Web Design Resources – Web Design Ledger https://webdesignledger.com By Web Designers for Web Designers Sat, 21 Jan 2023 19:31:17 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 https://webdesignledger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/cropped-Web-Design-Ledger-512x512-Pixel-32x32.png Web Design Resources – Web Design Ledger https://webdesignledger.com 32 32 13 Awesome Tools & Resources for Designers and Agencies for 2023 https://webdesignledger.com/13-awesome-tools-resources-designers-agencies-2023/ https://webdesignledger.com/13-awesome-tools-resources-designers-agencies-2023/#respond Thu, 26 Jan 2023 08:00:26 +0000 https://webdesignledger.com/?p=51943 Web design tools and resources, both free and premium, are designed to help you take full advantage of your creativity. Thereby enhance your ability to create stunning websites. There is a huge variety of products and services to choose from. They are ranging from complete platforms to specialized software applications. Just like design frameworks, wireframing […]]]>

Web design tools and resources, both free and premium, are designed to help you take full advantage of your creativity. Thereby enhance your ability to create stunning websites. There is a huge variety of products and services to choose from. They are ranging from complete platforms to specialized software applications. Just like design frameworks, wireframing tools, and UI enhancements.

We’re not going to pretend that creating wow-worthy websites is easy. Your creative talents can sometimes take you only so far. You can get to the point where you need a particular tool or resource to do some of the heavy lifting and help you work efficiently. Or, complete your projects on time, and exceed clients’ expectations.

Having the right design tools can even help you bring your creative visions to life. With this in mind, here are 13 Awesome Tools & Resources for Designers and Agencies.

  1. Be – Best Multipurpose WordPress Theme

Are you in the midst of stocking up on web design tools to add to your design toolbox? You won’t have to look far beyond BeTheme to get most of what you need. This popular (250,000+ customers) and powerful (40+ core features) multipurpose WordPress theme places an abundance of site-building tools, aids, and options at your fingertips.

5 “must have” features you won’t find anywhere else:

  • Be Builder, the fastest, lightest, and most intuitive website builder for WordPress.
  • Be Blocks, a workflow-reducing library of pre-designed sections.
  • Be Builder Woo, a simple and effective way to create an online store.
  • Be’s Header Builder 2.0 makes it easy to quickly create the pixel-perfect header you need.
  • Be’s library of 650+ Pre-Built Websites; each one is customizable, responsive, and features basic UX functionality.

You will find the Set-up Wizard on Be’s completely reorganized dashboard. Click on the banner to learn more about BeTheme or check out this free Live demo.

  1. Trafft – Service Business Management Software You Can Count On

Trafft allows a business to manage appointment bookings operations with a single tool. The operations include, but are not limited to:

  • managing, client appointments, events, group bookings, and staff schedules including special days for employees, as well as on-site and virtual meeting schedules.
  • sending reminders to clients and accepting payments from them online via MailChimp and SendFox.

Other Trafft features clients, employees, or management can take advantage of include:

  • selecting custom domains and custom fields for assignment to the Trafft platform.
  • Coupons and other service extras.
  • integration with Google Calendar, Google Meet, and Outlook Calendar when tracking appointment and event scheduling
  • integration with Zoom to conduct virtual meetings
  • Stripe, PayPal, Mollie, and Authorize.net payment options

Click on the banner for more information. 

  1. wpDataTables – The Best Tables & Charts WordPress Table Plugin

wpDataTables is the best tables and charts WordPress plugin you could possibly select for your design toolbox. It enables you to create charts and tables that up to now you’ve may have been hesitant to try building.

Tables and charts that –

  • are informative, responsive, easily maintainable, and attractive.
  • are precisely what a client is looking for, and in minutes, even if huge amounts of complex data are involved.
  • require data from a variety of sources and in a variety of formats including nested JSON

wpDataTables does all the above quickly and efficiently with its –

  • ability to organize and process huge amounts of data.
  • powerful chart-building engines, filtering and sorting tools, and features that allows users to edit their own entries
  • conditional formatting feature that allows you to color-code key data.

