Archive for the ‘DesignFloat’ Category
Whether we like it or not, it is impossible to deny the fact that colors are able to arouse different emotions. We can’t control this process, it happens on the level of subconscious. There is a theory that the connection of colors and emotions is laid at the gene level. From ancient times it was vitally important for people to understand the language of colors. Usually, the most poisonous and dangerous animals are brightly colored. It’s a kind of warning, a message on Esperanto, clear to everybody.
It’s a well known fact that colors are divided into two main categories: warm and cool. The division is very intuitive. Traditionally we associate warm colors with the sun, as it is the source of life and warmth for all alive on our planet. So, warm colors are: red, yellow and orange. If we recollect cool shadowy forests or snowy mountain peaks, we get the cool hues: green, blue and violet. Red, yellow and blue are so-called primary colors, all the variety of other hues is achieved by mixing of these three.
Let’s try to puzzle out the dependence of colors and emotions on the example of some common hue.
Red is traditionally associated with blood, it produces the strongest emotional response. The impact of red is dual; it symbolizes such positive emotions as love and passion or negative feelings like rage and malice.
Orange is perceived as a color of cheer and hilarity. It is so snazzy and loud that the user takes notice of orange elements against his will.
Yellow is not a definite color. On the one hand, we all imagine the yellow sun drawn by the child’s hand on a white sheet wrested from the album. On the other hand, yellow is a color of sickness, cowardice and betrayal.
Green is the most pleasant color for our visual receptors. It symbolizes serenity, growth and freshness. But another side of the coin is guilt, envy and jealousy.
Blue is the hue of peace, tranquility and security. It is extremely good for business companies providing financial services, as due to the color visitors feel confidence and reliability. Blue also creates the optical illusion of space.
Being a blend of red and blue, purple is normally associated with quality, royalty and mysticism.
Black hasn’t very positive historical background, as in ancient times it was connected with fear, grief and death. Today, the situation has changed: our inner perception couples black hues with power, elegance and classic.
It’s a great piece of luck that we all live in a color rich world; just imagine how dull would be our being without all those hues. Colors and their harmonious combinations are powerful marketing tools in the hand of an experienced designer. A proper skillful usage of hues can affect the user’s mood and arouse required emotions, which helps to convey the initial message in the most comprehensible and intelligible way. Depending on color scheme used in design, you can either attract or kick away the customers.
Let’s find out how colors affect our shopping habits and what is the palette of successful marketing.
Reds and oranges encourage people to buy quickly. Colors influence men and women in a different way. Usually, men prefer cool colors like blues and greens, while weaker sex tends to warmer reds and oranges. Selecting colors, a designer should be guided not by his personal preferences, but by the tastes of targeted buyers. The text should be easy to read and the colors shouldn’t be harmful for eyes. It’s a bad practice to use too many colors, three are enough. Red and black colors have erotic undertone, that’s why they are frequently used on adult websites. Large blocks painted in bright primary colors will help to sell toys, books and various stuff for children. Cultural differences should be considered as well. As all of us have different temperaments, our reaction on colors may also vary. Impulse shoppers can be pushed by red-orange, black and royal blue. Screwy shoppers who plan and stick to budgets show better reaction on pink, teal, light blue and navy. Traditional buyers respond to pastels – pink, rose, sky blue. The choice of colors may also depend on season or holidays in the targeted area. Here is a link to color psychology infographic, brightly illustrating the dependence of our shopping habits from colors.
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Now we know the meaning of colors and their impact on customers’ psychology. So, we can arrive at the conclusion, that color scheme should support the content and match the general design idea. It’s better not to mix warm and cool hues as it confuses the user. Warm colors better suit websites demanding visitor’s quick mental activity. Cool and neutral colors are great for business companies, and websites containing spacious information which can’t be read on the run and should be comprehended in comfortable restful atmosphere.
Let’s trace how the conventional marketing rules are realized in particular templates.
Feng Shui Flash Site 8 Template
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Excellent typography looks attractive while it remains completely functional. The beauty of typography lies in its ability to communicate vividly with visitors and keep them informed about what they’ve come to the website for. Although graphics play a key role in any web design, properly implementing typography they create effective results especially when they are not underestimated.
In this post we’ve focused on the fonts that are best to be used for bright and snazzy headlines. Headline is the first part that makes an impression on the reader/web user. The headline written in “poor” font may result in high bounce rate. The font should be selected carefully and provide good readability and aesthetic appeal.
Feel free to mix and match following free fonts because there are no conventional rules when it comes to the font usage. Be creative and we hope these will contribute to your awesome titles.
