The lifestyle of a designer is a unique one. It is about fashion and aesthetics and the ability to immerse oneself in the creative process, often for long hours at a time. A designer must constantly look for inspiration, whether from nature, art, or everyday life. Additionally, they must be able to balance their creative pursuits with the practicalities of running a successful business. The lifestyle of a designer may seem glamorous from an outsider’s perspective, but it requires a great deal of hard work and dedication. Ultimately, this passion and drive sets designers apart and allows them to create beautiful and innovative pieces that inspire others.

Top Tools for a Designer

Designers rely heavily on a handful of essential products for their work and lifestyle. From the tools of their trade to the tools that keep them organized and efficient, these products help designers bring their creative visions to life. High-quality sketchbooks and markers, state-of-the-art electronics, ergonomic office chairs, and professional-grade software are essential products that designers simply can’t do without. Without them, design professionals couldn’t produce the high-quality work they’re known for. It’s no wonder that investing in these essential products is crucial for every designer hoping to succeed in their industry.

1. Sketchbook

As creative professionals, designers often require swift efficiency to capture their ideas and inspirations. A sound sketchbook is precisely that – and mastering the art of sketching is an indispensable tool for any designer. With the ability to ideate designs and concepts on paper, the possibilities are endless. Sketchbooks provide a sanctuary for designers to experiment with different techniques, layouts, and ideas without the constraints or commitments accompanying more polished digital work. A designer’s sketchbook delivers a space where they can freely explore their imagination, allowing their personality and creativity to emit through every line, stroke, and shading. Embracing sketching is an opportunity not to be missed in the quest for inspiration and innovation within the breathtaking design world.

2. High-Quality Drafting Pencils

As a designer, you understand the significance of precision and attention to detail. That’s why incorporating a high-quality drafting pencil into your daily routine is not just a want, and it’s a necessity. These tools offer unparalleled precision and control, allowing you to easily create complicated and complex designs. From sketching out initial concepts to finalizing your masterpieces, a drafting pencil is a reliable and trustworthy companion for any designer. These pencils offer superior performance, and their sleek and sophisticated designs make them a stylish addition to your collection. Invest in a high-quality drafting pencil today and see the distinction it can make in your work.

3. Graphic Design Software

Graphic Design software is the backbone of the design industry. Functioning as a digital toolset, they allow designers to create visual masterpieces with relative ease. Designers no longer need to make their designs on paper, then scan them into a computer to edit. With powerful graphic design software, a designer can create a seasonal campaign for a brand from scratch or even a simple social media post. Graphic design software has many valuable tools that cater to different aspects of design, including layout, typography, color, and image handling. Whether you’re a student learning graphic design for the first time, or a seasoned graphic designer, having a capable piece of software like Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop is a must-have in your arsenal. THC Gummies, on the other hand, aren’t an essential tool for a designer’s lifestyle. But might help in enhancing the focus and productivity of the designer.

4. Color Swatch Book

As a designer, having a color swatch book should be essential to your lifestyle. This handy tool ensures you can access a wide range of colors that accentuate your designs, allowing you to create something truly stunning. You can easily match colors with a color swatch book and choose the perfect tone for your project. It is beneficial when working on a specific theme or branding, helping you to maintain consistency throughout your designs. A color swatch book is a valuable investment and a must-have item for any designer.

5. Cutting Mat And Precision Knife

A designer must have the right tools to ensure that each project is completed ideally. A cutting mat and precision knife are tools that any designer should consider incorporating into their lifestyle. The precision knife allows for accurate cuts and detailed designs, while the cutting mat protects surfaces from damage. A cutting mat and precision knife are not only necessary for design work but also allow for more precise cuts. Overall, investing in a cutting mat and precision knife is a wise decision for any designer.

Knowing More About Designer’s Lifestyle

A designer’s life is often a curious blend of creativity and technical skill. From the early stages of conception development to the final touches of a finished product, designers must bring their unique vision to life while considering usability, budget, and audience appeal. Each new project comes with fresh challenges, from navigating client expectations to troubleshooting unexpected roadblocks. Yet, despite the many obstacles that can arise, designers remain dedicated to their craft, constantly seeking inspiration and pushing the boundaries of what is possible. A career in this exciting field can be challenging and deeply rewarding for those passionate about design.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, incorporating these five essential products into a designer’s lifestyle can lead to a more productive, healthy, and efficient work routine while promoting overall well-being. With the use of ergonomic chairs, standing desks, blue light-blocking glasses, noise-canceling headphones, and water bottles, designers can create a comfortable and sustainable working environment. Additionally, taking simple steps like staying hydrated and protecting the eyes from harmful blue light can positively impact physical and mental health. Investing in these products is not only beneficial for productivity and creativity but also promotes a healthy lifestyle. It is crucial to prioritize self-care, and incorporating these essential products can be a step toward achieving holistic well-being.

The post 5 Essentials Products to Include in Designer’s Lifestyle appeared first on DesignWebKit.