Click on the banner to learn more about this time and labor saving plugin. 

  1. Uncode – Creative & WooCommerce WordPress Theme

The Uncode creative WordPress theme is one of Envato’s all time best-sellers with more than 100,000 sales. The reasons for this are many, and include the ability to build incredible WooCommerce websites with features that include:

  • an advanced Drag & Drop Product Builder, configurable Ajax product filters with Variations Swatches, and impressive Shop layouts.
  • 70+ Carefully crafted mix-and-match importable pre-made designs, and 550+ Wireframes plugin section templates. 
  1. Pixpa – Easy & affordable website builder for designers

Is an easy website builder for beginning designers suitable for more advanced web designers? With Pixpa, the answer is a definite yes. Pixpa is the top-rated website builder on Capterra and Trustpilot, with a 4.8/5 rating based on its:

  • 150+ Customizable templates that allow designers to create unique and professional-looking websites.
  • affordable plans starting at under $5/mo.
  • a drag-and-drop editor that makes it easy for users to design their website
  • blog platform, responsive design, and more.
  1. Amelia – Appointments & Events WordPress Booking Plugin

Add Amelia WordPress booking plugin functionality to a WordPress-designed website and good things happen. The website’s user now owns an automated booking system that will flawlessly manage an unlimited number of appointment bookings at multiple locations from a single platform and dashboard.

  • Amelia is an excellent choice for beauty, healthcare, fitness, consulting, educational, and other client-oriented businesses.
  • both appointments and events can be booked
  • Amelia supports PayPal, Stripe, Mollie, and Razor payments. 
  1. Slider Revolution – not just a WordPress slider plugin

Slider Revolution has been the leading WordPress slider plugin for a long time, but it is more than a WordPress slider plugin now. Trusted by more than 9 million users worldwide, Slider Revolution gives you the ability to create visuals your clients and visitors love with its:

  • 250+ website and slider templates designed to impress.
  • website animation effects and other innovative features that push the boundaries of what is possible in web design.
  1. WoodMart – WooCommerce WordPress Theme

Woodmart enjoys the distinction of being ThemeForest’s most highly regarded WooCommerce WordPress theme.

It is loaded with features you won’t find in most other eCommerce-oriented themes including –

  • 75+ premade websites and 400+ templates that can also be used for quick prototyping
  • 15 special pages together with a valuable selection of product page display options.

Note: You can’t order furniture from Wordmart’s website, even though you might be tempted.

  1. Getillustrations Web and app illustrations bundle

Once a popular new website design trend, it appears that UI illustrations are here to stay. Even though the popularity of certain illustration styles may vary with time, the opportunities for innovation and creativity remain limitless.

Getillustrations brings to the table:

  • 14,000+ ready-to-use illustrations in nearly 200 different categories.
  • Illustrations for web, apps, presentations, and other purposes.
  • Available in PNG, SVC, Ai, Figma, & Sketch formats.

Use coupon code ULTIMATE30 to receive a 30% discount. 

  1. Mobirise – Website Building Software

Mobirise is a free downloadable website building software app for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Mobirise is especially well suited for creating  small/medium websites, landing pages, and simple web stores.

  • Mobirise is perfect for non-techies who may not be familiar with the intricacies of web design.
  • Mobirise is great for fast prototyping and small customers’ projects.
  • Mobirise features a minimalistic, extremely easy-to-use interface, it is Mobile & Google-friendly, and can be hosted anywhere. 
  1. The Essential Grid WordPress plugin

Essential Grid is hands down the best WordPress grid plugin you could have in your web design toolkit. Essential Grid’s –

  • easy-to-use drag and drop builder makes it possible to bring your creative vision to life in minutes rather than hours.
  • 50+ impressive, customizable templates make it easy to complete projects at lightning-fast speeds.

