Design

Development

People & Culture

Project Management

Most of the projects nowadays can be complex and multifaceted, so to effectively manage them, we focus more on providing flexibility in our approach to account for different types of projects which come in various sizes and bring their own set of requirements.

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Our Project Management Approach

Over the course of the last decade, there has been an increase in available project management methodologies which offer a variety of tools and techniques to ensure that the project runs as smoothly as possible. This is necessary in order to achieve a balance between a satisfied client as well as an accomplished development team.Most of the projects nowadays can be complex and multifaceted, so to effectively manage them, we focus more on providing flexibility in our approach to account for different types of projects which come in various sizes and bring their own set of requirements. We follow the essential steps, familiar processes and leverage our flat hierarchy to create our own customized blend of project management methodologies. It all depends on the project itself, and of course, a mutual consensus on which approach is the best fit for the respective project in order to achieve the best possible customer experience and exceptional value to our clients.

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<h3>Reasons for blending project management methodologies</h3>So, what made us blend different methodologies? From previous experience, here is a list of the benefits and reasons why we use this approach:<ul><li>Successful team – Methodologies don’t deliver projects, people do. A methodology is only a tool in a toolbox, so asking the team to pitch in and combine best practices of various methodologies can ensure a project is successful. Our approach complements a project, and we ensure that methodologies work for our project team, not vice versa. As project teams often vary in size, experience and availability, it is quite normal that flexibility is necessary in order to achieve success.</li><li>Identical projects do not exist – Although it may seem that a project is exactly the same as a previous one, you cannot just blindly replicate everything.  As a minimum, the people (project team and shareholders), the risks and project environment will be different, so you cannot use the same methodology over and over again. Instead, we always encourage a review of the previous methods used as part of the initial project planning phase, so that our Project team can then see and decide what can be translated over or what is not so beneficial for their next project.</li><li>Projects are unpredictable – Things do not always go as planned, no matter how prepared you are. Unexpected challenges can throw your project off course, so you will have to adapt and adjust. Using the same methodology is not the best solution. Adopting a different strategy from another methodology can often help you get the project back on track.</li><li>Adaptation is not a waste of time – Projects sometimes use a methodology that simply does not work and if not addressed, the project team may start to scramble or rush some of the necessary steps. Depending on the individual circumstances they may stick with it, or after a review, may choose to move the project in a different direction, which can save precious time. A re-evaluation of the methodology used, or adding a new element from another one, can add a fresh perspective and turn around a potentially failing project.</li></ul>

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<h3>How to choose the right blend of project management methodologies</h3>After listing the reasons why we choose to blend different methodologies, we want to highlight some key questions we ask before choosing the right blend. Blending and implementing multiple methodologies for a project requires time, effort and knowledge. To help you determine which methodology is a good fit for a particular project, here are our suggested keynotes:<ul><li>Available methodologies – you need to have a good understanding of various methodologies and what the reasoning is behind using them. Our primary focus is on the value they add to a project, and then we establish which methodology is best suited to a specific team and how they can be utilised before starting a project to ensure project success.</li><li>Shareholder needs – Listen to and focus on shareholders’ needs and wishes. If they are more likely to be making a lot of changes in the specifications or asking for constant updates, we always select a methodology with shorter cycles and an iterative approach, such as Scrum. With shorter sprints and shipping regular finished parts for testing and feedback, it gives a perspective of flexibility. Moreover, it demonstrates quick delivery and continuous value to the shareholders, which helps to keep them happy and prevents our team from feeling overwhelmed or pressured to deliver huge chunks of work.</li><li>Project team needs – Our team is the one delivering projects so we are always trying to be realistic about our projects and listening to the needs of our team. Chosen methodologies must fit well with the skills of our team, strengths and weaknesses, availability and preference. Our blend needs to align with what our team can really do practically, and not so much in the written theory behind it. </li><li>Project type – if the project is classified and looks more dynamic and you anticipate changes to the requirements, methodologies such as Agile or Scrum will make more sense.Similarly, if the project requirements are rigid and already set, traditional methodologies such as Waterfall or PRINCE2 are more sensible to use. You also need to consider any constraints and risks that are crucial to the success of the project. If there is room for more risks, in favour of more flexibility, it would be wise to use some of the strengths of Agile for example. Analysis of those key indicators can be really helpful and shed light on the path for the project team to choose, and what can be most beneficial to them and for the project.</li><li>Available tools – Different clients often use different project management software. It is up to the project team to see which methodologies those software solutions support and what can actually be achieved. There is no point in having Agile in Trello for example, as it is more suited to the Kanban approach. Assessing which tools are accessible and how they match with the needs of the project team, is something that is often neglected.</li></ul><h3>Our blend of project management methodologies </h3>Below is a list of some of the methodologies we use, to highlight their advantages and the reasons why we choose to use them. As some of these methodologies are quite complex, we are more focused on specific segments of them. The segments that provide the most value to our project teams and ones we find most natural to use, are often incorporated into our project planning.<ul><li>Waterfall – Maybe the oldest but most stable and structured approach. The key stages typically include requirements gathering, design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance. It provides predictable results, and is often used for projects that have fixed requirements, strict budgets and are not flexible to changes.The issue with this approach hides in the fact that more often than not, some features might not be adequately explained or the requirements might change at some point which will not be covered by the existing documentation, and will cause issues with the overall project duration.In our case, we tend to use it in projects for specific phases where there are deliverables that are needed to follow its natural and strict development processes, but very rarely is it used as a whole.</li><li>Scrum – Scrum is an iterative and incremental methodology where the emphasis is largely on adaptability and collaboration. It divides the project into short iterations called sprints, with the team working in cross-functional units and focusing on delivering small, valuable increments of the project in each sprint. At Simple Code, we often use this methodology in order to achieve faster go to market by focusing on the minimum viable product in the first few sprints. </li><li>Lean – Although Lean is a methodology that is often neglected because it is perceived as a loose methodology, we are quite fond of it. As it is focused on doing more with less and maximising value through continuous improvement, it is very helpful for the project team, and it helps to clarify what really needs to be done. It can also help to reduce wasteful effort and cut down the cost, which is something that is highly desired by our clients.</li><li>Kanban – Similar to the others, we use this approach to help our project teams visualise work easily and maximise their workflow efficiency. The system uses a Kanban board with columns where each task is represented by a card that moves across the board as it progresses. The main idea is to prevent a large number of tasks from being in progress in order to prevent bottlenecks. Kanban provides transparency and is particularly effective for projects with a high volume of small tasks and a need for real-time tracking.We often use this approach when developing websites since usually there is no such thing as a minimum viable product and everything needs to be ready before launching the site. In those cases, Kanban provides a clear picture of the work that is left to be done and ensures that the workload for each member of the team is manageable and can be finished at approximately the same time.</li></ul>