Academic
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Gabo
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NeoDeco
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Nice to see you again, our dear readers! We know that there are a lot of artists, inventors, designers, developers and the enthusiasts of web design among you who share their creative ideas with the world around and reap rewards for that. The goal of our blog is to provide you with the useful information to explore and inspiration to develop your great creative designs. We are glad to support your creative searches and deliver you the most wanted freebies of the premium quality. Try today’s Free Website Template for Art School if you are excited to produce something awesome!
Your great idea to start the online project for the children art school will certainly succeed when its design will be as effective as possible. This visual attractive free theme will grab the visitor’s attention with the cool graphics against the wood textured background, vivid colors that stir the overall tone and the JustSlider (jQuery-powered slider created by our developers) that is implemented in the header to put the drawings and photos in the focus of attention. If you want to learn more about this freebie, check out the free template live demo.
Free Website Template with JustSlider for Art School:
Feel free to get this free website template with PSD source files. To download this theme with PSD files, visit the Free Website Template with JustSlider for Art School download page at TemplateMonster and type an email address that you want the free template package to be delivered to (don’t forget to uncheck the newsletter subscription checkbox in case you’re already subscribed, otherwise you may not be able to download the zip file). Feel free to use this template for your business, but you cannot resell it as a template.
Download Free Website Template with JustSlider for Art School with PSD files (156MB)
IMPORTANT NOTICE:TemplateMonster does not provide support services on free templates – including this one. We only provide support for the products that are being purchased from TemplateMonster. Our free templates are produced according to the latest web standards and we’ve been trying to make the process of working with them as easy as possible, so for people with minimum web development experience it should be easy to work with them. However, if you don’t have any experience, we recommend you to refer to the tutorials or community forums on how to work with platforms that each respective template is made with, or to hire someone to do the job for you.
Typography in web design is an extremely challenging task since it involves a lot of creativity and sensibility. Fonts must be relative to the content and need to chosen carefully, especially the ones that are used in the header/title of the web page. The header is the most visible part of the whole website, if user sees the font that is uncomfortable for his eyes, he or she may leave the resource at once. To have a professional typography in the design is a great idea but only when it is performed with much skill and efficiency.
In this post we made a round-up of TemplateMonster’s templates to visualize the efficiency of typography as a mean to grab user’s attention. In these examples your will see how our designers use tracking & kerning as well as leading techniques to stir up user’s interest towards the content of the template. In the following examples you will see practical application of these techniques and in the end of the post you will also find other impressive typography effects in templates and several examples of logo reveals where typography effects that play major role in the whole presentation of the content.
Tracking & Kerning in Typography and Website Templates
Tracking is a horizontal spacing between letters. It can be used to slightly tighten a paragraph to remove widows or orphans in text or add very loose spacing to create more artistic effect. Changing the tracking directly may affect greatly the readability. This technique works best in large blocks of text when letter spacing is altered slightly. In projects where type is used as more of an art element, loose or tight tracking techniques can be very effective. We should mention that tracking in typography is frequently mussed up with kerning, both methods control the type spacing and refer to the adjustment of spacing between characters. The difference is following: kerning allows to adjust width between two characters, tracking adjusts the spacing between all characters in the line.
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Architecture Flash CMS Template
These days there are thousands or mobile websites all around the web, some of them can be considered to be a pure nightmare for mobile devices because of improper usability testing and design implementations. This causes overall diminishing of mobile web and users distrust to this useful functionality.
The information about mobile web design, presented on the web, is a bit vague. Lots of websites have really poor mobile interface because they were not produced professionally. In this article we are going to describe several simple steps that would help you design effective mobile websites. Additionally, at the end of the article we described several software options that would help you adjust your website to the needs of various portable devices. Keeping in mind following tips you will be able to create mobile website that would satisfy needs of the most demanding users.
Tips to Consider:
Tip #1: Try to Understand What Your Users Want
No matter what type of UI is created, first of all you need to establish some sort of a connection between designer and user. If you are building a mobile website with the best possible level of interaction between user and the interface, how would you be able to devise your steps effectively if you can’t even imagine user’s preferences on your exact matter? You need to provide a survey, it would give you information about user’s preferences. Once you have a good idea of what areas and design elements your users are attracted to the most, then you can move on to the next step.
