The gradient trend started with web 2.0 and has advanced quite a ways since then. Modern gradients can be designed purely in CSS3 so it’s easier to build them into buttons, backgrounds, and even typography. Let’s delve into this trend of …
The design world is abuzz with the rise of online magazines. But the vast majority of these sites run on blogging platforms like WordPress, and they operate almost exactly like traditional weblogs. So where does someone draw the line between a …
There’s tremendous value in consistency of digital interfaces. People browsing the web encounter dozens of websites that all have different styles, yet most feature very similar page elements. Most designers don’t even think about these features. Page headers, navigation menus, …
Newsletters still offer the best way to reach your audience directly and increase sales. But if you’ve never managed an email list before this can be an intimidating process. Once you have a list you’ll need to send out emails …
The best email opt-in forms use a lead magnet to draw attention and gather emails. You can spend weeks tweaking a signup form but the biggest factor is usually the content offer. There’s a special type of lead magnet called a content upgrade which …
Each ecommerce site has its own checkout flow moving the user from a shopping cart to the final purchase. This differs based on what the user is buying and their intentions, but finalizing payment is always the toughest part. Your billing fields …
Adblock plugins are on the rise as more Internet users shy away from obtrusive ads. Unfortunately this mostly hurts publishers who rely on advertising to keep their websites online. Thankfully there are solutions to detect adblock users and encourage them …
White space is a crucial design tool whether you realize it or not. Many designers adjust page elements until they “look good”. Most often this leads to a natural balance of white space between page sections just from gut instinct. …
Most web designers know about mobile-first design and how it has dramatically affected responsive design. But there is another technique that may be less popular but can solve problems in a clearer fashion. With a desktop-first approach you can build …
Default HTML form elements work well but they sure aren’t pretty. And web design has come far enough that we don’t have to settle for just functionality. Why not build working inputs that also look gorgeous? With these JS libraries …
Reusable code is the bedrock of modern web design. With every frontend framework and Sass library out there you can find solutions to any problem. But reusable dynamic elements are still a work in progress and they’re incredible. These elements …
A great UX review can do wonders for any website. By looking over the entire design you can learn what’s working, what’s not, and maybe find solutions that can increase the UX and ultimately increase revenues. But learning how to …
Dropdown menus have come a long way thanks to modern JavaScript and CSS3 effects. But not all dropdowns are created equal, and some UX strategies work better than others. In this guide I’ll cover a handful of design techniques for …
Google’s ranking factors are still mostly determined by great content and authoritative websites. But their newest search features let developers spruce up their rankings with cards, reviews, and other schema content. In this guide I’ll cover the most useful Google …
All major trade & specialty magazines have built a web presence online. Many still release print editions but the Internet is a much cheaper medium to publish content. The future of online blogging seems to be moving towards a magazine …
Interfaces are all about communication and getting things done. A website’s UI is a means to an end, and the designer’s job is to create an interface that helps the user reach that end quickly. Icons are perfect for interfaces …
Modal windows are those popup windows that appear over the screen rather than opening a new tab/window. They usually darken the background to bring attention to the popup. Most websites running modal windows add some type of call to action …
Over the past few years many new frontend technologies have leaked onto the market. The web design landscape has shifted radically and it’s now much easier and much more technical to build websites. I’m always interested in the latest tools …
Even with jQuery’s popularity there’s no need to rely on a JS library for every project. Classic JavaScript works in all major browsers and it’s really all you need to build dynamic interfaces. But instead of coding from scratch it’s …
You can be the most creative and productive designer in the world, but it doesn’t mean anything without paid work. Designers can rely on repeat clients but it’s important to keep meeting new potential clients and building future relationships. In …
When visitors land on a new website they usually have no idea where to begin. They usually just look around for nav links that might provide the info they’re looking for. But the newest trend of the “start here” page …
Getting started with web development can be strenuous and confusing. There’s so much to learn and you have so many different options for languages, frameworks, and open source projects to choose from. Where do you even start? There is no …
The ever-expanding world of design can be tough to comprehend as a newcomer. With so many tools and techniques available it’s hard to know where to start. Three of the most widely used design programs are Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, …
It’s frustrating to find job offers looking for a UI/UX designer. While these two skillsets are closely related, their skills don’t always overlap. A quality UI designer may not understand user experience psychology. Just like a top-tier UX designer might …