<h2>Conclusion</h2>There will always be arguments about which project management approach is the best and in our opinion, we don’t know and don’t care, since we’re focused on delivering quality products and continuous improvement.Our blend approach provides us with the flexibility to pick and choose various components of different methodologies to facilitate project success, so we get the best of both worlds. We believe the time when one approach fits all projects is a thing of the past. Being flexible and doing what is best for the project team and project objectives is our guiding star, which has never failed us so far.

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Explore Our Project Management Approach: Delivering Success Through Effective Strategies. Discover How We Plan, Execute, and Deliver Projects with Precision.

Our Project Management approach

At Simple Code, we take quality assurance seriously. We understand that delivering high-quality software solutions to our clients requires a combination of manual and automated testing methods and tools.

Our Approach to QA

Our manual testing includes functional testing, usability testing, and exploratory testing, while our automated testing includes clickables testing, regression testing, and performance testing. By using a combination of manual and automated testing, we can ensure that our products work as intended and provide an excellent user experience.<h3>Manual Testing</h3>When conducting manual quality assurance (QA) testing in web development, several approaches and techniques can be utilized to ensure thorough and effective testing. Here are some common approaches used in manual QA testing for web development:<ul><li>Functional Testing: Functional testing focuses on validating the functionality of the website or web application. Testers verify that all features, buttons, forms, links, and interactions work as intended. They assess whether the system meets the specified requirements and performs the expected tasks accurately. Test cases are designed to cover different scenarios, user inputs, and edge cases to ensure comprehensive functional testing.</li><li>Usability Testing: Usability testing aims to evaluate the user-friendliness and intuitiveness of the web interface. Testers simulate real-world user interactions, and assess the website&#039;s navigation, information architecture, and visual design. They identify areas where improvements can be made to enhance the user experience. Usability testing often involves collecting feedback from end-users to gain insights into their perspectives and pain points.</li><li>Cross-Browser and Cross-Device Testing: Since websites are accessed on various browsers and devices, it is crucial to test compatibility across different platforms. Testers verify that the website functions correctly and appears consistent across major web browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer. They also test responsiveness and adaptability on different devices, including desktops, laptops, tablets, and mobile phones.</li><li>Performance Testing: Performance testing involves evaluating the speed, responsiveness, and scalability of the website or web application. Testers measure and analyze key performance metrics such as page load time, response time, server resource utilization, and throughput. They conduct stress testing by simulating heavy user loads to determine the system&#039;s stability and identify performance bottlenecks or limitations.</li></ul><ul><li>Accessibility Testing: Accessibility testing ensures that the website adheres to web accessibility standards, making it usable for individuals with disabilities. Testers assess the website&#039;s compliance with guidelines such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). They verify the presence of alternative text for images, proper labeling of form elements, keyboard accessibility, and the ability to navigate using assistive technologies like screen readers.</li><li>Exploratory Testing: Exploratory testing is an unscripted approach where testers explore the website or application without predefined test cases. They intuitively interact with the system, looking for unexpected behavior, usability issues, and edge cases that automated tests may not cover. Exploratory testing encourages creativity and critical thinking, allowing testers to uncover hidden defects and provide valuable feedback.</li></ul>

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It&#039;s important to note that the selection and combination of these approaches may vary based on project requirements, timeline, and available resources. The goal is to ensure a comprehensive and balanced approach to manual QA testing that covers functional aspects, user experience, compatibility, performance, security, and accessibility, ultimately delivering a high-quality web solution to end-users.<h3>Automated Testing with Cypress</h3>While manual testing is crucial, it can be time-consuming and prone to human error. Therefore, we also use automated testing to complement our manual testing efforts. We use Cypress, an open-source testing framework that helps us cut down on testing time and improve accuracy. Cypress is a popular JavaScript-based end-to-end testing framework and automation tool specifically designed for web applications. It provides a comprehensive solution for automating tests, from interacting with the user interface to making assertions about the application&#039;s behavior.

