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Website Design: Keep it Simple

Website Design: Keep it Simple One of the keys to a quality
web site is simplicity. You’ve heard of the KISS principle?
Keep It Simple Silly. This applies doubly for websites.
Design Web Friendly It is inexperience than can make you
want to use every bell and whistle, every feature and every
new trick. It is nice to be able to create complex frames
and tables, use large busy fonts, use flash and animated
GIFs, but will end up with too many features competing
against your message. It’s more than likely your audience
is quickly going to be overwhelmed, rather than impressed.
Just because you can create a flashy effect, doesn’t mean
you should. Ask yourself if the flashy addition is improving
my page, my design. Decide if there is actual value in the
addition and does it add with this technique? Is this the
best way to communicate my message? A simple design doesn’t
necessarily mean uninteresting and dull. Lots of people
confound fancy effects with effective communication. Keeping
it simple means you should think about how people will be
using your pages. Then present your information to them so
it matches their requirements and expectations. Earn their
attention Use technology and effects where appropriate and
where they make for more effective communication. You’re not
designing web sites for yourself to look at. You’re publishing
a web page because you expect someone to stop by and visit it
- your audience. The more you know about and understand your
audience, the more effective you can gear your communication
and marketing appropriately on your site. Does your audience
still use dial-up service that still relies on slow modems?
Then be aware of file sizes and download times. Are they
expecting to hear your band’s music clips? Then you’d better
think about an audio format. Ease of use is critical in web
design, so above all else your site easy to navigate. Many
small factors can quickly add up to create easy paths through
your site. For example, one thing you can do is keep the number
of choices small, that way people are less likely to become
lost in a long list of options. Simple in design is simple
design. Did you know that the average human mind sees five or
fewer items as one group, but when it encounters more than five
items it has to divide them into smaller sub-groups to process
them? It makes sense, then, to try to keep your selections
arranged in groups of five or less. That makes it easier for
your readers to quickly see the options and select one.

Article written by Jason A. Neal.

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Graphic Design-Jack-of-all-trades

Using visual communication to make a success of your business

Commercial art has proven itself worthy within the business sector. Whereas traditional art or ‘The Arts’ such as fine art for example, is often considered an expensive hobby instead of a stable career path. Commercial art differs considerably. Gone are the days when teachers would encourage their pupils to only pursue a career in Mathematics or Science.

There is a future in the visual communications industry too. Since the demand for creative skills are so great within the business sector, it has become very apparent that commercial art plays a huge role in the success of many lucrative industries and businesses. Nonetheless, how can graphic design enable your business to enjoy continual growth and success? What valuable skills can a graphic designer offer your business?

Perhaps it’s best to establish what Graphic design entails. Graphic design is the art of combining text and graphics to communicate an effective message using logos, graphics, brochures, newsletters, posters, signage and any other type of visual communication.

• Graphic Designers find employment within advertising agencies, design studios, the public sector, reproduction houses, video and film labs, printers, newspaper, periodical, book and directory publishers. Designers can also be found working in engineering service industries or management, scientific and technical consulting firms.

• These skilled creatives are able to produce computer graphics for computer systems, design firms or motion picture production firms.

• Basic responsibilities include; developing the overall layout and production design of magazines, newspapers, journals, corporate reports and other publications

• As well as producing promotional displays and marketing brochures for products and services, designing distinctive logos for products and businesses and developing signs and signage systems or environmental graphics for business and government.

• Graphic Designers are also able to develop material for web pages, computer interfaces and multimedia projects, as well as producing credits that appear before and after TV programs and movies.

This proves that whatever your business or expertise, you’ll most likely require the services of a Graphic Designer at some point…

How do Graphic Designers contribute to the world of business?

To develop a new graphic design the needs of the client need to be determined. The message the design should portray and its appeal to customers or users for example. Graphic Designers consider cognitive, cultural, physical and social factors in planning and executing designs for the target audience.

Does a logo have an effect on your business?

