HTML Basics all Web and Graphic Designers Should Know

A significant section of the design community is still debating over the necessity to code for designers. Most designers think that developers and designers should collaborate, but each one should stick to their expertise.

Many designers who code are considered to be a threat to the developers. But they should be regarded as collaborators that have learned to speak their language. Knowing a little coding doesn’t make a designer an expert coder, but only someone who understands the perspective of developers.

Usually, the designers focus on “presentation layer” but focusing on it alone is like considering the facade of a building. Great designers understand that knowing technologies will not only enhance the design but also boost their career prospects. Designers who know how to code make a great asset to a multidisciplinary team. Many believe that people who focus on a particular skill are stronger professionals. On the other hand, many people believe that a multi-skilled designer has a big advantage over designers who are non-coders. At the end of the day, nothing should stop the designer who wants to acquire another skill like coding.

What is a Programming Language?

Coding or programming is like solving a puzzle. A programming language is a way to communicate with software. The people that use these programming languages are called developers or programmers. Programming languages tell the software about the structure and style of a webpage or how to move an object when users take a specific action.

While designing a webpage, the developers have to code every aspect of the website. They have to write instructions in a proper order to achieve the desired results. After this, your web browser such as Safari, Chrome, Firefox, etc. convert these codes into something interactive so that it is easy to use. Without the browser, it is just a text file that only programmers can understand. So when you open a webpage, your browser loads all the programming languages involved and provides an interactive visual. To create a website, graphic designer, and web developers collaborate and decide the sections they will work on. If the designers know these programming languages, they can visualize the idea of the website better. Along with this, they can help the developer achieve their visuals perfectly.

CSS and HTML are not technically programming languages. They are just style and structure information about the webpage. HTML and CSS are on the front end of each application and web page. Acquiring some foundational knowledge of front end that is driven by CSS and HTML would greatly benefit designers. HTML stands for the hypertext markup language, and CSS stands for cascading style sheets (a language which describes the component styles in an HTML document). Designers would be shocked to see how easy it is to learn the basics of HTML and CSS. CSS and HTML are not based on programming logic. HTML describes the structure of pages on a website and is the building block of pages. HTML with JavaScript and CSS form the foundation of technologies for the World Wide Web. In simple words, HTML tells the website what to display, and CSS tells it how to display the things. CSS is a simple code structure that determines colors, position, typography, and dimensions.

HTML:

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is the main building block of designing a website. HTML is a basic language and only requires memorizing some HTML commands to build the structure of your webpage. It consists of a series of elements that you use to make the content appear in a certain way. The enclosing tags can make words bold, italic or make them smaller or bigger. So, it’s better to draw out the ideas, to help you visualize the look of your site. It is also a good idea to decide how you will store your files, whether all of them will be in the same directory or not. Additionally, you should consider whether you will save the file as .htm or .html file. Also, consider if you want to have the same template for all your web pages or not.

Markup languages label the content types using specific code, especially HTML tags. These tags include paragraph tags, header tags, image tags, and so on. A webpage is made up of these tags that denote each type of content on the webpage. HTML tags surround each type of content. To take an example – if you wish to write this article in HTML, you will start with <p>, which denotes opening of the paragraph instead of some other content. Once a tag is opened, the content after the tag is assumed to the part of the tag until your write </p> to denote that you want to close the paragraph. The difference between the opening and closing tag is a forward slash that only appears when you close a tag.

<p> Paragraph content</p>

By using HTML, you can insert images, control some styling, format paragraphs, make lists, create special characters, add headings, create links, control line breaks, build tables, emphasize text and much more.

CSS:

Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is a programming language that controls the HTML elements of the website and determines the appearance of the page. CSS allows designers to make changes on their webpages like adding a full-screen hero image, centring a webpage in the display window, fonts used in the website and using a pseudo selector for designing interactive content like forms and links. It also helps in adjusting the space between HTML elements with padding and margins. With CSS, you visualize how padding, borders and margins affect the height and width of a component. Once you make a change to your website’s CSS style sheet, it is possible to make a change on every page automatically. Making changes using CSS is easier when your website is significant. Additionally, CSS not only saves time but also makes your website style look consistent.

CSS separates the website’s content with its design language. This reduces your file transfer size. The CSS document is stored externally and can be accessed when a user requests your website. In contrast, when you use tables, every page on the site will be accessed in each visit. Reduction of bandwidth will mean that the website will load faster and also cut your web hosting costs. CSS is a clean coding technique, and so search engines don’t have to struggle to read the content of the website.

Additionally, CSS will reduce code and instead increase content which is critical for a search engine to identify your website. Since the introduction of Google Chrome, users have more browsers than ever that make browser compatibility a massive problem for sites. CSS style sheets increase a website’s adaptability and make sure that more users can view your website the way you intended.