With Essential Grid, you can create any gallery design you can think of without writing a single line of code. 

  1. Blocksy – Best Free Ecommerce WordPress Theme

Blocksy is packed with dozens of hyper-intuitive features and options, yet it is both lighter and faster than most similar WordPress themes.

  • Features include advanced WooCommerce integration, a header builder, a footer builder, custom post types, and dynamic data support.
  • Options include White Label, layout, header and footer options, and a customizer Dark Mode.

This best free eCommerce WordPress theme gives you complete control over your page and web designs. 

  1. Total WordPress Theme

This aptly named WordPress theme has all the flexibility you could ask for, yet it is surprisingly easy to work with, even for a beginner. Total’s features include –

  • an extended version of the WPBakery page builder
  • 90+ ready to use section templates plus quick import demos, unlimited color options, and custom fonts.
  • WooCommerce integration, full support for Elementor (with custom widgets), live customizer theme settings, and dynamic template and layout functionality.

*******

Creating a stunning website is not always easy. Your creative talents can sometimes only take you to a point. You will need a particular tool or resource to do some heavy lifting.

Website design has become easier, however. More and more new web design tools and resources are being introduced the marketplace. Many older ones are being upgraded to make assembling a well-rounded tool kit a relatively easy task for any web designer.

Having the right design tools can help you bring your creative visions to life. With this in mind, here are 13 Essential Tools & Resources for Designers and Agencies.

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15 Popular Tools and Resources That Designers Will Use in 2022 https://webdesignledger.com/15-popular-tools-and-resources-that-designers-will-use-in-2022/ https://webdesignledger.com/15-popular-tools-and-resources-that-designers-will-use-in-2022/#respond Tue, 22 Mar 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://webdesignledger.com/?p=51376 Web designers generally become more efficient at what they do as they gain experience. This gained efficiency saves time and typically results in higher quality end products. Carefully chosen design tools and resources can have much the same effect. That they can enable web designers to accomplish more in a shorter time. Adding to their […]]]>

Web designers generally become more efficient at what they do as they gain experience. This gained efficiency saves time and typically results in higher quality end products.

Carefully chosen design tools and resources can have much the same effect. That they can enable web designers to accomplish more in a shorter time. Adding to their overall competence and adding value for their clients.

Whether it’s a tool or a resource you’re looking for, you want one that adds to your design options (flexibility). Also one that makes your work easier at the same time.

That is precisely what these top 15 tools and resources for designers have in common. Use one or more of them as you work your way through your projects in 2022. Then you can expect to more in a given amount of time and do it better.

  1. Be – The Biggest WordPress and portfolio WordPress theme

Let’s start with BeTheme’s 650+ pre-built websites. They have efficiency written all over them. They cover all major industry sectors and website types, they are responsive and fully customizable, and they have UX functionality built into them. Pick one that best fits your needs, and you may be able to build a reasonably complex website in a few hours.

All of BeTheme’s 40+ core features contribute their fair share. They include –

  • The Admin Panel, the Shortcode and Layout Generators, and the new fast, flexible, and easy to use BeBuilder page builder, the premier WordPress page-building tool.
  • An absolute gem of a BeBuilder Woo with customer-centric shopping features and single product layouts.

Size matters. BeTheme is the biggest multipurpose WordPress and WooCommerce theme of them all and can boast of having more than 240,000 customers.

Click on the banner, check out each of Be’s core features, and be prepared to be impressed by what this powerful theme and its new page building features could do for you.

  1. Total WordPress Theme

One mark of an efficient WordPress theme is that it will not slow you down by placing limits on the page layouts you create. Total’s designers know this and created a theme whose multiple style options and its flexible page builder are designed to never let you down.

  • You can create a page quickly and easily using Total’s easy-to-import Theme Demos and the selection of 90+ section templates.
  • You can also start from scratch if you prefer.
  • An extended version of WPBakery with frontend and backend drag and drop page capabilities is Total’s page builder of choice.
  • Live customizer theme settings combined with a dynamic template and dynamic layout functionality give you all the flexibility you’ll ever need
  • Total is 100% responsive and is loaded with animations and custom backgrounds

Click on the banner; there’s much, much more to see.

