It’s time for my annual look at the year ahead. This satirical report is chock-full of useless facts and mindless predictions. That makes it just as good as any year-ahead article on the internet.

How do I do it? Like most internet companies, I use a proprietary algorithm. I prefer to keep it a secret. But it involves looking at the past and employing an overactive imagination. It can be yours for a small fee, by the way.

So, what does 2024 have in store for us? Here are some things that absolutely will (or probably won’t) happen.

WordPress.com to Offer Tweet Rebuttals

2023 was an eventful year for WordPress – and not all of it was positive. Then again, a little #WPDrama is a fine spectator sport.

The divide between co-founder Matt Mullenweg’s commercial venture (Automattic) and the open-source project once again raised some eyebrows. The (supposed) problem? Automattic’s WordPress.com replicated plugin listings from the WordPress.org repository on its site.

Plugin developers expressed concern that the commercial site’s listings showed up first in search results. Mullenweg was personally called out regarding the issue. The criticism was harsh and accusatory.

He responded aggressively – even banning a member of the open-source project’s marketing team on Twitter/X.

Right or wrong, these events got the WordPress community talking. The level of discourse was palpable.

It also got my predictive senses tingling. There must be a way to capitalize on this phenomenon – right?

Mullenweg responded to many critics – but certainly not all. Were you left out? Don’t worry! You’ll have a chance to get in on the action.

WordPress.com will soon unveil its “I Beg Your Pardon?” service. For a $20 fee, Mullenweg will personally respond to a critical tweet of your choice.

No worries if you’re short on cash. A free version from WordPress.org will get you an automated response from a bot.

Happy to take your listing down and redirect to another plugin page, which do you recommend as a good alternative?

— Matt Mullenweg (@photomatt) September 13, 2023

Apple Will Thrill Fans with AI

Rumors abound that Apple is working on an artificial intelligence platform. How might it work? What are its capabilities? I have a few predictions.

A Stiff Barrier to Entry

Apple loves to sell us premium products. And they also enjoy exercising tight control of them. Don’t expect their AI offering to be any different.

Thus, their platform will only be available to those using Apple devices. But that’s not all. Adding Apple’s AI to your workflow will also require a proprietary cable. No, not the one you already have.

We’re talking about a completely new connector type. The good news is that it’s currently hidden on your device. It will reveal itself upon sensing the cable’s presence.

The bad news? The dongle costs $500. And customers will have to wait at least six months for delivery. As usual, a large number of preorders will be the culprit.

An AI Powered Website Testing Suite

Web designers will be thrilled to see Apple’s AI testing suite. Enter your URL and watch the magic happen.

The tool emulates multiple devices. For example, you can troubleshoot your client’s buggy site on their 8-year-old Android phone. Or figure out why your responsive styles aren’t working on a brand of tablet no one has heard of.

You can also test your sites on classic Apple devices. How would an Apple IIe render your home page? What about a Newton handheld? You’re a dongle away from finding out.

It Will Be a Roller-Coaster Year for Elon Musk

Perhaps you don’t need a crystal ball to predict some things. Elon Musk and chaos are the perfect couple (sorry, Grimes). It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

I believe Mr. Musk will have a busy year. Seriously, there will be something wild happening every day. Here are just a few examples:

• Musk will reveal (unprompted) that he ingested dozens of “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” cartridges. You know, the ones that Atari buried back in the 1980s. He may still have a stash in his basement.
• Musk will invent an implantable microchip that allows chickens to speak. Ironically, he’ll call it “Twitter“.
• What about the service formerly known as Twitter? Musk hasn’t forgotten about it. He’ll continue to reinstate banned accounts. Next up: Napolean. Watch out for a rant hundreds of years in the making.
• We hear the Tesla Cybertruck will finally start deliveries in 2024. What’s the catch? It only includes models that come equipped with a Musk-approved flamethrower.
• Tesla’s Autopilot feature is having issues. Musk will replace it with an “Autonag” option. A virtual Elon will criticize your driving skills and shout them through the car’s audio system. Transport will never be the same.

Best Wishes for 2024!

Yes, the predictions above are silly. But they underscore that we’re in a time of change. AI is disrupting our industry. The tools we use are evolving. Somehow, we’ll need to adapt. For instance, I may have ChatGPT write this article for me next year.

None of this will be easy. Web designers have weathered plenty of shifts, though. I’m still here – and so are you!

So, take a deep breath. Find something to laugh about. And do your best to make 2024 a great year.

The post The Grumpy Designer’s Guide to 2024 appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

If you look closely, you’ll find decades-old technology. And it’s not limited to outdated websites. The fingerprints of the past are all over cutting-edge sites as well.

Sure, many of these technologies have evolved. Others have faded into the background. But we still rely on them. Perhaps more than we think.

With that, here’s a look at the old-school tech that continues to shape the web development industry.

Apache HTTP Server

Apache is no longer the top dog in web servers. However, the platform still holds a significant market share. W3Techs reports that it runs on over 30% of servers. That’s a close second to competitor Nginx.

Equally impressive is Apache’s longevity. Its initial release came way back in 1995.

The web was a much different place in those days. Most websites of that era consisted of static HTML. Let’s not forget about the low-powered hardware and limited bandwidth as well.

Apache has managed to keep up with the times. It’s a highly scalable platform that can handle large amounts of traffic. It also supports next-gen tech like HTTP/2 and IPv6.

Plus, Apache is responsible for many familiar technologies of its own. Development staples like .htaccess, gzip compression, and URL rewriting are supported.

jQuery

People continue to write off jQuery. But it’s hard to find evidence of a slowdown. The JavaScript library is used on over 77% of all websites.

Compare that number with its supposed heyday of 2012. Its usage was a mere 49% back then.

Being bundled with WordPress is one factor in jQuery’s growth. The world’s most widely used content management system (CMS) boosts those numbers. But that’s not the only reason.

Many of us are familiar with jQuery. And we know how to use it. That level of comfort continues to make it a go-to library.

