Blog

Top 29 Web Design Trends for 2023

Igor

June 8, 2023

26 min

We're regularly analyzing the world of web design and keeping a close eye on what will be relevant and what won't be this year. Therefore, we decided to share with you our selection of the most interesting and useful trends of 2023, which we constantly use in our projects to make them even better.

Top 31 best websites with beautiful design

Igor

June 9, 2023

13 min

In this article, we have analyzed and compiled a selection of the 35 best websites with a stunning idea and its implementation. Our team considered many criteria, including visual appeal, quality UX/UI.In addition to showcasing the best examples of web design, we'll look at the techniques and strategies used on these sites. From innovative typography to interactive user interfaces, we'll uncover the secrets behind their stunning design.As designers, we understand the power of inspiration. That's why we've worked hard to bring you this comprehensive list of sites that exemplify great design. We also want to share our insights and recommendations with you.So if you're a designer looking for fresh ideas, or a curious enthusiast looking for inspiration, you've come to the right place. Get ready to be captivated by mesmerizing color palettes, navigation, and breathtaking visual compositions.

15 examples of sites with adaptive design and layout

Igor

June 9, 2023

19 min

We are glad to share with you a selection of 15 sites that are excellent examples of quality adaptive design and layout. Working with various sites for more than a year, we are well aware of the importance of these aspects. That is why we have carefully analyzed and compiled this selection to emphasize the useful points in creating sites for all types of devices

How and where to download beautiful fonts - Top 10 best resources for designers

Igor

June 8, 2023

15 min

In this article, we'll introduce you to a detailed guide on how and where to download the best fonts. These resources help us take our projects to the next level and let our creativity run wild.As experienced designers, we understand the importance of having a diverse library of fonts at your fingertips. Fonts play an important role in any project. Combining our knowledge and wealth of experience, we have reviewed numerous resources to offer you the best platforms.We have done a lot of work researching different resources. Our team has scrutinized the sites taking into consideration factors such as quality, variety, ease of use and licensing. In this in-depth article, we will share our Top 10 favorite resources.

Google's top 40 fonts in 2023

Igor

June 9, 2023

23 min

As a team of design experts, we want to share our valuable insights with you. We believe that selecting the right fonts is crucial to creating stunning designs, and we are constantly proving this in practice.In our ongoing quest for excellence, we've done extensive analysis and research on Google fonts to find just the right ones to give your artwork a unique and professional look. We've spent dozens of hours researching and selecting the very best fonts that reflect the latest trends and our design expertise. Our research and testing has been focused on finding fonts that combine high quality, modern style and versatility. We wanted to find fonts that could be used in a wide range of projects - from web design to print publications, from logos to brochures. And through our efforts, we have found and selected fonts that will meet the highest demands and help you create professional and aesthetically pleasing work.We went beyond the technical aspects - it was important to us that the fonts convey a certain mood and emotion, that they are visually appealing, and that they communicate effectively with your audience. We paid attention to every detail, every curve and every punctuation to make sure that the fonts we chose reflected your vision and added uniqueness to your designs.Most importantly, we have not only analyzed and tested the fonts, but also applied them to many of our own projects. We've seen how these fonts transform designs, making them more appealing, readable, and memorable. They have helped us connect with our audience, stand out from the competition, and achieve great results.

Top 15 sports fonts: choose the perfect one for your project

Igor

Sept. 21, 2023

6 min

Choosing the right font is an important step in the development of any project, and in the field of sports it becomes even more important. Our design team has gathered the top 15 sports fonts so that you can choose the perfect one for your project.In the field of sports design, the chosen font can both create and destroy the visual impression of a project. A carefully chosen font sets the right tone. Whether it's designing a fitness centre website, personal training materials, team logos, or tournament banners.In fitness centre website design, the font should be attractive and easy to read. Personal training materials need fonts that evoke motivation and clarity. Team logos and banners require fonts that embody team spirit and competitiveness, conveying the essence of the game.A bold, energetic font can reflect the intensity of training, while a neat and modern font can reflect the professionalism of personal training materials. And a font for sports teams should show the unity and strength of the team. The right fonts encourage people to sign up for classes, buy a product, or take other appropriate actions.