A well designed logo also facilitates the process of professionally designed stationery, signage, web sites, television, brochures, etc. If you present a poorly designed logo or you don’t even have a logo, human nature tells people that you may not be doing so well and therefore not worth doing business with. Important factors to keep in mind; Ensure that you can fax the logo to someone and still read it; practice on a dummy letterhead. Consider what the logo may be applied to, paper, clothing, signage, vehicles, etc. This can affect the way the logo is designed and whether it should be a simple block color or complicated with small type which may not transfer to t-shirts well.

What impact does package design have on a product?

Product packaging can be the most important aspect of your consumer product. Packaging design conveys to the consumer the most important features of your product and ensures that your product makes a great impression and is more visible amongst a myriad of bland counterparts.
How can a professionally designed brochure add to the image of your business?

Brochures are a great way to package a lot of information about yourself, your business and expertise into a format that is easily mailed or handed out at a business meeting or given to current clients to pass on to possible referrals. Using a Graphic Designer can free you from having to make all decisions about your brochure by yourself. A Graphic Designer will see the brochure from concept through to successful completion.

Various disciplines within design; (To mention but a few)
Advertising Design is essential. Your advert has to be good enough to both catch your target audience’s attention immediately and ‘sell’ your product or service to them.
Direct Mail Design is often thought of as the ‘spam of the post’. However, it provides a snippet of information about your company to a vast audience. Even though the return on mailers is often small, if you do a mail drop of 10 000 and get a return of 5% then that means you have a response from a potential 500 new clients. The design of your direct mail has a substantial impact on its success. If your design does not immediately capture your recipient’s interest and imagination, your direct mail will most likely be overlooked…

Packaging Design can change the perception that your target market has of your product for the better. Whatever the product, the packaging needs to work within the client’s corporate style and marketplace. If your product is vying for shelf space in the retail market, you need to ensure that your clients see your product before your competitors captures their interest.

Visuals can help your target market to connect with your product or service. Visuals can speak to your audience because they make an impact. One thing’s for sure though, visuals and design has something valuable to communicate. Your business can benefit greatly from these lucrative creative skills. Perhaps, you should leave it up to the professionals…

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Decoding Book Resurrects the Ancient Astronaut Theme

Several decades ago, books by insurance salesman Erich von Daniken caused an international sensation as he depicted photographs of large-stone edifices hard to believe built by primitive humans. His dreams of ancient astronauts, however, soon faded into oblivion as archeologists came up with proof that primitive humans could have constructed the pyramids and like structures without alien assistance. Nonetheless, the possibility of other types of evidence for ancient astronauts cannot be discarded.

Overtly a cryptography and deception tactics book, Morten St. George’s Incantation of the Law Against Inept Critics: A Guide to Cryptic Thinking takes up the ancient astronaut gauntlet. But there’s no stone here. Now, it’s not a question of what the ancient astronauts did, but of what they left behind. Deception cryptography leads the way. The only known deployment of this unique form of cryptography is to be found in forty two prophetic stanzas published by Nostradamus in the 16th century. So was Nostradamus an alien? Hardly, but St. George’s book asserts he was the last guardian of an alien artifact.

What’s the evidence?

First, a breakthrough decoding of the forty two stanzas in which numerous contemporary events are not only accurately recounted but also systematically dated. St. George concludes there is no longer any doubt about whether or not the future was foreseen. It was, and likewise we are witnessing the powers of a super-civilization.

Second, the discovery that the forty two stanzas (perceived as a book of divine revelation) were secretly guarded, known to, and commented upon by a cabalistic sect during medieval times. St. George says these forty-two revelations predate Nostradamus by centuries, and now there is a “book of light” in the picture, not “light” like in “enlightenment” but literally composed of light, black fire on top of white fire. This describes the artifact that survived to reach Nostradamus.

Third, back to the prophecies, which come forth and tell us the name of their author and when they were written. According to St. George, they were written in the sixth century, a thousand years before the time of Nostradamus.

