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.

How big brands use colour to affect your emotions

More than just text and symbols, a logo has the power to create a lasting connection with consumers.

Find out how to order from a restaurant’s secret menu

Thanks to website #HackTheMenu, you can now discover unlisted menu items from fast-food restaurants.

How career choices and your personality type relate

Have you ever wondered if your personality type affects where you land a job or end up in a certain field? Did you know that your personality type can predict how much money you’ll make, how many people you’ll supervise, even if you’ll like your…

Infographic: 6 tips on managing negative social media comments

Regardless of whether you’re a digital marketer or just a blogger, managing comments on social media is part of the job. Eventually, every social media manager has to go through the dreaded negative social media comments.

Pantone predictions for the fall are down to earth

It’s hard to believe that summer is half over. Designers of all industries need to start preparing their creative juices this fall with the latest Pantone predictions for the upcoming season.

Infographic: 15 gentleman’s rules in dressing

Dressing well is more than simply making sure your clothes match. That’s where men’s fashion blog Fashion Stork has come up with an infographic titled ‘15 Gentleman’s Rules In Dressing’.

How to become a UI designer or UX designer

If you’re looking to start a career as a designer, you”ll quickly be overwhelmed by the number of titles thrown around. There are user experience (UX) designers, user interface (UI) designers, motion designers, product designers, graphic designers and so on. 

Infographic: The anatomy of a successful résumé

Are you looking for work? Have you polished up your résumé? With potential employers only looking at résumés for an average of 6 seconds, you need a successful résumé that stands out from the rest. 

Discover the most popular summer shoe styles for men

When it comes to warm-weather shoe styles, it’s all about keeping cool—in every sense of the word. But even though some styles are off the table, options abound.

Learn the best ways to photograph a moving object

Do you have problems shooting a moving object with a camera? It’s not just the speed of your subject that counts, it’s where you stand and the angle you shoot from. 

Infographic: What does your style of beer says about you?

As we head into Canada Day, with all the celebrations I thought that it would be a good time to talk about beer. Everyone has their own go-to brew. Whether yours is a light lager or a dark ale, your style of beer reveals more than…

28 bizarre vending machines from around the world

Vending machines have evolved from the days of old candy and stale coffee; they’re now changing the way we live our lives. But if you think they still only stocked with snacks, think again. These days, vending machines distribute all sorts of goods.

Analyzing the signatures of tech entrepreneurs

Your signature is unique to you. It’s a mark that represents you on important documents; something that allows people to trust that what it represents came from you. But did you know that signatures can indicate over 5,000 personality traits?

The ultimate global hot dog style guide

A summer food staple, hot dogs are cheap, delicious and they can be dressed up or dressed down with little to no effort. And while America has its fair share of variations on the hot dog, there’s an entire world of hot dog style to consider.

Choosing the best careers based on your zodiac sign

For as long as humans have been around, we’ve looked to the stars for answers. And one of the biggest questions continues to be “what do I do with my life?” Well, online psychic reading service Crystal Heart Psychics has come up with a helpful…

Funny and honest food pyramid for different age groups

Everyone is aware that they should be eating a balanced diet filled with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. In fact, we learned this in elementary school when we were taught the food pyramid.

How different generations consume content online

When marketers think about online behaviours, Millennials typically receive more attention than other generations. While Millennials are the social media generation, you shouldn’t rule out other generations—like Gen X—when marketing online.

The cheat sheet for bossing your interview

By bossing your interview, you'll show your future employer that you’re smart and ready for anything.

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.

How to impress your partner in the bedroom

Whether you’re in a relationship or a bit of a player, everyone wants to impress their partner in the bedroom. That’s why Carvaka has created an infographic that lists 10 different methods to impress both women and men.

Infographic: Men’s popular hairstyles

If you’re looking to spruce up your look with a new dew, it’s best to look at the current trends. That is, unless you’re looking to bring back the mullet. 

21 things worth the price of a Gold Apple Watch

Apple products are overpriced; iPhones are marked up 300%, but people still line up the day before to get their hands on one. And by now you’ve heard the outrageous price tag of the Gold Apple Watch which ranges from CDN$13,000 to $22,000.

Infographic: How to win any argument

One of life’s more difficult emotional situations is an argument. Whether it’s with someone you love, despise, or don’t even know, conflict can get your blood boiling. Some people go to great lengths to avoid conflict of any kind, while others are just itching to give…

Infographic: 50 important rules of document design

For non-designers, graphic design can appear a difficult task to master. There are multiple styles, typefaces, colour choices, layout options and more. However, when it comes to document design, you can narrow things down to a few basic principles. Master those and you’ll be able…

Find out how you can appear smart in meetings

Not everyone enjoys meetings. Some see it as a waste of time—where they could be completing their work—while others find it a necessity to keep on top of current projects. However, it can be pretty nerve-racking if you don’t know what’s going on in the…

The 4 elements of a successful creative pitch

When doing a creative pitch, you've only got shot to win your client and ensure they don't reject your idea.