Presenting a project requires the study of hundreds of content, ranging from books and seminars to cutting-edge approaches. How do you deliver a project presentation such that your colleagues, stakeholders, managers, or clients say, ‘Wow!’

It could be difficult. There is, however, nothing impossible for managers who regard project timeline presentations to be a regular part of their work.

The success of a project is closely related to its presentation. According to the most recent studies, successful presentations include 38% voice, 55% nonverbal communication, and just 7% content. If you do it carefully, you will have several opportunities to capture your audience’s attention and lead them to an agreement.

So, how do you stay on top of your project management presentation? That’s how! Follow these pointers and techniques!

1. Frame your Project Goals

Before you begin looking for a solution to the issue of “how to create a project presentation,” discuss your project’s goals. When giving a presentation, you should plan ahead of time what impression you want to create.

Arrange a call-up meeting with your team members and the product owner to go through all of the specifics and objectives. If you don’t do this, you won’t know where you’re going, and your efforts will be futile.

Project objectives could be superficially identical, but a business college presentation will be constructed differently from a pitch by a construction project manager. You can communicate your project’s aims orally using images, models, and special documentation, or you can build a project timetable.

In certain circumstances, you will need to explain facts concisely, but in others, you will need to offer a more emotive picture. In any case, when planning your project, make sure you create clear and achievable objectives.

2. Set priorities

After you’ve determined your objectives, prioritize individual activities inside your project. It is critical to interact with managers from other areas, such as marketing, customer service, and sales. Discuss their priorities and see how they fit into the overall strategic objectives.

3. Know your target audience

Consider your connections with your audience to determine which aspects are important to them and which can be left out. Knowing your audience can also help you identify how to best communicate your thoughts.

Consider how many individuals you’ll be presenting your ideas to. A talk with ten people is a conversation. Getting up in front of a gathering of twenty people constitutes a speech. When you speak to more people, it becomes a full-fledged performance.

4. Do Some Research

Even if you’ve been presenting proposals for a long time, you must do research each time. First, you should understand more about your target audience. Are you giving a presentation to executives? Or will you be speaking with ground personnel?

Knowing your audience will assist you in structuring the appropriate presentation. Depending on their expertise, you may need to modify your themes or important points. Engineers, for example, may search for technical specifications, whereas finance managers might be more concerned with cost and budget.

Furthermore, doing research can help you be ready for everything that will be thrown at you. It is not enough to just research the information you need to offer. It would be ideal if you also went the additional mile.

This entails investigating additional intelligent questions that may be posed to you. You can better close the transaction if you are one step ahead.

5. Capture Your Audience’s Attention

It’s critical to grab your audience’s interest straight away. You don’t get to the point without buttering them up!

Starting with an attention-getter, such as an entertaining story, statistic, or remark, is one of the finest methods to do this. You might alternatively begin with a thesis statement or a synopsis of your presentation. It will provide your audience with a “preview” of everything you need to cover.

6. Prepare Your Slides

You’re on time and well-prepared. You’ve gone through your full speech many times. Everything was going swimmingly until you gave your presentation. They call it “death by PowerPoint.”

There is one guideline you should follow to minimize fatalities every time you give a presentation: keep things as simple as possible. When it comes to slide presentations, simple is best. Nobody likes to read a long block of text.

The 5-5-5 rule can help you make the content more digestible:

• Five words per line
• Five lines of text per slide
• Only five text-heavy slides in a row

Similarly, your fonts and colors should be straightforward and easy to understand. They should be large and contrasted, such as white writing on a black backdrop.

If you want to save your valuable hours in designing the slides and focus more on the speech, you must leverage Google Slides templates. These templates give you a great starting point to speed up the presentation creation process.

7. Practice

Your project proposal’s destiny is determined by how you present it. If you want to ace your presentation, you must be prepared.

It is not enough to just read your file; you must memorize it. The easiest method to do this is to rehearse your spiel until it is flawless.

You can, for example, practice in front of a mirror. If you want feedback on your delivery, you should practice with someone else. The ideas of your fictitious audience will help you improve your presentation.

Wrapping It Up

No matter how amazing your topic is, your ability to capture the attention of the audience is what makes or breaks a presentation. Although almost all effective project management presentation ideas are predicated on meticulous preparation, you also need to consider how you will convey your ideas to others.

When considering the finest methods to showcase a project, make sure you are enthusiastic about it. After all, an attentive audience can detect whether speakers are interested in the content they’re discussing.

You now understand how to propose a project. Organize the sequence of all actions you will discuss, practice, and work on gaining public attention, and don’t forget to choose the proper project management tool to ensure your success.

The post 7 Effective Presentations Tips for Project Managers appeared first on DesignWebKit.

Word Puzzle Games – Daily Wordoku

If you like Sudoku, you’ll also fall in love with Daily Wordoku. This later game is practically Sudoku with letters. Each letter will only appear one time per row, column or in the 3×3 box. After you insert the answer, a valid English word will appear in a diagonal line.

