CategoryInspiration

February 9, 2012 — Before the very first page of a book has been read, you’ve already analyzed it in countless ways without even noticing. The paper stock, the thickness of the binding, the aroma, the color of the type and even the texture of the cover; the very character of the book is being dissected by the hand and eye at every moment. Read more…

December 10, 2011 — Do you know what makes a design good? Is it merely an opinion, or is there something more to it? Breaking design down seems like such an abstract thing. Even the designers who are able to create thought-provoking work seem purely talented and have natural abilities that can’t really be nailed down to a process. But what if there were principles that captured why design and art worked the way that they do? Read more…

September 1, 2011 — Discover some strategies to make your launch page more intriguing and shareable to grow your user numbers. In this article, Simon Schmid outlines some best practices and examples of successful viral launch pages. Read more…

July 29, 2011 — Efforts to keep reggae popular on the world stage have led to a narrow conformist definition of the genre’s visual brand. Dan Mayer goes through the impressions left behind on Jamaica’s album covers to analyze the multitude of contradictions in the postcolonial experience. Read more…

July 28, 2011 — Web Icons Set designed this set with the purpose to be used in e-commerce websites. Exclusively released for Smashing Magazine and its readers, the set includes icons such as Empty Basket, Full Basket, Credit Cards, Delivery, and more. Read more…

July 27, 2011 — Website users want their content delivered to them in a way that is easy to understand, intuitive and engaging. In this post, Anne Sallee Miles focuses on some basic user interface ideas and patterns that Web designers can learn from video games. Read more…

July 15, 2011 — A list of selected newsletters for you to stay on top of the most recent developments in your craft. Valuable insight and information, readability and relevance are some of the most important qualities of the newsletters we have selected. Read more…

July 13, 2011 — Simon Thomas looks at the development of the Berlin street art scene, from its beginnings as a minor West Berlin movement in the late ’70s to its current status. How does street art shapes the public space? Read more…

July 8, 2011 — Marcin Wichary joined Smashing Magazine author Dan Redding for a conversation regarding his fascination with the relationship between humans and machines, his professional career, his interest in photography and a curious creation known as the Crushinator. Read more…

July 6, 2011 — David Morrison explores child- and teen-friendly Web design guidelines to attract more business from clients who deliver Web services to children. Find the steps designers should consider before getting involved in work that will be marketed to kids and their parents or caregivers. Read more…