Blog
Why typography matters
Typography isn’t just about choosing a font that looks nice — it’s about creating an experience. Whether you’re designing a website, crafting a presentation, or building a brand, the way you arrange text can make or break your message.
Web design best practices for beginners
Web design is a multifaceted discipline. Come along as we explore the key principles that contribute to a successful online presence for your brand and/or business.
The principles and best practices of visual design
Join us as we dive into visual design principles and best practices and uncover the strategies that can transform your creative projects.
Visual design vs graphic design: What’s the difference?
Welcome to our guide on visual design vs graphic design! In this exploration, we'll decode the differences between these two essential pillars of creativity.
What is visual design?
Visual design is all about crafting the ultimate visual experience. Read on for our comprehensive approach to answering the question, what is visual design?
Less is more: Uncovering the essence of minimalism in graphic design
Come along as we explore the aesthetics of minimalism in graphic design, its effectiveness, and how it can be applied to communicate messages succinctly and elegantly.
Understanding visual hierarchy in graphic design
Have you ever wondered why some designs instantly capture your attention and guide your eyes effortlessly, while others are less engaging? This isn't a coincidence—it's the result of a carefully crafted visual hierarchy in graphic design. Come along as we take a deep dive into the world of visual hierarchy and the critical role it plays in graphic design.
The importance of designing with empathy
Have you ever come across a product, service, or advertising material that seemed like it just "gets" you? That intuitive understanding is no accident - it's the result of designing with empathy. In this blog, we're going to peel back the curtain on empathetic design.
Waterfall images and Feng Shui: Unleashing prosperity and serenity
In the modern world, we are constantly seeking ways to invite positive energy and tranquillity into our lives. One such way is through the ancient art of Feng Shui. In this post, we will explore the powerful role of waterfalls in Feng Shui, and how they can transform your home into a haven of prosperity and serenity.
The power of negative space: how embracing the empty can enhance your design
In the world of graphic design, negative space, or white space as it’s otherwise known, holds a remarkable influence over the effectiveness and impact of a design.
The 6 styles of animated videos and when to use them
Animation is the process of making flat images come alive through the idea of movement. It is a broad concept and includes everything from a one-second GIF to a full-length feature film.
Why you should trust a professional for creating your logo?
A graphic designer or branding agency can create a professional logo that is unique and memorable to promote a company. An amateur logo may be adequate for some businesses. But it is not as effective as a professional one in promoting the company and its products or services.
Celebrating 10 years of MERC
Over the weekend of 28 and 29 November 2020, I attended the annual Mining Emergency Response Competition (MERC) in Langley Park, Perth. Now in its 10th year, the event hosts teams from across Western Australia, as they complete challenges inspired by real life emergency situations.
Wander out yonder: Exploring ancient Karijini National Park
Over here in Western Australia we have successfully managed to keep the state free of COVID-19. But in order to do so, we have had to cut ourselves off - not just from the world, but from the rest of the country too. Luckily for Western Australians, this beautiful State we call home is full of amazing things to see and do.
Valparaiso: a UNESCO listed city by the sea
Described by Lonely Planet as “a wonderful mess”, Valparaiso is certainly one of Chile’s most unusual cities. But that’s a big part of its charm. Just a 90-minute drive from Santiago, it’s an ideal destination for a day trip.
Santiago: a cosmopolitan city surrounded by the snow-capped Andes
For travellers looking for an exciting South American adventure, Chile’s capital city has become a very popular destination in recent years. While Santiago has long since served as the gateway to the country for most visitors, its appealing cosmopolitan culture does a wonderful job of enticing tourists to stick around to see what this incredible city has to offer.
50 shades of blue in the South Pacific
For much of the world, the South Pacific is almost impossibly far-flung, and it can take a prohibitive amount of time and money to get to. Luckily for us in Australia, they are among our closest neighbours.
Through the lens: exploring the Margaret River region
The Margaret River region has recently been named Wotif’s top 10 Aussie towns for 2020. So it is timely for me to share some of the best nature sites of the region.