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Cypress follows a unique architecture compared to other testing frameworks. It runs directly in the browser and operates alongside the application being tested. This architecture offers numerous advantages, such as real-time test execution, interactive debugging, and full access to the application&#039;s state. It eliminates the need for external dependencies or plugins and provides a seamless and intuitive testing experience.Our automated testing includes three types of tests:<ol><li>Clickables Test - Automated tests for clickables typically involve interacting with elements on a web page that can be clicked, such as buttons, links, or dropdowns. The purpose of these tests is to ensure that click actions trigger the expected behavior or navigation within the application. This test clicks through the product (web/mobile app or website) in random order and random places. It monitors the browser console for any errors that may arise during the process. These tests ensure that click actions trigger the expected behavior, verify navigation, and help identify potential issues or regressions as the application evolves.</li><li>Regression Testing - Cypress can also be used for visual regression testing, which involves comparing visual representations of the application before and after changes to identify any unintentional visual discrepancies. Visual regression testing helps ensure that the visual appearance of the application remains consistent across different versions or updates. This test compares the staging environment with the live environment and reports any visual differences. This test is particularly handy when we update dependencies and plugins, as it allows us to identify any issues that may arise after the update. It helps us ensure that the product looks and behaves the same way in both environments. By incorporating visual regression testing into your Cypress test suite, you can verify that the visual output of your application remains consistent and detect any unintended visual regressions caused by code changes or updates. This helps maintain a high standard of visual quality and consistency across different versions of your application.</li><li>Performance Testing - This test runs Google Lighthouse and similar tests to ensure that the product is performing well. It raises a red flag if the product is not performing well, allowing us to identify and fix performance issues before they impact the user experience. Cypress integrates with Google Lighthouse, an open-source tool for auditing and measuring the performance, accessibility, best practices, and SEO aspects of web applications. By leveraging Cypress and Google Lighthouse together, you can automate the process of running Lighthouse tests and collecting performance metrics for your application. You can analyze the Lighthouse reports to identify areas for improvement, potential performance bottlenecks, accessibility issues, or SEO optimization opportunities. The reports provide insights and recommendations for optimizing your application based on industry best practices. By combining Cypress and Google Lighthouse, you can automate the process of running Lighthouse audits and ensure that your application meets performance, accessibility, and best practice standards. This integration allows you to incorporate continuous testing and monitoring into your development workflow, enabling you to catch any regressions or issues early and maintain a high-quality web application.</li></ol>

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Cypress is a powerful and user-friendly testing framework that simplifies the process of automating tests for web applications. With its unique architecture, interactive test runner, expressive syntax, and powerful debugging capabilities, Cypress offers a seamless testing experience. By enabling developers to write reliable and efficient end-to-end tests, Cypress contributes to the overall quality and reliability of web applications, allowing teams to deliver robust software to end users.<h3>Customization and Communication</h3>We understand that no two projects are the same, and therefore, we customize our testing approach to meet the unique requirements of each project. We work closely with our clients to understand their needs and requirements, and we tailor our testing approach accordingly.Effective communication is crucial in ensuring that the product meets our client&#039;s requirements and exceeds their expectations. Therefore, we collaborate closely with our clients throughout the development process to gather feedback, answer questions, and provide progress updates.

<h2>Conclusion</h2>Our approach to QA includes both manual and automated testing methods and tools to ensure that our products work as intended and provide an excellent user experience. We use a combination of browser and device testing, as well as automated testing using Cypress, to deliver high-quality software solutions to our clients. In addition to testing, we follow industry best practices such as code reviews, continuous integration, and continuous deployment to ensure that our software is reliable, maintainable, and scalable. We also stay up to date with the latest technologies and trends to provide innovative solutions that help our clients achieve their goals.If you&#039;re looking for a digital agency that prioritizes software quality and provides custom solutions tailored to your needs, look no further than Simple Code. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your business thrive.

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Discover Our QA Approach - Ensuring Excellence Through Rigorous Quality Assurance Practices.

