How does one gauge how effective a POS system is? Or rather, how does one design an effective POS system?

The following are design principles used to create an effective POS system. Software developers can use these as a guideline on creating the said system, while business owners can use these as a guideline on choosing the best POS system for their business.

1.)    An effective POS system meets the business’ needs – Some POS systems are generic, or developed for businesses from all industries. There are some POS systems that are customized to cater to a particular business’ needs. An effective POS system, whether it’s generic or customized, should be able to meet the needs of the business. The needs of the business are determined by asking the following questions:

1. What aspect of the business needs automation?
2. Does the integrity of my business need protection?
3. What does a business need to speed up manual processes?

2.)    An effective POS system is secure – POS systems are usually built with both a CLIENT and SERVER. The clients are systems used by employees below managerial level to record transactions or input data. The data is then saved on the server. Client-side systems have limited functionality, since they are only allowed to input data into the server. In order to edit the data, one needs to access the server. This is one way of guaranteeing a POS system’s security. A POS system, which is not built on this topology nor have security features, is not worth looking at.

3.)    An effective system lets you keep track of consumer behaviour – The strongest part of any POS system is it allows you keep track of your sales on a daily basis, which easily translates to a business owner’s capability of studying their consumers. For example, clothing stores and boutiques may have a lot of items sold on a daily basis, but there will always be a couple of items that get sold more than the others, and the POS system will be able to pinpoint which products are the strongest in a business’ display.

These are the principles that help gauge how effective a POS system is. Designers usually follow these principles to create a strong system which will be a powerful weapon for business owners.

You can’t teach good design, that’s for sure, but it never hurts to learn a few new tricks, or to simply make the most of your talents. To help you with your creative success, here’s fifteen ways to be more successful as a designer.

Consider metaphors.

Great ideas can stem from using themes and metaphors. Basing a site design around the idea of a school, for example, can open up a whole avenue of ideas. A great design works because the theme houses and conveys the content seamlessly.

Don’t take all day to brainstorm.

It always helps to throw ideas around with a colleague or friend (as long as he knows what he’s doing). Try to have a couple of short sessions of brainstorming rather than a massive one as ideas can quickly go cold.

Get off that computer!

Sometimes it’s best to just have a break. Leaving the computer can seem like going on holiday in rush hour, but it usually helps if you just take a 10 minute break and get some fresh air. If you can’t do that, try listening to some music, or taking your jumper off.

Join a forum.

A lot of creative designers work from home, but that doesn’t mean they can’t talk to anyone. There are a lot of really helpful and talented people out there willing to have a chat about designs; you just need to find them.  Scour the internet for communities where you can feed off each other’s input.

Think about your brand.

Try going to a few courses on branding, as brand thinking is vital to developing the way you think. Keep your ideas squeaky simple, and 9 times out of 10 they will work. Thinking in terms of branding means you can develop key words to stem your ideas from.  Complexity just doesn’t work.

Use a sketchbook.

Always start with ideas that you’ve scribbled down in your sketchbook. Whenever you get an idea just make sure you get it down on paper. This always helps as whenever you’re stuck at a later date, you don’t have to go out and buy another book, just refer to your own! Don’t just keep it to ideas though, put URLs, book titles, words, and all the sketches down that you can. It will develop into your creative mind, on paper.

Get your specs straight.

Always ensure you know the media you’re going to be using at the start of working on a project. Knowing that there’s going to be photography involved means you may need to think about locating a shoot. 3D may mean getting some help to make it look that little bit better. Taking it to print in the last minute is also not advised: things never usually go as planned! So ensure you know the scale of production you’re going to be dealing with, and research the printing processes you’re going to use.

Draw a map.

It helps to visualize the brief. Highlight key words and phrases, and jot them down in your trusty sketchbook. Then see how these ideas could link up by drawing lines between them and branching out from those core ideas. Pretty soon you’ll have enough on the page to sketch out some decent ideas.

Rough it out.

Once you have “THE idea”, and it’s on paper, try putting it together at low resolution on the computer. This way you can see what you might need to rethink or improve to get the job done well. At this stage you don’t need to worry about perfect dimensions or colours, just see how it goes.

Take a shower.

No, not because your odor is putting your colleagues off, but because (apparently) running water increases brain productivity. Try not to bring the issues with you, but spend time in a place that you feel really comfortable in can greatly help those ideas flow.

Stay on top of the latest happenings.

Don’t let yourself fall behind the times of design and technology: they’re both fast moving industries. On the other hand, don’t go following the latest fads just because everyone else is.  Keep yourself updated by visiting sites such as Smashing Magazine and DesignIsKinky. However, our personal favorite for up-to-date design is this absolutely mind-blowing awesome site called Liquidicity.

