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.
Starbucks debuts colour and flavour changing Unicorn Frappuccino
Starbucks has decided to jump on the rainbow-themed food trend bandwagon with its Unicorn Frappuccino blended beverage. The sparkly frozen beverage, which was only available from April 19 to 23, had quickly become a social media sensation.
36 Days of Type project leads to adorable 3D typography
As designers we love typography. Design and typography go hand in hand; always evolving with various treatments and styles. Designers the world over use it in everything from logos to advertisements, packaging, posters and more. It can make any piece of work stand out from the crowd.
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…
7 colours that could get you sued if used in your designs
There are plenty of colours to choose from. And some shades are so appealing, you’d be hard up not to incorporate them in your projects. However, if you’ve unwittingly been using one of the seven specific colours, you just might get on the wrong side of the law.
In-house designer, freelancer or agency? Who to hire
Does the uncertainty and ever-changing nature of freelancing produce designers with sharper, more adaptable skills? Or does the social, fast-paced, and ordered workflow of an agency create more design superstars? In my nearly 10 years as an Art Director, I’ve seen a few businesses pondering if they should hire…
Brewery reveals cynical Fake News Ale directed at Trump
Fake News Ale by Northern Maverick Brewing Co. pokes fun at the political climate south of the border.
Swiss designers creates lamps inspired by pollen grains
Spring is beautiful, but it’s also a key time of year for seasonal allergies. As plants release pollen, millions of people with hay fever start to sniffle and sneeze. However, Swiss art director Regine Cavicchioli, Roman Jurt and Michael Kennedy from the Zurich University of the…
Doodles become neat line drawings instantly with Google’s AutoDraw
If you’re like me, you probably remember doodling away on the computer using Microsoft Paint, or even Corel Draw. So it’s ironic with all of the amazing things we can do on our smartphones and tablets these days, that creating a decent drawing is still difficult. However, Google’s…
Marble lips are the latest beauty trend to captivate social media
This trend involving marble doesn't have anything to do with home renovation, but your lips.
Artist creates stunning watercolour temporary tattoos
Based in St. Petersburg, Sasha Unisex is an interesting temporary tattoo artist, whose technique and style is so unique and distinctive that it immediately grabs your attention. She is well-known for her distinct and contemporary approach to the art of tattooing; with her minimalist design, geometric shapes and…
McDonald’s dull new uniforms inspire online teasing
Last month, McDonald’s unveiled new uniforms for its U.S. locations in 2017. And with that release, the new uniforms are prompting some online teasing; with comments saying the grey-toned shirts and aprons make employees look like they’re part of totalitarian regimes.
Domino’s new app adds a little fun to your pizza tracking
Waiting for the pizza guy can sometimes get you anxious. Will it be here in time for the start of the game? Has he passed my house? Pizza tracking with Domino’s just became more fun via its new partnership with IFTTT. The duo, with help from…
Art created from light and long exposure photography
Each December for about 50 days, Finland’s northern region has a period were the sun never rises above the horizon. Photographer Hannu Huhtamo embraces the prolonged darkness by making it the canvas for his beautiful light-painting long exposure photos.
Street art that blurs the border between reality & fantasy
Whether it’s in chalk or paint, on walls or the street, these works of art look almost alive.
12 Mother’s Day traditions from around the world
A special day to honour the women who gave birth to us, Mother’s Day is celebrated in several countries around the world. In most countries, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May, but in others it’s celebrated at an entirely different time of the…
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…
Fotojet: An online graphic design tool for non-designers
For people who are serious about content marketing, but are design-challenged, this online graphic design software is up your alley. FotoJet is a popular and useful online tool for photo editing, graphic design and photo collages. So, if you want high-quality graphics but don’t have an Adobe…
How to hide the fact you’re having a bad day at work
No matter how positive of a person you are, or how much you love your job, bad days happen to the best of us. You spilled your coffee, got stuck in traffic, or tear your pants. By the time you sit down to start work, you’re…
Penis seat installed on a Mexico City train to highlight sexual harassment
Have you ever been sexually harassed on public transit before? If you’re in Mexico City, it happens quite a bit. The United Nations and Mexico City‘s government have joined together to launch this campaign against the soaring rates of sexual harassment on the city’s public transit. How? By…
Artist turns old cardboard boxes into incredible sculptures
Cardboard boxes are the packaging material of choice for the majority of products shipped around the world. In fact, because of its popularity, cardboard boxes comprise a whopping 9 percent of the refuse in a typical landfill. But your old cardboard doesn’t lose its usefulness once…
Are you trying to conceal your caffeine addiction? Try the world’s first colourless coffee
Are you one of those people who can’t start their day without a cup of coffee? There are many benefits to enjoying a hot cup of joe every morning, including: lowering the risk of Type 2 Diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and MS. However, that constant coffee drinking can lead…
Street artist turns dirty vehicles into four-wheel masterpieces
The snow and slush of early spring are gone, but things are still a bit dirty. And chances are that your car could use a good wash to get off the dirt and grime its accumulated over the past season. Those who should, but don’t…
Japanese Magic Calendar looks like paper but works like an app
How do you remember when you have an important event coming up? With smartphones and smartwatches, there is no longer a need to have a calendar hanging on the wall. However, for the few who still want a physical reminder on their walls, there’s the e-paper Magic Calendar.
Designer explains how to price logo design and other services
In a 30 minute video tutorial, designer Chris Do explains how to price logo designs with real-world examples.
Spring’s new hairstyle trend is the colourful Unicorn Hair
Now that spring is finally here, people are starting to get out of the winter blues and into colourful feel-good design styles. If the hidden rainbow hairstyle wasn’t your thing, perhaps this Unicorn Hair trend will be right up your alley.
