Best Apps to Improve Productivity For Design Teams in 2019

We live in a world that often seems to be preoccupied with doing things faster and better. In other words, preoccupied with ever-increasing productivity.

Faster and better is good, but it can also take a toll. The digital age has brought with it a host of powerful productivity tools to help us manage our projects. However, it has also brought with it more to do, and less time to do it in.

How do we deal with this mixed blessing and curse? By being on the lookout for the best productivity tools out there. And, religiously following productivity tips that will help us in our work and in life in general.

We’ve done our research to find what we believe are the top productivity apps going into 2019. We’ve supplemented them with 5 tried-and-tested productivity tips. These are not only common sense but can easily become habit-forming.

We’ll start with:

1. Mason

Mason is a different kind of animal than you generally associate with productivity tools. It’s true that Mason makes managing certain tasks easier and enables you to do other tasks faster. What Mason doesn’t do is make some of the tasks you’re used to doing because you feel they’re imperative easier by managing them for you. Mason simply ignores them!

Mason helps teams work together to design, build, and deploy pixel-perfect features for post-deployed apps, and enables them to do so quickly and economically. What these teams do not have to do is rely on prototyping exercises, QA inspections, documentation, and coding.

Mason creates HTML/CSS on the spot, obviating the necessity for coding and freeing up developers to work on larger, more complex projects. Mason also eliminates having to wait for the next deployment cycle to deliver a app feature. Any authorized person with a Mason account can install a new feature in an application that’s already in a post-deployment mode.

There’s much to like about this somewhat out-of-the-ordinary productivity tool. We suggest a closer look.

2. Proto.io

Prototyping is often useful and at times essential, whether it is a small app feature, or a more complex software that is being designed.

Proto.io’s editor and beautifully crafted UI components can be used to design low-fidelity or high-fidelity prototypes from scratch, and Proto.io can prove to be indispensable for teams that subscribe to a rapid prototyping approach.

No coding or special design skills are required to use this productivity tool and the new Proto.io 6 is more intuitive and easier to use than ever. Features include a new Proto.io app for iOS and Android to assist you in previewing prototypes on mobile devices.

Proto.io consists of an Editor for building your prototypes, a Player that aids in user testing, and a Dashboard that allows you to overview your projects and team members.

3. monday.com

 

monday.com enables teams to manage every detail of their work, from initial planning and estimating, to specific details of their daily tasks, to final billing.

This powerful team management tool isn’t just another tool that quietly goes about its business in the background. You can see for yourself how it helps to boost your team’s collective productivity by the way it encourages transparency and empowers its users by providing managers and employees alike with the same information.

When teams love the tools they are given to work with they find it much easier to make changes for the better in their work habits and processes. More than 50,000 paying teams working for startups and for Fortune 500 companies have shown this to be the case.

monday.com provides an effective team management solution for teams or freelancers working together to thousands of teams collaborating around the globe.

4. Nutcache

Nutcache is an all-in-one productivity tool both teams and freelancers can use to better collaborate with their clients, streamline their workflows, and complete their assigned tasks on time and within budget. Although this productivity app is designed with teams in mind, and especially those who subscribe to Agile principles and practices, freelancers can also use it to boost their productivity by working more efficiently.

5. ActiveCollab

ActiveCollab was designed for creative professionals in mind and it’s long been their weapon of choice when it comes to project management. The new and improved version comes with a redesigned and upgraded UI and a great deal of improvements all across the board, including an array of new themes and theme customization options. The highlight of the new ActiveCollab has to be its task dependencies and automatic rescheduling feature – child tasks are automatically rescheduled when a parent task is modified.

6. Lucidchart.com

Poor presentations can be costly for any business. Lucidchart gives its users the tools to convey complex ideas and present them in a way that’s understandable to both technical and lay audiences alike. This is accomplished in part by Lucidchart’s library of special shapes that can be applied to any type of flowchart or diagram. Lucidchart also has an extensive number of templates; users can easily build on and/or completely customize visual processes or ideas.

Top 5 Productivity Tips to Achieve More and Create Peace of Mind

#1 – Write it down

Every task you’re given, and every commitment you make, should be put down in writing. This saves you the time that might otherwise be wasted trying to remember a task or recall a commitment. Write everything down.

