math

Everyday Uses for Fractions

Certain topics you learn in school have obvious practical applications. For example, you use language every day. It is easy to understand how a good grasp of grammar will help you succeed in interviews, writing and communicating with others. The practicality of other subjects may seem more obscure, though. If you ever sat in math class learning fractions and wondered when you would ever use that information in real life, here is your answer.

Shopping

You walk into your favorite store and see a huge banner from across the room. It’s your lucky day, because those shoes you have been eyeing are on sale for 25% off. How do you know how much you are saving, though? Without fractions, you are going into the sale blind. You may get up to the counter and be sorely disappointed at the total amount due. To make a decision that fits your budget and helps you avoid the embarrassment of having to return something you can’t afford to the shelves, you need to know how to multiply fractions. If you understand that 25% and 1/4 are the same number, you can easily calculate how much the shoes will cost. It may be harder to multiply by .25 in your head than it is to multiply by 1/4 (that is, divide by 4). Fractions don’t just help you save money; they also help you figure out exactly how much you are saving.

Cooking

You decide to make your favorite recipe that your grandmother gave you for your significant other. As it is written, however, the recipe makes enough to feed your entire extended family and still have leftovers. As much as you enjoy the dish, you don’t want to have so much of it that you are eating it for a week. When you only need 1/3 of the amount the recipe makes, multiplying fractions is a skill that comes in handy.

Understanding how to simplify fractions can also help when you’re doubling a recipe. If you want to bring twice as many cupcakes to a party than the recipe makes, you multiply the ingredients by two. It seems simple enough, doesn’t it? When 3/8 of a teaspoon becomes 6/8, however, you are less likely to lose count of the number of scoops you add to the batter if you know you can simplify that number to 3/4.

Sharing

You go out to eat with a group of friends. Four of you are single, and two people bring their significant others along, bringing your total party number to 8. When the bill comes, you decide to divide it evenly. It sounds like easy math until you discover that one of the couples is paying together, and the other couple is covering another person in honor of her birthday. There’s no need to panic if you understand fractions. The first couple pays 1/4 of the bill, the second couple pays 3/8 of the bill, and the remaining three people each pay 1/8 of the bill.

Although it may not seem obvious when you’re sitting in math class, understanding fractions can be very useful. You may get a lot of opportunities to use fractions in your everyday life.

home remodeling

Home Office Remodeling Tips

Having a home office is not something everyone can boast about, but those who do have it know how amazing it is. Here you can focus on all your to-dos and handle different work obligations. If this is where you spend a lot of time, you should make it comfortable and easy on the eyes. If you already work here, why not enjoy it as much as possible? You should know about some ways you can decorate it and organize it to make it perfect.

Let a lot of natural light in the room

Instead of sterile lighting that looks rather cold and exhausting, why not let yourself enjoy the natural light while you are working? You will feel better. You can place a big window where your desk is and you will be able to see everything more clearly. Nothing is better than sunlight. It also provides you with some vitamin D, so it has more than one function. An office that is well-lit is also the one that is more productive and cheerful, and you will enjoy spending time here.

How about thinking chic?

Yes, the space should be functional, but why not also think about making it look fashionable? It should reflect your own personality, and this is where you should get inspired the most. A wall can be either black or any color that is dark, while furniture can be light-colored. Above your desk, you can put a chandelier that looks glamorous. It will feel so good adding a little glitz.

Add plants and breathe some life into it

Your office should be clean, practical and nice-looking for sure, but if you also add plants, it will definitely make it look rich and full of life, not to mention that it is healthy for you. Why not bring some nature into the space where you work? Maybe it helps you concentrate better and produce more quality things because the green might make you feel more cozy and relaxed. Clay planters sound like a good idea because they can perfectly add dimension to the room.

 

remodeling tips

Use nice artwork that speaks to you

Some vibrant art can really energize the space, no matter if it comes in the form of a painting or a decorative sculpture. When you see something you like and choose it for your office, it can be motivating and all the work you have to do will feel less frustrating. Also, you can create your own artwork and place it how you like it. There are many inspiring images all over the internet, just have a few clicks and you will see.