7 common sleep mistakes you don’t know you’re making

Are you a restless sleeper or do you have trouble sleeping? Common sleep mistakes you’re making might mean you’re not getting enough sleep, which can harm our health; it’s essential if we want to be productive throughout the day.

26 crazy facts about Google you probably never knew

Google is changing the world. I bet you have a hard time remembering what it was like before you could Google something? Chances are now that you use it everyday for work and play. But do you know the crazy facts around Google’s history or its various secrets?

Infographic: Handshakes around the world

Most people understand that you have one chance to make a first impression. How you give your handshakes and/or greetings are part of that impression. Giving handshakes, however simple it sounds, can mean serious business, especially when different cultures have their own rules about how…

Infographic: How to have the perfect day at work

How can we make our work days more effective? The details will likely vary depending on your profession and responsibilities, but there are still universal hacks we can all apply.

Infographic: The world’s 25 weirdest drinking customs

No matter how many monuments you visit while traveling, or works of art you pander over, you’ll never understand the people and their culture until you drink with them. But, before you clink glasses with your new friends, you might want to take a minute…

Easy tips on how to write a résumé

You’re a smart job seeker. You know that your résumé is a key part of getting a new job. That’s why you’re taking this time to learn how to write a résumé so you have the best chance of landing an interview and then the…

Infographic: When to use JPEG, GIF and PNG when saving images

Whether you’re saving images for print or web, it can be tough to know exactly which filetype is the best to use. That’s especially true if you’re trying to save space with file size. 

Infographic: Which graphic design career suits you?

Are you looking to join the design industry and turn your big ideas into bigger creative? If you’re looking to start a graphic design career, you need to figure out which speciality suits you best.

Infographic: 34 crucial tips for your next job interview

So you’ve applied for a new job and landed yourself an interview. A job interview can be intimidating; not only are you worried about impressing a potential employer with your skills and experience, but you’re also worried about making rookie mistakes. Now is time to think about your…

Discover the top 5 web trends expected in 2015

More and more, a company’s website is ever becoming its public face. Web trends show that consumers are doing more research online than ever before when looking to buy. So, if a business has a poorly designed website, that doesn’t work on a mobile device—or worse—they don’t have a…

Infographic: 15 ways to beat procrastination

Procrastination can strike anyone, but once it gets hold of you, it can be very difficult to remove yourself from its grasp.

Discover the work habits of Millennials

Sorry bosses, a new breed of worker is attacking everything you hold sacred—from giving orders, to your starched white shirt and tie. They’re called Millennials (or Generation Y); born between 1980 and 1995, they’re rapidly taking over jobs from baby boomers who are now entering retirement.

Internet censorship: Where in the world can you see this?

Most people consider access to the internet to be a right, not a privilege. In fact, Canada has declared high-speed broadband internet access a “basic telecommunications service” that every citizen should be able to access. However, for many across the world, internet censorship means they are unable to fully communicate…

The most bizarre Christmas celebrations around the world

Whether it’s leaving a treat for Santa and his reindeer or simply decorating the tree, Christmas has many traditions. And no two families Christmas’s are quite the same. So, what kind of bizarre Christmas celebrations are there in countries around the globe? 

10 ways to spice up your hot chocolate

Winter weather is here and the best way to warm those cold toes and hands is a cup of hot cocoa. But what if you’re not in the mood for the traditional and are looking for something different?

Infographic: Take back your mornings

Are you usually less productive in the morning? For me, mornings are time to get things done before the workday begins. However, great mornings don’t just happen, they’re planned. They’re also about creating a routine that works; keeping you inspired and not just wired.

Infographic: The 10 most irritating co-worker habits

You can pick your friends, you can’t pick your family and for the most part, you can’t pick your co-workers. Even if you could, it’s hard to see through the veneer of professional behaviour most people put on for a job interview. Worst of all, unlike with irritating acquaintances,…

This is your guide to learning 80s slang

The 1980s were filled with bright colours, leg warmers, soft rock and a surfer mentality; it became a decade that embraced the fun in life without any of the hassle. If you’re looking to relive those glory days or learn how your parents talked, this…

Infographic: Famous firsts on the Internet

Email is just one example of the kind of explosive growth experienced by the Internet—making sending a letter almost obsolete. Since the inception of the Internet in the late 20th century, it has quickly evolved into a necessity for our daily lives; providing may famous firsts.

Discover the history of the bra in this infographic

In honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, The Huffington Post and Genius 3D Mammography have teamed up. Together they’ve created an infographic that traces the history of the bra.

The ultimate guide to Halloween candy & wine pairings

This infographic shows you which candies will pair well with different types of wines.

Discover 40 different ways to stay creative

After a while, trying to be creative feels like beating a dead horse. However, if you’re in need of a little inspiration, this handy infographic may be just what you need. 

The ultimate guide to office bathroom etiquette

When it comes to the office bathroom, there are unspoken rules that should always be adhered to; leaving wiggle room in the mens, and throwing feminine products in the right bin in the ladies, for example. However, if you have a colleague in need of a…