Design your way

Would you like to use a Sketch wireframe kit to create a presentation for your website or app?  Creating a wireframe or presentation helps you to put across your design ideas and show team members how your designs are taking shape.

When you create a website presentation, you will be able to find out how your site engages viewers as well as gain insight into the UX of a site.  You can do this with a Sketch wireframe kit, and you’ll have insight into your site’s UX before even going into detail or finalizing your typography.  Many designers don’t start off digitally but sketch templates enable you to work digitally too.

If you’d like to use a Sketch wireframe kit to create a presentation, we’re here to help you out.  Here are some of the best Sketch wireframe kits available at the moment.  Use and reuse them in your web design work.

Free Sketch wireframe kit resources

Wired wireframe kit Sketch Resource

 

iOS Wireframe Kit Sketch Resource

Use this great Sketch wireframe kit to create designs for iOS.  You’ll be able to work in iOS sizing and use features which will add to your skills as a designer.

Use Sketch styles to create text and color guides.  This will enable you to incorporate your brand into your designs efficiently.  Set your color and text choices to your brand library if you want to use it across your files.

Carbon – Material Sketch Wireframe Kit Resource

This great Sketch UI kit will offer you a high quality product.  You’ll get 15 different artboards you can work on.  Each has structured layers which have been labeled.  You’ll also get a range of elements which can be reused or styled.

Use this kit to create quality designs and mockups for Android apps for E-commerce.

Basic Wireframe Kit

This Wireframe Sketch kit will enable you to simplify the process of creating your presentation.  Colors are limited to black and white and the program is easy to work with.

Each of the elements have been designed to work with a range of styles and website types.  If you’re looking at a simple kit which will work efficiently with Sketch, this is the choice for you.

Nolte – Wireframe kit v2 Sketch web

This cool Sketch wireframe kit was developed by Brad Frost.  You’ll be able to create wire frames quickly and with all unnecessary steps removed.

Use atoms to build your own wireframe molecules.  You can reuse each element and each has been organized efficiently.  You’ll also be able to use Sketch symbols and overrides to improve efficiency

Wirebase Wireframing Kit  Sketch Resource

Use these elements free while working on your  UI mock-up.  You’ll be able to use the elements while working on many projects.  You will find the program efficient and easy to use.

Blue Wireframes

Free wireframes help you to create presentations or blueprints for your project.  This free UI mock-up kit makes a great choice for your project.  It will add practical features as well as great aesthetics to your designs.

You’ll be able to use this Sketch UI kit for all your projects.  Each element will add flourish to your designs.  You can also use vectors which will assist you should you need to resize your work while maintaining the quality.

Wireframe Kit v2.0 Sketch Resource

This kit is well organized and will assist you with your UI sketches.  The kit isn’t robust but has adjustable symbols and will enable you to work efficiently while creating your mock-up designs.

Teracy

You can use this UI mock-up free while creating your prototype designs.  You’ll find UI elements, including slideshow widgets, drop down menus, input fields and breadcrumbs.

This is an excellent program to use for working on web designs but it can be used for mobile app designs too

Lightweight Wireframe Kit Sketch Resource

Use this free wireframing tool to create simple mockups for your mobile app and web design projects.

Atomic – Sketch wireframe kit for atomic design

You’ll be able to use this Sketch mock-up kit to create all your wireframes.  The kit works on atomic design and uses components to build complex designs and prototypes.

You’ll get a range of different visuals for designing unique prototypes while still being able to use Atomic Design principles.

Free iOS Wireframe kit for Sketch

Use this great Sketch kit created by Megan Dolan to create your wireframes.  You can use the different elements and the drag and drop format to create your design prototypes.

You can use Sketch symbols to work with your elements menu.  This will allow you to be symbol specific when creating your website wireframe mockups.

Simple Wireframe Kit Sketch Resource

This Sketch wireframe kit comes free with a wide range of different elements.  You can resize your elements while maintaining your proportions.

WZ Wireframe Kit Sketch Resource

Would you like to create wireframes quickly and with ease?  This free sketch mock-up kit will enable you to create wireframes with ease.

This free UI mock-up tool is designer-friendly and will enable you to communicate and share with teammates.

Snap – Sketch wireframe UI kit iOS

Snap is an excellent UI mock-up kit designed by Jon Rundle. The program is a Sketch mock-up kit which was designed for iOS.  You’ll be able to use this program to create apps which flow on iOS.

