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.
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!
5 habits that make you look unprofessional
Do one or more of your colleagues behave unprofessionally at work, leaving you to question how they even still have a job? We’re all creatures of habit and it’s hard to change the behaviours we’ve become accustomed to. But like I’m sure your mother said, “There’s a time…
A designer’s perspective vs that of non-designers
A designer’s perspective versus that of a non-designer can be a bit different. We see the world from a different point of view; the good and the bad.
Purchasing habits of the wealthy and very rich
How much do you need to make in a year to be considered wealthy? While most Americans have varying ideas on the subject, most say you need to bring in at least $1 million per year.
Common cover letter mistakes
Contrary to what you’ve heard, cover letters are still important when submitting your resumé. They’re not necessarily essential or required in every industry or for every career, but savvy job seekers always have one ready to go.
App turns the Internet into a Kardashians free zone
Are you interested in keeping up with the Kardashians? If not, you’re probably just sick and tired of them clogging up all facets of the Internet. Don’t worry, a new app called #KardBlock aims to rid all mentions of the Kardashians from your internet browsing.
Learn how to leave work early with these 6 tips
Where’s the worst place you can possibly be at 4 pm on a Friday? The office, of course.
Infographic: 16 signs your co-workers secretly hate you
Did Susan from marketing just roll her eyes at you? Maybe you’re constantly forgotten about when it comes to after-hours social events? Or are there post-it notes detailing your gruesome death on your computer each morning? All of these are signs that your co-workers might secretly hate you.
Cool looks from the 2015 World Beard & Moustache Championship
In the small village of Leogang, Austria, an epic battle took place between bearded men from all over the world. The 2015 World Beard & Moustache Championships—with even more epic facial hair than last year—showcased more than 300 contestants from 20 different countries.
Subtle body language tricks to make you instantly likeable
Verbal cues aren’t the only way that humans express what they’re thinking or feeling. In fact, we express a lot through visual cues given off by our body language. It also plays a large factor in the type of impression we make on others.
8 funny charts illustrate everyday life
There are certain expectations associated with everyday life, like eating a good meal or sleeping well. However, expectation and reality are often two very different things.
Paintings on tree logs mirror their origins
You’ve seen landscape paintings before, but probably not like those I’m about to show you. New York-based artist Alison Moritsugu has created a fantastic series of paintings that capture the beauty of Mother Nature, but on tree logs.
Get a scream out of the top designer fears
Design careers have their challenges just like any other profession. And while designers experience fear on some level, the difference between success and failure is how they deal with that fear. With Halloween coming up, Creative Market asked designers to rank the worst of their terrors, depending…
Smart questions to ask at the end of every interview
So you’ve searched for potential employers, sent out dozens of queries and you finally landed an interview. Good job. Now you have to navigate dozens of questions about yourself and successfully explained why you’d make a great addition to the team.
Making the most of your internship
Ad agencies and companies are constantly looking to sign designers up for an internship—both to help those starting their career and as a way to find potential hires (on a trial basis). Win win, right?
Become an advertising god with the Award Winning Game
Do you work in the advertising industry? If so, then you know how demanding it can be with very little praise—until you win an award.
If Google was a guy, what would you ask him?
When we want answers to a question that we don’t know, we search for it online. Google’s algorithms sort through the hundreds of billions of webpages to give us useful and relevant results in a fraction of a second.
Nike creates self-lacing shoes from Back to the Future
Back in 2011, the Nike Air Mag (the shoes from Back To The Future Part II) were released to an insatiable fan base. The only disappointment was that they weren’t self-lacing like in the movie.
What would McDonald’s ads be like if done like Apple?
If your advertising is really good, people will try to copy you. And if you’re ad is a little over the top, you’ll start to get a few parodies. Take Apple, for example, and Shinola’s parody of the Apple watch.
Pepsi comes ‘Back to the Future’ with Pepsi Perfect
Great Scott! We’ve landed in the future—or to be more accurate—the date that Michael J Fox went to in the movie Back to the Future Part II.
Lexus creates a working cardboard version of its IS sedan
To demonstrate the its dedication to craftsmanship, Lexus has created an impressive drivable replica of its IS model sedan using 1,700 pieces of precision-cut cardboard.
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?
Burger King unveils Whopper Wine
How would you like to pair you next flame grilled burger with a rustic red wine? If so, then head over to Burger King in Spain to try their specially brewed Whopper Wine.
Famous proverbs retold as graphic design puns
Proverbs, also referred to as sayings, give us some form of life advice. Every language and culture has them, and its important not to miss any of the words because the meaning can easily get lost.