Why is there no record of alien arrival in the sixth century? St. George responded we are referring to creatures with two arm appendages and four fingers at the end of each, but other than that, they landed as helmeted aquatics and didn’t remotely look like humans. He says it is a myth that intelligent aliens have to be hominoids, and it is likewise a myth that the only road to technology is the road taken by humans. “In the Dark Ages, these aquatics would have been stoned as demons in most places, and if there were any reference to them, religious censorship would have obliterated it.”

Then, how do you know that they had four fingers? St. George replied, “I said they would have been stoned as demons in most places, not in all places. Archaeologists are far from perfect. They have no idea how to distinguish the drawing of an aquatic extraterrestrial from the drawing of a masked witchdoctor. Maybe some of them had suspicions but didn’t speak out, fearing for their career or whatever. Extraterrestrial intelligence and civilizations more advanced than ours are terrifying concepts for segments of human society.”

There are many unsolved mysteries in world history. Is this another one? St. George emphatically asserts: “No! These extraterrestrials were no fools. Besides who and when, the prophecies also tell us where, that is, where they came from.” He says the prophecies provide data for a star arrow rising upwards from southern skies and for a planetary arrow moving outwards from the solar system, and where these arrows collide would be the point of contact.

Then there will be contact? St. George has no doubts about the matter: “Yes. My unsophisticated astronomy software can only provide approximate coordinates, but one day astronomers will work out the precise coordinates and point a radio telescope there, and there will be contact. To provide us with coordinates and not allow contact would be deceitful, and they have no reason to be deceitful on this. Else, why bother to interfere with us at all?”

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Online Business – Creating effective Ads

Online advertising on the Internet leaves a lot to be desired. We have ads that emulate Windows-warning boxes. We have pop-ups and pop-unders. All of these are developed with the intent to make people notice them. However, most of them only end up irritating them. Advertisers, especially those with small budgets, can’t afford to waste money on ineffective buys. In order to optimize your advertising buys, you need to concentrate on improving your creative.

Here are some tips that might help:

Step 1: Define clear goals of your advertising campaign

The most important aspect of any advertising campaign is to have a clear objective in mind. You may be targeting a specific group of people, your initial aim may be to target at least 1000 internet surfers and so on and so forth. Have a well defined, clear purpose.

Step 2: Identify the most effective sites for achieving your goals

Sites that are most relevant to your product or service will, more than likely, be your best bet; but also consider larger sites or networks that can target the audience you’re trying to reach. They can be very cost-effective. If you have multiple products or services that appeal to various target markets, you’ll have to consider sites that reach all those various segments.

Step 3: Craft your message to fit the needs of the audience you’re targeting

This comes down to understanding the audience of the sites you’re advertising on. The message you use on a technology site to appeal to technologically savvy customers won’t have the same appeal for visitors on a small-business site. Focus your campaign.

Step 4: Content of your Ad

Pay particular attention to the content of the Ad. The content should be such that it clearly distinguishes your product or service from your competitors’. Have a catchy headline. The headline is probably the most important part of the Ad – It is the customer puller.

Step 5: Formulate the specific promotional messages that correspond to your goals

The promotional messages should concentrate on the major selling points of your product or service and have a strong call-to-action.

Step 6: Make the desired action clearly visible

This certainly doesn’t mean the desired action should necessarily blink, bounce or do flips, but it should be visible within an accepted format for the media you’re using. In the case of the Internet, underlined text links, “click here” text entry boxes, and pull-down menus are all ways you can make the desired action clearly visible.

Step 7: Design the ad so it looks like it belongs on the sites where you’re advertising

For instance, you may want to use the site’s font faces in your text, color schemes in your background, font color choices overall, and emulate images where appropriate. Try to conform to the environment so potential customers visiting the site don’t gasp in shock when they see your ad.

Step 8: Produce multiple versions of each ad

Create three or four versions of each ad, changing the promotional message, call-to-action, font faces and color schemes. This is especially important if you’re doing price testing or gauging reaction to specific promotions. By splitting your advertising buy among the various versions of your creative, you can then start to optimize your buy based on the message that works best.

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