Design - from all angles
A blog about branding, marketing, and design, mostly through the lens of practical psychology, intended to be a resource to small businesses and entrepreneurs. Unless otherwise noted, all articles are written by Nyla Smith, owner of n-Vision Designs. {Subscribe to the RSS feed here: 
}
The Secret Life of Sensations: How Design Affects Perception
Nyla Smith | Tuesday, December 22, 2015
"P" is for: Pantone 2016 Color(s) of the Year!
Nyla Smith | Tuesday, December 08, 2015
For the first time ever, Pantone’s Color of the Year is a duo. That’s right, the color for 2016 is actually two — Rose Quartz and Serenity. Another notable “first” is that it represents a departure from the usual bold rich color typically given this honor, being the first pastel shades in a decade. This is quite a shift from the norm — what does it mean? Read Article »
"O" is for Offset Printing
Nyla Smith | Tuesday, December 01, 2015
I remember quite distinctly a time back in 2004, when this thing called 'digital printing’ was scoffed at by ‘real’ designers. It was cheap and produced inferior results as compared to traditional offset printing. Well now it’s almost 2016 and technology has come a long way. Is offset printing still the best way to print? Read Article »
"M" is for: Monochromatic (One is the Loveliest Color)
Nyla Smith | Tuesday, November 17, 2015
It was September of 1965 when the color television revolution changed the world. Programming previously watched in shades of gray was now bursting in full color for all to see! It’s understandable that we are drawn to color; we equate it with life and vibrancy. So when I tell you that monochromatic has merits, don’t tune me out just yet! Read Article »
A New Flag for New Zealand?
Nyla Smith | Tuesday, September 22, 2015
New Zealand is on the hunt for a new flag design. On September 1, after sifting through a mere 10,292 submissions, officials revealed the top four design contenders to replace the country’s flag. As opinions from New Zealanders on the proposed designs have been mixed and mostly negative, we have to ask – just what makes for a good flag design? Read Article »
"H" is for: Hexadecimal
Nyla Smith | Tuesday, September 08, 2015
Do you ever find yourself frustrated over color? For instance, do you know how to ensure that your brand colors will be consistent across every form of advertising that you use — from your print to your online marketing efforts? Here is a quick lesson that can help. Read Article »
Color: It's All in Your Head
Nyla Smith | Tuesday, June 09, 2015
Here's something to consider...if a tree falls in the forest and nobody is there to see it, did it have a color? There's no denying that color is all around us, but how we perceive it is all in the eye of the beholder. Read Article »
Pretty bird, pretty bird!
Nyla Smith | Thursday, June 09, 2011
Sometimes, if you call me up, you may hear a voice in the background. This voice may say "Drink your water", or "Xooma Worldwide", or "I love you", or...just shriek obnoxiously. (Yes, I love that.) Read Article »
The beauty of beans and rice (who knew?)
Nyla Smith | Monday, June 06, 2011
So I was cooking dinner the other day... a bean and rice dish. Started by sautéing a little onion, then added some brown rice. So far, not very impressive. But then again, I wasn't expecting anything impressive. The next steps were to add in some black beans, dark red kidney beans, garbanzo beans, and diced chilies. And when I did, it was... magic. Read Article »
That's just not my (team) color: red and gold
Nyla Smith | Friday, June 03, 2011