Community & Inspiration articles

The world is a strange place at the moment, but design moves on apace, and sites are still being launched. Every month we post a roundup of the freshest sites we’ve come across in the previous four weeks. This month we’ve included some exciting portfolio sites, a strong selection of health and beauty sites, and some fabulous new takes on technology. Enjoy! Lynn Fisher We love the homepage illustration on Lynn Fisher’s website. It’s...

The state of the world around us can greatly impact website design. From emotional changes that correlate to the feel of a design to information and data to deliver, the impact of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic is making its way into projects (intentionally or not). Here’s what’s trending in design this month. 1. “Unbalanced” Use of Space Space can be a huge influence on a design project. It impacts visual flow and can drive engagement....

Side projects can help to demonstrate your passion and enthusiasm for design to future clients or employers and can create a great new addition to your design portfolio. Side projects are a way you can work on things you want to work on — rather than just ones which are bringing in the money. Whether it turns out to be artistic or experimental, it can be great in taking you out of your everyday routine and leave you with a true feeling of satisfaction....

There are a lot of negative emotions swirling around right now: fear; stress; frustration; anxiety; depression. And what’s worse is that it feels like there’s no escape from them. We don’t know how long the coronavirus crisis is going to last, so we can’t allow these negative emotions to overwhelm us day in and day out. It’s not sustainable. What’s more, there’s a direct correlation between negativity and productivity. So,...

In April’s 20 Best New Websites roundup we’ve got some awesome examples of current design trends, and one or two sites that have struck out in their own direction. There’s an experimental typeface, a museum making perfect use of video, and lots of large type. But the two dominant themes are lots of color, and lots of transitions. Enjoy! Calexo This incredible site for THC-infused beverages from Calexo, is bursting with color, and positivity....

This month's website designs are showing elements of what is happening in the world around us. While this is often true, some of the things we are seeing right now are an immediate reaction to current events. Trending this month are designs for website notifications and pop-ups, retro typography, and blue and green color schemes. Here’s what’s trending in design this month. Website Notifications The COVID-19 world health pandemic has...

Are you trapped in a fourth floor apartment listening to the guy next door serenade the block from his balcony with a saxophone he made from a length of rubber tubing and an old boot? While people the world over very sensibly self-isolate, it’s still possible to be productive, why not work on your portfolio? Strap on your noise-cancelling headphones, turn on some white noise, and grab some inspiration from our monthly roundup of the best portfolios...

If you’re self-isolating thanks to Covid-19, or simply a fulltime remote worker, keeping in touch with the industry can be tricky; There aren’t any water-coolers to gather around, and your cat is less knowledgeable about CSS than she likes to pretend. One of the best solutions is web design podcasts. They’re a great way to grow your skills and ideas, while enjoying a fun, informal chat. Web design podcasts are entertaining, insightful,...

Two of these three trends comes with some usability concerns but are a lot of fun to look at and play with. Would you take the risk of trying one of these design techniques? The third trend (up first in this list) is a new take on bold color palettes that shifts from some of the colors that have been overwhelmingly popular for a while. Here’s what’s trending in design this month. Warm Colors, Especially Reds Warm colors – especially red tones...

Each month we publish a roundup of the best new portfolios, launched in the previous four weeks, by freelancers, agencies, and other creative professionals. This month’s edition is packed with color and animation. Almost every site in this list animates some part of its interface, and many are dependent on animation entirely. You’ll find tons of great interaction design, but the real trend in 2020 is that personality is making its way...

Designers are embracing big, bold concepts with oversized elements, bright color, and even a little rule-breaking. (The best part? Most of these trends seem to overlap somewhat.) Here’s what’s trending in design this month. Homepage Headline Heroes Homepage hero areas are shifting again from website entryways with plenty of text, CTAs, and options for users, to simple displays with big headlines (and maybe not much else). Use of oversized...

January 2020 is picking up where 2019 left off, with lots of animation and even more bold, bright color schemes. We’re also seeing an unusual number of luxury sites this month, and as always there’s a strong set of startups trying to break into the market. Enjoy! Plink To take on giants like PayPal, you need a compelling brand and a simple message, that can also wow with its first impression. Plink hits the nail on the head with its 3D animation....

Every month we roundup the best new portfolios released in the previous four weeks. This month we’re looking back at the whole of 2019, and picking out 19 of our favorites from the last 12 months. There’s a mixture here of colorful and restrained, experimental and expected; the one thing they all have in common is an attention to details that creates an exceptional UX. Enjoy! WTF Studio If you’re going to name your business WTF Studio, you...

From some very tough competition, these are the 50 sites we liked the best this year. Each one has been chosen either because it took a unique approach, or because it was central to a design trend that was a big hit in 2019. There’s a lot of fullscreen video, a lot of illustration, and the emergence of a post-Brutalist maximalism trend that’s set to keep running into 2020 and beyond. Is your favorite included in the list? Nomadic Tribe Illustration...