Another major issue solved by CSS is the website’s compatibility with different media. CSS allows you to create the same markup page that can be presented in different viewing styles. For example, you can make a separate style sheet for a mobile device or print using CSS. With so many advantages, CSS is a smart choice for web and graphic designers.

Importance of using HTML and CSS together:

HTML offers raw tools required to structure the content on the website. On the other hand, CSS helps to style the content, so that it appears in the desired way. Both these languages are kept separate so that the website is appropriately built before they are reformatted. So HTML may be the basic structure of your website, but CSS gives style to your entire site. All those new fonts, slick colors and background images are determined by CSS. This language determines the mood and tone of the website, making it an essential tool for web developers. CSS also allows the website to fit in different display sizes and devices types.

In simple words, CSS assigns properties to HTML tag whether it is multiple tags, single tag, entire document or multiple documents. It exists because colors and fonts were developed. Web designers had to struggle a lot to adapt HTML to these new features. In 1990 HTML was not developed to show physical formatting information. It was meant only to define the structure of a document. HTML outgrew all design features and CSS was released and invented in 1996. All formatting was then removed from HTML document and stored in a separate file as .css.

Every web browser has a default style sheet, so when you go to a web page, every page has at least one style sheet that affects it. The default style sheet depends on what the visitor is using. For example, if a website does not have a style sheet, the visitor will see the default style sheet that is set for his browser. However, if the web developer has established a style sheet for its website, the website will not show the default style sheet. This is where the word cascading of CSS comes in play. The last defined stylish sheet will inform the visitor’s browser what instructions have precedence.

Benefits of knowing HTML and CSS:

Learning to code the UI and previewing it offers designers the opportunity to see how things will look when viewed on different devices. If designers work with HTML and CSS, they will see how everything is measured in pixels (other measurements like percentages and “ems” will be converted to pixels). Understanding code structure and sizes, i.e., how pages will be displayed will give a better understanding of front-end development process. This will allow the designers to think practically about their designs and how to make the process more efficient. They will understand what can be achieved and what would be challenging.

Another benefit of understanding the language of developers is being able to read their mind. If designers and developers can speak each other’s language, it will be elementary for them to collaborate and design a website. Understanding the thought process of developers and what their requirements are to complete their job successfully will make designer a great asset to the company. This approach is useful for idea pitches as well as internal communications. If designers start understanding HTML and CSS, they will be in a better position to propose a compelling plan to clients.

Apart from the usual advantages, job opportunities increase if you know how to code as it makes day to day work and screening processes easy. Recruiters of design-based companies are always attracted towards hybrid profiles. Especially startup companies are eager to find candidates that can handle work in both front end and design field. Some developer and designers are, however, threatened to see people with both skills. But the truth is every individual should analyze their options while focusing on what increases their chances of having a successful career. Designers need not know everything about coding, but the basics of HTML and CSS can add significant distinction in your profile. Learning the basics should be easy for designers. The more designers know, the more they can explore different job opportunities.

Knowing basic knowledge of HTML and CSS is essential for being a progressive graphic designer in this competitive world. Considering all these benefits, graphics designer must learn to code to progress in their career. Along with understanding the practical use of your designs, knowing how to code also allows you to enhance your creativity. You will be able to sketch your designs in Sketch or Photoshop and then execute your plans the way you imagined it. Also, you won’t have to run to the developer to solve small issues with WordPress and also developers will be eager to work with you. So whether you are a freelancer or work in a design company, not knowing programming languages will ultimately limit you and leave you stuck.

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Design your way

Photoshop is one of the most popular design tools for multiple reasons. One of them is the great capacity it has to adapt to the needs of users thanks to add-ons, brushes, etc. I think it is understood that there are things that are very difficult to edit without the right option, one of them being the hair. Today’s list will be particularly useful for those who do constant hair retouching: best Photoshop hair brushes.

Having to draw or touch up hair for hair is an alternative that we cannot afford in most cases, so we have adapted tools that allow us to make this tedious task easier.

The brush is one of the basic tools when working in Photoshop. It gives us enormous control over all kinds of features. From stylized strokes to more realistic results, each brush offers us a unique possibility.

Also, much of the popularity of brushes is that we can edit them and add new ones, which opens up different worlds of possibilities.

No matter our profession, as long as we have to use Adobe software, knowing brushes is a great advantage when designing. We can find them with transparencies, such as clouds or smoke, or more detailed, such as explosions. The gallery is unlimited when it comes to adding brushes.

Since the amount is so overwhelming, we must have a starting point from which to begin our search. We hope that, with the following guide, you can easily find a Photoshop hair brush that suits what you need.

How to select the right brush

As artists we are, we must be clear about what brush we should use. Each one has different configurations, both in size, transparency, shape, among other things.

