Rethinking the traditional: Mixing styles

In 2024, there is a significant shift in the realm of visual style towards rethinking traditional approaches and integrating them with innovative ideas. This pattern is particularly noticeable in two key aspects: the use of hybrid typefaces and the application of retro-modernist principles. Let’s look at each of these in more detail.

Hybrid fonts

Hybrid fonts are the epitome of boldness and innovation in typography, combining components drawn from several styles, eras and cultures. In 2024, these fonts are becoming the foundation for producing designs that can simultaneously evoke a sense of familiarity and novelty. This trend allows creators to try out letterform, structure and context, creating unique typefaces that can take a brand’s message to the next level.

Examples of hybrid fonts include combinations of serif and sans-serif styles, integrating calligraphy elements into modern design, and mixing geometric and natural forms. These fonts not only improve the visual appeal of the style, but also promote greater flexibility in its application, allowing it to adapt to different platforms and media while maintaining uniqueness & awareness of brands.

Retro-modernism

Retro-modernism in graphic design reflects the desire to return to classic, time-honored motifs, but with the application of modern technologies & approaches. In 2024, this trend is expressed through new interpretations of old ideas that combine the best of the past and present.

This can be seen in the integration of classic design elements such as retro fonts, pastel colors and abstract shapes that harmonize with modern effects such as gradients, shimmer and digital textures.This approach not only evokes a sense of nostalgia, but also gives projects a contemporary feel, making them more appealing to modern audiences.

The main advantage of retro modernism is its ability to create a deep emotional response in the viewer, combining familiarity with something new and unknown. This trend offers designers the opportunity to explore the historical legacy of visual culture, applying it in the context of modern technology and social trends.

Sustainability and eco-design

By 2024, eco-design and sustainability will have evolved from passing fads to being fundamental ideas guiding graphic design. The increasing desire for environmental awareness and the need to conserve the planet’s resources are pushing brands and companies to rethink their design approaches. This is shown in the selection of products, processes, and materials that reduce negative environmental impacts. Embracing sustainability in design not only emphasizes a brand’s social responsibility, but also opens up new opportunities for creativity, using eco-friendly materials and packaging as elements that add value and uniqueness to a product.

Artists are utilising green typography more often as an expressive tool in their efforts to create products that are more sustainable and kind to the environment. Fonts inspired by shapes found in nature, such as plants, water droplets and rocks, not only add visual interest and originality to a design, but also carry a deep ecological message. This trend is a reflection of designers’ desire to use nature’s beauty and individuality to communicate their message about how important it is to protect the environment. Consequently, green typography is emerging as a potent communication tool that highlights the significance of environmental sustainability in the modern world, in addition to being a stylish option.

Breakthroughs in the world of technology

Designing graphics is undergoing a revolution that is opening up new possibilities for creativity and interaction with the arrival of artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (VR/AR) technologies in 2024.

Artificial intelligence is transforming approaches to design by generating layouts automatically and font selection, as well as offering personalized design solutions. AI may produce original graphics and images, allowing up designers to engage in more complex creative tasks.

Virtual and augmented reality bring the concepts of involvement and communication, allowing users to interact with virtual content or augment the real world with virtual elements. These technologies are expanding the possibilities for advertising, packaging and presentations, creating deep and engaging visual experiences.

As a result, the combination of AI with VR/AR and visual design substantially enhances the medium, making it more immersive, personalised, and interactive while also providing new avenues for communication between creators and consumers.

Social responsibility and inclusiveness

Two fundamental aspects that emphasize the importance of diversity and social responsibility in graphic design in 2024 are as follows:

Design for All:

• Developing content adapted to the needs of a wide range of users, including people with limitations.
• Prioritize accessibility: boost readability, make use of contrasting colours to improve the experience for those who are visually impaired, and design user-friendly interfaces for various forms of interaction.
• The aim is to create universal, combining aesthetic appeal with practicality for all users.

Minority Voices:

• Providing a platform to express and support diversity, equality and social justice through design.
• Making patterns that are indicative of & respect cultural diversity, support the struggle for human rights, and emphasize inclusion.
• Using design as a tool to promote social change and give voice to underrepresented groups.

