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These Are the Best Computers for Graphic Design Work in 2023

May 19, 2023

Author: Eleanor Hecks

Computers with processing power and graphic capabilities can install Photoshop or other design software with few issues. However, certain models are designed explicitly with graphic designers in mind. Ergonomics, preloaded software and mechanics offer a better overall feel, presentation and usability.

Here are the top laptop and desktop computers for graphic design work in 2023.

1. Mac Mini M2 Pro

Everyone has four figures to drop on a graphic design setup. Apple’s Mac Mini M2 Pro is a noticeable upgrade from previous models for a more reasonable price. It has an MSRP of $599.99 and promises to be 5.5 times faster for Adobe Lightroom Classic functionalities and 4.4 times faster in Final Cut Pro than the 27-inch iMac. It achieves this with a 16-core GPU, variable RAM — 16-32 GB — and solid-state drive (SSD) space. It’s available in 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB or 2 TB for even the most avid image and video designers.

It’s a compact computer, but it doesn’t come with displays out of the box, which is something to consider for the price. Its faster performance will make designers happy when there’s no lag when rendering images in their software, despite not being user upgradeable.

Apple is renowned for catering to the design sector, and the Mac mini M2 Pro is no exception. The non-pro version is also a worthy contender if the higher specs aren’t necessary for your purposes.

2. Surface Studio 2

The Microsoft Surface Studio 2 is a high-caliber machine, and the price reflects it. There are variations, depending on if you want 16 GB or 32 GB of RAM, and its current price is around $4,299.99 for the machine with the highest specs. It includes a 1 TB SSD, an Intel Core i7 processor and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card. Buyers can immediately see where the investment lies — stunning graphics capability but with a slightly underwhelming processor.

Even though there aren’t versions of the Surface Studio 2 with a more potent processor, its powerful 28-inch touch-screen display shines bright. It has mobility with its hinges, allowing artists to view their pieces from any angle. It is perfect for illustrators because it offers Surface Pen support to draw directly on the screen without damage. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 is another variant that’s worth looking into.

3. HP Envy 34-Inch All-in-One

Buyers can expect to drop a pretty penny on the HP Envy, but not as much as some of the other machines on this list. The benefits of an all-in-one device come strong at around $2,000, and it is ideal for illustrators, game designers or social media graphics creators. It can do it all, with 32 GB of RAM and another terabyte of SSD storage for every minute of video and every pixel of art.

Customers will get an easily upgradeable display and machine if they want the cheapest version to invest in over time. The name touts its gorgeous 34-inch display, which gives designers an excellent 5120 x 2160 resolution to explore and develop their art. Again, the Intel Core i7 processor is nothing to write home about, as it decreases the computer’s speed.

Among its other parts, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 is highly configurable and adaptable to the experience designers want to have. It is the most malleable machine on this list, making it a durable option for people who don’t want to go tech shopping for a while.

4. iMac 27-Inch

The Intel Core i5 isn’t ideal, but the iMac 27-inch is the quintessential graphic design setup you have seen in movies or universities. They’re one of the most accessible kits for any designer level, with around a $1,500 price tag. However, plenty are available in the secondhand market. A refurbished Mac can be just as valuable and viable, regardless if you’re a student or professional.

The boon behind the 27-inch iMac is the 5K Retina display, sitting at a 5120 x 2880 resolution. That’s 1 billion colors designers can see on a luxurious screen. Alongside the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 GPU, designers can see everything in crisp and vibrant colors.

5. Dell Precision 7920 Tower

Not everything has to be Microsoft or Apple — Linux has its share of offerings for graphic designers, too. Linux has always been known for its versatility and security, a phenomenal workspace that provides peace of mind for designers.

The Precision 7920 Tower might not be the best graphic design setup for those unfamiliar with the Linux OS, but if you already know your way around or want to learn, it has competitive specs. It has an AMD Radeon Pro WX 3200 GPU and an Intel Xeon Bronze 3204 processor with many ports for all your peripherals. It works well for designers in all niches, but Linux appeals greatly to 3D modelers and video editors.

6. Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra

There are varied laptop and tablet setups for graphic designers. Some even have dual displays where a screen rests above the keyboard. However, the Galaxy Book3 Ultra is one of the more balanced options on the market if you’re taking graphic design seriously — and want to pay around $2,100. Battery life is one of the most critical specs for a laptop running heavy-duty software, and this has it while keeping performance at the top of mind.

If you’re designing for video, it also has an OLED screen and 1080p webcam that integrates with Windows Studio Effects. As with Apple products, if you have other Galaxy line products, expect seamless integration of these tools for a more comprehensive experience.

