Inspiring Wallpapers For February 2021 And A Little Creativity Challenge

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Cosima has been an editor at SmashingMag since 2013. Whenever she’s not writing articles for the weekly Smashing Newsletter, she’s probably working on a … More about Cosima ↬

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Let’s make this February more colorful! Apart from a new collection of wallpapers, we also have a little creativity challenge waiting for you this month. It’s the perfect occasion to share your ideas with the world — and win a smashing prize along the way.

Did you know that this February is the perfect month? Well, layout-wise at least: It starts on a Monday, ends on a Sunday, and has exactly four full weeks. To fill these four perfectly aligned weeks with some life, artists and designers from across the globe challenged their creative skills and designed beautiful and inspiring wallpaper calendars for your desktop and mobile devices.

The wallpapers in this post come with and without a calendar for February 2021, and, as a little bonus goodie, you’ll also discover some familiar faces here and there: February favorites from our archives that are just too good to be forgotten (please note that these designs don’t come with a calendar). A huge thank-you goes out to everyone who shared their artworks with us this time around! It’s fantastic to see how this monthly wallpapers series still tickles your ideas after all these years that we’ve been running it.

Get Creative And Win A Workshop Ticket

Now before you scroll on to find your favorite design for this month, we’d love to invite you to a little creativity challenge: Get your pens, paintbrushes, camera, or favorite illustration tools ready and design a wallpaper for March 2021. Or maybe you have some doodles or sketches lying around that are too good not to be shared? Now’s the opportunity to turn them into a wallpaper and brighten up someone’s day. As a reward, we’ll give away a ticket to one of Vitaly Friedman’s upcoming online workshops (Interface Design Patterns or Navigation) for the best design.

How To Join In

You have the full freedom to explore your creativity with your wallpaper, to let your imagination flow, and use your favorite tools. There are only a few things you need to know before you get started:

  1. Please design two versions of your wallpaper: one with and one without a calendar for March 2021. This way, your wallpaper remains useful even after the month has ended. The calendar should be in English.
  2. Make sure that the wallpaper contains a Smashing Magazine logo. You can download different versions of the logo at https://smashed.by/logos (ZIP, 736KB). (And, of course, please feel free to include your own logo, too.)
  3. Submit your design in as many different screen resolutions as possible.
  4. Fill in this form (no worries, it’ll only take a minute) to help us get your wallpaper published.

Once you have your assets and the form file ready, please bundle everything up in a ZIP file and send it to us via wallpapers@smashingmagazine.com. A Dropbox or Google Drive link works, too, of course.

The deadline is Thursday, February 25, 11:59 PM CET.

If you have any further questions, our Wallpapers Guidelines PDF has got your back. Please feel free to also take a look around the wallpapers archives for some inspiration.

So, What Can You Win?

The first prize is a workshop ticket for one of Vitaly’s upcoming workshops of your choice:

We’ll choose the best wallpaper among all entries and announce the winner in the March wallpapers post which will be published on February 28.

Have fun! We are already looking forward to seeing your artworks! ❤️

Dog Year Ahead

Designed by PopArt Studio from Serbia.

Dog Year Ahead

Good Times Ahead

Designed by Ricardo Gimenes from Sweden.

Good Times Ahead

Out There, There’s Someone Like You

“I am a true believer that out there in this world there is another person who is just like us, the problem is to find her/him.” — Designed by Maria Keller from Mexico.

Out There, There’s Someone Like You

The Great Beyond

“My inspiration came mostly from ‘The Greay from’. It’s about a dog and an astronaut exploring a strange new world.” — Designed by Lars Pauwels from Belgium.

The Great Beyond

Happy Birthday Charles Dickens!

“Charles Dickens is most famous for writing Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol. The 7th of February is Charles Dickens birthday, so to honour his birthday I created this wallpaper with a quote from my favourite book, Oliver Twist!” — Designed by Safia Begum from the United Kingdom.

Happy Birthday Charles Dickens!