This Sketch wireframe kit gives you different element to work with.  You’ll be able to create unique screens which you can customize to your unique needs.

Flowchart: Free mobile wireframe kit for Sketch

Use this wireframe Sketch kit to create mockups for your mobile apps.  This is a free kit designed by Dmitry Kurash

Wireframing UX Kit Sketch

You’ll be able to use this Sketch wireframe kit to create customized wireframes.  You’ll be able to se the unique elements to create complex UI designs.  With a range of layer designs, fonts and components. You’ll have all the elements you need.  This wireframe mock-up kit will work for web designs, iOS and Android.

Each element is well organized which makes the kit easy to use.

Moon Wireframe Kit Sketch Resource

Create storyboards using this excellent Sketch kit.  You’ll get 50 different views which include a Login page, Menu, Settings, a Gallery page and Cart.

Wireframe Kit Sketch Resource

Information Architecture Kit – Wireframe UI kit for Sketch

This Sketch mock-up kit will enable you to create a very basic app template before working on your high fidelity wireframe.  You can use the kit in Illustrator or Sketch formats.

You’ll get:

Over 500 elements
250 templates
Vector boards for responsive designs
Scalable formats
Compatible with Sketch 3+ and Adobe CS6

Fleetster Wireframe Kit Sketch Resource

This UI wireframe design program was created for those in the car rental industry, and designers working on this type of project.

If you want to create mockups for a car rental company, you’ll benefit greatly from Fleetster.

Wireframe for Sketch 3 Resource

An excellent Sketch mock-up kit which has been designed for small projects.  Inspired by Sketch wireframes.

Savvy iOS Wireframe Kit Sketch Resource

An excellent UI wireframe tool which will enable you to work efficiently on iOS.

Wireframing Sketch Symbols Resource

This Sketch wireframe kit will enable you to use Sketch symbols in your website designs.  You can customize the symbols by changing their colors and orientations.  The kit can be used for iOS and Android designs.

Responsive Wireframe Template Sketch Resource

This UI wireframe design tool is excellent for creating responsive websites.  You will be able to use symbols for all your texts and buttons.

Wireframe Templates Sketch Resource

Website wireframes can vary in complexity.  While some designers start out with digital designs, others use simple paper sketches.

However, when you work on a larger project, you’ll need to construct a high fidelity wireframe.  This UI wireframe tool will enable you to create a complex wireframe which will remain consistent with a large number of templates.

Premium Sketch wireframe kit resources

Krom Mobile Wireframe Kit

Krom uses an Atomic Design System to create a high quality wireframe with efficiency.  This premium package will give you 170 screens, over 500 symbols and structures layers.

You’ll not only be able to create your wireframes efficiently but you will be able to adjust them easily as well.  Change colors and styles with a few simple clicks.  All symbols and screens will be changed accordingly.

Wireframe Kit – V2 Sketch Resource

This excellent wireframe kit offers up 175 templates and 500 elements which can be used to create efficient website prototypes and wireframe designs.

Wirefire – Wireframe Kit Web Design

High tech websites often require a high fidelity mock-up.  These sites have sophisticated layouts which often reach advanced stages.

You’ll be able to create layouts from a 300 slide collection, 19 different categories and over two thousand combinations.  Use these different features to create a unique website which will meet all your needs.

With a carefully constructed plan and an accurate scale, you will be able to create wireframes which will determine your final website UI design.

Use this UI wireframe kit to save time, pinpoint any issues and create an awesome user experience.

An accurate template enables a designer to pinpoint how a site can be structured as well as how navigation, website forms and content will work together for effective results.  This program will work in Sketch, Photoshop and Adobe XD.

Frames Wireframe Kit Sketch Resource

This wireframe kit has high fidelity components.

Create website prototypes and wireframes quickly and efficiently.  Frames has over 100 components and 10 categories.

Wireland for iOS

Wireland will help you to create designs for iOS mobile applications.  You’ll be able to use this UI wireframe  in orderr to create effective wireframes for your projects.  The library has over 144 templates ready for use.  Layouts are divided into 14 popular categories.

You can adjust the clouds and typography on this wireframe kit to suit your brand.  All screens will adjust to changes made, saving you time.

