What’s new for designers, October 2014

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October 21, 2014
What's new for designers, October 2014.
what's new for designers october 2014

The October edition of what’s new for web designers and developers includes new web apps, content management systems, iOS apps, email resources, social media tools, project management apps, CSS tools, and some really great new fonts. Many of the resources below are free or very low cost, and are sure to be useful to a lot of designers and developers out there. As always, if we’ve missed something you think should have been included, please let us know in the comments. And if you have an app or other resource you’d like to see included next month, tweet it to @cameron_chapman for consideration.

Elokenz

Elokenz

is a blogging toolbox that includes tools for engaging with readers on social media, tracking performance, and semantic search engine optimization. elokenz

Storify

Storify

is an easy-to-use platform for engaging with others on social media. It includes tools for managing breaking news, live events, brand campaigns, captured chats, and more. storify

Adobe Color CC

Adobe Color CC

makes it easy to create color palettes from any image on your iOS device, wherever inspiration strikes. It includes an interactive color wheel, preset color modes, and more. adobe color cc

Adobe Brush CC

Adobe Brush CC

lets you create Photoshop and Illustrator brushes right on your iPad or iPhone. adobe brush cc

Adobe Shape CC

Want to create a vector shape from an image? Adobe Shape CC makes it simple to turn any high-contrast image into vectors, right on your iOS device. adobe shape cc

Edge Commons

Edge Commons

is a collection of dirty little helpers” for using Adobe Edge Animate. It includes helpers for parallax, spotlight, adaptive layouts, and more. edge commons

Gleez CMS

Gleez CMS

is an open source and extensible CMS that’s built on the Kohana Framework. It includes support for modules, themes, widgets, users and groups, and more. gleez cms

AllTheFreeStock​.com

AllTheFreeStock​.com

curates free stock images, videos, and icons from various sources, all of which are licensed under the Creative Commons Zero license. allthefreestock

Anchor

Anchor

is free, self-hosted invoicing software that makes it easy to get paid with PayPal or Stripe. anchor

GifDeck

GifDeck

is a tool for converting your SlideShares into animated Gifs. All you have to do is paste in your SlideShare URLgifdeck

Mapbox Studio

Mapbox Studio

is a vector-driven map design app. It includes typography options, imagery and effects tools, and more. mapbox studio

Dimensions

Dimensions

is a Chrome browser extension that makes it easy to measure anything in your browser. You can measure between images, input-fields, buttons, videos, gifs, text, icons, and anything else you see in the browser. dimensions

Mix

Mix

is a collaborative design app from FiftyThree that lets you build upon the designs of others. You can write, design, sketch, and more. mix

Fitter Happier Text

Fitter Happier Text

gives you fully fluid, performant headlines using JavaScript and JSONfitter happier text

Design Kit

Design Kit

is a set of design tools for human-centered design. It’s available in hard copy for purchase, or as a free PDF download. design kit

Takana

Takana

is a live SCSS and CSS editor. It lets you see your changes live, in the browser, as you make them. takana

Apple Watch GUI PSD

This Apple Watch GUI PSD is a great resource for designers looking to get started with Apple Watch apps. apple watch gui psd

Pictura

Pictura

is a simple Photoshop plugin for searching Flickr right from within Photoshop, and then using images you’ve found right into your project without an outside download. pictura

DragGradients

DragGradients

is a simple gradient generator that lets you drag and drop points within your browser’s viewport to create a custom gradient. You can customize the colors (including how many) and then download the CSSdraggradients

Dropbox Guide

These Dropbox Guides are available for both Users and Admins, and including information on how to best utilize Dropbox for your business. dropbox guide

Random CSS Gradient Generator

The Random CSS Gradient Generator generates a completely random gradient, which you can then grab the code for. random css gradient generator

Email Design Guide

MailChimp’s Email Design Guide offers up some great advice on how to best convey your email message, with better use of images, fonts, and more. email design guide

Basscss

Basscss

is a collection of base element styles, utilities, layout modules, and more designed for speed and performance, as well as scalability. basscss

UX Companion

UX Companion

is a glossary of UX theories, tools, and principles for your iOS device. You can learn new concepts and techniques, and then dive into more in-depth hand-picked resources. ux companion

Random Users Generator

This simple Random Users Generator makes it easy to create random users for your app, complete with names, photos, contact information, short bios, job titles, and more. random users generator

Lychee

Lychee

is a self-hosted photo management app that runs on your server or web hosting. It lets you upload, manage, and share photos like you would from a native app. lychee

Polya (free)

Polya

is a display font with a geometric flare that’s free for personal and commercial use. polya

Arca Majora (free)

Arca Majora

is a free uppercase font with geometric shapes that’s great for display use. arca

Brela (free)

Brela

is a free serif typeface that looks great at display or body sizes. brela

Cameron Chapman

Cameron Chapman is a freelance writer and designer from New England. You can visit her site or follow her on Twitter.

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