Our approach to QA

Our Approach to QA

Simplifying Many-to-Many Relationships with Laravel Polymorphic Relations

In database architecture, many-to-many relationships often add complexity to our system. One way to tackle this is by using polymorphic relations, which Laravel gracefully handles. This blog post will delve into how you can use Laravel’s polymorphic relations to simplify many-to-many relationships.We will use the scenario where a user can &quot;like&quot; an item in an online store. To achieve this, we typically need user, item, and pivot tables. This structure can prove challenging, especially when adding more likeable types to the system. Fortunately, with polymorphic relations, we can consolidate all these relationships into one table, simplifying the process of adding new likeable types to the system. The following illustrations compare a non-polymorphic table structure with a polymorphic table structure: Non-polymorphic table structure

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Polymorphic table structure

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The latter structure is simpler and more reusable. When we want to introduce a new likeable type to the system, we only need to create a table for the model and add internal relationships within Laravel. We can forgo the extra steps of creating multiple pivot tables.In this blog post, we won&#039;t delve into the entire process of creating tables, models, migrations, etc. Instead, we&#039;ll focus on the key steps to make the transition to polymorphic relationships.You can find a full working example on our GitHub repository.<h2>Code Examples &amp; Definitions </h2>Before we proceed, it&#039;s worth mentioning that we have a working example of the Laravel setup on our<a> GitHub</a>. This provides a practical context to understand the code examples and definitions we&#039;ll discuss.It&#039;s good practice to rename the morph relationship to something other than the model namespace - a simple string would suffice. In the boot method of the AppServiceProvider, add a morph map that specifies the class used. By doing this, we decouple the names from the application&#039;s internal structure.<pre><code>Relation::enforceMorphMap([
 &#039;book&#039; =&gt; Book::class,
 &#039;item&#039; =&gt; Item::class,
 &#039;sweet&#039; =&gt; Sweet::class,
]);</code></pre>You can read more about this in the Laravel documentation <a target="_blank" href="https://laravel.com/docs/10.x/eloquent-relationships#custom-polymorphic-types">here</a>.<h2>Models</h2><h3>Sweet/Book/Item Model relationships</h3>After creating the necessary models, we must define the polymorphic relationship within them. In this case, we&#039;re focusing on the likeables table. This definition must be added to all models that will be &quot;likeable&quot; by the user.<pre><code>public function likes()
{
	// omit Model name with the one you are using
 return $this-&gt;morphToMany(User::class, &#039;likeable&#039;);
}</code></pre>In our case, all models share the same relationship.You can find the final Sweet, Book, Item models here:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://github.com/simple-code-agency/blog-laravel-polymorphic-relations/blob/master/app/Models/Item.php">Item model</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://github.com/simple-code-agency/blog-laravel-polymorphic-relations/blob/master/app/Models/Sweet.php">Sweet model</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://github.com/simple-code-agency/blog-laravel-polymorphic-relations/blob/master/app/Models/Book.php">Book model</a></li></ul><h3>User Model relationships</h3>We also need to define additional relationships for all models that the user can like inside the User model. <pre><code>// Sweets relation
public function likedSweets(): MorphToMany
{
 return $this-&gt;morphedByMany(Sweet::class, &#039;likeable&#039;);
}

// Items relation
public function likedItems(): MorphToMany
{
 return $this-&gt;morphedByMany(Item::class, &#039;likeable&#039;);
}

// Books relation
public function likedBooks(): MorphToMany
{
 return $this-&gt;morphedByMany(Book::class, &#039;likeable&#039;);
}</code></pre>To fetch all items liked by the user, we add a hasMany relationship.<pre><code>// All likes of this user
public function likes(): HasMany
{
 return $this-&gt;hasMany(Likeable::class);
}</code></pre>The final User Model can be found at <a target="_blank" href="https://github.com/simple-code-agency/blog-laravel-polymorphic-relations/blob/master/app/Models/User.php">this link</a>.<h3>Likeable Model</h3>The Likeable model should be created with a belongsTo relation to the user. This way, we can retrieve all items liked by a user when needed.<pre><code>public function user(): BelongsTo
{
 return $this-&gt;belongsTo(User::class);
}</code></pre><h2>Controllers</h2><h3>Sweet/Book/ItemController Controllers</h3>The like controllers will be identical, as their goal is to fetch the template we&#039;re using and count the items liked by the user.Take the BookController as an example, and add the index method inside.<pre><code>// BookController.php
public function index()
{
 // Just count number of likes here
 return view(&#039;books&#039;, [
 &#039;books&#039; =&gt; Book::withCount(&#039;likes&#039;)-&gt;get()
 ]);
}</code></pre>You can apply the same logic to all other controllers for likeables - just replace the model name used.You can find them here:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://github.com/simple-code-agency/blog-laravel-polymorphic-relations/blob/master/app/Http/Controllers/BookController.php">BookController</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://github.com/simple-code-agency/blog-laravel-polymorphic-relations/blob/master/app/Http/Controllers/ItemController.php">ItemController</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://github.com/simple-code-agency/blog-laravel-polymorphic-relations/blob/master/app/Http/Controllers/SweetController.php">SweetController</a></li></ul><h3>LikeController</h3>The Like Controller is responsible for adding or removing likes from items. Create a store method that is triggered via a POST request.Below is an example of a method responsible for adding the necessary relationships to a pivot table. This method finds the model passed from the request as the model type and tries to find that model_id. If we have defined all relationships between the models correctly, we can use the attach &amp; detach method to add or remove relationships from the pivot table.<pre><code>// LikeController.php
public function store(LikeableRequest $request): RedirectResponse
{
 $validated = $request-&gt;validated();

 $likeable = $validated[&#039;model_type&#039;]::findOrFail($validated[&#039;model_id&#039;]);