Burger King’s new ad tries to force Google Home to advertise the Whopper
Burger King recently unveiled a genius, yet a little infuriating video ad that’s designed to intentionally set off Google Home; the voice-activated speaker powered by the Google Assistant.
Guetzli by Google reduces the size of JPEG files, making image transfers quicker
If you’re into digital photography and hate the wait for transferring JPEG files, this announcement is for you. Google has introduced a new algorithm that will make it possible to reduce the size of JPEG images by about 35%, without reducing the quality.
Discover this student’s amazing freehand architectural sketches
In today’s digital age, it’s nice to see that some people are still using pencil and paper. And that includes architecture student, Adelina Gareeva. She drafts her work by hand, creating extremely detailed architectural sketches without a computer.
Funny and deliciously satisfying divorce cakes to celebrate being single again
You don’t usually celebrate getting a divorce. Well, not in the same way weddings are. However, in recent years, parties have become popular to mark the end of a marriage. And as these divorce parties become more common, celebratory cakes have become the latest trend.
The top 5 free infographic makers available online
When you have over a billion websites to choose from, along with the distractions of day-to-day life, getting consumers attention, and keeping it, is hard. With a staggering amount of information generated daily, people don’t have time to read an endless page of online content. In fact, most users will leave…
Geometric animal sculptures made from folded paper
The Forest Collection contains cute animals crafted out of coloured paper.
Real estate agency In hot water for objectifying women in sexist ad
A transit poster popped up recently in the London Underground that’s turning heads for the wrong reasons. Real estate agency Marsh and Parsons has received severe criticism following the release of an advertisement objectifying women.
The top 10 winners of the Sony World Photography Awards 2017
The Sony World Photography Awards is an annual competition hosted by the World Photography Organization. Recently, the largest photo competition in the world announced the winners for 2017.
Designer builds a gun that transforms tears into bullets
After an altercation with her tutor, this design student built a gun that fires her tears.
Humorous illustration uses pirates to depict terrible clients
You can’t blame your clients for not knowing what is and isn’t good design – that’s your job to show them. You can’t, however, forgive them for assuming that your time is free.
How to spot a cheap logo design and improve it
Whether you know it or not, consumers are able to tell the difference between a good and bad logo. And having a cheap logo design not only reflects badly on your skills as a designer, but on the brand it was created for. Your logo…
Keep your mouth ‘Whopper Fresh’ with Burger King toothpaste
Do you enjoy the taste of a flame broiled Whopper? What if you could keep that taste in your mouth when you brush your teeth? Burger King France has cooked up a new ‘Whopper Toothpaste‘ with its agency Buzzman. Or at least, that’s what they’d…
What are the work habits of Millennials that form the majority of the workforce?
As more and more Millennials entering the workforce and assume management positions, you may notice changes in workplace culture. Why? Because there are distinct differences between generational work styles, expectations, and career perspectives.
Infographic: The 10 basic elements of design
Need to refresh your memory on the basic elements of design? These elements can be isolated and defined in any visual. They are the structure of the work, and can carry a wide variety of messages. So, before tackling any design, Creative Market has created an…
Zara’s ‘Love Your Curves’ ad draws harsh criticism and humorous responses
You should always be weary of what you say or post online—especially on Twitter. Clothing brand Zara certainly learned that after posting an ad showing two models with the tagline, “Love your curves.”
Beautiful tattoos that look like watercolour art
Instagram and Pinterest are great sources of inspiration when it comes to ideas for tattoos. This is especially true now, given how contemporary tattoo artists are getting more creative than ever with the medium.
Why you should become a graphic designer
Some people are destined to become a graphic designer. They have a knack for aesthetics, notice the finer details and love to learn new things. So, if you’ve always been deeply interested in graphic design, but are not currently working in the field, this may…
Minimalist cassette player aims to bring back glory days of physical media
It was the musical medium of choice through much of the 1980s and ‘90s. And while cassette tape sales are still tiny compared to vinyl, they’re up. It’s one of the fastest-growing musical formats in terms of sales and record labels have been quick to jump…
Photoshop cheatsheet for novice graphic designers
While there are plenty of online tutorials available, it’s often difficult for novice graphic designers to know where to start. When opening Photoshop for the first time, it’s easy to look at all the confusing features and buttons. If only there was a Photoshop cheatsheet that could help…
Beauty and the Beast inspired roses that live forever
Few things embody the magic of Disney films quite like the enchanted rose from Beauty and the Beast. With the live-action release of this classic tale opening today, what better way to gift fans than with a magical rose in a glass dome?
PANTONE unveils new magazine that explores seasonal colour trends
Last month the PANTONE Color Institiute debuted its new bi-annual magazine. VIEWPOINT COLOUR is an inspirational lifestyle magazine that explores seasonal colour trends and insights across all design disciplines. Colour plays a crucial part in branding, logo design, and how products are perceived by consumers. And because of…
New Burger King ad campaign has its restaurants up in flames
Burger King is serious about flame grilling its burgers. So much so that its new print ad campaign has the photos to prove it. Literally burning the house down, Burger King’s latest ads shows its restaurants up in flames; a consequence, according to the ads, of the…
22 Deadly sins of graphic design
Starting any graphic design project requires preparation. There are briefs to follow, theories to consider, and deadly sins to avoid. So if you’re thinking about using Comic Sans or flattening your Photoshop file, think again.
What’s the difference between a font and a typeface?
In today’s digital world, the words font and typeface are often treated similarly. In most instances when people refer to fonts, they really mean typefaces. However, they’re not the same thing.
The visually impaired can now tell time with the world’s first Braille smartwatch
Did you know that there are over 285 million visually impaired people in the world? This month, some of these lives are about to get better. South Korean developer Dot has produced the world’s first Braille smartwatch. And its features are just what you’d expect from…