Word Crush

A square filled with smaller squares that contain letters will appear on your screen as you start to play Word Crush. Your mission is to find a given the word within the big square as you read in horizontal, vertical, and even diagonal lines. The first words you need to find will be the short ones made of three letters each. But as you progress through the game, the difficulty level increases and the demanded letters will become longer.

The Best Word Puzzle Games – Word Collect

In Word Collect, you have to connect letters in multiple directions to form hidden word matches. You’ll have to locate as many words as possible for leveling up and earning bonus rewards. If you can’t figure out the word jumble, there’s no need to worry! You can even earn bonus coins when you find those hidden words!

You’ll never get bored while you play Word Collect! There are more than 900 levels to play, 500 coins at the first login, the ability to play online and offline, and a lot more.

WordScapes

Wordscapes may be easy to play for many people, but it surely gets a lot harder if you’ve never played something similar before. Each round lasts for only a few minutes, and the first thing that should be mentioned about WordScapes is that it improves the player’s vocabulary a lot.

Top Word Puzzle Games – Spellbound

Spellbound has a unique challenge for you: using only seven simple letters, how many words can you make? There’s even a time limit in the game, which makes the challenge even more exciting. You’ll begin to fill the Spellbound bar as you create words. If you need extra time, don’t worry! If you fill the bar, that extra time will come. Spellbound is available on Arkadium and Crazy Games.

Word Cookies

Word Cookies can be best described as a modified word search game, and it has an amicable and intuitive interface. The gameplay is also simple and deductible, and it has some strong similarities with WordScapes. In Word Cookies, you have to swipe alphabet cookies on the pan for spelling words. Filling up Jack’s cookie jar with more words is one of the things you have to keep in mind while playing the game. There are even many levels in Word Cookies – over 2000, and the number will continue to grow!

Luckily enough, there are countless games nowadays that you can play online entirely for free! Choosing the ones that suit you best may be difficult at first with so many exciting offers, and we would love to know which one is your favorite and why!

The post 6 Free Word Puzzle Games You Can Play Online – 6 Top Ones appeared first on DesignWebKit.

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Let’s look at the web design trends that help decrease the pressure of information yet deliver the message clearly and make a user’s life a bit more fun.

Soft and Gentle Colors

Bright colors are still being used to get a user’s attention, but they give way to faded shades and less intrusive color schemes. Blurred colors and a gradient make an image look softer while bringing tranquillity and peace of mind to a user. Natural colors and organic shapes make time spent gazing at a screen less tiring and a little bit more relaxing.

A soft and gentle design doesn’t mean a minimalist one. The latter is still strong, but the tendency toward an exquisite and elaborated design with a soft retro touch.

Web Design Trends 2021 – Dark Mode

A space on a web page used to be white for a good while. A black backdrop of a site makes design elements look more contrasting and, therefore, more noticeable. The dark mode is elegant, but it also lets a device use less energy, which is important for portables. It is less eye-straining for human eyes as well.

Some websites offer a dark mode option for mobile devices only, but the trend is growing. 

Less Intrusive Design

Website visitors want a design to be user-friendly, not overwhelming. It doesn’t apply to colors only. A video doesn’t have to autoplay. There should be a clear option for a user to choose whether to play it. The same goes for sound — there always should be an option to switch it on if one wishes so. The default mode is sound off. Animation has to be slow and floating.

There should be much so-called white space on each page, which doesn’t necessarily mean white-colored nowadays — but empty, free from any information, text, or image. Web pages with a lot of negative space breathe through and don’t scare a user with excessive content, thus making their experience more satisfying. 

Web Design Trends 2021 – Asymmetric Layouts

A grid placement of information slowly gives in to an asymmetric design. Straight lines are substituted with curly shapes. 

Antidesign, a design with obvious imperfections, blurs, and overemphasized asymmetry, is an extreme form of the trend, which heads away from geometric shapes. It might be a temporary reaction to the turbulent times and the long-lasting popularity of a minimal design. Whether this trend will survive long-term is questionable.

Increased Usage of Graphics and Animation

Cartoon pictures, hand-drawn sketches, and, above all, images that combine real-life object photos with graphics are some of the biggest trends. A bright, personalized, artistic illustration makes a website look more authentic, recognizable, and different. Floating design elements, objects that create movement hypnotize a viewer and are to be used a lot.

Animation is being introduced in web design increasingly — buttons, texts, photos – everything has to move. Micro-animation is not that new, but what is important next year is to invite users to interact with small animated elements and spend more time on a website. Turning a cursor into a certain object on a particular page might be an example of the design aiming to increase interaction. 

Web Design Trends 2021 – 3d Graphics

This trend is caused by our desire to be entertained, but thanks to technology development. 3d elements add personality to a website and make landing pages look like something unique and modern.

