Robert, Author at Wink Marketing

Is the Glass (Morphism) Half Full Again? A Designer’s Take on the Transparent Trend

You know that feeling when you see an old friend resurface on social media and you’re not sure whether to cringe or cheer? That’s how I felt when I started spotting the glass/transparent morphism trend popping back into the design world. Yep—what some of us lovingly (or not-so-lovingly) remember from the Microsoft Vista days is…

Brand Breakdown: The Barista Boss Beverage Co.

Brewing Up a Brand from Scratch When The Barista Boss Beverage Co. approached me, they were just getting their mobile coffee business off the ground in Conway and Myrtle Beach, SC. With no existing branding and a tight timeline, they needed a logo that was not only eye-catching, but also captured their approachable, neighborhood-friendly vibe.…

Designers, It’s Time to Chill About Canva

Designers, We Gotta Stop Ragging on Canva (Yes, I’m Talking to Myself Too) From the slightly judgy, kerning-obsessed desk of a graphic designer Let me start with a confession: I’ve rolled my eyes at Canva. Hard. Like, seeing-the-back-of-my-brain hard. I’ve muttered things like, “Well, I prefer to use programs with a little more… control,” or “Sure, if you want…

Watch Those Numbers Dance: How to Animate Value Changes on Your Website with CSS

As a graphic designer, I’m obsessed with creating websites that feel alive. That doesn’t mean glitter explosions (unless that’s your brand) — it means thoughtful movement. Subtle animations. Micro-interactions that spark joy. One of my favorite little tricks? Making numbers change dynamically on your site — like a counter that ticks up when it comes into view. Think “Revenue:…

Button Up: How I Add a Little Magic to Website Buttons with Hover Effects

As a graphic designer who also dabbles (okay, lives) in front-end web design, there’s something I absolutely love: a good button. Not just any button, though—I mean one that responds when you hover over it. You know, that little moment of delight when a button changes color and text, and it does so with a smooth little swoosh?…

How I Turned Myself into a Designer Collectible Using Free AI Tools

You know those trends that roll through your feed and you swear you’re not going to get involved with? Yeah… same. But when I saw people turning themselves into retro-style action figures using AI, I couldn’t resist. It wasn’t a dance video or a lip-sync challenge (bless), but a design challenge—and that’s my kryptonite. So, I decided to…

Designing for Accessibility: Why Color Contrast Matters

As a graphic designer, color is one of our most powerful tools. It sets the tone, creates visual hierarchy, and makes a design aesthetically appealing. But beyond aesthetics, color choices impact how accessible our designs are to everyone—including those with visual impairments. That’s why checking and adjusting color contrast to meet WCAG (Web Content Accessibility…

The Cardinal Sin of Color Chaos: Why Your Brand’s Palette Isn’t a Mood Ring

As a graphic designer, I’ve seen things. Horrifying things. Things that keep me up at night, clutching my Pantone swatches like a security blanket. But nothing haunts me quite like The Brand That Won’t Stick to Its Color Palette. You know the type. One day their logo is a sleek, sophisticated navy. The next, it’s neon…

Where Should a Small Business Start with Branding? A Graphic Designer’s Perspective

Starting a small business is an exciting journey, filled with endless to-do lists and decisions. One of the most important aspects that can shape your business’s success is branding. But when should you start thinking about branding, and how do you go about it? As a graphic designer with years of experience in brand creation,…

Understanding the box-shadow CSS Property

As a graphic designer, I love finding ways to add depth, personality, and a little magic to my designs. One of my favorite tricks? The box-shadow CSS property! Think of it as the digital equivalent of a soft spotlight or a bold neon sign—it’s all about making elements pop. What is box-shadow? The box-shadow property…