  1. LayerSlider

LayerSlider is one of the most popular and established products of its type on the market. It gives you the ability to build everything from sliders, animated page blocks, and popups to even complete websites. What LayerSlider does best of all is to add spice, flair, and excitement to an otherwise so-so website.

  • LayerSlider is cost-effective and easy to work with.
  • You can use it to create an expensive-looking website for a very small investment.
  • This WordPress plugin comes with an easy-to-use and modern editor interface similar to professional desktop applications. Anyone can use it without prior experience.
  • It has 150+ website, slider, and popup templates. Templates are a great way to learn as well as an ideal starting point for new projects.
  • LayerSlider includes thousands of icons, custom typefaces, shape generators, and other helpful add-ons.

Click on the banner to find out more about this amazing tool.

  1. Trafft

Trafft is an automated appointment scheduling system that lets you schedule appointments and group bookings, as well as meetings and events from a single platform.

  • Trafft also manages staff and service schedules, sends reminders to clients, and accepts payments online.
  • Trafft can schedule and manage bookings and manage staff services at multiple locations.

Trafft is free forever for single individuals, is free to get started, and offers Basic, Pro, and Expert plans.

  1. wpDataTables

The ability to quickly process huge amounts of data makes wpDataTables the most powerful and efficient WordPress plugin of its type on the market.

wpDataTables makes it a relatively quick and easy to –

  • create responsive, interactive, and easily maintainable tables and charts
  • quickly manage thousands of rows of data and process data from a variety of sources and in various formats
  • create informative tables and charts by color-coding key data
  1. Uncode – Creative & WooCommerce WordPress Theme

More than 90.000 sales make Uncode, a pixel-perfect multiuse theme for freelancers, bloggers, businesses, and agencies, an Envato Top Seller.

  • Uncode’s most impressive feature may be its WooCommerce custom builder
  • Uncode’s Wireframes plugin with 550+ section templates lets users create virtually any page layout, while the powerful frontend editor allows pages to be completed quickly and efficiently
  • The best way to see why Uncode is such a good investment is to view its gallery of user-created websites.
  1. Slider Revolution

Slider Revolution is a versatile WordPress plugin that helps beginner-and mid-level designers WOW their clients with pro-level website page visuals.

Rather than spend a lot of effort trying to change a boring website into one that at the very least borders on awesome, Slider Revolution lets you do so quickly and efficiently with its –

  • 200+ impressive website and slider templates and 25+ addons
  • use of dynamic content from social media sites
  • WebGL slide animations
  1. WHATFONTIS

“Find the font source yourself” might be a chore, but WHATFONTIS can usually do it for you in a matter of seconds.

  • With a catalog of 850K+ fonts and font-finding AI algorithms, whatfontis presents you more than 60 fonts for every image you upload.
  • 1 on 1 support is there for you if the AI search engine yields a strange result
  • Separate the letters and cursive fonts can be located as well.
  1. Mobirise Website Builder Software

Mobirise is an offline website builder that is perfect for creating small to medium size websites.

  • You are not tied to a specific platform, and you can host your site anywhere you wish.
  • Mobirise’s many page-building features include everything from sliders, galleries, and videos, to icons, forms, and Google maps.
  • Google AMP/Bootstrap4 assures your website will be super-fast and 100% mobile

Mobirise is free for personal and commercial use.

  1. Get illustrations Stock Illustrations Bundle

Downloading images from GetIllustrations’ library of premium illustrations could make a big difference in your approach to designing website UIs, apps, and presentations.