Machu Picchu – a 15th century Inca citadel
Everyone who visits Peru goes to Machu Picchu at some point. For many people it is the main reason for visiting the country. It is without doubt one of the most recognisable places in the world, and one of the most photographed. It is considered to be one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, as it is one of the most significant pieces of human patrimony.
Sacred Valley – the gateway to Machu Picchu
We had just taken in Cusco, their empire's capital, and were planning to make our way to Machu Picchu. It was tempting to head straight there, but between these two sites is a place nobody should miss. The Sacred Valley of Urubamba was one of the Inca's most important places and, as such, it has a particularly high number of impressive ruins. We decided to take a day taking in the sites of the valley.
Exploring delightful Helsinki: the Christmas City
Christmas in Helsinki, the capital city of Finland, truly feels like stepping into Santa Claus' world. The snow drapes everything in white softness and Christmas illuminations light up the streets.
Exploring the capital of the Inca Empire – Cusco
Cuscos was the capital of the once sprawling Inca Empire, the city is very much a living city, not just an open air museum.
A journey through the picturesque Andes by rail
The Andes are, without question, among the most dramatic places on earth. Stretching like a spine from the southern tip of the South American continent all the way to Colombia in its very north, they are the world’s longest and its second highest mountain range.
From Perth to globetrotting – a decade of a photographer’s journey
I had always loved beautiful images and found natural landscapes inspiring, but in my home country of Malaysia I had never really thought about making them myself. When I arrived into Perth, Western Australia more than a decade ago I found myself in a very different landscape – one that I couldn’t resist photographing.
Chasing waterfalls in Tasmania
Tasmania is famous for its stunning waters embedded in magnificent rainforests and national parks. There are 230 known waterfalls in this island State. This famous Wilderness World Heritage Area is a landscape photographer’s haven.
Castles of Copenhagen
The Danish capital is often overlooked considering the famous alternatives in neighbouring countries. Images of Paris, Berlin or Amsterdam are instantly recognisable to most, yet the same cannot be said of Copenhagen. Those cities top many must visit destination lists but if you are in the area, then you should seriously consider visiting Copenhagen.
So you want to be a landscape photographer: tips and advice
Many people have the impression that being a landscape photographer is a glamorous career choice. It is perceived as a chilled out job with lots of travelling and plenty of opportunities for fun and adventure. Unfortunately, this is far from the truth because it can be one of the most challenging and stressful jobs. Yet at the same time being a landscape photographer can also be a rewarding career. I have compiled a list of top tips and advice for wannabe landscape photographers, based on my own experience.
Harbourside sunrises and sunsets
My second article for Freo Pages has recently been published. Sunrises and sunsets was the theme of my latest piece. I’ve always enjoyed photographing the natural landscape, and I’m particularly interested in the magic of sunrises and sunsets.
Doubtful Sound – the cousin of Milford Sound
While Milford Sound attracts the majority of visitors, having now seen both I had come to the conclusion that I prefer Doubtful Sound. It is no less spectacular, and as Milford Sound draws most of the tourists it is more peaceful and less crowded. Measuring roughly forty kilometres, and with several different arms, we could have easily spent more exploring all its nooks and crannies. The relative lack of people also lets it retain its lonely charm and adds to the feeling that you have reached the end of the world.
Lights of Fremantle
As a photographer I love exploring my own backyard. I was recently asked by the editor of Freo Pages, an online community magazine, to contribute an article and to share some of my photographic work. So I made a few trips to Fremantle to take a series of photographs for publication.
New Zealand’s Glacier Country
We had already seen snow on the Duffers Saddle, but the glaciers of the West Coast region promised to provide an even more exciting winter experience.
Off the beaten track – exploring the Remarkables and Nevis Road Duffers Saddle
The mountains of New Zealand’s South Island have caught the eye of travellers from across the world in recent decades. Running down the island like a spine, they are one of the world’s best examples of pristine mountain scenery, rivalling the Alps and the Rockies. The peaks are interspersed with fjords, lakes and pine forests while quaint little towns nestle in whatever flat space they can find.
What makes a good user experience design?
In order to come up with a good user experience design, it is important to first understand the meaning of the terms user experience and design. UX design is about making the user’s experience with the product the best as possible. We lists nine key features and attributes that make up a good user experience design.