84 Must-Have Figma Plugins for UI/UX Designers (2023)

Igor

June 9, 2023

39 min

As experienced digital designers, we understand the importance of working efficiently and quickly to achieve the best results for our projects. We constantly explore the Figma Community and select the best tools for our work. Today, we want to talk about plugins.Figma's plugins are essential tools for any designer looking to optimize their work. They provide automation that saves time, access to advanced features such as working with color and typography, quick access to graphics, and much more. They enable you to solve various design tasks, from adjusting typography and exporting layouts to creating animations and organizing workspace within a file. Using these plugins has improved our workflow, reduced iteration time, and helped us achieve better results for our clients.These plugins can help any designer personalize their projects, speed up their work, and create unique and trendy designs. In this article, we will share our top 84 plugins that can help designers of any level work more efficiently and achieve a new level of quality in their projects.

How to Install Plugins for Figma – 7 Best Ways

Igor

June 9, 2023

4 min

Figma is one of the most popular and convenient applications for designing interfaces and web development. However, like any other tool, it may have limited functionality. That's why there are plugins for Figma, which help optimize work and expand the application's capabilities.However, if you're just starting to work in Figma, installing plugins may seem like a challenging task. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to install plugins in Figma and start using them in your work. In a previous article, we covered the top best plugins for any solutions. In this article, we will explain how to install and use plugins for Figma to increase the efficiency of your work in this application.Figma is one of the most popular tools for interface design and web development. It offers a vast array of functionalities for working with layouts and prototypes, but at the core of its success is the ability to extend functionality with plugins. Figma's plugins help simplify the work process, automate tasks, and reduce the time spent on development.

From Beginner to Master: Your Beginner's Guide to UI/UX Design

Igor

July 11, 2023

13 min

In this guide, our team of experienced designers are happy to share their knowledge, insights and practical advice to help those new to design get started. Whether you just want to try a new endeavour or are looking to make a career change, this guide will provide you with a foundation to dive into the world of UI/UX design.We understand that getting started in UI/UX design can be daunting. There is a huge amount of information available right now and many options to explore. It's easy to feel lost and not know where best to start. That's why we've developed this guide based on our experience.In this article, we'll cover key topics such as the definition of UI and UX, the difference between the two, the basic principles of UI and UX, and the basic requirements for a UI/UX designer. We'll also delve into whether it's worth taking UX/UI design courses and suggest alternatives for those on a tight budget. We would also like to share a list of useful resources for beginners in UX/UI design.

Product and UX designers: a comparison of roles and a guide to selection

Igor

July 11, 2023

35 min

You may have heard some misconceptions about the differences between the two fields, but we want to be clear. Despite their different focus, a product designer and a UX designer are closely related. Moreover, they share common goals and often collaborate to create exceptional user experiences.In this article, we will look at the responsibilities, toolkit, skills, benefits and challenges of product designers and UX designers. We will also look at the various tools they use to bring their creative visions to life. In addition, we will learn about the current salary trends in Russia for both professions. We will answer the most important questions so that you have a clear idea of what each of these professions is all about and can make an informed decision about which path suits you best.

Adaptive layout: improving user experience (UX)

Igor

July 11, 2023

9 min

Today we want to share our experience and knowledge about the world of responsive design. Over the years, we have faced many challenges and triumphs on our way to creating quality websites for different devices.Imagine browsing the web on your mobile device, trying to access a website that just doesn't seem to fit on the screen, fonts and images are floating, buttons work crookedly. Immediately you want to close the site, right? This is where responsive design comes to the rescue. It allows websites to easily adapt to different screen sizes and provide an optimised experience for users.Gone are the days when desktop design was supreme. With the rapid growth of mobile devices, websites need to be up to par. Mobile design is gradually coming to the forefront. The design options available for smaller devices are now pushing the boundaries of creativity and functionality.But let's not forget where it all started. Most websites were originally designed for desktops and mobile versions were left in the background. That's why we're here to shed light on the power of responsive design. It's not just about making a website look good on a small screen, it's also about making it work seamlessly. Buttons that are easy to click, readable content and customer centricity are what we strive for.You may notice that all websites look different and are designed differently. On a mobile device, users may encounter several types of websites:Mobile - websites are designed for mobile devices.Web apps are a type of mobile-centric websites designed for mobile devices that look like an app.Adaptive design sites are sites designed for multiple devices with different screen sizes. The layout automatically adapts to the available screen size.Desktop sites are sites designed for computers and are not optimised for mobile devices.

Where to find the best free icons? Top 15 sites for designers

Igor

July 17, 2023

10 min

We understand how important quality icons are for creating attractive and user-friendly designs. In this article, we'll explore the world of icons, discussing their importance in design and the benefits they bring to various projects. We will also look at the debate between vector and bitmap icon formats, helping you to make an informed decision based on your specific design requirements One important aspect of using icons is understanding licence requirements, especially when using free resources. We'll explain how licences work when using icons from free platforms and share the top 15 best free icon sites for designers.From the small magnifying glass showing a search function to the familiar heart symbol signifying that we like something, icons have become an integral part of our everyday interactions. They speak all languages, transcend cultural barriers and make interfaces intuitive and user-friendly. Experienced designers carefully consider every line, curve and pixel to make icons visually pleasing, easily recognisable and instantly communicative.