More Customization and Personalization

It is not a secret that digital marketing specialists and search engine algorithms provide us with content based on our preferences and previous search history. The website design trend lets a user customize what he or she sees on a screen, for example, by switching to a black mode. The trend goes beyond this and includes multiple options of interfaces and settings.

It is also about providing different media formats and giving a user a choice to watch a video, read a text, or listen to the audio.

Text Reduced, Interaction Increased

Obviously, delivering information with graphic tools rather than text is not a new thing. It is a bit of a controversial trend since a lot of moving objects might cause noise. Yet, with tones of different texts, we find it more and more difficult to concentrate on words. Storytelling becomes interactive and involving. A user wants complex ideas to be explained with graphics and videos in no time. Still, it is crucial to keep the design respectful, not intrusive. 

A video as a background behind a text is placed to give a general idea about a product or service and make an impression. Accompanied by a small text, it helps to save time. The design aims to give less information and more emotion. 

Web Design Trends 2021 – Scroll Effects

A side scroll is probably influenced by Instagram and presents a user with an option to move along the screen. Together with other scroll effects, including a preview of a picture, it gives a user the freedom to select information and choose if they want to take a side-track and discover more without moving to the next page. In general, copying social networks’ layouts, for example, adding round buttons for an additional story, is a strong trend of its own right. Next year, the best web design implemented by Alice Wonder will strive to give emotions, tranquillize, entertain, and surprise!

The post Web Design Trends 2021 – 9 Core Ones This Year appeared first on DesignWebKit.

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Describing the Remote Proctoring

Remote proctoring corresponds to the method of online evaluation tests being authenticated, approved, and regulated. It allows teachers in a remote configuration to perform online evaluations and exams without losing the credibility of the assessments.

Online proctoring allows controlling the examination end to end via the candidate’s video recorder. From the initial to the final, it tracks the exam procedure and the recorded conversations, displays, pictures, etc. In conjunction with AI-based technology, online proctoring provides various enhancements over conventional monitoring techniques.

Various Forms of RP

Remote proctoring can be implemented in various directions relying on the proctored exam’s Internet access and complexity.

• Video proctoring. The applicant will be supervised via constant video streaming operation during the complete exam. In the event of any misconduct or unethical conduct from the applicant, the invigilator will close down the test.
• Image proctoring. Throughout the test, the machine will grab images of the applicant at particular time frames and assess any wrongdoings. If internet access is unreliable, it is the finest online proctoring choice.
• Auto proctoring. It automatically tracks and evaluates the student’s actions during the test. Without any human input, it may classify students suspected of misconduct. To automatically identify fraudulent operations, it utilizes AI-based innovations.
• Confirmation of applicant. Authenticity is implemented before the beginning of a proctored exam to classify the applicant. By recording the photograph via a webcam, it confirms the candidate’s identity certificate.

AI in Remote Proctoring

The utilization of artificial intelligence technology has therefore enhanced the reliability of the review remote proctoring procedure. During each remotely proctored test, AI technologies constantly improve, evolve, and grow better. There have been three main aspects in which AI supports remote proctoring –

• To identify fraud involving the identification.
• In order to admit dishonest activity.
• To expose a vulnerability to quality.

Technologies Utilized in Remote Proctoring Dependent on AI

To perform all sorts of assessments and evaluations, AI-based remote proctoring and invigilation innovations can be implemented. Different AI-based technologies are for boosting the efficacy of remote proctoring are described following.

• Pattern recognition. Pattern recognition is, as you remember, the method of continuously identifying patterns utilizing machine learning techniques. To identify patterns that indicate the activity of deception throughout tests, identical technology can be installed. Depending on the existing information or analytical information gathered earlier, it may detect patterns.
• Facial recognition. In a remote field, facial recognition systems can be included in several ways when performing examinations. It is capable of recognizing a face or check it via facial patterns and details. In the screening area, it can recognize other nearby faces. A further field where facial recognition assists are the identity authentication of the applicant.
• Voice recognition. This system enables us to grab noises and check them over the background noise to identify deception cases. In the testing area, it can track the noises spontaneously and recognize the speech styles.
• Recognition of eye movements. This technology tends to track the candidate’s eye motion changes. It can determine if the candidate’s eye motion pattern distracts from the monitor or frequently looks at cell phones, textbooks, or other items.
• Object detection. The program can identify objects existing in the testing environment by utilizing object detection technology. Actually, utilizing plane detection techniques, the remote proctoring program can consider the candidate’s external conditions.

Benefits of Remote Proctoring

The use of remote proctoring and surveillance technology primarily enhances the examination’s validity in a remote area. Below are a few of the essential benefits that remote proctoring provides.