Plus, it’s still in active development. jQuery continues to be refined and optimized for performance.

Yes, there are other worthy frameworks. And vanilla JavaScript has come a long way. But we bury jQuery at our own risk.

JPEG Images

We’ve been attempting to replace JPEG images for some time. Newer formats like SVG, WebP, and AVIF promise lossless compression. But this old-school file type from 1992 still bests them.

Both SVG and WebP are gaining ground. Yet JPEG carries on with a nearly 78% usage rate. Why is that?

For one, JPEG has the advantage of being a long-established format. Just about every image editing app supports it. And many of us have become used to saving images this way.

It’s also universally compatible with web browsers. WebP, for instance, doesn’t work with some legacy apps. That’s becoming less of a concern, however. Many of these browsers are vanishing from the landscape.

But after all these years, JPEG still works well for photographs. And its file size outperforms WebP in certain situations. It may not be the best option in every instance. But the format is still a viable choice.

The Command Line

The command line harkens back to a time before the graphical user interface (GUI). You may remember typing commands into MS-DOS if you’re of a certain age. And early systems like Unix were also command-based.

It almost seems ironic that the command line interface (CLI) is still a part of web development. The lineage is there, though. Linux powers many web servers, after all. But it’s also the “Throwback Thursday” of the industry.

Web hosting companies have attempted to replace or supplement the CLI. Visual control panels can replicate some functionality.

But the CLI also brings speed and efficiency to the party. Tools like WordPress have their own CLI flavors. And they can accomplish tasks without the overhead of a GUI.

It also offers fine-grain control over commands. You can target specific database tables or folders with relative ease.

The CLI survives because it’s still incredibly useful. And it beats using punch cards any day.

HTML

Maybe it’s a bit obvious. But no talk of old-school web technologies is complete without HTML. It’s still the basis of what we do.

Conceptualized in 1989, HTML saw its first release in 1991. It has since seen numerous iterations. And it is still evolving to meet the needs of the modern web.

HTML is capable of powering a website by itself. But it no longer stands alone. We can combine it with other languages to get the desired result. That could be CSS, PHP, Java, JavaScript, Ruby, or anything else that comes along.

These additional tools allow us to style and manipulate elements. We can tie in with a database to conditionally produce output. That has paved the way for the complex web applications we see today.

At 30+ years old, HTML is still as relevant as ever. And perhaps more flexible to boot.

Older Tech Continues to Find New Purpose

Longevity isn’t very common on the web. Or not on the front end, at least. Design trends come and go quickly. As do the tools and services we rely on.

But beneath all of that lies a bedrock of foundational technologies. Each of the items above qualifies. They’ve been a part of our job for decades.

And they’re far from the only ones. We didn’t delve into CSS or FTP, for instance. But they, along with dozens of other tools, are vital pieces of the jigsaw for developers.

Their continued presence brings comfort. That’s a good thing in an industry that changes so quickly.

The post How Old-School Technologies Still Shape Web Development appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

Serif fonts have a rich history and have been around since the days of printing presses. Their timeless appeal and versatility have made them a staple in various design projects, from elegant invitations and formal documents to book covers and websites.

Their ability to convey trustworthiness, tradition, and readability has made serif fonts an essential tool in any designer’s toolbox. So, let’s explore the best free serif fonts that will elevate your design game.

What are Serif Fonts?

Serif fonts are defined by the small lines (or decorative features) that trail from the edges of each letter and number. As serif fonts are considered easy to read, they’re typically used in print design as the characters are clearer and more distinctive, making it much easier for us to process.

Like Slab Serifs, there are always exceptions to the rule. Most Serifs will work perfectly well as a title or headline on the web, and some, as you will see by the selection of serif fonts below, will even work beautifully as body text, but please do choose your web typography carefully.

The post 25+ Best Free Serif Fonts for Creatives appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

As powerful as PowerPoint is, the truth is that the built-in presentation templates leave a lot to be desired. Luckily, you don’t have to worry about making a presentation that looks the same as everyone else’s because there are thousands of PowerPoint templates available to download online.

The beauty of these templates is that they can easily be customized with your brand colors, fonts, and design elements, and they already have all the slides necessary to present your data and company information. Simply add your content, insert your images, and customize. Your presentation will be ready in no time.

Check out the best business presentation templates for PowerPoint and download them so you can have them at your disposal whenever you need to make a presentation for your company.

You might also like our collection of free PowerPoint templates for creatives.

Business Proposal PowerPoint Templates

These business proposal PowerPoint templates offer professionally designed layouts and elements for creating impactful presentations. They will help to streamline the process of crafting persuasive business proposals, providing visual consistency and enhancing the overall impression.

Business Proposal Presentation Template

This multipurpose template has a modern, clean, and simple design. It has 30 unique slides and is easy to customize and use. It’s suitable for any project you can think of.

Website Proposal PowerPoint Template

This template gives you over thirty different slides that make it easy to create a compelling presentation from scratch. It comes in a full HD resolution to perfectly showcase the pixel-perfect illustrations that are included.

PowerPoint Business Proposal

This template gives you more than 35 editable presentation slide and each slide is in a 4:3 format. This template will save you time by taking the design out of the equation so that you can create a powerful presentation.

Proposal PowerPoint Template

The Proposal template gives you 52 unique slides that were designed in HD resolution. It also includes animations for the transitions and free icons to help you design your presentations.

Clean Proposal PowerPoint Template

This template gives you 24 unique slides in 16:9 HD quality. This template is clean, colorful, and scalable. Its multipurpose functions are suitable for businesses, e-commerce or product presentations.

Creative Proposal PowerPoint Template

The goal of this template is to help you gain support for design projects. With specific slides to accomplish this task, this template helps you retain focus on spreading your creative ideas in a cohesive fashion.

Startup & Business Pitch Deck Template

This template is perfect for startups and established businesses to pitch their ideas. This template is cross platform compatible to include PowerPoint, Keynote, and Google Slides for your ease of use.

