Resources

DESIGN TIPS

Looking for content marketing layout and design best practices? Look no further than the Content Bureau’s B2B marketing design tips.

More Resources

What’s the buzz with Figma?

You’re about to kick off an important internal project—the formidable company website redesign. With SMEs, project managers, SEO experts, graphic designers, writers, and editors working remotely in multiple time zones, the thought of collaborating can be daunting....

Why Infographics Work

Infographics are a powerful design tool. They soar into a realm where bar charts, pie charts, and raw data can never travel: instantaneous emotional connection. Let’s look at an example from USAID (below). At first glance, the poster’s strong symbols and clear...

What Format Should We Use: Adobe InDesign or Microsoft PowerPoint?

  “In the end, we want a PDF—but should we create it in InDesign or PowerPoint?” It’s a question frequently asked around here, and the answer is always the same: “It depends.” When deciding on an asset format, we ask our clients to consider the following: Design...

Vector or Raster = Huh?

You’ve received a request for a vector logo file from the Content Bureau’s graphic designer. If you’re confused about what that means, and about the difference between image file types, you’re not alone. Let’s chat about these two image file types—vector and...

How to Design a Co-Branded Data Sheet

Co-branded data sheets are exceptionally popular marketing assets, and it’s easy to see why. These one-pagers not only make it super easy for partners to sell your products, they also make for a great leave-behind with prospective customers. But it can be tricky to...

How to Create a High-Impact PowerPoint Slide

Perhaps you’ve seen one recently: a great PowerPoint presentation that was both content-rich and visually interesting. As a B2B marketing professional, you may have wondered what makes a truly great slide. One that’s as concise as it is visually compelling. One that’s...

Creating Successful Web Banner Ads

Web banner ads can be a very effective way for your company to market products and services online. They help build brand awareness, increase visibility, and drive traffic to your site. But getting customers to notice—and actually click on—your banner ad is easier...

Skeuomorphism Gone Bad: When Visual Metaphors Fail

When people first started interacting with computers, software designers chose visual metaphors to help users acclimate to the new environment. The folder icon is a good early example. It immediately made sense that this was a place to store documents. The idea that...

No Words Required: When Iconography Works Better

When is the last time you encountered a road sign with the words “Curvy Road Ahead”? More than likely, you saw a sign like this instead: This sign is highly effective. It’s clear the road ahead has twists and turns—and the squiggly arrow requires no translation. In...

Choosing a Graph That Best Suits Your Data

You have a mountain of valuable data—but how can you use it to convey a poignant message? The answer: a simple but powerful bar, line, or pie graph that will help your audience quickly understand the meaning of your data. Here are a few basic types of graphs: Bar...

Food Is My Muse

Designers—just like everybody else in the world—love to work with products we hold close to our hearts. Consider me more than pleased that olive oil, wine, chocolate fudge, and vodka are among the ‘food’ items we’ve had the chance to play with at our San Francisco...

In Defense of Pie Charts in the Real World

Absolutely! I agree with our earlier post, Ideas Without Words—or Pie Charts.  Information is beautiful in charts like Caffeine and Calories. I would use this or a similar treatment each and every time the client says: “Designer, go forth with this here unlimited...