App Mockup UI

Use this excellent wireframe kit to create mockups for IPhone apps.  You’ll be given a screen the size of an average iPhone and you can use this template to add elements to your page.

Items on this kit come in vector shapes which means they can be resized without losing quality.

This is a great Sketch wireframe kit to use if you are designing for iOS.  It is particularly helpful for starting out and for creating low fidelity wireframes

Hoki Mobile Wireframe Kit

This wireframe kit has 80 screens which can be used for constructing your iOS designs.  These screens have been divided into categories such as Sign Uo screens, shopping carts and user tracking.

This wireframe kit uses a symbol library which will help you to create your wireframe designs simply and efficiently.  You’ll be able to use this program in both Sketch and Figma.

Platforma – Ultimate Wireframe Kit of 200+ Layouts for Sketch

This UI wireframe has over 200 templates to draw from.  Templates have been divided into over 15 page categories which have been put together for Sketch.  You’ll be able to use this program to create an effective interactive prototype design.

Wireland for Ecommerce

Use this Sketch wireframe kit for all your e-commerce website or mobile app designs.  You will be able to work quickly and efficiently while working towards great results.

You’ll have over 180 templates to choose from, which have been divided into 18 popular categories.

Sections Wireframe Kit

Sections is a wireframe creation tool which offers a large range of potential screens.  These screens have been divided into categories.

You can use these UI screens to create prototypes for your website or mobile application.  Customize your designs using Sketch, Adobe XD, Figma or Photoshop.

Wireland for Web

Wireland is a Sketch wireframe kit which helps you to create website prototypes quickly and efficiently.  You can get over 200 templates which have been divided into 19 popular sections.

Method Wireframe Kit 2.1

Use this UI wireframe design tool to create prototypes quickly and efficiently.  Use blocks to build your designs with speed.  You can use this tool to work in teams as well as collaborate with your clients or stakeholders.

Customize your designs by changing up to three colors in your design template.  You can also use fonts to adjust your styles.  You’ll be able to work with up to five different text styles for unique results.  You’ll get 200 components to work with, divided into 15 design categories

Scheme iOS Wireframe Kit

Use this wireframe kit to create prototypes for your iOS designs.  You will have multiple layouts to choose from.  This Sketch wireframe kit was carefully created to work with Sketch and all major features.

Adminian 2 Wireframe Kit

This Sketch wireframe kit offers symbols and templates which can be used for creating prototypes for your web applications.  You’ll save up to four weeks on your design time.

You’ll be able to work as teams, share multiple insights and reduce risks while using this kit.  The overall result will be an improved design in a shorter period of time.

Mountain iOS UI Wireframe Kit

This Sketch wireframe kit will assist you with creating excellent UI designs.  You’ll gain a high quality kit with more than 170 screen designs for iOS.  You’ll gain over 100 UI elements which have been created for Photoshop.  If you want to create an interactive prototype for your app, this is the perfect tool.

Use this iOS kit to create customized designs.  These designs can be altered with ease using Smart Objects.  Vector element designs mean your designs will be easily scalable and will maintain a high quality appearance. 

 Use this UI wireframe kit to set your designs apart.  Maintain high quality aesthetics while offering up unique designs to your clients.

Protogonist Web Wireframe

Create UI wireframe mockups using templates found within this Sketch wireframe kit.  You’ll be able to design quickly and efficiently using a range of web layouts which will give you effective results.

When using this tool you will be able to work as teams,  communicating different perspectives for effective designs and a great UX.

iOS Wireframing Kit

This Sketch wireframe kit will enable you to work quickly and efficiently on your mobile app designs.  You’ll get over 240 different screen choices to choose from, alongside 32 categories to use for your page.  Your set will work with iOS, using their design guidelines for all patterns and components.  You can customize each page to suit your needs, making this kit incredibly flexible.

You’ll also receive videos and tutorials on how to use this Sketch wireframe kit as well as device templates and icons.  You’ll have everything you need to create that perfect wireframe for iOS.

Ra Creative Wireframe Kit

Save time by using this UI wireframe kit to create mockups in the fashion, architecture, design or photography industries.

This kit will give you over 200 cards which have been divided into 16 categories.  Each can be customized for creative purposes.  Use a bootstrap grid to create designs with aesthetic appeal.