Tip #2: Minimalism is the Key
Keeping everything to a minimum is a simple and effective solution. Since effective mobile interactions have everything to do with great usability and nothing to do with overcrowded designs, it is essential to keep your mobile designs as simple as possible. A simple mobile website will more than likely be 9 times out of 10 more effective than one that feels bloated. This depends greatly on the mobile device, the “heavier” your site is the more time device will need to download it. Keep in mind that most mobile devices have ≈ 512Mb of operating memory or even less. Read the rest of this entry »
Perfect semantics was and will always be the Golden Fleece for web developers. HTML5 has come a long way to become a “messiah” that gives hope for a better future to HTML technology. This language has indisputably evolved unveiling 30 new elements that brought semantics to higher level. New tags were developed to help us create more semantic structure. As you may know, the previous version of this Hyper Text Markup Language – HTML4 has the universal tag div which was widely used to complete various tasks in the HTML structure. This HTML veteran has one important drawback – unskilled users get lost in a code difficulty as it often looks like a wild div mosaic.
With the release of new HTML5 tags, such as article, section, header, footer, nav and figure, many web developers decided that these elements are meant to fully replace our old buddy div. This point of view is not quite right, and it’s too early to retire the div tag. This tag remain to be a fully functional element of the fifth generation of HTML. According to W3C, the div tag defines a division or a section in an HTML document and it can be used to group block-elements and format them with CSS.
Almost 20 new HTML5 elements were created to be used in Document outline, which is the structure of a document including headings, form titles, table titles and other. Today we want to make things clear and tell you about the most popular HTML5 tags that can be used in the Document outline alternatively to the div element. Once again we want to pay your attention that these elements cannot be called div-killers, they only partially replace the usage of div in the markup code, as you can still use the div element while coding new page. Here’s a short guide to help you use HTML5 new semantic elements.
Article and Section
Tag article is an independent fragment of the content. Blog post, news article or other types of text content clearly illustrate the right area to use tag article. Basically, you can use this element to markup the page component which is meant to be widely used and distributed.
Tag section is the most misleading element that is widely deployed by web developers as an alternative to div. You should know that this tag is tightly connected with article and is used for grouping content that differs from other content groupings on the page. The example of a chapter in a book is the perfect one to illustrate the main function of a section. In other words, this element is used for making several thematically different areas on a single page or for making logical chapters in the articles.
Read the rest of this entry »
What should you implement into the design to make it successful? The first and the main thing is your creativity. Even the most thought-out work will look dull and leave the viewers cold without it. Then comes the professional execution that will help you bring into live your creative ideas, and make the journey through your site pleasant for its visitors. When the execution depends on the level of your professionalism, the creativity depends on the inspiration that we are always eager to share with you. Welcome the new expressive freebie that can be a good starting point of your successful project – Free Website Template for Business Site with jQuery Slider.
The design of this theme speaks for itself and is ideally tailored for any kind of online business projects. This template attracts with its effective black and white color scheme with several bright accents adding the vibe to it. The expressive typography that is implemented in its design plays as another decorative element. The featured content blocks will focus the attention of your visitors on the most important information about your company. The jQuery Slider that is placed in the header offers you to share the visual information with the viewers and thus speak to them effectively. Don’t forget to view the free template live demo before you start working with this theme.
Free Website Template for Business Site with jQuery Slider:
Feel free to get this free website template with PSD source files. To download this theme with PSD files, visit the Free Website Template for Business Site with jQuery Slider download page at TemplateMonster and type an email address that you want the free template package to be delivered to (don’t forget to uncheck the newsletter subscription checkbox in case you’re already subscribed, otherwise you may not be able to download the zip file). Feel free to use this template for your business, but you cannot resell it as a template.
Download Free Website Template for Business Site with jQuery Slider with PSD files (32,7MB)
IMPORTANT NOTICE:TemplateMonster does not provide support services on free templates – including this one. We only provide support for the products that are being purchased from TemplateMonster. Our free templates are produced according to the latest web standards and we’ve been trying to make the process of working with them as easy as possible, so for people with minimum web development experience it should be easy to work with them. However, if you don’t have any experience, we recommend you to refer to the tutorials or community forums on how to work with platforms that each respective template is made with, or to hire someone to do the job for you.
Featured Business Templates
WordPress is known to be one of the best platforms for websites and blogs. If you are using the WP API, theme creating can be a really intuitive process. There are several possible ways how to create WP-powered website: you can take an HTML template and then add code to it or take a basic WP code and start designing around it.
But you can also take a framework to create a theme and this is considered to be one of the most efficient ways. Frameworks are produced to ease and fasten the process of designing and coding your personal theme. Below you can see the round-up of the most efficient WordPress frameworks.