• Higher accuracy. AI systems can identify unusual activity than the realistic way human eyes do it. It creates warnings about something throughout the exam that indicates misconduct or fraud. It can thus contribute to strengthened precision in the evaluation of candidates.
• Enhanced security. In any wrongdoing or fraudulent operation, the device will initiate appropriate measures towards the applicant. This tends to boost the reputation and protection of online exams.
• Strong scalability. The remote proctoring technology grows quite effective in detecting variations that correspond to misconduct as evaluation’s reliability increases. Comparable to human instructors, it is, therefore, possible to provide enhanced protection.
• Cost-effective. AI-based remote proctoring is a cost-effective alternative to perform exams traditionally instead of the costs invested in infrastructure, management, and human resources. Through sophisticated AI-based technology, the requirement for human interaction for performing online examinations can be significantly decreased.
• Intelligent and smarter. As it collects additional information, the reliability of AI-based remote proctoring increases more. The process, therefore, becomes more knowledgeable and operates correctly by repeated proctoring.

The implementation of AI-based remote proctoring and surveillance systems to implement online exams has numerous advantages. Conversely, while allowing online proctoring assessments, there are a few difficulties. It requires several necessities, including a computer, secure internet access, and other devices, such as microphones, webcams, headphones, and much more.

Final Points

AI-based remote proctoring technologies provide a forum for administering examinations conveniently and safely, despite the difficulties. The reliability of online tests can be significantly better. Applicants can not engage in misconduct.

Higher education establishments are already forced to undertake online tests following the COVID-19 epidemic, and remote proctoring utilizing AI-based technology can be extremely advantageous for everyone. Companies could also use these technologies to perform streamlined employee evaluation assessments. You don’t need to think regarding it with all the certifications online. The staff will take preparation and test, and therefore their certificate will remain in the field of your online profile.

The post Brief Guidance on Remote Proctoring that You Should Know appeared first on DesignWebKit.

Place Your Gadget Horizontally While Filming

It would help if you filmed while holding your camera horizontally and not vertically. Unlike photograph shooting, video shooting requires you to keep the smartphone horizontally throughout the coverage. Even in professional movies, you have never seen the video flipping horizontally and vertically, and vice versa.

Shoot Your First Video – Get Your Tripod Stand in Use

A tripod stand is very vital while filming as it helps you avoid shaky video coverage. Only horror movies should have an unbalanced effect. When shooting movement, you should use a dolly and avoid moving the camera with bare hands. Dolly is a wheeled camera holder used in shooting while on the move. Dolly holders are affordable to everyone as some are cheap, simple ones, while others are expensive, commonly for professionals. Don’t forget that too much movement will turn off viewers.

Plan and Make a List of Shots to Be Captured

You should plan and come up with a list of the number of shots you anticipate to have. Planning helps organize the shooting process, ensuring that the process is smooth and no details are left behind. Planning ensures that you shoot all the content you will require during editing. It isn’t delightful to notice that you missed several scenes during editing. You should film more footage as you don’t know how the videos will turn out during editing.

Shoot Your First Video – Set up Your Shot Correctly

Proper set up is a critical aspect of filming. An appropriate setting ensures that you leave enough headspace for the subjects before you even start shooting. You shouldn’t leave too little space between the camera frame and the subject’s head. Some of the editing software zooms in your raw footage hence cutting off the head of your subject. No one will like to have their heads cut.

Before starting the shot, you should get the best setting for aperture and shutter speeds, so you don’t transit while shooting because it will affect your video’s quality. It would be best if you stick to the same set entirely during filming. It is also advisable that you apply the Rule of Third technique while framing.

Be Innovative and Creative While Taking the Shots

Filming requires you to be creative, innovative, and flexible. Try to shoot your first video from different angles like Eye level or Dutch angle shot and shift gears when the situation demands. Have enough footage to be on the safe side since your camera wouldn’t run out of memory.

Be Creative During Footage Editing

Quality editing requires you to have enough footage to increase the options available. Editing requires you to be innovative and creative to get an appealing end product. There is various editing software in the market. However, choose an editing software that has numerous attractive features and one with easy interphase. Since you are new to videography, choose a video maker that will not be difficult for you to operate.

Since this is your first shooting, you may not know the best editing software. However, try to work with Adobe Premiere Pro. The Premiere Pro is a low-cost world-leading video editor. Apart from its low cost, many videographers love the Adobe Premiere Pro due to its impressive features. It has creative tools that can integrate with other apps and special tools like Film Impact, which will make your first video look like it was done by a professional. The software is also powered by Adobe Sensei, enabling you to craft footage into high-quality polished films. The newly launched Premiere Rush app allows you to edit your footage from any device; hence you can work remotely.

Natural Lighting Is Better When You Shoot Your First Video

Natural lighting is preferred as it gives high-quality footage when compared with artificial lightings. When using the natural sunlight, shoot your first video in the morning or the evening for more impressive quality. If you are in an indoor set-up, try to use three-point lighting to get the best quality footage.

Now that you have tips that will take you through the filming process, you need to equip yourself with all the tools and accessories required. You will require a camera, camera lights, dedicated external microphone, extra batteries, extra memory cards, editing software, and a computer.

