No, that’s not a typo. I’m writing my year-in-review post for 2023 in 2025. It’s not like 2023 was terrible, but it was intense, and I needed some distance before I could write about it, and then I just forgot to do it. Before I can write about 2024, I have to do 2023 first.… Continue reading A year in review: 2023
Tag: family
A year in review: 2024
2024 was our first year with three kids, and what a year that was. Personal Life with three kids is different in many ways, but most importantly, it’s awesome. I love my little daughters so much, and I enjoy every day with my family. Okay, maybe not every day because when they’re all sick at… Continue reading A year in review: 2024
Good Visual Design, Explained
Summary: To create appealing designs, align type and elements to a grid, build a clear visual hierarchy, use color intentionally, and stay consistent with every design choice. In this 3rd article in the anatomy-of-good-design series, I explain visual-design principles that contribute to good-looking designs, with real-site examples. How something looks does affect the perception of… Continue reading Good Visual Design, Explained
Stop Misrecruits: Add Foils to Your Screener
Summary: Foils are fake (but plausible) options in screeners that catch inattentive or dishonest participants, protecting data quality and saving time. Even the most carefully designed screener can let the wrong participants slip into their study. You may discover halfway through a usability test that someone clearly doesn’t match your target audience – leaving you… Continue reading Stop Misrecruits: Add Foils to Your Screener
5 Image Editing Techniques with Google Nano Banana
[unable to retrieve full-text content] Image generated in Google Nano Banana (prompt: friendly banana in pixelated style of old games). Google Nano Banana is the codename for Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, the latest image generation & editing model from Google. This model has a few notable features that make it stand out, such as advanced image… Continue reading 5 Image Editing Techniques with Google Nano Banana
30 Best Free Typewriter Fonts for Vintage and Retro Designs
Typewriter fonts bring a touch of nostalgia, authenticity, and raw charm to any design. Whether you’re crafting a vintage poster, designing a book cover, or adding character to a personal project, typewriter fonts offer that unmistakable mechanical grit that digital fonts often lack. These fonts aren’t just about aesthetics—they tell a story, evoking the clatter of keys, the… Continue reading 30 Best Free Typewriter Fonts for Vintage and Retro Designs
Digital Typography: Fonts and Techniques for Modern UI/UX
In today’s modern era of artificial intelligence, digital typography plays a pivotal role in shaping user experiences across websites, mobile apps, and other digital platforms. Digital typography refers to the art and science of arranging typefaces in a way that enhances readability, usability, and aesthetic appeal within digital interfaces. As screen resolutions improve and devices… Continue reading Digital Typography: Fonts and Techniques for Modern UI/UX
The Microsoft 365 renewal dance: uncovering deceptive patterns
[unable to retrieve full-text content] Lessons from sidestepping Microsoft 365's aggressive subscription renewal tactics A few weeks before my long standing Microsoft 365 Family subscription was due for renewal I received an email stating that it will automatically-renew, one thing it failed to mention was the new price was 30% more than last year. In the first… Continue reading The Microsoft 365 renewal dance: uncovering deceptive patterns
50+ Eid Mubarak Lettering for Posters, Flyers and Cards
Eid-ul-Fitr, also known as Meethi Eid or Choti Eid, is a time of joy, gratitude, and togetherness. It is a special occasion that marks the end of Ramadan, bringing families, friends, and communities together to celebrate with love and blessings. To make this Eid even more festive, creatively designed Eid Mubarak lettering is a wonderful… Continue reading 50+ Eid Mubarak Lettering for Posters, Flyers and Cards
Preparation Tactics for a Tough UX Job Market
Summary: Use these tactics to prepare yourself for a downturn in the UX job market. It’s relatively easy to bask in the glow of a sunny UX job market and its plentiful opportunities. However, coping with a challenging job market is the true test of endurance for the UX professional. This article is the first… Continue reading Preparation Tactics for a Tough UX Job Market
15 Best New Fonts, September 2024
Compilations By Simon Sterne September 30, 2024 Welcome to our roundup of the best new fonts we’ve found on the web in the previous four weeks. In this month’s edition there’s plenty of hand-lettering charm, and some excellent historical revivals. Enjoy! Kornel Kornel is a serif type family designed for long texts, featuring classic proportions… Continue reading 15 Best New Fonts, September 2024
Accessible Images For When They Matter Most
<div class=”logo”> <a href=”/” title=”Back to the homepage”> <picture> <source media=”(min-width: 1350px)” srcset=”…/images/logo-full.svg”> <img src=”…/images/logo/logo.svg” alt=”Smashing Magazine”> </picture> </a> </div> Hearing both the phrase “back to the homepage” and “Smashing Magazine” in one feature is OK since each phrase is unique and connected to a different purpose. For more complex alternative text phrases, conduct the… Continue reading Accessible Images For When They Matter Most
