September 25, 2014 in Community
Interview: Type Designer Mattox Shuler
I recently interviewed Mattox Shuler, a type designer who runs Fort, his type foundry. Mattox was kind enough to talk to me a bit about his journey to becoming a full-time type designer and his new Treehouse course. MS: Mattox, let me start…
July 24, 2014 in Learn
How to Handle Revision Requests for Web Design Projects
You spend weeks working on a website, agonizing over every detail and producing something that you can’t wait to show your client. You’re sure the client will be just as overjoyed as you are about the final look. You click…
July 15, 2014 in Learn
What Are Affordances in Web Design?
(Photograph by Flickr user Banzai Hiroaki) Affordances are clues about how an object should be used, typically provided by the object itself or its context. For example, even if you’ve never seen a coffee mug before, its use is fairly natural. The…
July 11, 2014 in Learn
Five Android Interfaces That REALLY Work
It is not unusual for conversations about Android design to turn ugly. While it’s true that the original design of the intrepid operating system were inferior to iOS, and that the old Android Market, without any oversight, was full of…
July 7, 2014 in Community
Interview: Game Designer – Jake Fleming
I recently sat down with Jake Fleming, the game designer behind Grilly the Cheese, Hot Shot Santa and Don’t Eat People. Jake was kind enough to give us a glimpse into his process and show us a bit of his work….
May 22, 2014 in Learn
Sketchbook Spy: Ken Wong, Monument Valley
Ken Wong, the designer who worked on the phenomenally successful game, Monument Valley, takes time out to show us his sketchbook and chat about how he put the game together. Monument Valley is a departure in iOS game design, focusing…
May 5, 2014 in Learn
5 Tips for Creating the Perfect Web Design Portfolio
If you’re a freelance designer or if you’re looking for your next design job, a portfolio of work is essential. Clients and employers want to see your capabilities and form a quick impression. If you don’t have a portfolio yet,…
April 29, 2014 in Learn
Noted Illustrator Ben O’Brien Talks About Finding Inspiration, Taking Chances
Ben O’Brien, an Internationally Acclaimed Illustrator, Left College and Taught Himself How to Succeed For Ben O’Brien, a prominent UK illustrator and designer, his career began when he summoned the courage to quit his comfy studio job and go it…
April 16, 2014 in Learn
Designer Meng To’s Writing Adventure Stemmed from Denied Visa
In 2013, Meng To was enjoying the startup life in Silicon Valley while lending his web design talents to Heyzap, a mobile game developer. Until his request for a new visa was denied. The Cambodian-born web designer and developer from…
April 9, 2014 in Learn
For Designers, a Little Inspiration Goes a Long Way
(Photo by Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary and Mary Margret / Flickr) Sometimes, it’s the little things that power a web designer to produce a remarkable project. For Dan Mall, all it took was a little inspiration. For other designers, a unique…
April 8, 2014 in Learn
How I Rapidly Prototype Websites
(Photo by Andrés Nieto Porras/Flickr) Treehouse students will often ask me which mockup tool I use to prototype websites, and my response is almost always the same: pencil and paper. I feel like when I give this answer, there’s a small…
April 1, 2014 in Learn
Why Good Design Matters — and Why Pens and Patio Furniture Are Gorgeous
To see what will be beautiful in the future, look to the past. That’s the advice some design experts shared recently when we asked them about the future of design, usability and visual experiences. Many everyday devices we’ve used for…