Find someone competent to handle the electrical work

For all the electrical work you need done in your home office, you should know a capable Sydney electrician. Since you will need to install and maintain the wiring and make everything work well, choose someone you find competent enough, and do not try anything yourself. You will need your electrical system and equipment fixed and upgraded if you want your home office to feel cozy. Leave all this up to a professional, while you focus more on the design of the space.

Your home office is a place that should inspire you and boost your creativity. That is the reason why it should look and feel as best as possible. Here you get down to business but a lot of your free time can be spent here, too. If you decorate it well and organize it how you like it, any kind of work will be even more enjoyable in this chamber.

Typography

Typography: the psychology behind the age-old tradition

Typography is an age-old tradition, stretching back as far as ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. For centuries, people have been expressing themselves with written words, and now many modern brands rely on them for gaining and retaining customers. Typography can become the first association that a consumer thinks of in relation to a brand, and in fashion, it is often printed inside of their garment, which conjures up an emotional connection between the consumer and the brand. So, any changes that companies choose to make can alter a customer’s perception, and for this reason the psychology of typography is an important matter. Let’s find out more.

Conveying the personality of your brand

A lot can be captured through the style of your brand’s typography, and it can even be used to convey the personality of your company. Your copy should be captivating, but the visual aspects of any writing also need to stand out to a potential customer. Begin your typography psychology analysis with looking at the style of your font- Is it a classic serif style? These include Baskerville, Georgia and Times New Roman, this category is timeless and professional, finished with traditional decorative lines and they convey an air of respectability. The sans serif choices such as Helvetica, Arial and Verdana are more straight to the point, implying an air of modernity and stability. Artsy handwriting can look elegant and represent creativity, and to create this kind of image you’ll need a script font such as Lebster or Lucinda; but, it’s always important to keep it legible and consider it in relation to the message you want to get across. For example, a sports clothing website with joined up handwriting style typography wouldn’t look quite right, but perhaps fine dining eateries’ first port of call for menu printing wouldn’t be Comic Sans MS. If you want to go all-out 21st century modern, choose Eurostyle, Politica or Futura, and show your audience why you are at the forefront of your industry with progressive typography. Your font will contribute to your overall typography aesthetic, and it should result in a well-rounded, on-brand appearance. Maintaining this is also important, as failure to keep order among your typography can make your customer feel disconnected from your brand, as cluttered, numerous fonts dilute your overall presence.

The formatting of your typography can determine your success

As Spanish fashion retailer Zara recently discovered, the formatting of your typography can make or break your success. The brand gave their classic logo a refresh, dramatically condensing the exaggerated sans letters and introducing a bolder, rounder finish. The makeover received a staunch response on social media, leaving many with a new-found sense of unfamiliarity towards the brand. The particular format was a style pioneered by Harper Bazaar in the 1990s, but one twitter user likened the new look to how they feel when ‘squeezing into their clothes’; showing how the change in typography provoked a customer response.  All achieved by some simple kerning. A similar event caused outcry, as Burberry unveiled a new logo back in 2018, an adaptation which at first glance appeared to ditch historic ties in favour of modern corporate simplicity. The reformat was a four-week project headed up by famed designer Peter Saville, which some people felt was reflected in the hasty, overly-simplistic design. The old format had been untouched for nearly two decades, and its new notions of minimalism brought the brand up to date. Key factors for formatting are spacing and size, as these are essentially going to dictate how ‘readable’ your typography is. Format can be reflective of character, and if there are any particular attributes that you want to associate with your brand, then implementing them into your formatting can be a great idea to help build your unique presence. Also, ensuring that you have enough whitespace is vital, as having too little can make your typography difficult to decipher. The formula for success is simply to strike a balance between these elements, while also staying true to your brand and all it encases.

