Category: Design

  • Finding Good Staff For Your Startup

    Finding good staff is not easy, especially for start-ups. Because especially in times of a shortage of skilled workers, they fight against established large corporations in recruiting. In addition to their long-standing, good reputation and above-average salaries, they can offer something else. A high degree of security that the salary will be paid at the end of the month. Even if resources may be limited at first, start-ups should rely on a high level of professionalism in recruiting from the start. After all, the success of your own business model also stands or falls with good employees. And even if start-ups are usually unable to pay the comparatively high salaries of corporations, they often have completely different arguments to convince job applicants of themselves. 

    Photo: Unsplash

    Quite a few employees are now attracted to an exciting task in a young company. They want a dynamic environment with many like-minded people, the opportunity to implement their own ideas and exciting development opportunities. Perhaps even the prospect of company shares in the rigid corporate structures with a range of tasks that are clearly defined for years in front. Here you can find out what start-ups should definitely consider when looking for employees. This is in order to win over potential employees, which channels can be used in the search and why.

    Plan sufficient resources 

    Good employees do not fall from the sky, but have to be searched for, which is very time-consuming in most cases. They may come from all over the world. There is such a thing as a global talent visa. Plenty of skilled workers are found abroad. Don’t limit yourself. 

    Sufficient time and a corresponding financial budget should be planned for the search for personnel right from the start. Because whichever type of tender you choose – most of them are simply expensive. The complex task of finding employees should best be spread across several people. A team member could look through the applications, and send confirmations of receipt. They must document the most important applicant key data. However, the boss should definitely be involved in the selection of candidates and the conduct of the interviews. In small start-up teams, it is particularly important that the personal chemistry is right and that the new employee is a good fit for the company. In addition, the new employee should ideally be entrusted with responsible tasks right from the start. 

    Develop a clear requirement profile 

    Even if everyone seems to do everything at the beginning, things can go awry. Sometimes, clearly defined processes are often missing. Therefore, a clear requirement profile should be created.  In the first few months of business activity, this is often only possible by the founders themselves. This is why the first employees have special priority and the search for employees should be a top priority in this phase. Because the first employees often have to have a particularly high level of commitment, flexibility and a hands-on mentality. They also have professional qualifications. You can find the best workers by being honest and open about what you want.

  • Can Cartoons Actually Help With The Obesity Problem?

    Unfortunately, obesity in children is a very real problem at the moment. This is an issue that has been extensively documented on television as of late. More and more parents are becoming concerned about their child’s eating habits. There has also been several health critics who believe as a nation people are not aware of what they are really eating. This is a problem, and it is a problem that needs to be tackled. 

    However, people are scared because they only see drastic measures as a solution. Furthermore, a lot of parents have not got a clue regarding where to start when it comes to deciphering what their child should be eating and what they should not. This is through no fault of their own, yet merely a signal of how difficult this is for most families. Nevertheless, there are some innovative solutions that can be used. These solutions may not be elaborate, yet they are effective. And one of these is to use cartoon advertising in order to help tackle obesity in children. 

    Pixabay License

     

    Children are more likely to listen to cartoons

    Imagine the following two scenarios. Scenario one revolves around an advertisement whereby an adult is merely telling children they need to eat better food. Scenario two revolves around a popular cartoon show, such as the Tom and Jerry cartoon, whereby the main characters express the importance of being healthy. Who is the child most likely to listen to? In 99% of instances you could bet your bottom dollar that kids are more likely to take notice of Tom and Jerry. This is because they view the cartoon characters as fun and exciting. They will think; well if it is good enough for Tom and Jerry then it definitely is for me. However, if you are to go for the adult option then children may view healthy eating as a chore; this is because most children see anything their parents ask them to do is a task. 