Business Plan PowerPoint Templates

These business plan PowerPoint templates provide a structured framework to outline strategies, goals, and financial projections. They offer a visually engaging way to present business concepts, market analysis, and operational details.

Business Plan 3.0 PowerPoint

With 40 unique slides, this template helps you get your business plan into action at your next presentation. The template is easy to customize and you can use the full animations as well as take advantage of retina ready visuals.

Dinalis Startup Business Plan PowerPoint

This template has 50 unique and editable slides with 2 color theme variations. It’s native HD resolution means that it will look good on any screen size. The template includes various vector shapes.

Business Plan Presentation Template

If you have a business plan presentation to do, this template has you covered. The template has a variety of slide designs to help you create a powerful business presentation.

ICO Business Plan PowerPoint Template

The ICO template has over 40 unique slides that can be edited and it has 30 business concepts with amazing flat vector images. The template comes in high definition aspect ratio to showcase the best visuals.

Business Plan PowerPoint Presentation Template

This business template is aimed directly at conveying a solid business plan to your audience. It has specialized slides to help you stay razor focused on the content and delivery of your presentation.

Business Ideas PowerPoint Templates

These PowerPoint templates have been tailored for business idea development by offering a structured canvas to outline and refine concepts. These templates can provide a clear roadmap for entrepreneurs to articulate and expand their innovative ideas.

Business Idea PowerPoint Template

This template has 27 slides in a light and dark version for your convenience, is retina ready and comes in full HD resolution. Choose between full or no animations and easily make custom edits for your presentation.

Bold Ideas PowerPoint Template

This template includes 20 master slides in the standard 4:3 size allowing you to choose the best layout for your needs. The modern, polished layouts go far beyond mere backgrounds, fonts, and bullets; they also have matching charts, diagrams, and more visualization elements.

Marketing PowerPoint Templates

Tailored for marketing professionals, these PowerPoint templates offer a toolbox of creative layouts, data visualization, and content structures. They can help streamline the creation of impactful marketing presentations, enabling marketers to effectively communicate strategies, campaigns, and insights.

Impressivv Marketing PowerPoint Template

This template comes with more than 30 total slides with modern layouts based on master slides. It includes vector icons and is in full HD resolution. It’s also easy to customize with your brand colors and fonts.

Marketing PowerPoint Presentation Template

This template boasts a set of 1000 icons, is fully animated, and comes in a full HD resolution. It is simple and easy to use and includes free updates and support for your convenience.

Digital Marketing Agency for PowerPoint

The Digital Marketing Agency template has more than 60 unique slides, an editable layout, and a master page. It also has 8 different colored themes premade for you. This template makes it easy for you to deliver compelling presentations.

Marketing Toolbox PowerPoint Template

This template walks you through the core set of slides you will need for your presentation and helps keep you focused on the key items. It also includes easily editable charts and tables, handcrafted infographics, and pixel perfect illustrations.

Digital Marketing Strategy PowerPoint Template

This template has more than 40 unique slides and is completely editable in PowerPoint. It includes object and slide transition animations and an editable icon set to help you get started with your next digital marketing presentation.

Business Sales PowerPoint Templates

Specifically designed for sales teams, these PowerPoint templates provide a platform for showcasing products, highlighting benefits, and articulating value propositions. Craft compelling presentations that resonate with clients and drive successful pitches!

Ozone Sales & Marketing PowerPoint Template

This template has 60 multipurpose slides that are clean, unique, and simple. It also has an unlimited color option so that you can show your brand colors proudly. On top of that, the template was designed in full HD resolution.

Eleska Sales & Marketing Pitch Template

This large template has 30 unique slides in 4 different color variations. It comes in stunning full HD resolution and is completely editable for your needs. It also includes vector shape illustrations to use.

Business Strategy PowerPoint Templates

These PowerPoint templates feature diverse slides for SWOT analysis, roadmaps, and actionable steps, enabling strategic business thinkers to convey complex concepts concisely and guide stakeholders through a well-defined path toward business success.

Business Strategy PowerPoint Template

The Business Strategy template has all the slides you need to create a compelling business presentation and present your company. It includes a complete set of vector icons, a world map that is editable, and free fonts.

Minimalist Business Strategy PowerPoint Template

This beautiful minimalist presentation template has 50 unique slides that help you tell your story in stunning full HD. It includes a free font, transitions, animations, and is easy to customize to your needs and niche.

Modern Business Strategy PowerPoint Template

With 70 unique slides to help you get started, this template is fully editable and gives you vector icons, elements, and maps. It also includes 5 dark and light template versions and boasts 700 total slides.

Social Media PowerPoint Templates

These PowerPoint templates have been tailored for social media marketers by offering a visual toolkit to outline campaigns, content calendars, and engagement strategies. These templates include dynamic slides for showcasing analytics, audience insights, and creative assets to present your social media initiatives with precision and impact.

Social Media Guide PowerPoint Template

This template offers a professional look for your unique presentation. Starting with 32 master slides, you can choose the layout that best suits your presentation. This template also includes charts, diagrams, and tables to help you tell your story.

Social Media Pro PowerPoint Template

The Social Media Pro template starts you off with more than 35 unique slides that allow drag and drop images and has device mockups included. Both the 16:9 and 4:3 are in full HD resolutions. This template also includes more than 150 editable font and icon set.

Clean & Modern Social Media PowerPoint Template

This template is retina ready and has a full HD resolution. With more than 80 unique slides, you’ll be creating the best presentation about your company that you can. Also included in this pack are mockup devices, infographics, and icons.

eCommerce Business PowerPoint Templates

Designed for eCommerce marketing, these PowerPoint templates offer a versatile canvas for showcasing products, promotions, and customer journeys. These also provide slides for presenting sales funnels, conversion strategies, and analytics, enabling eCommerce professionals to illustrate their marketing efforts effectively.

A Store PowerPoint Template

This template is perfect for business and personal needs. With more than 150 total slides, you’ll be up and running in no time. You will also find hand-crafted infographics, and pixel perfect illustrations.