Choosing the Ideal Design Computer

Computers are out there that can help graphic designers make their work better, whether with peripherals or a stunning display. Though prices range on the heavier side, these machines are top-ranking and a long-term investment into years of graphic design capabilities. Each has pros and cons, with some promising more flexibility or power than others. You must determine your priorities to align with the machine for you.

Eleanor Hecks is editor-in-chief at Designerly Magazine. Eleanor was the creative director and occasional blog writer at a prominent digital marketing agency before becoming her own boss in 2018. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and dog, Bear.

Why This Method Is the Best Choice for Hiring Web Developers

May 11, 2023

Author: Eleanor Hecks

Part of the success of any business depends significantly on the expertise of its web developers. With the right team, you can create seamless online experiences, capture your target audience’s attention, and drive business growth.

However, finding the perfect web developer can be challenging. How do you identify and recruit individuals who will contribute to your organization’s success effectively?

Consider hiring web developers using an innovative method that combines skills-based assessment and structured interview processes. This approach is more effective than traditional hiring practices, ensuring the right fit for your organization’s needs.

What Is a Skills-Based Assessment?

A skills-based assessment is an evaluation method that measures a candidate’s ability to perform specific job-related tasks. Instead of relying solely on resumes and qualifications, this approach tests practical skills and demonstrates how well candidates can apply their knowledge in real-world situations. Essentially, it provides a more accurate view of a potential web developer’s capabilities, helping employers make better hiring decisions.

Skills-based assessments come in various forms, from coding challenges to technical skill tests. These assessments are tailored to the job requirements, ensuring candidates possess the necessary skills for the role. When incorporating this hiring methodology, employers can objectively evaluate a candidate’s technical proficiency and problem-solving skills.

Why Should Employers Use Skills-Based Assessments?

This method is effective in identifying top talent and reducing the impact of unconscious biases in the hiring process. It is a standardized evaluation process, meaning all candidates are assessed using the same criteria, fostering greater diversity in the workforce. In fact, studies show that companies with greater diversity experience 47% higher productivity levels.

Furthermore, this method excels at uncovering hidden talents. It looks beyond work experience, educational background, or resumes, providing a comprehensive assessment of a candidate’s abilities and allowing them to showcase their skills that may have yet to be apparent.

Types of Skills-Based Assessments for Hiring Web Developers

When hiring a web developer, several types of skills-based assessments can help you evaluate a candidate’s technical abilities and determine if they are a good fit for your organization. Here are some common types of skills-based assessments that hiring managers use.

Coding Challenges

These assessments test a candidate’s programming abilities and problem-solving skills. Candidates get a coding problem to solve within a set time frame, allowing you to assess their efficiency and code quality.

Project-Based Tasks

Candidates receive a small-scale project that stimulates real-world tasks they would encounter on the job. This approach evaluates their ability to design, implement and troubleshoot web development projects.

Technical Skill Tests

These measure a candidate’s proficiency in specific frameworks, tools and programming languages, such as Python —- a widely used programming language in web development. By testing their knowledge in these areas, you can determine if they possess the necessary skills to contribute effectively to your web development team.

Portfolio Review

This method involves examining a candidate’s previous work, including websites, applications and other web-based projects they have developed. This evaluation gauges their experience, creativity, attention to detail, and ability to follow industry best practices and implement user-centric designs.

Pair Programming Exercises

In this assessment, candidates are paired with an experienced developer from your team to work collaboratively on a task or solve a problem. While this exercise proves their technical skills, it also demonstrates how well they work with other team members and adapts to your organization’s coding workflow.

What Is a Structured Interview Process?

A structured interview process is a systematic and consistent approach to conducting interviews. It is where all candidates will have the same set of predefined questions, and employers will evaluate their responses based on standardized criteria. This method aims to minimize biases and subjectivity in the hiring process while providing a more objective and reliable means of comparing candidates.

The structured interview process includes several components:

Standardized questions: Asking each candidate the same questions ensures every applicant has a chance for equality. Plus, it makes identifying the best fit for the role easier.

Predefined evaluation criteria: Interviewers rate candidates’ responses using a predetermined scoring system. This method helps in reducing personal biases and inconsistencies in the evaluation process.

Consistent format: The interview process follows a uniform structure, which may include time limits, question order and interview settings. That way, you create a level playing field for all candidates.

Why Should Employers Use Structured Interviews?

Employers should consider using structured interviews for several compelling reasons. One of the primary benefits is the enhanced objectivity it brings to the hiring process. When you utilize standardized questions and predefined evaluation criteria — you can make more data-driven decisions that lead to a fairer and more accurate candidate selection.

A structured interview also enables an easier comparison of candidates. Since all applicants are assessed using the same parameters, employers can identify top talent more effectively and determine the best fit for their organization. This approach leads to better hiring decisions, team performance and overall business outcomes.

