In praise of adaptive content — Or, “Why it pains me to put a line break in web content”
From time to time while reading my Kindle I run across a stray hyphen in a word that doesn’t require a hyphen. The first few times it happened, I thought it must have been a weird glitch. But eventually I …
Marketing and design blogs to feed your brain
Whether we’re talking with prospective or current clients, training a new hire, or providing mentoring, we often get requests for marketing and design blogs and resources they can reference to learn more. After compiling the list from scratch one too …
Amy’s top 5 moments from the Phoenix Design Week Conference
Phoenix Design Week is an annual event, now in its fourth year, that brings together the design community in the Phoenix area with events, exhibitions, and a two-day conference. Forty’s been involved in the event since its first year, and …
A web typography template for responsive experiences
Since writing an article about the benefits of a web typography style guide, I’ve wanted to put together a template to help me keep track of the typographic components that need to be considered during the responsive website mockup process. …
Creating mobile-friendly and future-ready experiences with responsive design
I’m sure you’ve heard all the lovely statistics about how smartphone and tablet usage is skyrocketing, and how if you’re not going mobile, you’re not going anywhere. There’s no denying that our web browsing habits have changed. Thinking beyond the …
Why are logos getting simpler?
When designing a logo, it’s easy to go overboard. There are so many great elements you can work with (colors, textures, patterns, shapes, borders, typography, gradients, icons, etc.) that it’s tempting to include a little bit of everything to get …
The benefits of a web typography style guide
When designing website mockups, I always do my best to stick to a reasonable number of typography styles, and make sure there is clear intent behind the hierarchy and styles. Doing so keeps the final result more consistent and it …
You are not your target audience
One of our most common tendencies as people is believing that our own thoughts and opinions are true or the best option. It’s human nature, and a lot of times your gut will lead you in the right direction. However, …
Forty Ipsum: epic filler text
The next time you are in need of filler text, reach for Forty Ipsum instead of your old standby. We took turns creating this tale of the Sky Admiral Aloeicious, his wife Reginia, and his trusty steed Areion — one line …
Feel at home with the new AlwaysOn Healthcare brand and website
AlwaysOn Healthcare, a Peoria home care and medical staffing provider, had all the foundations in place for a successful brand. They’re a rapidly growing company with a heartfelt purpose — to keep seniors comfortable and safe in their homes. However, …
Don’t put all your eggs in the logo basket
If you went out and polled a bunch of business people about what defines their brand, you’d probably end up having a lot of conversations about logos, mixed with a little chatter about corporate colors. Many people may not realize …
Why is sketching such an important aspect of design?
In college, my design professors encouraged me to sketch, but I didn’t want to listen. Why would I want to sketch in a silly little book when I have this computer, with all design software imaginable and more fonts than …