These strands emphasize the role of graphic design as a powerful tool for creating a more accessible, diverse, and equitable society, affirming that design can and should serve as a force for positive social change.

In summary

As we look to 2024, we expect to encounter a new era in graphic design, where a mix of technological advancement, accountability for the environment, social inclusivity and creative reinterpretation of tradition promises to redefine not only the industry itself, but also its impact on society. This year will offer designers a rare chance to communicate with one another through the creation of meaningful, aesthetically pleasing work that can bring people together and advance lofty ideas. Graphic design will encourage us to think & act, offering innovative approaches to create a brighter and fairer future where every project is a step towards a better world.

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Intuitive interface

An intuitive interface is a key factor that determines the first impression users get from an online casino site. Such an interface provides ease of use and allows visitors to easily navigate through the sections of the site, quickly finding the desired games, services and information about payment systems. Special attention is paid to the convenience of financial transactions: the example of integration with the iDEAL online casino system demonstrates how important it is to provide users with easy access to deposits and withdrawals, making the process as clear and secure as possible. This not only increases the trust and satisfaction of players, but also encourages them to return to the site again and again, which is critical to maintaining and developing an online casino in a competitive environment.

Adaptive design

Adaptive design plays a critical role in the success of online casino sites, ensuring that they are accessible and usable on a variety of devices. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the key aspects of responsive design:

Compatibility with mobile devices:

• Optimization for smartphones and tablets ensures users can enjoy casino games and services anytime, anywhere.
• Adaptive web design automatically adjusts the site layout to fit the screen size of the device, ensuring optimal viewing and interactivity.
• An improved user interface for mobile devices simplifies navigation and enhances the overall gaming experience.

Fast loading times:

• Minimizing page load time is a key factor in preventing user churn, especially on slow internet connections.
• Using modern optimization techniques such as image compression and code minification helps to speed up loading times.
• Implementing lazy loading of images and content helps in speeding up initial access to the site by loading the rest of the content as you scroll.

Image Clarity:

• Image quality and resolution automatically adapts to the user’s screen, ensuring clarity and detail on all devices.
• The use of vector images (SVG) ensures high definition and scalability without loss of quality on any screen size.
• Optimizing images for different screen resolutions prevents distortion and allows images to look equally good on any screen size and pixel density.

Bright and attractive visualization

Bright and attractive visuals play a key role in attracting and retaining users to online casino sites, creating an aesthetically pleasing and engaging experience.

• Animated banners capture attention from the first seconds thanks to dynamic transitions and bright images, highlighting promotions and special offers. This promotes deeper exploration of the site and encourages participation in the promotions offered.
• High-quality images create a professional and attractive image of the site, influencing the user’s perception of the reliability and quality of the services offered. Optimized for fast loading and yet high quality images maintain interest and ease of viewing.
• Video content enriches the user experience by providing a visual understanding of the games, rules and features of the platform. This can include game demos, new product reviews and tutorials, making the site more interactive and informative.

These elements work together to form an attractive and effective visual strategy that drives user engagement and loyalty, increases time on site, and encourages active participation in games and promotions.

User-friendliness

The usability of an online casino site plays a key role in creating a positive user experience and can significantly impact the success of the platform. To achieve this, the following details need to be given special attention:

1. Easy access to games:

• Structured categories: Games on the site should be divided into clear categories (e.g. slots, card games, roulette) so that users can easily find the type of game they want.
• Favorite games and novelties: Popular games and novelties should be highlighted on the homepage or in easily accessible sections to attract users’ attention and make it easier for them to choose.
• Filters and sorting: Providing the ability to filter by various parameters (e.g., game manufacturer, game features) and sorting helps users find games according to their preferences.

2. Site Search:

• Fast and accurate search: The integrated search engine should provide fast and accurate results, allowing users to find games and information in seconds.
• Hints and Autocomplete: The ability to autocomplete and provide hints when typing into the search box speeds up the search process and makes it more user-friendly.
• Advanced Search: For the convenience of users, the site can offer advanced search options to refine queries by multiple criteria.

