Tag: PR trends

Top 3 (free) graphic design tools of 2018

Clairemont InternBlog, Public Relations, , , , Leave a Comment on Top 3 (free) graphic design tools of 2018

With an increasing need for visual content, companies and organizations are becoming reliant on graphic designers and videographers to promote their campaigns. Luckily, there are dozens of free programs out there that can do the heavy lifting for you!

I scoured the interwebs to find the hottest design softwares that are available at no cost. I tested 10 different websites and programs to determine which three provide the best interface, toolset and quality. To accomplish this I spent about 20 to 30 minutes on each one to see what I could create. (Caveat: By no means am I a professional graphic designer; so please show some grace with my designs.)

easel.ly

Just as its name implies, easel.ly is a simple tool that focuses on graphics, shapes and colors. Its “drag-and-drop” feature makes adding images, shapes and graphics a breeze. The design tool’s best purpose is creating infographics. The website has hundreds of templates and samples to start, making the process quick and easy. You don’t even have to download anything, and everything is labeled very clearly. As with any free software, there is a premium version that gives you access to its entire library of templates and illustrations. If you are in need of a stat sheet or a quick poster, I would highly recommend it! easel.ly can be run right from your browser! (Not to be confused with ease.ly.)

GIMP

GNU Image Manipulation Program is an open-source graphics editor used primarily for photo editing, free-form drawing and reformatting images. GIMP looks pretty overwhelming at first with a lot of grey sidebar buttons and dozens of tiny tabs. However, every tool in the program is available with just a right click of the mouse! The software has so many different features that you could spend a whole day applying new filters, transformations, pathways, color scapes and more to your photos.

A variety of color applications and functions are offered in GIMP, which was my favorite part. While it may take a while to learn everything, the professional features available in GIMP make it a go-to for picture editing. You must download the software before using it.

Gravit Designer

I will finish the list with the most impressive software I encountered: Gravit Designer. Available directly in your browser, this all-in-one tool gives the user a wide range of creative space with an intuitive interface. The program is capable of graphics manipulation, creation and illustration. The screen is your digital playground in Gravit, and it was easy to find the tricks I wanted to employ. It has great functionality and allows you to develop shapes in a simple way. I would highly recommend using this for poster design, presentations and illustrating. It is available to download for any platform as well.

 

While these are my top three suggestions, the best program is the one YOU like the most! Below all are the programs I tried. Find the one that is most suited for you! Share your favorite programs with us on Twitter!

Cover Photo Credit: © [Redpixel] / Adobe Stock

Written by intern Nathan J. McDaniel, a senior at Western Carolina University.

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Real Estate: Trends to Watch in 2015

Jasmin SessomsBlog, Real Estate PR, , ,

The future of home design is looking more and more well-organized, compact and personalized. At Clairemont, we love our real estate clients, and we are well versed in master planned communities as well as the industry’s leading developers. Whether you are buying new or looking to spruce up your old home, here are a few tips from the team that we are watching as the hot trends for real estate in 2015.

Freestanding Tubs: Imagine the luxurious amenities of a spa-like experience in the comfort of your own home. Now, you can dip into your own freestanding tub after a long day at the office. Although they may evoke mental images of the Victorian age, the newest designs from companies like Kohler show modern twists to an age-old idea.

Heated Floors: Stepping out of a warm shower onto the cold tile bathroom floor is a thing of the past. Heat your bathroom floors and bask in the warmth and the comfort of your bathroom. Not only does radiant floor heating keep your feet warm, but it also ensures that the rest of your body will be toasty as well.

Open spaces: An open floor plan may feel like old news, but it’s proving to be a trend that is here to stay. Homeowners are knocking down barrier walls in their homes to offer larger spaces. Airy living rooms and open kitchens are all the rage for 2015.

Charging Stations: In this day and age, we are lost without our smart devices. With the size of our electronic devices shrinking and the huge explosion of Wi-Fi, the need for a separate home office is diminishing by the minute. Homeowners are seeking spaces for charging their devices conveniently all around their homes. The new trend: wall outlets that are catered to Apple chargers and Android devices alike. Change the way you think about sockets and outlets and have your home almost ready for the Jetsons.

Outdoor living: Private dog washing stations, outdoor showers and hot tubs are all trends exploding for 2015. Families are flocking to the idea of taking the living room outdoors and outfitting patios and porches by enhancing and utilizing the natural exterior space.

What new trend will you use to spruce up your home? What are some features that you can’t live without?

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Trends Tuesday: Doorstep Delivery

Cherith AndesBlog, Marketing, Trends, , , , , 1 Comment on Trends Tuesday: Doorstep Delivery

The trend kicked off circa 1910 with the Wells Fargo Wagon, a legendary red coach that hand-delivered goodies to America’s townsfolk. Nearly a century later, the doorstep delivery concept has emerged as one of the nation’s leading economic trends. America has shifted from the traditional brick-and-mortar shopping experience in favor of online subscription delivery services, a new business model that curates and tailors a box of items to fit your preferences. Best of all, your personalized package appears weekly on your porch, as if by magic. Voila.

Subscription Boxes: All the Rage
With manageable shipping charges and forgiving return policies, subscription boxes have permeated nearly every sector of retail. The stalwart Birch Box, for example, boasts nearly 800,000 active global subscribers who enjoy its grooming and lifestyle products. Pet owners pamper their pooches with customized collars and flavored toys from Bark Box, while Lego fans stock their arsenal with Brick Loot‘s specialty items. (Bonus tip: Check out this review from a special Clairemont friend, Pugnacious10.)

What’s the Draw?
What happened to the traditional haul to the mall? Our harried schedules combined with our waning attention spans drive consumers to seek instant gratification. But this burgeoning trend reveals even more about the American psyche. Forbes.com suggests that consumers may thrive off of the adrenaline of a weekly surprise or crave the ego boost of hand-picked packages.

Customize Your Com
Communication trends, too, must respond to the public’s yen for customized experiences. Apple’s app, News360, allows users to hand-craft a newsfeed, and Facebook personalizes its infamous ads based on the user’s recent internet searches. (No doubt my newsfeed will be jammed with Loot Crate‘s promos after this blog.) Our audiences won’t settle for the traditional “spray and pray” public relations methods. From media pitches to tweets, effective communication stands on the three-legged stool of specificity, individuality and tailored timing.

For a Little Retail Therapy…
Then again, some of us just plain like to shop. And if that’s the case, check out these top 20 box picks. Our favorite, however, is our own client’s freshness in a box . Papa Spud’s is a North Carolina CSA (Community Supported Agricultural) service that delivers local, seasonal groceries straight to your door—from fresh produce, dairy and meat to granola, chocolate and jams.

Timely AND tasty!

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