No frills, or flashing neon frills with sprinklers attached? ‘Brutalist’ websites have flourished in recent years, but their guiding philosophy remains unclear. Brutalist web design has grown so quickly that there does not seem to be a clear consensus on what the style actually is. To some it means practicality, to others audacity. Love it or hate it, brutalist architecture celebrates rawness.
Read more…
Sprint 0, and its close cousin the design sprint, came about to solve real, everyday challenges. But do they deliver real value or just an illusion? In this article, Shamsi Brinn proposes an alternative first sprint that supports agile teamwork and delivers measurable results.
Read more…
Data analysis, tools and workflow are very helpful for UX designers in a data-driven world, especially for those working on visualizations or data products. Since we live in an increasingly data-driven world, basic data literacy is useful for almost any professional — not just UX designers. With this article, Adonis Raduca would like to give UX designers the knowledge and tools to incorporate data into their daily routines.
Read more…
Inclusive Components started shipping this month, and the response is overwhelmingly positive. This book is an essential handbook on how to build the most common interface patterns in an accessible way, but it’s also a set of blueprints for building inclusively on every project.
Read more…
Brand illustrations are an adaptable and effective way to build a company’s visual brand. In this article, Yihui Liu outlines her process for developing a strong brand illustration system. Her approach has been refined over 10 years of study and professional experience in China and Europe, and draws examples from her latest work as Lead Designer at Spacebase.
Read more…
Today, Tom Čakloš will show you how to create limits and rules to follow throughout the entire design process. There is an unlimited number of ways in which you can combine elements in a user interface. You may be struggling with all of the possibilities and trying to pick the best option among many “correct” options. This article is intended for beginner UI designers who want to learn how to make their designs more consistent and user-friendly. You don’t need a lot of experience in order to be able to follow the tips and tricks shared in it, so let’s dig in right away!
Read more…
Before the home page, there was the front page. From the Gutenberg Principle to grid systems to above the fold, newspapers teach us much about the foundations of web design. In this article, Frederick O’Brien will examine several tenets of newspaper design and show their connection to best practice online. At the core of that connection is a principle childlike in its simplicity, one newspaper and web designers alike would do well to remember.
Read more…
PWAs are supposed to provide visitors with a better experience than a mobile website. But just because PWAs will use sticky navigation the way that native apps do, that doesn’t make them as easy to get around. If you’re worried that your PWA is going to be difficult to navigate without some guidance, put breadcrumbs to work. You can use them to improve navigation, readability, conversions, and more. Today, Suzanne Scacca is going to look at how to design breadcrumbs for PWAs and some interesting use cases where they come in handy.
Read more…
Design systems can improve usability, but they can also limit creativity or fall out of sync with actual products. In this article, we’ll explore how designers and developers can create more robust design systems by building a culture of collaboration.
Read more…
In this fifth installment of Inspired Design Decisions, Andy Clarke will teach you about Bea Feitler, who directed Harper’s Bazaar throughout the 1960s and has been described as “the pioneering female art director you’ve never heard of.” Andy will teach you about Feitler’s confident work and show you how to apply some of her design techniques to the work you make for the web. In this article, you’ll learn how to emphasize scale and maintain its contrast on even the smallest screens. Andy will teach you how to make confident color choices, and how to use pattern and texture to add depth to your designs.
Read more…