The post Shoot Your First Video – A Beginners Guide To Making It appeared first on DesignWebKit.

You Changed Your Brand Name

If you’ve recently changed your brand name, your logo might require a refresh. Text-based logos can quickly become irrelevant after a business rebrands. Thus, it is necessary to develop a new logo or tweak the one you have currently to align it with your new company name. If you have no idea where to begin choosing a new design, you can check different logos by the industry for inspiration.

Your Logo Is Too Complex

If you look at some popular logos in the world — from McDonald’s’ golden arches to the Nike swoosh — you will realize they are all simple and straightforward to remember. Of course, some companies are still using complex logos, but for a business trying to find its feet in the high-paced commercial world, a simpler design would be more effective as a marketing tool. So, consider it and

Redesign Your Logo If It Uses Obsolete Fonts

For businesses that have been in the game for decades or even centuries, there is a chance the initial logo design looks outdated. The evolution of fonts and typefaces has been on a steep upward trajectory since the advent of computers, and what looked classy and trendy in the ’60s may not be so sleek anymore. Redesigning your logo will portray your business as modern and capture prospects’ attention with a keen eye for aesthetic detail.

You Are Facing New Competition

If you are facing new competition from businesses that you feel have the potential of toppling you, you might want to cause some stir to get the attention back to you. A logo redesign can go a long way toward rekindling customer interest, as it might be seen as a reflection of an improvement on your product or service.

Redesign Your Logo If It Is Not Scalable

Business logos today are used on a range of platforms and marketing materials, and not all of them are created to look good on each. If your logo design is not built with scalability in mind, perhaps it’s time to take a second look at it.

You Have Taken Over or Merged with Another Company

Mergers and takeovers signify expansion, growth, and new beginnings. If the logo were built to communicate what the company does, redesigning it would be necessary if its service catalog has changed. What’s more, a revamp would create a much-needed stir and grab the attention of the market.

Redesign Your Logo – Endnote

These are some of the reasons companies redesign their logos. If you want to try it yourself, ensure an experienced designer does the facelift. It will also help if your new design is on the basis of your existing logo, as people can still associate the logo with your brand.

The post 6 Reasons to Redesign Your Logo appeared first on DesignWebKit.

Find a Professional-Looking Background as a Starting Point

While you can go ahead and requisition one of your photos to use as a virtual background in Zoom, the likelihood of your snaps matching the quality of professionally lit, composed and shot pictures are pretty low. This is where a service like Hello Backgrounds comes into its own. You can find hundreds of high-quality background images and colors for video conferencing that have been created by the pros specifically for use with Zoom.

Of course, at this point, you might be happy to call it a day and just use one of these backgrounds, without worrying about how to use downloaded fonts or any other editing software to add your own twist. This is perfectly fine as a standpoint and probably makes sense if you are eager to appear as professional as possible in your next Zoom meeting. But if you want to go further when making your own Zoom background, there are tons of other tricks to try.

Harness Intuitive Editing Software

If you are already accustomed to using popular, fully-featured image editing solutions like Adobe’s Photoshop, then you will likely need no more guidance on making your own Zoom background from a software perspective. However, newcomers will likely need a bit more guidance and could well be intimidated by the more complex platforms out there.

Luckily there are a lot of image editing software services that are eminently accessible, no matter your experience levels. Canva is a good example that has risen to prominence in recent years, especially since it is focused around social media image editing and comes with lots of free resources alongside its paid-for options. Pixlr is another service for creating and editing images that runs entirely within your web browser. It offers many of the capabilities of its premium counterparts, although is of course limited because of the context in which it operates. Knowing how to use downloaded fonts will still see you in good stead when using browser-powered image editing software as well as other free apps.

Get the Aspect Ratio & Resolution Right

Zoom may not impose any kind of restrictions on the size or shape of the images you can use as a background, but unless the one you choose matches the aspect ratio that your webcam is set to, you will get black bars at the top or sides of your video window.

While webcams can vary in terms of their aspect ratio, the vast majority operate in a 16:9 setup, by dint of using popular pixel counts like 720p and 1080p. If your webcam has a 4:3 mode, creating the classic square aspect ratio, you will obviously want to take this into account. The simplest way to ensure that your aspect ratio is right when making your own Zoom background is to use your image editing software of choice to crop it to fit. For a 16:9 webcam, a 1920×1080 background will work best. For 4:3, choose 1024×768.

Find out How to Use Downloaded Fonts

There is no reason that your bespoke Zoom background has to only feature a photographed scene and nothing else; indeed you might need to be able to get across information to other participants and viewers using text without harnessing the screen-sharing feature. This is where knowing how to use downloaded fonts can be a boon.

There is a whole heap of funky font options that can turn even the work of complete amateurs into something that looks like it was cooked up by graphic design experts. It is a good idea to use a reputable service like Google Fonts to achieve this if you have a relatively limited amount of time to dedicate to editing your very own Zoom background. Installation is straightforward and you can have a plethora of impressive typography options on your PC in a matter of moments, meaning that learning how to use downloaded fonts really is a breeze.

