When it comes to the qualities of what makes a good photo, you may expect “clear and crisp” to be one of them. 

But surprisingly, it’s not!

In fact, in some cases, blurry images can convey a lot more than clear ones can. But that doesn’t mean you should go overboard though.

Don’t know when to use blurry images in web design? Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. Read on to find out more.

To Highlight the Foreground

Is there something important happening in the foreground? For instance, maybe you want to highlight 2 businesspeople talking with one another. Or maybe you want to showcase the model wearing your dress.

Either way, you want all eyes on the foreground. What better way to make that happen than to blur out all the important elements (such as the background)? That way, you ensure the subject you want people to pay attention to is front and center.

To Indicate Action

With your image, you want to tell a story. And if you’re capturing something that’s always in motion (such as an athlete or a racecar), you want that action to translate through the photo.

A great way to do this is to blur the image. You can take a photo that’s completely clear and use the “blur image” function to make it appear as if the subject is in motion. This can add some depth to your picture.

To Put Text Over the Image

It’s always more eyecatching to put text on an image instead of having it stand alone. However, sometimes, the image can be too “busy,” and this can cause your text to become lost in the picture, even if you try out different fonts, colors, and sizes.

What you can do is blur the image. That way, it softens everything in it, but the viewer can still tell what’s supposed to be there. As a result, your text will stand out much better.

To Make a Photo More Dramatic

Let’s face it—some photos you take just aren’t very interesting. You might want to use it for your website, but fear it may be too boring looking.

Sometimes, all it takes a blur tool to perk up the image. For instance, a person standing in front of a field may not be too interesting. But once you blur the image, it can look quite nice for your website.

Or maybe you have a photo where the sun is peeking through a window and its curtains. Blur it, and it instantly becomes more dramatic.

Using Blurry Images in Web Design Is Definitely OK

As you can see, there are many uses for blurry images in web design. While it may inherently feel wrong to intentionally have blurry images, keep in mind that it actually makes for a stronger picture. So long as you take our advice and use the blurring tool right, then you’ll have the best photos possible.

For more information on web design, please check out the rest of our blogs.

Are you in the process of starting a new business? If so, you’ll want to create a visual symbol that makes your brand immediately recognizable to customers and sets you apart from your competition. A high-quality logo can help you accomplish that.

Unclear about what goes into a good logo design? Not sure what trends to chase, or what you should include or exclude to create a  great one? We’re here to help!

In this article, we’re covering 2020 logo trends and best practices you should know. So you can create a logo that’s fresh yet familiar and makes people want to engage with your brand.

2020 Logo Design Trends, 5 to Keep an Eye On

Need some fresh inspiration to create your business’s logo? Here are 5 major trends that can help you start off on the right foot.

Simplicity is King

One of the longest-running trends in logo design is simplicity. That’s because simplicity is impactful. Customers are much more likely to remember something simple and clear than a cluttered visual that’s hard to comprehend.

Simple logos are also a lot more scalable. The more visual elements you add to a logo, the harder it is to discern once it’s presented on a different platform in a different size.

One way to embrace minimalism and simplicity in your design is by incorporating simple geometric shapes. Lines, squares, dots, and curves can make a design feel cleaner, clearer, and simpler. They can also provide an often-needed balance to your design.

Animation

One of the newest trends in logo design is animation. It adds a layer of whimsy to any design and can make a brand seem friendlier and more easy-going. To take it a step further, add a cartoon-style layer to the logo to up the whimsy and playfulness of your brand.

Retro is Back

Retro style logos are officially back in 2020. That means retro patterns, color schemes, and fonts. These style elements can give your brand a laidback and approachable vibe.

Specific Colors

This year we’ll also see a number of brands incorporating specific shades of color into their brand. One trending color will be mustard, which has already been popping up in a variety of fashion and design company logos.

That’s because mustard is a warm color that denotes maturity and sophistication in a friendly way. It’s also an effective alternative to gold for any brands looking for a higher-end logo.

Mint will also play a more prominent part in logos come 2020. Mint can help your brand feel more uplifting and fresher with its soft green hue. It’s also versatile. It’s fresh and fun nature makes it great for a variety of brands, including health and wellness, lifestyle, and home.

Lilac, while already popular, will continue to be a trending color in 2020 as well.

Responsive Design

UX design is on everyone’s mind now when it comes to design. This emphasis on user-friendly, functional design will most likely extend to logos. Responsive logos reflect how advanced a company is within the digital space and make branded experiences clear and clean regardless of platform or device. By creating a responsive logo, you can guarantee that your brand always looks polished and professional.

Ready to Create Your Logo?

Creating a visual representation of your brand can seem tricky and complicated. But it doesn’t have to be. By checking out these 2020 logo trends, you can get the inspiration you need to create a dream logo with ease.

Did you find the tips and trends in this article helpful? Need more advice? Check out the rest of our website for more insights.