Depending on the result we are looking for, the brush will act differently. For example, if we want a digital finish, the lines will be cleaner. In case we want to emulate traditional art, we can always opt for a textured brush that looks like graphite.

Uses of the different Photoshop brushes

The answers are many, and it is good to know them to decide whether to use them or not.

Among what we can do with a brush is: we can draw and paint, save large amounts of time by filling large spaces with colors, applying gradients with infinite colors, shading and delineating, applying textures, patterns, and other more delicate details, and virtually any aggregate that comes to mind.

Another important advantage of brushes, especially textured ones, is that they allow us to modify their texture, size, inclination, among other things. They are easily manageable together, which saves time.

The following list is just some of the house’s favorite options for you to customize your Adobe Photoshop toolbox. For convenience, we have broken down into free and premium options.

Photoshop hair brushes

Free Photoshop Hair Brushes set of 10 – Enough initial options

We begin the list with a complete package that offers us 10 brushes with options for all hair types. The quality of the textures used is very good, and it does not matter if it is straight or curly hair, we will get a brush that suits this.

The customization options are also wide since we can modify from size to density without losing quality.

Sakimichan Pack – When compatibility is important

Compatibility is important when it comes to installing add-ons in programs. Sakimichan not only ensures that it is a complete set in terms of the number of brushes, since we have 54 options of multiple natures, but it is also possible to install them in Photoshop CS3 onwards.

Ultimate Brush Pack 5 – We not only have hair brushes

This package, as the name suggests, is an extremely large collection of 87 high-resolution brushes that have all kinds of images. If you are looking for Photoshop cloud brushes, water, hair, smoke, or anything dynamic, then you should download it.

Hair Retouching Brushes for Photoshop – A lightweight package

This small package of Photoshop hair brushes, compatible with version CS2 onwards, is perfect if we are looking for something specific to retouch photographs.

Hair Brush Pack – Hand Drawn Hair Styles – When we want something personal

The set below consists of nine handmade brushes so you get the best hairstyle. If you want to make character projects in general, and you plan to use them commercially, this package will be your ideal complement.

Hair Brushes III – The Power of Curls

A realistic package with lots of curly hair brushes. Perfect for artists who retouch photos.

Hair Brush Set – Simple but effective retouching

A simple package that allows us to add some shadows or make complex changes. This special package is ideal for working with a graphics tablet since it adapts perfectly to the force with which we use the pen.

Wavy Hair Strands Photoshop and GIMP Brushes – For people with wavy hair

If we want to have half the work done, then we must use this ready to use set with strands of wavy hair. As easy as putting it into the design we want and then adjusting the dimensions and shape.

Hair brushes set 1 – Contemplating all hair types

Be smooth, wavy, curly, long, short, it doesn’t matter. This set of free brushes has a detailed quality for each person.

Eyelash Brushes – Another hair type

Eyelashes are also a constant touch up option when it comes to hair. 22 personalized options that allow us to adapt to any type of eye.

Hair Photoshop Brushes – Install and use

With this Photoshop file, we will get bangs, braids, curls, and all kinds of hairs that you can think of. Perfect if we don’t want to look hard to find a safe option.

Windblown Hair Brushes – Generate movement with these brushes

There is nothing more shocking than beautiful hair loose outdoors. If you want to achieve this effect, worthy of a professional photography studio, these 23 brush options will allow you to create them without much effort.

Hair Strands – The Modern Alternative

Another option of hair strands ready to use. Its more modern compatibility with Photoshop 7 makes the quality included in each of the 16 images unique.

Anime hair brushes – For the fans

This DeviantArt brushes set includes five styles for you to create your anime character. In total, there are three original designs, one of the character Robin of Witch Hunter Robin, and another of Mello from Death Note. If you do not have Photoshop, you can also download the images in PNG to be able to use them anywhere.

Lineart Hair Brushes – Say goodbye to the lines

Sometimes, less is more, especially when it saves us work without losing  quality. This hairbrush has a magical style where we will not need to draw lines one by one to get an excellent result.

8 High resolution hair brushes – Don’t settle for less

2000px resolution is the least we can accept for high-quality work and photorealism. With this set of eight brushes that meet this criterion, we can make professional editions in images of a high level of detail. Not only that, but the brushes were also created from real photos.

Stock Photoshop Brushes hair 4 – Quality for wavy hair

Three alternatives for wavy hair in a single package. The 593px images can be used for commercial uses, as long as the author is credited.

Curls – Curly effect for Photoshop 7

Although not many, these five brushes with resolutions higher than 1000 pixels are ideal for creating all kinds of curly hair. Not only that but because it focuses on them, we can use these brushes to touch up parts that we already create.

Hair Wigs Brushes Set – For artificial hair

There are times that we do not fully master the options that Photoshop gives us. It is understandable, after all, there are many. If we are not so skilled at making cuts or hairstyles with the basic tools, we can always use one of the 40 pre-designed wigs to achieve an immediate result without deep editing skills.

