The goal of content design is to reduce confusion and improve clarity. Yet often it’s difficult to pinpoint a problem as user feedback tends to be not specific enough. But: we can use a few simple techniques to assess how users understand and perceive content. Let’s take a look. Part of Smart Interface Design Patterns by yours truly. https://smashingmagazine.com/2025/02/how-to-test-and-measure-content-in-ux/
Optimizing web performance means looking beyond surface-level metrics. Time to First Byte (TTFB) is crucial, but improving it requires more than tweaking server response time. Matt Zeunert breaks down what TTFB is, what causes its poor score, and why reducing server response time alone isn’t enough for optimization and often won’t be the most impactful change you can make to your website. https://smashingmagazine.com/2025/02/time-to-first-byte-beyond-server-response-time/
In 2013, Marcel Moerkens was working on Brooklyn, his WordPress theme, and he needed a way to make it stand out from the pack of other WordPress themes. Little did he know that the intro section he called a “Hero” would become one of the most recognizable patterns in web design today. Here’s how the idea came to life and how it changed everything. https://smashingmagazine.com/2025/02/popular-wordpress-theme-term-hero-section/
Tomasz Jakut reflects on the evolution of web design, from the days of table-based layouts and Flash games to the rise of responsive web design (RWD), which often feels like the end of history in web layout. But as 2025 marks the 15th anniversary of Ethan Marcotte’s article, it’s worth asking whether something significant happened after RWD — something so seamless that it went almost unnoticed. https://smashingmagazine.com/2025/02/taking-rwd-to-the-extreme/
In today’s web development landscape, the concept of a monolithic application has become increasingly rare. Modern applications are composed of multiple specialized services, each of which handles specific aspects of functionality. This shift didn’t happen overnight - it’s the result of decades of evolution in how we think about and implement data transfer between systems. Let’s explore this journey and see how it shapes modern architectures, particularly in the context of headless CMS solutions
Let’s make the most of the shortest of all months, with a new collection of desktop wallpapers celebrating new opportunities, sweet memories, happy little moments, and everything in between. All of them created with love by the community for the community. Enjoy! https://smashingmagazine.com/2025/01/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-february-2025/
Design systems play a crucial role in today’s digital landscape, providing a blueprint for consistent and user-friendly interfaces. But there’s another tool that deserves equal attention: the digital playbook. https://smashingmagazine.com/2025/01/digital-playbook-crucial-counterpart-design-system/
It’s not always the big features that make our everyday lives easier; sometimes, it’s those ease-of-life features that truly enhance our projects. In this article, Brecht De Ruyte highlights two such features: @starting-style and transition-behavior — two properties that are absolutely welcome additions to your everyday work with CSS animations.
https://smashingmagazine.com/2025/01/transitioning-top-layer-entries-display-property-css/
After months of anticipation, debate, and even a bit of apprehension, Svelte 5 arrived earlier this year. Frederick O’Brien caught up with its creator, Rich Harris, to talk about the path that brought him and his team here and what lies ahead. https://smashingmagazine.com/2025/01/svelte-5-future-frameworks-chat-rich-harris/
Alvaro Saburido delves into the current state and challenges of Open-Source authoring, sharing lessons learned from both community- and company-driven initiatives. https://smashingmagazine.com/2025/01/navigating-challenges-modern-open-source-authoring/