Smashing Magazine

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 50 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 what wallpapers have we received for March 2010?

Please notice that you can also download the March 2010 Windows 7 Theme, prepared by Tim Heuer for Smashing Magazine and its readers.

[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.]

Super Mario bros 1985

"My 25th anniversary tribute to Super Mario bros." Designed by Davide Vicariotto from Italy.

• preview
• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Haiku on Hanami

"And the wind says swish, swish…" Designed by April Joy E. Jasmin from Philippines.

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• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Road to Success

"The photograph was taken in 2009, of my little sister (Sasha Bell) walking in Cornwall, it really reminded me of “the road to success”, and I’ve had it on my desktop for a long time, so I thought others might enjoy it — it gives me a sense of excitement, freedom and the struggle we all have to archive success." Designed by Olivia Bell from England, UK.

• preview
• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Little Girl

"Something much more simple, a little simple typography. :)" Designed by Sasha Bell from England, UK.

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• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Butterfly

"The bright colours of March." Designed by Ellen Xue from Canada.

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• with calendar: 1024×640, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1024×640, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Spring Time

Designed by Indeziner from Romania.

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• with calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1650×1080
• without calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1650×1080

Sticks and Stones

"Was daydreaming and listening to Sticks and Stones by The Pierces over and over againand came up with this idea for the March Calendar." Designed by Kathlyn Marie Salazar from Philippines.

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• with calendar: 1024×640, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 2560×1600
• without calendar: 1024×640, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050

Searching for spring

Designed by Andrei Verner from Russia.

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• with calendar: 800×600, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 800×600, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Goes in like a lion and out like a lamb

"Just an illustration for march :)" Designed by Jennifer Herd from Canada.

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• with calendar: 800×480, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 800×480, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Soom

"This is a color-work done 100% with Adobe illustrator CS4, its all about messing with gradients, transparency and a lot of blend tool. “Soom” means breath, this represents the breathing of universal time. the time of the stars." Designed by David Fernandes / Random Spirals from Portugal.

• preview
• with calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Up

"Fun spring wallpaper." Designed by Anca Varsandan from Romania.

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• with calendar: 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200

Even Cupcakes Have Bad Days

Designed by Valerie Morgan from USA.

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• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1600
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1600

Ghost Stories

"Background picture by Esa Wendelin" Designed by Marta Miazek from Poland.

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• with calendar: 640×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1152×864, 1280×960, 1400×1050, 1600×1200
• without calendar: 640×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1152×864, 1280×960, 1400×1050, 1600×1200

Gummy March

Designed by Monica Corduneanu from Romania.

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• with calendar: 640×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1152×864, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1600
• without calendar: 640×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1152×864, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1600

A New Day

"It’s the start of a brand new day." Designed by Stephanie Lam from Australia.

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• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Lucky Shamrocks

"Despite the three-leaved clover being synonymous with St. Patrick’s Day, I decided that a four-leaved clover would bring more luck to all the readers. Despite the three-leaved clover being synonymous with St. Patrick’s Day, I decided that a four-leaved clover would bring more luck to all the readers. Cheers!" Designed by Crystal Ng from Malaysia.

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• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1900×1200
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1900×1200

Fractal

"Inspired by last months article about Mathematics…" Designed by Zhongde Liu from Germany/China.

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• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 2560×1600
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 2560×1600

Donuts

"I simply adore donuts, they’re delicious and they always look so pretty — I tried to create a design revolving around them, and thought it would be a fun desktop wallpaper to have. Enjoy!" Designed by Rosanna Bell from England, UK.

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• with calendar: 800×600, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050
• without calendar: 320×480, 800×600, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050

Telephones

"The telephone has had a bit of an impact over the last century on the way we communicate, so I thought a telephone-themed wallpaper would be appropriate for the month of its patent." Designed by Dan Sweet from USA.

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• with calendar: 320×480, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 320×480, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Midnight Sun

"The midnight sun sets on the party in the trees." Designed by Chris Alexander (Yipori) from England.

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• with calendar: 800×600, 1024×768, 1152×864, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 1920×1440
• without calendar: 800×600, 1024×768, 1152×864, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 1920×1440

Romanian Tradition Martisorul

Designed by Alexandra Ipate from Romania.

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• with calendar: 800×600, 1024×640, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 800×600, 1024×640, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Ladybug

"If I would be a ladybug…" Designed by Christine Schirbel from Germany.

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• with calendar: 1024×640, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050
• without calendar: 1024×640, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050

Daisy

Designed by Pietje Precies from The Netherlands.

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• with calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Lemonade Love

"Just a little wallpaper from me, I’m a huge fan of lemonade!" Designed by Sasha Bell from England, UK.

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• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Heart Splash

"I always see a lot of photography featuring random fruit and lemons (a lot of lemons!) falling/splashing into water, and thought it would be cool to turn a photography “idea” into a vector looking design, but with a heart! Hope you enjoy this!" Designed by Rosanna Bell from England, UK.

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• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 2560×1600
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 2560×1600

Snowdrop Picking

"Snowdrops are my favourite flower of the “warmer season” — I know when they come out that summer isn’t too far away! Enjoy!" Designed by Sasha Bell from England, UK.

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• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Popephoenix

"This what we do. This is how we live. This is how we evolve. All for the sake of art." Designed by Popephoenix from USA.