Additionally, this process ensures that all candidates have an equal opportunity to showcase their skills and qualifications. This fosters a more inclusive hiring process, enabling organizations to build diverse and talented web development teams. In turn, this drives innovation and success within the organization.

Tips for Integrating a Skills-Based Assessment and Structured Interview Process

Successfully integrating this hiring method requires careful planning and execution. Here are some tips to help you combine the two strategies effectively:

Customize the process: Tailor the assessments and interview questions to reflect the specific requirements of the web developer position, ensuring you evaluate the most relevant skills and competencies.

Align with your company culture: Ensure your interview questions and evaluation criteria reflect your organization’s values and work culture. That way, you can identify candidates who will fit well within your team.

Train your interviewers: Provide interviewers with guidelines and training on the structured interview process. Doing so ensures they understand the purpose of each question and how to evaluate candidates’ responses objectively.

Balance technical and soft skills: While focusing on technical abilities is crucial, remember to assess candidates’ communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills. As such, they can significantly impact their performance in a web development role.

Continuously review and improve: Regularly evaluate your hiring process’s effectiveness by gathering feedback from interviewers and candidates. Then, you can adjust as needed to ensure you consistently hire the best web developers.

Hiring a Web Developer Successfully

Adopting a combination of skills-based assessments and a structured interview process is the best choice for hiring web developers. This innovative method enables you to make informed and accurate hiring decisions and build a strong, talented web development team. Once you fully leverage this proven method, you will be able to hire top-notch web developers that drive your business forward.

Most Designers Miss This Vital Component of Logo Design

May 4, 2023

Author: Eleanor Hecks

Logo design is a common task graphic designers work on for brands as they either enhance what the company already has or come up with a fresh new rendering to showcase a startup to its best advantage. The logo is what consumers see frequently throughout their experience with a business. It appears everywhere from a storefront to a website to social media and emails.

One research study showed when it comes to logos, the perception of sincerity was 70% more important to people than any other element in the design. It’s hard to pinpoint how to make a logo sincere, however. It’s a rather abstract term. People can focus on the colors and the emotions they evoke. The text can be to the point and accurate. The font can match the brand personality in style and tone.

However, the often overlooked aspect of logo design that may be the deciding factor between one logo and the next is placement and sizing. Once you have all the other elements in place, take a step back and ensure the placement and sizing is exactly what you need for the project you’re working on.

1. Avoid the Right Side

If you’re catering to English-speaking readers, then you should consider the Z-pattern most used to read, especially if placing the logo on a website or other digital properties. Most will start in the upper left corner and read across, skip down on a diagonal and then read across the bottom from left to right again.

Adding your logo to the upper left of an app or website page makes more sense because it is the first thing users will see.

2. Choose the Best Sizing

What type of product or asset you place the logo on makes a difference. On a website, you might want to ensure certain elements such as the call to action button stay above the fold. Resizing your logo so everything fits makes the most sense in this scenario.

If you’re creating a T-shirt, then you must consider placement when choosing sizing. A logo on the back of a tee is going to require a much larger size than one on the right breast pocket, for example. On a breast pocket, the logo should be where it should be around 2.5 to 5 inches tall by 2.5 inches wide. By comparison, on the back, aim for it should run between 10 to 14 inches wide and up to six inches tall.

3. Consider Other Elements

When thinking about sizing and placement, consider the other elements in the design or on the page. If you have a large image, you don’t want the logo to be so overwhelmed that it fades into the background.

Think about the things you need to do to make your logo pop. No matter what type of marketing you’re doing, you want the logo to always be the first thing the user sees. Ensuring it pops builds brand awareness and increases customer loyalty.

4. Responsive Logos

Keep in mind when designing for a digital presence that people might access it via a laptop computer or via their mobile devices. Different screen sizes can impact the way the logo appears. You want it to adapt to smaller screens and not overtake the entire page or fall off the edge.

Test any designer in all different screen sizes to figure out if it is adapting to different users’ needs.

5. Deliver the Best Files for Scaling

Once your design is complete, you’ll want to save it in vector, TIFF or PNG for better scaling. Even though the design might look great on a flier or a website, what if the company wants a large store sign or placement on a billboard?

When you deliver the files in the right format, you make it easier for scaling up at a later date. Otherwise, you might find yourself redesigning or losing quality on the image.

6. Watch for Double Meanings

We’ve all seen the logo designs gone wrong. The Starbucks logo that turned into “sucks” when the panel door on a delivery van opens or the airplane logo that went down an escalator and made it look like the plane was crashing.

It’s crucial you consider the different angles and sizes a logo might be used for. If necessary, offer additional versions of the logo for specific uses. A logo design should be universal enough to work in any placement or size needed by its brand.