 $likeable-&gt;likes()-&gt;where(&#039;user_id&#039;, auth()-&gt;id())-&gt;exists() ?
 $likeable-&gt;likes()-&gt;detach(auth()-&gt;id()):
 $likeable-&gt;likes()-&gt;attach(auth()-&gt;id());

 return redirect()-&gt;back();
}</code></pre><h2>Views</h2>Let&#039;s take a look at a short example of a form-action view. It passes the model ID and modelType to the controller.<pre><code>// books.blade.php
&lt;form action=&quot;{{ route(&#039;like&#039;, [&#039;model_type&#039; =&gt; \App\Models\Book::class, &#039;model_id&#039; =&gt; $book-&gt;id]) }}&quot; method=&quot;POST&quot;&gt;
 @csrf
 &lt;button type=&quot;submit&quot; class=&quot;bg-gray-200&quot;&gt;
 @if(auth()-&gt;user()-&gt;likes()-&gt;where(&#039;likeable_id&#039;, $book-&gt;id)-&gt;where(&#039;likeable_type&#039;, &#039;book&#039;)-&gt;first())
 liked
 @else
 like
 @endif
 &lt;/button&gt;
&lt;/form&gt;</code></pre>You can find the full code at <a target="_blank" href="https://github.com/simple-code-agency/blog-laravel-polymorphic-relations/blob/master/resources/views/books.blade.php">this link</a>.<h2>Seeders</h2>Lastly, we have a simple seeder for creating random users and adding polymorphic relationships.Check the Database\Seeders\UserSeeder<a target="_blank" href="https://github.com/simple-code-agency/blog-laravel-polymorphic-relations/blob/master/database/seeders/UserSeeder.php"> here</a>.<pre><code>public function likeRandomly()
{
 $users = User::all();
 $sweets = Sweet::factory()-&gt;count(10)-&gt;create();
 $items = Item::factory()-&gt;count(10)-&gt;create();
 $books = Book::factory()-&gt;count(10)-&gt;create();

 foreach ($users as $user) {
 for ($i = 0; $i &lt; random_int(1, 10); $i++) {
 $user-&gt;likedSweets()-&gt;attach($sweets-&gt;random());
 $user-&gt;likedItems()-&gt;attach($items-&gt;random());
 $user-&gt;likedBooks()-&gt;attach($books-&gt;random());
 }
 }
}</code></pre>

<h2>Conclusion</h2>By leveraging Laravel&#039;s polymorphic relationships, you can simplify your many-to-many relationships. The likable example we explored today shows how polymorphic relations can streamline your code, making it cleaner and more manageable. Enjoy building and keep coding!

building

Mastering Laravel Polymorphic Relations for Effortless Management of Complex Many-to-Many Relationships.

Simplifying Many-to-Many Relationships with Laravel Polymorphic Relations

In an era where work-life balance is considered crucial, an increasing number of businesses are prioritizing their employees&#039; mental health and overall well-being.

Incorporating Mindfulness Practices

In an era where work-life balance is considered crucial, an increasing number of businesses are prioritizing their employees&#039; mental health and overall well-being. The recognition of the long-term benefits this approach brings to the organization is becoming widespread.An effective method for enhancing employee well-being is through the practice of mindfulness. This technique, which places emphasis on being fully present and engaged in the current moment, can lead to an increase in productivity and a reduction in stress levels. Regular mindfulness practice can also contribute to improvements in concentration, communication, and general health.The successful implementation of mindfulness in the workplace hinges on consistency. It is recommended to engage in mindfulness practices daily, starting with a few minutes each day and gradually extending to 10-20 minutes. Incorporating such practices in the professional environment can result in reduced stress, heightened job satisfaction, improved concentration and focus, enhanced efficiency, better communication, and an overall increase in health.

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To familiarize our colleagues with mindfulness, a workshop was recently conducted, led by our People &amp; Culture Manager and Social Pedagogue, Lucija. The workshop was designed to cover the fundamentals of mindfulness and included interactive exercises such as mindful eating and observation. Concluding exercises included:<ul><li>Mindful eating</li><li>Observing 5 distinct aspects of the surroundings</li><li>Mindful movements</li><li>Mindful observation</li><li>Collaborative drawing exercises</li></ul>In the weeks following the workshop, employees were encouraged to participate in mindfulness challenges, such as focusing on specific smells and using their non-dominant hand for everyday tasks. The feedback to these challenges was overwhelmingly positive, and we believe that integrating mindfulness into the workplace on a more regular basis can provide significant benefits for both the employees and the organization.

<h2>Conclusion</h2>In summary, the practice of mindfulness has been demonstrated to positively influence well-being, emotional reactivity, and behavioral regulation. Given the positive reception from employees, it is recommended that mindfulness be incorporated more frequently into the workplace environment.

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Transform Your Life by Incorporating Mindfulness Practices: Discover Inner Peace and Mental Clarity. Explore How Mindfulness Enhances Well-being and Reduces Stress.

Incorporating mindfulness practices

Incorporating Mindfulness Practices

Feedback is the bridge that connects our efforts to growth.