New Store PowerPoint Template

This template offers more than a 150 total slides to help you make your presentation the best it can be. It has pixel perfect illustrations and hand crafted infographics for you to tell your story.

Multi-Purpose Business PowerPoint Templates

These multi-purpose PowerPoint templates offer a diverse range of slides to cater to various business needs. With pre-designed layouts for business, marketing, creative projects, and more, these templates offer a multi-use foundation for crafting impactful business presentations.

Business Report 2.0 PowerPoint Template

With 77 unique slides and an easy to edit color scheme, text, and shapes; this is one powerful business presentation. It’s visually appealing and easy to customize with your fonts and colors.

SWOT Business Presentation Template

This template pack has a whopping 111 unique slides to help you tell your story. It has multiple aspect ratios to get the best viewing resolution for your needs, and includes handmade infographics for your convenience.

Forseti Business PowerPoint Template

This template offers you more than 30 slides with modern layouts based on a master slide. It is in 16:9 full HD resolution and allows you to use free web fonts for personalization.

Business Showcase PowerPoint Template

This template gives you 30 unique slides that are in HD resolution. Fully editable inside PowerPoint so no extra skills are required; this template pack is perfect for a product showcase presentation.

Clean Business Presentation Template

This template comes in full HD resolution and has 50 unique slides to help tell your story. It has animations, transitions, and a free font included. This clean and modern presentation is perfect for any project purpose.

Klai Business for PowerPoint

The Klai Business template gives you more than 30 slides in full HD resolution for great visuals. This template is completely editable and resizable to meet your needs.

Morning Business PowerPoint Template

This template has a professional, ultra modern, and unique design which is suitable for many different kinds of presentations. It includes media placeholders and has a drag and drop placeholder for all your images.

Blesi Business PowerPoint Template

This creative template has more than 30 wonderful slides which use a master slide system to make editing a breeze. It includes editable vector icons and shapes to help you make your presentation impactful.

Alloyz PowerPoint Business Template

The Alloyz template has more than 30 wonderful slides which will help you tell your story effortlessly. It includes editable vector icons and shapes to help you make your presentation.

Solusis Business PowerPoint Presentation

The Solusis template boasts more than 50 unique slides that are in 16:9 widescreen HD resolution. They are based on master slides and include more than 500 icons and a free font for you to use.

The Benefits of PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint is a hugely popular application that is favored because of its user-friendly interface and extensive tools for crafting engaging presentations.

As you can see from above, it offers a variety of templates and themes that simplify the creation process, allowing you to create professional-looking presentations quickly. Its slide master feature ensures consistent formatting throughout the presentation, enhancing visual coherence.

The software supports various media types, including images, videos, audio, and charts, enabling dynamic content integration. Animation and transition effects that can also add a dynamic touch to slides, enhancing engagement during presentations.

Whether for business, education, or personal use, PowerPoint is a versatile tool for creating informative and visually compelling presentations. Its widespread use and familiarity make it an industry standard for communication and information sharing.

How to Import a PowerPoint Template

Importing a PowerPoint template into your presentation software is a straightforward process. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Download the Template: Find and download the PowerPoint template file you want to use.
2. Locate the Template File: Once downloaded, locate the template file on your computer. It’s usually in a .pptx format.
3. Open PowerPoint: Launch Microsoft PowerPoint on your computer.
4. Create a New Presentation: You can either create a new presentation from scratch or open an existing one to apply the template to.
5. Access Slide Master: Go to the View tab in the PowerPoint menu and click Slide Master. This will allow you to modify the template’s master slides.
6. Import the Template: Go to the Slide Master tab and click Insert Slide Master. A new slide master will be added to the Slide Master view.
7. Insert the Template Slides: In the new slide master, go to the Slide Master tab again and click Insert Slide Master. Then navigate to the location of the downloaded template file and select it. The template slides will be inserted into your Slide Master view.
8. Customize and Apply: You can now customize the template by editing text, images, colors, fonts, and other elements. Once you’ve made any customizations, return to the normal view by clicking Close Master View.
9. Apply the Template to Your Presentation: With the template slides in your Slide Master, you can now apply them to your presentation. Go to the slide where you want to apply the template. In the PowerPoint menu, go to the Home tab and click the Layout button. Choose the layout from the template that you want to apply to the current slide.
10. Repeat for Other Slides: You can repeat the process of applying the template layout to other slides in your presentation.
11. Save Your Presentation: After applying the template and making the necessary adjustments, save your presentation.

By importing a PowerPoint template, you can quickly enhance the visual appeal and consistency of your presentation.

Templates can provide a professional look and save you time by offering pre-designed elements and layouts that you can easily customize and edit to fit your content perfectly.

More Presentation Templates & Tutorials

The post 40+ Best PowerPoint Templates for Business Presentations appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

UX/UI Design Trends Going Into 2024
Take a look at some of the trends that are here to stay and are taking over the web.

Preparing For Interaction To Next Paint
Next year, Interaction to Next Paint will replace First Input Delay as a Core Web Vital metric.

2024 Icon Design Trends
Discover the latest icon design trends to level up your mobile UI and product branding.

Free Slab Serif Fonts for Creatives
Explore the striking aesthetic and functional power of free slab serif fonts.

BrandGuide
A curated collection of brand guidelines from around the world.

Scroll Fading 101
Scroll fading can improve brand perception, optimize load time, and make content more digestible.

Aileron Free Font
Free font avaible in UltraLight, Thin, Light, Regular, SemiBold, Bold, Heavy, Black, and Italic styles.

How to Create an Interactive Mouse Effect
Learn the fundamentals of Three.js Instancing in this Codrops tutorial.

Getting Started with Web Performance
Gained knowledge, confidence, understanding, and resources to test, diagnose and make websites perform better.

What’s Slowing Down Your WordPress Website?
Here are a few simple tips to help identify and address performance issues.

Wanted Sans Free Font
A new, free sans-serif font from Wanted.

Front Tips
Collections of short video tips covering all areas of web development.

