consistency could result in a lack of enquiries. So essentially, our tip is to post consistently and as often as you can to keep your presence maintained.
Social media is the new Google search!
As buyer habits continue to change, a huge development announced by Google itself, states that nearly
40% of Gen Z prefers using TikTok and Instagram as a search engine over Google!
Whether that’s looking for the best shampoo on the market, or watching reviews on the latest technology, the social media platforms have become the go-to place to search for reviews and honest opinions from content creators.
Creating short-form videos for TikTok and Instagram is a great way to get your brand out there and discovered by new interested people! Get a conversation going, show some personality and become memorable as people begin taking to TikTok and Instagram over Google when looking for products and services on offer.
Hashtags- the easiest way to increase brand awareness.
Hashtags offer another chance at increasing your company’s brand awareness, on the topics you’d like to be most well-known for too. It’s a quick and easy way to get those extra few keywords into your posts and to help your post show up in search results when people type in words related to your brand.
Believe it or not, less is often more with hashtags to avoid things looking too spammy. Make sure to get in a good mixture of broad and popular hashtags, with more specific and less used hashtags to increase your chances of reaching your target audience.
Manage the publics perception of your brand.
The good, the bad and the ugly, social media has undoubtedly become the place for customer feedback. Whether it’s positive or negative feedback, on a public channel or through private messages, any feedback is an opportunity for you to manage public perception of your brand.
If somebody compliments your products or services, you’ll want to make sure to thank them right away, so they know just how appreciated their custom and feedback really is.
In the case of receiving a negative comment or message, being active on social media means you can respond quickly and professionally, willing to resolve any issues which may have arisen. On a public channel, other customers will be able to see you actively addressing customer issues, meaning they’re likely to turn the negative they’ve seen into a positive!
There were just a few of the many reasons why incorporating a strong social media strategy into your marketing plan can skyrocket your brand awareness! Need a hand with getting your social media off the ground? Get in touch with us and let’s have a chat!
5 Signs your website is in need of an update.
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Grab a comfy seat because we’re about to go on a journey into the world of design and technology – the key ingredients for making your website truly stand out! Let’s jump straight into it! Here are 5 signs to let you know your website is in need of a makeover.
Latest Design & Technology
I always say, “first impressions are the lasting impressions,” so making sure your site is visually up-to-date is an absolute must! It’s like giving your site a style upgrade, making sure the overall look and feel truly reflect your fantastic products and services. When it comes to design, focus on ensuring it’s visually pleasing and easy to engage with.
Tips: Simplify the design, refresh colours and fonts, try and add multimedia elements such as videos or subtle movements and ensure responsiveness of the website; which leads me on to my next point…
Non-Responsive Design
We’re in the age of smartphones and tablets, so it’s super important to ensure your website is friendly to all screen sizes. If your site doesn’t play well with mobile devices, you could be missing out on a load of visitors! Yes, the visitor count matters, but our good friend Google also loves websites that are mobile-friendly and gives the site a boost in search rankings. So, I’d say it’s a must-have in all cases!
Tips: Try stacking your content in a simple and easy-to-read format. Break information into clear sections and use clear headings to improve readability. Make your calls to action stand out by increasing their size and ensuring they are easy to locate.
Slow Loading Times
In this day and age everyone wants information quickly and efficiently. Not only is a slow website frustrating for users, it also determines the performance of your website and the ranking it’s given on search engines such as Google. If your site takes too long to load, visitors are more likely to go elsewhere and look for an alternative website.
Tips: Optimise images, use browser caching systems and ensuring you’re on the best possible hosting plan for your website.
Outdated Content
Content is the royal icing of your website! Keeping the content fresh, relevant, and updated has a significant impact on your website’s credibility. Ensure the content is reviewed on a regular basis, and make sure it aligns accurately with your business goals. Okay, so now I’m going to sound like a broken record, but guess what? Search engines love to read content that is relevant.
Tips: Pop a date in the calendar and take some time to review your content and schedule time for updates. This not only ensures accuracy but also shows that your site is actively maintained, improving its credibility and search rankings.
Poor Navigation
Let’s talk about website navigation – it’s like the GPS for your visitors… but if it’s a bit confusing or not super easy to use, it can be really hard for the visitor to find exactly what they are looking for. A website with confusing or inefficient navigation can frustrate users and drive them away. If visitors struggle to find the information they need or if your site lacks a clear call-to-action, is it time to look at your website navigation?
Tips: Make the menu as simplified as possible. Direct the users around the website towards the end goal/endpoint of the website. Ensure the journey on your site is smooth and super easy.
Get in touch with Dimple
And there you have it… Whether it’s a style upgrade, mobile-friendliness, or a content refresh; remember your website is your online kingdom, and it deserves to be treated like royalty. Book a consultation or a website audit with us and we will give you tips on how you can improve your website and online presence.