    The cartoons themselves can help tackle obesity

    A lot of people fail to acknowledge the positive messages showcased within these cartoons that relate to healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle. For example, in the Tom and Jerry cartoon you see just how much exercise the cat and the mouse get! This is of course not the main message behind the story, yet it indirectly promotes a healthy lifestyle within your child. There are more examples of this. For instance, there is Scooby Doo whereby the dog gets several treats known as Scooby snacks if he does well. This establishes the notion that treats are allowed, yet they are only allowed in moderation. 

    People view cartoons as fun, and therefore healthy eating will be fun too

    Why do children like cartoons? The answer to this is rather simple; because they are fun. This is also why they like playing cartoon games on devices like a 15 inch gaming laptop. Therefore, if your child comes across a cartoon advertisement then they are also going to deem this as fun and exciting. This presents a fantastic basis for commercials because children are likely to be associated the advertisement with enjoyment. This means that you have a much higher chance of children wanting to eat healthily. 

    In the current day and age it can be very difficult to tackle obesity in young children. Nevertheless the combination of cartoons and strategic advertising can actually provide fantastic results.

  • 8 Fun Things You Can Do In Lockdown

    The recent COVID-19 pandemic had a considerable impact on the world’s economy. This deadly virus is associated with some vices, but it also came along with a few virtues. For instance, no matter how bad the lockdown idea may seem, it has made some people venture into beneficial engagements.

    Ever since the onset of lockdown in various countries, some visionary entrepreneurs that have been affected by the pandemic share various inspirational projects. Through these projects, some independent creators and enterprises received visibility and support. 

    If you are wondering what you should do during lockdown to keep yourself engaged, here are a few fun things to add on your To-do list.

    Image Credit

    Opt for Freelance Qualitative Research

    Since movement outdoors is restricted during a lockdown, one of the best things you could do is working from home. For instance, as a freelance writer, you can easily detect how to become more agile while remaining cost-efficient. 

    Since physical interviews and field research are on hold because of restricted movement, you could opt for emails and desk-based research interviews. You can also draft an updated methodology that blends contributions from maestros, consumers, and online academia for a desirable perspective for future projection.

    Create an Online Store

    Did you ever imagine that you can make a living while in your bedroom, living room, or patio? Because of restricted movement during this pandemic, how about you create an online store that focuses on the community.

    With that said, you know that masks are like an ID nowadays. It won’t hurt if you created a downloadable plan that guides people on making their masks. You will even be surprised because people may ask you to make some masks for them, and just like that, you can start connecting with people.

    Once you share the tips on making a mask, you can make some masks yourself and sell them at a cost price or even donate them to the hotspot areas. By doing this, you could have saved a lot of people’s lives and made a living. Well, that’s not hard to do. Is it?

    Ever Thought of Making a Family Tree?

    Have you ever gone through your family album and come across some faces you have never seen before? Well, in this case, take some time while in lockdown and construct that family tree. This will help you significantly if you want to know about your family history. 

    Through research, the family tree will play a vital role in ensuring that you know more about your family members whom you’ve never met before. Through that, you can increase your bond with distant bloodline members. A family tree is one thing that can help you understand various bonds that are necessary for you. Feel free to plan for an online family photography session and keep those memories.

    Novel Writing

    How about you reduce consumption and start creating?

    Assuming that you have always wanted to write a novel, but time has always been a constraint, don’t let go of this opportunity. It could help if you knew that Shakespeare did some of his writings in isolation. An excellent example of a piece he did in isolation was King Lear. Let this be a motivating factor for you to write your opus.

    However, you can have some challenges on where to start with your writing. Fear not. There are many free online courses that will closely guide you on how to begin fiction writing. These courses will help you get on the right track.

    Write That Song Today

    Music is one thing that hits right when you are in an isolated environment. The company you could receive by listening to a song or writing one is incomparable to none. Are you the type of person with musical persuasion? Then channel your current feelings into a poem. You can also create a whole album about them.

    Starting may be a challenge, but there are many songwriting courses online that could get you in the correct mind frame. Who knows you could do this well and make some Spotify playlists while you get inspired?