Ending thoughts on these Sketch wireframe kit

Whether you use Illustrator, Photoshop or Sketch to create efficient and effective designs, there is a choice for everyone.

Browse through our selection for the most suitable wireframe kit for you.  We guarantee it will add value to your next project!!

If you enjoyed reading this article about Sketch wireframe kit, you should read these as well:

• Figma vs Sketch: Which is the best option you should choose
• Adobe XD vs Sketch: Which one to choose and why
• Sketch Plugins That Will Improve Your Workflow

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The Core Aspects of Digital Marketing That Dictate Business Success

Every business is always concerned about growing its market base and solidifying its presence as a leader in the niche segment that they serve. This is the backbone of running any enterprise, as without having loyal consumers or clients, and being able to continually grow a business, all day to day operations fail to attain the desired value. Currently, the most practical way of ensuring a business effectively reaches out to the target market is through internet marketing that has become a direct determinant of success. While this is widely understood and no enterprise can ever deny the immense impacts of the internet, the problem comes in the implementation of the modern techniques of making known your market presence. Consequently, this has resulted in the unfortunate scenario where an enterprise is not able to achieve more significant goals since they are not effectively reaching out to the market.

The first step to taking charge of the digital marketing needs of a business is to understand that this is a process that begins right from the moment you decide to develop a business website and it is a never-ending process. Many companies make the mistake of viewing internet marketing as a complementary process that they can pick and drop wherever they feel like and not the central process it is. As such, there is no shortcut to acquiring leads than ensuring that there is a solid foundation that meets the highest standards expected today. A professional website that effortlessly showcases the brand at its best is, therefore, the first step for any business that hopes to have the full benefits of internet marketing. Once there is an end-user oriented website in place, the following components must always dictate the direction that the business marketing takes;

1. First, develop the right strategies before focusing on the tactics

The importance of creating a digital marketing strategy before rushing to the tactics of implementation can never be emphasized enough. This is not an activity that should be rushed through or conducted as a formality but is to be the guiding light, which businesses can consequently build their marketing activities around. A well-known secret that has been professionally approved over and over is to create a marketing strategy that is relatable to the current standard of the enterprise and focuses on the primary market target.

2. Understand that digital marketing is entirely different from traditional marketing

At the mention of marketing, businesses automatically think about selling their products by pushing them on customers. Unfortunately, the age of outbound marketing where there was a one-way communication that sought to tell potential clients to buy certain products or opt for specific services are long gone. The aim of digital marketing is to develop an interaction with clients and seek to arouse their interest before they can decide to buy a product or embrace your solutions.

3. There is power in content

Content marketing is one of the most effective and practical tools that are within reach of every business that is after and this is market dominance. Primarily, this is since it dictates how the business portrays itself to the market, which determines whether it will result in a great reception or have minimal impacts on client behavior. Handled the right way, content marketing is the fastest way to pull in the most leads and have better rankings search engines as the latest algorithms will instantly lead to better indexing.

4. You always win by maintaining the utmost professionalism

Internet marketing is more than sending across the wrong messages to have more clicks and attract the wrong traffic that will not boost your bottom-line. You must never forget that the only reason you have invested in marketing is to make those numbers add up, and this can only be achieved by gaining more clients. There are lots of underhand tactics that can be used to give you a false sense of enhanced online presence, but this is never sustainable and will quickly be realized by all the major search engines. Potential clients will equally never appreciate being baited through false advertisements and will instantly recognize these tactics way before you can have any suitable conversions.  To avoid all these unwanted risks, maintain the utmost professionalism in internet marketing is the surest way of progressively growing and gaining market trust naturally.

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Website Search Design: Best Practices

If your website contains a lot of information, it becomes difficult for your viewers to search for specific questions or facts. A search button is a useful navigation tool. Adding this simple feature on your website will provide a smooth experience for your users. However, it can be challenging to design a search bar. Here are some of the best practices you can use for designing a site search for your website.

Create a long search bar:

Having a long enough search bar on your website is a good idea. When your visitors type a question in your search bar, you want to provide sufficient space for them to see what they are writing. This allows your visitors to review or edit their questions. A text box with the capacity of 27 characters is appropriate as this is the average length of most questions. Take the width using the size of letter m, or by using ems, this helps you determine your space effectively. If you feel you don’t have that much spare space for a search box you could consider a search box that grows as you type.