SVG Tutorial
Learn how to code images in HTML with SVG.

Evolving the Infinite Canvas

A Recap of the State of the Word 2023

The post Weekly News for Designers № 724 appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

In typography, choosing the right font is like an artist choosing the perfect brush for a painting. It can make or break the impact of a design project. Slab serifs, with their strength and confidence, are often sought after by designers to create eye-catching headlines, striking logos, and impactful branding. Their versatility allows them to be used in various design applications, from posters and banners to websites and packaging.

In this article, we share some of the best free slab serif fonts for designers. Let’s explore these high-quality slab serif fonts that can elevate your designs without costing anything. Whether an experienced designer or just starting out on your creative journey, these fonts are here to empower your projects with a touch of timeless style and readability.

What is a Slab Serif Font?

A slab serif font is recognizable by its bold, robust appearance. It features thick, squared-off serifs with uniform stroke widths, minimal contrast, and a lack of curved lines.

They prioritize legibility and often have a geometric or mechanical feel. While maintaining a strong and solid look, they come in diverse styles to suit various design purposes.

Slab serif fonts are ideal for making a bold statement in your design projects where clarity and impact are essential.

The post 20+ Best Free Slab Serif Fonts for Creatives appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

WordPress websites consist of a theme and plugins. And they rely on a database. That makes diagnosing slow page loads difficult. There are so many places to look.

What’s more, poor performance can appear out of the blue. A software update or a change by your web host could be the culprit. But how can you be sure?

We’re here to help! Here are a few tips for diagnosing a slow WordPress website. They’ll help you spot common (and not-so-common) performance issues.

Start With What You Can See

The first step is to assess what you see when your website loads. What you find could help you determine the next step.

Observe your website and think about the following:

Where Is the Slowness Occurring?

Poor performance can come in many forms. For example, it could be a sitewide issue. But it could be localized to a single page. Or maybe you’re only noticing sluggish behavior in the dashboard.

Make note of where you are (and aren’t) experiencing problems. This can help you narrow down potential causes.

Are There Any Obvious Signs?

Sometimes the problem is right in front of you. Elements such as image sliders or videos can slow down a page. Or you might notice that third-party content (like a social media widget) is loading slowly.

There are no guarantees. But you might gain insight into the slowdown. If not, there are still plenty of things you can do.

Use Some Helpful Tools

Several tools are available to help you diagnose a slow website. Performance scanners like Google’s PageSpeed Insights will provide a laundry list of potential issues.

But the reports can be a bit dense. Thus, finding key factors in poor performance isn’t straightforward.

Here, we’ll focus on a few other tools worth checking out:

Web Browser Developer Tools

Your web browser’s developer tools include powerful features. They’re the place to catch page load errors. And they can display critical information about what’s happening behind the scenes.

Modern browsers come packed with advanced developer tools. For our purposes, we’ll concentrate on the console and network panels.

Console

Let’s start with the browser console. This tool provides a real-time view of errors and warnings. It’s a handy listing of any issues impacting a page.

Perhaps the biggest telltale sign is a 404 Not Found error. That indicates a specific resource couldn’t be loaded. This could be a script, image, stylesheet, or font. The web server is wasting precious time looking for something that can’t be found.

The console will also fill you in on JavaScript errors and security notices. These can also get in the way of a faster page load.

Network

The network tool provides a listing of each request made. It provides context about what’s happening while the page loads.

For instance, you can see the amount of data transferred and the time it took. This helps you see which resources are weighing down a page.

In addition, HTTP response codes will point out blocked or missing resources.

Query Monitor

Performance issues directly related to WordPress can be difficult to diagnose. That’s where Query Monitor comes in. This free plugin provides a glimpse of how the CMS works in both the front and back ends.

Query Monitor shows you things that browser developer tools can’t. And it does so with a well-organized user interface. It adds a menu within the WordPress admin bar.

Among the information you’ll find:

• Database queries (with the ability to point out slow queries);
• PHP errors and warnings;
• A list of all enqueued scripts and styles;
• HTTP API requests;
• Server version information;

It’s a great tool for finding problematic PHP code and slow database queries. Query Monitor’s ability to point to specific items makes troubleshooting easier.

And the available add-on plugins allow you to dig even further. They can help with WooCommerce shops, BuddyPress/bbPress installs, and more.

Query Monitor can help you find the proverbial needle in a haystack.

You’ve Found the Culprit – Now What?

Hopefully, the tips above helped you identify the problem. What to do next?

Making performance tweaks is a topic of its own. Much depends on the source of your issue. However, there are a few universal steps to take.

First, be sure to repair any errors. Patch up any problematic PHP. Replace or remove references to missing resources. Remove third-party content that is taking too long to load. Consider this the low-hanging fruit in the process.

Next, look at how your theme and plugins are impacting performance. If you have outdated items installed, it may be time to replace them. The good news is that there are usually plenty of options within the WordPress ecosystem.

Finally, take a look at your web hosting arrangement. A slow file or database server is a drag on any website. Implementing tools like object caching or content delivery networks (CDN) can be difference-makers.

Be sure that your site has adequate storage, processing threads, and memory. A lack of resources is one of the most common performance issues you’ll face.

By addressing all three areas (code, theme/plugins, and server), you’ll be able to make significant performance gains.

Kick WordPress Performance up a Notch

There could be myriad reasons why your WordPress website isn’t performing well. Anything from a poorly-coded plugin to a buggy server could be to blame.

Sometimes you’ll get lucky and the root cause will be apparent. But you’ll more likely have to do some sleuthing to get to the bottom of it.

There are tools to help you pinpoint any problems. It starts with your browser’s developer tools. But you can also use WordPress-specific items like Query Monitor. Together, they’ll paint a clearer picture of what’s slowing down your site.

From there, you can take any necessary steps to boost speed. The process isn’t always easy. But it all starts with gathering the right information.

The post What’s Slowing Down Your WordPress Website? appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

It is vital for companies to showcase their brand identity to win over customers, just like people do to make new friends. The first impression of a business is its logo, and designers understand the importance of creating a memorable logo that reflects the business’s values and vision.