    Conduct A Games Night

    Are you tired of another pub quiz? That’s normal. Plan on having a games night because this is a sure-fire way that keeps your friendship group or the entire family entertained during the lockdown. 

    Tips on Hosting a Games Night

    • Make one of your loved ones a happy hour host and request them to perform a live cocktail master class
    • Orchestrate some drinking games
    • Play charades
    • Get one person to mime phrases and identify who is best in lip reading
    • Play Bingo

    Learn Knitting

    Many fashionable and sustainable knitting brands run free tutorials on Instagram. They have a specific tune in hours and days. Through these meetings, you can learn knitting with help from their influencers. 

    These tutorials provide opportunities to all age brackets by getting them involved in something crafty while at home. It is also one of the best ways of passing the time by becoming a little bit creative in the afternoons. Don’t stop at anything. Take advantage of such tutorials and make your lockdown less boring.

    Learn a Language

    You must have planned on learning a new language at one point in life, but the time factor became an issue. Take this chance now. There are many YouTube video selections and other online tutorials that you can easily access. Maximize these channels and learn that language today.

    There are also various language applications with immense features. These apps have several video clips recorded by great speakers across the world. Use this opportunity and keep immersing yourself in different cultures.

    Have Some Fun During Lockdown!

    If Netflix becomes a little bit boring and the thought of spending some hours on your bed or couch perusing some memes is too much, it is about time you changed your routine by getting those creative juices moving. Don’t be stuck on what you should do at the moment. The tips discussed above will keep you engaged like never before.

  • Insecta Shoes

    Insecta Shoes

    Pamela Magpali and Barbara Mattivy are the founders of Insecta Shoes, a Brazilian shoe label transforming fabrics and prints from vintage clothing into vegan footwear.

    Insecta Shoes‘ Oxford shoes and Chelsea boots are made in Brazil, handcrafted in limited numbers and every single model is unique.

    To find out more about this innovative enterprise, we asked its founders about their background, the manufacturing process and the future of Insecta Shoes.

    Photos by Miguel Soll

    What made you start your own shoe label? What was your background before Insecta?

    I worked in fashion and digital marketing for years, and also ran an online vintage store. Pamela is a shoe designer and she had her own shoe label for one year. One day we met and we both loved each other products, so we talked about creating a collaboration between both brands. I had some really over sized vintage shorts and blazers that had amazing prints but I never had the time to adjust the sizes, so she suggested we could make shoes out of these clothes. I absolutely loved the idea, and that is how our 1st collaboration was born. Everything sold very well, and we did a second one, that was even a bigger hit.

    I was moving to Canada and needed someone to help me manage my business in Brazil, so we partnered and created Insecta Shoes. We launched in January 2014 and everything is going super well. We’re growing organically but pretty fast, which is great but scary at the same time.

    We’re interested in knowing a little more about the process you follow to design and manufacture your shoes. could you tell us about it?

    Sure! The video below illustrates how everything is done. First, we design the shoe and create a real sample from it. We test it, tweak and adjust, and them approve it. This is what Pamela does while I’m sourcing and hand picking all the clothes from vintage suppliers. Then we deconstruct the clothes by hand and back them with a thicker fabric. All the raw materials go to our little atelier and they produce the shoes according to our combination of design, prints and colors of soles and lining.

    Insecta Shoes by Volt Project from Insecta Shoes on Vimeo.

    How do you source the clothes you use to manufacture your shoes? 

    They’re all handpicked at vintage suppliers or vintage/thrift stores in North America. It’s cool because sometimes we find really great prints in clothes that have a terrible fitting and probably no one else would wear them – we give a new use for that piece of clothing. We love this part of the production process because we have so much fun hunting for prints, it’s also very nostalgic. Once we found a cook/chef pair of trousers with an amazing vegetables print, we went nuts! Eggplants, cabbage, tomatoes, all over!

    All your shoes are unique. Have you worked with a print/fabric that you wish you could have used for more shoes?