Although they come in black by default, this is not an impediment in the Adobe tool, since it will be enough to change the main color.

Woman Hair Photoshop Brushes – Ready for the hairdresser

These high-resolution Photoshop hairbrushes (between 1500 and 2500px) are similar to those we would use to retouch images in beauty salons. Their large size makes them ideal for presentations on walls, web designs, brochures, and in general any advertising design.

Skin and Hair Photoshop Brush Textures – For complete compositions of people

Beyond the silhouette, when we make drawings of real people it is essential to have the textures for hair and skin that allow us to achieve results similar to reality. This package includes the entire set of hair and skin brushes, all pressure sensitive.

Hi-Res Photoshop Hair Brushes – To sell your product

There are many options for free brushes, but few allow us to use them for our commercial projects. This alternative mixes both worlds, in addition to a sublime quality that reaches 2500px.

Painted Hair Brushes – A simple but useful collection

Another direct acquisition from DeviantArt. Similarly, to use it, we must give the corresponding credits to the author, as well as contact her in advance. The set is simple but effective, allowing us to save a good part of the hair drawing.

Hair Brushes I – With all the necessary measures

A set consisting of 3 different brush thicknesses: a thin one ideal for delineating and applying details, a thick one for coloring large extensions, and one in the middle to create pleasant details.

Hair Smudge Brushes – Give way to a disastrous option

This brush is a mess, in a good way. It offers lines and spots that create random prints in the drawing, which gives it a curious, more unrealistic touch. In total, we get five files compatible with Photoshop 7 and up.

10 Premium alternatives for a guaranteed quality

Female Hair Brushes Pack – A Fashion result

The elegance that women overflow is unique in their hair. This package, oriented to long hairstyles, allows you to achieve a sublime result while maintaining the fashion look of a hairdressing job.

Hair Filaments Brush for Photoshop – To finish the details

Once we have all the hair drawn, we can go one step further by adding additional levels of detail. The 41 filaments included in this package are perfect for placing those small hairs that we could erase while we retouched.

Custom Photoshop Brushes – Directional Hair / Fur Volume 2 – The most realistic result

The quality of this brush pack is unmatched. Each of the tools has been designed to complement each other, so we have 21 brushes that are part of a whole. The task of achieving a realistic appearance without the use of textures was not easy, but this set succeeds.

Smooth Flow of Hair Photoshop Brushes – Let the background speak for you

The emitting surface of these brushes makes them easy to work when we need more realism in relation to the background. Creating compositions with straight hair under lights will not be a problem for this brush pack.

Fur Realistic Painting Brushes for Photoshop – Creating hairy compositions

The amount of hair is important; especially when it comes to animals. This set of 20 brushes allows you to easily create all kinds of creatures with messy fur.

Makeup and Cosmetic Brushes Pack – Like a porcelain doll

Makeup brushes are extremely useful for all types of touch-ups. Directly removed from the dressing table, this package has all kinds of creams, lipsticks, powders, and others that you can get at a makeup store. In total, it has 20 images to use as a brush.

Pro Rendering FX Brush Pack – A creation from the real world

After an extensive study on how hair and skin react to different environments, all this information was gathered to build this package of high-resolution brushes that perfectly simulate the real world.

This set includes 18 hair brushes, 24 actions programmed for Photoshop, and a complete PDF guide to learn how to use everything.

Fur, Hair and Grass Brushes – An all in one

This packaging that again takes advantage of the rendering technique, has brushes that not only stay in the hair but also includes grass. To ensure compatibility, the package has a file for CS2 to CS5 Photoshop users and another for CS6 onwards (with overwhelming resolutions of 5000px).

Smooth Hair Flow Photoshop Brushes 2 – A final option for the collection

We finalize this list of Photoshop hair brushes with an option that includes 10 exclusive brushes for the software since they come in ABR format. Although 10 images are also included in PNG to complete the package.

How do I install the brush packs in Photoshop?

The installation process is simple, and the most important thing before starting is to have downloaded the package we want. After that, we follow these steps:

– With Photoshop open, we look for the brush tool and enter its settings, in the options tab.

– From here, you can see a triangle that will display a window. Look for the “Load brushes” option.

– Now, simply select the brush package you want to install. If all went well, you will see new images on this menu.

And with this, we finalize this guide. Remember that design is more a matter of attitude and practice, so although each of the options we present today can help you improve your work, everything will depend on how much dedication you apply. It doesn’t matter if it’s Photoshop or other software, it’s important to know it fully and know how to use its options.