  • This library of 10,000+ illustrations makes up the world’s biggest bundle of its type
  • Vector AI, PNG, Sketch, SVG, Figma, and Adobe XD formats are featured
  • A commercial license is included with any illustration.
  • Illustrations you purchase are yours to keep and use without limitations.
  1. XStore – Best WordPress WooCommerce Theme for eCommerce

Add XStore to your designers’ toolbox and you’ll quickly see why this WordPress theme has built up and enthusiastic following from day 1. The package includes –

  • XStore’s 110+ impressive and inspirational ready-to-customize shops
  • The popular and powerful Elementor and WPBakery page builders
  • A live Ajax theme option and $500+ worth of hand-picked premium “must have” plugins
  • A single product page builder, single product layout options, and other eCommerce features and elements.
  1. Amelia

What separates Amelia from other booking solutions is the level of control it gives you over everything. Amelia enables you to tailor your booking forms to your business, and not all automated systems do that.

  • Amelia is easy to set up and does not require training to use
  • Clients can book appointments 24/7 online
  • Amelia can manage individual and group appointment bookings, event bookings, and employee schedules at multiple locations from a single platform.
  1. 8bio – Link in Bio Tool

Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok allow you to include a link in the profile so followers can visit your website, product page or other important pages. The 8bio app enables you to create a link that people can’t help clicking on. A link that can feature –

  • Your brief biography
  • Images
  • Beautiful skins and catch animation backgrounds

A biographical link can be much easier to maintain than an expensive website.

  1. Essential Grid

Essential Grid is a WordPress Gallery Plugin Created By The Developers of Slider Revolution. It has a fan base of 9 Million users, and you can use it to create breathtaking galleries guaranteed to inject new life into your websites.

Essential Grid makes it fun and easy to –

  • Present your thought-provoking and engaging blogs and your eye-catching portfolio
  • Create appealing displays of your unique products
  • Share your engaging videos and audio gems

And much more!

  1. Pixpa – Portfolio Websites for Designers

Pixpa is the perfect, DIY tool for creating a full-featured e-commerce platform and selling your products and services online, effortlessly.

You can –

  • sell products using the online store
  • sell images as prints or digital downloads using e-commerce galleries.
  • accept commission-free payments directly through Stripe or PayPal.

Pixpa’s cost-effective pricing plans start at just $3/month making it the preferred platform for creatives and small businesses around the world. You can start building your website, easily, with Pixpa’s full-featured, 15 day free trial. No credit card information required for sign up!

***** 

It’s not terribly difficult to find a tool or resource that is better than one you are currently using. There are so many of them out there.

What can be much more difficult is finding one that, for a small investment, can enable you to go about your design task with greater efficiency. While at the same time enhancing the quality and/or functionality of your end products.

The challenge in other words is to find tools and resources for designers that help you build websites better and quicker.

That is precisely the reason for publishing of this selection of top 15 design tools and resources. Picking one or more could help you “build better quicker”.

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Some of the Best Black Friday Deals Are Now Live https://webdesignledger.com/some-of-the-best-black-friday-deals-are-now-live/ https://webdesignledger.com/some-of-the-best-black-friday-deals-are-now-live/#respond Mon, 21 Nov 2016 15:35:23 +0000 http://webdesignledger.com/?p=38709 Black Friday is always a busy day in the eCommerce world. Although much of the focus tends to be on household items and consumer electronics, web designers have not been left out of the picture. This selection of design tools, aids, UI kits, etc., features something for just about everyone. The savings are significant. And if […]]]>

Black Friday is always a busy day in the eCommerce world. Although much of the focus tends to be on household items and consumer electronics, web designers have not been left out of the picture.

This selection of design tools, aids, UI kits, etc., features something for just about everyone. The savings are significant. And if you’ve been thinking of purchasing any of the items listed below, there won’t be a better time than now.

In the brick and mortar world, the driving force behind Black Fridays is to get people into a buying mode and get them in the store. The eCommerce world may not be all that different. But for the Black Friday specials featured here, quality is the rule and not the exception.

