Design Articles

We’re curious people by nature. And we love to teach others what we’ve learned. So explore our blog to gain fresh insights from our expertise in areas ranging from culture to AI.

SEP Selected as a Nominee for TechPoint’s Innovation Mira Award

TechPoint has announced the nominees for its 25th annual Mira Awards, highlighting the most innovative companies, universities, and organizations in Indiana’s tech sector. The awards celebrate achievements across various categories, including the Innovation Partner of the Year. Nominees in this…
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team of young professional presenting collaboratively

How Interaction Design Changes Our World, One Interaction at a Time

I walk into the kitchen for coffee, and my Google Home says, “Good morning!” My schedule for the day pops up on the screen. The assistant tells me how long it will take to get to work now that I have started driving my son to school. In the car, the map and arrival estimates […]
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How Designers and Developers can use Shared Element Transitions to Improve UX

What are Shared Element Transitions? Shared Element Transitions are animations that move elements from one screen to another within an app. They help users understand how the interface changes when navigating between screens. They are particularly effective when users are browsing diverse content and frequently switching back and forth between screens. These transitions can be […]
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Figma logo

10 Figma Shortcuts to Improve Your UI Design Proficiencies

Though most shortcuts in work are ill-advised or perceived as lazy, some have proven otherwise. As Figma has exploded in use amongst many in the design field these last few years, almost all SEP’s designers have adopted this tool in their own unique way. Like artists, designers have their own approach to the pieces they […]
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Photography 101 with Adam Sturm

Photography 101

I might be the Marketing Graphic Designer at SEP, but I do MUCH more than just design. Part of my role at SEP is to help visually show our brand. One of the ways we do that is through photography! While most companies stick with stock photos, we love to show you the faces of […]
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Employees at SEP working from the office.

Is going back to the office really worth it?

Travel back in time with me to November 2021… SEP executives felt that we do our best work together, in person. We had a date set – December 6, 2021. The opening of our new headquarters in Westfield, IN. This was happening. After almost two years of working from home, we are returning to the […]
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SEP mascot Hexter the owl wearing a birthday hat

Happy 1st Birthday, Hexter!

One Year It’s officially been one year since the SEP owl mascot was introduced. At the time, our little feathery friend didn’t even have a name! Since the introduction on day 1 of moving into SEP’s Forever Home, Hexter was named and has been used in over 40 DIFFERENT WAYS. That’s pretty incredible. For a […]
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phone app displaying in dark mode on desk

Welcome to the Dark Side: 5 Tips for Designing a Dark Mode Version of Your App

Are you thinking of coming to the dark side? 🦇🖤 Designing in dark mode continues to grow in popularity, especially following the implementation of optional dark mode for Apple iOS, Facebook, Google Chrome, Youtube and other highly trafficked sites and operating systems (source). But what is dark mode? If you aren’t familiar with it, dark mode […]
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Friday’s 13 Tips to Overcome Design Workshop Facilitation Nerves

Facilitating design workshops can oftentimes feel as scary as Friday the 13th. The nerves that build up moments before meeting with a client can feel the same as the nerves I would get as a kid while watching the classic 80’s slasher film as Jason skulked around Camp Crystal Lake. In both scenarios, I was/am […]
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consultation working meeting close up of laptops and hands drawing on paper

Software Design Accessibility Audits 101: What You Need to Know

Accessibility in software design is an important topic that often gets overlooked or deprioritized. The good news is, addressing accessibility does not need to be a giant undertaking. In this post, I’ll give an overview of accessibility laws and how you can conduct your own software accessibility audit. This won’t make you an expert on […]
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