#2 – Do the dreaded task now

You inevitably get tasks you wish would just go away. The tendency is to let them slide in hopes it just might happen. It never will of course, and the best way to tackle the situation is to do a dreaded task first. You’ll avoid added stress and worry and end up feeling better about yourself.

#3 – Take breaks during work

Taking periodic breaks keeps your mind fresh and consequently boosts your productivity. Experts suggest taking a 10-12 minute break every 45 minutes. But you may want to experiment to find out what works best for you.

#4 – Exercise

Without exercise, it’s hard to maintain a healthy body, and maintain a healthy mind as well. Healthy people tend to be more productive and quite naturally feel better. Make it a habit to exercise every day.

#5 – Stop Saying Yes to Everything and Everyone

Saying yes to every assignment or a client’s every wish will eventually wear you down. Your productivity will suffer. You’re also putting control of your life in the hands of others. Learn to say No, and when you do – mean it.

Conclusion

While it’s unlikely you would find use for all 6 of these productivity tools. One or two of them could prove to be a game changer in terms of your productivity. Especially when accompanied by our 5 productivity tips.

We recommend making all 5 tips habitual practices.

The post Best Apps to Improve Productivity For Design Teams in 2019 appeared first on Web Design Blog | Magazine for Designers.

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Design your way

Double exposure Photoshop techniques are being used more and more frequently and lots of photographers use double exposure Photoshop actions to make them happen.  From digital design to the print media, Photoshop double exposure techniques are becoming more and more frequent.

In times gone by, photographers would use their cameras to create double exposure photo.  This often meant combining an image in silhouette with another, fill photo.  However, double exposure pictures are far easier to achieve and improve upon with the use of Photoshop.  This is because with double exposure Photoshop images, designers have freedom to create a perfect edit.

What are double exposure photos?

Now that double exposure Photoshop images exist, does the overall meaning of a double exposure change?  Well, the techniques have changed but the definition hasn’t.  With a film camera, a photographer would take double exposure images by taking one image and then layering another over this.

By not advancing the film, two images would overlap on the same piece of film.  The result was often incredibly creative.  Photoshop enables a designer to produce a double exposure effect with far more creative freedom.

Although creating double exposure Photoshop images produces a highly effective result, you don’t need to be highly experienced in order to create a double exposure effect.  Browse through our choice of great double exposure Photoshop actions.  They will help you to create double exposure effects with your photos instantly.

Free double exposure actions

Free Double Exposure Photoshop Actions V1

You will be able to create great double exposure Photoshop actions if you download this excellent bundle.  You can explore different techniques for creating double exposures.  You will also be able to adjust the intensity of your images with just a single click.  This will provide you with great double exposure images in a short space of time.

3 Double Exposure Photoshop Actions

Do you want to create great double exposure pictures?  This pack comes with not one double exposure action but 3.  This will give you a choice in how to create double exposure effects.  You will be able to adjust the intensity of your images while you use these excellent actions.

Free Double Exposure Photoshop Actions Vol.2

Would you like to use different techniques to create your Photoshop double exposure images?  Would you like to do so quickly and efficiently?  Create excellent digital double exposure images with this great package.  All you will need to do is prepare your photos and the action will do the work for you.

2 Free Double Exposure Effects

How about the opportunity to use different styles while creating double exposure effects?  This double exposure Photoshop action download has 2 different effects.  You will be able to choose between styles while customising your results to create your own unique designs.

3 Double Exposure Photoshop Actions

Would you like a double exposure Photoshop action package which gives you the choice of 3 different actions?  You’ll be able to create gorgeous images as well as customise the colours included in your designs.

Free Double Exposure Photoshop Actions Vol.3

Looking for a free double exposure Photoshop action which will offer you the quality of a premium product?  This is the choice for you.  Create Photoshop portraits with a double exposure effect and enjoy excellent results.

Free Double Exposure Effect Photoshop Actions Vol. 4

With two Photoshop actions to choose from while creating a double exposure effect, you will have twice the creativity.  You can vary the intensity of your images with only a single click.  You will also be able to create high quality canvas photos using this action.  The result will be unique and innovative.  What better way to achieve excellent results within a few seconds.

