But in the last few years – and especially the last five or so – there are some design trends that are everywhere. This is generally because they are actually very good and easy to adapt to other changes in the marketing world. They are also able to be included in plenty of other more unique or new looks, which makes them basic style staples.

The problem is that this means they are overused. In particular, there are seven design basics that you will see all over the place, and you might want to keep an eye on if you want to try to use them yourself. Mainly because you run the risk of creating something that looks like any other logo or design that you will come across on the web. Who wants that? No one hoping to set their skills (or personal businesses and sites) apart from the pack, that is for sure.

Below are these seven trends that you have to be very careful if you decide to use them yourself.

1. Badges and Buttons

It used to be that you would see badges or buttons all over the web, and that wasn’t a surprise. It is a much more attractive way of presenting a gateway than an average link, especially with the dull, active and inactive text settings of the days or yore. You can also stack, line or place them in locations that are more pleasing to the eye, rather than just laying it out list a list or burying it in text.

Most commonly you will see these badges presented as bright, glittery boxes. They seem to shine thanks to the often-blended white gradient layers along with the block lettering and creative logo use. Since they appear to glow at you from the screen they can be really appealing.

But have you noticed who is using these the most? Companies such as Apple or social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook have more or less monopolized the use of badges in the last couple of years. Need proof? Look at app download pages or the share buttons on blogs all over the web. It is almost a shock to see them used for anything else anymore.

This overuse added to brand association spells death to the badge and button as a multi-purpose design option for others.

2. Speech Bubbles and Megaphones

Social media and networking has presented a new way of communicating to people all over the world. Since that is its primary function on a user to user level (even marketing is within this line of usage), it stands to reason that speech bubbles and megaphones would be used in logos and banners.

After all, those are direct visual representations of what these sites have sought out to do.

But the idea of showing it to be a "talking" logo has become old and stale. I have lost count of how many companies use this now, and they all seem to look the same. It isn’t that a visual showing talking and listening can’t be utilized, but perhaps something a bit more creative than the now overdone comic-era speech bubble?

3. Fun With Opacity!

I think all designers have had their fair share of fun with the lovely Multiply and Overlay features in  Photoshop? By changing the opacity of any layer you can create a really cool effect with next to no effort on your part. It can change the entire look of a logo in an instant, and might make the difference between something standard and boring and something elegant and well designed.

Possibly the most recent example of how this old technique is being utilized is in the Microsoft Silverlight logo, which was a beautifully done one that is immediately recognizable to even those who only occasionally use Internet Explorer as their browser.

Since it is so versatile and is a tool of design rather than a method, this once doesn’t have the same problem of becoming boring like some others on this list.  But it is still easy to use the wrong blend of colors or shapes, which will be less than appealing.

4. Kawaii Illustration

I keep seeing these logos all over the place, especially when it comes to apps such as Seesmic and GitHub, two very adult, industry-oriented tools for power users looking for marketing opportunities on the web.

It is not something you would expect to see advertised by adorable, fluffy, giant eyed woodland creatures.

But lately they appear to be everywhere, and that in itself shows the popularity of the trend. No one seems to know what started it, but it doesn’t look like it will be going away.

The problem with using it is that if you are not very specific about how you are presenting it, the brand you are marketing might get lost in the cuteness that is the adorable animal.

Make sure to be clear about what it is attached to, and watch to make sure it is not too similar to those used by other companies and web apps.

5. Scripts, Slabs and Other Cool Fonts

I am going to take a wild guess and say you have used Archer more than once in a logo design. I don’t think there is a single designer among us who hasn’t, or used one very similar to the point of being almost indistinguishable. Since it was probably the most popular font of the last three years it would be silly to scold you for it.

But I will tell you to step away from the Archer now. Slab serif fonts are still a great tool, but keep in mind how often they are used and the way they have a tendency to make logos all look very similar.

Instead, try to go with a more unique, lesser used alternative to the old boys. If it is something you haven’t really seen before, use it! Try building a logo to fit the font rather than the other way around. This will give an immediate creative boost and set you apart with next to no additional effort.

