We round up the hot topics in design this week, including an Adobe Android treat and a big Disney trailer.
With such busy schedules to keep, you might not have had the chance to catch up on this week's biggest design news stories. Lucky for you, we've rounded them up in this handy little list that will make sure you get to the good stuff, quickly.
We can't wait to see what Spielberg has come up with
On the face of the trailer, The BFG promises to be one of the most exciting to hit our screens this summer. That's not surprising considering it combines the talents of three of the world's greatest storytellers – Roald Dahl, Walt Disney and StevenSpielberg – in bringing the former's classic tale to movie life.
Click the above link to see the advert making a stir
South West Trains has just released a new campaign, with the banner ad heading up their Twitter page. Reading, '1,400 extra car parking spaces (more helpful than changing the shade of all our trains),' designer Andy Hau found the advert to be belittling of designers. What do you think?
Whilst not exactly a rival to Photoshop, this free tool could save you time
Released in open beta, Shutterstock Editor is a simple but effective way to crop and re-size an image in one step for the most popular social media sites, before even downloading it. You can select from 10 recommended preset sizes, and there's also the option to custom-crop an image and a set of filters that you can apply.
Did your favourite from this year make it into the top 10?
With so many new graphic design books this year, it can be tough to know which ones you need in your studio – and which ones simply aren't worth your precious cash. So we've done the hard work for you.
Whether you're after a Christmas present for yourself or a graphic designer friend, or simply want to bulk up the office bookshelf, we've put together the 10 best graphic design books of 2015.
It's been a long time coming for this Affinity Photo update
We're big fans of Affinity Photo, one of the best Mac alternatives to Photoshop around. And makers Serif have just announced the first major update to the Creative Cloud-busting app since its release in July. To mark the release, Serif are offering a one-week 20 per cent discount for new customers.
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Make your screen serene with this nature-inspired image tool
Shutterstock have just launched Shutterstock Tab, a free Chrome extension which displays a beautiful image as a background – mainly taken from the natural world – every time you open a new Chrome tab.
Lego mega-fans will recognise most of these colours
From flamingo pink to chrome red, plenty of different Lego colours have emerged over the years. While we've already seen how the Lego pallete has changed and some brilliant examples of Lego art, this comprehensive chart by Lego fan Jeremy Moody finally showcases every shade in one place.
We're sure you'll find your 2016 calendar in these picks
Choosing a calendar is a thrill for many, whether it's the touch of a beautifully hand-made desk calendar that delights or the thrill of finding the perfect combination of space to scribble and at-a-glance organisation. We chose 20 of our favourites.
Android users will finally be able to use the tool
In October this year, Adobe released its photo processor and image organiser Lightroom 2.0 for iOS, which made it possible to use the program on iPhones and iPads without a paid subscription. This week, the company has announced Lightroom for Android version 1.4, which adds the same free offering for Android users.
Get all the best tips on responsive web design with this free ebook
Responsive design is the new standard for the web. To help usher designers into the new age, the design team from the prototyping app UXPin has released another addition to their free design library.
Sammy Maine was a founding member of the Creative Bloq team way back in the early 2010s, working as a Commissioning Editor. Her interests cover graphic design in music and film, illustration and animation. Since departing, Sammy has written for The Guardian, VICE, The Independent & Metro, and currently co-edits the quarterly music journal Gold Flake Paint.
