You hand your beautifully crafted code to a client, colleague or even CMS, and the next time you check in, it's all ruined. Front-end alchemist Scott Lenger explains how bad code happens to good people, why it matters, and the steps you can take to prevent it
As more and more graphic designers and illustrators gain web design skills, illustrations can increasingly be found on the web. UK designer Mike Kus showcases his 10 favourite examples of websites using illustration to enhance the user experience.
Designers and developers share with Craig Grannell their tools for designing websites and demand something more in keeping with modern practices. The perfect tool, it seems, simply doesn't exist yet, as highlighted by the Project Meteor campaign
Designers and developers accuse Adobe of not understanding the web and creating a tool that could damage rather than aid the industry. Craig Grannell investigates
The Brilliant Newcomer Award celebrates the ultimate shooting star in web design and development who really has excelled in their field. Here we profile the top 10 newcomers as nominated by you. May the best one win!
Content might be king and a picture may speak a thousand words, but you’d see none of it were it not for navigation. Interaction designer Paul Annett explores navigation trends and how they’re evolving
Save yourself from doing the same thing over and over again. Use Adobe Fireworks to speed up your workflow with these time-saving tips, compiled by Jonathan Snook
This week we profile the top 10 redesigns that you have nominated in the Redesign of the Year category of the .net Awards 2011. All the entries on our shortlist are examples of sites that went beyond an aesthetic makeover
It's the debate that refuses to die. Is working for free ever worth it? Karl Hodge weighs up the pros and cons of pro bono, design competitions, creative pitching and other forms of spec work
Clients want all sorts of things. And sometimes it's the stuff of nightmares. We compile just what kind of outrageous, baffling and downright weird questions some leading design agencies and freelancers have to answer
The logo is one of the most important parts of a business but just how do you create an effective one? In this article you will learn some vital tips from expert logo designer Jacob Cass, who covers the basics, the design process, the pricing of your work and much more, while providing you with some handy resources along the way
The voting stage of the .net Awards 2011 is kicking off today and to get things going we profile the top 10 young designers, who are all under 21 years of age. Here are the rising stars who’ll give the old hats a run for their money in the years to come
Higher broadband speeds mean it's now possible to use full-scale background imagery that makes your site sing, says Matthew Smith. Find out how to use it to add an emotional punch and nuance to a design but be cautious when employing this style
Colour communicates meaning and our own assumptions can often be wrong as colours have different meanings in different cultures. Cindy Li of Yahoo Applications explains how to use colour to enhance the appeal and usability of your website while ensuring it remains accessible
Actinic Software's CEO Ben Dyer looks at a number of best practice tips and advice for ecommerce merchants, designers and implementers in the areas of the checkout, product pages and customer relations
In Chapter 1 of his much acclaimed book, Adaptive Web Design, Aaron Gustafson explains what progressive enhancement really means, how it works and what it's got to do with the Galapagos finches and peanut M&Ms. Think of the user, not the browser!
When it comes to navigation on your site, one of the major questions you're likely to ask yourself is whether to fix, or not to fix. Matthew Smith looks at five top examples of fixed nav systems
Used incorrectly, overlays can be disruptive and act as barriers, but use them well and they can boost focus and minimise server calls. Matthew Smith explains