3. Multilingualism:

• Multi-Language Support: Making a site available in multiple languages not only expands its audience, but also makes the site more welcoming to users from all over the world.
• Automatic Language Detection: Utilizing technology to automatically detect language based on a user’s geolocation can greatly enhance a site’s usability by offering content in the user’s most likely language.
• Content localization: In addition to translating text, it is also important to adapt currencies, payment methods and content to the cultural sensitivities and preferences of users in different regions.

Security and privacy

Security and privacy at online casino sites are central to ensuring the trust and protection of users, as these aspects directly influence the choice of a site to play at. Modern encryption technologies such as SSL (Secure Socket Layer) are the industry standard for protecting all transmitted data, including personal information and details of financial transactions. This ensures that all sensitive data is encrypted and inaccessible to third parties. In addition, a clearly defined privacy policy, which is available for users to review, emphasizes the transparency of the use of collected data and the conditions under which it is stored and processed. The presence of an official license issued by an authorized regulatory body, not only confirms the legality and reliability of the casino, but also serves as an additional guarantee of compliance with the rules and standards for safety and fairness of games. All of these measures combine to create a secure environment that allows users to focus on playing without worrying about the security of their data and funds.

User support

Effective support services at online casino sites are critical to ensuring a positive user experience, offering 24/7 availability through a variety of channels including online chat, email and phone. The FAQ section also plays an important role, where users can find answers to frequently asked questions, encouraging self-service problem solving. This approach not only increases customer satisfaction, but also builds customer trust and loyalty to the platform, making it the preferred choice for gaming.

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– Use your calendar for your work: Make sure you schedule your time well so that you don’t end up with huge chunks of free time that you just spend scrolling through Facebook.

– Create a daily routine: Make sure you set aside time in your day for everything you need to do, including working out, eating healthy and maintaining good relationships.

– Plan ahead: If something is going to take longer than expected, plan ahead so that you know what tasks need prioritizing.

Freelance work is a popular option for many people. It has the advantage of flexibility and freedom, which means that you can work on your own terms and hours. However, it also has its own challenges such as managing your time efficiently.

Here are some tips that freelancers can follow to make their life easier:

1) Get a dedicated email account for your freelance work – This will help you organize all your emails related to your freelancing activities. You can use this account for everything related to freelance work like scheduling, invoicing and billing, tracking projects, etc.

2) Create a separate calendar – If you are working on different projects in parallel then it might be hard for you to keep track of what’s going on at any given time. Creating a separate calendar will help you manage all these tasks easily. You can also add reminders and set up recurring events in this calendar so that they don’t get lost in the busyness of everyday life.

Freelancers have to manage their time and tasks to be able to make enough money. This is where these life hacks come in handy.

Freelancers tend to work on the go and they need a way of managing their time. Here are some helpful tips for freelancers:

– Start with a timer and set it for 20 minutes. If you can’t get anything done in that time, take a break or put your phone away for 10 minutes

– Block out your focus times – say, morning, lunchtime, night – for when you’re most productive

– Create lists of things you need to do so that you don’t forget them when they come up

Freelancing is a great way to earn money on the side. But it can also be difficult to manage your work-life balance and stay motivated. Here are some tips for freelancers who want to keep their sanity in check.

As a freelancer, you have more time than most people. But it can be easy to spend too much time on social media or browsing the internet, which can become distracting and make you feel unproductive.

LIFE HACKS FOR A FREELANCER:

– Set up a weekly schedule of what you want to get done and block out the hours for that day. This will help minimize distractions from other activities such as watching TV or playing games online.

– Make sure that every hour has a specific task assigned to it and that you have an idea of what tasks need to be completed before the next hour begins so that they don’t pile up while they’re waiting in line for others to finish their tasks

Freelancers are the backbone of any business. They have to manage their time and resources effectively in order to survive. Here are some of the best hacks freelancers can use to make their business more efficient.

– Set up a schedule for yourself.

– Only work on what you’re good at.

– Don’t rush into projects that require more than your skill set is capable of handling.

A freelancer is someone who works for multiple employers simultaneously and has no fixed place of work. Freelancers are also known as independent contractors or self-employed people.