UX/UI for mobile apps: How to improve user experience?

Igor

July 27, 2023

16 min

Mobile apps have become an integral part of our daily lives. From ordering food to managing finances, mobile apps provide convenience at our fingertips. However, not all apps provide convenience. Over the years, we have learnt valuable lessons and and compiled everything into this article to tell you how to improve the user experience of mobile apps through UX/UI design.In order to ensure that your mobile app avoids possible mistakes, we will share best practices, discuss typical mistakes often encountered in mobile app design and ways to overcome them. Before moving on to the best practices, it is important to understand the key differences between mobile app design and mobile website design. While some principles are the same, the unique characteristics of mobile apps require specific design approaches to maximise user engagement and satisfaction.

A complete guide to UI testing: best practices and tools

Igor

Aug. 31, 2023

8 min

We've gathered our experience and the most essential information to put together a complete guide to UI testing with best practices and tools. UI testing helps ensure that buttons, menus and everything else on the screen works as it should. Testing determines the proper functioning of the website and identifying bugs early on.In this article, let's break down UI testing into simple terms. We will consider why it is extremely important for applications and websites. We'll talk about types of testing, scenarios and provide a checklist so you can check how your website or app is performing. We will also share best practices and tools we use in our work

Benefits of using Customer Journey Map in product development

Igor

Sept. 21, 2023

12 min

What are the benefits of using Customer Journey Map in product development and why do you need them in the first place? Let's face it, today's customers are very selective and their expectations are higher than ever. To create a product that resonates with them, you need not just a good idea, but a deep connection to their needs and wants.Using this knowledge, you can create products that seamlessly fit into their lives by solving customer pain points.Imagine a situation where you have a cool product idea. You've put in the hard work to develop it. But surprisingly, the response to the product hasn't been what you wanted. Perhaps the missing link is a deep understanding of the customer journey.Customer Journey Maps (CJMs) can help you think through your product. They create a customer journey from awareness to loyalty. By visualising this journey, you gain insight into customers' thoughts, emotions and pain points. In this article, we will reveal the benefits of using Customer Journey Map in product development.

The best extensions for designers in Google Chrome

Igor

Oct. 12, 2023

11 min

Our team has carefully studied the Chrome Web Store and tested many extensions over the years. That's why we've selected the most effective ones and created a selection of the best extensions for designers in Google Chrome.Google Chrome is one of the most popular browsers in the world due to its speed, versatility and customisability. However, what really enhances your Chrome experience are extensions - small but powerful add-ons that complement and improve the browser's functionality.In this article, we'll tell you what extensions are and how to enable extensions in Google Chrome. We'll take a detailed look at each option, explaining the features, benefits and how they can optimise your workflow.

What are YMYL and E-E-A-T and 10 ways to improve your site according to these factors

Igor

Oct. 12, 2023

11 min

In this article, we want to share our experiences and knowledge that contribute to the success of our websites and make them even better.Imagine the situation: you have spent countless hours creating a visually appealing website with interesting content, but something seems to be missing. The missing element is an understanding of YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) and E-E-A-T (experience, expertise, authority, and credibility) and their impact on the site.As experienced designers, we know from experience the importance of YMYL and E-E-A-T. We've witnessed how they can transform a website from a simple page to a trusted resource that users rely on. We've seen the difference they can make in terms of user trust, conversions, and overall success.In this article, we'll look at ten effective ways to improve your website according to YMYL and E-A-T. From optimising your content to improving your expertise, we'll look at actionable strategies that will increase your website's authority and improve its position in search engine rankings.

Top-100 best web resources that every designer should definitely remember

Igor

Oct. 19, 2023

47 min

Looking for useful resources for designers to help you with your work and skills? We've collected the top 100 best web resources that every designer should definitely keep in mind. Over the 3 years that AffArts has been running, we've accumulated a lot of resources that we've tested through practice and experience, which means we can safely advise others. Some resources have helped our designers on their learning journey, and others help improve projects now. The selection will be useful for both beginners and experienced designers. You'll find practical tools, neural networks, icons, fonts, tutorials, and more. These sites will help you find inspiration and stay up to date with the latest trends in the design world. They will also come in handy in future work to make your designs even better.