6. Verdant and Plant-Inspired

In this case I am not going to say "be careful when using" this design choice. I am going to say to ‘be careful not using it’, because it a really ignored look. That is unfortunate because flora and fauna are great ways to present a natural and pleasant looking logo.

Depictions of nature give people a sense of ease, and even a plant related silhouette will seem warmer and inviting than many more modern and bare looking designs that have become the norm online.

But too much of flora is still no good.

7. Quadrangles

What are these things? Seriously, they are lopsided and fit no actual shape known to man. They are somewhere between a rectangle and a trapezoid, and they are everywhere these days. Which is interesting, because symmetry was once considered a great ally to the designer, especially for logos.

The problem here is that quadrangles can appear so uneven that it gives an off-putting look to the entire logo. You have to balance it just right, and without proper color schemes, font and placement it just looks wrong. I have never personally liked one I have seen, though I can see why those who like fun and modern designs might get into it.

Tell Us Your Own!

There are so many trends out there we can’t keep up with them all. Which do you see that could be used correctly, and what ones are a flop? Let us know in the comments.

Similarly many ads can be published in the newspapers but since newsprint quality is not too good so ads with lesser colors will appear good.

Press ads refer to advertising to a mass number of people mainly through the following steps:

• Awareness
• Knowledge
• Liking
• Preference
• Conviction
• Purchase

Starting from the initial level of awareness, newspapers and magazines are the best way to create it in lesser amounts, till the end result of purchase. With the growing rate of internet usage, web ads and web banners are becoming more useful, even in these circumstances, newspapers still sell more. Easy, readily available and cheaper medium to advertise.

Press ads can be in varied sizes, the width of ads depends on columns of the newspapers, e.g. you can have 1 column or 2 column or 3 column or 4 column upto 8 column ad with varying heights.

1 column =3.8cm
2 column=7.8cm
3 column=11.8cm
4 column=15.8cm
5 column=19.8cm
6 column=23.8cm
7 column=27.8cm
8 column=31.8cm

1 column press ad

2 column press ad

3 column press ad

This is a very interesting example of 4 column ad, with spaces in between to make a complete image.

These are the standard widths of press ads depending on columns; the more columns the more expensive.

Placement of Ads

Placement of ads is also an important issue. If the brand is endorsed on the front page of the paper, more likely it will grab more audience but more expensive it will be. Similarly on the back page, inner second page are the places where you can draw more attention of people. Moreover it is also important to know which other ads are being published on that page. If the other ads are brighter, more colorful more vibrant, then definitely you have to work more on your ad to make it better than others. Classified section can also be used to advertise, but in that case you don’t have much space for creativity, either it will just be text or minimal imagery, or just the logo or the tagline. This is a very cheap method but risj factor is involved, what if you do not get the right response.

Now you can very well se hoe ads are placed in newspapers, size and matter does matter.

Copy of the Ads

Copy of the ads is the most sensitive issue. The copywriter must exactly know what to address and to whom. It should be crispy and witty, less words and more meaning. Lesser the copy, greater appeal will your ad have. Press ads have the ability to reach to people through words, therefore when you have details or more information about the brand, press ads are preferred since they can accommodate more text. Press ads give all the information and the contact for future reference. Weekend newspapers are more selling, therefore people prefer to advertise in the newspapers on weekend edition since they have more chances to reach to a greater number of people.

Now this ad has the ability to reach to people through words and mostly press ads are like that.

1. Read Me : Does the viewer decide to read it from one to all. Does the text and copy have an appeal to let the viewer decide to read it all.

2. Quick Scan : A brochure enables the person to have a quick scan of what it is about. Even if he does not read it more precisely, quick scan must help him to understand the goals and services of the company. What is the underlying concept and do the images help him to understand the strategy.

3. Interest of the viewer to decide to contact the company : If the brochure is so eye catching and excellently portrays company’s profile, does it actually convince the viewer to contact the company. This is the main reason why the brochure is made, to sell company’s name and to grab the audience.

The main objective of brochure is to understand the goal. Aims and objectives must properly be defined in order to design a proper brochure. Who is the target audience, what language they would understand, what is the imagery they would relate to.