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Platform Pro Framework
Platform Pro is a framework that allows to create WordPress themes with drag-and-drop function. Platform Pro framework is used on the websites like San Diego State University, Field Logics, Accounatability Pays. The platform includes predesigned HTML, JavaScript or other coded modules that can be placed anywhere on the site. These modules are like widgets and can be enabled or disabled with just one click. Platform Pro is an impressive option for web designers that allows to create and customize awesome designs. The platform supports child themes that makes it possible to create completely custom designs. After installation within typical WordPress admin panel, you’ll find a module for the Platform Pro. This is where you will handle most, but not all, of the changes to your WordPress theme. There is a ton of stuff in here so you might feel a bit overwhelmed at first, but honestly, just about every setting you’ll find is straightforward and easy to understand.
Features:
- Includes various design modes to get started with, includes magazine and blog layouts, full-width layouts, and much more;
- Layout builder with drag-and-drop functionality;
- Works with BuddyPress and bbPress;
- Uses HTML5 and works with WordPress 3.0, including custom post types and menus;
- Compatible with Google Fonts API and Cufon.
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Thesis Framework
Thesis is considered to be one of the most popular frameworks used by more than 37,000 websites. Thesis is a highly-regarded framework that is used on high-profile websites like the Print Magazine blog, The Domino Project, and Outspoken Media. The framework’s customization gallery if full of options, that will give the understanding of what Thesis is capable of. The customization system allows you to produce unique designs without the need to touch any code. The revolutionary layout generator (with 1, 2, and 3-column layout combinations) and pinpoint font controls, allows to test easily tons of different layout variants. And the last, with this framework you can create SEO-friendly themes right out of the box.
Features:
- Layout generator with 1, 2, and 3 column design options;
- A full options panel for customization with coding;
- Future-proof customization system;
- Full support;
- A focus on typography.
When you start producing a website, it is important to take all potential visitors into consideration. This includes visually impaired users, users with color blindness, with low vision and even total blindness. By now only U.S. government websites comply with the Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, most of American start following the suit – especially after Target was sued for six million dollars for not having an accessible site for visually impaired users.
Despite of the general opinion people with low vision or those who are completely blind do surf the web. For these people the process of web surfing is way harder than for others. Now all computers provide user interaction through a graphical interface.
So how do blind people manage to surf the web? In 2000 the National Institute of Standards and Technology invented the Braille Display – it is a tactual computer monitor that includes several rows and columns of rectangular cells. In each sell there are pins which are being driven by the electromechanical drivers making patters that can be read with fingers.
The Braille Monitor
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Web surfing for people with low vision is much easier than for sightless, as a rule they use a screen reader or hit the Tab button to switch from one important element on the web page to another (in case they can’t use the mouse). They also use magnifier software to enlarge the text beyond simple font enlargement. People who are color blind or who have low vision benefit from good contrasting colors.
When the information on the web page is presented only by the color the user may miss it (for more information see: Why Color Blindness is No Longer a Problem for Web Design). When the magnification tool is used it can also distort the picture (change contrast, distort the size of fonts and objects).
Hey guys! What we want to do today is to present you the fresh goodie from our designers. Here it is – Free Website Template for Real Estate with JustSlider. We sincerely hope that it will catch your interest, and you’ll find it useful for your entertaining designs.
The effective color scheme with vivid elements makes the layout of this theme undoubtedly effective. By using it as a basis of your website, you may be sure that your clients will not pass by it. The featured content blocks placed within the main content area of the template allow you to highlight the most vital content.
One more way to effectively communicate with your customers is to present visual information in a way really memorable for them. For this purpose you are welcome to use the slider in the header of this free website template. The name of this jQuery-powered slider is JustSlider, and what’s really great is that it was created by our developers. As you see, the visual appeal and good execution of this theme can become of a great use for your future projects. But before you start working with your website, have a look at this free template live demo.
Free Website Template for Real Estate with JustSlider:
Feel free to get this free website template with PSD source files. To download this theme with PSD files, visit the Free Website Template for Real Estate with JustSlider download page at TemplateMonster and type an email address that you want the free template package to be delivered to (don’t forget to uncheck the newsletter subscription checkbox in case you’re already subscribed, otherwise you may not be able to download the zip file). Feel free to use this template for your business, but you cannot resell it as a template.
Download Free Website Template with jQuery Slider for Fitness Club with PSD files (104MB)
IMPORTANT NOTICE:TemplateMonster does not provide support services on free templates – including this one. We only provide support for the products that are being purchased from TemplateMonster. Our free templates are produced according to the latest web standards and we’ve been trying to make the process of working with them as easy as possible, so for people with minimum web development experience it should be easy to work with them. However, if you don’t have any experience, we recommend you to refer to the tutorials or community forums on how to work with platforms that each respective template is made with, or to hire someone to do the job for you.
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