Use Auto-suggestions:

Auto-suggestions guide your visitors with their search queries. Usually, visitors don’t know how to frame their questions, and they also don’t know what keywords to use to find results. Most of the people don’t know how to rephrase their question when they can’t find results the first time they try. These problems can be solved by providing auto-suggestions in your search box. When you create auto-suggestions, try to use keywords that would help your visitors. Also, add predictive text, commonly asked questions, and automatic spelling corrections. This helps the users search for specific terms in your search bar and also helps people who have no clue where to start their search.

Provide options:

Give your users a range of options on your toolbar that would make their search easier. These options should be a range of questions prepared around a specific term or topic. Users must have the option to select questions using the keyboard or scroll key. Add a feature that they automatically return to the top of the page once they reach the bottom. Give your viewers suggestions in creative font to capture their attention. This makes searching much more useful for your users.

Make search bar a constant feature for every page:

Provide a search bar on every page of your website to keep your site efficient and easy to navigate. It is possible that your users land on a wrong page, so you should allow them to correct their mistakes from that page rather than making them come back on to your home page. It is also possible that they find the information they were looking for and want to explore more topics. Also, include your search bar on the dead end link like 404 pages.

Add sort and filter options:

Most people find it challenging to look for information within a wide range of topics. Also, irrelevant results and processing time makes the experience unpleasant for the users. Sort and filter options help the users narrow down the search and look for exactly what they want. Provide separate sort and filter options as they are not the same. Sorting changes the order of the results while filtering limit the results shown. Also, do not provide more than 7 options in filtering since our short term memory cannot hold more than that. If you require more than 7 options, collapse the rest with an option of “view all filters.” Place your options according to the priority people give to them. Make your sorting logic clear so that visitors can change their options accordingly.

Add a Submit Button:

Similar to Google, your search bar searches your website for answers. So you should provide a submit button similar to Google for users to enter their queries on your website. Having a small area for entering the query is inconvenient, especially on a tablet or phone. You should create a search button that is large enough for users to access it. This enter button provides your user with correct results.

Have a prominent search bar:

Ensure you have a prominent search bar that is easy to find. When your users cannot find answers, your search box should be available to provide easy and quick solutions. Show your text field and search icon so that people know where to ask questions. Web designers find it challenging to decide on an ideal position to place their search bar. Usually, the top corner or top center is the place that catches the most amount of attention. Popular websites like YouTube use the top corner to place their search bar. Make sure that you make your search bar more accessible to your users.

Use a magnifying glass icon:

Icons are a visual representation of action, object, or idea. A magnifying glass is one the universal icon for the action ‘search’. So, using this icon displays your message. While designing your search bar, make sure to add a magnifying glass icon on the right of the box. Keep the size of magnifying glass proportionate to the size of your search bar to make it appear clean and organized. Use a magnifying glass with fewer graphics details as it speeds up recognition.

Add category suggestions inside the search bar:

Include a sample category inside the search box to suggest the users what they can search. Make sure to limit your sample to just a few words. Otherwise, it will increase the cognitive load. Most web designers neglect the importance of the contrast ratio for placeholder text. According to the universal guidelines of web accessibility, the ratio should be 4:5:1 for standard text. Also, don’t use placeholder text in forms as it makes it difficult for users to fill the form accurately.

Never display ‘no matches found’:

Landing on a blank page with ‘no matches found’ can be frustrating, especially if your users have rephrased their questions a couple of times. So, you should give your users a clear view that you couldn’t find anything related to their search with a range of alternative results. Design your system to generate alternative results considering each word present in the question individually.

A search bar offers your users the opportunity to navigate your site efficiently to find information. This gives your users a sense of control. Hence, creating a simple and identifiable search bar is an excellent way to assist your users.

The post Website Search Design: Best Practices appeared first on Web Design Blog | Magazine for Designers.

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Design your way

When it comes to writing or drawing, nothing beats a pencil and paper. If you are a fan of traditional writing methods, you will know that among the best notebooks in the market, those of Moleskine is very remarkable, but we do not always have the resources to acquire them.

That should not inhibit you from giving yourself a literary taste, and that’s why we present you some Moleskine alternative that will satisfy that writing desire.