Fortunately, you don’t have to start from scratch to create an outstanding logo. We have curated a collection of logo creator kits and templates to help you jump-start your design process. These kits offer beautifully designed templates that will inspire and give you a variety of options to choose from. If you’re stuck in a creative rut, these kits have your back.

By using these logo creator kits, you can offer your clients a broader range of options and help them choose the perfect logo that suits their brand. These kits will also help you broaden your horizons and evolve your design style if you’ve been stuck in a particular style.

What is a Logo Creator Kit?

Imagine being handed a box of musical instruments, each unique, each capable of producing enchanting tunes. Now, visualize creating a melody that’s uniquely yours. That’s what a Logo Creator Kit does for your brand! It’s a collection of design elements, typography, icons, and layouts that empower you to create a logo that resonates with your brand.

1. Design Elements: These are the instruments of your symphony – shapes, lines, textures, and more, all harmonizing to create a visual impact.
2. Typography: Consider this the rhythm section – fonts and typefaces that set the tempo and vibe of your brand melody.
3. Icons: These are the soloists – unique, striking, conveying your brand story in a single visual note.
4. Layouts: The orchestra’s arrangement – how each element interacts, the space, the alignment, all coming together in a cohesive composition.

A Logo Creator Kit isn’t just a toolbox; it’s an atelier, a workshop where each brand crafts its unique insignia.

What to Look for in a Great Logo Creator Kit

With a multitude of kits playing their tunes in the market, how do you choose the one that strikes the right chord with your brand? Here are the notes to hit when selecting the ideal Logo Creator Kit:

1. Versatility of Instruments: A wide array of design elements ensures that you can compose a logo that’s as unique as your brand’s melody. Look for a kit that offers diversity and versatility in its components.
2. Harmony in Typography: Fonts speak volumes, quite literally! The right kit should offer a range of typefaces, from formal serifs to casual scripts, each setting a different rhythm to your brand’s symphony.
3. Iconic Soloists: The icons should be distinctive, adaptable, and resonant with various industries and brand personalities. They’re the visual anchors of your logo, so ensure they’re versatile yet striking.
4. Layout Orchestration: Varied layouts provide a playground for your elements to interact. Look for a kit that offers diverse arrangements, allowing the elements to dance together in harmony.
5. Customization Symphony: The true magic lies in making the melody your own. Ensure that the kit allows ample customization, giving you the conductor’s baton to craft your unique composition.
6. Usability Concerto: The user interface should be a smooth sonata, intuitive, and user-friendly, allowing even novice composers to create enchanting brand tunes.
7. Quality Overture: Each element, each icon, and each font should be of high quality, ensuring that your brand melody resonates clearly and beautifully across various platforms.
8. Future-Proof Composition: Trends in design are much like music genres, ever-evolving. A great kit is like a timeless classic, adaptable and resonant, no matter the changing times.

Best Logo Creator Kits for Designers

Wilderness Logo Kit Vol.1 (AI & SVG)

Answer the call of the wild with this stunning wilderness logo kit. Featuring eight logo templates inspired by vintage typography (with a modern twist), and a 15-icon pack, you’ll have everything you need to create gorgeous logos for a variety of businesses, from breweries to hiking gear stores.

Vintage Logo Creation Kit (PSD, AI & EPS)

Textures, fonts, icons. You’ll find all of that (and more) in this vintage logo creation kit. You can easily edit everything in Photoshop or Illustrator (the elements are vector-based) and create the perfect logo. No matter the project, you’ll definitely find the right fit.

Retro Badge & Logo Creation Kit (AI & EPS)

Create the perfect retro logo with this retro badge and logo creation kit. With a variety of font choices, icons, and elements, not even the sky will be the limit once you get this kit and get to work. It’s perfect for brands that want to stand out!

So Flowery Watercolor Branding Kit (PSD, AI & EPS)

Ready to lay the foundations of your brand identity? This gorgeous branding kit offers watercolor and floral elements to create entire logos without starting from scratch. You’ll get 18 logo designs, 17 handcrafted icons, and 13 handcrafted watercolor elements to create a beautiful and elegant logo.

Camping Logo Template Creation Kit (PSD, SVG, PNG, AI & EPS)

This camping logo creation kit is a must-have if you work with adventure or travel-related businesses! This adventurous logo creator kit is enormous: you’ll get access to over 400 authentic, outdoorsy elements. You can also easily adjust the nine premade logos to fit your client’s brand.

The Extensive Logo Creator (PSD, AI & EPS)

Create the logo of your dreams with this extensive logo creator kit, chock full of icons, elements, fonts, and templates! You can also easily customize the colors of the elements with just a single click in Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. This kit is perfect for other branding materials, as well.

Vintage Nautical Logo Template Bundle (AI & EPS)

Create a nautical logo no one will ever forget with this vintage logo template bundle. This collection features over 20 logos, intricately designed with nautical symbols, from pirate skulls and ships to anchors and shells. These logo templates are a delight to work with, and your clients will love them!

Esports & Gaming Logo Kit (AI & EPS)

Make your logo your brand’s most important ambassador with this eSports and gaming logo creator kit. You’ll get an incredible array of premade logo templates featuring various animals and characters with bold and loud typography that says: My team always wins. Are you ready to play?

Rocket Logo Kit (AI & EPS)

Nothing says progress and enlightenment more than a rocket, so if you’re working with clients who always have innovation on their minds, create a gorgeous rocket logo for them. How? With this rocket logo kit! You’ll get plenty of diverse rocket logo templates to work with.

Vintage Badges & Logos Set (AI & EPS)

Take your clients and their customers on an adventure with this vintage badge and logo template collection, featuring adventurous scenes rendered in a cartoon style. From mountains to camping coffee mugs, you’ll get plenty of choices with fun typography options that perfectly fit friendly brands with adventurous customers.