Free Double Color Exposure Actions

Create double exposure effects while adding mixed colours with this unique double exposure Photoshop action.  This action is available for both personal and commercial use.

Basic Double Exposure Photoshop Action

If you would like to create customised double exposure images which allow you to add in your own choice of effects, this double exposure Photoshop action is for you.  Create unique results with only a few clicks.

Free Double Exposure Photoshop Actions Vol.5

If you would like to create double exposure images with just one click, this package is for you.  You’ll get the choice of two different actions so that you can not only create an inspiring double exposure effect.  You will also be able to customise your images to suit the design you are working on.

Free Double Exposure Photoshop Action

Would you like to great double exposure images for book covers, magazines, posters or advertisements?  You can add layers or make changes using this double exposure Photoshop action by adjusting the values until you get the image you want.  This package is a favourite with photographers and graphic designers.

Premium double exposure actions

Simple Double Exposure Action

Would you like an effective double exposure Photoshop action which is simple and easy to use?  You will get four different variations of this action in order to create an original design with each and every double exposure.  You will also be able to use this action with other Photoshop tools to increase the creativity and flexibility of your software.

Newspaper Art Photoshop Action

This Photoshop action was not created to produce double exposure pictures.  However, it uses the same techniques.  You can add shapes, letters or newspaper images to your photos.  Your portraits or landscape images will have a unique and creative appeal when you use this product.

Double Exposure Photoshop Action

If you would like to create easy double exposure images with just a single click, this amazing package is for you.  You’ll save time with this easy to use double exposure Photoshop action.

You will be able to work with any different images, as well as erase any changes with a single click.  You will be able to work in layers.  You will also get a double exposure Photoshop tutorial to guide you.

Double Exposure Actions With 230+ Effects

If you want to create double exposure images, this pack has two different Photoshop actions to choose from.  One action will enable you to work with double exposure images, while the other will enable you to work on any single exposure photos.  You will have 235 light effects to work with as well as 33 different textures.  With these great effects your double exposure pictures will be highly original.

Advanced Double Exposure – Photoshop Action

As a premium double exposure Photoshop action, this product is easy to use.  It will also give you a highly professional result.  You will be able to choose from eighteen different colour presets.  You will also be able to adjust the effects to create a customised and very unique double exposure image.

Double Exposure Photoshop Action

Customised double exposure Photoshop actions enable you to add a unique element to your design.  Your designs will be highly personal and creative.  With this package you will be able to create original double exposure images and the product will work with almost any Photoshop package.

80 Double Exposure Photoshop Actions

This bundle of Photoshop actions will help you with great double exposure design.  You’ll get 80 different presets to use to create a highly unique and visually attractive double exposure effect.  You will also receive a double exposure photography tutorial to guide you on how to use the actions.

Double Exposure Photoshop Kit

Would you like a unique package which will give you everything you need to create exciting double exposure images?  You’ll get Photoshop actions, 30 textures and 10 gradients which will enable you to come up with original images.  This is a complete package which will give you everything you need to create excellent double exposure images.

Animated Double Exposure Action

Do you love GIFS or videos?  Would you like to create one using double exposure images?  If so, then this double exposure Photoshop action is for you.  You will be able to use double exposure design on GIFS or videos.  Use them on your social media sites or even as an introduction to your YouTube channel or videos.

Instant Double Exposure Photoshop Action

If you would like to save time by creating cool double exposure images with only a few clicks, this easy to use professional package is for you.  You’ll find the program very easy to use and you can work with it in Photoshop CS3 and above to create great images.

4 Double Exposure Photoshop Actions

Would you like to create flexible double exposure images?  This is a Photoshop actions package with four filters for a variety of double exposure picture effects.  You can edit or customise your designs by working with different layers within the package.

Double Exposure Glow Photoshop Action

If you would like to create a blended double photo image which adds a glow to your final result, this is a great action to choose.  You will be able to work quickly and efficiently, creating great double image pictures in a single click.  You will also be able to customise your images using layers.

Premium Double Exposure Photoshop Action

If you would like a simple and easy to use Photoshop action to create your double exposure pictures, you will find this one easy to use.  The results are highly professional and this action works with Photoshop CS3 and up.