The Theme and Structure

Though graphic designing appears to be very glamorous but in real sense it is communication design. The intent and the theme must be very clear to the target audience. Using too many colors in a brochure might not be a good idea since the essence is direct communication. Use of two or three background colors with the highlighted imagery would be simple yet effective. Maintain a great flow throughout the brochure, use harmonized images or thorough repetition or create a balance. Though brochure printing is done on a flat surface but create a proper grid on each panel. Give enough margin spaces to avoid clutter so viewer’s eye moves from one end to the other continuously and is able to read it properly.

Selection of Fonts

Selection of fonts is very important. Bold fonts are used for headings, easily readable fonts for rest of the copy. Font sizes are also important, neither too small nor too large. Brochure should have the quality of being read quickly. Too much copy would deviate the attention of the reader. Use bold words in copy, short clichés would be appropriate. Using image captions is a good way. Don’t use text over images unless images are being used as watermarks. Tell the reader step by step what he has to do to contact. Never forget to use company’s brief introduction and contact details.

Imagery

Imagery is the best communication. The viewer before reading the text goes through the images. This is the best part of a brochure. Use the images so appealing and communicative that they drive viewer’s brain to read the text also.

Cover

Cover is the most fighting element in the market. It should scream take me, read me in the jungle of other covers. Minimal words and most vibrant imagery is the key to success. It does not mean it should be full of clutter but being simple it should have a shelf value.

Value for Future

What elements does your brochure have so the viewer keeps it for his future reference. Is it its design or information or just because somebody liked it. Even if this is the reason atleast some time in life he might use it and contact the company. It should not be thrown in a bin or should be flown away by making an airplane of it.

Use of cut outs increases the value.

Pop out images can be an interesting way to increase the value.

On the other hand flyers are brief, simple single leaf or maybe with 2 or 3 folds. Flyers have less opportunities to be creative since they are made to reduce cost of printing and reaching out to larger masses. Same points have to be kept in mind for flyers/leaflets as discussed for brochures.

Some Brochure Samples for Inspiration

Letter Head

In how many ways can a letter head be designed? Several ways more expanded than your imagination. There might not be any hard and fast rules to design it, but there are some rules and guidelines that will help you create letter heads most liked and remembered and giving a very unique practical usage.

Positioning of Logo

Since logo is the most important part of your stationery, it is important to know how and where the logo should be placed on the letter head. Usually in the top corner logo is placed because of the reason to provide ample space for writing on the letter head. Some part of logo as watermark can also be done, but make sure neither it should restrict the movement of eye, nor it should be so bright that it covers the entire page.

These letter heads also show watermarks but to the limit that one can easily have space to write anything onto it.

Contact Information

Contact information is usually in the lower part either it can be in the corner or a straight band can be used to give the contact information. The reason being the same as to provide complete space for writing.

Fairly to a large extent it is the matter of personal preference as to what appeals to your own eye. But yes what message the client is trying to convey, is it traditional, cultural or is it modern or contemporary. Does the brand identity suggests speed or energy or does it depict calmness or tranquility. Whatever the identity is, it must be shown and in such case proper alignment must be done to create a smooth and complete balance. You can draw attention by keeping the tag line away from the rest of the elements, or create some unusual element or design which seeks attention. Create a focal point, if you are adding color make sure it’s not complicated.

Use of colors should be in a harmonized manner with minimal intersection and should not be in layers, rather plain and less gradients.

Envelope

Get an envelope in your hand and see if you like to keep it as it is without ripping it off. What is the most unusual and dynamic part of the envelope which will make you keep it with you for years?

Envelopes go everywhere, from clients to a layman. What are the most amazing ways to design it so one really wants to know what’s hidden inside.

Most of us use envelops just as often as drinking water. But do you actually know how it is constructed? The size of the piece, type of mailing, budget, and whether or not you’ll be using automated equipment to insert the envelope contents affects the style of envelope you can use. In order to enhance a personal or business image and invoke a particular action create an envelope that stays forever. You can also choose specific envelope sizes and can choose customized sizes also, but make sure you already know the available paper sizes.

Parts of Envelope

Face or Front
The front side of the envelope where address comes and may show a small transparent window. It is seamless without any fold.

Back
The back of the envelope, typically left blank, is where the flaps meet to form and seal the envelope.