Real Estate Logo Kit (AI & EPS)

Show your clients (or their clients) that they can trust you to find their dream home with this real estate logo kit. Featuring a vast array of real estate logo templates (including symbols appropriate for the real estate industry), this logo template pack is everything you’ve ever needed!

Photography & Camera Logo Kit (AI & EPS)

Time to take a snapshot of your success! This photography-focused logo kit offers diverse camera icons that are perfect for businesses handling them daily. From bold and bright camera logo designs to minimalist takes, there’s something for everyone, and the logos are 100% editable in Illustrator.

Watercolor Logo Creator Kit (AI & EPS)

Create elegant logos with this watercolor logo creator kit. It contains everything you need for a memorable and friendly logo. You’ll get 30 premade logo templates you can customize in Illustrator, or you can mix and match hundreds of elements, textures, and fonts to create the perfect logo.

So Female Branding Kit (PSD, AI & EPS)

If your business needs a feminine touch, this branding kit will help you add it to your logo. This logo creator kit offers plenty of elegant and feminine elements, perfect for health, beauty, and similar businesses. You can mix and match or customize 18 logo templates in Photoshop or Illustrator.

Minimal Logo Template Collection (AI & EPS)

Create clean and minimalist logos with this logo template collection. Featuring over 35 different combinations, this collection is a dreamboat! From simple logos to logos with ornate symbols and bold font choices, there’s something for everyone in this collection. Make sure you add it to your design kit!

Stylish Logo Creator Kit (PSD, AI & EPS)

This logo creator kit is one for the books! You can create thousands of logos with unique font, element, and style choices, keeping the branding on point. From script fonts that give your logo a friendly aesthetic to monogram-style logo templates, everything you need is right here in this kit!

Premade Minimal Logo Template Collection (PSD, AI & EPS)

Let your logo tell your brand’s story. All you have to do is add this logo template collection to your design kit! With over 30 unique logo designs, these logo templates are perfect for all kinds of brands, from marketing agencies and gyms to fashion and real estate.

Vintage Labels Logo Constructor (PSD, AI & EPS)

Create subtle and effective vintage logos and labels with this logo creator kit that offers over 150 elements. There are plenty of elements for logos for different industries, from coffee shops and breweries, to tech and cinema brands. Every element is entirely (and quickly) editable in Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop.

Elegant Logo Template Collection (AI & PSD)

Classy brands need classy logos, and creating them doesn’t have to be complicated – not if you have this elegant logo template collection. With ten stunning logo templates and stellar stylistic choices in terms of typography and visuals, these logo templates are perfect for brands that prize aesthetics.

Vintage Personal Logo Branding (PSD, AI & EPS)

It’s time to give your brand a boost! This vintage personal logo branding kit offers over 50 handcrafted and authentic logo templates that you can work with to create the perfect branding foundations for your business. The templates are fully editable, and your customers will be delighted!

Cheryl Burgess once said: “A brand is a reason to choose.” And branding starts with a single symbol: the logo. It’s incredible how much a single image can sway opinions, convince audiences of your brand’s value, and create widespread recognition of your business.

Maybe Airbnb would’ve become popular even without its organic and beautiful logo. However, they’d definitely have a harder time being recognized even without mentioning their name. So the next time you get to design work, make sure you have some of these logo kits and templates in your tool stack.

They’ll make it much easier to create perfect logos for diverse clients and even broaden your horizons as a graphic designer. So when the time comes to present your work, your audience will love what you have in store for them. Ready, set, design!

The post 20+ Best Logo Creator Kits & Templates in 2024 appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

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The post Weekly News for Designers № 723 appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

So if you want to showcase your website and software design, there’s nothing like a laptop mockup template for Photoshop to help you do it!

Today, we’re going to show you amazing and versatile laptop mockups. They’re all really easy to customize. All you need is Photoshop and a few minutes. Thanks to the smart objects system, you can easily replace the placeholders with your own designs to get beautiful and photo-realistic results your clients will love.

From colorful and fun mockups that work like a charm for engaging your audience (be they your end customers or clients you’re designing for) to grid mockups with both laptops and tablets, there’s plenty to pick from.

When it comes to devices, you can choose between Mac laptops and other Windows brands, depending on your audience’s preference.

10 Colorful Laptop Mockup Templates (Photoshop PSD)

Colorful and engaging, these laptop mockup templates will make your next presentation a resounding success! This laptop mockup set consists of ten diverse laptop mockups, which are perfect for presenting web and online store designs, as well as presenting your products. If your audience likes vibrant visuals, pick this pack!

Laptop Mockup Templates (Photoshop PSD)

If you’re looking for unique perspectives, choose this laptop mockup template for Photoshop. With an interesting perspective and plenty of customization options (including removable backgrounds and editable effects), this laptop mockup is perfect for presenting your software and web design, or even branding and visual identity for clients.

Clean Laptop Mockup Templates (Photoshop PSD)

Minimalist mockups are perfect for emphasizing your skills, and this laptop template will show everyone you are the Kahlo of graphic design! With four pre-made scenes, a scene creator that lets you customize everything, and numerous personalization options for realizing your vision, this laptop mockup set works like a charm!

Laptop & Tablet Grid Mockup Templates (Photoshop PSD)

A minimalist and clean laptop and tablet grid mockup, this set is perfect for presenting a variety of designs. You can showcase the responsiveness of your designs or simply use this laptop and tablet PSD mockup set to give your clients plenty of options to choose from during your presentation.

MacBooks Pro & iPad Pro Mockup Templates (Photoshop PSD)

Make some magic with the famed Mac! This highly-responsive Apple device mockup set consists of 2 Mac laptops, as well as an iPad, giving you plenty of room to work with. You can upload different designs or showcase the responsiveness on different devices. Customize the background, and you are golden!

Laptop Mockup Templates (Photoshop PSD)

Beautifully positioned, these PSD laptop mockup templates are perfect for bringing your designs to life. You can pick from 3 photo-realistic styles and easily edit the laptop mockups with Photoshop smart objects.