Being a freelancer can be challenging, especially when you need to manage your time and finances efficiently. That’s why we have compiled a list of some life hacks for freelancers that will help you stay organized and save time in the long run.

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Users are selfish

One of the key tenets in psychology is that of self-centeredness. In other words, we’re more concerned about our own needs than those of others. This means that when you ask someone to do anything for you, people will likely be more willing to comply if it doesn’t require any additional endeavor on their part — it’s easier just not to think of it (or read).

However, this can also work against UX designers: They may find themselves asking users for things like “just sign up!” or “please click here!” because they want immediate gratification and don’t want to bother with details. If a user has already done some research into what your product does before signing up and/or clicking through multiple pages before getting where they need to go — and they are satisfied with its functionality — they won’t mind waiting until later if there’s no rush or pressure involved; after all, why should I have been happy doing nothing but waiting around?

Customers don’t read

Users don’t read the fine print. They can’t, because they have too many other things to do. They just skip straight over it and go on reading your website or app for their needs at hand, which means that if you’re using marketing copy in an attempt to sell them something (which I’m sure some companies do), then users won’t know about it until after they’ve made a purchase decision based on what’s visible on screen.

Users don’t read instructions or instructions texts either — they’ll just click “Next” until everything looks right before moving onto something else completely unrelated to what was being asked of them earlier down this page!

Help text is another thing that doesn’t get read frequently; in fact most people will never even visit any kind of help page unless prompted by clicking somewhere else within an interface (e.g., when clicking on buttons). And even then there’s only so much information available around here anyway — so let’s make sure we’re giving useful information rather than just repeating ourselves over again ad nauseam!

People are formalistic

People you design for are likely to be formalistic, which means they’re not used to being asked questions. They’re used to being given answers and explanations, and they need those in order to make their decision.

In order for them to do that effectively, you need a process where the user can explain their reasons for making decisions or taking actions (e.g., buying products). If a UX designer asks “Why did my user buy this product?” and then just accepts whatever answer the user gives without asking follow-up questions or clarifying anything further about what actually happened during the purchase process — or even if there’s no clear explanation — then it’s likely that your design will fail on many levels:

Users are lazy

You might be surprised to learn that your customers are lazy. In fact, people are not even all that interested in reading long articles on a mobile device, either. There isn’t anything wrong with them; it’s because most people don’t have time for such things and would rather just get through the task at hand as quickly as possible.

If you wish your customers to keep coming back for more content from your website or app, then ensure that each piece is easy enough for them to find without having to go through too many hoops (and assure that there are no hoops).

It’s vital to remember that users will be seeking the easiest way to achieve what they want. This means that you need to design your product in such a way that it makes good sense, and can be explored by anyone.

This principle also applies when designing interfaces and interactions within your app or website: if a customer can’t find what they want easily, they will probably stop using it altogether.

Conclusion

And that’s why it’s essential to understand how people think before you begin designing. Those who don’t take the time to do so can end up with a frustrating experience for their customers — and if they’re really unlucky, their app might even get rejected by Apple or Google!

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The ability to adapt quickly to change will never be superfluous. However, it has never been necessary to get used to new conditions so quickly. You should not relax at all, because waving your hand at everything and living in anticipation that everything will return to its place is not the best strategy. At the same time, you shouldn’t get too carried away and worry about the long lists of online courses open for the period of quarantine and opportunities to improve yourself and your staff.

In the case of our design agency, we have always hoped that any of our employees will be able to work effectively even working remotely. And in some situations, it can even increase productivity. In this case, additional reserves and efforts will certainly come in handy.

Quarantine may take a long time, but we should not forget about ambitions, and especially about plans. However, for the future, it is worth making it a rule – plans should be more flexible. However, it is advisable to make a plan and discuss them with colleagues. Take short sprints in work tasks: today, tomorrow, this week.

Use quarantine to your advantage

Due to the coronavirus pandemic and quarantine, people have a lot of time and effort, which they usually spend on the road, at work, chatting in the office, coffee with colleagues, procrastination, solving various minor cases, and so on. Some have been working from home for a long time, for some it has been a challenge, and for others it has given them new insights. And here we are talking about opportunities.