Ten tips for designing infographics
In our previous infographics blog, we discussed the advantages and disadvantages of using infographics in content marketing. In part two we provide our ten top tips to help you design successful infographics. The wide-spread use of infographics is a relatively recent phenomenon. But the use of infographics to convey information is extremely popular. Infographics can offer you an unprecedented amount of ways for your business to stay ahead of the competition.
In memory of Mao Mao – celebrating a decade of cat and human friendship
It is with much sadness that our beloved Mao Mao (also known as Chairman Mao) has recently crossed the Rainbow Bridge. I wanted to write something to honour his memory and to celebrate a decade of human and cat friendship.
Norway in a Nutshell – Part 3: Bergen
Bergen is Norway’s second largest city. But with less than 300,000 people living within the city limits, it had a nice small town charm, which we weren’t expecting. Nicknamed ‘the capital of the fjords’, Bergen sits hemmed in between the surrounding mountains and the Byforden.
Norway in a Nutshell – Part 2: Myrdal, Flam and Fjord Cruise
We had just spent an enjoyable couple of days in Oslo, soaking up the atmosphere of Norway’s fascinating capital. Without question, seeing the history of the country embodied in the old buildings, and getting the full New Year’s experience surrounded by people in such a special place was truly unforgettable. But now we were eager to see and explore some of Norway’s famous natural attractions.
Norway in a Nutshell – Part 1: Oslo
Scandinavia is a part of the world which captivates me. It is a land of dramatic scenery, rich history and mysterious folklore. It’s rugged, windswept landscapes couldn’t be much less like the arid expanses of Western Australian that I call home, and they also make it a photographer’s dream. Having already been enchanted by Finland, Iceland and Sweden, I was excited to see what Norway had to offer.
Adventures in Japan – chasing cherry blossom – Part 4: the bright lights of Tokyo
I had been in Japan for a while now, and had enjoyed visiting Kamakura, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Yokohama. My final stop however, was one which everyone has heard of – and one which I was excited to visit again. Japan’s capital, Tokyo, known across the world as a sprawling, futuristic hive of activity and one of the biggest cities in the world.
Introduction to infographics
Information graphics or infographics as they are more commonly known, are widely used in visual content marketing. More and more businesses are utilising infographics as an efficient way to communicate their composite message in a way that is both easy to comprehend and visually pleasing.
Snowy Reykjavik – a magical Christmas in Iceland
For someone who lives in sunny Perth, Australia, it’s been a long held dream of mine to spend a white Christmas somewhere in the northern hemisphere. Prior to my visit, I pictured Iceland to be a very cold country with frozen landscapes, snow-covered peaks, black sand beaches and sky scraping geysers. But this magical island country in the North Atlantic Ocean has a lot more to offer than what I initially imagined.
Top 10 design rules to help in your design project
The ground rules required by an individual to be an excellent designer are similar to graphic design rules. However, when you want to specialise, you need to be very aware of the rules and challenges that will make you successful. It’s perfectly acceptable to break these rules occasionally, but it is vital to understand the rules you are breaking to make sure you do it in the right way.
12 reasons to use photographs to boost productivity in your office
Art is a perfect way of adding freshness to your office décor. If your office walls are cold and uninspiring, it’s probably time to give your office a stylish makeover. Displaying photographs will not only make a workplace more aesthetically pleasing and impress visitors, it can also increase employee creativity, efficiency and productivity.
Adventures in Japan – chasing cherry blossom – Part 3: Kamakura and Yokohama
Kamakura is one of Japan’s most popular tourist destinations thanks to its long history and coastal location. There is an abundance of things to see in and around the city, and it has a reputation for having a relaxed atmosphere.
Colours and accessibility in web and graphic design
Colour is a vital feature in web and graphic design. It helps to enhance a website’s aesthetic appeal and convey information. But even more importantly, colour plays a key role in the usability and accessibility of a website. Colour can increase accessibility but when used incorrectly, it can create unnecessary difficulties.
Guide Dogs WA pro bono sponsorship
I've been working with Guide Dogs WA since September 2016 providing pro bono graphic design assistance, including helping out with their Pupdates – the quarterly ‘school reports’ for each Guide Dog in training. I find volunteering has so many benefits, from learning and developing new skills to gaining experience.