5 Website Features to Help Your Business Thrive in the Digital Age
In the age of instant gratification, attention spans are shorter than a tweet on a Tuesday. That’s why your website, the digital doorknob to your business, needs to make a stellar first impression. Studies show that a whopping 95% of a visitor’s initial judgment is based on design alone. Now, that’s a statistic that could… Continue reading 5 Website Features to Help Your Business Thrive in the Digital Age
Visual Design: Glossary
Summary: Use this glossary to quickly clarify key terms and concepts related to visual design. Visual design requires knowledge and understanding of many jargon terms. Use this glossary as a reference as you delve into visual and user interface design. Jump to a definition in the table or review the complete glossary. Aesthetic-Usability Effect Users’… Continue reading Visual Design: Glossary
7 Tips for Memorable and Easy-to-Understand Imagery
Summary: A few relevant, high-quality visuals placed next to associated text can boost users’ comprehension of your content and its memorability. When implemented strategically, visuals can enhance users’ ability to understand and remember products. Here are seven best practices for memorable visuals. #1 Choose or Create Relevant Visuals Visuals exist alongside other content, and users… Continue reading 7 Tips for Memorable and Easy-to-Understand Imagery
4 Ways You Can Test Your Design System in Figma
Consistency is key for a successful UX design system. Learn about different ways to test your design system in Figma. Keeping consistency and efficiency across design projects is essential. A good UX design system must include all the elements that make up your brand’s visual and functional identity. As you may already know, one of… Continue reading 4 Ways You Can Test Your Design System in Figma
30 Free Xmas Graphics
Compilations By Louise North 4 days ago We’ve reached that time of year when all marketing is on a singular theme: snow, presents, and turkey (or nut roast, if that’s your preference). These last few weeks running up to the Christmas break can be an endless trudge through grey, cold weather if you’re in the… Continue reading 30 Free Xmas Graphics
15 Best New Fonts, November 2023
Fonts By Ben Moss 2 days ago 2023 is almost over, and the new fonts are still coming thick and fast. This month, we’ve found some awesome variable fonts, some revivals, and one or two novelty fonts to get you through the holiday promotion work. Enjoy! Dash Dash is the result of detailed scientific study… Continue reading 15 Best New Fonts, November 2023
15 Best New Fonts, October 2023
Fonts By Ben Moss Yesterday We’re entering the final quarter of 2023, and even in the pre-holiday lull, there are still plenty of fonts to get excited about. In this month’s edition of our roundup of the best new fonts for designers, there are lots of revivals, some excellent options for logo designers, and some… Continue reading 15 Best New Fonts, October 2023
Housing, It’s a Human Right (Part 1)
A 3-Part Series on the digital accessibility of the housing process experienced by people with disabilities. In this 3-part series, we will look at the challenges and rewards of the entire experience surrounding the process of acquiring housing for people who live with a disability. We will look at: Buying an existing home Leasing an… Continue reading Housing, It’s a Human Right (Part 1)
15 Best New Fonts, September 2023
Fonts By Ben Moss 4 days ago Nothing upgrades your designs like selecting the right font. It’s all too easy to fall into the trap of using the same typeface over and over, so every month, we publish this roundup to freshen up your font menu. In this month’s edition, you’ll find plenty of sans-serifs… Continue reading 15 Best New Fonts, September 2023
Why Ive's way of doing personal projects is good for designers
Why Ive’s way of doing personal projects is good for designers Personal projects should be an important part of life as designers, but is mixed with the work and the realities of an in-house design team, which can be a messy process. Often, the question of fulfilment comes into play. Surprisingly, the answers to fulfilment… Continue reading Why Ive's way of doing personal projects is good for designers
Good UX is not enough without a proper communication plan
To make a design thrive, you should support it with strategies to make it even more robust and accepted. There should be a coexistence between a practical design that should be free of explanation (invisibility) and effective communication (notoriety) Like many designers, I’ve been practicing this mantra all my career: “Good design is invisible,” but… Continue reading Good UX is not enough without a proper communication plan
40 Best New Fonts of 2022
Choosing the right typefaces for your website can elevate a design from dour to delightful. The right typeface gives personality to your brand voice and can make sure your content gets read. And so, every month, we put together a roundup of the best new fonts for web designers. In this roundup of the year,… Continue reading 40 Best New Fonts of 2022