It may sound old-fashioned that, at the era of cloud technology, with applications like Evernote available anywhere for our use, we prefer a physical medium for our notes, but the truth is that this is still the best option for a large public.

If you are still riding the classic train of paper notes, then follow us with this small list of notebook paper (and some digital options) worthy of acquiring.

What should a Moleskine alternative have?

If we want to continue in line with the best available notebooks, we have to look for certain criteria to meet a minimum:

Look for a professional finish: just because it’s a Moleskine alternative does not mean that we should neglect the quality of its finish. This must be professional and made of resistant materials so that the internal sheets are kept immaculate.

The weight of the paper is important: by this, we mean that it must be able to withstand the use of strong writing tools, such as markers or pens, in such a way that the ink does not seep into other sheets.

There is nothing written about the ruled sheets: remember that the sheets can be ruled or without these lines. This is already a matter of likes and needs, but it is important to check the notebook before purchasing it.

Search something that does not create a hole in our bank account: the best journals do not have to be excessively expensive. There are aspects that we can sacrifice to acquire a more economical product.

Look for notebooks with non-toxic sheets: the use of chemicals, in general, can compromise our strokes. If we need to keep our work for a long time, the sheets should be non-toxic.

Check out the best notebooks and pick the best Moleskine alternative for you

An elegant design with Clairefontaine Basic Large Clothbound Notebook

We started this list of the best notebooks with a great favorite.

The Clairefontaine Basic Large Clothbound Notebook offers us good quality in all the aspects that we mentioned previously, and it does it with great style.

The cover is soft and has an amazing textured finish, but this does not mean it is not resistant, being ideal for work or studies.

Each of the thick sheets is made without chemical agents, which means that we can write with ink and it will not be leaked to the adjacent pages nor will it be erased by the rubbing of other sheets.

The thickness is so perceptible, that it is almost impossible for us to skip any page since it is easy to feel and pass them.

As an addition, it has an elastic strap that firmly holds each page of the notebook, so we can easily write in it without fear.

Design with tranquility in the Piccadilly Essential Notebook

If we seek to capture all the ideas of drawing that we have in our mind, this Piccadilly paper notebook is perfect.

In total, it has 240 pages, all made with high-quality graphic paper, so we can give strong expressions with the marker without it being seen on the other side of the page.

The brand is not only limited to these designers notebooks; If we need more standard options for writing, they also have a good range of ruled and unruled notebooks.

Whatever the case we choose, all their designs guarantee a quality standard thanks to a resistant cover, with a finish similar to leather.

Prepare field notes with Field Notes Kraft Ruled 3-Pack

If our thing is to take notes, then this Moleskine alternative will be useful. Three books with 48 pages each one makes up this ideal setting for people who need to write quick and spontaneous notes.

Both the outer cover and the pages are thick, giving it a very resistant finish. Despite this, its size is ideal to carry in any pocket, being a warrior of the news. As a final point, highlight that it is easy to grasp, being very comfortable to write and placing it high on the list of the best pocket notebook

Get ready for business with the Rhodia Orange Meeting Notebook

If what you need is to be prepared to face the business world, this business book cannot be missing in our portfolio. Its exterior design is everything you would expect from a notebook designed for business: elegant and durable.

Additionally, the pages are specially made for writing, guaranteeing that the ink or graphite will not be erased over time and that we will be able to write precisely thanks to its margins. The very good absorption of the sheets means that we do not need to fill the ink pen several times to leave our work.

The lateral is formed by a metallic spiral, which allows the pages to be easy to pass. However, beyond its design, the most important aspect of this book is definitely its resistance to water (without exaggeration).

German sewing is present with the Leuchtturm Medium Notebook

When we talk about the best notebooks, we cannot ignore those made in Germany. Leuchtturm brings to the market a whole craft in regards to notebooks, with a hardcover of high quality and with pages that are joined to the spine by a thread.

The pages come in an immaculate white, which makes them ideal for drawings and writings alike. In addition, internal perforations allow pages to be removed easily without damaging the integrity of the notebook.

An additional of the manufacturer is the inclusion of stickers on the back cover, a detail that is appreciated and adds an additional value to the product.

Take advantage of 100% of your notes with Baron Fig

If there is something annoying about the small notebooks, is that, when they are opened, they are folded, making part of the sheet unusable or very uncomfortable to write. Baron Fig seeks to solve this problem in a simple way and without increasing the costs of the notepad.