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• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×720, 1900×1200
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280×720, 1900×1200

No Smoking

"Millions of people die every year because of Smoking but yet millions of people still smoke. I Designed this wallpaper just to Celebrate the NO SMOKING Day and raise our voices against this habit that Kills." Designed by Vanshika Wadhwani from Bahrain.

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• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050

Women as nature

"Women have long been associated with nature – metaphorically, as in ‘mother Earth’,for instance.International Womens Day is celebrated as the first spring holiday in the Northern Hemisphere, March is considered as the month which brings spring season with Nature Dressed in Green, to Greet the season of spring." Designed by Neelam Asrani from India.

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• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050

Spring is coming

"The vision of spring by m-mstudio. Now the nature is awakening!" Designed by m-mstudio from Italy.

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• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Luminance

Designed by Jordan Scott from Canada.

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• with calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Are you doing all you can?

"Are you doing all you can to become the person you want to be?" Designed by Valerie Morgan from USA.

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• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1600

Bright Summer

"In America, March is the month of American Red Cross. In India people celebrate Holi – the festival of colors in March. And in history it is the month in which Brutus assassinated Julius Caesar. Moreover, it is the starting of summer with the hot air, in southern Asia. In human color psychology, red is associated with bravery, purity, happiness, good luck, heat/fire, energy, and blood, and emotions that “stir the blood”, including anger, passion, love, pain, and sacrifice." Designed by Ramesh V R from India.

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• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1440×1050, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 2560×1600
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1440×1050, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 2560×1600

Ballerine

"The letters with drips represent the cold winter and the ballerine is spring." Designed by Axenis from France.

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• with calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Birthday Month

Designed by Ammar Ceker from Turkey.

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• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

March Sentense

"Just motivating sentence for March :)" Designed by Temeshi from Poland.

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• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Winter’s Almost Over

"Winters are long and slushy in Buffalo, NY. March is both the ugliest and most hopeful month, because spring is just around the corner." Designed by Palmer Louise from USA.

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• with calendar: 320×480, 1024×640, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050
• without calendar: 320×480, 1024×640, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050

New Beginnings

"I graduated college approximately 2 years ago, and since that time have worked as an IT consultant/auditor for a large accounting firm. I realized early on that I had made a mistake and would never be content until I got back into the world of design and development, which is where my passion truly lies. I have been working for the past year building a portfolio in the hopes to do this. This design is a direct byproduct of this and a hope that with Spring comes a new life and a new beginning." Designed by Noah Jablonski from USA.

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• with calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Lucky Me

Designed by Valerie Morgan from USA.

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• with calendar: 1280×800, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 2560×1600
• without calendar: 1280×800, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 2560×1600

Colourfull

"I am presenting a colourfull march." Designed by Sandhya Banshal from India.

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• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Spring Bloom

"March marks the beginning of a new season and is the time of year when plants begin the grow.The beauty of the month is depicted in this wallpaper." Designed by Ellen Xue from Canada.

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• with calendar: 1024×640, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1024×640, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Escaping Winter

"I took this photo of Wharariki Beach while on holiday last month in New Zealand. I hope it brings some good weather this side of the world in March." Designed by Adam Foster from England.

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• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1600×1200, 1680×1050
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1600×1200, 1680×1050

Why March

"Nothing like a good ol’ anti-war statement. For the record, I am not against the troops. I am against war. Thanks!" Designed by Kris K. from United States.

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• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Feeling Sheepish

"A visual interpretation of the month that most importantly connects winter with summer, it just sometimes feels a bit sheepish." Designed by Jordan Scott from Canada.

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• with calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Chuck misses a tooth

"Was kinda bored and looking for some fun. So, came up with Mr. Chuck who just lost a tooth!" Designed by Abdus Salam from Pakistan.

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• with calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1920×1200

Spring Is The Season

"Spring is the season of new, young and vibrant colors. My idea behind this creation is to leave behind the darkness of failure, tears, pain and broken hearts. Brighten yourself with new colors, hopes and thoughts like these flowers." Designed by Upasana Jain from India.

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• with calendar: 1024×640, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 2560×1600
• without calendar: 1024×640, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 2560×1600

Ultimate Sophistication

"I’m keeping the description simple to. The motivation behind this design was reading the Leonardo DaVinci quote online, liking it and wanting to do something to illustrate it." Designed by Håvard Bergersen from Norway.

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• with calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Sploosh

"Bring in March with a sploosh." Designed by Ryan McLeod from Scotland.

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• with calendar: 800×600, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900

Stripy

"Be simple and bold this march :)" Designed by Akash Chandrayan from India.

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• with calendar: 320×480, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1366×768, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 320×480, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1366×768, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Standing Tall

"Like any designer, I derive inspiration from nature. And animals are my favourite. Still I remember the tall, majestic Giraffes that I saw in my school excursion. Have a beautiful month." Designed by Ganesh k Swaminaathan from India.

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• with calendar: 320×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1600×1200, 1680×1050
• without calendar: 320×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1600×1200, 1680×1050

Olympic Mania

"Desktop Wallpaper for March, 2010, Inspired by Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter games." Designed by Sagar from Bangladesh.

• preview
• with calendar: 1024×768, 1152×864, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×1050, 1600×1200
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1152×864, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×1050, 1600×1200

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. Join in next month!

What’s your favorite?

What’s your favourite theme or wallpaper for this month? Please let us know in the comments! And have a smashing March, folks!