Flaps
The parts of an envelope that are folded, overlapped, and sealed to enclose the contents are typically rectangular or triangular with rounded, tapered, or pointed corners. The typical envelope consists of two side flaps, a bottom flap, and a top flap. The side flaps are folded in first with the bottom flap folded up. They are sealed where they overlap. The top flap is folded over the side and bottom flaps and sealed after inserting the envelope contents.

Seams
The flaps determine the seams — the edges where the envelope flaps meet and overlap.

Folds
The creases formed at the sides, top, and bottom between the face and the back when all the flaps are folded to the back of the envelope are the folds.

Envelope Openings and Closures
Envelopes have one side left open and unsealed for inserting material. Non-square envelopes are either open end or open side. Open side is the most common, even though most letter mail envelopes appear to open on top. The opening is determined not by orientation of the top flap but by the length of the side where the opening appears. In addition to the style or position of the flap, envelope closures may be with or without adhesive.

Make sure whatever you decide to design the stationery, the construction, flaps, folds must be known. Whether it is letter head or envelop, it must depict company’s complete profile and image.

Printing Feasibilities

Many different processes can be adopted for printing of stationery. Though we do not intend to go in the details of printing, but just to give an idea about few specifications in order to let you choose the right printing process for your stationery.

Digital Offset Printing

In today’s world the most diversely used printing process giving a very dynamic and high resolution result is this process. The quickest, most efficient and completely digital without any manual handling and the most accurate of all is this process. To give a photographic quality to the images, this process is usually adopted by all the professionals.

Letterpress Printing

This is the oldest and most versatile process. This method uses metallic plates onto which printable area or design is raised, thus ink only touches that raised designed area. This design is then transferred directly onto the paper and due to the pressure slight embossing may appear on the back side of the paper.

Flat Offset Printing

Mostly known as flat printing, it’s less expensive and less formal. Image created on the plate in black and white is directly transferred onto paper.

Engraving

Engraving, the oldest still the most unique process is though expensive but gives the most elegant look to your stationery. Paper is pressed against a metal plate to create an impression. You can even feel the raised engraved images with your finger.

Thermography

This is also a very unique and interesting process for the stationery. The paper when passes through the press is passed through a powdered application. Resin is mixed with the powder and it only adheres to the wet ink which was on the paper. Later the printer heats the paper which causes the resin to melt and fuse with the ink. Then after cooling the effect is textured. This process though less expensive than engraving, does not give a formal and complete look what engraving gives.

A brief introduction to these printing techniques is given so you may know what are you actually going to design for your stationery. Extraordinary designs never come without complete knowledge.

Check out the link for printing services.

How to make your business cards extraordinary?

This is one major question that has to be answered while designing a card. Most of the business cards are tend to be forgotten just because they are too ordinary. They should have a quality of having custom shapes, different materials and matte finishing along with a great design idea.

These are very interesting examples of how to make your business card different n tempting. Apart from different printing techniques used, it’s the idea and the concept which is important. Use of different materials onto which printing can be done and handmade customized options can also be developed.

Cutouts, colorful imagery, unusual and unexpected shapes can make your business cards one of a kind. 3D effects and intersecting networks can also be done but for that a designer must need to produce a dummy before getting it actually made. e.g.

These kinds of cards can also cater as souvenirs for a certain company. These kinds of cards definitely gives dynamic impact and possibly people to whom these are given may not need your services at that very moment, but definitely will think about it in the future because the creative business card serves as reminder to them.

Does your business card have the ability not to be thrown in the waste paper bin?

Reach out a hand in your wallet and check how many of the business cards you have are being thrown by you in the trash. Do you know the reason? Just because an ordinary boring and a dull looking card just doesn’t want to be stayed with you. Following are the points that must be kept in mind while designing a business card.

Paper Quality

what is the quality of paper being offered. Is your card flimsy, with torn, rough and perforated edges? Is the paper so light weight that it just doesn’t get placed on a table without a weight? Is the paper glossy or matte? If it’s glossy why the thumb prints are visible on it? These are very very important questions you must keep in mind. In order to answer these you must have a complete knowledge of the materials in the market and how they vary.

Ink

Drop some liquid on your business card. If the ink runs, it’s in the trash.