According to Adam Kornfield, the company wanted to make a notepad that was hard enough not to bend, but that was comfortable to use. It indicates that this small notebook is as practical as its appearance proves.

This Moleskine alternative comes in three presentations of different engravings: totally white sheets, ruled sheets, and squared sheets. There is an ideal option for each user. Fine-grain paper without chemicals allows it to preserve what you write or draw for long periods of time.

A unique detail of these notebooks is that, on the back, they include 12 perforated pages, so if we want to remove a sheet, we can do it with total freedom.

Forget the budget with Fiorentina

Granted, this may go against the principle that a notebook is accessible, but definitely, if we can afford the luxury, the best notebooks we can choose are those of Fiorentina. Their price is high, yes, but they also include a high-quality leather cover.

Fiorentina is a direct rival of Moleskine, being both from the same country. The sheets of the Fiorentina notebooks are made in Florence, and they are so durable that we can use fountain pens in them.

As expected, they offer alternatives to almost any Moleskine product, such as, for example, the Ciak line of portable notebooks. These journals are comfortable, small in size, and elegant, and they have a leather cover. They are also somewhat expensive, $16 per unit.

Other of its products are MOOD and SMILE, which also include leather covers (in the case of SMILE, recycled leather).

Support a good cause with myPAPERCLIP

Direct from India comes this manufacturer that, in addition to providing good quality products, donates part of their income to children’s education. myPAPERCLIP is a protector of the planet as far as paper notebooks are concerned.

The manufacturer uses materials that are friendly to the environment, and offer a large number of personalized products, such as magazines or newspapers. Additionally, they have their own products of excellent quality, such as City (hardcover note pads with Munken Polar Rough paper).

Support the future with Cast Iron Design

Following the ecological movement, Cast Iron Design is a manufacturer that similarly uses recycled materials to take care of the planet.

Focusing mainly on graphic designers, Jonathan Black indicates that the intention of Cast Iron Design is positioning itself among the best paper producers in the market, but with ecological practices.

They seek to offer designers options that help to create awareness, not just at the paper level. Jonathan says that, of the best ecological practices that a graphic designer can have, making prints on recycled sheets is one of the most influential.

Code&Quill offers us a notebook for all occasions

Funded as a Kickstarter project, Code&Quill notebooks seek to satisfy multiple needs with a single product.

At the construction level, we are facing a strong book, with a hard cover and thick sheets that do not allow ink to leak. It has a paste that makes that the pages are always upright regardless of whether it is the left side, right side, the beginning of the notebook or its end.

Design and writing are possible with the notebook they offer since the printing on the sheets are unique in its style. By this, we mean that the pages on the left side have a dotted grid style, perfect for drawing, while the pages on the right side have a vertical indentation at 5 millimeters so that all the notes are in order.

Do not miss any detail with Whiteline

Has it ever happened to you that you are writing on a notebook sheet, and out of nowhere, you lose sight of what you wrote because it looks a lot like the guideline? Whiteline offers a creative solution to this problem.

Whitelines notebook have pages that are not completely white but have a slight gray tone that allows them to have almost invisible lines, but still, serve as a margin. In this way, our lines will never be confused with the margins.

However, this is not all that the company offers. In an attempt to combine the physical with the digital medium, it has an application that will allow us to take pictures of the pages of our notebook and send them automatically to our mail or cloud storage service, to have an additional backup of our notes.

We do not have to spend much to express ourselves in a notebook

Every designer or journalist needs a notebook in which to be able to write or draw spontaneously, and this means that it must be resistant to all our desires. Do not let the poor quality of a notebook be a limitation.

If you enjoyed reading this article about the best notebooks which include a lot of Moleskine alternatives, you should read these as well:

• The best laptop for graphic design: which one to choose
• Top graphic design magazines you should read
• Gifts for graphic designers

 

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Letterhead Design: 10 Things to Keep in Mind

Your company logo and visiting card are usually the first brand elements that a potential customer will see. Following them up with a well-designed letterhead lends professionalism to your brand and helps with brand recall. Consistent branding in the visiting card and letterhead establishes your brand in the mind of your customers. You can even use the same fonts for your visiting card and letterhead. Traditionally, letterheads were printed and provided to business customers and partners in the form of a hard copy. However, now letterheads are also used to send invoices and company correspondence online. Hence it is important to design a letterhead that looks good in print and in the digital format.