Red Blue Double Exposure Photoshop Action

Create great double colour exposure images by combining red and blue to create a dramatic appeal.  This action is great to use while designing book or album covers and posters.  You can also use it for working on your digital design images.

Smoky Double Exposure

Would you like to turn two photos into a single image?  Are you interested in adding textures or graphic images to your pictures?  You will be able to use smoky graphics or textures to create exciting double exposure images with this great Photoshop action.

Duotone Double Exposures

Duotones remind us of cartoon imagery from days gone by.  Currently trending again, they make great additions to websites or print designs.  This great Photoshop action helps you to create a great double exposure image using 12 different duotone options.  What could be more perfect to add a retro element to your designs?

Double Color Exposure

If you are into retro style designs, you’ll love this action.  You’ll get a package which includes a duotone effect as well as 7 different colour styles.  You will be able to use photographic images as well as shapes to add a trendy touch to your website or print designs.

Simple Double Exposure Action

When you are busy working on your designs, you’ll long for a simple package which can create effective results.  This double exposure Photoshop action will give you professional results while offering a range of different choices to select.  You will also be able to combine this package with other Photoshop actions, increasing your flexibility as a designer.

What can you do with your double exposure Photoshop actions?

You can create a Tilt-Shift Effect

You don’t need expensive equipment to create a tilted appearance to your images.  Photoshop offers you a great tool which will adjust your images, tilting them to create a unique perspective.

You could also blur one background aspects of your photos while only focusing on important features.  By keeping one important detail you will show your viewer where to focus.

You can use this feature by going to Filter – Blur Gallery – Tilt-Shift.

Add a Fake Reflection

Have you ever shot a photo through a window?  Have you enjoyed the reflection?  Incorporating reflections is a popular photographic choice.  However, you don’t need to include a reflection in your original photographs.  Instead, you can use double exposure to add a separate window, creating a reflected effect.

By combining windows with different images of people, objects or animals you can create a dramatic impact.

Create a collage using double exposure pictures

A collage made up of two separate images is known as a diptych and they are deeply loved by those interested in creative photography.

Double exposures help you to create interesting diptychs using creative editing techniques.

First, begin with creating double exposure images.  Once you are happy and have two choices which complement each other, you can use them to form a collage.  This collage may tell stories about the photographs or might add visual appeal to your images.

Place your images side by side to create an interesting story using a collection of double exposure images.

Experiment with simple portraits and detailed textures

If you have a clean portrait image and you would like to add to it, combine your images with textures.  Cracked cement, sand, water, rocks or wood all make a great addition to a portrait photo.  By combining simplicity and detail you will create a balanced effect.

Convert your results to black and white

Black and white double exposure images create a massive emotional impact.  Create emotionally expressive designs by experimenting with a lack of color.

Start a themed project using double exposure pictures       

Creating a themed project takes a lot of time and effort, but the results can be very effective.

Begin by choosing a theme.  You could base your theme on events, memories, people, plants, a city or landscape or even a time of year.  You can even use the colors within your photos to pick a theme.  Then decide whether you would like to use light or dark images in your double exposure pictures.

Keep your themes simple.  Complex themes or images may take a lot of time and you may end up putting your project on hold.  Find images which speak to you and a theme which will interest you and keep you feeling motivated.   This way you will be willing to put in the time and effort you need to work out how to express yourself and use a wide range of images to create a great result.

Ending thoughts on these double exposure Photoshop actions

There are so many double exposure Photoshop actions you can use to create interesting and memorable design projects.  Take the plunge and pick an action which suits you.  By using Photoshop actions you will be able to add a new element to your design projects.  This will take your work into a new level, where you can use double exposure images to entrance your viewers.

If you enjoyed reading this article about these double exposure Photoshop actions, you should read these as well:

• Free Photoshop Actions For Photographers (100 of The Best)
• Photoshop Typography Tutorials (80 Examples)
• 37 Photoshop textures that must be a part of your toolbox
• Photoshop cartoon effect for images (19 great PS actions)

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Looking Back at the Awwwards 2018 Websites of the Month

Every year without fail, Awwwards.com picks the very best websites to hand out a Site of the Month award, based on design, usability, creativity, content, and mobile-friendliness. While it’s true that many website owners prefer the ease and accessibility of CMS software – particularly when they can have a review of the best platforms – many more hold the desire to push the envelope regarding what’s possible on the World Wide Web.