Adventures in Japan – chasing cherry blossom – Part 2: Kyoto
Having spent some time in Osaka and Nara, I hopped onto the Kintetsu Rail and travelled a short distance inland to the city of Kyoto. I was excited to reach Kyoto, a city steeped in history, and home to many fascinating and photogenic attractions scattered around the metropolitan area. Kyoto is also renowned for being one of the best places in the country to see Japanese cherry blossom.
Adventures in Japan – chasing cherry blossom – Part 1: Osaka and Nara
For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to visit Japan during cherry blossom season. Every year, from February to early May, parts of the country explode with pink as the native cherry trees start to blossom. My imagination captured by the evocative fairy tale images of this natural event, I finally got the chance to visit Japan last year, when I organised a trip during Easter, to see the cherry trees in full bloom.
Adventures in snowy Lapland – a photographer’s dream
Recently I had the pleasure of visiting one of the cleanest and most unspoiled destinations in the world - Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Finland. In this beautiful icy wonderland the air was so crisp and cold I could feel it deep down in my lungs and the water is so pure you could drink it straight from the streams. When the sun rose, the blanket of white snow reflected the pinkish glow of the horizon.
Exploring Sweden’s beautiful capital
I hadn’t planned to go to Stockholm on my trip around the Nordic countries, but circumstances saw me over there anyway. We had spent two days and two nights in Stockholm and had been pleasantly surprised by it. The city is clean and organised, and the people are very friendly.
2016 MERC
For the past six years, our Creative Director Tse Yin has volunteered her time to photograph the annual Mining Emergency Response Competition (MERC) in Perth, Western Australia. This year's event took place on 25 to 27 November 2016 at Langley Park. The event, which is open to the public, brings together Western Australia's top rescue teams.
Annual report design
It’s fair to say that traditionally, annual reports aren’t always the most fun projects for a designer to work on. And with their text heavy content, some can be as dull as dishwater to read. But with a bit of creative thinking, a good designer can turn a potentially boring annual report into something that’s both visually appealing and a worthwhile read. In other words, something far from dull. Which is great news for engagement and retention.
User experience for web and digital media
To be successful, your website needs to impress from the moment someone visits your site. Which is why careful consideration must be given to user experience (UX) during the design stage.
Seven things a website needs to succeed
What do I need to do to make my website a success? It’s a common question we get asked by our clients. Pretty much everyone with a website has their eye on the big prize – getting their business onto page one of Google. In today’s demanding and competitive online space, if you want the best chance of boosting google rankings, increasing traffic and ultimately attracting more customers and sales, you need to make sure you’ve got the key elements covered.
Bells Rapid, Swan Valley
This Alumalux high gloss with wooden box frame print of Bells Rapids would make a stunning feature for your home or office and measures 895 mm x 1243 mm. Other printing and framing options are available, including canvas, aluminium and acrylic, with various sizing options to suit.
Four reasons why you should work with a professional graphic designer
If you own a small or medium-size business, marketing is essential. In the current climate of fierce competition, standing out of the crowd is vital. A harmonic, professional logo, poster or website is something your customers will remember and the quality of work will say a lot about your business, in ways you might not even imagine.
Four fabulous reasons why websites need great content
We often get asked about the benefits of good website content, and why it’s important to use a professional website copywriter. After all, most of us have the ability to write, even if we can’t design an awesome website.
Responsive web design: what is it and why you need it
We love websites. Which is a good job because we work with them every day, designing and maintaining corporate and personal blog type sites, brochure websites and ecommerce online shopping cart stores.
Nine reasons why you need a website
If you’ve been thinking about having your own website, but have so far resisted the urge to take the plunge, we’ve put together a few good reasons why you should take the leap and get your business online.
Elizabeth Quay: Perth’s $2.6 billion waterfront project
Elizabeth Quay opened to the public on the 29th January 2016. I’ve visited this soon-to-be iconic Perth attraction a few times since its official grand opening. And at different times of the day, both for recreational and photography purposes.
