Author Archive

Building a solid user interface is not an easy task. When you start discussing UI design for the web vs mobile we are bringing in even more complexity. But ultimately there are some core user experience techniques which will work in almost any setup.

For this article I would like to look deeper into the startup territory. I want to point out a few trends in new Internet launches and startups which are taking the web by storm. These websites not only provide real services, but their design is impeccable and very easy to handle. When striving to push the envelope you want to break into the tech startup space. These are some of the most innovative and creative digital professionals you’ll find anywhere in the world!

Retina displays are becoming much more common amongst tech enthusiasts. The Apple iPad and iPhone 4 introduced the retina displays and changed the face of modern technology and modern web design. Using these newer screens the pixel density is double that of a typical mobile resolution.

This means images and page elements will appear more crisp than with any ordinary LCD screen. But this also means web developers have to work around settings to get images looking nice in both normal and retina formatting. In this article I want to discuss some basic ideas for optimizing your website’s performance on retina devices.

Working as a developer means you have to learn to read source code and project your own needs into each website. You have to learn which projects require a set of codes, and which projects can be created entirely from scratch. This process is learned through enough repetition and skill within the industry.

I want to use this article to discuss some finer points with open source web development. Creating projects based on free CMS’ is often the quickest and simplest way to go. But you need to know how to handle open source scripts and keep yourself from running into a wall. This requires a bit of practice, but also just some time dedicated to playing with your script of choice.

Branding design is a tough area in the field of digital graphics. It can take years of practice to build a solid branding for your company. Yet with enough time anybody can pick up these techniques and apply them to project work.

I have put together this collection of 31 inspiring logo ideas. This is a wonderful collection for designers who aspire towards simple minimalist branding concepts. More elegant & flashy logos tend to cause more of a distraction than anything else. But if you can find the proper balance of coordination and simplicity it is easy to create memorable brands which last lifetime and beyond.

The art of writing articles is not always easy to pickup right away. You’ll need to spend a lot of time practicing writing, but also reading similar articles or books which peak your interest. Only through reading others’ writings can you understand more complex vocabulary and grammar. But keep in mind that not all complicated writings are good or worthwhile.

In this article I’d like to take a deeper look into writing articles which captivate your audience. Articles can be published in print, such as newspapers or magazines. But you could also publish online to a blog or web magazine where readers have access from any computer in the world. Because there is such a huge global audience you’ll really need to determine your own writing style and what makes you stand out.

Many advocates towards mobile web design recommend starting with a smaller layout and scaling up through responsive design. This is a popular set of techniques which have been adopted over the past couple of years. However I would argue there is still room for mobile-specific websites in some particular instances.

In this article I’d like to look over the major differences between a single responsive design and two separate desktop/mobile layouts. There are some obvious benefits to both methods but I think the best solution ultimately depends on the type of website. This means freelancers should understand the needs of their clients and which solution works best on any particular project. The design process isn’t always straightforward and usually requires time for introspection.

Freelancers are generally interested in their field by first reading about it online, or hearing about the experience from a peer. Once you start landing projects you begin to realize how lucrative the freelancing track can be. However building up a portfolio is one task which requires a bit of background study. You’ll need to good work to showcase, along with looking over some example websites for layout structure.

I have put together this huge collection of 40 stunning freelance portfolio layout designs. You can go through our gallery below and figure out which interfaces look right. What kind of portfolio design would work best for you? What would make you confident in your work to share your link around with potential clients? By asking yourself these questions now you’ll be prepared when the time comes to finally sit down and build your portfolio!

Frontend web developers must be somewhat familiar with the jQuery JavaScript library. This open source solution gives birth to a whole new method of coding website animations and effects. I remember first getting started with JavaScript in early 2003-2004 and the field was ripe with great information.

But modern day web developers have access to many more resources and tutorials online. Specifically I’d like to use this article to look into the jQuery.ajax() method for calling asynchronous data without reloading the page. AJAX(Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) was a hot buzzword along with web 2.0 but it has now evolved into a technology which even beginners should understand.

Every website needs some form of marketing to initially garner a responsive audience. You want participating users on your website to offer feedback, utilize all your services, and put your website to good use. But there are so many techniques inside the umbrella of Internet marketing – which ones produce the best results?

I have found that social media is one method which offers a gateway directly into people’s desktops. Everybody uses at least some popular Internet figure whether it’s YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, or any other brand name website. These networks are also marketing tools for gauging the popularity of your content. In this article I want to share a few techniques you can use to push your website viral on many of these larger social media outlets.

After spending enough time on the computer the daily grind can become weary. You need to find small fits of motivation which can push you into finishing projects. But what type of motivators will work? This is an age-old question for working efficiently, and ultimately your needs may be different than other people’s needs.

We can look into some tips for keeping focused on long-winded projects. It’s a tough situation when you don’t care and your thoughts are roaming freely. And as many of us feel each day, this can happen quite frequently! Yet with discipline you can train yourself into a model of thinking which fits a truly productive workday.