Personally, I see 4 main areas of activity, which I target my employees:

Teaching. Quarantine is a great opportunity to do self-education, complete the online courses that almost everyone has, or, conversely, take a new one from the beginning. Improvement and once again improvement.
New technology. It is time to study and implement new technologies in your business. We are thinking about how to fully automate existing processes, introduce new ones, improve communication between departments, etc.
Useful habits. This is especially true for those who are accustomed to working 24/7, like a fly in boiling water, from morning to evening doing only work. This approach is dangerous for exhaustion and burnout. Now is the time to relax and find balance.
Total audit. View old blog posts, pages, files and images, get rid of everything outdated, if necessary set redirects, optimize what slows down the website.

Everything is not as scary as it seems at first glance

Without a doubt, we live in historical times. And companies are forced to somehow adapt to the new reality in which we all suddenly found ourselves. It is always difficult to change, and even when you go to them you are forced. But don’t focus on the negative.

Personally, as the head and founder of a young design agency, I try to find positive moments. And that’s how it turns out for me.
Virtual meetings are not a problem

A small office of our design agency Wadoo. is located in Kiev. Some employees work in the office every day. Usually, personal presence and teamwork are effective in terms of creative tasks and project work. But is it so important for us to be in the office together all the time? The answer is definitely no.

Virtual meetings are a common thing for us. In the field of web design, it is no less effective for us to share the screen with clients and show them ideas, solutions and sketches than in a personal meeting.
Customers in normal mode

Finding new clients is often the most pressing issue for agency owners. For a young agency, this issue is acute. After all, the whole team and the future of the agency in general depend on the number of clients and successfully completed projects.

And here I am once again convinced of the correctness of my decision to fulfill orders on a remote basis. Carrying out the work of the agency remotely has significant advantages. Not being limited by geography in terms of finding new customers means taking advantage of global opportunities.

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Being able to manage your time is a real benefit that is hard to underestimate. When working on concepts, it’s best to do so without the boss’s menacing gaze and “hot deadlines.” But this benefit can be overestimated. Any official at Full time may think that without a clear time frame, life turns into a fairy tale. But this is not the case! The stress will be even greater!

You work non-stop and, most often, without days off. After all, you work for the result. And you can go to it for months. Such a crazy pace will “invite” into your life malnutrition, poor health, poor sleep, stress.

Sweet without strict deadlines. But you can’t do without stress.

You don’t think about usability

Even a professional can forget about the practical component of his “project”. Conceptual designers often make the mistake of sacrificing usability for the sake of aesthetics. No matter how valuable beauty is… We all understand that “beautiful junk” will not succeed. Nobody needs a beautiful picture – everyone is looking for a conceptual design that is easy to use and full of content.

It is better to catch the idea by the tail, and then create the right concept on its foundation. The conceptual designer must not forget about the balance between functionality and beauty.

Ecstasy from likes and reposts

Do you look at the number of comments, reposts and likes under your project? You are sick with a virus of social significance. It needs to be treated. To do this, it is enough to understand that in most cases, likes are put by users, not potential customers. Of course, it’s nice to see that your work was appreciated, but you won’t pay for the apartment with likes.

It is worth emphasizing that we are talking about designers, not fashion bloggers. Reposts and likes are useful if their goal is to make a professional popular in the same LinkedIn. But they do not help in approaching customers.

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Since the days of the original iPhone, smartphone sales have grown year by year. 2019 is the first year when the market has reached a saturation point and sales have started to decline. But that doesn’t mean people use phones less. According to Quartz and Ciodive, by 2020 we will spend 80% of our time online on mobile phones. Compare this to 2010, when only a quarter of Internet users used a telephone.

As phone sales have grown, their screen sizes have more than doubled. The average screen size of smartphones has increased from 3.2 inches to 5.5 inches. In 2017, device manufacturers began using a higher 18: 9 aspect ratio for 5.7-inch and 6-inch displays. We now see that 6-inch displays with an aspect ratio of 18: 9 are becoming a new standard in the flagship and mid-priced segments, as they have a larger screen area than 5.5-inch displays with an aspect ratio of 16: 9, according to XDA-Developers.