Themefuse

1

ThemeFuse is a source of more than 30 high-quality WordPress themes for those designers and developers who want to create original websites for their clients, and do so quickly and easily.

On Black Friday only, one or more of these WP themes can be yours at a 40% discount.

These themes run the gamut from automotive, business, and religion, to travel, blogs, e-commerce and everything in between.

The Core for example, which is a massive multi-purpose WordPress theme, comes with more than 20 demo themes included and has everything you’d ever need in a website;

You can try any WP theme before purchase. Simply create a test lab account, log in to WordPress, and test drive the theme of your choice. You’ll quickly discover that ThemeFuse’ themes, with their original and creative designs, are easy to use, thanks in part to the visual page builder.

Dreamstime

2

Dreamstime, with the stock photo industry’s largest client database, is an excellent resource for quality stock images.
Dreamstime is offering a 50% discount on all and any subscriptions from Black Friday through Cyber Monday. This gives you plenty of time to drill down to find many great images that you might have otherwise passed up for budgetary reasons.

Dreamstime is a media provider to 95% of the Fortune 500 companies, which says much about the quality you can expect; not only in Dreamstime’s stock photo selection, but also in their HD and 4K footage collection.

Thousands of fresh files are added every day, so although you’ll never catch up, by setting aside a short time during the holiday break, you can come up with some real bargains

Proto.io

3

Black Friday through December 2 is your opportunity to purchase an annual subscription to Proto.io at a 30% discount. The promo code is BLACKFRIDAY2016. This discount is available to new customers and to existing customers wishing to upgrade from a monthly to an annual plan.

Proto.io is an industry-leading prototyping platform that gives its users the power to create web and mobile prototypes that are not only pixel-perfect, but have the look and feel of the real thing. Designers, entrepreneurs, freelancers, and developers work with Proto.io to cover the entire design process, from wireframes and mockups, to user testing of interactive, high-fidelity prototypes.

Proto.io is easy to use, and no coding or special technical skills are required. This is an excellent chance to purchase a premium prototyping platform at a bargain, Black Friday price.

Begin with a free trial and then upgrade until December 2 to get their special Black Friday deal.

Webflow

1

Webflow, a premier all-in-one web design platform, is offering its website templates for 50% off as their Black Friday special. Simply enter BLACKFRIDAY at the checkout. You’ll find more than 100 business, portfolio, and blog templates to choose from. Every Webflow template is fully responsive.

You can customize any element of a template’s design to suit your needs, and you can do so without the need to write a single line of code. Each of these templates is built with Webflow’s 100% visual responsive web design tools, using standards-compliant HTML5/CSS3 and JavaScript.

Themify

5

Themify is celebrating Black Friday through Cyber Monday with never-before-seen discounts, plus 10 Master Club giveaways. Promo code BLACKFRIDAY will get you a huge 50% discount on all Club Memberships, plugins, and WordPress themes.

The 50% discount does not apply to the Lifetime Master Club membership, but Themify is offering a $150 discount to join (use promo code BLACKFRIDAYLIFE). With the discount, you can get lifetime access to products, support, and updates for only $249! Topping things off, you can enter the Master Club giveaway promotion from Black Friday through Cyber Monday for a chance and winning a free membership.

Visual Hierarchy

6

Visual Hierarchy has always been dedicated to selling premium design products at affordable prices. On Black Friday, you can take your pick of VH’s top-selling products, and all other items, for up to 60% off. Since Visual Hierarchy is a marketplace where designers can sell products as well as purchase them, you’ll find many useful and creative items you won’t find elsewhere.

If you’re in the market for Icons, Fonts. Mockups, UI Kits, and more, this is your chance to lock in some real Black Friday bargains.

 

 Wrapping it up

There are Black Friday bargains here for those already using the products being promoted as well as for new customers. Designers will enjoy the specials offered on Dreamstime’s stock photos, which are always in demand. The same is true for the Visual Hierarchy promotion. Their quality products, plus many innovative products being sold by designers, are always available.

