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David Appleyard

David Appleyard

David Appleyard helps to build fun things for the design community, including Design Shack, Theme Junkie, and Creative VIP.

How Card-Based Layouts Shape Modern UX

UX Design / 25 Aug 2025

How Card-Based Layouts Shape Modern UX

Card-based design has become one of the most popular UI patterns across the web and for good reason.

From mobile apps and dashboards to news websites and online stores, cards offer a flexible and clean way to organize content that’s easy to browse, understand, and interact with.

These modular blocks of content make it simple to display images, text, buttons, and links in a way that feels intuitive and responsive across all screen sizes.

But beyond just looking neat, card-based layouts play a big role in shaping how users experience and interact with digital products.

In this post, we’ll explore why card-based layouts work so well, how they influence user experience, and how to design cards that make content more usable and engaging.

120+ Best Modern Serif Fonts 2025

Typography / 25 Aug 2025

120+ Best Modern Serif Fonts 2025

It’s time to delve into a collection of the best beautiful, modern serif fonts. Serif fonts are ideal for printed literature, detailed typography, or for creating a more formal effect. And these popular serif fonts really stand out from the crowd.

We’ve gathered more than 100 of the best modern serif fonts that you can quickly start using in your work. You’ll be amazed at what a difference they can make to your design project, compared to the more generic system fonts that get all too commonly used.

There’s nothing like a distinct serif typeface to really set your layout apart, and create something beautiful.

Many serif fonts risk feeling a little old a dated. Not these. Our pick of modern serif fonts all look fresh, innovative, and ready for creating design work that sets a trend! And our tips for choosing a modern serif font will help you pick just the right one for your project.

Designing for Touch: How Finger-Friendly UI Enhances UX

UX Design / 27 Jul 2025

Designing for Touch: How Finger-Friendly UI Enhances UX

With mobile devices dominating the way we interact with apps and websites, touch-based design has become more important than ever.

Whether it’s tapping a button, swiping through a gallery, or dragging a slider, users expect smooth and intuitive interactions that feel natural on their fingertips.

That’s why designing for touch isn’t just about layout—it’s about usability, comfort, and a frictionless user experience.

In this article, we’ll look at what it means to create finger-friendly interfaces, why it matters, and how designers can build touch-first experiences that feel effortless for users across all devices.

20+ Stylish Swedish Fonts With Scandinavian Simplicity

Font Collections / 27 Jul 2025

20+ Stylish Swedish Fonts With Scandinavian Simplicity

Swedish design is world-renowned for its clean lines, minimalist approach, and functional beauty, and that same philosophy shines through in typography.

In this collection of Swedish fonts, you’ll find typefaces that reflect the essence of Swedish style: understated yet bold, refined yet warm.

From crisp sans-serifs that feel fresh and modern to subtly decorative fonts with just the right amount of personality, these fonts are ideal for projects that call for clarity, creativity, and sophistication.

Whether you’re designing for a sleek modern brand, a lifestyle blog, or a Nordic-inspired packaging project, these fonts will help you instantly capture that iconic Scandinavian aesthetic.

Designing for Print in Canva: Mistakes to Avoid

Business / 14 Jul 2025

Designing for Print in Canva: Mistakes to Avoid

Canva is perfect for designing everything from business cards to posters. But when it comes to taking those designs from screen to paper, things can get tricky.

Designing for print has different rules from designing for digital. File resolution, bleed settings, color modes, and even licensing can impact how your final product looks and how legally safe it is to use.

If you skip over these details, you could end up with blurry prints, misaligned layouts, or worse, content you can’t legally distribute.

In this guide, we’ll walk through the most common mistakes people make when designing for print in Canva and how to avoid them, so your print materials come out clean, professional, and ready to share with confidence.

Let’s dive in.

Reinventing Design Choices for Privacy Permission Elements

Web Standards / 27 Oct 2022

Reinventing Design Choices for Privacy Permission Elements

A personalized experience is one of the most highly valued features of a modern website design. However, gathering the right consumer data is essential to provide customized services to website visitors. After all, you can only enhance consumer experience and provide a better service if you recognize customers to a degree.

The problem is, sometimes, such personalization comes at the cost of your users’ privacy.

There’s a way around this though. You can prioritize privacy UX, build trust, and still generate revenue. If done correctly, a user-focused approach can turn into conversions and make you a stronger player in your market.

Let’s see some common pitfalls and opportunities that you can use for your business or personal website.

Top Tools Every UI/UX Designer Should Know

Software / 26 Oct 2021

Top Tools Every UI/UX Designer Should Know

Wondering which tools successful UXers use to design top-notch digital products?

From ideation to developer handoff, UX designers rely on a variety of programs to execute each phase of the product development process. If you’re getting started with UX design, you’ll need to know what these tools can do for you and when to use them.

Fledgling UXers can build hands-on experience with essential design tools through a bootcamp course like Springboard’s UI/UX Design Career Track. With a diverse lineup of UX tools in your pocket, you’ll be able to optimize your deliverables at each stage of the design process.

Read on to learn more about the top tools you’ll need to master to create wireframes, prototypes, and more.

7 Best Instagram Tools for Designers in 2025

Instagram Templates / 21 Dec 2020

7 Best Instagram Tools for Designers in 2025

As one of the most popular social media channels, it is important to make the most of your presence on Instagram. This applies to business and individual brands.

Your photos, videos, stories, and reels can say a lot about you and your business. Much of that starts with a good design that’s representative of the work you do.

Here, we’ve collected seven of the best Instagram tools to help you make the most of creating and sharing online.

Design Your Own Logo With LogoMyWay’s Logo Maker

Reviews / 21 Feb 2020

Design Your Own Logo With LogoMyWay’s Logo Maker

Creating a professional-looking logo design that effectively markets your company and its services is an essential part of creating a new startup – and thanks to the wide array of tools and platforms available online you now have a range of options to choose from when it comes to how you will go about procuring a great logo for your company.

One such option that offers several considerable benefits is designing your logo using the new online logo maker by LogoMyWay. To help you take full advantage of this promising new logo design tool, we’ll take a look at the top benefits of using the LogoMyWay Online Logo Maker as well as the four-step process you can follow to ensure the best possible results.

What’s a Progressive Web App (And Why Should You Care)?

Mobile / 10 Oct 2018

What’s a Progressive Web App (And Why Should You Care)?

In 2016, mobile users first surpassed those accessing the web from desktop devices. Since then, mobile hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down.

As everyone looks for how to make websites, and web apps, more mobile-friendly, you’ll increasingly start to come across the phrase “Progressive Web App”. Today we’re looking at what this is, how it differs from other technologies like AMP, and how you can get started.

The Benefits of Paid vs. Free Stock Images

Business / 20 Jun 2016

The Benefits of Paid vs. Free Stock Images

Are you ready to take your design projects to the next level? A great visual presence is the best way to make a first impression and grab hold of a user.

From web-based projects, to posters, or even packaging or billboard design, a great photograph is your best entry point. But where do you find high-quality images if you aren’t a great photographer? And how can you get them fast? What are the pros and cons of finding a commercial stock images vs. a free one? Let’s take a look…

How to Perform Real-Time User Testing With FullStory

Reviews / 20 Aug 2015

How to Perform Real-Time User Testing With FullStory

Ever visited a website that was confusing, broken, or just plain hard to use? That site probably isn’t using FullStory.

There’s no doubt that user testing is incredibly important to create a website that’s easy to use, and performs well. But watching users in a testing environment can never compare to watching actual customer interactions, and looking at the stumbling blocks they face. Today we’re taking a look at how FullStory can help with just this, and give you a powerful insight into how your customers use your website.