John Cox

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Tagged design · everything

Interesting

Stripe Generator - diagonal stripes background tiles

I can't write a summary of this piece because it isn't an article or piece of reportage — it's a web application interface for a stripe pattern generator tool. There's no argument being made or information being reported, just instructions on how to use the tool to create and download striped textures for CSS or Photoshop. If you meant to save an actual article or essay, please share that instead.

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42 Design/Tech Magazines To Read | Smashing Magazine

This article showcases a curated selection of innovative and futuristic gadget designs—most still in concept phase as of 2008—that prioritize aesthetic innovation alongside functionality, arguing that when competing products offer similar core capabilities, superior design and user experience become the decisive factors. Examples range from gesture-controlled remote controls and customizable OLED keyboards to holographic laptops and a laser virtual keyboard, each demonstrating how thoughtful design solutions can fundamentally enhance how users interact with devices. The piece emphasizes that design excellence extends beyond visual appeal to encompass the overall user experience, from interface usability to attention to detail in features like charge-status indicators.

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SEOmoz | 15 CSS Properties You Probably Never Use (but perhaps should)

This post catalogs 15 underused CSS Level 2 properties with examples and explanations of their purposes, ranging from visual effects like `clip` and `text-shadow` to print-specific controls like `page-break-before` and typography refinements like `font-stretch`. The author notes that browser support varies across these properties and recommends testing before implementation, while flagging certain uses (like generating content with CSS) as conceptually problematic despite being technically possible.

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Free Design Templates

When selecting a WordPress theme, prioritize developer reputation and code quality—which affect security, speed, and SEO—over the price distinction between free and premium options. The piece walks through seven key evaluation criteria: comparing free versus paid themes, testing page load speed with tools like Pingdom, assessing design and user experience through demo browsing, verifying mobile responsiveness, checking SEO optimization claims, examining customization dashboards, and reviewing customer feedback on community sites like ThemeForest to gauge security and reliability. Rather than becoming paralyzed by endless options, knowing your specific needs narrows the choice significantly, just as knowing your wine preference makes selecting from hundreds of bottles manageable.

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53 CSS-Techniques You Couldn’t Live Without | Smashing Magazine

A curated list of 53 essential CSS techniques and articles covering modern web design practices, ranging from foundational concepts like CSS selectors and layouts to advanced topics such as CSS3 animations, flexbox, grid systems, and responsive design. The collection emphasizes how CSS enables separation of design from content, making websites easier to maintain and update while advocating for accessible, usable, and well-structured code over outdated table-based layouts.

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Online Icon Maker

This is a free online favicon creator tool that lets users design 16x16 pixel icons using basic drawing tools like a pencil, line tool, and color picker, with the ability to upload and convert existing images or download the finished favicon. The tool supports custom hex color input and offers options to clear the canvas or erase individual pixels, though the creator recommends their professional 3D editor for more advanced effects like shadows and smooth edges.

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50 Beautiful CSS-Based Web-Designs in 2006 | Smashing Magazine

Smashing Book #5 is a 584-page hardcover guide offering practical front-end techniques and design patterns from experienced web professionals tackling real responsive design projects. The 13 chapters cover essential topics including responsive workflows, SVG mastery, Flexbox layouts, web fonts, responsive images, email design, testing and debugging, performance optimization, and strategies for maintaining creativity within systematic design processes. Rather than chasing trends, the book focuses on battle-tested methods that solve actual problems in responsive web design, from complex components like tables and navigation to offline functionality and client collaboration workflows.

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More Symbols, Buttons and Icons For Free | Smashing Magazine

A curated collection of 55+ free professional icon sets suitable for web and desktop design, featuring both original designs created for Smashing Magazine and notable sets from other sources. Most sets are available in multiple formats (PNG, ICO, PSD, EPS) and resolutions, with licenses generally permitting free use in private and commercial projects, though redistribution and resale are typically prohibited. The compilation includes thematic sets ranging from social media and office tools to horror, sports, and 3D graphics, along with links to download each package.

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ColorJack: Studio (beta)

This is a portfolio or landing page showcasing a collection of browser-based creative tools and apps designed for drawing, music learning, color theory, mindfulness, and generative art. Each tool emphasizes accessibility (many free), playfulness, and educational value, with examples including a drawing sketchpad, an interactive color piano for learning music theory, a mindfulness journaling app, color palette generators, and ambient generative art tools. The page suggests the creator or organization also offers custom interactive tool development for clients seeking educational or experiential digital experiences.

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Smashing Magazine | Blog Archive » CSS-Based Forms: Modern Solutions

Smashing Book #5 is a 584-page hardcover guide featuring practical front-end techniques and design patterns for responsive web design, drawing from real-world projects rather than short-lived trends. The book covers 13 chapters addressing responsive workflow, SVG, Flexbox, web fonts, responsive images, email design, testing, performance optimization, and offline functionality, written by respected designers and developers like Sara Soueidan, Zoe Gillenwater, and Yoav Weiss. It emphasizes scalable design systems, pragmatic solutions to complex responsive challenges, and balancing creative design with predictable processes to build memorable, maintainable websites.

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Logo Maker - Logo Creator - Online Logo Design

LogoMaker is an AI-powered platform that generates professional logos in three steps: entering your company name and industry, browsing thousands of AI-generated designs, and customizing colors, fonts, and layout. The service is free to use for design creation, though saving and downloading high-resolution files or printing on branded products requires a low-cost purchase starting at $2.99 per month. Beyond logos, LogoMaker offers integrated services for creating business cards, custom apparel, websites, and promotional merchandise all from one account.

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