Power of feedback - receiving feedback

Feedback is the bridge that connects our efforts to growth. It&#039;s a window into how we&#039;re doing and a roadmap for how we can do better. Think of it as the GPS guiding you on your professional journey. But it&#039;s not just about individual growth; it&#039;s about fostering healthy relationships and enhancing performance across the board.Studies reveal that when individuals feel valued and recognized, their motivation and engagement skyrocket. In fact, a staggering 72% of employees consider recognition to be the most significant driver of engagement. This rings especially true for the younger workforce, with 72% of employees under 30 desiring feedback on a daily or weekly basis.So, what exactly is feedback? It&#039;s not a personal attack, nor is it solely criticism. Feedback is a versatile tool that encompasses praise, growth opportunities, and constructive criticism with solutions. It&#039;s a commentary about work, a way to highlight achievements, and a catalyst for improvement.

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<h3>When and How to Seek Feedback</h3>Picture this: You&#039;ve just wrapped up a major project or nailed a presentation. That&#039;s the moment to expect feedback. It&#039;s also a part of formal performance reviews. But here&#039;s the golden rule—whenever you feel ready to receive feedback, ask for it. Regular check-ins ensure that feedback is given in manageable portions, rather than overwhelming you all at once.Asking for feedback is an art. Frame your inquiries to foster open discussions. Instead of asking, &quot;How did I do?&quot; try &quot;Is there something I can do to improve?&quot; or &quot;Can you tell me how you felt about that?&quot; Receiving feedback can be daunting. Defensiveness and personalization are natural reactions. However, remember that feedback is about actions, not about who you are as a person. Stay detached, process emotions, and shift from reacting to responding. When faced with feedback, your goal is simple—listen. Process it, understand it, and envision how you can use it to improve.<h3>Giving Feedback: The Art of Constructive Communication</h3>While we all love to receive feedback, giving it can be tricky. But with the right approach, it becomes a powerful tool for growth.When providing feedback, avoid generalizations. Be descriptive, use facts, and steer clear of labels. Keep it brief, regular, and private. Employ &quot;I&quot; statements to convey your evaluation and offer specific suggestions. Let&#039;s turn a bad example into a good one: Instead of saying, &quot;You always reply late to Slack messages,&quot; try &quot;I feel annoyed when you don&#039;t reply right away because I&#039;m waiting on important information for a project. Could you be more responsive?&quot; More about giving feedback will be discussed in the next blog post.

<h2>Conclusion</h2>Think of feedback as a gift—a valuable one that can lead to personal and collective growth. Embrace feedback, whether as a giver or receiver. It&#039;s the tool that transforms a team into a winning one, a workforce into a thriving community, and individuals into their best selves.

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Unleash the Power of Feedback: Mastering the Art of Receiving Feedback. Discover Strategies to Embrace Constructive Criticism and Fuel Personal Growth.

Power of feedback - receiving feedback (part 1)

Exploring the benefits of traditional board games over screen time, we implemented playing board games during breaks at work. This practice encouraged team bonding, stress relief, creativity, and led to a dynamic work environment.

Boosting Employee Engagement with Board Games

In today&#039;s digital age, we often find ourselves perpetually surrounded by screens, be it for work, leisure, or domestic tasks. Passive scrolling on the Internet and social media is often our go-to method for relaxation and diversion from our daily routines.However, it&#039;s worth exploring the potential benefits of shifting our focus toward traditional board games as an alternative to video games for rest and relaxation. Over the past few months, we have implemented a practice of playing board games during lunch breaks or designated times every other Friday.Below, we outline the games we introduced and the impact they had on our team.<h3>Moon Landing &amp; Lost at Sea</h3>Both games are premised on scenario-based problem-solving, requiring teams to strategize survival plans in either a shipwreck or a lunar landing context. Teams are tasked with prioritizing survival tools and the winning team is the one closest to the optimal solution.Such games encourage team bonding and promote a strong, cohesive work ethic. They also foster a sense of community and are particularly effective in bringing together team members who may not typically interact in their usual work routines.<h3>Jungle Speed &amp; Codenames Pictures</h3>In Jungle Speed, a game relying on keen observation and quick reflexes, maintaining a steady hand can be a challenge during bouts of group laughter. Codenames Pictures, on the other hand, involves two teams competing with one-word clues linked to multiple words on the board.These games bridge the gap between work and leisure, making work feel more enjoyable. Fast-paced games, in particular, serve as effective stress relievers, providing a much-needed outlet during high-stress periods.<h3>Pictionary</h3>As a well-known board game, Pictionary requires team members to identify specific words based on their teammates&#039; drawings. This activity encourages creativity, which often lies dormant given our agency&#039;s work typically doesn&#039;t require traditional pen-and-paper methods.

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<h2>Conclusion</h2>Introducing game sessions in the workplace is an effective strategy for enhancing team efficiency and productivity. It fosters a sense of camaraderie among team members, leading to stronger interpersonal relationships. Even small changes, like organizing brief game sessions or motivating teams with prizes, can yield significant benefits. By providing the opportunity for team members to take on roles as game masters or coordinators, we further enhance their engagement and promote a healthy, dynamic work environment.

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Level Up Employee Engagement with Board Games: A Fun and Effective Strategy. Explore How Board Games Foster Team Building and Communication.