Did you know that 85% of consumers buy from a certain brand because of the colors used in their marketing materials?

So, if you were thinking of using your favorite color for your logo, think again, as that might not be the best strategy.

Keep reading as we go through the meaning of some of the most commonly used colors in marketing and other tips that’ll be useful for creating your logo. By the end, you’ll have all the tools you need to pick the best colors for a logo!

1. Blue

Blue invokes calmness and confidence. It makes the brand look intelligent, safe and trustworthy. If you want your logo to look professional as can be, this is your color.

Popular for: IT and healthcare

Not so popular for: Food and fashion

2. Red

We all know that red is the color of passion and seduction. This color is often used by marketers because it creates a sense of urgency in the consumer, which many times leads to sales.

Popular for: Sports and food

Not so popular for: Transportation services and baby products

3. Green

As environmental awareness grows, so does the usage of green by brands. This color represents nature, peace, and freshness, and it’s definitely the one to choose if you want to create an eco-friendly brand.

Popular for: Health brands and energy

Not so popular for: Car brands and fashion

4. Orange

If you want your brand to have a friendly image, you should make orange your logo’s main color. It symbolizes energy and boldness, and it’s the ideal one if you want to appeal to young people.

Popular for: Food and entertainment

Not so popular for: Finance and fashion

6. Yellow

Finally, yellow is a very optimistic color, so it’s the way to go if you want to create a joyful, warm image of your brand. This color is also very celebratory and action-oriented.

Popular for: Entertainment and food

Not so popular for: IT and fashion

Choosing the Best Colors for a Logo: Two Extra Tips

As you can see, there are entire definitions behind each color, and that’s something you can’t ignore when designing a logo. But there are other tips you can use in the process:

• Don’t stick to one color

Choosing a palette will give you a lot more freedom when creating other visual pieces. If you’re not sure what other tones go with your main one, simply generate a color palette from images that are connected to your brand.

• Experiment, experiment, experiment

Even if the first logo you come up with looks good, try it out in other colors. This way you can also show your different creations to other people and ask for their opinion. Remember, many heads think better than one!

• Keep it balanced

Too many strong colors and your logo will be overwhelming. Too many neutral ones and no one will notice it. The secret is in finding a balance between the two.

So, What Color Will It Be?

Don’t worry – you don’t have to make the decision right away. But now you are well-equipped to choose the best colors for a logo, so get thinking!

If you’d like to read more articles on how to create the perfect logo, make sure to keep exploring our blog.

When you think about health and safety, what do you think of?

You probably think of that warm and cozy feeling of security. You feel protected. Like a guardian angel is watching over you.

So how do you convey this message in your health and safety logo when trying to bring in new clients for your training business? You want quality.

Keep reading, we’ve got three tips to take your logo from “ugh” to “ugh-mazing”.

Your Health and Safety Logo

Shape up

When you think of health and safety logs, you may think of crosses.

The most famous example of this is the Red Cross.

You have also seen a similar looking green cross. The difference is the green cross is a universal sign for life and represents professional healthcare and the red cross is copyright-protected. So you cannot use the red cross without permission.

The International Standards Organization recommends using a white cross on a green background to represent first aid.

Origins

The cross does have religious significance and has for nearly two thousand years. However, the use in first aid didn’t come about until the 1800s.

It was adopted as a way to communicate with combatants that those who wore the cross were on the battlefield to administer first aid and help wounded soldiers to safety.

It quickly because known as a way of saying “Please don’t shoot”. Here we are, nearly two centuries later, and the symbol has found its way into almost every first aid and healthcare logo that exists today.

Dare to be different. While using a cross is perfectly acceptable, make your logo stand out with something newer and bolder.

Colors

Red, green, and white are used in the everyday health and safety logo for a reason. But they’re also boring.

Your logo is part of your brand. Do you want your brand to be washed away in a sea of green and red crosses with every other training business out there?

Use yellow and gold to depict clarity and warmth like The American Society of Safety Engineers.

Oranges and blues are being used by tech start-ups across the board. Think about Firefox, Amazon, Walmart, IBM.

Not only do these color schemes look great when paired together, they also provide part of their brand message. Blue symbolizes dependability, trust, and strength while orange represents cheerful confidence and friendliness.

The combination says, “We’re here for you and have great customer service!”

Throw in a touch of green with your health and safety logo and your brand will scream the right message to your customers.

Utilize What Isn’t There

Use your negative and white space in a health and safety logo. Crosses and circular life rafts are boring and dated.

Think of how NBC uses the peacock and how Fex Ex uses the arrow in their logo.

Find ways to stick in the classic symbols of health and safety without actually putting them into the logo itself!

Logo creation can be an expensive and tedious task. Luckily, we’ve got you covered. If you’re having issues with visualization, check out our free logo maker tool.