When you can buy a product you need for your work, for anywhere from 30% to 60% off, it’s always a good deal. Proto.io offers an industry- leading prototyping platform.  Themefuse and Themify are known for their high-quality themes and Webflow for its premier web design platform. If they are new to you, both are well worth a look, but the same can be said for every Black Friday promotion in this list.

 

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Data-Driven Web Design https://webdesignledger.com/data-driven-web-design/ https://webdesignledger.com/data-driven-web-design/#respond Tue, 23 Aug 2016 18:23:03 +0000 http://webdesignledger.com/?p=37041 The vast majority of websites are designed in the hopes that visitors will complete an action. Buying, subscribing, commenting… from massive social media juggernauts like Facebook, to small artisan websites selling local, hand-made crafts, this is true. Marketing has always been about understanding the subtle ways which presentation, repetition, and other visual or sensory artifacts […]]]>

The vast majority of websites are designed in the hopes that visitors will complete an action. Buying, subscribing, commenting… from massive social media juggernauts like Facebook, to small artisan websites selling local, hand-made crafts, this is true. Marketing has always been about understanding the subtle ways which presentation, repetition, and other visual or sensory artifacts can influence the decision-making patterns of consumers. Marketing, almost since it’s inception, has relied on data – in the form of research of all kinds – to achieve its end goal. So, data-driven web design is, all-told, simply any kind of website design which utilized visitor data to modify design for optimal results.

The ability of websites to respond to data has dramatically improved in recent years. The advent of easily-parseable analytics platforms, self-modifying websites, and other fantastic tech tools have allowed website designers to modify their product to more optimally meet the goals of the owner in real-time. We’re going to talk today about using data to draw the line between visitor data and design improvements which maximize benefit both to the owner and the end user.

Because it is also true that web design should always serve the visitor, a design which is overcomplicated or tedious for users will almost always fail, in some respect, in the goal of its use.

data-driven-web-design

Data-Driven Design:
Sure, marketing or user data has almost always been used to influence and guide web design to some degree, but what does data-driven design mean for us today? The answer to that question requires taking a good look at what data is. Most data is either quantitative (numerical) or qualitative (non-numerical). And the vast majority of easily-accessible data is quantitative. For example, Google Analytics informing you that 10 visitors viewed one blog page, while 1 visitor stopped by another.

Qualitative data is important. Following the numbers can help you find what visitors value and what they do. But it doesn’t tell you why they like it. And understanding that requires qualitative data. The best web design companies are pushing the field by getting qualitative data and modifying their designs based on this data. They’re using beta-testing systems and getting powerful, direct feedback.

A good data-driven design program will always use both kinds of data. Testing, analysis, and feedback systems are continuous, rather than one-off, and therefore provide deeper insights on what visitors prefer and want the websites they visit to do for them. It is this kind of deep-digging which pushes the horizon of design forward in ways which are meaningful for users.

Getting Specific, Actionable Data:
Whether the data used in data-driven design is numerical or no, it must always be empirical, and address specific questions. Whether you’re a UX designer or a data analyst, a little bit of scientific inquiry comes into play at some point, because you’re not just wanting to look at aggregate data… but to answer specific questions.

Hypothetically, this could look like a situation in which a blog or online magazine, which has hired a designer to update their website. The goal of the website is to keep visitors engaged and to provide useful information, but also to increase subscriptions. As a designer, those are several goals to meet, and ideally you should begin studying the existing website to identify key areas of improvement.

Key quantitative data metrics you might study include the bounce and exit rates, and find out which pages have the highest in each category. This provides information on a ‘what’ which you should try to address! From there, you might use UX testing to get qualitative data from visitors on their experiences from these pages to find out the why. User-reported information might reveal that page-specific CSS makes exit links larger or more obvious on these pages, therefore funneling users away. Lots of moving elements might bog down the pages, providing a negative user experience.