Boosting Employee Engagement with Board Games

Discover a comprehensive selection of web design tools like Figma and Affinity Illustrator, and explore inspiring resources such as Awwwards and Freepik to enhance your design process.

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Web design: tools and resources

When it comes to designing a product, such as a website, we rely on various resources to simplify the process, increase efficiency, ensure accuracy, incorporate current trends, and facilitate implementation. In this blog post, we will explore several valuable tools and resources that can assist you in your design journey. The list will include both paid and free alternatives, providing you with a comprehensive selection of options. By the time you finish reading this article, you will have gained insight into some of the useful tools available to support your design endeavors.<h2>Essential Applications</h2>Let&#039;s begin by discussing the essential applications we use for design purposes. One highly recommended option is Figma, which has significantly improved in recent years. Figma is a free application, eliminating the need for a paid alternative (although some features may be limited for free users, it&#039;s not excessively restrictive). Initially inspired by the popular macOS app Sketch, Figma has since developed its own unique identity. In fact, I dare say that Figma has surpassed Sketch in terms of functionality. Its user interface is intuitive, logical, and clean. The application offers a plethora of options, and if you find yourself in need of a specific feature, chances are there&#039;s a plugin available for it (and yes, plugins are also free). One notable feature of Figma is its live preview, which allows users to view and collaborate on files in real-time. Additionally, Figma includes an excellent built-in prototype tool, albeit with some limitations. It&#039;s worth mentioning that bugs and crashes are exceptionally rare with Figma; it simply works flawlessly.

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When it comes to creating wireframes, a different application is required. While I personally appreciate the traditional approach of using paper and pen, it may not be suitable for presenting to clients. Therefore, we have transitioned to using a graphic tablet along with Photoshop, which has its own advantages and disadvantages (which will be described in the following paragraph).However, if you&#039;re looking for an alternative to Photoshop, which is known for its expensive subscription price, there is a highly recommended specialized wireframing application called UXPin. Although the free plan of UXPin has limitations (such as allowing only two prototypes at a given time), it is still a very good option. Another excellent alternative is JustInMind, which is free specifically for wireframes. We have personally tried and tested both options, and they have proven to be reliable and efficient.In certain situations, image editing becomes necessary, whether it involves vector or raster images. For such tasks, we rely on Adobe Suite, specifically Photoshop and Illustrator. These programs offer strong support, regularly introduce new and impressive features, and generally maintain stability. However, they do have some drawbacks. Firstly, their price can be a significant barrier. Additionally, the abundance of features in these programs can make navigating the user interface cumbersome. Moreover, the large file sizes necessitate a powerful computer, and the interface itself can feel clunky and outdated.As an alternative to Adobe Illustrator for working with vectors, I wholeheartedly recommend Affinity Illustrator. In fact, let&#039;s take it a step further and acknowledge that all Affinity apps are excellent. One of their standout advantages is that they require only a one-time payment. Affinity apps have their own unique path, vision, look, and feel, setting them apart from mere Adobe imitations.Now, let&#039;s explore some free alternatives. You may find it hard to believe, but there is a free, browser-based &quot;Photoshop&quot; available called Photopea. Give it a try; it&#039;s completely free and closely resembles the famous Photoshop. One downside is that being browser-based, it can be slower and more challenging to use compared to its desktop application counterpart. When it comes to free alternatives for working with vectors, both Inkscape and Vectr are highly recommended. And I mean, they are really, really good. Since both options are free, you can experiment with them and determine which one suits you better—Inkscape is a desktop app, while Vectr is a browser-based application.

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<h2>The Resources</h2>Alright, let&#039;s now explore the resources you&#039;ll need for the design process. Let&#039;s start from the beginning: finding inspiration. To stay updated on web design trends worldwide, you can utilize the following websites:<ol><li><a href="https://pageflows.com:">https://pageflows.com:</a> This website offers a vast collection of content, mostly in video format. It showcases prototypes and provides insights into the intended use cases for various projects. However, it&#039;s worth noting that some of the content requires a paid subscription, and occasionally, you may not want to watch those small video clips.</li><li><a href="https://pagecollective.com:">https://pagecollective.com:</a> Although not a massive database of designs, this website is known for hosting high-quality designs. While it may not be frequently updated, the designs it features are bursting with creativity and excellence. Page Collective offers a wide range of design styles to explore.</li><li><a href="https://www.awwwards.com:">https://www.awwwards.com:</a> Awwwards is an outstanding website that hosts an extensive collection of website designs. It continually adds new materials and conducts design contests where members vote for their favorite designs. The showcased designs are often bold, innovative, and groundbreaking. Personally, this is my favorite website for design inspiration.</li><li><a href="https://bestwebsite.gallery/">https://bestwebsite.gallery</a>: I have nothing but praise for this design resource collection. The websites showcased on BestWebsiteGallery are brilliant, and the user experience on the site itself is excellent. You can&#039;t go wrong with this platform when seeking inspiration.</li><li><a href="https://dribbble.com:">https://dribbble.com:</a> Of course, we can&#039;t forget about Dribbble! This website offers a wide range of categories to explore and browse. Due to its immense popularity, Dribbble provides an abundance of inspiration. However, it&#039;s worth mentioning that, from my own experience, some users create video prototypes of awesome ideas that cannot be translated into actual websites since the prototypes were made using video editing applications. So, be mindful of that aspect.</li></ol>