If you enjoyed reading this article about Photoshop hair brushes, you should read these as well:

• Photoshop cartoon effect for images (19 great PS actions)
• 37 Photoshop textures that must be a part of your toolbox
• Photoshop 3D text tutorials you should check out

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20 Perfect Law Firm Website Designs for Attorneys and Lawyers

Every type of business/service needs a website in today’s world. Law Firms are no exceptions to this Golden Rule. A Law Firm needs to be able to convey its mission and values as accurately as possible. Moreover, they should also be able to create a personality that is close to their work ethics and style. Doing so attracts potential leads to the use of their services, as having a good law firm website acts as proof of authenticity.

Here are 20 Perfect Law Firm Website Designs for Attorneys and Lawyers who have decoded the perfect way to showcase their work. This list will help you design your next Law Firm Website: 

1. Jaszczuk: 

The law firm website is dynamic and full of animation effects. The Home Page highlights the different sectors the firm specialises in, at the middle with substantial attractive fonts. The company logo is on the top left corner of the page, which remains static while navigating the page. It also redirects the visitor back to the home page.

The way the website has been laid out makes it easier to navigate. Upon scrolling the mouse the first time, the page slides horizontally to the next page. After which each scroll leads to the next page vertically. This transition adds depth to the feel of the page. The punchy colour schematic with each page makes the website vibrant and pleasing to look. All pages have strong visuals with CTAs placed cleverly right below the topic. This placement helps visitors select what service they want to learn in-depth. All of this, mixed with small nifty animations and effects ensures quality engagement.

2. JLongTin Law:

The law firm website is minimalistic and straightforward to navigate. The Home Page includes crucial elements like the brand logo with the company name in the centre. Below which, is the company’s descriptor. These two together makes their identity crystal clear by answer the: who and what of their work. The breadcrumbs offer easy navigation points for exploring the company’s services, events and contact details. Upon scrolling down the home page, comes a dedicated page that talks about who they are. While the website doesn’t have complex animations, it is easy to read and still feels visually pleasing that ensures visitor feel at ease.

Each of their services listed on the service tab follow a simple format of listing the specific name, adding a relevant image below. Their content on the topic follows it.  They include their YouTube links on the same at the bottom of the page. The content assimilation and presentation is on the point and acts as a one-stop solution for any visitor.

3. Laureti Law: 

The website is one of the finest. The home page has a video that plays on loop showing the office and real-time interactions that help the visitor get familiar to the firm. There is live support feature available which is a sharp edge of other competitors.  The centre of the homepage has a descriptor which is simple yet effective to establish sincerity. The various CTAs placed at the right places ensures that the visitors can’t ignore them. As we scroll down the page, the hierarchy that follows is the same as the order of the breadcrumbs present on the home page. Overall the website is very organized with tons of feature, and useful content segmentation. The testimonials at the end of the main feed help establish trust and credibility.

4. Turks Legal:

The law firm website is colour schemed as per the logo of the company. Doing this helps to reinforce their presence throughout. The home page is very spacious and segmented adequately into their areas of expertise and services they offer. There’s an easily locatable arrow mark right next to each segment to learn in-depth about that particular services. The header includes CTAs that links to their socials and subscription offers. The search bar on the extreme right makes the website easy to navigate. The breadcrumbs work efficiently and are reasonably simple to use. Their people section has an excellent layout. With accessibility features like search based on the practise group, office, job title and name, it ensures visitors have no difficulties looking for what they want.

5.Tremain Artaza PLL: 

On first look, this law firm website has a straightforward and appealing homepage — the soothing visuals in the background compliment the text.  The text builds instant trust and comfort for the visitor. The breadcrumbs are easy to reach and visible on the side of the page. There’s a Contact CTA placed alongside the breadcrumbs, which is distinguished by encompassing the word in a circular box. Upon scrolling the page, you can see their recognitions and awards awarded by genuine essential people. The overall approach of the page is very visitor driven, which helps to convert many visitors into customers.

6. Small Law:

The law firm website itself is very minimalistic and simple to navigate. It is an ideal website for an individual lawyer. The home page layout has static wallpaper that complements the overall look of the page. Followed by the image, there is a brief introduction about the lawyer himself. There is a CTA placed that helps people contact the lawyer, right next to it. The best part of the website is that it has a legal advice column at the bottom of the page which talks about different services provided with the cost for the same mentioned right below. This can help visitors save time and also build trust due to the transparency provided.

7. Shumway Van:

The law firm website design ensures that everything fits into the main homepage. The same is accessible through the breadcrumbs.  The breadcrumbs have numbers like chapters that make it look neat and organized. The company’s name and logo are displayed in the centre; there is a neat wallpaper carousel in the background. As you move down, different information placed in different boxes gives it a very striking look.  There’s a dedicated line dedicated to visible and attractive CTAs that are well placed. The plugin to Google maps to show how to reach all their offices also makes them more accessible.