    Yes, definitely! It’s a pro and a con to have such exclusive shoes. There are fabrics that we were able to produce 3 pairs with and that’s it. We wish we had the best ones for each of us and for our customers, but it’s impossible. But the great part of it it’s that no one else in the world will have the same shoes as you, not even the slightest chance for this to happen!

    Have you thought about expanding Insecta shoes to other type of products?

    Yes, absolutely. We have tons of ideas coming up in the next months, for the shoes and for other products. We can’t tell much right now, but there are amazing things on the way 😉

  • 12 Ways To Add Colour To Your Living Room

    Giving your living room a complete makeover can be expensive and time consuming. That said, there are many small and creative ways of redoing your living room to give it more luster and beauty without having to break the bank. 

    Apart from the addition of interesting furniture, one of the best ways in which you can breathe life into your living room is by making it more colourful. The colour scheme of a home can reveal a lot about the character and behavior of the resident. Each colour has a different effect on the human psyche and can cause different emotions. More so, colours create a certain atmosphere and give rooms a certain character. Therefore, they play a decisive role in whether we like to be in that room or not.

    That said, if you’re here in search of alternative ways to add extra colour to your living room without applying so much effort and resources, the following simple ways are a cinch to apply and will add vibrant hues to your living room. 

    Image credit

    1. Incorporate art prints

     

    Bring in a large and colourful masterpiece to give your living room a bold and colourful effect. If you can’t afford a new piece of art, you can opt for abstract art prints. Brightly coloured abstract art prints not only bring life to dull corners of a living room, they also liven up bare, unpainted walls.

    That said, where to hang the artwork is as important as choosing the piece of art. You can choose to hang it above your cushion or sofa, or above a fireplace mantel, or on empty wall spaces near a window. Regardless of where you choose, a bold and colourful piece of art will introduce bright and vibrant hues into your living room.

    2. Make use of colourful accessories

     

    Coloured accessories can greatly impact your living room space by adding non-permanent pops of colour. Fusing various living room accessories with a blend of brilliant and vibrant hues provides some sort of freshness, so your space feels like a full makeover. You could try getting bright coloured lamps, plant pots, bold drapes, or even something as little as a brightly coloured tray. 

    Or, you may choose to add something larger than an accessory such as a Yamaha grand piano to help your room pop. While they may not always be available (within price range) in bright colours, they will certainly help add colour and a talking point to your living room.

    These bright and coloured accessories will make your living room look more cohesive and balanced. Choose colours that contrast the surface where they are to be placed on. Or, you could go for colours that are lighter or darker in shade of the one used on the surface. 

    3. Add flowers and plants

     

    With the addition of flowers and plants, the boundary between inside and outside disappears and you enjoy the freshness of summer, even when you are at home. On top of this, adding plants is one of the easiest ways to add natural hue and colour to your room. In fact, they possess some of the most glorious and vibrant colours to add to your living room. However, it’s best to incorporate a plant that is best suited for indoor conditions. You can then test them out at different locations to find the perfect spot where they can breathe life and add a dose of vibrant colour to your space. 

    4. Add a colourful rug

     

    Rugs have a special ability for tying designs together. To add more hue to your living room, you can try bringing in a colourful area rug. Brightly coloured area rugs, layered over a hardwood flooring, or on top a carpeting adds more texture and colour to your living space. 

    Area rugs also make your living area more cozy and comfortable. So, why not opt for a rug with a colourful detail or pattern to add some interest? Interestingly, a long rug with a coloured component can help brighten up unexpected places around your living space too.

    5. Add some colourful pillows

     

    Go ahead and toss in a couple of bright coloured pillows to give your living room a brighter and colourful effect. Pillows not only add colour, they encourage that comfortable and cozy feel every living room needs. And the good thing is, they also offer flexibility in case you change your mind. 

    In picking an accent pillow, opt for one that will compliment the chair or sofa it will be sitting on quite nicely. You can also creatively mix and match a few patterns for a more vibrant feel. These brightly coloured throw pillows can sit comfortably on neutral sofas, cushions, and rugs and will provide a contrasting effect that will liven up your living room.

