Julie Fanning Designs

10/18/2019

Ha! Legit.

😅😅😅

06/20/2019

So...what do you think about animation in apps, on websites, on social media? I think it can grab a user's attention, but its use should be limited. (Same premise as to why everything isn't bold, everything isn't large and colored, everything isn't flashing in your face!)

Interface animations help inform -- or delight -- the user, but how do we use animation to create a better user experience?

05/01/2019

In conjunction with my prior post regarding the logo design and marketing collateral for SolarWalk, I just launched a new SolarWalk page with electricity cost analysis over the past 20 years and environmental data related to electricity generated by burning fossil fuels. All content creation (research, writing and infographics) was done while juggling additional workload. Interesting facts, actually.

Almost everything in our daily lives revolves around something that is powered: computing devices & peripheral equipment, transportation, communication, appliances, heating & cooling. And with many school populations bursting at the seams the result is a need for more power. How can we make less of....

05/01/2019

A relatively new project: I created the logo and all identity for the new SolarWalk division of EarthWalk as well as all marketing collateral. SolarWalk is a solar developer solution for schools, implementing solar carports instead of roof-mounted systems.

03/28/2019

This. The message is so relevant for websites, emails, ads....

Have you ever thought about why users do what they do when they interact with a product? What triggers them to complete a positive action…

03/26/2019

This is just...wrong. So much for individuality for your brand. (And don't even get me started on crowd sourcing ie: YouGetWhatYouPayFor)

This mega bundle from Creative Shop features 600 professional hi-re logo templates. Featuring a range of file formats from PSD to EPS, each logo is easy to customize thanks to the organized layers. Change up the size, colors and details without breaking a sweat. Get all 600 logo templates for only $...

02/14/2019

This is an interesting perspective on digital marketing practices and A/B testing. As the article states, it can potentially be seen as manipulating human behavior and profile income level, location, race....

The web is being reshaped by the ubiquitous practice–and it’s a serious ethical problem.

11/02/2018

Web trends for 2019. May seem like common sense tips, but still...

Does your website still have these old web design trends? Make plans to upgrade your site by the new year as more consumers expect modern websites.

10/17/2017

I tend to be somewhat skeptical of some design trends—more often than not, they can compromise the goal of solid design, which is communicating a message/call to action/conversion. Trends also tend to make design more....generic.

One example: the trend to duplicate Apple's sparse, clean marketing, where everything is pale gray and white. Works for them, because their products take center stage and overall their products are very simple in form, while the technology really shines. But I have seen that look in so many places that all of their messages have become white noise. Another example: very small text. How many websites, magazines or menus have you struggled to read lately? I swear, a few publications I've seen in the past six months or so have had about 7 point type as the body copy.

This article (below) is spot-on with a web trend of "ghost buttons," which can be visually appealing, but take away from a clear call to action resulting in lower conversions. I'm not totally against ghost buttons, but make sure your background and the appearance of the button and its message are obvious.

Ghost buttons are everywhere…but did you know they were called that?

09/06/2017

Communication is essential (always has been) for any company and team. It irks me when people in the marketing/design/publishing fields don't keep their colleagues apprised of projects—you're professional communicators, for crying out loud. These days you don't have to sit in an hours-long meeting to get relevant information. And I'd rather be proactive than reactive.

Interesting piece on digital communication.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielnewman/2017/06/06/how-shifting-communication-trends-are-impacting-digital-transformation/

Most businesses have undergone a digital transformation. Here’s how communication has shifted in recent years.

08/15/2017

I recently checked out an up-and-coming browser-based UX and collaboration tool that may give Sketch (and Photoshop, to some extent) a run for their money—currently only $12-15/month, also. Review is found below. Interested to see where this goes
https://www.wired.com/story/figma-updates/

The startup unveiled two key features that should give its competitors pause.

07/27/2017

Flash is dead. At least by 2020 it will not be supported by Adobe any longer.
https://blogs.adobe.com/conversations/2017/07/adobe-flash-update.html

Adobe has long played a leadership role in advancing interactivity and creative content – from video, to games and more – on the web. Where we’ve seen a need to push content and interactivity forward, we’ve innovated to meet those needs. Where a format didn’t exist, we invented one