Colour creates the first impression of the product

When it comes to colour, choosing the right one is key. There is an age-old understanding that customers enjoy red and yellow the most, as they depict both abruptness and warmth simultaneously. In fact, between 62%-90% of first impressions of a product are decided by the colours of the brand, showing just how much they can set the tone. Therefore, colours are an integral part of promoting successful customer journeys. Not only is colour an emotional trigger, it can also be the key for customers to be able to identify your product against others on the market. Some gendered trends have also appeared which could determine your brand’s palette, with men tending to prefer bold colours and women being drawn in by pastel hues. Of course, certain colours have specific associations. Blue is seen as a peaceful colour, and green is a lucky shade — so why not transform the fate of your typography with a splash of either? Black is notoriously corporate and classic, with other connotations including wisdom and masculinity. If you are considering adding a fill to your typography, then choose wisely and always keep in mind that it should not be a challenge for a user to read — there’s a time and a place to go for an all-out rainbow.

So, if you are looking to mix things up a bit, don’t be too hasty. Your typography choices are rooted in many factors, from colour to font style. Find a combination of these which captures your brand name and message in a way which is true to purpose.

 

Article provided by leading menu printing company, Where The Trade Buys.

 

Sources:

https://getflywheel.com/layout/psychology-of-typography/

https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/2019/01/223060/zara-new-logo-reactions

https://www.adweek.com/creativity/burberry-gave-a-famed-designer-4-weeks-to-redesign-its-logo-and-heres-what-we-got/

https://www.impactbnd.com/blog/why-color-and-typography-are-critical-to-your-brand-infographic

home-office

4 Reasons To Take Time Off Work

Work can easily become our main focus in life. Although it is clearly important, it shouldn’t be everything, and if it becomes the only thing we think about, then it might be time to step back and reassess. Sometimes it becomes absolutely essential to take a break from work for other reasons, and as soon as you feel that you are no longer as productive or efficient as you once were, you might want to use up some vacation days. Here are some of the reasons to do this.

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id_card

The Best Security ID Card Software for Your System

Choosing the right software to fit your security ID card printing system can be a challenge – especially after you’ve already taken the time to pick out the perfect printer and accessories. In both situations, it’s always a good idea to get some help from security solutions experts who can provide everything you need to know about ID card printers and the software required to run them. In the meantime, if you want to get a basic overview of a few different criteria that might help you decide, then you’ve come to the right place!

Mac Versus PC

Before you even think about what you want to achieve with your security ID card printing software, you’ve got to be sure that the software package you purchase will be compatible with the computers you use at your place of work.

While Windows computers are far more common for home users, Mackintosh computers are still preferred by professionals in many industries – so it makes sense that at least some security ID card printers are built for Mac users. If you’re a Mac user, then you probably already own one of the 5 Mac compatible ID card printer systems that are currently widely in use, which include the DTC1250e, the Fargo HDP5000, the Fargo DTC4500e, the EvolisZenius, and the Evolis Primacy ID card printing systems. In that case, you’ll need Mac compatible software to match, such as Secure ASP CardPresso ID card design software.

Security and Design

First and foremost, the security ID card software that you’ll use with your new printer should allow you to design and print the type of security cards that you need for your business. Since the printer takes care of most of the work regarding security features, your main concern should be that the designing tools are easy to use and are able to accommodate the types of cards used by your security ID card printer.

A Range of Software Options

No matter the brand, security ID card software tends to be offered in different editions depending on price range and how many features you’re interested in utilizing. At their most basic, these programs only offer minimal control over design and limited other capabilities. At their most advanced, security ID card software can come equipped with complicated professional-standard graphic design software and other useful features, such as unlimited record keeping, personnel database capabilities, security technology encoding, face-finding photo features, and more!

Advanced Designing Features

An employee with exceptional design skills will be able to put a basic software edition to its full potential in crafting surprisingly nuanced ID cards; however, usually it’s a better idea to match your software capabilities to the level of security ID card printer that you’ve purchased.

If you haven’t purchased a security card ID printer yet, then you might also consider inquiring to your security solutions provider about whether they offer complete security systems, which can help make the entire process easier on the consumer.

