Before&After Design Tip: A Logotype That Looks Like What It Says!
Look how Coca-Cola created this simple typographic device—four letters, each skinnier than the one before.
The Before & After Archive
Welcome to the CreativePro archive of Before & After magazine articles.
Published from 1990–2014, Before & After magazine was the gold standard for educational material aimed at professional graphic designers and anyone else who wanted to learn “how to design cool stuff.”
Since the articles focused on design principles and techniques instead specific software, they are “evergreen” and just as relevant today as when they were first published.
You can read about the history of the Before & After magazine, and its founder, John McWade, in this article.
CreativePro members enjoy full access to download Before & After articles in PDF format, which preserves the original look and feel of the magazine.
The shorter design tips are available free to all.
Before&After: Design Teeny-Tiny Brochures
Members OnlyThis article from Before&After Magazine teaches you to create unique brochures that fold to business-card size.
Before&After Design Tip: From Silhouette to Logo
Neither fancy typography nor a painstakingly crafted graphic would be as effective as a silhouette image showing the action.
Before&After: Design a Mini Portfolio Card
Members OnlyHere's how we helped a photographer improve her portfolio card.
Design a Step-Up Brochure
Members OnlyA compact brochure of loose cards (a.k.a a step-up brochure) is easy to customize.
Design Tip: Choosing Background Colors
Quick tips for choosing background colors to go with photos
Before&After: Use Photos in Skinny Spaces
Members OnlySkinny spaces are everywhere—web banners, newsletter nameplates, single-column ads—but photos come from our cameras in fat, 6" x 4" proportions, same as always. How…
Before&After: How to Design a Small Poster
Members OnlyHow can you use a small poster to make a big impression at close range? The answer: bold images and high contrasts.
Before&After Case Study: UPS Branding
Members OnlyThis 10-page article from issue 39 of Before&After Magazine lets you see how for UPS, the key to a successful look has been consistency.
Before&After: Design a Peekaboo Brochure
Members OnlyThis brochure with a narrow front panel gives a peek at the inside, which opens into a beautiful presentation.
Get Many Images From One Original Photo
Members OnlyThis 18-page article from issue 39 of Before&After Magazine shows you how to get several small images out of one large original.
Before&After: Simplify a Business Card in Three Steps
Members OnlyHow to redesign a business card that has too much going on.