Keep to web standards.

It always looks like you mean business when your site is 100% standards compliant. However, some browsers still don’t always like to play ball. If it works and looks the same in all browsers then you have done your job, no matter how compliant you are. If there is one tool you’re going to get to dramatically improve your web design standards it would have to be the Web Developer Toolbar for Firefox.

Make a library.

In most programs, you end up reusing something that you once made a while ago. It always helps to keep a well organised library of all your reusable files. This especially applies when you’re working with Flash, where you can keep track of loops, buttons, timers, code snippets, and symbols. This centralized library can also help keep your work consistent.

Save. Save. Save. Save again.

Are you getting the message? No matter how decent your computer is, don’t leave yourself in a position where you could lose all of your days’ work in one flick of a switch. Then you end up having to reboot or your computer freezes and all your work is kaput. Don’t let a reboot ruin your day.

Collaborate.

We never let things go before we’re completely happy about the final version. Working together means you can share your ideas as mentioned before, but also give critique to one another before finalising the design. These friendly, supportive criticisms can save you from harsher comments later on from your boss or client. Working together is also a whole lot more fun.

But for most couples, deciding on what theme and style to go for can be a daunting task. The options available are so plenty that it can be overwhelming and probably even confusing. But it doesn’t really have to be that way. While getting or modifying ideas and tips from other sources and videos is the usual thing to do, you can also incorporate your own unique design taste into your wedding video. By doing so, you are assured to get a unique and original wedding video. If you and your partner agree on anything vintage or have a liking to modern ideas, then go ahead and bring it up to your team. Squeeze out your creative juice and make that perfect, unique and memorable wedding video.

Just as how there are designs and styles in making clothes or houses or buildings, there are also wedding video styles that you can choose from to jumpstart you on bringing your own ideas to your wedding video. As you view wedding videographers’ websites, you’ll notice that many use shorthand terms to define the “design” or styles of wedding video they offer:

Journalistic

This is also called as ‘documentary’ or ‘reportage’. This style involves the videographer capturing the events of the day as they occur. Also usually, it is edited in a linear manner producing with a video that documents your wedding from morning preparations through to evening reception. You can choose to have this kind of video style especially if you want to include interviews with you and your partner or with your guests commenting on the day or offering congratulations.

Cinematic

For a movie-like video, going for the Cinematic style of wedding video is the way to go. It is filmed and edited more like a movie with a view to highlighting the emotion and drama of the day. This style will depend more on montages, music or special effects such as slow motion. Cinematic and Journalistic styles may have the tendency to overlap so talk to your videographer on their style and approach. Alternatively, this is your chance to put your design ideas into film if you had always wanted to make one.

Traditional

This is the old style of wedding video—probably the same ones as your parent’s wedding video. Filmed from start to finish with little editing if any at all, the traditional wedding video usually lasts 2 to 3 hours. It’s basically the entire coverage of your wedding day and as you might have noticed, these kinds of videos are becoming less popular now. Nevertheless, if you’re into such style, you can still ask your videographer whether they can provide you with the raw footage. Just hints though, expect to pay extra if they agree to such request.

Marryoke

If you’re into making a music video style, the emerging style known by many as ‘marryoke’ might work for you. This is where the couple, the wedding party or even everyone attending the wedding mime to a favorite or suitable song at various points throughout the day and this is then edited into a music video.

So where should you begin exactly?

Before you get to the styling part, primarily take consideration of the function first. That way, it will limit your curtain choices, in a good way. Do you want privacy or total darkness? You’ll most likely prefer lined curtains. Unlined curtain will do if you’re fine with light filtering through or if your curtains are simply ornamental to look at. Although lining can be expensive, it has the benefit of shielding fabric from sun damage, making curtains last longer. It also adds weight providing protection against drafts and helps fabric fall more lavishly. An interlining, which is a layer of flannel-like fabric sewn between the lining and the ‘face’ fabric can also help with light blockage, body and insulation and can provide maximum sturdiness.

Fabric and Color

Texture. Before you choose, take note of the mood of the room. A heavy silk or velvet will look great on a formal space. It’s also a great insulator. A more practical choice includes silky rayon blends and cotton sateen. It’s often washable so it’s more feasible. Plump linen and furrowed crushed velvet suits for a casual feel. Cotton and cotton blends work with any kind of décor and bring a brusque, neat feel, as does wool or wool blends.