2015 Mining Emergency Response Competition (MERC)
On the weekend of the 28 and 29 November, I volunteered my time to photograph the annual Mining Emergency Response Competition (MERC) at Langley Park, Perth. Now into its fifth year, MERC sees nine of WA’s top rescue teams demonstrate how they respond to a range of realistic emergency scenarios.
Azurra Migration website
We love our clients and we’re chuffed that many of them recommend TAD Graphics to their friends. A former client recommended us to Azurra Migration, who came to us seeking a website for their recently established migration business.
Perth-Chengdu Cultural and Economic Development Association (PCCEDA) website
A recent project involved designing a website for the Perth-Chengdu Cultural and Economic Development Association (PCCEDA). A not-for-profit organisation, I was recommended to PCCEDA by a client. PCCEDA was established in August 2015 to facilitate a working relationship between the City of Perth and the City of Chengdu.
2015 Chevron City to Surf for Activ
We were thrilled to be asked to photograph the 2015 Chevron City to Surf for Activ, WA’s largest community sporting event.
Chung Wah Association 2014-15 annual report
The Chung Wah Association of Western Australia asked me to put together their latest 2014-15 annual report. A comprehensive report, detailing the Association's activities for this period, the document will be given to shareholders and other notable parties.
Chung Wah Magazine volume 24 July 2015
My work for the Chung Wah Magazine continues, with the publication of their July 2015 issue. At 64 pages, the magazine is one of my biggest projects, and the Chung Wah Association has become a regular client.
Noble Falls Gidgegannup
Weekends are the perfect time to get out and explore. Just 50 minutes east of Perth, the Perth Hills is a landscape photographers playground.
Honey cake
What would a party or any kind of celebration be without cake? This delicious looking honey cake was commissioned for a friend's pet's birthday party.
Design for life
For the past three years, Tse Yin Chang has been working her creative magic to help produce the Chung Wah Association’s flagship magazine. Tse Yin spoke to Kate Anderson about how she came to be involved with the Chung Wah Magazine, and what led her to choose a career as a graphic designer.
Playtime with QQ
Photographing animals requires patience. A lot of patience! QQ is our office cat and my best feline friend. She prefers to spend most of her day sleeping, but likes to indulge in some playtime occasionally.
Busselton Jetty, Western Australia
The best place in Busselton to capture a sunset is the town's iconic heritage listed jetty. Stretching almost 2 km into the waters of Geographe Bay, it's the longest timber piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere. Construction began in 1865, starting with just 161 metres, before further extensions were made over the years.
Chung Wah Magazine volume 23 April 2015
Now a bilingual quarterly magazine, the April 2015 issue of the Chung Wah Magazine centred on the “Happy Reunion” theme. The magazine itself was heavily populated with coverage of the Chinese New Year celebrations, which took place in February.
Haus Accommodation
Haus Accommodation is a Perth based provider of budget accommodation, aimed specifically at the backpacker market, or anyone looking for short-term affordable accommodation in Perth. The client requested a fresh, modern website, that would be easy to navigate and mobile responsive.
Baked with Love
Food is one of my favourite subjects to photograph, but it can be tricky. Particularly when you’re trying to take photos and all you really want to do is eat what you’re being asked to photograph!
Shell on Cottesloe Beach
If you’re keen to experience a stunning Western Australia sunset, Cottesloe Beach is usually the perfect spot to enjoy the best Mother Nature has to offer.
North Beach
Like most photographers, I enjoy posting and sharing my images on social media, particularly Instagram. This beautiful sunset image was picked up and shared on the Instagram accounts of Perth Life and Amazing WA. Between them they have over 55,000 followers.
Perth Chinese New Year Fair event collaterals
On Sunday 22nd February, the City of Perth, in association with the Chung Wah Association, held their annual Chinese New Year Fair. A family-themed one-day street celebration taking place in Northbridge, I was tasked with designing an eye-catching flyer to advertise the day’s attractions, events and times.
Chung Wah Association new website
I love revamping websites. I get a huge buzz from being asked to put my creative spin on things and give existing websites a fresh new makeover. And that’s exactly what the Chung Wah Association asked me to do.