Color Test

Colorful cards can add to your professional image. Too much color can be distracting. 3 color or full color cards not only give a very strong impact but also add to the beauty of your card holder and things around it.

Message Design

Your business card should clearly convey what you do, what are the services you’re offering and what is your company all about. Your location, contact so people can easily reach you is very important.

Image Match

business card must match with the business of the company, e.g a textile designer’s card must depict the flow of fabrics, colors, satins exactly in synch with the services he/she is providing.

Font Size

your card must depict the size of the font which is readable and visible. White spaces to the card serve as breathing space and do not hinder your eye movement. If you have lot to say use the space on the back of the card. Don’t ever use tiny fonts which are not at all appealing to the eye and people have issues in reading them.

Contact Information

clients and other people must have a complete knowledge of how to contact a certain company or person. The business card must show all the details like phone number, cell number, email, website address, fax or whatever data required.

It is not necessary to include a complete listing of services or products on the business card. Keep it to the essentials. Use brochures and personal interviews to disclose the full range of services or products offered.

Check out the link for business card printing.

When you are creative you have to show your skills in every field. Designing a birthday cake is not much different just medium is different. Today i am showcasing the amazing designs of birthday cake for those readers who are about to go older, others just can take a bite . Do tell us if luckily today is your birthday.

These tutorials include all types of wallpapers, music wallpaper, love wallpaper, abstract wallpaper, anime wallpaper, all these will help you a lot to design cool and creative wallpapers. Here is the list of 50 best tutorials to design wallpapers.

1. On Seacoast Wallpaper

2. Splash My Heart Wallpaper

3. Vector Wallpaper

4. Music Girl Wallpaper

5. Abstract Christmas Wallpaper

6. Creating A Typographic Wallpaper

7. Windows Vista Aurora Effect Wallpaper

8. Trendy Geometric Lines Design Wallpaper

9. Abstract Wallpaper – Luminescent Lines

10. Digital Wallpaper Effect

11. Wallpaper With Logo

12. Fantastic Wallpapers

13. Autumn Wallpaper – Photo Effects

14. Wallpaper With Eagle Designing

15. Linux Operating System Desktop Background

16. Valentine’s Day Wallpaper

17. Wallpaper With Galss Dragon

18. Futuristic Computer Wallpaper

19. Fleetwood Mac Wallpaper

20. Free Desktop Wallpaper

21. Dragon Wallpaper

22. Marine Wallpaper – Special Effects

23. Microsoft Windows Vista Wallpaper

24. Fantastic Sunset Wallpapers Effects

25. Floral Abstract Wallpaper

26. Mac OS X Free Desktop Wallpaper

27. Apple MacWorld Desktop Wallpaper

28. I Love Spring Wallpaper

29. Wallpaper With 3D Look

30. Zippo Lighter Wallpaper

31. Girl Next Door – Wallpaper With Jessica Alba

32. Abstract Art

33. Window Vista Wallpaper

34. Underwater Free Desktop Wallpaper

35. Ultimate Free Microsoft Vista Wallpaper

36. Spring Wallpaper

37. Minimalistic Wallpaper

38. Pepper Wallpaper

39. Star Wars Wallpapers

40. Anime Girl Wallpaper

41. Summer Party Wallpaper

42. Designing Frosted Effects Wallpaper

43. Attractive Vista Wallpaper

44. Fort Knox Safe

45. Love Wallpaper For The Desktop

46. Summer Effects

47. Retro SunFlower Design

48. Halloween Pumpkin Wallpaper

49. Animated Rainbow Wallpaper

50. March 2009 Calendar Wallpaper

Purpose of brochure may vary from business to business. Some are designed to display services, whereas others are focused on selling a product. Brochure is very important part of advertisement so every designer should know how to design a brochure? and it is important to focus on the quality of the brochures that you’ll produce. Therefore i have compiled list of 30 excellent brochure designing tutorials and tips.

Checkout the 30 brochure designing tutorials plus tips below:

1. Trifold Brochure Design Tutorial

This trifold brochure graphic art tutorial features illustrated and text advice for creating 8-1/2 × 11 brochure artwork.

2. How to Design and Layout a Brochure

Learn how to design and layout a brochure in this article for graphic designers.

