Jake Rocheleau's Articles (94)

Building Websites with a Priority for Mobile

Today it’s more common to find a skilled web artisan who understands desktop support over mobile. This appears to be a symptom of building on the desktop browser for decades as opposed to other screens. Yet there is a growing case to argue that mobile development is the best place to start on new-age websites. In this article I’d like to discuss a few key points in this argument. Namely…

Guidelines to Follow when Building for the App Store (iOS & Android)

There are a lot of factors to consider before building and submitting a mobile application. Developers have plenty of resources on the web for consulting official documentation. But there are some traits you should consider about the overall process. Whether you are building for Apple or Android-powered devices will make all the difference. Some developers have the confidence to build for both platforms which is staggering. I’ll try to mesh…

How Much Code Should Web Designers Need to Know?

This is an interesting topic which isn’t often discussed between web designers. Getting started in Adobe Photoshop is difficult, and you feel an exhilarating rush when you complete your first web project. But what good is a website mockup if you can’t build it? Arguably designers by definition do not need to understand any programming. Design is just that – pretty pixels in an image. However many talented individuals are…

Captivate your Audience with Typography

Modern web designers are incorporating innovative new concepts for digital type. In the previous decade we have witnessed the Internet transform into a powerful tool for sharing media all around the world. More specifically digital designers have adapted and web trends continue to change over time. Text on a page will always be the most uniform way of communication. It’s up to web designers to mold this text in a…

40 Examples of Brilliant Responsive Website Layouts

Responsive web design become a very popular trend in 2011. It’s likely something we’ll see continuing well into 2012 as designers are beginning to support a myriad of mobile devices. Building layouts for the web can be tough, but inspiration is a huge factor. In this gallery I’ve collected 40+ amazing responsive website layouts. These designs are built to support a set of different resolutions and re-size accordingly. It’s tricky…

Focus On: Mobile App Design Trends for 2012

Mobile applications are on the rise as more consumers switch over to smartphones. Between Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android operating system there are plenty of wonderful apps to browse through. The past year has built up a catalog of exceptional design patterns which will continue over into 2012. In this article I’d like to spend a bit of time examining some of the more popular trends. Graphics designers are jumping…

Tips for Wireframing a Usable Mobile App Interface

A lot of time and energy is required to build mobile iOS/Android apps. Aside from the coding and UI design you need to plan functionality ahead of time. This way you can start programming immediately and implement key features without a hassle. The best way to start off a mobile application is through wireframing. This is a design process where you lay out each of the app’s views in detail….

How to Build a Custom Login Page Design for WordPress

If you are a heavy WordPress user then it’s likely you’re interested in deep customizations. There are a slew of plug-ins available, but some tasks are just easier to perform yourself. As an example, the login/register forms are often unfitting to match the template of most websites. But thanks to a few genius developers there are simple guidelines to including your own custom styles. In this guide I’ll walk you…

Getting Started Building iPhone Apps in Xcode 4.2

The newest version of Xcode comes packaged with a few noticeable interface changes. For beginners and intermediate users it can be difficult figuring out even the most basic functionality. And although Apple’s online documentation is well-written, it’s certainly not friendly for the average user. So in this guide I’d like to put together some basic steps for building any iOS app. I’ll be focusing exclusively on iPhone & iPod Touch…

Managing an Organized Freelance Work Schedule

It takes a lot of time and dedication to build a freelance career. The hours are long, work can be tedious, and often you need to multitask like crazy. But the freedom of release from a regular work schedule can be fantastic. In this guide I’d like to go over a few solid techniques for getting organized in your day-to-day tasks. Time management is crucial if you are looking to…

How Profile Photos Can Affect the User Experience

Social networks have grown into the norm in today’s sophisticated Internet. Modern web pages have become very personalized over the past decade including a number of user interface features. One such example is the user profile picture often accompanied by each username. Web designers don’t often realize how important this profile photo can be. It distinguishes a blend of personality between each member. And this feature also has quite a…

Benefits and Pitfalls of Using Code Frameworks

A code framework is nothing more than a collection of pre-formatted classes and functions. There are frameworks created for practically every language out there – even including frontend web development like JavaScript and CSS. Developers would be wise to follow these trends of working on top of pre-built code. There are reasons both for and against building on top of web frameworks. You need to spend time learning the code…

Design Tips for Building Magazine-Style WordPress Themes

The move from physical to digital magazine content is an exciting process. Over just the past few years we have witnessed thousands of new brands and templates begin to surface. Magazine editors have wisely chosen the Internet as a medium to share their news stories. This not only reaches a wider global audience but also allows for the free flow of information. Without constraining signup fees these magazines can grow…

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