How Important Is Size and Space to Logo Design?

Sizing and spacing can change the entire look of a logo. Having enough data to know where and how the logo will be utilized is a vital part of designing something that represents a company well. After all, you don’t want to attach your name to a design that garners attention for the wrong reasons. Take a little extra time to factor in size and spacing and your logo will have that added professional touch that sets your work apart from beginner designers.

Seven Components of an Elegant Website

April 20, 2023

Author: Eleanor Hecks

Creating an elegant website helps people see the value of a product or service. Whether a brand wants a more traditional look or something refined, there are specific elements to include for a sophisticated tone.

What Are the Characteristics of an Elegant Website?

With around 2.3 million active websites around the globe. Around three new sites are created every second of every day. Sites range from funny to serious and everything in between. Designs can range from vintage to grunge to the elegant websites discussed in this article.

Although people often know elegance when they see it, defining it is a bit more challenging. Fortunately, scouring the internet for examples turns up some patterns in the things included in a site to make it look luxurious and traditional.

Here are the top seven components that make an elegant website appealing.

1. Luxurious Colors

The color palette a brand chooses can make it seem more elegant. Hues such as pink and purple may seem more modern. Blue offers a serious feel used often by banks and financial institutions. Luxurious color options include soft cream colors, grays, taupes and gold.

Source: https://www.emmemobili.it

Emmemobili offers beautiful wood furnishings that are the height of Italian luxury. To show their more elegant side, they offer photos of staged rooms showcasing their furniture. Note the use of creams, earth tones and gold centerpieces to pull it all together. When used in a way that balances the color palette, gold can add a touch of elegance to almost any website.

2. Words

The words chosen for a website design make an impact on how users view the page. Elegance is often associated with soft sounding words and traditional language. Stay away from slang or harsh sounding words.

For example, instead of describing a food product as bold, look for a different word such as spirited. Finding a softer or more traditional phrase can add elegance to a design.

3. Beautiful Photos

Images bring so much to any website design. They can tell a story, set a tone and create consistency. Using big, beautiful pictures grabs the user’s interest and engages their imagination.

Source: https://www.schonbek.com

Schonbek offers beautiful crystal chandeliers. To highlight their beautiful designs, they share photos on their website where the focal point is the product. However, the images themselves are of elegant rooms and simple backgrounds. The product descriptions feature the chandelier on a plain background so the only focus is on the beauty of the piece.

4. Typography

Choose the right typography for your design. Elegance is often associated with events and weddings. Choose beautiful calligraphy-style fonts for headings. Stick with a serif font, which has a more traditional look than sans-serif.

Limit the options to two or three typefaces and stick with the same one throughout for a consistent look. When in doubt about whether or not to use a font, check out how it appears on both desktop and mobile devices. Is it still readable in smaller sizes? Will there be any confusion over which letters form which words? If anything is unclear, choose a different option for your typeface.

5. Background

The right background color can make or break your elegant website. If you want a regal look, stick with golds. Purple also adds a royal touch to any site and can offset the gold. Whatever your brand’s color palette is, look for ways to incorporate at least a few luxury hues.

Source: https://www.brownhotel.com

The Brown Hotel is known as a luxury hotel. Notice the elegance of the images shared in the hero image. Their design features a dark background with hints of gold throughout the design. A gold call to action (CTA) button appears in a side slide.

Brands wanting to add a bit more elegance to their websites can add in hints of gold or other luxury colors without having to do a complete redesign. Popups and CTA buttons are a good place to add a bit of elegance without having to do a complete redesign.

6. Whitespace

Elegant designs often have ample whitespace within the design. Don’t crowd too many elements together as it can reduce the luxurious look of the page. Most people associate elegance with spaciousness and airiness. Keep things light and well balanced so the user’s eye goes to the key features on the page.

7. Timelessness

Choose elements that aren’t trendy. Adding things that go in and out of style is a sure way to not have an elegant website. Instead, stick to the looks, fonts and features used repeatedly for decades. Embrace the basics of good design such as clear navigational structure, beautiful imagery and classic color palettes.

Source: https://www.godiva.com

Godiva does a good job keeping things timeless. The chocolate display features butterflies and florals–themes that repeat every spring. The CTA button is gold. The background for the header is black. One won’t see bold pops of accent colors on this site other than in a few images. The main elements stick to a tried and true palette and the accents are from nature.

How to Build and Maintain Elegant Website

To keep a site on the luxurious side, consider every feature on the page. The colors should be classic, the fonts serif and scripts and the images ones people could see ten years ago, today and ten years from today. Stick with what is tried and true and the site will develop a natural elegance people will recognize.