Of course, there is an art to custom font use, and you need to resist the temptation to go with a design that is too outlandish if your meeting calls for information to be delivered in a clear, concise way. For example, perhaps all you need is to add your social media information to your background so that others can easily work out how to find you on the various other platforms you occupy. If you know that your meeting is going to be viewed more widely, broadcast in some way, or recorded for publication elsewhere, this kind of detail can make all the difference.

Consider Creating Something Minimalistic

The temptation to go all-out with a custom Zoom background which is packed with detail features a whole host of eye-catching elements or is even a full-blown video that is intended to draw the eye of the viewer to it whenever possible will be strong. However, this is certainly a scenario in which the old adage of ‘less is more’ can ring true time and again.

With a custom Zoom background you do not even need to use a photograph, but can instead opt for a plain color, a series of geometric shapes or a background composed around the branding of the organization you represent.

This of course ties into the decisions you make once you know how to use downloaded fonts because overburdening the aesthetics of your custom virtual background will be just as much of a problem as under-utilizing the resources at your disposal.

Get a Second Opinion

With all of this in mind, it is certainly sensible to show your efforts to someone else when making your own Zoom background before you use it for the first time. The input of an outsider will be enough to iron out any wrinkles, point out any problems and set you on the right track to success during every Zoom meeting that you join from here on out.

Making Your Own Zoom Background – Keep on Creating

Now that you know what is involved in making your own Zoom background, you should be in a perfect position not only to start cooking up a creation that you can use for a particularly important virtual get-together but to continue leveraging these skills going forwards. Custom Zoom backgrounds can be great for every occasion, from pitching ideas in a professional context to keeping in touch with friends and family in other parts of the world. Let your creativity fly free and you will soon become an expert in making your own Zoom background.

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How To Prepare for a Virtual Interview – Looking Marvelous

Professional Appearance

While the location and interaction have changed, you still need to dress the part. Studies show that there are personal benefits to putting on professional clothes. It affects your mood and you want to be as upbeat as possible during your interview.  Start at your hairstyle and go all the way down to your buffed shoes. 

Looking at Your Digital Best

When you are testing your equipment, determine the best spot in your home that gives the best lighting for crisp video.  If the interview is in the morning, which window has the best light? In case it is an afternoon interview, you may need to be in a different part of the home.  If there is no great natural light in your space, then you will need to create it as described in the mini-studio section below. As you find the greatest light, consider what is behind you. There should be no clutter or too many personal belongings, such as piles of books or laundry. You want to be the focal point, not other objects in the room. A nice and neat environment will show your potential employer how detail-oriented and organized you are.

Children are adorable when they show up in a video chat with your mom, but not while you are discussing your management background. Eliminate all outside distractions, especially your cell phone.  Complete silence is your goal.  This may include closing windows, turning off the air conditioner/heater, and sitting away from windows adjacent to the neighbor who decides to mow their lawn at that moment.

Fight your desire to do an internet search in the middle of your interview.  Do a little research on the company before the interview and have notes in case you need them. Having a copy of your resume will also help you remember dates and key points you want to share. When they ask a question, be prepared with an answer. You can prepare for the common interview questions, such as “What is your greatest strength”, “Why do you want this position,” and “What is your biggest achievement.” Being prepared will show confidence. You can also prepare questions for them because you know they will ask. Be yourself. Don’t memorize things that will make you sound robotic. Practice with 3 or 4 of your friends so you can be comfortable with different personalities.

How To Prepare for a Virtual Interview: Body Language

We no longer use a handshake to show confidence, nor can we easily look someone in the eye when giving our first impression.  To appear like you are looking someone in the eye you look at the camera on your computer and not their actual eyes on the screen.  Body language is very much a part of the virtual interview. Sit up straight, smile, and be your best self.

How To Prepare for a Virtual Interview – Technology

Long before you plan to have the first virtual interview you need to make sure all aspects of technology are in working order. Employers need to know you are savvy with all things virtual. Think ahead of possible obstructions to having the best virtual interview of your career. How is your internet/phone connection?  If you have limited connectivity you will need to learn what slows it down.  It could be that others in your household are sharing your bandwidth that results in a choppy video call.  You may have other programs open on your computer that is competing for resources. If using the internet, your router or modem may be old and need replacing, or you may need to hardwire directly into your modem for a faster connection.

How are your computer’s camera and microphone working?  Find a friend or family member that can do a test for audio and video in general.  If you find your microphone is blown or produces an echo, then you may consider getting an external microphone. If you experience a fuzzy image, try cleaning the video camera on your computer. In case it is still blurry, it may be the lighting, or you may need an external camera. We will review that in more detail in the mini-studio section. Many cell phones have wonderful cameras and audio, so be sure to test those as well. It all depends on your level of comfort with a particular technology.