3. Create brochures that help you sell in Publisher

Microsoft Publisher includes pre-designed brochure publications, set up specifically to provide information about special offers.

4. 5 Tips for a Great Brochure

With the abundance of available software tools that can facilitate brochure design, like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Quark Xpress, and Microsoft Publisher, many home business owners decide to create their own brochures.

5. Photoshop Corporate Brochure Design Tutorial

This tutorial will walk you through the creation of corporate brochure design for a communications company.

6. 10 Tips for Creating Professional Brochure Designs

The key to making a professional brochure is to stick to the basics. These ten tips will provide the crucial elements for creating a professional brochure design.

7. Adobe Photoshop Tutorial – Brochure Design Makeover

Designers help a publisher cook up a more professional brochure.

8. Making a corporative style – Corporate brochure style

This tutorial will show you how to make a corporate style brochure for some kind of imaginary company. Designer will be using Photoshop CS for this one.

9. Effective Brochure Design – How To Create Brochures That Get Action

What is the purpose of your brochure? Is your brochure an advertisement? Is it a detailed product description-marketing piece?

10. Corporate Brochures: Are Yours Helping or Hurting Your Company?

Desk Top Publishing software does not solve your copywriting and professional design/layout problems any more than owning a wrench makes you a qualified mechanic.

11. Designing a Professional Brochure

Writing a successful brochure is one of the more difficult design tasks. Unlike billboards and signs, brochures have to span three attention lengths.

12. Designing a Brochure Cover

Nice tutorial on creating educational brochure cover.

13. Custom brochure designer

HP application to design custom brochure.

14. The Complete Brochure Online Design Toolkit

Designing your own brochures online, while still a major task, is now very possible with what’s accessible through the WWW.

15. Create a Stunning Car Showroom Brochure

Use Photoshop to transform a digital photograph of your car into a flawless showroom brochure page.

16. Creating a Brochure Cover

17. Creating a Brochure in Microsoft Publisher

This tutorial is designed so that you can set up a brochure format before or during your lesson depending on your curriculum objectives and the age of your students.

18. Pro and Cons of Online Brochure Design

Designing a brochure has been made easier with the advent of online design and printing. There are several online sites that offer the service online and many advantages (and some disadvantages) in designing brochures online.

19. Brochure Design by Rob Kirby

There are infinite approaches to designing your brochure and an endless variety of styles a brochure can take.

20. Take the 5 Minute Brochure Design Trash Test

You only get one chance to make a favorable impression with your brochure design. An effective brochure design that communicates to your prospects isn’t about spending your entire ad budget on design and development.

21. 3D Brochure in Adobe Illustrator Creative Inspiration Tutorial [video]

22. Make a brochure design using InDesign and Photoshop! [video]

23. How to Create a Simple Business Brochure Using Microsoft Word

In this tutorial, designer is creating a brochure for a fictitious tutoring service business.

24. How to Make Brochures Using Word Publisher

Using Microsoft Publisher you can create any different types of banners, brochures, labels,web pages etc. It is very easy to use publisher, no advanced designing knowledge is required.

25. Guide to Creating a Great Business Brochure

A simple brochure can be a powerful marketing tool. You can leave it behind after a sales meeting, make it available near your point of sale or pop it in the mail to prospective customers. Creating a great brochure isn’t rocket science.

26. Brochures Layout and Design

Nice article on layout and design of brochure.

27. How to go about developing a brochure?

If you would like to develop an effective well designed brochure quickly, follow the steps.

28. Creating A Successful Promotional Brochure

A well-designed brochure is a valuable tool for marketing yourself to potential patients. It conveys your services, the benefits of those services, and provides an overall feeling of your practice.

29. How To Make A Super Brochure Or Mailing Piece

Nice article by by Tom Egelhoff.

30. How To Create A Great Brochure For Your Business

Whether your business is a multimillion-dollar business or a small on man operation, it is crucial that you market your products or services to as many people as possible.

Full Color Brochure Printing
Having designed your brochure, it is now time to choose the right online printer to actually print it. A well designed brochures need quality printing to be truly effective. Full color brochure printing is available on various weights of paper, coatings and sizes.