The Design Block
If you're looking for the latest in advertising and marketing, design related technology and lifestyle tips, and art or design highlights then you're in the right place. Find all this and more with the Design Block blog.
Small Business Tip: Expanding Your Online Presence
While all businesses rely on the internet to help promote their products/services, an online presence is a must.
Facebook removes the 20% text limit on ad images
Facebook has discreetly removed the rule that limited text space on ad images to only 20 percent.
Snapchat apologizes for tone-deaf Juneteenth filter
Snapchat has apologized after releasing camera filter that prompted users to “smile” to break the chains of slavery.
Instagram tackles online bullying with new features for users
As part of its efforts to tackle online bullying, Instagram announced a series of new features to help.
McDonald’s apologizes for splitting golden arches to portray social distancing
A marketing gimmick for McDonald’s Brazil saw the Golden Arches split apart with the two halves away from each other.
Instagram introduces unfollow account suggestions
Instagram's new feature breaks down those you’re following into those most seen and least interacted with.
Tinder adds panic button & other safety features
Tinder's new additions are meant to provide security for its users, both online and in real life.
M&M’s steals KFC’s “Finger-Lickin’ Good” slogan
M&M's chocolate bar filled melts in your hand too, so the company hijacks KFC's slogan for 48 hours.
Provocative Cadbury Fingers ad raises eyebrows
Each Christmas, British discount chain finds a way to offend shoppers with its crude, sexual advertising.
Facebook considers hiding Like counts
Facebook could soon start hiding the Like counter on News Feed posts.
Yelp 101: A guide to Yelp for small business
The meteoric rise of Yelp has given nearly every customer a way to share their experiences with the world.
Instagram hack supposedly fools the algorithm to boost engagement
if you’re not happy with the reach your photos receive on Instagram, try this rumoured hack.
Instagram influencers are upset after Likes display is disabled
Instagram's hiding of Likes will allow users to focus on quality as well as what they really want to post.
Instagram model’s bottled bathwater sells out
NSFW cosplayer decides to make money by selling her fans her own bathwater.
Instagram page shares amazing creations from designers
Topdezigners is an Instagram page that reposts gorgeous sleek, modern, and innovative designs.
An influencer’s nightmare: Instagram experiments with removing likes
Imagine influencers on Instagram when no one but you can see how many followers or likes you have.
The #InstaGiftGuide, based on popular 2018 hashtags
The #InstaGiftGuide matches six popular hashtag trends from 2018 with gift-worthy products.
How to get more positive online reviews for your business
Positive online reviews can tip the balance in your favour when it comes to consumer decision making. So if you think online reviews get lost in all the Internet noise, think again.
Domino’s ends free pizza for life deal with brand tattoo
Apparently, the idea of getting free pizza in Russia is a powerful promotion. In fact, it turned out to be so powerful that Domino’s Pizza had to end their promotion as quickly as it began. Domino’s had offered free pizza for life to anyone who got…
Expose catfishes by hiring a professional social media stalker
Online dating is at an all-time high. In fact, it’s quickly turned into a billion-dollar industry. And according to at least one poll, it’s the second most common way to find a significant other. But what if you want to know more details about your…
Burger brand apologizes for using beheaded photojournalist in ad
Washington DC-based Z-Burger has apologized after causing a stir for its inappropriate use of an image for its marketing.
Facebook’s new AI ‘opens’ eyes in photos where they’re shut
It’s a common problem with having your photo taken: your smile is wide but your eyes shut just as the flash goes off. Not to worry, though. Facebook’s new AI can now open your eyes in photos where they’re closed.
BK pulls lifetime Whopper ad to women impregnated by a World Cup player
Burger King Russia sparked outrage with an appalling ad campaign posted on their official social media account. The promotion promised a reward of 3 million Rubles (CDN$62,715) and a lifetime supply of Whoppers for any Russian woman impregnated by a World Cup player.
Facebook is testing expiring friend requests
The new test feature from Facebook drives the point home that some friendships just aren’t made to last. Like Snapchat’s time-sensitive messages, Facebook now has expiring friend requests.
Artist accuses Domino’s Pizza of plagiarism
They say that great artists steal, while poor artists borrow; and this often leads to accusations of plagiarism. In fact, companies have been caught on several occasions plagiarizing other artists work for their own gains.
Instagram and Snapchat disable Giphy after racist GIF surfaces
Both Instagram and Snapchat have temporarily disabled their Giphy GIF sticker features after reports of a racist GIF on the platforms surfaced.
Instagram trial lets users see who takes screenshots of their stories
Instagram recently began testing a new feature that Snapchat helped make famous: notifying users when other people take screenshots of photos and videos in Instagram Stories.