    6. Reupholster the furniture

     

    Reupholstering a chair cushion is not as difficult as it is made out to be. In fact, reupholstering is one of the easiest ways to effect change in your living space without applying much effort. You can do the upholstering yourself, or consider giving it out to a professional carpenter to do it.

    Investing your money into getting new sets of furniture might seem too much considering that you recently changed them or they are not so old. Reupholstering might be your only option in reviving your old furniture and in giving it a new look.

    Going for a bright and colourful fabric is presumably your best option. Opt for colours that are vibrant and bold to give your living room an impressive hue. Items you can reupholster include sofas, cushions, and dining chairs (if you have a dining area in the living room).

    7. Install a mirror on an empty wall

     

    Decorating with mirrors is a great way to reflect light and colour in your living room. No doubt, placing a large mirror in the living room is one of the best ways to fill a bare wall in your living room. What’s more, a large mirror, through its reflection, can open up more space and make your living room feel bigger than it actually is. 

    That said, it’s always best to opt for a mirror with a well-crafted bright coloured frame. If you have a mirror with a plain frame, try embellishing it with cording or braid before applying a coat of paint to it.

    8. Paint a wall

     

    Painting one wall of your living room is one of the easiest tricks in the book to brighten up your living room. colours and patterns on the wall will influence the spatial effect and ultimately the feel-good atmosphere enormously. More so, an airy ambience creates harmony, which you can achieve even in a small winding hallway with bright colours.

    That said, it’s best to opt for a larger wall that is easily noticeable.You can have an option to hire a skilled spray painter to make sure that the color that you want will contrast to those of your living room accessories. Whatever colour you choose, be sure that it compliments other accessories in the living room.

    9. Paint a cabinet

     

    You can breathe new life into a bland cabinet, shelf, or bookcase by accenting it with a coat of coloured paint. There are a variety of ways to paint a cabinet and shelf. The first is to try painting the interior and exterior with two contrasting colours to give your space a bright hue. You can also paint the interior walls behind the cabinet with a vibrant colour to add a bit of dimension to both the cabinet and the living room. You can then place books with bright covers to add another layer of colour to your book cabinet. 

    Your cabinet can also be used to display various decorative items like artworks, photo frames, baskets and boxes. Your choice of which item to use should depend entirely on your setting and the coloured effect you are trying to create.

    10. Incorporate colourful throws, quilts and blankets

     

    New trends in interior decoration offer a lot in leeway in fulfilling your décor goals. Items that were originally meant for bedroom areas can now be incorporated into the living room. Blankets, quilts and throws can provide colour, depth, and comfort to your living space. 

    Quilts or blankets can also be draped over the arm or back of a neutral cushion or sofa in the living room to introduce a vibrant and electrifying hue into your space. Opt for a standout colour when looking for a colour to accent these items with. Additionally, bright and vibrant colours that sit comfortably well on the neutral surface are also a good option.

    11. Window treatments

     

    Living room windows can be as stunning as the rest of the room. Window treatments, such as shades and drapes, can be installed on your windows to give it a beautiful and vibrant appearance. More so, they provide a perfect vibrant backdrop for the other parts of the living room. 

    Owing to the expensive nature of these window treatments, you might want to opt for something durable that would last through future makeovers. Select a neutral window treatment that will compliment other colour palettes you introduce into your living area. You can also layer your windows with brightly coloured drapery and light filtering roman shades.

    12. Bring in coloured ribbons

     

    Little extras like ribbons can add a great deal of colour to any room. The good thing about ribbons is that they are quite affordable and also offer you a lot of flexibility in terms of style and design. However, to provide a more mature outlook for your space, you need to be creative in how you apply the ribbons. 

    Some ideal locations where they can easily fit include your window treatments, lampshades, picture frames, cabinet doors, and even mirrors. More so, velvet, silk and grosgrain ribbons are some options you can choose from.