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Desktop wallpapers can serve as an excellent source of inspiration. However, if you use some specific wallpaper for a long period of time, it becomes harder to draw inspiration out of it. That’s why we have decided to supply you with smashing wallpapers over 12 months.

And to make them a little bit more distinctive from the usual crowd, we’ve decided to embed calendars for the upcoming month. So if you need to look up some date, isn’t it better to show off a nice wallpaper with a nice calendar instead of launching some default time application?

This post features 24 free desktop wallpapers, created by designers across the globe. Both versions with a calendar and without a calendar can be downloaded for free.

Please notice:

• all images can be clicked and lead to the preview of the wallpaper;
• you can feature your work in our magazine by taking part in our desktop wallpaper calendar series. We are regularly looking for creative designers and artists to be featured on Smashing Magazine. Are you one of them?

So which wallpapers have we received for August?

[Offtopic: By the way, did you know that Smashing Magazine has a mobile version? Try it out if you have an iPhone, Blackberry or another capable device.]

Typography Technopop

“I love visually transcribing music, and having recently acquired some great Kraftwerk albums my inspiration ran rampant. The wallpaper is a transcription of Kraftwerk’s song Techno Pop.” Designed by Jonathan Haggard from United States.

• preview (0.6 Mb, jpg)
• with calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050

Signalnoise A/V

“This is the abstracted idea of globalized television broadcast that came about in the 1940s to 1960s. The multicolored designs are my rendition of audio/video waves mingled with television feedback, which is how I imagine these signals floating above and beyond our planet. Even though they are, ultimately, invisible.” Designed by James White from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

• preview (0.2 Mb, jpg)
• with calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Dolphins are so 90’s…

“For me august equals summer. And what says summer better than the ocean? So i took the colorful theme from our website, threw in some waves, dolphins, cool summer sky and… some halftone patterns and mixed them all in.” Designed by Adaptd.com.

• preview (0.1 Mb, jpg)
• with calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Monster Sushi

“Monster Sushi and is a product of procrastination — I came up with this character when I was putting off filling out some very important forms.” Designed by Regina Silva from Manila, Philippines.

• preview (0.1 Mb, jpg)
• with calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

August Fruit

“One of the things that pop into my mind when thinking about August is fruit – besides summer and warmth. Plus I’ve just discovered the Museo font and I thought it would be perfect for the job.” Designed by Piotr Godek.

• with calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Night Fire

“The inspiration for this wallpaper came from a beautiful night sky and the flames of a bonfire flying up to the sky.” Designed by Henrik Wissing from Germany.

• preview (0.2 Mb, jpg)
• with calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

August siberians

Available in 12 desktop resolutions — both widescreen and fullscreen. Designed by Vlad Gerasimov from Irkutsk, Russia.

• preview (0.15 Mb, jpg)
• with calendar:
  800×600, 1024×768, 1152×864, 1280×1024 , 1280×800, 1280×960 , 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 2560×1600

Bird In Hand

“I made this image in reaction to what has been a very grey and wet English Summer and also to inject a little color and karma to my day. I hope it does the same for you.” Designed by Scott Jackson from UK.

• preview (0.5 Mb, jpg)
• with calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Water Mellie

“She looked at me with that curious expression when I was swimming in my pool one lazy afternoon, thinking “Better not dive in!” While her mind follows the flow of the water, wave by wave. In fact, she was wondering how swimming feels like!” Designed by Athena Emi from Hong Kong.

• preview (0.2 Mb, jpg)
• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×1024, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280×1024, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Carrio

“Carrio has been designed in architectural terms.., like an idea for seatting on!” Designed by Ricardo Guillamondegui from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

• preview (0.1 Mb, jpg)
• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1024×768,1280×960, 1280×1024, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Refreshing Bubbles

“In this wallpapers the summer concept goes directly related to the high temperatures. For this reason I have wanted to dedicate the calendar of August, the warmest month, to the refreshing summers baths. The principal image is of an advertising cut of the 70s.” Designed by Alba Soler from Spain.

