Inklings Feb15: Fonts, Packaging Trends, Ad Inspiration, and Perfectionism

Highlights from this Month’s Collection of Tips and Resources to Inspire Creative Small Business.

This month features Adobe TypeKit updates, packaging trends for designers, print ad inspiration, and help for perfectionists everywhere.

Awesome Adobe Resources

If you subscribe to Adobe Creative Cloud, you have access to a variety of great fonts. Adobe TypeKit just added three new font foundry partners, which means about 300 new font styles. Read all about it. They will also soon be adding WebINK fonts to Typekit.

And speaking of Typekit, Adobe recently updated their three plans, depending on how many fonts you use on a regular basis. The free option allows you to sync 20 fonts at once.

Cool Packaging Concepts

Packaging trends come and go. Here’s a professional packaging designer’s look at 4 packaging design trends for 2015.

And speaking of packaging trends, I have thought for a few years now that Black Forest should update their Gummies packaging. This article (expired link) discusses the recent re-brand and refreshed packaging.

Design for Print Resources

Looking for some creative advertising inspiration? Check out these ads.

Shutterstock has recently created a look at 2015 graphic design trends based on searches for images, videos, sound tracks, etc. on their website. For example, searches for “line icon” increased 921% in 2014.

Productivity Tips and Tools

I had a professor who once said, “Aim for completion, not perfection.” If perfectionism is hindering your creativity, get the Imperfectionist Manifesto!

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about proper posture and vision care as I spend many hours sitting in front of my computer. This article is a good reminder of looking away from the screen frequently (see the Mayo Clinic’s suggested 20-20-20 rule in the article). I know it’s true, but it’s so hard to look away when I’m on a roll!

That’s all for this month. If you have tried any of these tips, or if you have anything to add, please use the Comments section below.