In Another Place At The Same Time

“February is the month of love par excellence, but also a different month. Perhaps because it is shorter than the rest or because it is the one that makes way for spring, but we consider it a special month. It is a perfect month to make plans because we have already finished the post-Christmas crunch and we notice that spring and summer are coming closer. That is why I like to imagine that maybe in another place someone is also making plans to travel to unknown lands.” — Designed by Verónica Valenzuela from Spain.

In Another Place At The Same Time

February Ferns

Designed by Nathalie Ouederni from France.

February Ferns

True Love

Designed by Ricardo Gimenes from Sweden.

True Love

Lakefront Winter Dawn

“The winter sky just as the sun rises above the chilly lake can have some of the most amazing colors.” — Designed by Ernesto Perez from the United States.

Lakefront Winter Dawn

Darwin Day

“Let’s celebrate Darwin’s birthday on February 12th.” — Designed by Dan Di from Italy.

Darwin Day

Winter Music

“February 2nd is National Ukulele Day and this four-stringed Hawaiian instrument inspired us to wander into some warmer regions. The days are longer, the sun is shining through the clouds, the birds are chirping… However, her highness Winter has only begun, ready to bring tumult, and we ought to wait a couple more months until spring warms us.” — Designed by PopArt Studio from Serbia.

Winter Music

On The Light Side

Designed by Ricardo Gimenes from Sweden.

On The Light Side

Free Your Mind

“People should have the right to believe and think what they want. They should be free in choosing their opinion. The wallpaper (especially the birds) reminds me of the great freedom we have in many countries of the world.” — Designed by Daniela Faltz from Germany.

Free Your Mind

It’s A Cupcake Kind Of Day!

“Sprinkles are fun, festive and filled with love… especially when topped on a cupcake! Everyone is creative in their own unique way, so why not try baking some cupcakes and decorating them for your sweetie this month? Something homemade, like a cupcake or DIY craft is always a sweet gesture.” — Designed by Artsy Cupcake from the United States.

It’s A Cupcake Kind Of Day!

Savannah Stroll

“February is a month focused on romance and as a southerner, I can’t think of a more romantic way to spend a day than strolling the historic moss-draped streets of Savannah, GA. Spending time sitting on a bench on one of the many beautiful squares, holding hands and people watching as you sip a cappuccino.” — Designed by Heather Ozee Designs from the United States.

Savannah Stroll

Dark Temptation

“A dark romantic feel, walking through the city on a dark and rainy night.” — Designed by Matthew Talebi from the United States.

Dark Temptation

Principles Of Good Design

“The simplicity seen in the work of Dieter Rams which has ensured his designs from the 50s and 60s still hold a strong appeal.” — Designed by Vinu Chaitanya from India.

Principles of Good Design- Dieter Rams

Balance

Designed by Ricardo Gimenes from Sweden.

Balance

Snowy Sunset

Designed by Nathalie Croze from France.

Snowy Sunset

Minimalistic Love

“This minimalistic love logo is designed from geometric shapes, where the heart represents the letter ‘O’ and love. The anchor represents the letter ‘V’ very delicately and stylish and it symbolizes your wanderlust. The anchor is a symbol of adventure and travels.” — Designed by Antun Hirsman from Croatia.

Minimalistic Love

Time Thief

“Who has stolen our time? Maybe the time thief, so be sure to enjoy the other 28 days of February.” — Designed by Colorsfera from Spain.

Time Thief

Ice Cream Love

“My inspiration for this wallpaper is the biggest love someone can have in life: the love for ice cream!” — Designed by Zlatina Petrova from Bulgaria.

Ice Cream Love

Love Angel Vader

“Valentine’s Day is coming? Noooooooooooo!” — Designed by Ricardo Gimenes from Sweden.

Love Angel Vader

Heart On A String

“For hopeless romantics that let others play with their heart.” Designed by Jacob Giesler from the United States.

Smashing Wallpaper - february 12

Groundhog

“The Groundhog emerged from its burrow on February 2. If it is cloudy, then spring will come early, but if it is sunny, the groundhog will see its shadow, will retreat back into its burrow, and the winter weather will continue for six more weeks.” — Designed by Oscar Marcelo from Portugal.

Smashing Wallpaper - february 13

Lucky Day

Designed by Ricardo Gimenes from Sweden.

Lucky Day

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