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Now that you&#039;re inspired, it&#039;s time to find the necessary resources. Let me guide you:<ol><li><a href="https://www.freepik.com:">https://www.freepik.com:</a> This site is absolutely awesome, offering a wide variety of images, both vector and raster. Most of the resources are available for free, so you don&#039;t necessarily have to pay for a subscription. However, becoming a paid member grants you access to everything without a daily download limit.</li><li><a href="https://www.flaticon.com:">https://www.flaticon.com:</a> As a sister site of Freepik, Flaticon is equally amazing. It hosts an extensive collection of icons, and you can easily spend hours searching for the perfect one. Free users should note that only PNG icons are available for download, while SVG icons require a subscription. However, there is an alternative:</li><li><a href="https://freeicons.io:">https://freeicons.io:</a> This platform provides access to a large archive of icons, with approximately 80% of them being free. You have the freedom to choose between PNG and SVG formats.</li><li><a href="https://tailwindui.com/components:">https://tailwindui.com/components:</a> If you use Tailwind in your projects, this website is incredibly useful. It showcases the components that can be utilized in your design. You can also find a Figma plugin with these components for seamless integration.</li><li><a href="https://codemyui.com:">https://codemyui.com:</a> This site will elevate your design to a higher level. While the resources here may not directly go into your design, they will be valuable when coding your website. As a designer, it&#039;s crucial to keep these resources in mind and prepare your design to be compatible with the chosen resources. CodemyUI offers text effects, parallax and image effects, animations, micro-interactions, and more.</li><li><a href="https://unblast.com:">https://unblast.com:</a> Sometimes, you need additional resources, and this site has got you covered. Unblast provides a wide range of resources such as text effects, mockups, icons, patterns, and much more.</li></ol>

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<h2>Additional Tools &amp; Resources</h2>Depending on your project, you may require additional tools and resources. Let&#039;s cover some of those:<ol><li><a href="https://coolors.co:">https://coolors.co:</a> This site is exceptionally good for finding, generating, and tweaking color schemes for your projects. Coolors is free to use, and there are no downsides to it. It offers a great user experience and user interface, making it a reliable choice for color inspiration.</li><li><a href="https://calculateaspectratio.com:">https://calculateaspectratio.com:</a> This site is a blessing in disguise, providing a simple yet brilliant tool to calculate aspect ratios for images. When designing, knowing the precise height or width of an image is crucial, and this website helps you calculate the other value accurately.</li><li><a href="https://www.xconvert.com:">https://www.xconvert.com:</a> Bookmark this site! Whenever you need to convert images or videos, this is the go-to platform. Although the look may appear outdated, the functionality is top-notch. I often use this site to convert MP4 files into animated GIFs or optimize GIFs, and the results are stunning.</li><li><a href="https://cleanup.pictures/">https://cleanup.pictures</a>: If you don&#039;t have access to Photoshop, this neat website allows you to cut out objects from pictures. It works fairly well, but as a free user, there are limitations. For instance, you can&#039;t edit large images as Cleanup Pictures resizes them to a smaller format. Check it out and decide if a membership is worth it for your needs.</li><li><a href="https://yqnn.github.io/svg-path-editor:">https://yqnn.github.io/svg-path-editor:</a> This cool tool simplifies the editing of SVGs. It&#039;s incredibly user-friendly, providing the path code that can be directly coded into your website. It&#039;s free and works splendidly.</li><li><a href="https://fonts.google.com:">https://fonts.google.com:</a> This one may seem obvious, but it&#039;s worth mentioning. When selecting fonts for your site, I highly recommend exploring Google Fonts. Choosing fonts from this collection makes it easier for front-end developers to implement your design.</li><li><a href="https://www.fontpair.co:">https://www.fontpair.co:</a> On the topic of fonts, this site helps you pair your selected font with other complementary fonts. It&#039;s easy to use and provides explanations on why certain fonts work well together and where to use them.</li><li><a href="https://unsplash.com:">https://unsplash.com:</a> This feel-good site is perfect for creating mood boards and selecting stock images for your web design projects. The images available on Unsplash are of high quality and surprisingly free to download.</li></ol>

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<h2>Conclusion</h2>And that wraps it up! Keep in mind that this list of sites and resources is just a starting point. The specific tools and resources you&#039;ll need will vary depending on factors such as the target audience, market, and client of your project. Over time, you&#039;ll build your own repository of go-to resources and determine which apps work best for you. Remember, the tools themselves don&#039;t make you a better or worse designer; they are simply tools. It&#039;s your creativity and expertise that drive the design process.As a general rule, whenever you need something, don&#039;t hesitate to do a quick Google search. Or, to stay up-to-date, you can always ask ChatGPT for assistance. It&#039;s here to help you out!Wishing you the best of luck with your design endeavors!

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Crafting Web Designs: Your Go-To Guide for Essential Tools and Resources. Explore Resources to Enhance Your Web Design Workflow.

Web design: tools and resources

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