8. Horea Crisan:

The law firm website has an attractive home page. It doesn’t have many webpages which makes it cluster free and easy to load. The website heavily depends on typography for its visual appeal. They believe in getting in touch via telephonic or mail facility, which is why they’ve stated all their fields of work but not created an in-depth link for each. Overall the website acts as a portfolio for their work and services. Also, it acts as a natural access point for visitors to get to know about them.

9. W3IP Law:

The company specialises in IP Laws, and it doesn’t shy away in showing it, on their law firm website. The design of the website is very futuristic and app like in its design. The home page has an introduction video in the centre. There is a wide range of services they offer which act as CTAs for themselves, surrounding the centre video. The Call Now button has the number in the header. This acts as a CTA that directs the visitor to their dial-pad if accessed through a smartphone.  The client testimonial also has a subtle scroll transition effect that plays like a slideshow which helps build credibility also looks visually appealing. 

10. Givens Givens Sparks:

The law firm website has a colour scheme that matches their logo. There are tons of CTAs spread throughout the page with built-in support to redirect visitors to the dial pad from their smartphone. The website has a banner on the homepage which has a wallpaper carousel and CTAs placed for each service they have to offer.  A section talks about ‘Our Recent Victories’ focuses on numbers and stats to gain visitor’s attention. This helps show credibility. The benefits of choosing their services are illustrated by minimalistic graphics that look appealing. The website even has a Live Chat feature which gives it an edge over most websites.

11. Idea Legal:

 

The website focuses on providing illustrations to guide the visitor to their respective query points. The visual appeal of the page is minimalistic and spaced out. The approach is to make something as heavy as Legal feel a lot friendlier and more comfortable to get around.  The list of impressive clientele helps build trust with visitors. The let’s connect CTA redirects the visitor to a page which has all necessary contact information, which makes engagement very easy.

12. Venture Legal:

The website uses minimal but rightly placed animation effects.  The text that comes up after a smooth transition talks about their services by introducing a problem and providing a solution for the same. The silhouette wallpaper of chromatic shades compliments the colour schematic of the logo.  There is an easy to fill-form that helps the visitors get in touch with the lawyers. Transparent and categorized pricing make it easy for visitors to browse and learn about more.

The website has a clean look. The homepage has a wallpaper carousel that shows images from the office.  The interactions shown in the pictures help build trust for the visitors. A message from the partners demonstrated in a video format that seamlessly fits into web design instead of a popup video. The website has breadcrumbs to navigate through the site.

13. Stockman ‘O’ Connor:

The website has a clean look. The homepage has a wallpaper carousel that shows images from the office.  The interactions shown in the images help build trust for the visitors. A message from the partners is displayed in a video format that seamlessly fits into web design instead of a popup video. The website has breadcrumbs to navigate through the site.

14. Affleck and Barrison LLP:

The website has a clean and bold design approach.  The use of iconography makes the homepage easy to navigate. The CTA is placed strategically and openly on the homepage.  The list of services is organized neatly for visitors to refer.  Individual profiling of each attorney on the team helps build trust and credibility. 

15. Gjel Accident Attorneys:

The website has a simple layout that doesn’t rely much on animations or transitions. Throughout the homepage, there are snippets of testimonials, verdicts and other types of data that helps the visitor gain trust in the business. Subtle placement of the Contact forms throughout the website ensures it doesn’t seem imposed and also catches the visitor’s attention. The use of banners and iconography make the website engaging.

16. Fasken:

Distinct design elements are spread throughout the website.  This feature ensures smooth navigation of the website. Throughout the site, there are great iconographies; the images match the colour scheme of the website, and the stats are easy to comprehend. The website has in-built support more multiple language translations that ensure more extensive accessibility. The visitor may also feel at ease and value this effort.

17. Odegard Law:

The website is very user-friendly and straightforward in its approach. The beautiful icons used throughout the website give it a joyful look.  The animations used are minimal and simplistic as well that compliments the aesthetics of the website. Though there is an abundance of content spread across their website, the simple design and layout prevent it from being overwhelming.

18. Gecic Law:

The website looks simple and minimal on the first look. However, as the visitor starts interacting with the website, they learn about the intrinsic elements hidden all over the website. There are video sliders and transitional scroll effect which draws the visitor’s attention by the element of surprise. The colour scheme of black white and red helps the website get that premium and formal aesthetic. There is a useful search icon that eases navigation and the option to translate the page in a few languages that increases reach. The social ribbon buttons are placed strategically in the footer of the website that remains static.

19. Colodny Fass:

The design approach this website uses emphasizes on clickthroughs. Multiple menus spread across the website. For each of which there are many CTAs in place. The design is bold and formal in approach. The social ribbons help drive their traffic to their social media platforms where the visitors can get in-depth information about the firm’s social presence. This could help them gather a collective insight which would improve trust and credibility.

