Author Andrew Clarke

August 18, 2020 — In this final article of the “Inspired Design Decisions” series, Andy explains how studying the work of Bradbury Thompson can teach you a number of things to help you create stunning designs for the web. Read more…

July 28, 2020 — Emmett McBain was a Black American graphic designer whose work had a remarkable impact on the representation of Black Americans in advertising. In this part of Andy’s series, he’ll explain how his work can inspire what we design for the web. Read more…

June 26, 2020 — In the tenth issue of Inspired Design Decisions, Andy Clarke will explain how Giovanni Pintori can inspire design for the web with his distinctive use of color and shape. Read more…

May 22, 2020 — In this ninth issue of Inspired Design Decisions, Andy Clarke will explain how studying the work of Max Huber — one of the less well known but most distinguished Swiss designers — will teach you how to turn mundane subjects into exciting visual communication. Read more…

April 13, 2020 — In this eighth issue of Inspired Design Decisions, Andy Clarke will explain how learning about American graphic designer and typographer Herb Lubalin has transformed his approach to typography on the web. Read more…

March 23, 2020 — In this seventh instalment of Inspired Design Decisions, Andy Clarke will explore how American art director and graphic designer Otto Storch inspires his designs for the web. Read more…

March 2, 2020 — How do we use blend modes to add depth to our designs, vertical text for impact and clipping paths to bring in character and energy to a design? In this article, we’ll explore just that. Read more…

October 3, 2019 — In this fifth installment of Inspired Design Decisions, Andy Clarke will teach you about Bea Feitler, who directed Harper’s Bazaar throughout the 1960s and has been described as “the pioneering female art director you’ve never heard of.” Andy will teach you about Feitler’s confident work and show you how to apply some of her design techniques to the work you make for the web. In this article, you’ll learn how to emphasize scale and maintain its contrast on even the smallest screens. Andy will teach you how to make confident color choices, and how to use pattern and texture to add depth to your designs. Read more…

September 5, 2019 — In this fourth instalment of Inspired Design Decisions, Andy Clarke will teach you how scattering images will fill your designs with movement. Learn how to mirror pictures and text, and how to carve text into shapes using CSS Shapes. Read more…

August 8, 2019 — In this third instalment of Inspired Design Decisions, Andy Clarke will teach you how to use frameworks to create layouts as engaging as in the well-known Ernest Journal. All it takes is an understanding of layout design and imagination. Read more…

July 11, 2019 — In this second installment of Inspired Design Decisions, Andy Clarke will teach you how to expand your repertoire of layouts by combining more than one grid into a compound grid. This article will change the way you think about designing with grids. Read more…

June 13, 2019 — This is the first edition of Inspired Design Decisions in which Andy Clarke explains how to design and implement skinny columns using meaningful markup and efficient CSS. Read more…

April 11, 2019 — Last year, Rachel Andrew wrote “Take A New Look At CSS Shapes” where she reintroduced readers to the basics of using CSS Shapes. In this new tutorial, Andy Clarke expands on the topic of “Art Direction for the Web” with CSS Shapes to create exciting and inspired new design ideas. Read more…

April 9, 2018 — (This article is kindly sponsored by CoffeeCup Software.) If you’re at all serious about web design or development, you need to be serious about learning and using CSS Grid, too. Andrew Clarke explains how. Read more…

March 25, 2014 — When I gave this talk a title, I called it “A Modern Designer’s Canvas,” because originally I was going to talk about the tools and processes that I use when I’m designing. But being a good designer or developer is about so much more than knowing how to use tools. It’s also about the way we approach what we do and our attitude towards it. Read more…

September 28, 2012 — Last week at the fabulous Smashing Conference in Freiburg, I gave a new talk, one I’d written just a few hours prior. I chose not to use slides, but instead to speak about three things that I’m incredibly enthusiastic about: Read more…

January 1, 0001 —

The web can be more than plain rectangles and perfect circles. Art Direction for the Web exists because we wanted to explore how we all, designers and front-end developers alike, can break out of generic web experiences prevailing today.

In the book, Andy explores original compositions, unexpected layouts, critical design thinking and front-end techniques that will help you create something that stands out.

To achieve this, the book applies art direction to examine a new approach to designing for the web. This book is supposed to make you think, and ask questions, and polish every pixel with clear intent and purpose. It will show you how art direction will:

• Connect your brand with customers
• Create connected experiences
• Improve engagement and conversions
• Bring personas and user stories to life
• Take design beyond frameworks

January 1, 0001 —

The web can be more than plain rectangles and perfect circles. Art Direction for the Web exists because we wanted to explore how we all, designers and front-end developers alike, can break out of generic web experiences prevailing today.

In the book, Andy explores original compositions, unexpected layouts, critical design thinking and front-end techniques that will help you create something that stands out.

To achieve this, the book applies art direction to examine a new approach to designing for the web. This book is supposed to make you think, and ask questions, and polish every pixel with clear intent and purpose. It will show you how art direction will:

• Connect your brand with customers
• Create connected experiences
• Improve engagement and conversions
• Bring personas and user stories to life
• Take design beyond frameworks