Thumb-operated design

For the first time I heard the term “thumb-driven design” from Vitaly Friedman. It is based on research by Stephen Huber and Josh Clark on how people hold their devices.

The fact is that in almost every case, the three main grips were the most common. 49% of users held their phones with one hand, 36% held the phone with one hand and poked the index or thumb of the other hand. And the remaining 15% took the BlackBerry prayer position holding the phone with both hands and typing with their thumbs, according to Josh Clark. Stephen Huber found that 75% of users touch the screen with just one thumb. Hence the term “thumb-operated”.

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I would not recommend using an offer from other companies as a basis for salary negotiations. If you come with another offer, you are blackmailing the employer. Such a visit could lead to a broken relationship with management. Some managers treat this normally, they may even try to interrupt the offer, make a counter-offer. And someone will be disappointed in you forever.

If the employee is really incredibly valuable and there is no one to replace him, the manager will be quicker to meet. But about yourself, almost certainly, will think of a person worse than before. Is money the only thing that keeps us here? A person needs to pay decent market money without a doubt, but in good companies people work not only for this.

Another point that confuses me in the question – the phrase “lower class agencies.” Weak companies are often forced to pay a little higher than the market, because they have nothing more to lure people. In essence, with this extra money, they are trying to compensate for weak tasks and a weak team. Or high risks if it’s a startup. But is it really worth it? Do you want to spend a lot of time in the company of colleagues from whom you can learn little while working on boring tasks? If the designer does not have enough money right now, you can take a freelance project. Is it worth exchanging a good job for a little extra compensation?

I had a moment at the beginning of my journey in Yandex, when they really wanted to buy me into another company and offered a salary 2.5 times higher than I had. I am very glad that I did not agree – a year later the management of that company changed and the team was disbanded altogether. And in Yandex, my salary eventually overtook that offer.

This does not mean that the salary can not be said. If the market insists that you are more expensive, then with the management it is possible and necessary to talk about it. But only in the format: “I would like to earn more: how can I bring more benefits, how can I take more responsibility?”. And you don’t have to wave offers from other companies to do that.

Rule: if you value the current work and the relationship with management, then talk about raising salaries in terms of responsibility and benefit to the business.

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The authors describe their own, successful experience of the company, most of whose employees are scattered geographically. In this context, they give advice on how to organize the work of such a team. Describe the problems that may arise and convincingly prove that the advantages of working outside the office in many cases outweigh its possible disadvantages.

If you are an employer and are looking for people only from your region - you risk not finding the best. If you are an employee and choose only those companies that are easy to get to - you can blow the best job.

It should be noted that remote work is not suitable for everyone. People with poor self-organization run the risk of just being lazy during working hours. And workaholics can “stick” to work so that they burn out quickly. Therefore, it is very important to clearly separate work and home. A separate section is devoted to this, which describes some interesting tricks. For example, doing chores on a computer and doing chores on a tablet.

The authors mention many different software products tested on themselves. But at the same time do not bend the stick, advertising their own products: basecamp or campfire (if you are interested in what programs are recommended, then write in the comments to this post and I will write them separately). By the way, what programs have taken root in your teams?

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There is more and more literature on UI & UX design every day, but where to start? This question will be answered by experienced design experts.

Quite a lot of books on interface design have been translated into Russian. In English, the choice is generally sky-high – dozens of more or less interesting publications are published annually. But I usually recommend three for seed:

Steve Circle

Don’t make me think

The best material for beginners – short and very clear about how common sense helps in working on interfaces. Helps to understand what is the discipline of usability.
Design of familiar things
Donald Norman

Design of familiar things

Donald Norman

Excellently presented professional philosophy. How to look at human interaction with digital and conventional products. Helps to form the right attitude to work.

Alan Cooper on the interface. Fundamentals of interaction design

Interface Designer Bible. It describes the history of the discipline, methods and patterns, workflow and a whole bunch of other key things in our work. Helps to consolidate and deepen knowledge.

They reflect the three stages of a specialist’s maturity – awareness, correct attitudes and strong practical skills. And you can pump them with other books or a bunch of articles that are published every week. I try to read fundamental books, and I build up the “meat of knowledge” with articles – this avoids the water that most publications suffer from.

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