20. Ashurst:

The website looks neat and clean. The homepage has a lot of exciting elements such as a live news feed which provides news snippets to catch visitor’s attention. There is a read more CTA right next to them, for people to read further on the topics. Iconography is used to demarcate their different services look, which looks visually appealing. The about us page has a timeline graphic which makes it easy to follow. There is also a feature of an interactive map that helps visitors get individual information about any office they want.

And here we end our hand-picked law firm design websites samples. You should focus on designing your website in a way that it offers a seamless user experience, which is easy to navigate and visually appealing to hold your visitor’s attention.

The post 20 Perfect Law Firm Website Designs for Attorneys and Lawyers appeared first on Web Design Blog | Magazine for Designers.

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9 Types of Graphics Design to Explore for New Designers

Graphic designers are artists that create visual concepts to captivate audiences, create long-lasting memories and tell stories using typography, color, form and imagery. Even though all graphic designers tend to practice under the same general title, they work in different types of graphic design.

The difference between these types of graphic designers isn’t just in the name. Most often, the principle of the heart of design differentiates the type of graphic designs. As graphic designing operates in different niches, it is important for people who want to pursue this as a career to know all of these types. Though these types of graphic designing overlap, each type requires its own specific set of techniques and design skills. Because the graphic design industry is constantly progressing, as a designer you should be an adaptable learner so that you can change or add special skills throughout your career. So, whether you are an aspiring graphic designer or looking for design services for your company, you should know these 9 types of graphic design:

1. Marketing Graphic Design:

This is the most common type of graphic designing. When people hear the term graphic design, they link it to marketing graphic design. Graphic designers in the advertising and marketing niche combine the principles of design and art with additional information about the psychology of buyers and consumers trends. It doesn’t matter if you work as a freelancer or in an agency. In this type of graphic designing, you will learn about different customer profiles and trends every time you take up a new case. Also, those who work in-house, dive deep into a specific set of information to get to know the work intimately. These types of graphic designers create billboards, advertisements, signs and more. Today, they also design graphics for the web by creating shareable graphics for banners, social profiles, digital brochures, email marketing templates, and other digital content. It is easy to find jobs for such graphic designers as there is always a position for them at agencies. However, the freelancing scenario is very different. So, it is better to work for a company before to develop a great network and start working as a freelancer.

2. Corporate Graphic Design:

In this type of graphic designing, the designers need to create a strong corporate identity using visual mediums. Their work appears in everything the organization does, including all the digital and print media. If you work in corporate graphic design, you contribute to “house style.” A House Style means organizing design elements in a way that is discrete while also sharing a cohesive, common method. Corporate graphic designers work with logos, typography and company colors. These three aspects should come together to create a unique, strong brand and visual identity. Also, note that a brand identity is not just a random logo. A logo simply communicates the company’s personality and its fundamental values. It also reaches to the customers by linking itself to experience, memories and emotions. Many corporate graphic designers work together with sales and marketing to set outline of the brand’s identity. Corporate graphic designers need to have strong personalities to coordinate between multiple platforms and teams to ensure their work is translated seamlessly within the company. They also require excellent communication, creative and conceptual skills and a passion for researching organizations, trends, industries and competitors.

3. UI Graphic Design:

A UI (User Interface) is how a user communicates with the device or application. The UI design is the process of creating interfaces that are easy to use and provide a user-friendly experience. A user interface graphic design includes all things a user communicates with but in terms of graphics. It focuses on the design of the on-screen graphic elements such as menus, micro-interactions, and buttons, along with providing a seamless visual experience to the users. UI graphic designer has to balance the technical functionality with aesthetic appeal. UI designers specialize in mobile apps, games and desktop apps. They work closely with user experience designers that determine how the app works and user interface developers that write the code to make it work. They are responsible for designing web pages, themes, game interfaces and applications. UI designers must have both graphic skills and an excellent understanding of UI/UX principle to provide web development and responsive design. In addition to designing knowledge, they require the knowledge of programming languages such as CSS, HTML and JavaScript. Only if you have proper knowledge of these languages, you can progress as a UI graphic designer.

4. Packaging Graphic Design:

You might have seen some interesting packaging and wondered who designs them. They are designed by graphic designers that work in packaging niche. The packaging of the product says a lot about the product inside it as well. It is the first thing your customer will see when they purchase or receive a product, and first impressions do matter. In today’s world, the packaging is something companies use to stand out. Good packaging design will easily differentiate itself from the other products on the shelf that holds more number of items and hence increase the sales of the product. Additionally, packaging graphic has to meet the exact standard of practicality. Most designs in this field are oddly shaped but are practical and have efficient labels. For this field, you will require out of the box creativity with rational thinking. Packaging graphic designer has to do all this while sticking to the overall design of the brand’s identity to ensure recognizability, continuity and portability between packages. You might face many challenges in this designing because of the functionality. So, you will have to spend most of the time solving the problem and making sure there are balance and flow in the designs.