Finding the right design and employee management software to suit your security ID card printing system will depend on the needs of your company. If you’re looking for a good software package for starters, go with CardPresso, or better yet, contact your security ID card distributor for further advice!

customer

A guide to connecting to your customers with colour

Making an impact with the visuals of your marketing piece, be it a pull up banner or a brochure,will determine the success of your campaign. Colour and design go hand in hand — and according to studies, each hueevokes a different emotion, which could beanything from urgency to trust. Considering some experiments imply that colour can dictate how long we are able to remember an offer, it’s clear knowing how to use in marketing is important.

 

Want to learn more? If so, take a read through our marketing colour psychology guide for tips…

 

Use colour in campaigns to communicate emotionally

Colourhas long been linked to psychology, but more recently colour has been connected to industries such as marketing and interior design.An experiment commented on by Canberra-based, Content Group, found that 90% of snap decisions about products are based on colour only.

 

Does your business target a more female or male dominated audience? If so, a study published in the Journal of Retailing found that malesthink that sales are greater in value when promoted in red rather than black. Conversely, fewer women believed the same. Also, purple was considered a second-favourite colour for female respondents in a colour study while it was the second-least favourite among males. Equally, women prefer softer hues, while stronger shades are the hue-of-choice for men.

 

Colour psychology demonstrates that you can aim to generate a bigger a response if you use colour wisely.Use yellow to catch the eye of a passer by in your store window and red to signify discount prices — this is because, apparently, red evokes ‘urgency’ and indirectly encourages you to act fastand so, is good to boost a sale. Red and yellow are warm shades, and according to an experiment, warm colours are better at staying in a person’s mind than cool colours (such as blue). Could you use warm oranges, reds and yellows to keep your brand logo or newest promotional offer in the mind of someone driving by one of your billboard ads?

 

Consider blending colours together as another useful tactic when it comes to your designing a new campaign. Another study found that opposingcoloursenhanced readability levels — vital if you want your pull-up bannersto remain readable from a greater distance than usual.

A personal understanding of colour can be enhanced from experiences and culture according to Art Lovers Australia. Although this may be true and not all consumers will be affected in the same way, colour psychology has been researched multiple times and is worth bearing in mind to boost your future campaigns.

Successful brands and colour

Around nine out of ten shoppers claim a colour is a major reason for buying and that colour boosts the ability to recognise a brand by approximately 80%, states research compiled by Kissmetrics.

 

Here are some examples of the successful brands andthe emotions associated with the colours they employ:

 

Colour Effect Logo
Yellow Hopefulness and warmth [yellow tail] and McDonalds
Green Growth and relaxation Starbucks and Spotify
Pink Romance and femininity Barbie and Very
Purple Creativity and intelligence Cadbury and Hallmark
Black Power and luxury Chanel and Adidas
Orange Confidence and happiness Nickelodeon and Fanta
Red Energy and excitement Coca Cola and Arnott’s
Blue Trust and safekeeping Facebook and hp

 

Starbucks provides a good example of a strategic approach, by choosing green and evoking relaxation in their coffee houses. And has Arnott’s got it right by evoking excitement to encourage its consumers to by its treats, like Tim Tam? Perhaps, and you could do the same. According to June Mcleod, author of Colour Psychology Today: “One of the greatest assets and one of the easiest ways to sway decision or attract an emotive response — or alienate a consumer — is through colour.”

 

Is colourresponsible for brand identification? Eight out of ten people believe so.Take a look at the colour red and the power Coca Cola has had with it, even changing the colour of Santa Claus!To help customers build familiarity with your brand, make sure your logo reflects what your offer and the persona you want to adopt.

Inject some colour into your marketing strategy, it’s never too late

Danish beer company, Carlsberg, rebranded itself perfectly. Opting to use mainly white in its Carlberg Export packaging and altering its once-green bottles to brown, Carlsberg enjoyed a sales increase of 10% in just 12 weeks.

 

A few highlights to driving success with colour?