5 tips to attract clients with your LinkedIn profile
When a company is looking to hire you to their team, they often vet you online first. During this cyber investigation, your LinkedIn profile will typically show up in the first three to five results. You now have the opportunity to control what they find about…
You can now have a career as an Instagram Butler
It used to be that if you wanted to take photos when you went on vacation you had to carry around a clunky camera. Now, with cameras on every smartphone, people can take photos easier; and people love to take photos. In fact, the advent…
Facebook rolls out face recognition to protect your privacy
Facebook wants you to know about and control the photos of you that people upload—even if they don’t tag you. Much like the social media company wanting you to upload your nudes, the purpose of this update is to protect users’ privacy.
Facebook wants your nude pictures, but for a good reason
Facebook—who can’t seem to control its own content—hopes we’ll trust it with our nude pictures. It’s an interesting, yet brazen plan they have to try to combat revenge porn.
What are the best times to post on social media?
The easy answer is that the best times to post on social media are when the people you want to see the content are on the network. However, each social network has its own best practice. Data from 16 studies proves that posting at the best times will help…
London studio teams with Coca-Cola to create bottle cap emojis
It’s easy to dismiss emojis; silly faces and undefined symbols that are a language on their own and only for teenagers. However, it’s important to know that many written symbols from today date back to ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. Emojis transcend borders, languages and technology. And the emoji language is…
Snapchat Spectacles may soon play a big role in recruiting talent
If you’ve been avoiding Snapchat, whether personally or professionally, it’s time to start paying attention. It’s a mobile phenomenon which enjoys 100 million users daily, watching 10 billion videos each day. When Snapchat Spectacles were first released, they only seemed to be a playful extension of the…
Instagram account pokes fun at fonts and typefaces
Instagram is a good resource when you’re looking for inspiration. It’s also a great place to find hilarious quotes and sayings.
Instagram account shares funny memes for creatives
Creatives, do you enjoy memes about your industry? If you do, you should definitely follow @screensaviors on Instagram.
Renaissance art reimagined as Instagram posts
Imagine what these Renaissance artworks would be like today if they appeared in our modern world.
Comics depict the sad, but funny truth about Facebook
The series takes jabs at several features of the dominating platform. Take a look at these surprising accurate and funny situations that you should be familiar with.
The truth behind glamorous Instagram photos
Social media is full of sad, lonely people pretending they are okay and perfectly fine attention-seekers pretending to be sad. Instagram photos are the most deceptive when it comes to faking our lives.
Clean your digital house with National Unfriend Day
Have you ever scrolled through your list of Facebook friends and realized you don’t recognize half the names popping up in your News Feed? If that’s the case, I’d like to wish you a happy National Unfriend Day!
The most Instagrammed destinations in North America
From beautifully prepared food to inspirational sunsets, travellers are passionate about documenting the world around them using Instagram. But have you ever wondered which are the most Instagrammed destinations?
What does your social media pic say about you?
Can someone tell who you are by just looking at your picture? Leandra Medine of fashion blog Man Repeller thinks so–she’s created a funny post that reveals what your social media pic says about you.
The rise of silent storytelling from Facebook’s autoplay videos
When you’re on the computer, either at work or later at night, visiting websites that blast loud autoplay videos when you forget your volume setting can prove to be quite annoying.
Discover the hidden features of the top social networks
The longer social networks exist, the more they learn what their users want; they modify, update, and increase their capabilities to keep users interested. Sometimes, however, older options become hidden features, or harder to find forgotten ones.
Facebook is finally making a dislike button
People have been asking for it—and finally after years of refusing to build one—Facebook is going to give us a way to express dislike something.
Depicting the struggles of ad agency creatives through admojis
Emojis have become part of today’s written language. They’re used to show off our emotions and expressions in a way that’s easier than words alone. In fact, 92 percent of the online community use emojis. But they don’t express enough when it comes to advertising…
What if apps needed pick-up lines?
A lot of time has been spent debating whether pick-up lines are the best way to get someone’s attention or not. But what if your favourite apps and websites needed pick-up lines to get your attention?
Watch what happens when Facebook removes everything people complain about
Facebook has over a billion users and people still find things about to complain about. And I’m not just talking about trolls sharing their personal opinions; I’m talking about the user interface for the social media platform.
How to share your personal opinions on Facebook
Sharing your personal opinions on Facebook can be a great way to meet new people who disagree with you. It’s also a way for you to test your blood pressure limits and your faith in humanity.
Infographic: 6 tips on managing negative social media comments