Setting up a mini studio

No potential employer wants to see you fumbling around with your audio and lighting during the virtual interview. Since you will likely be using video conferencing and a home office once you land that new position, it would benefit you to have a mini studio created and available in a minute’s notice.

You don’t need to spend a fortune to get good results. You may have some of the components already in your toolbox. Here are the basic equipment needs:

• Smartphone or iPad, or computer with a camera (iPhone 6 or better, similar Samsung models)
• Tripod for your cell phone/iPad
• Lighting – natural is good but may need something like an LED Ring Light, or photo umbrella
• Clip-on the microphone for cell phone or computer

Another consideration is your background that shows during the video conference.  You may be familiar with green screens, but now you can use virtual backgrounds on video conferencing platforms without one.  You might consider using virtual virtual background images by Hello Backgrounds.  They offer beautiful backgrounds for all your video calls and meetings, whether on Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Skype.  Match the mood of your prospective client.

How To Prepare for a Virtual Interview – Stand out from the Crowd

How can you make them remember you over the possible dozens of interviews they have scheduled this week? Making a personal connection through a short aside about a common interest could help.  You may see a model ship on their bookshelf that prompts a very brief story from your childhood of sailing with your grandfather. This personal connection could help them remember you. Following up with a thank-you email can also help.

So, how to prepare for a virtual interview? The key is to be prepared.  Begin this process days or weeks before you know you will have your first interview. You will then appear confident, professional, and ready for your new position.

The post How To Prepare for a Virtual Interview – 3 Primary Secrets appeared first on DesignWebKit.

Ideas For Working From Home #1 – Customer Support

Letstalkaboutmoney has recently published an article about the top work from home opportunities, and customer support rep is one of the first choices in that list. It is understandable given how many businesses have increased their presence on the internet and need someone who can respond to social media messages, emails, and even live chat on the website.

The work itself varies. It depends on what kind of store it is. As expected, some brands receive more inquiries than others. Overall, it will take some time to get used to the job regardless of where you are going to work. However, once things pick up and you gain a bit of experience, it should not be that much of a problem. If the workload is not that big, and there is no need to deal with constant phone calls, becoming a customer support rep could be one of the best decisions you can make.

Ideas For Working From Home #2 – Online Surveys

It may sound too good to be true, but there are people who are making income from filling surveys on the internet. Now it is worth mentioning that the pay itself is not that great, and some surveys do not pay out with money but rather gift cards and other perks. Nevertheless, given how easy it is to fill out various surveys by providing answers to random questions, it can still be a good source of extra income.

Working At Home Idea #3 – Data Entry

Data entry jobs can be found on freelancer platforms like Fiverr and Upwork. You may be surprised by the number of such gigs, but as long as there is a demand for it, you can go ahead and apply for the position.

Keep in mind that you will be going up against other bidders, so be sure to prepare a good submission letter to convince the potential employer. Also, this kind of work will lead you to get positive feedback on the profile and find better freelancing jobs in the future.

Idea #4 – Virtual Assistant

Quite a few people cannot take care of their business throughout the day because they simply do not have enough time. So what do they do? Hire a virtual assistant. 

At first, you may have to deal with trivial matters that might not seem like that big of a deal. Gradually, though, you could be trusted with more tasks and build better relationships with the person who has hired you. Not only will it be a good working experience, but it will also be an opportunity to gain a powerful ally who might be able to help you later. 

Working At Home Idea #5 – Blogging

Blogging continues to be one of the most popular methods to make money on the internet when talking about the ideas for working from home. There is a way to create a source of income so long as you are consistent with the posts and can provide your readers with interesting content.

The biggest obstacle is starting the blog and gaining enough readers. It will take time and a lot of work. However, you can turn a blog into your sole source of income so long as you play your cards right. The monetization of the blog can come from multiple sources. Some bloggers like to run ads or add affiliate links in the articles. Others offer guest-posting opportunities, promote their digital products, or even create a crowdfunding page. 

Working At Home Ideas #6 – Proofreading

There are a lot of writers on the internet. However, not everyone is willing to check their text and fix typos thoroughly among those who write. You could be the person who makes sure that the text is ready for publishing.

People who like reading and have a good understanding of grammar should be the ones who have the highest chances of making a lot of money with proofreading as the work requires experience. The more quality you show with your skills, the more opportunities you will have.

Ideas for Working from Home #7 – Editing Videos

The videos you see on YouTube or social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook are usually edited by someone other than the people talking to you in the video. Overall, video editing is an excellent skill to have. It would not go to waste even if you go back to your old job after the Coronavirus is over.

Idea #8 – Coding

Coding is similar to video editing. It takes time to master, but the effort is worth it. You should not have any problems being a website developer who works from home. After all, you only need an internet connection and a computer to do the work. 

The post Ideas for Working from Home – Top 8 Ones for Your Inspiration appeared first on DesignWebKit.