Color. You have two choices with your color: to blend in with the décor or to pop out. If you wish for it to blend, choose curtains that are in the same tone as the wall. Make it a few a shades darker or select a non-dominant faint color in the room. If you want to add some wow factor to your space, a bold color will do the trick. Do remember that in a space where the sun shines through unlined curtains, the color will pervade the room.

Prints and patterns. There’s one important thing that you should remember: if you own a patterned furniture or bedding, go for solid curtains. The same goes with you have solid-color furniture or bedding, so consider picking patterned curtains. That way, there is harmony in style and not clash of the patterns. Small, neutral prints like dots or paisley goes well for an elusive hit of style and energy. If you’re in the mood for a daring look, consider large, graphic print in a color that connects to the existing décor.

There are other things to consider when choosing your window treatment like how long or how wide the curtains should be, or where they should be mounted in relation to the window and other more. It’s important to look at these things to find you the right kind of window treatment style for your living space.

Businesses like music business, moving businesses, and other types of businesses may have tried to advertise in a magazine at one time. For instance, if you own a professional moving business and is looking for ways to advertise your services, then you may have to try at least one good advertisement posted on a magazine for a more localized and international target audience. Removalists who have tried magazine advertising will attest to the increased attention that this marketing tool have brought to their company.

But just like in any form of advertisement, you need to understand what works and what doesn’t work in magazine ads. The design is the ace of the magazine, so if your ads look dull and unappealing, the readers will simply turn the page and forget everything about your paid magazine space. You need to be able to get down and deep into the elements that make up a successful magazine ad layout. It all boils down to two main design points: color and typography.

Your advertisement should contain the right combination of colors so that it will stand out and instantly catch the attention of the reader. It should also fit the theme of the magazine that you are advertising to.

Designers are very much acquainted with typography, as they are always looking for new ways to conquer this esign arena. Typography encompasses a vast area in the world of advertising. With this you need to keep your fonts clean, it should be well-spaced, and should be legible and relevant to your brand.

Here are some reminders for you to achieve a good typography:

-        Do not use more than 5 different in your magazine ad

-        Do not use over-difficult to read fonts

-        Add some fun on your articles

-        Learn to know the needs of your readers, if the magazine targets the elderly, use bigger fonts

-        Use left justified alignment with wider columns to make it easier to read

-        Do not use Comic Serif unless it is for your joke page or children advertisement

With these in mind, you will be able to create the most suited advertising layout for your magazine advertisement. This way you won’t have to just focus your advertisement on the net, you can expand and do it with print as well.

However, when it comes to arts and crafts, one has to make sure that the aspect of design is included in here. See, if it was all just about showing what you can do, you can create something that is in your mind and yet it would not look like much to a lot of people. On the other hand, if you put in design, you would be able to see that the finished product would be something that not only you would be proud of it but it could also make other people marvel at it as well.

Of course, there are plenty of designs that one can use when working with arts and crafts. The world is a place filled with imagination and creativity and to say that a certain design should only work is not the way the world works. In fact, this place allows people to show off their artistic side at the very best. As long as it has aesthetic value, it is then a good one to look at. It is all about knowing about what materials to use and what materials one should not use.

They say that it is all in the eye of the artist. Of course, that is something that a lot of people would agree to and indeed, it is right. See, the only thing difficult with such is that in this world, there are plenty of views and plenty of feedback. When a person creates one thing, it can actually look pretty for a group of people and it can be something really mundane for another group. There is really no one thing in this world that is beautiful for all people.

With that, just go ahead and show off your artistic side. There are plenty of designs that you can use and plenty of designs that you can create yourself.

Right now, the advent of computers and digital imaging software and web tools made everything digital. Businesses shifted from cardboard-paper presentations to digital presentations that are delivered via electronic consoles like laptops or desktop computers, and then embed it to their websites. There’s no question that digital presentations command stronger impact and lasting effect to its audience. As the efficiency, practicality and accessibility of digital presentation formats have been realized, companies are putting more and more of the usual company documents like advisories, operating procedures and work safety measures in a full spectrum of multi-media equipment and tools.

When it comes to construction companies, digital presentations of work safety reminders are important in keeping all workers informed of the high-risk nature of the task at hand. This is particularly true in heavy equipment operations in construction sites, where workers need to operate huge machines to perform tasks that can potentially render them sick or injured. In addition, on the part of the employer or company, repeated displays or work safety reminders would limit their liabilities in the event that accidents and injuries happen in the work site.

Operating machines such as cranes, tractors, and hoists should be done properly. By creating a comprehensive digital presnetation on the company policies, standards and procedures for safe work operations, it the workers who face tremendous danger at work will stay informed and updated on everything they need to know to stay safe on the work site. In order to create an effective digital presentation for the safe use of construction equipment, you need to:

Prepare your message and be mindful of its outcome. You need to structure it in 3 parts – the opening, key ideas, closing. The opening should be attention catching so that it will be enough to arouse the interests of your workers to read, and the closing should be memorable for them to always remember it.