5. Apparel Graphic Design:

Apparel graphic designers design all the graphic or printed t-shirts that you see in the market today. Apparel designers are responsible for all the functions of textile printing from concept to completion. Designers in this niche work just like others where they start with a simple concept and work their way up to create a final product. Many of them also use a template because of the size restriction in printing apparel. Even a fraction of an inch can create a huge difference in the design, and it shows prominently, especially in clothing. Many people who work in this niche are dependent on the trends of other designers, and they need to work around it to make them stand out. They have to keep an eye on what people are wearing on the runway and the streets to keep oneself updated about the latest trends. While other fields, graphic designers can work on traditional logos and designs for years, clothing changes every season. Failing to keep up with the latest trends means failing to sell your work.

6. Environmental Graphic Design:

Environmental graphic designers visually connect people to places to enhance their overall experience of making spaces more interesting, informative, memorable and easy to navigate. It depends on the principle of wayfinding that refers to the system and information people use to make their way through different spaces. For example, the designs you see in museum exhibitions, Office branding, Retail store interiors, murals, Signage, Stadium branding, public transportation navigation, event and conference spaces are designed by this type of graphic designers. This type of graphic design is a multidisciplinary practice that combines architectural, landscape, interior, industrial, and graphic design. These designers come together with people in these different fields to implement their plan. Because of this, designers in this niche have education about both graphic design and architecture. They are familiar with modern design concepts and can read and create architectural plans. Environmental graphic design has formed static print pieces. However, digital interactive displays continue to be popular as a means of creating an engaging experience. If you want to find these designs, you can see them in places that have evolved to become a modern structure such as hospitals, universities, airports and town centres.

7. Print media and Publication Graphic Design:

Print media and publication graphic designer are the old school designers who work in the world of books, magazines, catalogues, newspapers and tangible print media. These designs are the ones that shape the way a magazine looks. They design both layouts and covers and stick to the area of publishing. For example, magazine designers stick to their area of expertise rather than trying to design a book cover. Publication design includes many components like typography, text, layout, illustrations, and photographs, printing and binding. Magazine design is more than just the front cover. It requires a lot of detailed work to put together a look that appeals to the customers. Print work dives deep into style, font and paragraph size for readability and visual appeal. It also includes kerning (space between letter and character) and leading (space between lines). Titles and headers get extra attention, and everything gets structured against white space. Additionally, poor printing and binding can make the best designs look messy and unorganized. The difference between the big publications and small magazine companies is usually the type of printing and trimming they use.

8. Motion Graphic Design:

Motion graphic designers are designers in motion. This includes audio, video, imagery, typography, animation, and other effects used in TV, film and online media. The popularity of this field has increased over the recent years as technology improved, video content became superior. This is the new speciality of graphic designers, formally reserved for film and TV. As technology has advanced the production time and cost has reduced, making the art form more affordable and accessible. Now they can be found everywhere on digital platforms that have created all sorts of new opportunities and areas. Motion graphic designers create Presentations, Promotional videos, Websites, Title sequences and end credits, Trailers, Video games, Banners, Tutorial videos, GIFs, advertisements, and animated logos. They begin by developing storyboards and bring their concepts to life with video, traditional art, and animation. Depending on the industry, graphic designers in this field require a strong knowledge of coding, 3D modelling, and marketing can be definite assets. Hence, you require several digital skills to advance your career in this niche of graphic designing.

9. Vehicle Wrap Graphic Design:

Most common but unknown type of graphic design is automotive such as vehicle wraps or vehicle advertising. Both small and large businesses rely on this type of marketing, as it is very cost-effective. Vehicle wraps have a visually simple design. That is because people don’t have much time to stop and look on the vehicle for 10 minutes to understand the ad. Many wraps contain a few large texts (main content) as well as simple graphics linked to the company’s logo. Everything has to be well-coordinated from color to the font of the design. Designers who work in this niche specialize in minimalistic but effective designing. They have to work with accurate templates along with millimetre measurements of the size of the vehicle. The files are incredibly complex and large, and so any changes cost a lot to the company. These projects are one of the most challenging ones. However, they are some of the largest and fast-moving designs in the world of graphic designing. You need the knowledge of the structure of automobiles along with basic graphic designing skills.

So now you know that graphic designing is more than just designing logos and letterheads. It’s a professional you see everywhere but fail to recognize it. It is an ever-growing field, and the requirement for skilled and specialized designers is increasing day by day. The different types of a graphic design need more than just printing a product on a surface. They all come with varying hierarchies of design and principles that manage the whole process from concept to creation. Along with necessary designing skills, graphic designers need to solve problems and communicate their visuals in different forms from digital to print media to practical usage.

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