Here is the list of 10 things that you should keep in mind while designing letterheads.

1. Start with Basics:

A letterhead can be challenging to design. The focus of a letterhead should be the text content. The letterhead should provide a professional frame to the content. Try to start with simple and subtle designs. Do not load your letterhead with a lot of information. Just keep to the basics. Separate the details in the order of importance to give the letterhead more structure. Visually, when the information is placed or separated in different ways, it helps the reader to segregate information from the letterhead with the degree of importance.

2. Consider the business area:

Design the letterhead considering your audience. This is very important, as it will decide the number of people you attract through your designs. If people you are targeting don’t find the letters engaging enough chances are they may not convert into customers. For example, if you own an ad agency, you may use more creative designs for your letterhead. But if you own a corporate firm, you should go for a professional and classy letterhead design. Hence, you should modify your design and style according to the target audience.

3. Highlight the Brand:

The layout becomes the strongest point in attracting people towards your design. The company logo is the most important element of the letterhead. Place your logo at the top left or right corner so that it remains constant while people look at your letter. Give unique and classy borders to the letterhead to make it look complete. Place the contact details at the end. Also, use classy fonts in headings and simple fonts in other details to shift the focus to the brand logo. This will help you keep your brand highlighted, making it easier to remember.

4. Use Right Details:

You should include only the necessary details. Consider who will use the letterhead. This will help you understand which details to include and which ones to leave. For example, if the letterhead is for the director’s secretary, it’s appropriate to include contact details of the secretary’s office. Also, include alternative contact details to make sure you don’t miss any opportunity. There are certain legal details that generally need to be included in the letterhead. Make sure you have them covered.

5. Create a Uniform Stationary Set:

Creating a uniform stationary set can help you set yourself apart from your competitors. Decide how much detail to be added in the letterhead and fix them as standard details. This will make your work look organized and professional. Also, this will display the consistency and uniformity of your design. You can create your design or use default templates from different websites. Also use a good quality paper material for printing, like glossy or textured to make the letterhead look attractive. The quality of paper is a reflection of the company’s quality standards and practices.

6. Choose the Right Software:

When it comes to designing a letterhead people generally choose Photoshop. Photoshop allows you to design letterhead, but it does not provide some advanced features. On the other hand, Illustrator and InDesign are the best for designing letterheads as they have in-built support for setting up bleed, and provide print-ready PDF files. They provide topography controls to design elements and re-position them effectively. Also, make sure to print your letterheads with 300dpi to avoid blurring or pixelation.

7. Pick a Header:

You should pick a header that brings out the design of the letterhead. There are a variety of headers related to different categories. Therefore, select a relevant header. Build a strong, creative header to display your company’s vision and purpose. Do not use a lot of images as the letterhead should also look simple and have more space for the message. If you want to make your brand memorable, design a simple yet attractive style for your header.

8. Choose a Theme:

A great way to enhance the look of your letterhead is by refining small elements in your design. Small elements like shape, color or a photo can improve your letterhead. You can design your theme by building on a color scheme to make it look cohesive. Create a theme and design all your company collaterals and merchandise with the same theme. This will engage your customers and improve branding. The same theme in every stationery and communication tool will pass a message to the audience that the company is maintaining consistency in branding.

9. Add a creative border:

Use borders to add a style to your letters. Don’t restrict your design to the monochromatic layout for the border. With modern printers able to print to the edges of the sheet, it has become easy to include a stylish border. Creative use of colors and patterns can add a small attractive element to your letterhead. But make sure to include colors and patterns in a restricted yet elegant manner. Borders should not distract the people from the content in your letter. They should provide a frame for your text content. You can compare a border to a photo frame that helps people focus on the picture in the frame.

10. Use Special effects:

Design letterheads with special effects to enhance the look of your letterhead. You can add geometric patterns in the background for a simple and structured look. You can also use special printers for adding effects like foil blocking, die cutting, embossing, etc.

A well-designed letterhead acts as a backbone for the brand to spread its message and essence to the people. Spend some extra hours and make sure to design an exclusive letterhead that will frame your message and create a great impression. Also, keep in mind to add some small elements that shape the letterhead effectively.

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