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: }
Reading the Signs: Design on the Road
Nyla Smith | Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Want a surefire way to get graphic designers all riled up? Replace a good typeface with a bad one… all over America. Read Article »
Fonts That Make Me Giddy: Rotundus
Nyla Smith | Tuesday, January 05, 2016
Modern and elegant, this condensed typeface feels classy and almost timeless. And yet, as all giddiness-inducing fonts do, it has a style all its own. Read Article »
"K" is for: Kerning
Nyla Smith | Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Let me let you in on a little trick of professional graphic designers. This little last-minute tweak can make a huge difference—and it’s a key factor separating the amateurs from the experts. Read Article »
"I" is for: Italic (Faux vs. True)
Nyla Smith | Tuesday, September 15, 2015
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a larger-than-life illustration of "when bad italics happen to good fonts." This Leaning Tower Phenomenon, if you will, often occurs as a byproduct of good people who just don't know any better. Read on to make sure you're not committing this typographical sin. Read Article »
Fonts That Make Me Giddy: Ropa Soft Pro
Nyla Smith | Tuesday, June 30, 2015
It's all about the curves. When you need a bold, yet feminine typeface, look no further than Ropa Soft Pro. No hard edges here, folks. Read Article »
Fonts That Make Me Giddy: Catalina
Nyla Smith | Tuesday, November 04, 2014
Hand drawn fonts are all the rage right now, and I love it. In a digital age where everything is shiny and technical and precisely perfect, it is nice to be reminded of the freedom, the quirkiness, the imperfect humanity of the handmade. Read Article »
Font vs Typeface — What's the difference?
Nyla Smith | Tuesday, August 12, 2014
If you're around a graphic designer for any length of time, you may notice them using the word "typeface". Smart guy (or gal) that you are, you eventually figure out that's just another word for "font". Oh, but you're wrong. (Or are you?) Read Article »
One of the best modern sans serif fonts - PF Handbook Pro Extra Thin
Nyla Smith | Thursday, June 30, 2011
My sans serif typeface of the moment? PF Handbook Pro. It's cool, calm, and collected, with just enough quirkiness to make it lovable. (Kinda like myself, no?) Read Article »
Fonts That Make Me Giddy: Cotoris
Nyla Smith | Monday, January 24, 2011