• preview (0.1 Mb, jpg)
• with calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Summer Time

“I’ve seen this guy several times taking a nap on the grass while I have my lunch in the park (Old Port, Montreal). He seems to be enjoying summer. I wish I could be as relaxed as he is.” Designed by Patricia Montero de Cabana from Maracaibo, Venezuela.

• preview (0.3 Mb, jpg)
• with calendar: 800×600, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900
• without calendar: 800×600, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900

3D Type

“I have fresh new wallpapers for you to give away for free this august. I chose autumn-like colors, and the theme is: typo-loving, and art nouveau.” Designed by Sandie Sørensen from Denmark..

• preview (0.6 Mb, jpg)
• with calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Agriculture

This wallpaper is based on the photo the designer has taken in a field. Designed by Radek Adamczewski from Poland.

• preview (0.2 Mb, jpg)
• with calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Augustography

“The typography is based on ITC Garamond, and while drawing I just started pulling random stuff, floating in my mind, into the design.” Designed by Arthur Dam from the Netherlands.

• preview (0.1 Mb, jpg)
• with calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Miscellaneous Days

“This version of a monthly calendar is about GTD (”Getting things dropped”) on your desktop: you can use the calendar to drag all the files on your desktop to certain days, when you expect to (hopefully) be working on them. If you didn’t make it – no prob – just drag them to the next day! For the time after August 2008, you can use the wallpaper for weekly “getting things dragged and dropped” on your desktop. It’s easy – and I hope it’s efficient.” Designed by Michael Schmidt from Austria.

• preview (0.26 Mb, jpg)
• monthly: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• weekly: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

My Fragile World

Designed by Maryam Kazerooni from US / Iran.

• preview (0.1 Mb, jpg)
• with calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

• preview (0.1 Mb, jpg)
• with calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Geometrical Flower

“This design is a big geometrical flower pattern, with each flower made up of smaller abstract patterns. Inspired by Escher and old Japanese Kimono designs; The patterns and abstract lines create a chaotic blossom full of movement.” Designed by Daniel Edmundson from Pernambuco/Recife, Brazil.

• preview (0.5 Mb, jpg)
• with calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Purple Flame

“I’ve tried to make an ethereal, minimalistic wallpapaper. No collages or photomanupulation. I really like “relax images” in my workspaces. And I love purple!” Designed by Armando Sotoca from Spain.

• preview (0.1 Mb, jpg)
• with calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Independence Day Of Pakistan

“When August comes it remind me of 14th August 1947 when my lovely country Pakistan was came into being. So, I am dedicating this wallpaper to all the lovely people of my country. This wallpaper contains National Monument (Pakistan) which is located in Islamabad.” Designed by Altaf Sayani from Pakistan.

• preview (0.4 Mb, jpg)
• with calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Smashing Poker

Designed by Wade Bekker from Cape Town, South Africa.

• preview (0.2 Mb, jpg)
• with calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Burning Sun

“August is the month filled with sunlight, yellow and sand, beach. The sun in this wallpaper comes from a mosaic a made for a table.” Designed by Nadeschda Broere from Holland.

• preview (0.1 Mb, jpg)
• with calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Funny Grey

“I just wanted to play with nice typography and make a composition for this special month. I chose Elephant – one of the most marvellous fonts I’ve ever seen. Despite of the winter chilly days passing now in Argentina, I just marked out the first day with warm orange for one reason: it’s my birthday. Oh, by the way, the baby girl is my daughter Carmela against pollution and in favour of her plastic rabbit.” Designed by Martin Pruvost from Argentina.

• preview (0.2 Mb, jpg)
• with calendar: 800×600, 1024×768, 1280×960, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 800×600, 1024×768, 1280×960, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Join in next month!

Please notice that we respect the ideas and motivation behind artists’ work which is why we’ve given artists full freedom to explore their creativity and express emotions and experience through their works. And this is also why the themes of the wallpapers weren’t anyhow influenced by us, but designed from scratch by the artists themselves.

Thanks to all designers for participation. Hopefully, in August we’ll receive as many entries as in July. Join in next month and smashing August, folks!