Photorealistic Laptop Mockup Templates (Photoshop PSD)

Simple and clean, this laptop mockup template for Photoshop gives you the opportunity to showcase your designs in a minimalist, industrial background, perfect for both colorful and dark designs. You’ll get six photo-realistic laptop PSD mockups and 4 Photoshop photo filters to make your presentation even more stunning.

Laptop Screen Mockup Templates (Photoshop PSD)

Clean and minimalist, this laptop mockup template puts an emphasis on the screen showcasing your design. With five customizable PSD laptop mockups, adjustable background, customizable effects, and plenty of other options, you’ll love adding your own designs and making sure that every little detail delights your target audience.

Laptop Presentation Showcase Mockup Templates (Photoshop PSD)

Everyone loves vibrant and engaging presentations! And with this friendly laptop mockup template for Photoshop, you can make sure both your designs and the way you’ve chosen to present them absolutely delight your audience. This mockup is perfect for highlighting software and features, as well as web design.

Various Apple Devices Mockup Templates (Photoshop PSD)

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, and an Apple mockup keeps all your customers close! This Apple device mockup set consists of iPhones, iPads, Mac desktops, and Mac laptops. You can showcase responsiveness or add a different design to each mockup. Then wrap it up with fun backgrounds!

Papercraft Laptop DIY Mockup Templates (Photoshop PSD)

This fun papercraft laptop mockup template is perfect for audiences that value creativity! You can pick from 6 paper illustrations that bring a dose of interactivity to your designs and customize the colors of different parts. Give your regular presentations a little something extra, and rock your customers’ socks off!

5 Laptop & Tablet in Cafe Mockup Templates (Photoshop PSD)

For a friendly, down-to-earth atmosphere, pick these five laptop and tablet mockups photographed in a cafe. After customizing the PSDs with a little help from Photoshop smart objects, you’ll get stunning, photo-realistic results. You can showcase everything from graphic design to designs of specific software features and websites.

Responsive Website & Desk Mockup Templates (Photoshop PSD)

This photo-realistic mockup template set perfectly showcases the responsiveness of your design! If your customers want their websites and tools to look perfect on every device (phone, tablet, and desktop), show them how great your work is with these device templates. All it takes is a few clicks in Photoshop!

Desktop, Laptop, Smartphone and Tablet Mockup Templates (Photoshop PSD)

If your design is not responsive, you will have to go back to editing. Nip that in the bud by showing your clients how your designs are displayed on different devices with these mockups for Photoshop.

Coffee & Laptop Mockup Templates (Photoshop PSD)

Modern and interactive, these Macbook Pro laptop mockup templates are perfect for communicating with modern and stylish audiences. Showcase your features and user experience through 3 different mockups. You can easily edit details and present the photo-realistic results. These mockups perfectly match brands with sleek and refined identity and visuals!

Computer on a Wooden Table Mockup Templates (Photoshop PSD)

This atmospheric laptop mockup is perfect for presenting your design for laptop covers and stickers. If you’re an artist looking to expand your offer, this mockup is a great solution! Help your customers visualize what your laptop stickers will look like on their laptops, and boost your sales!

Laptop Mockup NX (Photoshop PSD)

Give your virtual designs a personal touch with this laptop mockup. With well-organized layers, this mockup is a delight: it’s easy to edit with Photoshop smart objects, and it guarantees photo-realistic results for your next presentation. Easily add your UI, software, or web designs, and wow your audience.

Clean Laptop Mockup Templates (Photoshop PSD)

Simple and focused on the screen, these laptop mockup templates can help you present your web design or UI work in the best possible light. You’ll get 4 PSD laptop mockups that you can completely customize to fit your (or your customers’) style for photo-realistic results.

Laptop Mockup Templates (Photoshop PSD)

Simple and clean, these laptop mockup templates feature the Macbook Pro, and pay special attention to screenshots. You’ll get four different PSD files, shot from different angles and customizable. If you want to make your own close-ups, you absolutely can! In the end, you will get extremely photo-realistic results.

Laptop and Smartphone on Wooden Table Mockup Templates (Photoshop PSD)

These laptop and smartphone mockup templates showcase your design in a calm and neutral environment. You can add your own designs to the two devices, so they work like a charm for showcasing responsiveness. And thanks to Photoshop, you will have a gorgeous presentation in just a few minutes!

White Laptop Mockup Templates (Photoshop PSD)

Stylish and perfect for light, dark, and colorful designs, these white laptop mockup templates are like nothing you’d ever seen! With 23 PSD files, you can showcase your designs in their full glory. Show everyone that your work isn’t just practical – it’s magical!

Laptop Screen Mockup Templates (Photoshop PSD)

Keep the eyes glued to what matters: your design. These laptop screen templates allow you to focus on the quality of your work, be that visual identity design or software/web design. You’ll get three high-quality PSD laptop mockups, as well as plenty of customizable elements for photo-realistic results.

Laptop Workspace Mockup Templates (Photoshop PSD)

A clean workspace and a single laptop with your design on it. Doesn’t that sound like a dream? This laptop mockup (2 variations) returns the focus back to your work.

Sticker Placed on a MacBook Mockup Templates (Photoshop PSD)

Help your customers personalize their Macbooks with these laptop sticker mockup templates! Easy to customize (it takes a few clicks, and you’ll be done), these mockup templates offer a sleek and minimalist way of presenting your work. This Macbook mockup works especially well for light and colorful designs!

Laptop Sleeve Mockup Templates (Photoshop PSD)

Spread your work far and wide with laptop sleeves! And then, when it’s time to promote your designs, use these gorgeous laptop sleeve mockup templates.

Use these laptop templates to improve your presentations and breathe life into your projects.

Whether you’re designing a website or software, these laptop mockups will help you highlight all the things you love about your designs and make your work quality crystal clear to your customers.

These mockups are perfect for showcasing responsiveness, aesthetics, user experience, and – of course – your skills.

More Mockup Template Collections

The post 25+ Best iMac & Windows Laptop Mockup Templates in 2024 appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.