Accessibility goes beyond making products user-friendly. It can significantly impact the quality of life for people with disabilities. Kate Kalcevich shares lessons she learned from assistive technology users — challenges and barriers they encounter on mobile devices. https://smashingmagazine.com/2024/02/mobile-accessibility-barriers-assistive-technology-users/
Accessibility for data visualization extends well beyond web standards, at least if you’re trying to create an experience that’s actually useful. This article focuses on techniques for creating useful and accessible visualizations that extend well beyond compliance. https://smashingmagazine.com/2024/02/accessibility-standards-empower-better-chart-visual-design/
How to design for children aged 3–12, with insights into user behavior, considerations for parents, and practical UX guidelines. https://smashingmagazine.com/2024/02/practical-guide-design-children/
A radar chart — also commonly called a spider chart — is yet another way to visualize data and make connections. Radar charts are inherently geometric, making them both a perfect fit and fun to make with CSS, thanks to the polygon() function. Read along as Preethi Sam demonstrates the process and sprinkles it with a pinch of JavaScript to make a handy, reusable component.
https://smashingmagazine.com/2024/02/draw-radar-charts-web/
What could we learn from entry-level students in front-end web development? As seasoned professionals, you might think you’ve seen it all, but the truth is that the newcomers are asking the most intriguing questions and making connections that those of us who have spent years on the front end may have never considered. https://smashingmagazine.com/2024/02/frequently-heard-beginning-front-end-web-development-class/
An overwhelming number of frameworks and tooling available today gives the impression that web development has gotten perhaps too complex. Juan Diego Rodríguez explores if web development really is that complex and, most importantly, how we can prevent it from getting even more difficult than we already perceive it to be. https://smashingmagazine.com/2024/02/web-development-getting-too-complex/
With one billion people aged 60 or older worldwide, inclusivity is more important than ever. Learn how to create digital experiences that empower independence and competence for older adults while enhancing usability for all. An upcoming part of Smart Interface Design Patterns. https://smashingmagazine.com/2024/02/guide-designing-older-adults/
As Artificial Intelligence evolves the computing paradigm, designers have an opportunity to craft more intuitive user interfaces. Maximillian Piras examines how the latest AI capabilities can reshape the future of human-computer interaction beyond conversation alone. https://smashingmagazine.com/2024/02/designing-ai-beyond-conversational-interfaces/
With February just around the corner, how about a little inspiration boost? We might have one for you: desktop wallpapers created with love by the community for the community. Enjoy! https://smashingmagazine.com/2024/01/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-february-2024/
Most product teams commonly adopt a feature-centric mindset, finding them convenient for brainstorming, drafting requirement documents, and integrating into backlogs and ticketing systems. In this article, Andy Budd shows how fixation with features might be holding you back and how making a few small tweaks to your process could make an entire world of difference. https://smashingmagazine.com/2024/01/feature-centricity-harming-product/