Practice delivering your content before going public. When you are practicing, you get more enthusiasm and confidence about your presentation, and would notice it when you have mistakes or changes.

Present your content to your employees and make a positive first impression by making eye-contact. You could also remind them that you will include it in your website so they will be able to see it, print a poster and display it on the construction site, and in your office.

It is a good initiative to be able to do these digital presentation preparations especially if you want what is best for both your company and workers’ interests.

The general rules and guidelines in creating a company logo will pretty much apply to all types of businesses regardless of the industry they are into. In other words, all of the essential factors to consider are uniform across the field.

Here are some helpful tips that experts in logo design recommends to keep in mind when creating one:

Don’t just make one that looks nice—communicate.

A beautiful logo will be useless if it does not communicate the brand’s message. It has to clearly convey what a pest management company would like to say to its potential clients. In order to achieve this, research must first be conducted to have a clear idea on the concepts involved before designing begins.

Make it simple and don’t overthink.

What design experts would like others to keep in mind is that a logo has a practical purpose and is not a way to express profound artistic ideas. A logo must be identifiable and easily associated with the brand. It must clearly represent that a company provides effective pest management services and not a new art movement or just anything that the viewer can think of.

Make It worth a second look and don’t be predictable.

A logo should be worth looking at, and it needs to completely convey the brand’s identity. On the other hand, it should not be predictable either or it will be at a risk of being indistinguishable and therefore forgettable. A cockroach at the center of a stop sign is so overused.

Think ahead and not just for the moment.

Sadly, pest will continue to bother people in the future so services to help control them will be needed in the days, weeks and years to come. That’s why a logo should not be designed using for instance typefaces or styles that are popular today only to become outdated in the future. Try to incorporate an element that will endure in the coming years even if other aspects of the logo have to be redesigned to make it modern and relevant.

For moving companies, the most fundamental rule to remember is the space. Your space needs to be more attractive, spacious and does not look cramp. You will need to make the impression that you have lots of space to provide your customers for. When your clients assess your building, you also need to provide great accommodation and service. However, if you have a rather small space for your office, glassed windows and less furnitures will do the trick. You might also want to decorate with plants in order to make it look fresher.

The next thing that you need to do is to provide a grand opening for your business. You may need to plan for a special day like this and organize a program. Be sure to include a tour around the facility so that your potential clients and customers will be able to take note of the key features of your building.

With the tour, it is also best that you introduce them to the compartments that you use for your self-storage so that they will be able to look at the design. The compartments should have the most essential things that your customers might need. The basic features such as an off the floor flooring so that stores things will not be placed directly on the floor, spacious and security cameras and security locks.

Your compartments should also be designed as if they are trying to provide comfort for the things that will be stored inside. For example, you can provide additional storage cabinets, or cushions for fragile items. Aside from these, state-of-the-art designs can also attract customers attention. So, if you can try to build something that is automated, it would be a plus.

Aside from your compartment designs, you should also think of how your office looks in general. Be sure to take into consideration customers with disability. Wheelchair access should be present, elevators for the blind people should also be considered, or you might want to hire someone who supervises the elevator from the inside. With these added features, you can extend your customer reach.

Remember that people will not also look into your services, but will have their first impressions from what they first see, and that is your establishment, and as a moving company, your storage compartments. First impressions always last, so as much as possible, take the opportunity to please them from the start.

Probably one of the neat ways to motivate yourself to be organized is to design your storage with something that will always make you want to see it. The feeling of knowing that when you open your storage door, you’ll be able to see something that you like will inspire you to open it more and keep things in there properly arranged.

So what’s the best design for your storage?

Of course you would want something that will not take extra space so that you can still put the things that you need to place there. Always stick to the walls. Wallpapers and scrapbook materials are very easy to attach, and also very easy to replace. You can also go with stickers.

Another technique that you can muster is to arrange the things in your storage compartment in a manner in which it could show a design or a pattern-like area. This type of technique can also be used in small rooms wherein you do not have a lot of space for more furniture. This saves space, and at the same time, saves effort.

If you’re thinking to have a bigger storage compartment, think of where you will put it – outside or inside your home. If it’s inside your home, it will probably be a cabinet or a room, then you can think of what design you want to have. Pick a specific color that will match your house or your preference.

There are also some services in which you can rent a specific storage space, such as self storage. With this, however, you will need to ask whether or not you can personalize the place.