Chung Wah Magazine volume 22 January 2015
January 2015 marked the first issue of a new year, with production of the Chung Wah magazine moving from bi-monthly to quarterly. This issue was all about celebrating the Year of the Goat.
Chung Wah Magazine volume 21 November 2014
This was the last bimonthly edition of Chung Wah’s flagship magazine, and the last issue for 2014. A 62-page magazine, the theme for this issue was “No pain, no gain”. As usual, we were commissioned to design both print and digital editions of the bilingual magazine.
Fitzroy Pete / Pete Carter website
Looking to combine his two greatest passions - creative writing and mathematics - local author and statistician Pete Carter approached tad graphics to design a website to help promote his debut book and statistics consultancy business, Stats What I’m Talking About.
Spring in Western Australia’s Mid West
One of my favourite shots, this 0.6 second exposure of the Indian Ocean was taken at sunrise in Geraldton, Western Australia.
Chung Wah Magazine volume 20 September 2014
We continue our work for the Chung Wah Association with the September 2014 edition of their popular bi-monthly magazine. We were once again commissioned to design both their print and digital editions.
They say animals and children are the hardest subjects to photograph. I’d have to agree. It is, after all, much easier to get an adult human to pose for you, than a small child or your favourite pet.
Winter sunset at Cottesloe Beach
I love photographing sunsets, and this particular image was used as header for an online newsletter published the following month by EnjoyPerth!, a guide to what’s on in Perth and Western Australia. It’s always lovely when someone likes your photo enough to use it as promotional material.
The City of Lights
An iconic skyline shot of Perth at night from the viewing platform along the Swan River in South Perth. There’s something truly special about photographing the city under the cover of darkness. Apparently back in the 60s, astronaut John Glenn (the first American to orbit the earth) described Perth as the “City of Lights”. It certainly lives up to its name.
Como Jetty sunset
We love taking sunsets. Like this one at Como Jetty, captured one weekend in August 2014. A useful focal point and popular with many local photographers, the timber jetty is over 200 metres long and stretches out into Melville Water on Perth's Swan River. Dating back to 1907, Como Jetty was eventually rebuilt in 1982.
Matilda Bay sunrise
This is Matilda Bay at sunrise, with Perth city just beginning to wake up in the background. If you look closely you can even see the crescent moon!
Sunset at Point Walter
This photo in our portfolio is called “Sunset at Point Walter” and was taken in August 2014. It was one of a collection of photographs which appeared on Experience Perth’s Facebook page.
Chung Wah Magazine volume 19 July 2014
We've been working with the Chung Wah Association to produce their flagship magazine since 2013. Available in print as well as a downloadable digital edition, the latest issue of the magazine was published in July 2014.
Kate Anderson website
Journalist and copywriter Kate Anderson wanted our help to design a personal portfolio website to showcase her professional writing skills and services. Having previously created her own free WordPress blog, which she describes as “very, very basic”, Kate’s only brief was for something “more professional looking that makes a statement”.
England
This photo of the fading sun was taken on the way back from London during a trip to the UK in April 2014. It was pure luck to get this shot, after stopping off at a motorway service station. It was definitely one of those right-time-right-place moments and the solitary tree coupled with the fading light makes it all the more atmospheric.
Chung Wah Magazine volume 18 May 2014
We’ve been working with Western Australia’s Chung Wah Association since 2013, producing their bi-monthly flagship magazine as well as promotional material including posters and flyers.
2013 Mining Emergency Response Competition (MERC)
Published in Kalgoorlie Miner dated 26 September 2013, this photo was taken in the rope rescue scenario during the 2013 Mining Emergency Response Competition (MERC), held on the 21- 22 September 2013 in Langley Park, Perth.
Revive Printers website
Our friends at Revive Printers wanted a fresh new look for their website, which was looking a little tired and dated. So they engaged our services to inject new life into their online presence by bringing their existing website back to life. We provided them with a fresh new look and improved content. Our happy client thinks it looks “rather posh”!
Chung Wah Magazine volume 17 March 2014
The Chung Wah Magazine is a bi-monthly Chinese-English bilingual publication circulated to members of the association and members of the Chinese community in Perth. The Chung Wah Association was founded in 1909 and to this day is the largest Chinese organisation in Western Australia.
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