The new month is just around the corner, and that means: It’s time for some new desktop wallpapers! All of them are designed with love by the community for the community and can be downloaded for free. Enjoy! https://smashingmagazine.com/2025/04/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2025/
As designers, it’s important to be able to transform visual ideas into concepts within minutes and into fully functional products within hours. Well, today we’re bringing you closer to AnimaApp, an app designed to make your life easier — whether you’re a designer, developer, product team member or entrepreneur. https://smashingmagazine.com/2025/04/anima-playground-figma-designs-live-apps/
Lost in a sea of UX files, docs, PDFs, and scattered decisions across Slack, Dropbox, Notion, and Figma? We talk a lot about organizing Figma, but what about a sensible folder structure for all UX assets? Let’s fix that. Kindly powered by Smart Interface Design Patterns. https://smashingmagazine.com/2025/04/ux-design-files-organization-template/
It starts with good intentions — a quick fix here, a shiny feature there — and suddenly, your product portfolio’s bursting at the seams. In this guide, Talke Hoppmann-Walton walks you through a “Product Kondo” exercise to declutter, realign, and spark some serious product joy for both your business and your customers. https://smashingmagazine.com/2025/04/product-kondo-guide-evaluating-organizational-product-portfolio/
While it is clear that creativity is driven by both the left and right hemispheres, an important question remains: how can we boost creativity while keeping the process enjoyable? It may not be obvious, but non-design-related activities can, in fact, be an opportunity to enhance creativity. https://smashingmagazine.com/2025/04/neuroscience-designers-boost-creativity-endless-reference-scrolling/
Poor internet connectivity doesn’t have to mean poor UX. With PWA technologies like IndexedDB, service workers, and the Background Sync API, you can build an offline-friendly image upload system that queues uploads and retries them automatically — so your users can upload stress-free, even when offline.
https://smashingmagazine.com/2025/04/building-offline-friendly-image-upload-system/
Keyboard navigation is a vital aspect of accessible web design, and a detail-oriented approach is crucial. Prioritizing keyboard navigation prioritizes the user experience for a diverse audience, extending your reach while simultaneously fostering a more inclusive web environment. https://smashingmagazine.com/2025/04/what-mean-site-be-keyboard-navigable/
While there’s no definitive playbook for building an accessibility culture, Dani shares lessons from his experience in shaping it through habits rather than mandates. https://smashingmagazine.com/2025/04/fostering-accessibility-culture/
Dark mode isn’t just a trendy aesthetic. It’s a gateway to more inclusive digital experiences, but only if designed thoughtfully. Discover how to craft dark modes that don’t just look good but work for everyone, from those with light sensitivity to machine learning algorithms. https://smashingmagazine.com/2025/04/inclusive-dark-mode-designing-accessible-dark-themes/
“Gilding the lily” isn’t always bad. In design, a touch of metaphorical gold — a subtle animated transition, a hint of color, or added depth in a drop shadow — can help communicate a level of care and attention that builds trust. But first? You need a lily. Nail the fundamentals. Then, gild it carefully. https://smashingmagazine.com/2025/04/gild-just-one-lily/