But in this hypothetical situation, you have used empirical information addressing specific issues to yield information which should influence design decisions. And when you start employing this one-two punch to achieve great design, you’ll realize some amazing trends.

data-driven-web-design-2

The Big Takeaways of Data-Driven Design:
Applying data-driven design has helped push design elements which were once novel and boutique into the realm of commonality. Responsiveness, high-contrast CTAs, flat design elements were all once thoroughly tested and checked by data-driven design teams. But that’s just the beginning! Increasingly, data-driven design is finding that design decisions should be tailored to specific audiences. Right now, this is most commonly seen as different landing pages or page elements for different geolocated areas. But designers are even experimenting with segmenting design by audiences even more: by age, for example.

Testing for data and then using that data to modify design can be resource-intensive, that’s true; but even small, focused efforts can result in big improvements for clients, and the increasing ability to meet the goals of the websites we’re building.

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Shuriken: The Ultimate Mega Design Bundle https://webdesignledger.com/shuriken-ultimate-mega-design-bundle/ https://webdesignledger.com/shuriken-ultimate-mega-design-bundle/#respond Mon, 07 Dec 2015 13:00:37 +0000 http://webdesignledger.com/?p=33149 As designers and creatives, we are always in pursuit of great design resources. Be it web or graphic design, everyone needs an assortment of resources to choose from, such as fonts, templates, themes, UI kits, illustrations, vectors, photos, and so on. More importantly, when it comes to design resources, who doesn’t like saving some money? […]]]>

Design bundle

As designers and creatives, we are always in pursuit of great design resources. Be it web or graphic design, everyone needs an assortment of resources to choose from, such as fonts, templates, themes, UI kits, illustrations, vectors, photos, and so on.

More importantly, when it comes to design resources, who doesn’t like saving some money? Design deals and bundles are a great way to do just that — you can get your hands on some awesome web and graphic design resources, and earn a big discount on the same!

So, wanna learn about a new mega design bundle that can help you save loads of money? Meet Shuriken — the world’s biggest and most-loaded design bundle.

Brought to you by Samurai Pixels, Shuriken comes with over 12 GB of web and graphic design resources — illustrations, templates, WordPress themes, awesome fonts, photos and brushes, and a lot more!

Shuriken: A Mega Bundle For Designers

So, what all can we expect from Shuriken? Here is a quick run-down of all that Shuriken has to offer:

  • Website Templates: Shuriken gives you access to several multipurpose WordPress themes, eCommerce themes, HTML templates, PSDs, and a lot more.

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  • Graphic Design Resources: Shuriken offers mockups, web elements, photos, brushes, addons, and print templates as well as illustrations and vectors.

Design bundle 4

  • Premium Fonts: What good is a design bundle without fonts? Shuriken includes fonts you will not see anywhere else on the web.

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  • A 20% discount deal on business cards. Need a new business card? Grab a 20% discount coupon inside the bundle. Just choose your card’s design, enter shipping address (You can choose the design of your business card, and have it shipped to any address of your choice — 20% discount on your total order, irrespective of the size of order or shipping location).

Don’t believe us? Why not check it out for yourself?

Grab the Design Bundle

Shuriken includes products worth $600+, and spanned across 1000+ files, this bundle is over 12 GB in size.

And how much does it cost?

$47.

Correct, that’s $47 for a bundle worth $600+. Over 92% off!

Also, going beyond the premium offerings, Samurai Pixels also have a set of freebies that you can download right away, whether or not you wish to purchase Shuriken. These freebies includes templates, mockups and high resolution photos and videos. Simply head over to their homepage, and hit the flashy download button on the freebies.

That said, Shuriken is a great collection of very handy and useful resources for web and graphic designers alike. If you are looking to add some new resources and tools to your arsenal, Shuriken is one deal that you should surely not miss! Not only do you get to save a whopping amount of money, you also get fully-loaded and hand-picked resources for your web projects.

So, what’s the wait? Grab Shuriken before it’s gone! Also, be sure to share your views in the comments below.

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