Conducting UX research that includes participants with a variety of disabilities is vital to building inclusive technology, but most prototypes used for testing are inaccessible. Rather than continuing to leave out feedback from disabled consumers, which ultimately leads to exclusive technology, researchers must get creative in their workarounds and be relentless in their efforts. https://smashingmagazine.com/2024/04/conducting-accessibility-research-inaccessible-ecosystem/
This article illustrates how AI can be leveraged to build tools that can be inclusive with a little bit of an additional effort. https://smashingmagazine.com/2024/04/ai-neurodiversity-building-inclusive-tools/
Scrolling, scanning, skipping: How do users consume content online? Here’s what you need to know about reading behavior and design strategies to prevent harmful scanning patterns. An upcoming part of Smart Interface Design Patterns. https://smashingmagazine.com/2024/04/f-shape-pattern-how-users-read/
What options do we have for integrating GraphQL with WordPress in 2024? Leonardo Losoviz describes the developments that have taken place in this space over the last three years. https://smashingmagazine.com/2024/04/how-work-graphql-wordpress-2024/
What do you do when you need to convert plain text into formatted HTML? Perhaps you reach for Markdown or manually write in the element tags yourself. Or maybe you have one or two of the dozens of online tools that will do it for you. In this tutorial, Alexis Kypridemos picks those tools apart and details the steps for how we can do it ourselves with a little vanilla HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. https://smashingmagazine.com/2024/04/converting-text-encoded-html-vanilla-javascript/
The three Core Web Vitals metrics don’t only tell you how visitors experience your website but also impact your Google search result rankings. In this article, we’ll look at what Core Web Vitals are, how they are measured, and how you can use DebugBear to monitor them continuously. https://smashingmagazine.com/2024/04/monitor-optimize-google-core-web-vitals/
Creating 3D effects in CSS isn’t an entirely new concept, but typical approaches use additional elements in the markup and pseudo-elements in the styles to pull it off. Temani Afif applies 3D effects and sliding transitions to a single <img> using clever CSS techniques that demonstrate advanced, modern styling practices.
https://smashingmagazine.com/2024/04/sliding-3d-image-frames-css/
Penpot helps designers and developers work better together by offering a free, open-source design tool based on open web standards. Today, let's explore Penpot’s latest feature, CSS Grid Layout. Penpot’s latest release is about efficiency and so much more. It gives designers superpowers and a better place at the table. Excited? Let’s take a look at it together. https://smashingmagazine.com/2024/04/penpot-css-grid-layout-designing-superpowers/
Victor Yocco reviews the components of the Transactional Model of communication, explaining how we might apply this framework to preparing, conducting, and analysing our UX research. You will understand how many UX research best practices align with the model and get an example of a tool for tracking alignment. https://smashingmagazine.com/2024/04/applying-principles-communication-ux-research/
What can we do to make a mobile app better? What subsidiary features are worth providing for our users? I have some ideas. You might, too. So, let’s compare our notes. Without any prescriptions attached, here are seven features I believe can palpably improve a user’s experience with a mobile app. https://smashingmagazine.com/2024/04/things-users-would-appreciate-mobile-apps/