To celebrate the website owners who wish to create beautiful, useful, and innovative online pages, we’ll take a look at some of the best Site of the Month winners from 2018 according to Awwwards.com.

Oat The Goat – June 2018

Using WebGL, this is a gorgeous little animated storybook that was created by New Zealand’s Ministry of Education to combat bullying. Though the story is short and sweet, the interactive options, sound effects, and decision-based elements are a real delight. The animated website doesn’t exactly allow for freedom of choice, as you’re told what to pick in terms of Oat The Goat’s path, and any decision you make when meeting other characters will only allow for progression when the correct answer is chosen. In short, it’s an easy 5-minute story which you can’t get wrong, but does look fantastic and will be hugely engaging for kids.

Nike React – May 2018

For a website promoting a new type of running shoe from Nike, we have to be honest… we expected better than this. The Nike React shoes are supposedly made using foam that is lighter, more durable, and spreads the impact more evenly than any of the company’s previous shoes. That’s all well and good, but the website? Perhaps designed for the younger audiences or bored office workers, the site starts out with good intentions, allowing the user to design a runner.

As the sound is more annoying than anything else, it’s best to switch it off and focus on the visual elements. We’re given only three options for design, which is to choose two soft items, a running style, and then the color of your Nike React shoes. Once compiled, you’re given an odd human-shaped thing to look at, one that’s made from teddy bears and bouncing balls. The site’s look is somewhat amusing, yet hardly worthy of a second go or a recommendation to a friend. More design options would have been preferable and with less of a childish look to it all.

2018 Foosball World Cup – July 2018

The FIFA 2018 World Cup was obviously a great time for die-hard and casual sports fans alike, because even if you didn’t know your Messis from your Ronaldos, it was hard not to be caught up in the fervor of it all. Clearly then, the Foosball World Cup website was set up to celebrate the event, and whether or not it deepens your love of football is hard to say, but it’s an awful lot of fun. Designed with rudimentary polygons and a minimalist electronic soundtrack, the site does “simple and effective” perfectly. The controls are easy to master (just move the mouse around and click) and the game does a good job of not making it too difficult to score, yet not a walk in the park, either.

There’s not much in the way of information on the teams or players in the World Cup, but the opportunity to pick a country you support and have an amusing, 3-minute match in your coffee break is hard to pass up. All the menus pop and whirl around really successfully, with the designers clearly more focused on giving the user a fun experience, rather than a profound one.

Twenty One Pilots – December 2018

Certainly one of the weirder entries on the list by Awwwards, and one that we’re still trying to figure out. Dubbed as an “immersive experience,” the site feels anything but. Music group Twenty One Pilots have clearly gone all in with the promotion of their new single, ‘Bandito,’ as the website is sort of a point-and-click adventure, like the popular game, Myst. The site looks decent enough and the animations are smooth, yet the issue lies with the “immersive experience” tag, as you never really feel like you have much control over what’s going on. The camera essentially goes where it wants and you can click about on symbols and move your POV around slightly, but that’s about all you’re given to do.

The group’s track plays in the background while all this digital mayhem is happening, but unless you’re a huge fan of the band, then it’s safe to say that you won’t have much of a reason to check out the site. A VR element could have perhaps saved this site, but it would also open up the possibility of experiencing heavy motion sickness.

Play-Doh: The Gallery of Emerging Species – March 2018

Finally, another site putting WebGL to great effect, the promotional site for Play-Doh is purely a place for kids to have a bit of fun for 20-30 minutes. The website essentially displays a mythical zoo of sorts, with a strong message of conservation heavily underlined within the pages. The user can click on the animal and receive a tiny animation while a British man (almost sounding like Sir David Attenborough) reads a small description about the species. The site is easy to navigate and looks incredibly eye-catching, with bright colors, fun designs, and no doubt a lot of replayability for younger audiences.

We hope those sites have motivated you! Be sure to look here for more inspiration on how to gain more clients as a web designer.

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