Are they sex toys or dog toys? Can you tell?
With a wide array of dog toys on the market, they come in all shapes, sizes and colours for you to have some innocent fun with Rover. But with all those different shapes, they can sometimes resemble playthings that are much less innocuous.
Learn the reason why we pretend to be busy
Chances are that throughout your day someone has asked you, “hey, are you busy?“ And whether you were or not, your answer was probably yes. But why?
The differences between Canadian & US Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a time to enjoy food, friends, and family. As millions of Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving, I couldn’t help but wonder the differences between the Canadian and American holidays?
How to hide the fact that you’ve just farted
What’s the best way to hide the fact that you’ve passed gas, farted, tooted, broke wind, or cut the cheese? With Thanksgiving coming up, I figured that this funny series from College Humor would come in handy.
Curious dinner table customs from around the world
“Sit up straight, don’t put your elbows on the table.” If you’re like me, then table manners were something that we were taught at a young age. However, your dinner table etiquette at home might come across as unrefined, snobbish or even rude in other…
Snickers swaps out its name for hunger symptoms
You can now call out those friends who get irritable when hunger strikes by handing the a Snickers. Following the trend toward of personalized packaging like Coca Cola, Snickers is replacing its brand name on their packaging.
Presenting 25+ of the best free fonts to download
I’ve scoured the web to present you with a list of free fonts of varying styles that include: scripts, serifs, and a range of retro, grunge and more! These free fonts will give you greater flexibility in your designs and add to your arsenal of design tools. Some of…
What are the best fonts for me? Everything you need to know
There are typefaces and fonts everywhere you look; we use them everywhere from tv to posters and billboards, newspapers, magazines, and the Internet. But do you really pay attention to them?
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.
How to deal with conflict in the workplace
Workplaces are full of different personalities that can make them buzz with conversation and productivity. However, when working in close quarters, it’s inevitable that they will eventually end in conflict. If these workplace conflicts aren’t dealt with immediately and effectively, the constant battle of wills…
This steampunk Tesla Watch is the coolest way to tell time
There are numerous creations that have been fashioned in honour of inventor Nikola Tesla, and this steampunk-style analog Tesla Watch from ThinkGeek is one of the coolest.
You can now bottle the scent of the dearly departed into perfume
Smell is one of the most powerful senses in the human body. In fact, it’s closely linked with memory and can spark vivid recollection of nostalgic moments from our past; scent can remind us of places, even people in our lives. Therefore, when we lose someone, belongings…
Infographic: Stereotypes in design
Stereotypes are rampant across many industries, especially when it comes to design. However, the truth is that designers are a diverse group, and we hate being put into restrictive conceptual boxes.
Personal brand tips for beginners
If you’re a freelancer or have been working for a while, then you understand the importance of a personal brand. If you’re still in university and haven’t started just yet, don’t worry because it’s best to take your time and do it right so you’ll…
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.
Absurd life quotes that everyone can relate to
A Tumblr blog has created the following collection of humorousone-liners about human habits.
Office survival kit helps you destroy your bullying boss
Regardless of your industry, you’re bound to encounter a bullying boss who goes out of their way to make your life a living nightmare.
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.
Typography tips for better web design and sales
We’re a visual society. And with our fast-paced lives and the amount of information we’re constantly barraged with, it takes a striking visual to get our attention. But you also need smart copy presented with good typography to back it up.
What are the best careers for introverts and extroverts?
Do you identify yourself as an introvert or an extrovert? These are the two types of people you can find people in most workplaces. And because of the particular traits displayed by each personality type, they tend to work in different ways.
Miniature scenes of summer captured in jewellery
Labour Day passed, the kids back to school and summer is wrapping up. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take the memory of season and wear them wherever you go.
Learn how to properly charge your clients
Determining how to properly charge your clients is not only one of the most important tasks for a freelancer, it’s also one of the most stressful. After all, if you charge too little, you can’t pay your bills; if you charge too much, they may look for…
35+ FREE Photoshop Actions to use on your images
If you’re a designer, photographer or other creative, then you probably use Photoshop a lot. If that’s the case, then you probably know that the software has a built-in programming language that records tasks as actions that you can replay to complete repetitive tasks. Not only…
Creating better blog graphics, even if you’re not a designer
Humans rely on visual cues for nearly everything. In fact, 90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual, and our brains can process images 60,000 times faster than text. That means for a bloggers and content marketers, blog graphics are an important part of…