  • Use red and yellow to grab attention.
  • With onlyseven seconds to make a bold first impression, use opposing colours to boost clarity and readability.
  • Think about if you sell to mainly men or women and remember the above research about different colourperceptions…
  • Determine how you want to be recognised as a brand and tweak your campaigns accordingly —include orange to inject fun into your ads or use sleek black to infuse your promotions with an air of luxury.

 

Hopefully you’re now convinced about the power of colour and ready to boost your marketing success today!

 

Sources:

http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0258042X1103600206

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022435913000031

https://neilpatel.com/blog/color-psychology/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2235253

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4347302/

https://www.businessinsider.com/only-7-seconds-to-make-first-impression-2013-4?IR=T

work_look

Solutions for Managing A Setback At Work

Life is full of unexpected turns of events that you don’t always see coming. However, you’ve got to learn to manage them and keep going.This can especially be the case in your place of employment. There are likely to be challenges that you’re going to encounter on a regular basis. It could be anything from not doing so well on a project to having to take unexpected time off because you aren’t feeling well. The good thing is that there is always a way to get back on track no matter what the setback is. See solutions for managing setbacks at work below.
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marketing_strategy

Colour psychology and marketing strategies

Colour can massively influence the success of a marketing campaign. According to multiple scientific and psychological studies, each shade creates a different emotion in the viewer — from urgency to buy now, to trusting in a brand. With other experiments suggesting that colour can determine how long we can recall an offer or brand logo, it’s clear that being colour-savvy when designing a marketing campaign is essential.
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mobile apps

Maximize Engagement With Video

Did you know that 72 hours of video are uploaded to Youtube every 60 seconds? Or that more video content is uploaded every 30 days than the major U.S. television networks have created in 30 years? How about that half of all video content is viewed on mobile?

Now more than ever, video plays an important part in any marketing or engagement strategy. Its ability to deliver complex information efficiently is unparalleled, and the uptick in viewers’ information retention is enormous: according to Wordstream, viewers retain 95% of a message when it’s delivered via video versus only around 10% when a message is just text.

User engagement is one of the largest hurdles to be overcome when developing, launching, and running a mobile app. With literally millions of apps to choose from between Google Play and the Apple App Store, getting users’ attention is crucial. And even when people do choose your app, Localytics has found that 20% of apps are used only once. Your app might be innovative, crisp, and well-executed, but it all means nothing if nobody chooses to use it more than once or twice. That’s why harnessing the power of video to communicate the value of your app is so important: any savvy marketer will tell you that it’s cheaper to retain existing users than it is to acquire new ones, so video represents the most potent bang for your buck when it comes to reminding users of all that your app has to offer. Using video in combination with other strategies, such as in-app messaging or marketing on social media platforms will help you educate your existing users as to the different benefits that will come from using your app, keeping them happy and engaged.

video engagement

When you make the decision to begin work on a mobile app, one of the best choices you can make is to find a mobile app developer to incorporate video in diverse ways from the beginning. Go with developers who will engage with the entire process of your app’s development, from design straight through to launch, rather than just the initial development phase.

App development agencies like Toronto’s Guaraná Technologies, for example, pride themselves on being involved in every step of building a successful app for their clients — meaning that they better understand what your app can deliver to users, and will be perfectly positioned to help leverage the potential of video to attract a user base and drive buzz. Your videos don’t need to be big-budget Hollywood productions, either. Eighty-five percent of videos viewed on Facebook are viewed entirely without sound, and it has been shown that videos under two minutes get the most engagement — so don’t automatically assume that making video part of your strategy means a huge hit to your bottom line. Visit their blog for helpful tips and information for app development and learn how video can help you attract more engaged users.

Right now, online video accounts for half of all mobile traffic. There’s a good reason for that: we like video. It’s effective. It’s easy to engage with. It’s fun. And there’s no reason not to take advantage of those qualities! Whether you’re helping your existing users maximize their experience or drumming up excitement in new audiences, video should be one of your go-to tools.